Nothing is more comforting as a patient than having a trained, skilled, qualified nurse providing you care. Their knowledge, expertise, and bedside manner make all the difference for patients and their families.
It’s for this reason that nurses train anywhere between two to four years to earn their Associate degree in Nursing (ADN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN), or Registered Nursing to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) degrees.
Nursing school and BSN programs are the perfect place to give students the confidence, skills, and experience they need to smoothly transition and excel in their future nursing profession.
This article will cover what students can expect from a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, focusing on our program at University of Bridgeport. Plus, we’ll share how nursing school coursework and clinical practice prepare students for the real world.
What is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program?
Generally lasting four years, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs provide students with an in-depth understanding of the nursing profession and prepares them with advanced skills for advanced positions and leadership opportunities.
These in-person programs offer comprehensive nursing curriculums with courses in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology, fundamentals of nursing, pharmacology, and much more. Additionally, clinical practice in nursing school is typically provided through internships and clinical classes to provide students with essential hands-on, experiential training.
Students should look for programs and courses that will train them in prevention, health promotion, risk reduction, and population-based practice, as well as provide a strong foundation through a liberal arts education. For this reason, University of Bridgeport’s Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing students take general education classes to be well-rounded. General education courses taken by nursing students include:
- Humanities Core
- Academic Writing
- Principles of Sociology
- Lifespan Development
- Fine Arts
- Public Communication
Clinical Practice in Nursing School
In addition to coursework, clinical experience is the other key component in a student’s nursing school education.
This training opens students up to situations and experiences within various real-world settings. Also, it helps them fulfill the clinical hours requirement needed to apply for their required license issued by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) upon passing their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
Students work alongside experienced nurses and medical professionals as they observe and participate in administering medications, performing assessments, and communicating with patients and their families. Furthermore, students can start determining which area of healthcare they want to specialize in by experiencing clinical rotations in medical-surgical, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, oncology, community health, and more.
In addition to clinical experience outside of campus, many of our classes implement and incorporate a clinical component through our Nursing Skills and Simulation Center, which consists of 10 beds, a debriefing room, and a two-bed simulation center with a computer control room equipped with two-way mirrors. These classes include Health Maintenance and Restoration I and II, Essentials of Family Nursing, Health Promotion, and Transition to Professional Practice.
Benefits of Clinical Practice in Nursing Programs
Clinical rotations and clinical practice in nursing programs allow graduates to develop critical thinking skills and have the confidence and competence in their skills to apply their knowledge to real-life situations.
Look for accredited nursing schools and programs with strong ties to the community through clinical experiences at local hospitals, schools, medical offices, and laboratories where you can gain invaluable clinical experience, find future career opportunities, and make powerful professional connections.
Lastly, clinical practice experience allows students to see the value of interdisciplinary teamwork, the importance of adapting to new situations, and appreciate the perspective of different patient populations.
The road to success as a nurse begins with a well-rounded Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited nursing program, like ours, at University of Bridgeport. Student success is our utmost priority, which is why we also offer career counseling, academic advising, and financial aid through our Office of Student Success, whose mission is to get students through their courses and clinical experiences and into a great career.
Our nursing school graduates go on to exciting careers as professional nurses and can expect to earn a median annual salary of $81,220 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Regardless of whether you are seeking your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), an Accelerated BSN (ABSN), or an online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) degree, University of Bridgeport has a nursing program for you.
Contact us for more information about our programs, course offerings, and extensive clinical practice opportunities. We can’t wait to help you start your future as a nurse today!