Criteria considered for a strong application include a well-written goal statement that clearly describes the student’s nursing aspirations (not a resume), strong recommendations with written commentary providing clear examples of the student’s strengths, a high cumulative GPA, and strong academic performance in prerequisite science courses.
Students will be required to be on campus 2-3 days per week for skills lab and proctored testing and at an assigned San Diego clinical partner site 1-2 days per week during clinical practicums.
Days and times for campus and clinical requirements will vary from session to session, but will be communicated at least 2-weeks prior to the session start date. Please note that some clinical rotations may require evening and weekend hours.
Brandman University works closely with the San Diego Nursing and Allied Health Service-Education Consortium and the San Diego clinical agencies to ensure clinical placements for students. Students are not required to identify their own preceptors and must attend clinical practicums as assigned.
The time from admission to program completion is two years and two months. The program is year round with three semesters each year. Each semester contains two eight week sessions. The first two semesters are dedicated to completion of any remaining general education requirements. The nursing core courses begin in the 3 rd semester after admission, with all students following a standard full-time education plan for the remaining 18 months.
The pl-ABSN program is comprised of 120 semester credit hours, with 52 credit hours in general education and 68 credit hours in nursing core courses.
Yes, Activity duty military service members and their spouses receive discounted tuition of $250 per credit hour plus $250 per credit hour pl-ABSN nursing fees. However, tuition is subject to change with annual budget reassessment.
A “hybrid” or “blended” program, such as the pl-ABSN program, has regularly scheduled on-ground campus time and the flexibility of online learning for content traditionally delivered in a lecture setting.
LVNs and/or individuals with relevant education and experience wishing to earn a BSN degree and be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN are encouraged to apply for the program. There is a process for advanced placement, allowing program credit for previous education or for other acquired knowledge in the field of nursing, including military education and experience. Applicants interested in advanced placement should contact the Program Director via email for more information.
Brandman University offers all of the required prerequisites. However, completion of the required general education courses at Brandman University does not guarantee acceptance into the pl-ABSN program nor give an applicant priority status. Prerequisites may be taken at Brandman or other regionally accredited institutions including community colleges. Students may also consider satisfying prerequisites through other credit options as noted on our website at:
http://services.brandman.edu/studentservices/TransferCredit/
The pl-ABSN is designed to provide students with knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for the entry-level professional nursing role. This degree prepares nursing generalists who provide patient-centered care, use technology to improve outcomes through innovative leadership and integrate research evidence as the foundation for best patient outcomes. The graduate of this program is prepared to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for RNs. This program also provides students with the foundation for graduate nursing education and promotes and fosters commitment to lifelong adult learning.
Although the general education requirements can be completed from various geographic locations, students must reside within commuting distance of the San Diego campus for the nursing core courses.
No testing is required for admission at this time.
The pl-ABSN program is a rigorous accelerated program. Students can expect to spend 40-50 hours per week completing course requirements during the nursing core courses. This time is divided between online course work, virtual classes, clinical practicum hours in the skills lab and at clinical partner sites, and homework/study time.
Undergraduate courses do not expire. Transferability is evaluated on a course-by-course basis.
The current tuition is $500 per credit hour plus $250 per credit hour pl-ABSN nursing fees. However, tuition is subject to change with annual budget reassessment.
The Brandman University pl-ABSN Admissions Committee carefully reviews all applications to identify the most qualified applicants. This review may take up to 4 weeks after the application deadline to complete.
pl-ABSN students are not precluded from working, but the nursing core schedule is not flexible and work hours must be worked around course schedules and requirements. Students need to be aware of the program rigor and plan accordingly.
Brandman University is accredited by the WSCUC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The WSCUC Senior College and University Commission is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as certifying institutional eligibility for federal funding in a number of programs, including student access to federal financial aid. All programs offered by Brandman University are encompassed by this regional accreditation.
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) The Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs at Brandman University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
In most cases all nursing core courses must be taken at Brandman University. There is a process for advanced placement, allowing program credit for previous education or for other acquired knowledge in the field of nursing, including military education and experience. Applicants interested in advanced placement should contact the Program Director via email for more information.
There is a standard Brandman University Technology Fee of $120/session and fees associated with degree conferral at the time of graduation. MSNaHP also charges a $200 pinning and hooding ceremony fee.
Financial aid is available for students who take at least two courses per trimester (one course per 8 weeks) while pursuing a degree at Brandman.
