Adult Health Nurse/Nursing

Also known as: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Registered Nurse (RN) Program, Professional Nursing

In this Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, you will learn to provide comprehensive, evidence-based care to adult patients across the lifespan, from young adults to the elderly. You will develop critical thinking, clinical judgment, and hands-on skills to assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care in various healthcare settings. The curriculum emphasizes health promotion, disease prevention, and the management of acute and chronic health conditions in adult populations.

Healthcare & Life SciencesNursingHealthcarePatient CareScience

A Week as a Student

Your day kicks off with a large Anatomy and Physiology lecture, packed with complex organ systems and terminology. Later, you head to the Foundations of Nursing Practice lab. You’re practicing basic patient assessments on manikins when you realize you completely forgot a step in checking radial pulses, a small setback. A TA notices your frown and patiently guides your hands. After class, you grab a quick coffee with friends, discussing the overwhelming amount of material you just covered, but also the excitement of hands-on skills.

High School Preparation

Required Subjects

BiologyChemistryAlgebra IIPre-CalculusEnglish

Recommended GPA

3.2-3.5+

Advanced Courses (AP/IB/Honors)

AP Biology
AP Chemistry
Honors Anatomy & Physiology
AP Statistics
AP Psychology

Recommended Activities

Volunteer at a hospital or nursing home
CPR and First Aid certification
Join a Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) chapter
Shadow a Registered Nurse
Participate in a school science club

Application Essay Topics

Describe an experience that led you to pursue a career in nursing, and how it shaped your understanding of patient care.
Discuss a current challenge in adult healthcare and how you envision nurses contributing to its solution.
Reflect on a time you demonstrated compassion or critical thinking in a challenging situation, and how those qualities are essential for nursing.
How do you plan to incorporate evidence-based practice and lifelong learning into your nursing career?

Alternative Path

You can also enter the nursing field by first earning an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from a community college and then pursuing an RN-to-BSN bridge program. Additionally, some licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/LVN) pursue bridge programs to become registered nurses (RNs) and then complete a BSN.

Core Subjects

Click on "i" to learn more about each subject

Career Prospects

Growing Study Prospects

After completing this program, you can work as a Registered Nurse (RN) in various settings, including hospitals (e.g., medical-surgical units, critical care, emergency rooms), outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, home healthcare, and community health centers. Specific roles might include Medical-Surgical Nurse, Critical Care Nurse, Geriatric Nurse, or Primary Care Nurse.

Impact of AI on this Study

AI is increasingly impacting adult health nursing by assisting with predictive analytics for patient deterioration, streamlining administrative tasks, and supporting diagnostic processes. You will learn to use electronic health records (EHRs), telehealth platforms, and potentially AI-driven tools for data analysis, personalized care planning, and clinical decision support, enhancing efficiency and patient outcomes.