Information for Prospective Students Interested in Nursing at Penn State
With the significant national shortage of registered nurses (RNs), many prospective students are interested in becoming nurses. They often ask about the advantages of an associate degree versus a baccalaureate degree, part-time versus full-time enrollment, costs and financial aid, admission requirements, employment outlook, and other factors to consider when contemplating a nursing career.
Considering a Degree in Nursing?
Nursing is a career unlike any other. It is challenging, yet rewarding. Nurses are at people's sides during both some of the happiest and the most vulnerable points of their lives and their families'. Nurses work in a variety of hospital settings (intensive care, labor and delivery, oncology, surgical floor, etc.) as well as in extended-care facilities, community health clinics, schools, prisons, the military, corporations, developing countries, homes, and other environments. Work hours include all shifts and every day of the year.
How do you know if nursing is for you? The Internet provides a wealth of information about nursing in general. A good place to begin your career research is the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network. Talk with nurses and administrators in a variety of settings. Get permission to follow one (or several) around for a day. Visit and volunteer to work at the information desk or deliver flowers in your local hospital or other health care site to see if you are comfortable in that environment.
Think about your own experience with nurses. What made one nurse better than another? Generally speaking, successful nurses:
- Demonstrate a keen interest in helping others. Nursing is about caring for others. Nurses help with activities of daily living, change bandages, transfer patients from beds to wheelchairs, dispense medications, explain procedures, and answer many questions.
- Are academically strong, especially in biology. The nursing curriculum is rigorous, with courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pathophysiology, and chemistry.
- Are physically able. Nursing requires a great deal of standing, walking, and lifting. Hearing and vision are also important.
- Think critically and analyze information. A successful nurse must be able to understand doctors' orders, interpret readings from laboratory tests and medical instruments, understand a patient’s explanation of symptoms and combine that data with other information to provide safe and high-quality care.
- Remain calm in an emergency. Crisis situations can arise at any time.
- Listen effectively and with compassion. Patients and family members are often frightened and confused. Nurses need to be able to draw out the information needed for effective treatment.
- Can deal with family dynamics in stressful situations. Family members are often upset and may act differently than they would in a normal situation.
- Are flexible and adaptable. Priorities may change at a moment’s notice.
- Are detail oriented and good at keeping records. Accurate and legible records must be maintained.
How is a Registered Nurse (RN) different than a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)?
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) typically have one year of education and are prepared to perform simple to complex medical procedures and tasks. They operate under the supervision of a registered professional nurse or a physician. Registered nurses (RNs) have two to four years of education and are prepared to practice in a variety of health care settings to meet the health needs of individuals across the life span.
Does Penn State offer an LPN to RN program?
Not specifically. However, LPNs do receive college credits (4 toward the B.S., or 8 plus the possibility of testing for 8 more for the associate degree) toward completion of the program.
What is required for an RN license?
To obtain an RN license, the individual must have graduated from a nursing program approved by a state board of nursing, meet all the requirements to sit for the licensure examination (including no felony convictions within the past ten years), and successfully pass the examination. There are several educational pathways which lead to the RN licensing exam, but all require completion of an approved nursing program.
What are the different types of RN programs?
Many diploma programs, which offer a diploma in nursing, are connected to hospitals. Often, though, diploma programs are affiliated with colleges, where the sciences and other required general education courses are taught. Some affiliations allow the diploma student to earn an associate degree in a general area, such as liberal arts, as a complement to the nursing diploma.
Associate degrees (two-year programs) are offered at technical schools, community colleges, or universities. They focus on a core of nursing information, the sciences, and general education to support nursing. These programs provide the foundation to enter the nursing discipline at a beginning level. Penn State's School of Nursing supports the national movement toward baccalaureate degrees for entry-level nurses and encourages associate degree graduates to pursue baccalaureate or higher-level degrees.
Baccalaureate degrees, four-year programs offered at colleges and universities, prepare nurses to provide comprehensive service to individuals, families, groups, and communities. These programs are designed to develop critical thinking and nursing skills at a higher level.
All three types of programs prepare students to sit for the same National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which tests for entry-level competency and safety, and which is required to become a registered nurse. The difference is in the academic credential conferred by the hospital, college, or university. Many facilities will hire RNs from any level of program; others hire only those with associate or baccalaureate degrees, while a few accept the baccalaureate degree only. Most management opportunities go to those with the higher degrees. A baccalaureate degree in nursing is needed to pursue graduate nursing education.
What undergraduate programs in Nursing does Penn State offer and where are they available?
Penn State offers four undergraduate degree nursing programs: the A.S., the B.S. with a General Nursing option, the B.S. with a Second or Additional Degree option, and the RN-to-B.S. completion program.
