BSN Programs San Diego, CA

If you have a desire to care for others and relieve their pain and weakness, a career in nursing will let you combine a passion for care with a desire to make a difference in the lives of patients. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing includes theory and practical training that will support the development of skills to care for the individual, family, and community. You’ll learn the importance of disease prevention, health promotion, caring for acutely ill patients of all ages, and the comfort and restoration of patients in need of long-term care.

There is an ever-growing demand for professional nurses in acute care settings, community health facilities, nursing homes, schools, jails, patients’ homes, physicians’ offices, clinics, and other health care settings. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a growth rate of 12 percent from 2018 to 2028. The median pay in 2018 was $71,730.

Point Loma Nazarene University

Point Loma Nazarene University School of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program that is highly respected by the health care community and sought after by persons desirous of becoming a professional nurse. Experienced faculty will emphasize the human and spiritual aspects of nursing and will support the development of physical and technical skills that will enable graduates to function as efficient members of the nursing team. Students will complete more than 1,100 clinical hours throughout the program, commencing in the very first semester. Students will have the opportunity to use cutting-edge technology in various medical environments. A key part of the program is its emphasis on servant leadership and lifelong support from faculty members. Graduates will be eligible to take the NCLEX for Registered Nurses.

Program Outline

Semester credits: 128
Duration: 3 years
Method of instruction: Traditional

Course titles:
General education courses – Written Communication, Anatomy and Physiology I, Integrated Chemistry, Chemistry Lab, Oral Communication, Arts and Humanities Language Course, Microbiology, Critical Thinking, Intro to Sociology

Core courses – Introduction to Nursing, Introduction to Nursing Practice Lab, Nursing Communication and Assessment, Nursing Communication and Assessment Lab, Statistics, Cultural Anthropology, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I, Nursing Care of Adults I, Nursing Care of Adults I Lab, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Lab, Any C1 Arts course, Nursing Care of the Childrearing Family, Nursing Care of the Childrearing Family Lab, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II, Nursing Care of Adults II, Nursing Care of Adults II Lab, Health Promotion and Patient Education Strategies, Culture and Medicine Healers and Healing Practices, Nursing Care of Adults III, Nursing Care of Adults III Lab, Nursing Research, Family Nursing: Theory and Practice, The Physiology of Nutrition and Disease, Nursing Care of Children, Nursing Care of Children Lab, Senior Externship (Optional), Community Health Nursing, Nursing Case Management of Vulnerable Populations, Community Health Nursing & Nursing Case Management, Senior Externship, Bioethics and Medical Ethics, Dc, Dg American Instituitions, Nursign Leadership and Professional Issues, Nursing Leadership and Management Lab, Transition to Nursing Practice Internship or Senior Externship, Any C2 Humanities Course, Dh American Institutions

Admission criteria:

  • Apply for admission to PLNU College
  • Must be a high school graduate or have a GED diploma
  • Submit satisfactory ACT and SAT scores
  • Submit two letters of recommendation
  • Attend an interview with an admissions counselor

Program Cost:

The cost of one year’s tuition is $37,600 plus $700 for general fees. Additional costs for books, fees, uniform, shoes, and other supplies must be covered by the student. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.

California State University-San Marcos

The traditional BSN program offered by CSUSM prepares students for licensure as a registered nurse in California. Graduates will be eligible to apply for the NCLEX-RN and certification as a public health nurse. Course times are variable, and students must be prepared to travel to variable sites in San Diego County and/or Southwest Riverside County. Due to the intensity of the curriculum, outside work is discouraged. The program is classified as an impacted program so the department may use supplementary admission criteria to screen applicants. Students admitted to another major cannot switch majors to the impacted major at a later date.

