University of Arizona, College of Nursing workshop on how to apply to an entry level nursing degree program. The College of Nursing offers two degree programs for students seeking an initial license to become a Registered Nurse (RN). www.nursing.arizona.edu/bsn www.nursing.arizona.edu/mepn

1. Application Workshop
Entry to the Profession of Nursing

2. College of Nursing
 First School of Nursing in the State of Arizona, founded in
1957
 Ranked in the top 6% of nursing programs nationally, by US
News and World Report
 A leading research institution, with robust faculty research
integrated into the everyday learning
 Learn from internationally renowned scholars and researchers
 Faculty generated over $3.4 million in research awards
 57% of faculty have a doctorate, 100% have advanced practice licensure
 Over $3 million annually in awards: scholarships, loans and
grant funds
 One of the best passage rates in Arizona on the NCLEX-RN (RN
licensure exam) at 95%-98%

3. Degree Programs
Pre
Entry
RN
Advanced
CSL
NP
• Pre-Professional Nursing
(Pre-Major)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Master’s Entry to the Profession of
Nursing (MEPN)
• RN to MSN - Clinical Systems Leadership
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Post-Master/Doctoral Certificates

4. Academic Support Services
 Academic Advising, Professional Staff
 Course scheduling, transitions support, career assistance,
application assistance, student organization advising, peer mentoring
programs, programming and student events, campus referrals
 Faculty Mentoring
 Advice from nursing professionals on: advancing in the profession,
professional organizations, preparing for professional work
 Learning Support Services
 Full-time, Nursing Learning Support Specialist
 Kaplan partnership for NCLEX preparation
 NCLEX type questions integrated into exams and assignments

5. Steele Innovative Learning Center
Nursing Skills and Simulation Lab
State of the art learning facilities
 3 Complex Care Simulation Rooms (with Sims)
 Health Assessment Lab (10 beds with Sims)
 Universal Patient Care Lab (10 beds with Sims)
 IV Skills Center (Sim arms/torsos and Virtual IV)

7. Clinical Work
 Clinical Student to Faculty Ratio of 9 to 1
 Graduates get over 1000 hours of clinical experience
Clinical Placements
 College finds placements for all students
 Partnerships with local Tucson hospitals
 University of Arizona Medical Center
 Tucson Medical Center
 Veterans, Tucson
 Northwest Medical Center
 St. Joseph’s
 St. Mary’s
 Partnerships with local community health agencies
 Service Learning
 Public Health Advocacy
 School Nursing, Hospice, Sexual Health Advocacy, Refugee Groups
7

8. Bachelor of Science in
Nursing (BSN)

9. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)






Entry to the Profession
Undergraduate
2-Year Professional Program
Fall/Spring coursework
In-residence in Tucson
May start as Pre-Professional
at UA or apply directly to program
as a Transfer Student
 Not required to be Pre-Professional in order to apply
 No preference given for UA vs. Transfer
 Transfer students who have prerequisites completed should
declare a back up major instead of Pre-Professional Nursing.

10. Master’s Entry to the Profession
of Nursing (MEPN)

11. Master’s Entry to Profession of Nursing
(MEPN)



Entry to the Profession
Master’s of Science with an Emphasis in Nursing degree
(non-specialty) – not the same as an MSN.
Coursework at the graduate level





Requires a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing area
Courses are harder, more in-depth
Require more reading/writing, critical thinking/analysis
Accelerated 15-Month Program
Two Locations


Tucson (66 admit/year)
Phoenix (24 admit/year)

12. COMPARE

13. Nursing Prerequisites
English Composition (1-2)
{BSN ONLY}
General Biology (1)
{BSN ONLY}
Microbiology (1)
Chemistry (2)
Lecture and Lab
Lifespan Development (1)
Nutrition (1)
Anatomy & Physiology (2)
Statistics (1)
Lecture and Lab

14. BSN and MEPN Admission Scores
10%
20%
Stateme
nt
Stateme
nt
20 %
Interview
20 %
Interview
25% Cumulative
GPA
20% Recent GPA
(Last 60 Units Coursework)
45% Prerequisite
GPA
40% Prerequisite
GPA
BSN
MEPN
(All College Coursework)

15. Calculating the GPA
-
Cumulative GPA (BSN Only): is based on every attempt of every
college level course you have ever taken. We honor the grade
replacement policies of any institution where you take a course.
-
Last 60 Units GPA (MEPN Only): is based on the grades earned in
your most recent 60 units of college or graduate level coursework.
To calculate this, start with your most recent coursework and
count backwards 60 units; if 60 units is in the middle of a
semester, include the entire semester in which you reached 60
units.
-
Prerequisite GPA (both): is based on the best grade earned in
each prerequisite course. Retaking a course in this area for a
higher grade will replace the lower grade for this category, but
know that unless the grade is officially replaced on your
transcript, both grades will go into your Cumulative GPA
calculation.
-
Note: UA GPA is your graduation GPA. It is only based on courses
taken at UA and does not use transfer course grades.

