In 1992, Mercy College of Ohio began the transition from a diploma school of nursing to a degree-granting institution. In 1994, the College granted its first associate degrees in nursing. The strategic plan at that time included the implementation of a baccalaureate program in nursing. In 1999, the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN) and the Ohio Board of Regents (now the Ohio Department of Higher Education) granted approval for the Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. In June 2000, The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (now Higher Learning Commission) approved the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The first pre-licensure and registered nurse (RN) to BSN completion students were admitted in fall 2000.
The baccalaureate program of study is further based on sound principles of education progressing from simple to complex, familiar to unfamiliar, and general to specific. The program provides students with the opportunity to achieve program objectives through the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, and competencies necessary to function as professional nurses who meet the healthcare needs of individuals across the lifespan. The following student learning outcomes emphasize Christian values, critical thinking, clinical competence, and professional development:
Admission Requirements into Nursing Coursework in the BSN Pre-Licensure Program of Study
Students interested in applying to the BSN Pre-licensure coursework and clinical experiences must complete a BSN Candidacy form in Semester III if a current student and meet the following admission requirements or transfer student guidelines by following the process below.
BSN Pre-licensure coursework and clinical experiences are sequential and begin in fall (August,) and spring (January) semesters with NUR 251, NUR 252, and NUR 290. Candidates who apply after the priority application dates will be considered based on seat availability.
| Application for |
Priority Application Review Date for File to be Complete |
Review of Candidates |
| Fall Start (August) |
January 15th |
February 15th |
| Spring Start (January) |
September 15th |
October 15th |
Admission Requirements
Candidates must be high school graduates with a GPA of at least 2.7 or GED recipients with a score of 570 (score of 57 prior to 2002).
Applicants must have achieved the following test scores:
- ACT composite score of 21, with a score of 20 on mathematics sub-test and a score of 19 on scientific reasoning sub-test, or SAT with a combined score of 1060-1090 or above.
- ACT/SAT is waived for a transfer student who has earned a minimum of 15 college credit hours at a regionally-accredited institution of higher education with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7.
Applicants must have completed and passed these high school courses, or their college equivalents:
- *Biology – one year
- *Chemistry with a lab – one year
- *Math – Algebra – one year
All courses should be completed with a grade of “C” or better; a grade of “B” or better is preferred.
*Courses must have been completed within the past seven (7) years with grade of “C” or better.
Transfer Student Guidelines
Transfer students must be high school graduates or GED recipients and have earned a minimum of 15 credit hours of college coursework from a regionally-accredited college, with a GPA of at least 2.7 and have completed all the necessary program prerequisite courses. For applicants who have attended more than one regionally-accredited college, the cumulative GPA from all colleges must equal at least 2.7. The Nursing Division BSN Program Admission Scoring Rubric will be used to objectively review a candidate’s educational records.
The BSN Pre-licensure Nursing Program Admissions Committee will not consider applicants for admission into the program if applicants have failed two or more nursing courses at another college or university or have been dismissed from another nursing program in the past five (5) years.
Students who do not meet the requirements or who need to complete the necessary program prerequisite courses should review General College Admission Requirements in the Enrollment Management section of the College Catalog.
Candidacy Review Process
All candidate information will be thoroughly evaluated by the BSN Pre-licensure Nursing Program Admissions Committee using the Nursing Division BSN Program Admission Scoring Rubric. The scored rubric provides an objective review of candidates’ educational records. Accepted students will receive a letter from the Dean of Nursing.
The Direct from High School Initiative- Edge
The College offers Direct Admission into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, called EDGE (Early Decision Guaranteed Enrollment), which guarantees a seat in the Nursing program after three semesters of specific coursework.
This option is specifically designed for high school seniors with:
- A minimum GPA of 3.3
- A minimum composite ACT score of 24 or SAT score of 1160-1190
A high school student who is accepted into the EDGE program must begin at Mercy College within one year of high school graduation.
EDGE is a full-time eight-semester program of study designed for highly qualified students pursuing a career in nursing. Students must:
- Maintain a GPA of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in Mercy College coursework, with a 3.0 GPA in the science courses.
- Complete all prerequisite courses and by the end of the third semester.
Students in the EDGE program do not have to complete the BSN Candidacy form.
Requirements for Clinicals
Criminal background checks, drug screens, health records, and titers/immunizations are required prior to the start of the clinical program. Program requirements and instructions are maintained on the College website at https://mercycollege.edu/background. The Policy can be found at https://mercycollege.edu/about/compliance-consumer-information.
