Youngstown State University

Nursing Programs Offered

Adult Health Nursing - Master's degree
BSN Programs
MSN Programs
Pediatric Nursing - Master's degree
RN Programs
RN to BSN Programs

RN to BSN Program Details

This program is designed for RN’s who obtained their basic nursing education in a diploma or associate degree program. The program prepares nurses for additional growth in the profession, as well as for future graduate study. Escrow credit (44 semester hours) is awarded for the RN’s previous education after satisfactory completion of the first three nursing courses. In addition to the seven nursing courses and six hours of nursing electives (30 semester hours) required, the student completes the University’s general Education Requirements and any prerequisite course deficiencies. Thus, students are individually accepted and may begin at any term of the year depending on their transfer credits on the prerequisite courses and the nursing courses being offered during that term. The nursing courses are taught on a Tuesday-Thursday later afternoon-evening time frame in an effort to coordinate with the RN’s employment schedule.

Admission into the RN Track of the nursing program depends on the following criteria:

-Must first apply and be admitted to the University. For deadlines on University admissions, contact the Admissions Office. Request previous college transcripts to be sent to YSU, including School of Nursing transcripts, if different. (Previous YSU transcripts do not have to be requested.)
-Must be a registered nurse with a current license to practice in the State of Ohio or a graduate from an approved nursing program and eligible for licensure as a registered nurse in Ohio.
-Completion of the pre-requisite course with a “C” or better and an overall GPA in those courses of 2.5 or greater.
-CPR Certification for Health Care Professionals.
-Completion of Department of Nursing application form.
-Upon admission, must satisfactorily complete physical and immunization requirement. Continued progression in the program depends upon the student’s achievement and compliance of the Admission, Progression, and Graduate Policies of the Department of Nursing and the Candidacy for a Degree requirements listed in the YSU Undergraduate Bulletin.

BSN Program Details

The generic BSN program consists of 127 total semester hours; 71 semester hours are in the nursing major and includes 90 on-campus lab hours and 960 clinical contact hours. Students are responsible for adhering to the prescribed BSN curriculum sequence including, but not limited to, course prerequisites and mandated sequencing of nursing courses. It is also the students’ responsibility to see that all graduation requirements for the BSN degree are satisfied. This program can be completed in eight semester hours if students average 14-17 hours per semester. After admission to the program, a grade of “C” or better is mandatory for all nursing courses and required non-nursing support courses. Only one nursing or one non-nursing support course (BIOL 1560/L Microbiology and FNUT 1551 Nutrition) may be repeated. A repeated course must be successfully completed with a grade of “A,” “B,” or “C” and all incompletes must be removed before progressing in the nursing curriculum. Grades of less than “C” in a second nursing or required non-nursing course results in permanent dismissal from the nursing program.

MSN Program Details

The Master of Science in Nursing Program is designed for baccalaureate prepared nurses who have strong undergraduate foundations in critical thinking, decision-making, and nursing practice. The program consists of three options, with specialization in clinical nursing for chronic illness care, nurse anesthesia, and school nursing. The core curriculum centers on professional nursing issues, nursing science, and research methods for building nursing knowledge. The advanced practice chronic illness care option focuses on the delivery of comprehensive care to individuals and groups experiencing chronic illnesses. The nurse anesthetist option focuses on the administration of anesthesia to individuals requiring surgical and non-surgical diagnostic procedures. The school nurse option focuses on delivery of comprehensive care to individuals in the school environment.
The Master of Science in Nursing Program has received accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (NLNAC). For additional information regarding accreditation, contact the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, Telephone Number: 800-699-1656, ext 153, FAX: 212-812-0390. In addition, the Nurse Anesthetist option is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).

All graduates of the program are prepared to:

-Utilize appropriate theories to provide high quality nursing care.
-Provide cost-effective, ethical, and quality management of health care resources in diverse settings.
-Apply knowledge of the Health Care Delivery System through utilization of appropriate system mechanisms.
-Synthesize research findings for practice utilization.
-Conduct and participate in nursing research studies.