Nursing is one of the most challenging, rewarding, and in demand professions in the world. GCU's B.S.N. program — conducted in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey's largest health network — gives you the clinical training, evidence-based education, and professional preparation to become a compassionate, competent registered nurse. Small cohorts. Real clinical placements. CCNE accreditation. And a degree backed by a university that has been preparing nurses since it was founded.
Placeholder Image
GCU's nursing program isn't just affiliated with a health system in name — it's conducted in genuine partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey's largest integrated health network. This partnership means clinical placements, mentorship, and professional connections with one of the state's most respected healthcare employers — giving you real access to the facilities, patients, and professional networks where your nursing career will begin.
GCU's nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) — the recognized national accreditor for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs. CCNE accreditation is the quality benchmark that hospitals and healthcare employers use when evaluating nursing graduates, and it's a requirement for NCLEX-RN eligibility at most institutions. GCU's programs are also approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing.
GCU's nursing curriculum is built around evidence-based care — the integration of clinical expertise, scientific evidence, and patient values into every care decision. You'll develop clinical judgment progressively, beginning with foundational nursing knowledge and skills in the first year and building through increasingly complex clinical applications in adult care, behavioral health, childbearing families, community nursing, pediatrics, and leadership and management. The program culminates in NU496 Transition into Clinical Nursing — a final intensive clinical experience that bridges education and professional practice.
New Jersey is home to one of the most robust and diverse healthcare ecosystems on the East Coast — and GCU's clinical partnership network puts you inside it. Students complete clinical rotations throughout the state, gaining experience across diverse patient populations, care settings, and specialty areas. The New Seminary campus in the Brooklyn/New York City area also extends the program's reach, giving students access to clinical placements in one of the world's most concentrated healthcare environments.
GCU’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) — the national accreditor for baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Programs are also approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing. CCNE accreditation ensures that GCU nursing graduates meet national standards of professional competency and are eligible for NCLEX-RN examination.
Nursing is the profession at the center of healthcare — the discipline that connects clinical science, human compassion, and professional advocacy in every patient interaction. GCU’s B.S.N. program prepares nurses who are competent, compassionate, collaborative, creative, and courageous — the five values that the Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing & Wellness has built its curriculum around.
The four-year B.S.N. is a rigorous, sequenced curriculum that builds progressively from foundational knowledge and skills to advanced clinical application. The first year establishes the foundation: human anatomy & physiology, chemistry for the health sciences, statistics, psychology, and an introduction to professional nursing. The second year moves into the clinical core — dosage calculation, health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, and the first major clinical nursing sequences in adult care. The third year deepens clinical practice across behavioral health, childbearing families, evidence-based nursing practice, and adult care II. The fourth year culminates in community nursing, pediatric nursing, leadership and management, and the transition to clinical practice capstone.
All nursing courses must be taken in sequence. A minimum grade of B– is required in all nursing (NU-prefix) courses to progress in the program. Students maintain a minimum 3.0 overall GPA throughout. To graduate, students must have a 3.0 or higher overall GPA with no nursing course below B–.
The program is conducted in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health — New Jersey’s largest integrated health network — providing access to clinical placements throughout the state. The New Seminary campus in Brooklyn/NYC extends the program to students in the New York metropolitan area.
GCU’s B.S.N. is a great fit if you:
| Career | Entry Salary | Mid-Career Salary | Experienced Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses (B.S.N.) | $68,000–$82,000 | $96,400 | $110,000–$130,000+ |
| Nurse Practitioners (M.S.N./D.N.P. required) | $110,000–$125,000 | $135,800 | $160,000+ |
| Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) (D.N.P. required) | $180,000+ | $212,000 | $250,000+ |
Job Outlook
Registered Nurses: projected to grow 6% from 2023 to 2033 — with approximately 193,100 openings per year nationally. New Jersey faces a consistent nursing shortage driven by an aging patient population and retiring nurse workforce, creating exceptional demand for BSN prepared nurses throughout the state.
To earn this degree, students must successfully complete at least 120 credits, including General Education requirements and the major requirements below.