Prerequisite Courses
Semester I
| BIO 220 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| | |
| MTH 104 | Mathematical Formulas, Models, and Probability | 3 |
| Or | |
| MTH 130 | College Algebra | 4 |
| | |
| NUR 101 | Introduction to Nursing | 1 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17-18 |
Semester II
| BIO 201 | Physiological Basis of Nutrition | 2 |
| BIO 210 | Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO 221 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
| MTH 140 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Note: Students may apply to the BSN Pre-licensure program if courses within Semesters I-II are successfully completed.
Semester III
Degree Requirements
To earn the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree, students must complete all college requirements including:
General Education Requirements
Specific courses are required by the program.
Complete All of the Following Courses:
Oral and Written Communication (GCOM) - 6 minimum
Math, Statistics and Logic (GMSL) - 3 minimum
| MTH 104 | Mathematical Formulas, Models, and Probability | 3 |
| Or | |
| MTH 130 | College Algebra | 4 |
| | |
| MTH 140 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSBS) - 6 minimum
Arts, Humanities, Culture and Diversity (includes Religious Studies) (GAHD/GAHR) - 9 minimum
| REL 290 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| SOC 211 | Cultural Diversity | 3 |
| Arts, Humanities, Culture and Diversity – Religious Studies course | 3 |
Natural Sciences, Technology and Innovation (GNSI) - 6 minimum
| BIO 201 | Physiological Basis of Nutrition | 2 |
| BIO 210 | Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO 220 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO 221 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIO 290 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| CHM 111 | Basic Organic and Biochemistry | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 51-52 |
Required Nursing Pre-Licensure Program Course Requirements
Complete All of the Following Program Courses:
| NUR 101 | Introduction to Nursing | 1 |
| NUR 256 | Fundamental Nursing Concepts | 8 |
| NUR 259 | Pharmacology Nursing Concepts | 4 |
| NUR 316 | Clinical Nursing Concepts I | 8 |
| NUR 318 | Professional Nursing Concepts I | 4 |
| NUR 326 | Clinical Nursing Concepts II | 8 |
| NUR 328 | Professional Nursing Concepts II | 5 |
| NUR 416 | Clinical Nursing Concepts III | 8 |
| NUR 418 | Professional Nursing Concepts III | 5 |
| NUR 426 | Clinical Nursing Concepts IV | 7 |
| NUR 428 | Professional Nursing Concepts IV | 3 |
| NUR 481 | NCLEX-RN Preparation | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 63 |
Credit Hour Requirements
| Total Required Bachelor of Science General Education Credit Hours |
51-52 |
| Total Required Nursing Pre-Licensure Program Credit Hours |
63 |
| Free Elective Credit Hours |
6 |
| Total Credit Hours for Graduation |
120-121 |
Students may be required to take additional free elective credits to reach the 120 credit hours required for graduation. Free elective credit may be satisfied through prior coursework and transfer credit. See academic advisor for more details.
To complete college requirements students must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours of 300 to 400 level coursework.
Sample Program of Study
Semester I
| BIO 220 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| MTH 104 | Mathematical Formulas, Models, and Probability | 3 |
| NUR 101 | Introduction to Nursing | 1 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
Semester II
Semester III
Semester IV
| Religious Studies general education course | 3 |
| NUR 256 | Fundamental Nursing Concepts | 8 |
| NUR 259 | Pharmacology Nursing Concepts | 4 |
Semester V
| NUR 316 | Clinical Nursing Concepts I | 8 |
| NUR 318 | Professional Nursing Concepts I | 4 |
| Arts, Humanities, Culture, Diversity of Social Science Electives | 3 |
Semester VI
| NUR 326 | Clinical Nursing Concepts II | 8 |
| NUR 328 | Professional Nursing Concepts II | 5 |
| General Elective | 3 |
Semester VII
| NUR 416 | Clinical Nursing Concepts III | 8 |
| NUR 418 | Professional Nursing Concepts III | 5 |
Semester VIII
| NUR 426 | Clinical Nursing Concepts IV | 7 |
| NUR 428 | Professional Nursing Concepts IV | 3 |
| NUR 481 | NCLEX-RN Preparation | 2 |
Graduates of the baccalaureate Pre-licensure nursing program are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) examination to practice as a registered nurse. The baccalaureate nurse is prepared to plan, provide, and coordinate care for clients experiencing problems across the health-illness continuum.