Nursing School Preparation at UC Davis

Possible Pathways to a Registered Nurse (RN) License after Earning a BA or BS from UC Davis

You must have a Registered Nurse (RN) license to practice nursing. There are several ways in which you can
obtain an RN license. Junior colleges offer an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), which takes approximately 2
years to complete. Junior colleges often have a long waiting list for prospective students. A Bachelors of Science
in Nursing (BSN) is available at several schools, and some schools have the option to complete a second degree in an accelerated setting. These accelerated programs range anywhere from 12 to 18 months. Another option for people with a non-nursing Bachelors degree is a Masters program in Nursing (MSN). Make sure that the program you are interested in includes an RN licensure component. Programs such as these are called Entry-Level MSN or Direct Entry MSN programs. Most MSN programs prepare students to acquire their Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist license. Entry-Level MSN programs take about 3 years to complete.

Prerequisites

The most important part of preparation for a nursing program of any kind is the completion of pre-requisite courses. Some of the most common pre-nursing majors are Biological Sciences, Human Development, Psychology, Exercise Biology and Nutrition. However, any major is acceptable as long as your coursework includes the required classes for the program you are interested in. Although each school has different requirements, some of the most common (with the UCD equivalents) are:

• Chemistry (1 year, including general and organic—CHE 2A & 2B, 8A & 8B. Some schools require a combination of general, organic and biochemistry such as UCLA and Azusa.
• Biology (BIS 2A and/or 2B)
• Human Anatomy w/ Lab (CHA 101 & 101L)
• Human Physiology w/ Lab (NPB 101 & 101L)
• Microbiology w/ Lab (MIC 101 or 102 & 102L)
• Statistics (STA 13)
• College Composition (UWP 1, 101, 102 or 104)
• General Psychology (PSC 1)
• Introduction to Sociology OR Cultural Anthropology (SOC 1 or ANT 2)
• Interpersonal Communication (CMN 3 or 134) and/or Public Speaking (CMN 1)
• Critical Thinking (PHI 5)
• Life span Development—infancy to adulthood (HDE 100A, B & C)(or PSYC 370 at Sacramento City College, also offered at the Davis SCC campus)
• Basic Nutrition (NUT 10 or 111A)

This list is not comprehensive, and each school that you are interested in applying to should be researched or contacted for a complete description of their requirements. Coursework can be taken at UC Davis or at a community college or other university.

For most MSN programs and some 2nd BSN programs, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required. This test can be taken virtually any day Monday through Saturday. Additionally, the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is required for many California schools. Contact the schools or check their Web sites for test dates, registration and other related information.

Internships in clinical settings are helpful for clarifying your desires to enter the nursing profession, and show the schools that you understand the role of a nurse. For more information, visit the Internship & Career Center, Health and Biological Sciences division (2nd floor of South Hall).

Useful Web sites to search for nursing schools:

The California Board of Registered Nursing

American Association of Colleges of Nursing
All Nursing Schools
Discover Nursing

Also check out the list of accelerated programs in California.

Financial aid is available mostly in the form of loans and loan-forgiveness programs. However there are grants and scholarships available for nursing that will cover your full tuition. The following Web site provides information on many of those opportunities:

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Bureau of Health Professions
U.S. Department of Education
Cal Grant Web site
Educational Fund Students First

Make an appointment with the Pre-Nursing Peer Advisor or a Staff Advisor. You can do this by going to 111 South Hall or by calling (530) 752-4475.