Students must complete at least 68 nursing credits, plus courses in related areas, including:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NU111 | Introduction to Professional Nursing | 3.0 |
| NU210 | Dosage Calculation | 1.0 |
| NU211 | Foundations of Professional Nursing | 4.0 |
| NU221 | Health Assessment | 3.0 |
| NU271 | Evidence-Based Nursing Care Adult I | 6.0 |
| NU275 | Pathophysiology | 3.0 |
| NU285 | Pharmacotherapeutics | 3.0 |
| NU322 | Nursing Care of Childbearing Families | 4.0 |
| NU325 | Evidence-Based Behavioral Health | 5.0 |
| NU343 | WI:Evidence for Professional Nursing | 3.0 |
| NU356 | Evidence-Based Nursing of theOlder Adult | 2.0 |
| NU371 | Evidence-Based Nursing Care Adult II | 8.0 |
| NU421 | Evidence-Based Community Nursing | 6.0 |
| NU423 | Nursing Care of Childrearing Families | 4.0 |
| NU471 | WI:Evidence-Based Leadership & Managemnt | 3.0 |
| NU472 | Senior Seminar for Professional Nursing | 3.0 |
| NU496 | Transition into Clinical Nursing | 6.0 |
| Related Courses | ||
| BI213 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4.0 |
| BI214 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 4.0 |
| BI219 | Microbiology | 4.0 |
| CH151 | Chemistry for the Health Sciences | 4.0 |
| MA103 | Introduction to Statistical Thinking | 3.0 |
| PS111 | Introduction to Psychology | 3.0 |
| or PS113 | Foundations of Psychology | |
| Total Credits | 89.0 | |
First-Year Students
Transfer Students
Pre-Clinical Requirements (before entering first clinical course):
Upon completing the B.S.N., graduates will demonstrate the ability to:
Q: Why is a B.S.N. better than an A.D.N. for my nursing career? A: While both the B.S.N. and A.D.N. prepare you to sit for the NCLEX-RN, the B.S.N. provides significantly better career outcomes and access to advancement. Most major hospital systems — including Hackensack Meridian Health and many Magnet-designated hospitals — prefer or require BSN-prepared nurses for hiring and advancement. Research consistently shows BSN-prepared nurses have better patient outcomes. The B.S.N. is also the required foundation for every graduate nursing program (M.S.N., D.N.P., Ph.D.). If you plan to advance in nursing — to nurse practitioner, nursing management, clinical nurse specialist, or any specialty — the B.S.N. is the essential credential.
Q: What is the Hackensack Meridian Health partnership? A: Hackensack Meridian Health is New Jersey’s largest integrated health network — a 17-hospital system with facilities throughout the state. GCU’s nursing program is conducted in formal partnership with HMH, meaning clinical placements, faculty connections, and employment opportunities are actively developed through this relationship. Graduating from a program with HMH connections gives you a meaningful professional advantage when applying for nursing positions within the state’s largest health system.
Q: How rigorous are the academic requirements? A: Very — and intentionally so. A minimum grade of B– is required in every single nursing course to progress. The overall GPA must be 3.0 or higher throughout the program, and you must graduate with no nursing course below B–. You can earn below a B– or withdraw from only ONE nursing course ONE time and remain in the program. This reflects the high standards that patient safety demands of professional nurses, not bureaucratic gatekeeping. If academic performance concerns you, talk with an advisor before you apply about how to position yourself for success.
Q: What happens before I enter my first clinical course? A: Before your first clinical nursing placement, you must: pass a Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers certification, pass a health examination and meet all health requirements, obtain professional liability protection insurance, and complete a criminal background investigation. These requirements protect patients and are standard across professional nursing programs nationally.
Q: Can I go to graduate school in nursing after the B.S.N.? A: Yes — and GCU makes this particularly easy. GCU offers both an M.S.N. (Master of Science in Nursing) and — new for 2026– 27 — an M.S.N. in Informatics, Innovation & Technology. The M.S.N. is directed by Dr. JoAnn F. Cummings, who is a member of GCU’s own nursing faculty. GCU nursing graduates are well-prepared for M.S.N., D.N.P., and Ph.D. programs at institutions across the country.
Q: When should I apply? A: Contact GCU Admissions to confirm current nursing cohort start dates and application deadlines — nursing programs typically accept cohorts for specific start dates rather than fully rolling admission.
Welcome to the new georgian.edu!
We've redesigned our website to make it easier to explore Georgian Court. Some sections are still being finished and will be completed in the coming weeks. Thanks for your patience as we continue to improve your experience.
