Frequently Asked Questions

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The BSN-IH Program is a hybrid program, with lecture courses online. How many days a week would I be on campus in Gilbert?

Level 1 thru 3- 3- 4 days a week
Level 4 – 2 days a week

I’m interested in BSN-IH Gilbert but live in Tucson, AZ. Is it recommended to move to Gilbert to complete the BSN-IH Gilbert pathway?

Yes! It’s highly recommended to move to Gilbert, AZ to complete the BSN-IH Gilbert pathway. Typically, the BSN-IH Gilbert pathway requires you to be in-person 3-4 days a week.

What resources do you provide to Nursing students?

Prerequisite Information

I want to talk to a College of Nursing Academic Advisor. Where do I start?

Please attend an Information Session first. Sign-up days and times can be found via the Connect With Us page.
After you attend an information session, you can schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor

I would like to take some of the Nursing prerequisites at a community college instead of a university. Will this be viewed negatively in my application?

Taking classes at a community college will not reflect negatively on your application.
If you decide to take Nursing prerequisites elsewhere please make sure they transfer to the UA by checking the transfer courses on the Transfer Credit guide via the Transfer Credit & Articulation website.

I have transfer courses that I want to see if they work for your program. Where can I check my transfer courses?

In-State Coursework from Public Institutions
For courses taken at a public institution in Arizona (state university or community college), students may download the Arizona Course Equivalency Chart , which includes the exact courses that are acceptable for prerequisite transferability.
Out-of-State Coursework and In-State Private Institutions
Pre-established equivalencies can be searched and viewed on the University of Arizona's Transfer Credit Guide . If a course does not appear in this guide students will need to submit a course equivalency request to the Office of Transfer Credit & Articulation .

Do I need the lab to Intro to Biology? What about the lab to Microbiology?

No, only the lecture for both Intro to Biology and Microbiology.
However, if you plan on working as a nurse in the state of California, the California Board of Registered Nurses requires Microbiology lecture AND Lab

When are prerequisites courses offered?

Prerequisites are primarily offered in Fall and Spring semesters but can also be offered in summer term.
Visit the Schedule of Classes to search for course offerings and availability

Where do I find information about the required prerequisite courses?

Information on required prerequisites can be found at: https://www.nursing.arizona.edu/academics/nursing-prerequisite-coursework

How do I meet the chemistry requirement?

You can take either Allied Health Chemistry - CHM 130 (lecture and lab) OR General Chemistry I- CHM 151 AND General Chemistry II152 (2 lectures, 1 lab)
To view these as transfer courses please visit the Arizona Course Equivalency Chart or the University of Arizona's Transfer Credit Guide

BSN Admissions

What is your admissions criteria?