The associate of science degree (two-year) program is available at Altoona, Erie (Behrend), Fayette (Eberly), Mont Alto, and Worthington Scranton.
The General Nursing option for the bachelor of science degree is a four-year program. Although students can take the first year at any campus offering Biology 129 (Mammalian Anatomy) and Biology 141/142 (Introductory Physiology with laboratory), the full program is available only at University Park. The junior or senior year of study is at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (students live in Hershey while studying there).
The Second or Additional Degree option for the bachelor of science is an intensive sixteen-month program open to individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field. This program is currently offered at the Altoona and Harrisburg campuses. All non-nursing courses listed on the 
BS Recommended Academic Plan must be completed prior to admission.
The RN to B.S. in Nursing program is for individuals who have already completed an associate degree or diploma program and want to earn a bachelor’s degree. This program is available at the Abington, Altoona, Erie (Behrend), Fayette (Eberly), Harrisburg, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Schuylkill, Shenango, and Worthington Scranton locations, as well as online through World Campus. Accelerated (seven-week) courses are offered at Altoona, Erie (Behrend), Fayette (Eberly), and Worthington Scranton).
What is the difference between the Accelerated program and the Second Degree program?
The accelerated program is an RN-to-B.S. program designed to help current RNs earn their B.S. degrees as quickly as possible. Courses are a blend of in-class (one day a week), web-enhanced, and online courses over seven-week sessions. This format is available at the Altoona, Erie (Behrend) Fayette (Eberly), and Worthington Scranton campuses.
The Second or Additional Degree program is for individuals who already have a baccalaureate degree in another (non-nursing) field to obtain a B.S. in Nursing in sixteen months (fall, spring, summer, and fall semesters). Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to admission. The Second or Additional Degree program is available at the Altoona and Harrisburg campuses only.
Do I go to Hershey?
Only B.S. students in the General Nursing option participate in the clinical experience at the Hershey Medical Center. Except for Schreyer Scholars, ROTC, athletes, or Blue Band members, most General Nursing option students will spend a full year at Hershey.
Can I study abroad?
Only B.S. students in the General Nursing option have the opportunity to study abroad. Because of the nature of the Nursing curriculum, Nursing students can study abroad only during the summer or other breaks. Some of these opportunities are offered by Nursing faculty (see International Travel Experiences) and others can be arranged through the University Office of Global Programs. Students who study abroad during fall or spring semesters will find themselves a year behind in the curriculum, and their place in the program will no longer be guaranteed. Review-admitted students who study abroad during the fall or spring semesters immediately following their admission to Nursing will have their offers of admission rescinded.
Are courses available evenings, weekends, or online?
The entire RN-to-B.S. program is available online through the World Campus. In addition, some General Education courses are available online. Nursing courses for the associate degree and B.S. (General Nursing and Second or Additional Degree options) must be taken in residence during the academic year. Most of these courses are offered during the day, although a few are offered only in the evening.
Can I study part-time?
The RN-to-B.S. program is often completed on a part-time basis. Because of the limited number of spaces available and the sequential order of clinical progression, the associate and baccalaureate degree programs are primarily for full-time students. Part-time students are considered on an exceptional basis only. The Second or Additional Degree option is full-time study, including the summer sessions.
Where are clinical courses?
Clinical courses may be held anywhere within a fifty-mile radius of the campus. Students are responsible for transportation to and from clinical sites. Clinical experiences usually begin at 6:30 a.m. and go until 12:30 p.m., although there are some afternoon-to-evening sections.
Is the School of Nursing accredited?
Yes. The school’s programs are approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The B.S. and graduate programs are also accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
What if I already have another degree?
Penn State offers an intensive program specifically designed for second-degree students. If the proper prerequisites have been fulfilled, a student may obtain a B.S. in Nursing in sixteen months. Upon graduation, the individual is eligible to sit for the NCLEX licensure exam.
If the proper prerequisites have not been completed, a student must complete them with a C or better by the spring prior to admission. Penn State's Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Certificate Program can help facilitate the process of completing these prerequisites at University Park campus.
A student with another degree may also choose to pursue an associate degree in Nursing. Credits from the previous degree may count toward the Nursing degree; however, clinical courses would still require two years to complete the degree. Admission is competitive.
How many students pass the NCLEX exam?
The specific number/percentage changes continually as additional students take the test for the first time. Penn State's School of Nursing consistently has a higher pass rate on the national licensure examination than both the national and state averages.
What happens if a student doesn’t pass the NCLEX?
Students can retake the examination.
Are there any extra requirements?
