Pre-Licensure BSN Degree
Pre-Licensure BSN Degree
journey today.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Pre-Licensure degree from Grand Canyon University is designed to prepare you to practice as a generalist registered nurse (RN). This nursing degree teaches core nursing knowledge and skills applicable across all nursing specialties and in a variety of health-related settings. The focus of our pre-licensure BSN is to prepare future nurses to deliver quality care and contribute to better patient outcomes through evidence-based, holistic practices for diverse communities and populations.
95.57%
GCU’s first-time NCLEX pass rate for all Arizona locations in 2024 (454)2
Prepare To Take the NCLEX-RN Exam
It is a licensing requirement for future RNs to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®) in order to work as nurses.1 The exam requires critical thinking and an understanding of ethical nursing practices. GCU is dedicated to preparing nursing students for the NCLEX-RN as demonstrated by our first-time NCLEX pass rates.
The pre-licensure nursing program includes clinical practice with hands-on experience. You will be expected to work across the continuum of care to experience actual patient care scenarios you may face during your career. You will be taught how to promote health for your patients and how to use new technology to support high standards of patient care. There is a focus on the development of leadership skills, critical thinking and professional ethics in nursing.
During the clinical program, you work directly with patients under close supervision of your nursing instructors. You will also complete a capstone project that requires research and evidence-based findings, which is intended to help you implement safety practices that contribute to better patient outcomes.
If you already have a bachelor’s degree, consider enrolling in our accelerated BSN (ABSN) program for a faster route to earning your nursing degree.
TTP Nurse Residency Program
You may have the opportunity to apply for the Transition to Practice (TTP) Nurse Residency experience prior to your last semester. This career-focused experience will pair you in one-to-one preceptorship at host healthcare locations. The TTP experience is designed to enrich the academic experience and career readiness of newly licensed RNs.
Experience Nursing Simulations as a BSN Major
BSN majors will work through immersive patient care simulations. The nursing program features fully equipped immersive simulation suites. Each simulation suite is equipped with a control room, nurses’ station, four hospital rooms and debrief rooms. You will have access to our simulation suites during the third and fourth years in the program.
Immersive simulation consists of clearly constructed, well-considered clinical scenarios intended to nurture and challenge student development. You will practice interacting with patients in scenarios that are aligned with national standards and best practices. Nursing simulations provide opportunities to develop critical thinking and clinical reasoning in a safe environment. Skills and clinical judgment taught in nursing simulations are immediately transferable to healthcare settings.
Sim Center Mission for Nursing Students
The Lopes Center for Nursing Simulation provides opportunities to develop competent, compassionate, ethical professionals and innovative thinkers using evidence-based practice to connect theory to the real world. The immersive simulation experience enables students to develop and apply critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills in a safe, consistent learning environment. Students can become effective communicators and transformative, servant leaders who utilize holistic Christian values to help promote human flourishing.
The broad survey of various patient populations in this pre-licensure BSN is designed to empower future nurses to pursue any nursing specialty. In addition to these topics, you will have the opportunity to learn how to care for people across their lifespan.
The coursework required by this BSN degree dives into the core topics and competencies tested by the NCLEX. It includes topics such as:
Head-to-toe health assessment
Adult health
Mental health
Pediatrics
Obstetrics
Pharmacology
Informatics
Clinical research
Nursing ethics
Healthcare policy
What Our Students Have to Say
"The Grand Canyon University faculty is so accommodating, helpful and genuine. The classes allow for individual attention from professors who invest their soul into the curriculum and love to spend extra time helping students succeed. We are a tight-knit community that wants to see people excel at what they love. Everyone is here for the same reasons."
Taylor Ward
BS in Nursing (Pre-Licensure), Alumni 2015
Pre-licensure BSN nursing program graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam. With successful completion of the exam, you can become an RN. With a focus on quality of care and patient safety, BSN graduates may be prepared to pursue nursing positions across a variety of healthcare settings, such as:3
After gaining some clinical experience, RNs with a BSN may decide to pursue graduate-level nursing education. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and/or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree both provide opportunities for RNs to sharpen their clinical skills, deepen their nursing knowledge and potentially position themselves to pursue advanced roles or leadership positions.
GCU is an institutionally accredited university, having been proudly accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. The College of Nursing and Health Care Professions shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.
Grand Canyon University’s immersive simulation centers for pre-licensure and accelerated tracks of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program have been granted accreditation in the area of teaching/education by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH).
The baccalaureate degree programs in nursing, the master’s degree programs in nursing, the Doctor of Nursing Practice programs and the post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Grand Canyon University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.ccneaccreditation.org). For more information on the accreditation of nursing programs and other university approvals, please visit our University Accreditation and Regulations page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about pre-licensure nursing and earning your BSN by reviewing our frequently asked questions.
Pre-licensure nursing programs are offered to fulfill educational and clinical requirements needed to become an RN. In other words, it’s designed for non-nurses without healthcare experience. After successfully completing a pre-licensure nursing program from an accredited university, you will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam in pursuit of obtaining nursing licensure.1
In contrast, a post-licensure nursing program, such as an RN to BSN program, is ideal for active nurses who have already obtained licensure and are looking to further their career by earning their BSN degree.
A pre-licensure nursing degree puts you on the path to pursuing a career as a registered nurse. In this program, you will be taught the fundamental skills and necessary knowledge needed to prepare for the NCLEX-RN, a necessary step in obtaining your RN license.1 If you become a registered nurse with a BSN, you can pursue nursing positions across any number of nursing specialties, such as:
Nursing school can be challenging. You’ll be taught nursing theories and concepts ranging from pharmacology to health assessments, and you’ll be required to demonstrate mastery of nursing skills in labs and simulations. However, keeping your goals and motivation at the forefront and applying yourself in all instances can help keep you on track and can lead you into a rewarding career.
Different nursing programs may have slightly different requirements. In general, however, BSN students can expect to examine topics in general, organic and biochemistry. Class instruction is typically paired with chemistry labs to provide hands-on experience.
The NCLEX-RN exam requires extensive nursing knowledge, critical thinking skills and the ability to develop appropriate nursing responses to different patient care scenarios. Test-takers must also demonstrate knowledge of ethical nursing practices.4 Pre-licensure programs teach both nursing knowledge and the application of clinical judgment to the nursing process, which will not only prepare you to take the exam, but also to become a well-rounded, knowledgeable servant leader in the healthcare field.
Prepare To Help Patients Heal
Pursue a career devoted to making a positive difference for others.
- All nursing students are responsible for understanding the state nursing licensure requirements for the state in which they plan to practice.
- Arizona Board of Nursing. Arizona NCLEX Pass Rates. Retrieved Feb. 21, 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). Registered Nurses: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Nov. 19, 2024.
- Giorgi, A. (n.d.). NCLEX Exam Guide (Registration, Eligibility, FAQ and Study Tips). All Nursing Schools. Retrieved Nov. 19, 2024.