Oregon Health And Science University

Nursing Programs Offered

Accelerated BSN Programs
Accelerated MSN
BSN Programs
DNP Programs (Doctor of Nursing Practice)
MSN Programs
RN Programs
RN to BSN Programs

RN to BSN Program Details

The Baccalaureate Completion Program for RNs (RNBS) offers the OCNE curriculum as online courses to two types of RN students:

-Associate Degree graduates of OCNE community colleges (also called "CC Transition" students) complete the 33 credits of senior level courses from the OCNE curriculum. See Programs of Study for OCNE Associate Degree Graduates.
-Associate Degree or Diploma graduates of non-OCNE schools (also called "Traditional" students) complete 6 credits of "transition" courses and then the 33 credits of senior level courses. See Programs of Study for Traditional RNBS Students.

All students in the RNBS program must have an RN license. Courses are offered online with occasional voice-to-voice webinars and a conference (1-2 day conference at the end of NRS 410). Practicum courses take place as close to the student's home community as possible. Students can do the program part-time or full-time, depending on what works best with their life and work situation.

BSN Program Details

In 2001, the OHSU School of Nursing joined with several Oregon community colleges in an exciting new partnership, the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education (OCNE). Established in response to the critical nursing shortage, OCNE enables Oregon nursing programs to dramatically expand the availability of students to receive the B.S. nursing degree and increase enrollment, while preparing graduates with competencies to address the rapidly changing health care needs of Oregon’s aging and ethnically diverse populations. The consortium is characterized by:

-A shared, competency-based curriculum culminating in a bachelor’s degree.
-Improved utilization of clinical facilities and faculty expertise in Oregon.
-Development and use of state-of-the art clinical simulation labs to augment on-site clinical training.
-Shared agreements for student support services that facilitate students; financial aid, co-admission, and dualenrollment– as needed for completion of the B.S. degree.
-Shared agreements for academic standards including admissions criteria, progression and graduation standards between all partner schools.

MSN Program Details

Master's degree programs focus on the development of critical thinking and judgment, understanding of health systems and economics, interdisciplinary care, public health and communications in a variety of health care settings. They also prepare students for advanced practice or as public health professionals.

Accelerated BSN Program Details

In order to meet the growing demand for nursing education for people who have or will have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, OHSU School of Nursing has reinstated an Accelerated Bachelor’s of Science with a major in nursing degree program (ABS). The ABS program is designed to allow those students who currently have or will have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a major other than nursing to take the nursing courses required to get the B.S. with a major in nursing. This generalist nursing program is five quarters of full-time nursing coursework starting summer term. This program will prepare the graduate for R.N. licensure and will also give interested students the necessary credentials to pursue a graduate degree in nursing. At the completion of the Bachelor of Science Nursing curriculum, the B.S. degree is awarded and graduates are eligible for professional registered nurse licensing examinations.

Accelerated MSN Program Details

The Accelerated Bachelor of Science to Masters program is designed to allow those students who have or will have an accredited bachelor's degree in a major other than nursing prior to matriculation to take the nursing courses required to get a B.S. with a major in nursing and then continue into the master level courses that are required to achieve a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Certified Nurse Midwifery MS/MN degree.

Students on this track are concurrently accepted to the ABS program and either the Nurse Midwifery or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, and will start the master's coursework after completing the required courses necessary to achieve the B.S. degree and passing the nursing licensure exam. This 3 year program begins with a five quarter, full-time course of study in the accelerated undergraduate program, beginning summer term.

At the completion of the Bachelor of Science Nursing curriculum, the B.S. degree is awarded and graduates are eligible for professional registered nurse licensing examinations. The graduate program coursework begins in the fall term, following successful completion of the B.S. degree and nursing licensure exam (NCLEX).

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Details

Pathway for current bachelor prepared nurses who want to become advanced practice nurses in certain specialty areas as part of the doctoral program. OHSU offers Post Baccalaureate specialties in Adult Health Illness Clinical Nurse Specialist, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwifery, or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Coursework specific to the specialty areas is offered in a campus based format in Portland, Ore.

The coursework for both post baccalaureate and advanced practice nurses will help clinicians expand their knowledge and increase their understanding of policy, systems, economics, evaluation and the need for greater translation of research into practice. The coursework within the DNP program is characterized by a contextual and systematic analysis of clinical phenomena with the intention of optimizing health outcomes. Students will apply scientific methods to conduct clinical inquiry and translate research evidence into practice and will engage at all levels of health care delivery, from individuals and populations to the systems in which health care is embedded.

The objectives of the OHSU DNP program are to prepare nurses who, using leadership and collaboration, will:

1. Practice within an advanced practice nursing specialty in a professional, evidence-based, skilled and ethical manner;
2. Influence health and health outcomes of individuals, groups, and populations through clinical inquiry; and
3. Influence health policy and systems of health care in the local, regional, state, national and international forums.
Ultimately, the DNP degree will provide practicing clinicians with the depth and breadth of clinical skill, leadership, and clinical inquiry techniques that are needed as they grow their role in advanced practice, nursing leadership and as nurse educators.