Why earn the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing?
- Increased job opportunities: Many hospitals and healthcare facilities now require or prefer RNs to hold a BSN degree. Having this degree can increase your job opportunities and give you a competitive edge in the job market;
- Higher salary potential: RNs with a BSN degree generally earn a higher salary than those without. This is because the BSN degree provides additional education and training in leadership, research, and patient care;
- Career advancement: A BSN degree can open up opportunities for career advancement, such as becoming a charge nurse, nurse manager, or nurse educator;
- Advanced skills and knowledge: The BSN curriculum covers a variety of advanced skills and knowledge areas, including evidence-based practice, community health, patient education, and nursing leadership. These skills can enhance your ability to provide high-quality patient care and improve patient outcomes;
- Preparation for graduate studies: If you are interested in pursuing a master's or doctoral degree in nursing, having a BSN degree is often a prerequisite.
Overall, obtaining a BSN degree can provide numerous professional and personal benefits for RNs, including increased job opportunities, higher salary potential, career advancement, advanced skills and knowledge, and preparation for graduate studies.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Traditional) degree at the International College of Health Sciences
The curriculum is designed for the student whose goal is to become a registered nurse but wants to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree. The curriculum may be completed in as little as 32 months, less than 3 years! The curriculum is built to provide the competency based, outcome oriented didactic, laboratory and clinical experience including the knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to become a Registered Nurse. The graduate of this program is eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam.
The International College of Health Sciences offers the following:
- Online theory classes combined with in person hands-on clinical and lab experiences;
- Faculty with years of practice experience;
- Affordable tuition payment plans;
- Part time and full-time options;
- Transfer credit consideration;
- Student support through individually assigned navigators (advisors);
- Clinical scheduling support through dedicated schedulers for each course.
The Associate and Baccalaureate Nursing programs at International College of Health Sciences located in Boynton Beach, Florida, is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate and Baccalaureate Nursing programs is Continuing Accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program on the ACEN website.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
120 Semester Credits
32 Months (Full-time)
44 Months (Part-time)
The BSN program develops the student’s ability to analyze and apply research and evidence-based practice models into various healthcare environments. Through the application of theory, research, and translation of outcomes, the student will analyze clients, community, public health, technology, aging, and vulnerable populations with a focus on healthcare quality, safety, and improved outcomes. This program prepares the graduate to become a licensed registered nurse and to seek employment opportunities within the field of nursing.
End of Program Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, the graduate will be able to:
- Integrate the knowledge and methods from a variety of disciplines to inform decision making;
- Apply basic organizational and systems leadership for quality care and client safety;
- Integrate scholarship for evidence-based practice into the care of the client;
- Use information management and application of client care technology;
- Examine policy, finance, and regulatory environments in healthcare;
- Incorporate inter-professional communication and collaboration to improve client health outcomes;
- Use clinical prevention and population health principles to improve the care of the client;
- Demonstrate professionalism and professional values in the care of the client;
- Integrate knowledge and skills across the lifespan and in the continuum of healthcare environments in the care of the client.
DEGREE PLAN
| COURSES | CREDITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GENERAL EDUCATION (total of 55 semester credits) | |||
| PSY1012 General Psychology | 3 | ||
| ENC1101 English Composition | 3 | ||
| MCB2010C Microbiology with Lab | 4 | ||
| MAC1105 Algebra | 3 | ||
| STA3100 Statistics | 3 | ||
| BSC2082C Anatomy & Physiology with Lab | 8 | ||
| ENC1102 English Composition II | 3 | ||
| LIT1000 Introduction to Literature | 3 | ||
| SPC1017 Fundamentals of Speech | 3 | ||
| PHI2604 Philosophy and Critical Thinking | 3 | ||
| HUN1201 Human Nutrition | 3 | ||
| CHM3010C Organic Chemistry with Lab | 4 | ||
| SOC3100 Sociology | 3 | ||
| SPC3301 Interpersonal Communication | 3 | ||
| DEP1000 Growth & Development | 3 | ||
| SYA3200 Introduction to Research Methods | 3 | ||
| NURSING CONCENTRATION COURSES (total of 65 semester credits) | |||
| NUR3010 Health Assessment and Promotion | 4 | ||
| NUR3025 Pharmacology | 3 | ||
| NUR3031 Pathophysiology in Nursing Practice | 3 | ||
| NUR3150 Care of the Client I | 4 | ||
| NUR3150L Care of the Client I Residency | 4 | ||
| NUR3250 Care of the Client II | 8 | ||
| NUR3250L Care of the Client II Clinical Residency | 4 | ||
| NUR3210 Mental Health Nursing | 2 | ||
| NUR3210L Mental Health Nursing Clinical Residency | 1 | ||
| NUR4550 Evidence Based Nursing Practice | 3 | ||
| NUR4050 Care of the Client III | 8 | ||
| NUR4050L Care of the Client III Clinical Residency | 4 | ||
| NUR4020 Care of Women and Children | 2 | ||
| NUR4020L Care of Women and Children Clinical Residency | 1 | ||
| NUR4200 Professional Nursing Integration I | 7 | ||
| NUR4220 Professional Nursing Integration II | 7 | ||
| TOTALS | 120 | ||
TECHNICAL STANDARDS
Essential Functional Abilities
The student’s health must enable him/her to fulfill the requirements and outcomes of the nursing program. International Colleges of Health Science’s nursing program requires the following as functional abilities for nursing students.