Yes. Students must be able to pass an annual physical examination child abuse, Pennsylvania, and federal (requires fingerprinting) criminal background checks (students must be free of felony convictions in the past ten years); provide proof of medical coverage (student insurance policies are available); purchase professional liability (malpractice) insurance; and complete a specific CPR course. All program requirements must be met in order to progress in the program.
How do you specialize?
Upon graduation, students are prepared to be generalists. Although they can work in any number of settings, true specialization requires advanced graduate education.
What graduate programs are available at Penn State?
You must have a B.S. in nursing to be admitted to a graduate program in Nursing at Penn State. Penn State offers an M.S. degree program with three options: Clinical Nurse Specialist (Adult Medical Surgical, Community Health, Nursing Administration, Gerontology, or Clinical Trials Research), Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Family Nurse Practitioner. A Ph.D. program is also available.
What are the admission requirements?
For the associate degree, applicants must have four years of high school English, two years of science (one in biology and one in chemistry), two years of math (including one year of algebra), and five years of social studies/art/humanities/foreign language combined.
For the baccalaureate General Nursing option, applicants must have four years of high school English, three years of science, three years of math (including algebra, geometry, or trigonometry), and five years of social studies/art/humanities/foreign language combined. Students lacking two years of the same foreign language who graduated from high school after 2001 will be required to take 4 credits of a foreign language within the first two years.
For the baccalaureate Second or Additional Degree option, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in another field as well as successfully complete all General Education and non-nursing courses listed in the Recommended Academic Plan. Because the program is so intensive, it is recommended that students be able to forgo outside employment for the duration of the program.
Applicants with fewer than 18 credits should complete a Penn State Application for Admission and apply directly to the Nursing major (use the following codes: 2NURS for the associate degree, NURN for the RN to B.S., 4-year BS is NURS—GNURS for the four-year B.S. General Nursing option).
Applicants with more than 18 credits completed after high school graduation are not eligible to apply to the four-year B.S. program. Applicants to the associate degree, RN to B.S., or Second or Additional Degree (code: NURS—SCND) programs should submit a Penn State Application for Admission as an advanced-standing (transfer) student.
Except for the RN to B.S. program and for LPN students interested in the two-year program, admission is for fall only. Spring admission into the two-year program for LPNs is on a space-available basis. Admission to the two-year, four-year B.S., Second or Additional Degree, and graduate programs is competitive and requires a strong grade-point average (GPA).
Second or Additional Degree B.S. applicants who are previous Penn State students should submit a request for reenrollment through the Registrar at their first choice of campus only (either Harrisburg or Altoona). Individuals who were never in a degree program at Penn State should submit an application to Penn State University through Admissions. Deadline for all applications is November 30.
For the associate degree program, application for the review is accomplished by submitting, by November 30, either an application to Penn State (if new to the University), a request for reenrollment (if previously a student at Penn State but not currently enrolled) or change-of-major request (for students currently enrolled).
For the RN to B.S. program, applicants must provide evidence of completion of an accredited RN program and request reenrollment (if previous Penn State student) or complete the Penn State admission application.
| PROGRAM | APPLICATION DEADLINE | DECISION MADE |
| Associate Degree | November 30 | February |
| RN to BS | On-going for each semester | On-going |
| Baccalaureate Degree (General) |
November 30 for first year admission December 31 for review candidates |
February |
| Baccalaureate Degree (Second Degree) |
November 30 | February |
| Master’s Degree | September 1 and February 1 | October and March |
| Ph.D. | On-going | Reviewed as received |
Can I apply for both the 2-year and the 4-year nursing programs or for the Associate Degree program at different campus locations?
Yes. As a first-time applicant to Penn State, you may select a second choice of major (and/or campus) on the application form. You may also send an e-mail to Admissions to request a second Nursing program.
If you have already been enrolled in another degree program at Penn State, you will need to apply by submitting a reenrollment request of change-of-major form. Applicants to the associate degree program are permitted to apply to up to two campuses.
What if I am not selected?
Selection is done annually in January/February for fall admission only (LPNs may be considered for spring admission to the two-year program on a space-available basis). If you are not selected, you should discuss your options with an adviser.
Applicants to the two-year program are permitted to apply only once.
High school applicants not admitted to the B.S. program in Nursing may consider another major at Penn State, followed by the sixteen-month Second or Additional Degree program. (See previous section, "What if I already have another degree?").
You may also choose to pursue a different level of nursing (for example, a diploma or associate degree rather than baccalaureate) or apply to a different college/technical/hospital program.
What are the costs?
Costs vary based on student status and campus location. See the Bursar’s website for specific campus information.
Costs for upper-division (59.5 or more credits) students are higher for Nursing students than others because the student-to-faculty ratio for clinical courses is a maximum of 10:1. This higher ratio results in higher costs to operate the program.