College of Nursing prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better in each course.
Minimum of a 3.0 GPA for prerequisite courses
Minimum of a 3.0 for cumulative GPA
Minimum of a 75% cumulative score for the HESI A2 Entrance Exam
- Required categories of Biology, Math, Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension
What’s the difference between the prerequisite GPA and the cumulative GPA?
- Prerequisite GPA is based on the highest grade made in the Nursing prerequisites.
- Cumulative GPA consists of every single college level class a student has ever taken at the college level. All attempts at courses you take are calculated into cumulative GPA calculations unless they are removed through an official grade replacement process.
What are the average GPAs and test scores of admitted students?
- Averages are posted on our program pages
- BSN Program in Tucson, AZ
- BSN-IH Program in Gilbert, AZ
Are experiences required to apply to the program?
- No. Experiences are much like extra credit and can help bolster an application but are not required to be eligible for admissions.
Does the volunteer experience have to be healthcare experience, or can it be anything that I’m passionate about?
- Volunteer experience can be anything! It does not have to be healthcare. For application purposes, we look at both healthcare and volunteer experience.
What can count as healthcare experience?
- Employment or volunteering in (but not limited to):
  - Licensed/certified role (Ex: CNA, EMT, Caregiver, Phlebotomist)
  - Dental Technician
  - Veterinary Technician
  - Health care agency (long term care, assisted living, acute care, clinic)
  - Medical Sales (equipment, pharmaceuticals)
  - Administrative role at the medical/clinical setting (Medical Records, Transcriptionist, Receptionist, clerk, billing)
  - Lifeguard, Search and Rescue
  - Bio Laboratory and Medical Research Assistant
  What are some ways I can study for the HESI exam?
  - Evolve has an examination preparation guide available for purchase. You may also access a preparation guide through the UA Health Sciences Libraries, which has several copies on reserve. Elsevier: Evolve also provides test remediation after a first attempt for future test attempts.
  - Quizlet , particularly the vocabulary section as well as the math section for conversion ratios.
  - The Pocket Prep application.
  - Using internet resources, such as googling “Free HESI Practice Exams” or using resources such as YouTube .
  Does a minor get me extra points?
  - No. Having a minor does not impact your application.
  Do W’s impact my Nursing application?
  - No, W’s do not impact your application.
  Application Process
  What are the application deadlines for the BSN program?
  - Fall Admissions: April 1
  - Spring Admissions: August 15
  - Summer Admissions (BSN-IH only): December 1
  How many application cycles do you have for the BSN program?
  - BSN: Two (fall + spring)
  - BSN-IH: Three (fall + spring + summer)
  When I’m ready to apply to the Nursing program, where can I find the application?
  - The Nursing application can be found via http://nursingcas.org/ .
  - Please note: The application opens two months prior to the application deadline you plan to apply to.
  Is there an application checklist that I can check off when applying to the Nursing program?
  - Yes! Please see our application checklist on the BSN Admissions page .
  What are the fees for applying?
  - HESI Exam: $60-$120 per attempt
  - NursingCAS: $60.00 application fee
  - University of Arizona Undergraduate Application (for transfer students only): $50 for Arizona residents and $80 for non-residents
  What resources are available to help me with my NursingCAS application?
  - College of Nursing NursingCAS Tutorial Videos
  - NursingCAS Applicant Help Center
  I need to reach out to NursingCAS, how do I do that?
  - For help with application-related questions, you can log in to your application and contact us using the chat icon in the lower right corner.
  - You can also contact NursingCAS by email at nursingcasinfo@nursingcas.org or by phone at 617-612-2880 .
  - Note the following:
  - Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM ET.
  - For the quickest response, log in to your application and contact by chat.
  - NursingCAS typically provides responses to emails within two business days; however, response times can take up to three business days during peak timesBe sure to have your CAS ID number (located under your name in the upper-right corner of the application) when contacting NursingCAS.
  What are the application deadlines for the BSN program? I’m a transfer student. Do I need to apply to UA Undergraduate Admissions?
  - It depends. If you have completed all Nursing prerequisites. as well as the HESI exam and are ready to apply to the Nursing program, then please apply through NursingCAS first. If admitted to the Nursing program, then you will be required to apply to UA Undergraduate Admissions. Please do not apply to UA Undergraduate Admissions before knowing if you have been admitted to the Nursing program or not.
  Can I apply to both BSN Tucson and BSN-IH Gilbert?
  - Yes! As long as you meet the requirements to apply .
  Can I apply to BSN Tucson and BSN-IH Gilbert even if I have a bachelor’s degree already?
  - Yes! As long as you meet the requirements to apply .
  How long does it take to get a decision?
  - Decisions will be sent out approximately 8-weeks after the application deadline.
  Admissions Decisions
  What are your admission statuses?
