Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Admissions & Aid School of Nursing & Health Innovations
Three University of Portland nursing students in UP purple scrubs, two with stethoscopes, stand together with the clinic simulation lab in the background

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

What Will I Learn in the Nursing Major?

Discover your potential to change lives through the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree program from University of Portland (UP). The nursing bachelor’s program is rooted in patient-centered care through evidence-based practice and a commitment to professional flexibility in diverse clinical settings.

The CCNE-accredited BSN program prepares you to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), a nationwide requirement to work as a registered nurse (RN). At UP, our curriculum transforms your natural caregiving instincts into professional nursing excellence through hands-on experiences and academic rigor, equipping you for professional practice in a variety of settings.

What’s more, as a UP BSN student, you can also pursue enriching opportunities like cultural exploration through study abroad, networking in the Sigma Honor Society’s Omicron Upsilon chapter, and advocacy work alongside fellow nursing student leaders in the UP Student Nurses Association.

University of Portland’s bachelor of science in nursing degree program aims to foster a community through the education of health professionals, empowering you and your peers to cultivate an equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and just health care system that serves all.

BSN Concept-Based Curriculum

University of Portland’s School of Nursing & Health Innovations offers a student-centered, concept-based BSN curriculum designed to mold your clinical judgment, reasoning, and critical thinking abilities.

This innovative program integrates active learning in classrooms, high-quality simulation experiences, and diverse clinical rotations, all leveraging simulation science, neuroscience, and concept-based teaching. The curriculum centers around three interconnected course types—classroom (didactic) courses, clinical reasoning seminar (CRS) courses, and professional practice courses—collectively forming five “trifectas” that ensure you can seamlessly apply theoretical knowledge to real-world nursing practice.

BSN coursework explores a range of vital topics, including nursing professionalism and practice, health and wellness across the lifespan, acute illness management, pathophysiology and pharmacology, and health assessment. Broadly, you learn how these topics and more come together in the nursing field, with a close lens on nursing leadership, health care innovations, population health, and social justice.

Build your competency and confidence through a nursing education grounded in real-life practice and experience. Explore UP’s concept-based bachelor of science in nursing curriculum.

Degree Requirements

University Core

University of Portland’s 40-credit Core Curriculum intersects the nursing degree program with a dynamic liberal arts education. It ensures every UP student engages in well-rounded subjects that integrate academic diversity with values-driven coursework. The Core fosters critical analysis, effective communication, and ethical leadership—empowering you to excel as a nurse.

The Core

Admission Requirements

University of Portland’s BSN degree program accepts applications from first-year students and transfer students, which can include UP students currently enrolled in a non-nursing major. Review the application requirements, admission processes, and prerequisites below.

UP also offers a range of financial aid opportunities for nursing students, including through local partnerships addressing the national nursing shortage. Explore all nursing financial aid options.

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More than a Degree

Join a nursing bachelor's degree program where academic excellence meets innovative learning approaches, creating an educational experience that empowers you to reach your fullest potential.

Three nursing students in purple scrubs attend a patient mannequin in the simulated health center at the University of Portland.

Clinical Learning Experiences

The School of Nursing & Health Innovations employs the Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) model, a collaborative clinical teaching approach developed in partnership with local health care facilities. This model transforms patient care units into optimal learning environments by integrating students into the health care team, thereby enhancing their clinical education and preparation for professional practice. Clinical experiences occur across populations with a special emphasis on community-based settings.

Nursing students in purple scrubs gather around a patient mannequin with their instructor as they practice bedside procedure in the simulated health lab at the University of Portland.

Simulated Health Center

UP’s Simulated Health Center immerses you in realistic patient care scenarios you may encounter as an RN across settings and specialties. The center contains acute care patient beds, acute care simulation suites, high-fidelity medical manikins, an ambulatory care center, a telehealth provider suite, and a simulated apartment. The center helps you refine your clinical judgment, ethical decision-making, collaboration, and leadership abilities necessary for career success.

Two University of Portland nursing students stand with heads bowed in a mass of blessing the hands of healthcare workers

Holy Cross Tradition

University of Portland’s BSN program is carefully crafted to build your nursing knowledge and skill while emphasizing holistic care and human dignity.

The UP Difference

See why a nursing degree from UP is unlike any other.

A University of Portland nursing student in graduation regalia smiles as their instructor affixes a special pin to their graduation robe.

#

University in Oregon for Nursing per Niche.com

%+

Total Pass Rate on the NCLEX in 2024

A close up image of a nurse wearing a mask and nitrile gloves, practicing injection techniques with a hypodermic needle and vial in the simulated health lab at the University of Portland.
Two student nurses in purple scrubs flank their instructor, wearing a white medical coat, as she provides guidance in the simulated health lab at the University of Portland.

Average Nursing Class Size

Nursing Student Spotlight

"My professors were instrumental in my success as a nursing student. I can’t thank them enough for all of their help in guiding me through my time at UP. Science courses were definitely challenging for me, but the professors’ lectures and group exercises provided excellent visual and hands-on learning experiences. I am very thankful to the School of Nursing for preparing me so well for my nursing career."

Victor Rodriguez Valdovinos ‘20

Careers and Outcomes

BSN-credentialed nurses enjoy a competitive edge in the job market, where they are highly valued for their technical skills, critical thinking, and dedication to improving patient care.

Areas of Specialty with a BSN

As an RN, you can practice in general patient care, as well as in the following specializations:

  • Cardiology
  • Community Health
  • Critical Care
  • Labor and Delivery
  • Oncology
  • Pediatrics
  • Psychiatry
  • Surgical Care

Graduate Studies

Beyond preparing you for a career as a registered nurse, a BSN degree allows you to continue your studies in graduate and doctoral programs, like the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP-FNP), that open doors for higher earning potential, advanced practice, and administrative influence.

Alumni Employers

University of Portland nursing alumni are making a difference at health care organizations such as:

  • Center for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Legacy Emanuel Hospital
  • Legacy Randall Children’s Hospital
  • PeaceHealth
  • Providence Health & Services
  • The Oregon Clinic
  • UCLA Medical Center

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A University of Portland healthcare student guides another student on a bright purple yoga mat in the correct physical movement for health and wellness

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Turn Your Calling into a Career

The ever-evolving health care industry needs compassionate, skilled nurses like you. Start your journey toward providing patient-centered care and improving health outcomes in University of Portland’s bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree program.

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