Program Outline

Semester credits: 128
Duration: 4 years
Method of instruction: Traditional
Course titles:

Lower division courses – Caring Faithfully: An Introduction to Nursing, Nursing of Individuals: Adult Health I, Nursing of Individuals: Clinical Practicum I, Changing Minds: Changing Lives, Nursing of Individuals: Adult Health II, Nursing of Individuals: Clinical Practicum II, Pharmacology in Nursing, Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Human and Physiology I Lab, Human Anatomy and Physiology II, Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab, Microbiology of Infectious Diseases, Microbiology of Infectious Diseases Lab, Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, Human Development, Fundamentals of Nutrition, Introduction to Statistics, Psychology of Personal Development – First year Experience

Upper division courses – Nursing of Families: Child/Adolescent Focus, Nursing of Families: Child/Adolescent Clinical Practicum, Nursing of Families: The Childbearing Process, Nursing of Families: The Childbearing Process Clinical Practicum, Nursing of Families: Adult Health III, Nursing of Families: Adult Health III Clinical Practicum, Nursing Research, Nursing of Communities: Mental Health Focus, Nursing of Communities: Mental Health Clinical Practicum, Nursing of Communities: Community Health Focus, Nursing of Communities: Health Focus Clinical Practicum, Leading Faithfully: A Synthesis and Transition to Professional Nursing Practice, Nursing Capstone, Nursing Capstone Practicum, Abnormal Psychology, Race and Ethnicity

Admission criteria:

  • Apply for admission to CSUSM College
  • Must be a high school graduate or have a GED diploma
  • Demonstrate college readiness and meet the Eligibility Index score

Program Cost:

The cost of one year’s tuition and fees is $7,742.  Other costs include background check, drug screen, online health compliance, immunizations, medical clearance, CPR certification, health insurance, uniforms, shoes, stethoscope, health tote, ATI testing, and textbooks. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.

San Diego State University School of Nursing

Students enrolled in the undergraduate nursing program will develop critical thinking, decision-making, and professional nursing skills to care for patients in a variety of health care settings. They will become familiar with the trends that affect health care systems, the emerging role of the professional nurse, and learn how to balance professional and personal growth. The program admits to incoming Freshman through Direct-Entry. Transfer students and second-degree candidates may also apply for admission to the program. Current registered nurses who have completed an Associate Degree in Nursing program may obtain the BSN through the RN to BSN track. Graduates will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN for licensure in the State of California.

Program Outline

Semester credits: 128
Duration: 4 years
Method of instruction: Traditional
Course titles:

General education courses – Fundamentals of Microbiology, Fundamentals of Microbiology Lab, General Organic, & Biological Chemistry, Oral Communication, Written Communication, Human Anatomy, Statistical Principles and Practices, Introductory Psychology, Critical Thinking, Arts and Humanities

Upper-division courses – Human Physiology, Pathophysiology, Information Management, Clinical Pharmacology, Developmental Psychology or Human Development Across the Lifespan, Client Assessment, Fundamentals of Nursing Practice, Professional Formation A, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Professional Formation, Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family, Lifelong Learning and Self-Development, Arts and Humanities, Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult and Gerontologic Patient, Research and Evidence-Based Practice, Social and Behavioral Sciences, International Experience, Pediatric Nursing, Professional Formation C, Biomedical Ethics, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult and Gerontological Patient II, Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult and Gerontologic Patient II Lab, Community Health Nursing, Community Health Nursing Lab

Admission criteria:

  • Apply for admission to San Diego State University online
  • Must be a high school graduate or have a GED diploma
  • Demonstrate college readiness and meet the Eligibility Index score
  • Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in A-G coursework
  • Obtain a minimum grade B in intermediate Algebra, Biology, and Chemistry with lab courses
  • Submit acceptable SAT scores

Program Cost:

The cost of one year’s tuition, fees and expenses for books and supplies fees is $8,799.  Additional costs include uniforms, drug screen, health insurance, immunizations, and CPR certification. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.

National University

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at National University is accredited by the California Board of Registered Nursing and approved by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Students will learn how to observe and care for patients, develop critical thinking, and commit to lifelong learning. At the program’s conclusion, they should be able to form caring, therapeutic relationships with individuals, families, and groups, deliver safe and competent patient-centered care to individuals across the life span, communicate effectively with patients and members of the healthcare team, use clinical judgment to manage, prioritize, and delegate care patient care in various health care settings, and pursue continuing education to improve quality of nursing care. Graduates are eligible to take the professional licensure exam to obtain a state license to practice as a registered nurse (RN).

