Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program will prepare you for the challenges of nursing today through an academic program that helps compassionate, motivated people like you become the best nurses they can be.
Nurses are in demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts RN employment will grow faster than average for all occupations. When you graduate, you'll be prepared to enter and excel in this growing profession — and make a real difference in the lives of others.
Our direct admit Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program will prepare you to become a highly competent, caring nurse who possesses the knowledge and skills needed to practice in a variety of health care settings.
Major
Bachelor's
4-years
134
Schedule a visit to learn more about the BSN program and tour our nursing facilities.
The support system that the faculty provides really helps students thrive academically and personally at Duquesne. It’s prime location in the heart of Pittsburgh offers access to world-renowned hospital networks, opening doors to career opportunities. Plus, the vibrant city life provides the perfect balance for students seeking a break from their studies.
Keep an open mind and make sure you enjoy each and every experience that you can get. Ask questions when you are not sure and take advantage of all the resources that the school offers to ensure your success as a student and as a future nurse.
Professors encourage us to see patients as individuals with unique stories, not just as conditions or diagnoses. At the same time, they treat students in the same way. Recognizing our strengths, challenges, goals, and guiding us as learners. This emphasis on treating people with dignity and compassion has shown me how powerful holistic care is in building trust and promoting healing.
When I came to Accepted Student Day in February 2019, I really felt at home. Hearing some current students talk about their experiences at Duquesne as a nursing student helped me picture myself in their shoes a few years later. It was nice touring the Sim lab and also talking to Sister Mary Myers.
Duquesne University School of Nursing has teamed up with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) to provide undergraduate nursing students with a for-credit clinical placement at a Pittsburgh-area facility.
This clinical immersion experience will set you apart from other applicants when you enter the job market. It is an opportunity to take all the knowledge you will gain in the classroom and put that knowledge together with hands-on experience in a real-world setting.
You will begin your clinical immersion in either the spring semester of your junior year or fall semester of your senior year as part of the Clinical Immersion in Professional Nursing course.
Working under the supervision of a professional registered nurse, you will carry out patient care assignments, work in controlled care situations and perform established nursing procedures for individuals or groups of patients. You will also participate in unit-specific leadership and quality and safety activities.
You will begin weekly clinical experiences in your sophomore year. We partner with over fifty hospital and community sites across the Pittsburgh area. These clinical experiences will expose you to all facets of the nursing profession, build your professional network, enhance your clinical judgement and prepare you for your nursing career.
Examples of clinical sites include, but are not limited to:
Learn more about the technology you'll be using in the program by looking at the Learning and Simulation Center:
We will help you prepare to be successful on the NCLEX-RN exam, which you are eligible to take after graduation for licensure as a registered nurse (RN). 98.15% of our most recent graduates passed the licensure exam on the first try — and you'll understand why once you meet our Director of Academic Support and NCLEX RN Success, Sr. Mary Meyers, whose full-time job is to help you succeed academically.
Our four-year BSN Program is a total of 134 credits. Use the tabs below to view curriculum
by year. Nursing courses begin with UPNS. A grade of "C+" or better must be attained in all nursing courses, and a grade of
"C" or better must be attained in all non-nursing courses, including electives and
laboratory courses, in order to progress in the nursing curriculum. A GPA of 2.3 is
required by the end of the second semester of the freshman year in order to progress
to the sophomore clinical courses and is the minimum acceptable GPA for the remainder
of the program. Revisions to courses and curricula are ongoing. BRDG = Bridges Common Learning Experience BRDG = Bridges Common Learning Experience BRDG = Bridges Common Learning Experience
Curriculum
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Commonly asked questions about the BSN program Students often ask which courses would be beneficial to take during high school that
will adequately prepare them for furthering their education at Duquesne University.
We recommend taking the following courses while in high school in addition to your
standard curriculum: Nursing has become a highly specialized field, working in a variety of areas. Here
are just a few examples: Duquesne University has a number of nursing organizations that you can join. It is
extremely important and highly beneficial to join student organizations. The NCLEX-RN is the National Certification Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.
All nursing students are required by law to take the NCLEX-RN in order to become registered
nurses. The NCLEX-RN is taken after you graduate from an accredited nursing program. For more than 80 years, the Duquesne School of Nursing has been preparing nurses who
make an impact not only in the lives of others and the communities in which they live,
but on health care as a whole. Here you will prepare for the challenges of nursing
in an environment that combines a holistic approach to care with the latest in health
care technology. As one of 17 nursing schools in the United States endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC), we put holistic care at the center of our curriculum. Our students learn
to consider the physical, mental, cultural, emotional and spiritual aspects of a patient's
needs and treatment. Holistic nursing encompasses the integration of self-care, including the use of integrative
therapies and the understanding of the interconnectedness of the self and nature,
with medical expertise. Holistic nursing is a type of nursing practice in which the
physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of a patient are considered throughout
their treatment. This practice embodies Duquesne's values with an emphasis on culture,
ethics and spirituality. Holistic nurses provide practices such as aromatherapy, meditation, energy work and
therapeutic touch, including the practice of self-care, so they can provide the best
treatment plans for their patients. The Duquesne University School of Nursing aspires
to reinforce holistic ideals within health care settings and the classroom in order
to prepare nurses to provide culturally, medically and ethically competent care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about how a student can earn college credits while in high school.
View a complete list of Technology Requirements.
NCLEX preparation starts in your freshman year:
Do you have questions about the BSN program?