| CATEGORY | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Gross Motor Skills | Gross motor skill sufficient to provide the full range of safe and effective nursing care activities, such as moving within confined spaces, standing, and maintaining balance, reaching above shoulders (IV poles), reaching below waist (plug electrical appliance into wall outlets). |
| Fine Motor Skills | Fine motor skills sufficient to perform psychomotor skills, such as picking up objects with hands, grasping small objects with hands (IV tubing, pencil), writing with pen or pencil, keying/typing (use a computer), Pinching/picking or otherwise working with fingers (manipulate a syringe, eye droppers). |
| Physical Endurance | Physical stamina sufficient to perform client care activities for entire length of work role, such as standing during surgical or therapeutic procedures, sustaining repetitive movements (CPR), maintaining physical tolerance (work entire shift). |
| Physical Strength | Physical strength sufficient to perform full range of required client care activities, such as pushing and pulling 25 pounds (position clients), supporting 25 pounds of weight (ambulate client), lifting 25 pounds (pick up a child, transfer client), moving light objects weighting up to 10 pounds (IV poles), defending self against combative client, using proper upper strength (perform CPR, physically restrain a client), squeezing with hands (operate fire extinguisher). |
| Mobility | Physical abilities sufficient to move from place to place in a quick manner and to maneuver by twisting, bending, Stopping/squatting, moving quickly (response to an emergency), climbing (ladders/stools/stairs), walking. |
| Hearing | Auditory ability sufficient for physical monitoring and assessment of client health care needs, which includes hearing normal speaking level sounds (person-to-person report), hearing faint body sounds (blood pressure sounds, assess placement of tubes), hearing in situations when not able to see lips. |
| Visual | Visual ability sufficient for accurate observation and performance of nursing care, which includes seeing objects up to 20 inches away (information on a computer screen, skin conditions), seeing objects up to 20 feet away (client in a room), seeing objects more than 20 feet away (client at end of hall), use depth perception, use peripheral vision, distinguish color (color codes on supplies, charts, bed), distinguish color intensity (flushed skin, skin paleness). |
| Tactile | Tactile ability sufficient for physical monitoring and assessment of health care needs, which includes feeling vibrations, detecting temperature, and feeling differences in surface characteristics, sizes, and shapes. |
| Smell | Olfactory ability sufficient to detect significant environmental and client odors. |
| Reading | Reading ability sufficient to comprehend the written word at a minimum of a tenth-grade level. |
| Arithmetic | Arithmetic ability sufficient to do computations at a minimum of an eight-grade level. It includes the following three concepts: Counting: the act of enumerating or determining the number of items in a group. Measuring: the act or process of ascertaining the extent, dimensions, or quantity of something. Computing: the act or process of performing mathematical calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. |
| Emotional Stability | Emotional stability sufficient to assume responsibility/accountability for actions, which includes establishing therapeutic boundaries, dealing with the unexpected, adapting to a changing environment/stress, focusing attention on a task, performing multiple responsibilities concurrently, and handling strong emotions. Analytical/thinking/reasoning skills sufficient to perform deductive and inductive thinking necessary to make nursing decisions, which includes transferring knowledge from one situation to another, processing information, problem solving, evaluating outcomes, prioritizing tasks, and using short- term and long-term memory. |
| Critical Thinking Skills | Critical thinking skills sufficient to exercise sound nursing judgment, which includes identifying cause-effect relationships, planning/controlling activities for others, synthesizing knowledge and skills, and sequencing information. |
| Interpersonal Skills | Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups respecting social, cultural, and spiritual diversity. This includes the ability to negotiate interpersonal conflict, respect differences in clients, establish rapport with clients, establish rapport with coworkers. |
| Communication Skills | Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in written and oral form, which includes teaching, explaining procedures, giving oral reports, and conveying information through writing. This includes the ability to teach (client/family about health care), explain procedures, give oral reports (report on client’s condition to others), interact with others (heath care workers), speak on the telephone, Influence people, direct activities of others, convey information through writing (progress notes). |
| Analytical Thinking | Reasoning skills sufficient to perform deductive/inductive thinking for nursing decisions. |
This list was developed from The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. list of essential functional abilities.
PROGRAM DISCLOSURES
Program Disclosures
Program Outcomes: Consumer Information 
Licensure Requirements:
ICHS (International College of Health Sciences) cannot determine whether its nursing program meets licensure requirements in each student’s state of residence; therefore, we are providing a link to the contact information for the individual state licensing boards.
Board of Nursing Contact Information by State: https://www.ncsbn.org/membership/us-members/contact-bon.page
Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact:
The Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact allows for nurses to have one multistate license with the ability to practice in all compact states. Health care delivery requires that nursing care, today and in the future, be fluid across state lines. The model for state licensure that we have had is not flexible or adaptable to meet this need. However, under the eNLC, nurses can provide care to patients located across the country, without having to obtain additional licenses. Some of the benefits of the eNLC include:
- Enables nurses to practice in person or provide telenursing services to patients located across the country without having to obtain additional licenses;
- Nurses can cross state borders and provide services in the event of a disaster;
- Facilitates telenursing and online nursing education;
- Decrease expense for organizations that employ nurses and may share the cost of multiple licenses.
The enhanced NLC (eNLC) increases access to care while maintaining public protection at the state level.
For current information on the status of the eNLC please go to their site: Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).
Source: National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) 2023