Program Outline

Semester credits: 120
Duration: 4 years
Method of instruction: Traditional

Course titles:

General education courses – Effective College English I, Public Speaking, Intro to Biomedical Statistics, Information Literacy, Spanish for the Work Place, Cross Cultural Communication, Introduction to Psychology, Principles of Sociology, Human Anatomy & Physiology I, Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab I, Human Anatomy and Physiology II, Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab II, Introductory Microbiology, Introductory Microbiology Lab, Cultural Pluralism in USA, Cross-Cultural Dynamics

Core courses – Nursing Theories and Models, Health Assessment, Health Assessment Clinical, Pharmacology in Nursing, Nursing Research, Foundations in Nursing, Foundations Clinical Lab, Medical Surgical Nursing I, Medical Surgical I Clinical, Medical Surgical Nursing II, Medical Surgical II Clinical, Child-Bearing Family Nursing, Child-Bearing Family Clinical, Pediatric Nursing, Pediatric Nursing Clinical, Psychosocial Nursing, Psychosocial Nursing Clinical, Pharmacology in Nursing II, Community Healthcare I, Community Healthcare I Lab, Community Healthcare II, Community Healthcare II Lab, Nursing Leadership/Management, Leadership/Management Clinical, Professional Issues in Nursing

Admission criteria:

  • Apply for admission to National University online
  • Must be a high school graduate or have a GED diploma
  • Demonstrate college readiness and meet the Eligibility Index score
  • Submit acceptable SAT scores
  • Complete physical exam on file
  • Must have personal health insurance and malpractice insurance
  • Maintain BLS for Healthcare Providers certification
  • Complete training in Blood Borne Pathogens and HIPAA requirements
  • Complete annual PPD or chest x-ray
  • Provide up-to-date records – Hepatitis B titer series, MMR, varicella
  • Complete background check and drug screen

Program Cost:

Tuition costs $1,665 per month or $13,320 per academic year. The cost of textbooks, supplies, uniforms, insurance, and meeting the requirements for the clinical sessions are not included in the cost. Financial aid is available for qualifying students.

US University

US University offers an opportunity for registered nurses to obtain a baccalaureate degree through the RN to BSN program. The curriculum builds on the leadership and management skills covered in the AAS degree program, especially expanding on the art and science of nursing. The fully online program is designed to be completed in 12 months and includes 45 hours of community experience that emphasizes community health. Students must complete 120-semester credits to earn the BSN. A minimum of 30-semester credits must be completed at US University. Up to 60-semester credits in arts, humanities, health sciences, sciences and general education courses and 45-semester credits in nursing courses may be transferred – not to exceed 90-semester credits. Candidates who cannot satisfactorily meet the general education requirements will need to complete prerequisites such as Argumentation, Physical Examination and Health Assessment, and Senior Seminar.

Program Outline

Semester credits: 120
Duration: 12 months
Method of instruction: Online

Course titles:

Core courses – Physical Examination and Health Assessment, Transitions and Issues of the Professional Nursing Role, Foundations of a Caring Science, Evidence-Based Practice, Healthcare Policy, Regulation and Finance, Managing System Change and Improving Patient Outcomes, Inter-Professional Communication and Collaboration for Improving Healthcare Outcomes, Innovation in Patient Care Technology and Information Management, Cultural Diversity, Spirituality and Ethics in Healthcare, Global and Community Based Nursing, Capstone in Evidenced-Based Professional Nursing Practice

Admission criteria:

  • Must have an Associate Degree in Nursing from an accredited institution
  • Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the degree program
  • Submit official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities
  • Must have a valid, unrestricted and unencumbered registered nurse license
  • Obtain background clearance
  • Provide proof of negative drug screen
  • Must maintain student professional malpractice insurance
  • Have current professional liability insurance  and personal health insurance
  • Obtain CPR certification for Healthcare Providers by the American Heart Association
  • Provide proof of a negative TB skin test
  • Provide documentation of immunization p two doses MMR, Tdap, Varicella, Hepatitis, and annual influenza

Program Cost:

The cost to complete the program is $10,350. It includes fees but not the cost of books and supplies.  A flexible payment plan is available for all students.