Other costs besides books and University fees include the annual physical exam with titers or immunizations, child abuse and criminal background checks, fingerprinting, CPR, professional liability insurance, uniforms, student assessment testing fees, and transportation to clinical sites.
Is Financial Aid available?
If you are enrolled as a degree-seeking student, you may be eligible for various federal and state grants or loans. Please contact the Student Aid Office.
In addition, completion of the FAFSA form automatically enters students into consideration for scholarships offered by the College of Health and Human Development.
Agencies, nonprofit organizations, and professional associations may offer additional scholarships. Some employers are willing to help with tuition or loan repayment in exchange for a commitment to employment for a certain length of time. Private loans also may be considered.
What wages do nurses make and what is the employment outlook?
Information can be found at the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site or Career One Stop.
What are some similar majors?
Students interested in Nursing are also often interested in Human Development and Family Studies, Biobehavioral Health, Kinesiology, Rehabilitation and Human Services, or Psychology.
Where can I go for more information?
See the Penn State School of Nursing website or contact one of the following:
| ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM | |||
| Altoona | Suzanne Kuhn | skk6@psu.edu | 814-949-5217 |
| Erie (Behrend) | Jo Anne Carrick | jam39@psu.edu | 814-898-6493 |
| Fayette (Eberly) | Melissa Miner | mbm12@psu.edu | 724-430-4227 |
| Mont Alto | Carranda Barkdoll | cmb207@psu.edu | 717-749-6205 |
| WorthingtonScranton | Verna Saleski | vxs12@psu.edu | 570-963-2646 |
| RN to BS PROGRAM | |||
| Abington | Brenda Holtzer | bmh17@psu.edu | 215-881-7398 |
| Altoona | Suzanne Kuhn | skk6@psu.edu | 814-949-5217 |
| Erie (Behrend) | Jo Anne Carrick | jam39@psu.edu | 814-898-6493 |
| Fayette (Eberly) | Melissa Miner | mbm12@psu.edu | 724-430-4227 |
| Harrisburg | Eric Doerfler | red1012@psu.edu | 717-948-6513 |
| Mont Alto | Carranda Barkdoll | cmb207@psu.edu | 717-749-6205 |
| New Kensington | Dolores O’Hara | dmo6@psu.edu | 724-334-6725 |
| Schuylkill | Susan Mickey | sxa127@psu.edu | 570-385-6000 |
| Shenango | Dr. Kathleen Mastrian | kgm1@psu.edu | 724-983-2871 |
| World Campus (online) | Gaby Winqvist | gew10@psu.edu | 814-867-3066 |
| WorthingtonScranton | Verna Saleski | vxs12@psu.edu | 570-963-2646 |
| BS PROGRAM (General) | Gaby Winqvist | gew10@psu.edu | 814-867-3066 |
| BS PROGRAM (Second Degree) |
Gaby Winqvist Suzanne Kuhn Eric Doerfler |
814-867-3066 814-949-5217 717-948-6513 |
|
| GRADUATE PROGRAM | Xiao Sheng | xus1@psu.edu | 814-863-2211 |
| CAMPUS | NURSING PROGRAMS | CONTACT |
| Abington | RN to B.S. | Brenda Holtzer bmh17@psu.edu 215-881-7398 |
| Altoona | Associate Degree, RN to B.S., B.S. (Second or Additional Degree), NP, CNS |
Suzanne Kuhn skk6@psu.edu 814-949-5217 |
| Erie (Behrend) | Associate Degree, RN to B.S. | Jo Anne Carrick jam39@psu.edu 814-898-6493 |
| Fayette (The Eberly Campus) | Associate Degree, RN to B.S., NP | Melissa Miner mbm12@psu.edu 724-430-4227 |
| Harrisburg | RN to B.S., B.S. (Second or Additional Degree) | Eric Doerfler red1012@psu.edu 717-948-6513 |
| Mont Alto | Associate Degree, RN to B.S. | Carranda Barkdoll cmb207@psu.edu 717-749-6205 |
| New Kensington | RN to B.S. | Dr. Dolores O’Hara dmo6@psu.edu 724-334-6725 |
| Shenango | RN to B.S. | Kathleen Mastrian kgm1@psu.edu 724-983-2871 |
| University Park | B.S. (General) Master’s and Ph.D. |
Gaby Winqvist gew10@psu.edu 814-867-3066 Xiao Sheng xus1@psu.edu 814-863-2211 |
| World Campus | RN to B.S | Gaby Winqvist gew10@psu.edu 814-867-3066 |
| Worthington Scranton | Associate Degree, RN to B.S. | Verna Saleski vxs12@psu.edu 570-963-2646 |