16. BSN and MEPN Admission Averages
BSN
Averages
of those
admitted
over the
last 3 years
*Note: MEPN will begin using the
Last 60 Unit GPA in place of the
Cumulative GPA effective with
the October 1, 2014 application.
No data is available yet for
admitted GPA in the Last 60 Unit
category.
MEPN
3.7
3.5
Prerequisite
GPA
(min 3.0)
(3.5-4.0)
(3.2-4.0)
Cumulative
GPA
3.5
3.2
(min 3.0)
(3.4-4.0)
(3.1-4.0)
Number
Admitted
each cohort
54
(108 total
per year)
90
(total per
year)
Number of
Applicants
450
250

17. Statement – BSN & MEPN
 What can you as a student bring to the College of
Nursing Community?
– Why are you a good fit for the program?
– 400 word statement
Important Topics to Cover:
– Preparation for entering a nursing program
– Professional aspirations, intellectual interests
– Volunteering experiences, nursing professional experiences,
shadowing, etc
– Your most notable awards and most meaningful activities or
achievements
– How you became interested in nursing, significant intercultural
experiences or life circumstances (context)
– Keep it focused on academic preparation and ambitions

18. Statement – MEPN Only
 Describe the traits and values you have that will lead to
successful completion of the MEPN Program. Address the rigors of
the program, its time commitment and work obligation.
 How you will manage your time?
 400 Word Statement
 Important Topics to Cover:




Personal stress management techniques
Balancing personal and work
Prior experiences with heavy workloads
Prior experience with stressful situations
 Keep it focused on academic preparedness and time management

19. Interviews
 Students who score in the top group of applicants are
invited to interviews
 Looking for:





Knowledge of Nursing Profession
Personal Motivation
Communication Skills
Moral, Ethical, and Personal Decision Making
Career Goals
 This is where research, volunteering, leadership, and
student organizations pay off – in knowledge of the
profession
 Faculty do not see your application prior to interview –
they are blind interviews

20. Application Steps - BSN
 Complete the University of Arizona Undergraduate Admissions
application (if not a current UA Student)




Online Application
Send Official Transcripts for each institution attended
Please make sure to select the correct term for admission.
If not a Current UA Student, please make sure to fill out the correct
application (Transfer) and complete ALL of the Next Steps for Admission.
 Complete online College of Nursing application
 Personal statement
 Disclosure questionnaire
 If a current UA student:
 Make sure that the UA has the most recent transcript showing all completed or in progress
coursework from any school other than the UA that you have attended. If you are not sure how
to check this, contact your advisor.
 Highest scoring candidates after initial review will be invited
in for an interview. Phone or Skype options available if
necessary.
 Interview scores will be added to existing scores, and the
highest scoring students will be offered admission.

21. Application Steps - MEPN
 Complete the University of Arizona Graduate College
application




Online Application
Please make sure to select the correct term for admission.
Separate application and process
Upload an unofficial copies of transcripts for:
 The school where you earned your bachelor’s degree
 Any school where you have prerequisites
 Any school where you have coursework within your last 60 units
 Complete online College of Nursing application
 Grades in your Prerequisite courses –
list the name of the course as it appears on the
transcript of the school where you took the course
 Personal statement
 Disclosure questionnaire
 Highest scoring candidates after initial review will be invited in for an
interview. Phone or Skype options available if necessary.
 Interview scores will be added to existing scores, and the highest
scoring students will be offered admission.

22. Application Deadlines - BSN
 September 1
 Begin coursework in the Spring term
 All courses must be completed at time of application
 February 1
 Begin coursework in the Fall term
 Two prerequisites may be in progress

23. Application Deadlines - MEPN
 October 1
 Begin coursework mid-May
 All prerequisite coursework must be complete at time
of application
 Must have a bachelors degree in a non-nursing area
completed at time of application
 Must select a location option at application




Tucson
Phoenix
Both, with a preference for Tucson
Both, with a preference for Phoenix

24. Questions

25. Frequently Asked Questions
I took a course outside of the UA,
how do I know if it counts?
1. Is the course the same number of credits as the one
offered at the UA?
2. Does the course have the same title (Uses mostly
the same words) as the one at the UA?
3. Does the course description use similar keywords to
the one at the UA?
 If you answered yes to all three questions, then it has a
strong chance of meeting our requirement. However, we
require everyone to submit the course for evaluation using
the online form prior to application to ensure you meet the
requirements.

26. Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to submit transcripts for the
photography class I took last summer at home?
Yes. Submit transcripts for all post-high school work.
Do I have to take courses within a certain
number of years in order to be eligible for
admission?
No, but we recommend doing some sort of refresher
for science courses if it’s been a long time.

27. Frequently Asked Questions
Will you evaluate my international
/non-Arizona transcript?
No, we do not evaluate transcripts.
Prerequisite courses may be submitted for
evaluation via the form on the website.

28. Office of Student Affairs
College of Nursing Room 112
520-626-3808
entry@nursing.arizona.edu
www.nursing.arizona.edu
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