  - Conditional Admissions: Offered admissions to the BSN Program with the condition that academic and clinical compliance requirements must be met
  - Alternate: Once the programs have admitted the maximum number of candidates, a small number of applicants are selected for alternate status for each program. If a seat becomes available before the start of the semester, an alternate be contacted and offered admissions. If not offered a seat by the beginning of the next semester will be considered ‘not admitted’ and will need to reapply to the program in a future application cycle to be considered for admissions again.
  - Not Admitted: Not offered admissions or alternate status. Will need to reapply to the program in a future application cycle to be considered for admissions again.
  Do you have a waitlist?
  - No, there is no waitlist. Applicants are reviewed each cycle. Applicants not admitted to the program for that cycle will need to reapply in the future.
  How will I be notified of my admissions status?
  - You will be notified via email. It will be sent to the email address you have on file with NursingCAS.
  What happens if I am admitted?
  - You will receive an intent to enroll form that will need to be completed to accept your seat. You will also receive detailed information on next steps including registration, clinical compliance, and orientation.
  What if I am not admitted?
  - Applicants are encouraged to review their application in detail (GPA, HESI, Experiences) to ensure eligibility. Applicants can view admission averages for our BSN Tucson and BSN-IH Gilbert Program.
  I applied to both the BSN Tucson and BSN-IH Gilbert programs and got admitted to my second choice. What do I do?
  - Applicants can accept their admissions to the second choice or decline the seat and reapply for admissions in a future admissions cycle.
  If you would like to apply again, consider where you can improve your application
  - Retake prerequisite courses
  - Retake HESI
  - Explore gaining healthcare, volunteer, or leadership experience
  - Reflect on your interview and access Career Development resources to assist with future interviews
  Other things you can do while waiting to reapply
  - Complete any remaining general education classes
  - Consider adding a minor
  - Finalize top choice in alternate major and meet with that major advisor(s)
  What if my admissions is rescinded?
  - Admissions to the BSN Program is conditional upon completing academic and clinical compliance requirements
  - Applicants who do not meet requirements by a specific deadline may have their admissions rescinded
  - Those who have their admissions rescinded will not be able to enter their program in the coming semester and will need to reapply to the program in a future admissions cycle to be reconsidered for admissions
  - Applicants must note that admissions from one cycle does not carry over to the next. Previous admissions does not guarantee admissions in a future cycle.
  Cost and Financial Aid
  How much does your program cost?
  - Please see our Costs & Financial Aid page.
  Do you have any Nursing scholarships?
  - Yes! They are available to current BSN students only. Please see our Costs & Financial Aid page for more information.
  I’m unsure of how I’m going to pay for Nursing school. Any tips?
  - Knowing how much the program costs is a good way to start. Please visit the Costs & Financial Aid page to see how much your program is so you have an idea. Then, we recommend contacting OSFA as they would have the best tips and tricks for you.
  Clinical Rotations/Compliance Questions
  How are clinical rotations determined?
  - The College of Nursing identifies clinical sites and assigns students to rotations.
  What are the clinical rotations we will be doing once admitted to BSN?
  - Level 1: Long Term Care (LTC)
  - Level 2: Pediatric, Obstetrics, Medical Surgery
  - Level 3: Psychiatric Mental, Health Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
  - Level 4: Community/public health, Preceptorship
  How many clinical hours can I expect when doing the Nursing program?
  - Over 1000 hours of clinical experience.
  What are your clinical compliance requirement?
  - Clinical compliance requirements are listed on our Office of Clinical Operations Website: https://www.nursing.arizona.edu/resources/clinical-ops
  Is the COVID vaccine required for your Nursing programs?
  - The University and College of Nursing (CON) do not require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but most of CON’s clinical sites require that students training at their sites be vaccinated against COVID-19.
  - A small number of clinical sites do not have vaccination requirements and/or may allow students to request an exemption or accommodation from their COVID-19 vaccination requirement. However, it may not be possible for CON to place unvaccinated students at these sites.
  - Because COVID-19 vaccination is required at most clinical sites, and clinical sites that do not require vaccination and/or allow for exemptions may change their vaccination policy at any time, unvaccinated students must understand that there could be situations where CON will not be able to place an unvaccinated student in a required clinical rotation, even if the student has requested an accommodation.
  - More information is available at COVID-19 Vaccine and Clinical Rotations
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Frequently Asked Questions

Prerequisite Information

BSN Admissions

Application Process

Admissions Decisions

Cost and Financial Aid

Clinical Rotations/Compliance Questions

Information for

Topics

Resources

Connect