BSN for Veterans

Students entering college following U.S. military service bring unique perspectives and experiences into the classroom and the clinic. The College of Nursing has a program designed to assist these students as they transition from active service and pursue a nursing career. The BSN for Veterans (VBSN) pathway provides student-veterans with instructors, mentors, counseling and study groups designed to address their needs, facilitated by fellow veterans. The curriculum follows the accelerated course progression of the Second Career/Degree program, with the majority of clinical rotations held at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit. Students are admitted once a year for the spring/summer semester. Students with prior military health care experience or training will be rewarded with academic credit; however, it is not a necessary prerequisite in order to be considered for admission. Learn more about this BSN pathway and get answers to all your questions by attending an upcoming information meeting.

Students who are interested in the VBSN pathway can learn about the wide range of services and resources available to veterans at Wayne State by contacting the Office of Military and Veterans Academic Excellence (OMVAE).

Important dates

  • Oct. 12, 2024

    VBSN Information Session: BSN for Veterans (Virtual)

  • Oct. 15, 2024

    VBSN Information Session: BSN for Veterans (Virtual)

Prerequisites

Students are eligible to apply for entry into the professional program after having completed the specific prerequisite courses with a minimum 3.0 GPA and minimum grade of "C" or higher, in all prerequisite courses. All prerequisite courses must be completed by June 1, and courses cannot be older than 14 years at the time of application deadline If the applicant has earned AP credits or taken the ACT/SAT or CLEP exam, official scores must be received by the college no later than June 1. 

Admission to the program is highly competitive; successful completion of prerequisite courses does not guarantee admission.

The following courses/requirements are prerequisites for admission consideration for the BSN for Veterans pathway with the College of Nursing. Courses transferred to Wayne State University must be an exact equivalent to the listed prerequisites below.

Prerequisite Courses

  • BIO 2270 + 2271 or BIO 2200: Microbiology* (BIO 1050 and/or BIO 1510/1511 may be needed as a prerequisite)
  • BIO 2870: Anatomy & Physiology (BIO 1050 and/or BIO 1510/1511 may be needed as a prerequisite)
  • CHM 1020: Survey of General Chemistry or CHM 1060: General, Organic and Biochemistry*
  • PSY 2400: Developmental Psychology or PSY 2410: Health Psychology* (PSY 1010 or PSY 1020 may be needed as a prerequisite)
  • NFS 2030: Nutrition and Health
  • NUR 2030: Pathophysiology Related to Nursing Practice** (NUR 2030 can be completed during the winter semester prior to the start of the program. For applicants who do not complete this course by the end of the fall semester, this course will not be calculated in the overall prerequisite GPA.)
  • Social Inquiry (SI)***
  • Cultural Inquiry (CI)***

*Candidates may take one or the other course; however, if you receive a grade below a "C" in one course and take the other in order to meet the requirement, it will count as a repeat.

**Equivalent transfer courses will only be accepted from 4-year institutions with an accredited nursing program or professional health program (ex. OT, PT, Medical School).

***SI and CI courses can be met by completing or transferring in equivalent courses listed on the Inquiry Course Group Requirements page. SI and CI courses are exempt from the seven-year expiration policy.

Prerequisite Transfer Guide

The College of Nursing evaluates courses from other institutions based on guidelines and requirements established by the college. These evaluations take precedence over evaluations by other departments or the university transfer credit department. Please note: prerequisites taken at another institution must transfer to Wayne State University exactly as the courses listed above.

Curriculum

First semester (spring/summer)

Course Credits
NUR 2010 - Health Assessment 3
NUR 2060 - Nursing Implications of Drug Administration 3
NUR 4800 - Transcultural Health Through the Life Cycle 3
Total: 9

Second semester (fall) 

Course Credits
NUR 2050 - Fundamentals of Nursing Care (C) 5
NUR 2995 - Foundations of Professional Nursing 3
NUR 3405 - Introduction to Research and Evidence-based Practice 3
NUR 4300 - Nursing Informatics 3
Total: 14

Third semester (winter)

Course Credits
NUR 3010 - Comprehensive Nursing Care of the Adult I (C) 5
NUR 3015 - Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (C) 5
NUR 4020 - Integrative Care of Women's Health and the Perinatal Family (C) 5
Total: 15

Fourth semester (spring/summer) 

Course Credits
NUR 3020 - Care of the Adult II (C) 5
NUR 4010 - Integrative Care of Children and their Families (C) 5
NUR 4040 - Leadership and Management in Nursing Practice (C) 4
Total: 14

Fifth semester (fall) 

Course Credits
NUR 4050 - Care of the Critically Ill Patient 3
NUR 4060 - Synthesis of Core Nursing Knowledge (C) 5
NUR 4120 - Community-focused Nursing Practice (C) 5
Total: 13
Total Nursing credits: 65

* (C) indicates that there is a clinical component to the course.

The curriculum design is for informational purposes and is subject to change by the College of Nursing. Contact your Academic Services Officer to develop an individualized Plan of Work.

Contact

Director of Undergraduate Nursing Programs

Erik Carter PhD, MS, ACNS-CCNS, CCRN-K, PHN
313-577-4144

Academic Services Officer

Dana Johns
313-577-4080

  • BSN Second Career/Degree students
  • BSN for Veterans students
  • Admitted graduate students