**The following immersion dates are considered to be virtual/remote unless otherwise noted & is subject to change. Please check your Brandman University student email account daily for updated immersion information. **
Spring 2 2022
New Student Orientation for pl-ABSN_8
Thursday, January 13th, 2022: Full Day
On-Campus: TBD
Online via Zoom: TBD
Summer 2 2021
Intro to Clinical for pl-ABSN_4
Monday, June 28th, 2021: Half Day
On-Campus: TBD
Online via Zoom: TBD
Summer 1 2022
New Student Orientation for pl-ABSN_9
Thursday, May 5th, 2022: Full Day
On-Campus: TBD
Online via Zoom: TBD
Summer 2 2022
Intro to Nursing for pl-ABSN_7
Monday, May 2nd, 2022: Full Day
On-Campus: TBD
Online via Zoom: TBD
Fall 1 2021
Intro to Nursing for pl-ABSN_5
Monday, August 30th, 2021: Full Day
On-Campus: TBD
Online via Zoom: TBD
BSN-DNP10
Monday August 30 - Wednesday September 1, 2021
- NURU 604: Clinical Practicum- Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan and Cultures
PM-DNP 23 (with & without specialty)
Wednesday September 1 - Friday September 3, 2021
- Orientation Immersion
- DNPU 704: Evidence Based Thinking for Scholarship and Practice
BSN-DNP 11
Thursday September 2 – Friday September 3, 2021
- DNPU 704: Evidence Based Thinking for Scholarship and Practice
PM-DNP 21 (with specialty) & PM-DNP 22 (with & without specialty)
Monday August 30 - Thursday September 2, 2021
- DNPU 701: Biostatistics for Clinical Practice
RN-BSN FT 1x & PTx (On Campus or Online via Zoom)
On-Campus: TBD
Online via Zoom: TBD
Orientation Immersion
- NURU 400: Transition in Practice: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice
Fall 2 2021
New Student Orientation for pl-ABSN_7
Thursday, September 2nd, 2021: full Day
On-Campus: TBD
Online via Zoom: TBD
During the immersion session, students meet face-to-face or remotely to learn online learning strategies, advanced information technology skills, communication and teamwork exercises and review skills in a state-of-the-art Immersion Learning and Simulation Center (ILSC). The ILSC provides computer-managed manikins and three-dimensional virtual reality environments using standardized patients for high fidelity learning.
Yes, immersion sessions are intensive and will require your focus and attention through the entire time.
A day at immersion is a full day of activity. Days run from approximately 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and time is spent in group demonstrations from faculty and other experts, small group discussions, hands-on skills learning and lab experiences. There is also time for networking and some fun! Academic and Financial Aid advisors are also available for individualized in-person meetings.
*Noting the typical end time to an immersion day, please do not schedule any travel arrangements to occur until after the end of the day. Leaving early, unless pre-approved, is not permissible. We recommend seeking any pre-approvals before booking travel accommodations.
During face-to-face immersions, we offer morning refreshments (coffee, tea, water) and lunch. Many of our suggested hotels provide a continental breakfast. Other meals and snacks are not included. Since the days can be quite long, you are welcome to bring your own snacks and beverages.
The Musco School of Nursing and Health Professions will provide a list of nearby hotels where students can stay. Most hotels have a shuttle service that provides transportation to and from campus and the airport. The closest airport is John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County. Some students choose to rent a car for their stay but most do not. If you have an hour or more driving commute to and from the campus, we strongly recommend that you stay at a hotel in order to maximize your experience. Additional travel and lodging information are sent upon admission.
Students are responsible for paying for their travel to and from immersion. Travel costs may be included in your financial aid package (discuss availability with your One Stop specialist).
Some programs have multiple immersion sessions because the clinical specialty courses require advanced skills training sessions in a face-to-face learning environment.
The RN-BSN program requires that you are a Registered Nurse (RN) or have a NCLEX date before enrollment. Brandman does not offer a pre-licensure or LVN/LPN to RN nursing program.
To enter the RN to BSN program, you must have completed an associate degree in nursing, have an unencumbered RN license or have a NCLEX date.
All students enrolled in the RN to BSN program must obtain an unencumbered RN license from the California Board of Registered Nursing, even if they will be participating in their clinical practicum experiences in another state (where they must also hold an unencumbered RN license).
All nursing programs in the Marybelle and S. Paul Musco School of Nursing and Health Professions are delivered using a blend of online learning and clinical practicum or mentored experiences in a variety of healthcare settings. During online sessions, students will engage in instructor-guided or self-directed study using live and recorded lectures, demonstrations, tutorials and other activities. This blend of teaching methods provides a rich and engaging learning experience for busy professionals who must juggle school, work and family.
The RN-BSN program also requires one 3-day Immersion session at the Irvine, California, campus at the beginning of the program. The immersion can be attended virtually.
Brandman has six sessions each year, two in the fall trimester, two in the spring trimester and two in the summer trimester. Each trimester is considered a unit of eligibility for financial aid. Each session is 8 weeks long. These shorter sessions allow students to focus their study on a small number of courses and still complete a degree in one to three years of study.
No. Coursework is delivered online with one immersion for RN-BSN students virtually or at the Irvine, California, campus. Clinical practicum or mentored experiences are attended in the student’s home community.
Students are expected to locate and establish their own mentor/s and site/s for the leadership clinical practicum experience of 80 hours. A certified public health nurse teaches and mentors the required 96 hours of community health clinical practicum experiences. The RN-BSN program director will ensure that the leadership mentors and site/s meet eligibility as a clinical location, and our clinical placement coordinator may work with students who need additional clinical placement assistance.
Many students in the RN-BSN program work part time while pursuing their BSN degree at Brandman. Some students are able to work full time. However, most students greatly reduce their work hours while completing the leadership and community health clinical practicum experiences.
The Brandman University RN to BSN is 36 credits. In the full-time program, students take two 3-credit courses in each session for one year. Part-time students take one 3-credit course each session for two years. Community college students take two 3-credit courses during the summer before their final clinical year of their associate degree and complete the remainder of the credits after graduation with a full-time or part-time option.
