Inside Charles R. Drew University’s BSN Programs

Looking for a nursing program with high acceptance rates and strong graduation outcomes? Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Mervyn M. Dymally College of Nursing BSN Programs might be your answer. The program accepts 80% of applicants and helps 64% of its students graduate successfully.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program requires 121 total units and prepares you for real-life success. You’ll become eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination after graduating. Licensed registered nurses can also obtain Public Health Nurse certification. The Charles Drew University nursing program stands out because of its immersive educational approach. Students benefit from small class sizes and get hands-on clinical learning in a variety of healthcare settings—from acute care to community health. The CDU nursing program also builds team-based care through simulations with peers from healthcare disciplines of all types, which enhances your communication and patient care skills by a lot.

Students who complete this program find careers in specialized roles. These include bedside nursing, trauma care, mental health nursing, public health, education, and health policy. This piece will help you find what makes Charles R. Drew University’s BSN program unique and why it could be the perfect fit for your nursing career.

Types of Programs Offered

The Mervyn M. Dymally College of Nursing at Charles R. Drew University has nursing education paths that match different career goals and starting points.

Students can choose from several degree options at Charles Drew University’s nursing program. The Traditional BSN program stands as the foundation. This detailed undergraduate path needs 120 credits and takes 36 months with a minimum 3.00 GPA requirement. Licensed registered nurses can advance their education through the RN-BSN program if they have an associate degree or diploma in nursing. This path helps nurses develop their skills as global practitioners, researchers, and leaders.

Current Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students have a special opportunity. They can enroll in the RN-BSN program while studying. This partnership lets them start BSN courses during their first ADN semester. Students must keep good grades at both schools.

The Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing (MSN-ELM) program helps students without nursing degrees become registered nurses while earning their master’s degree. Students get hands-on experience at top facilities like Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.

The college also features specialized Master of Science in Nursing paths with focus areas in:

• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – 51 credits in 16 months with 645 clinical hours
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) – 59 credits over 20 months with 630 clinical hours

Master’s-prepared nurses with Nurse Practitioner specialties can pursue the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. This 40-credit program builds leadership skills and healthcare advocacy abilities.

Nurses looking to expand their practice can earn Post-Master’s Certificates in both FNP and PMHNP specialties.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits all nursing programs at CDU. The California Board of Registered Nursing has approved these programs. Licensed vocational nurses in California can take a specialized 30-unit option to prepare for the NCLEX-RN examination.

CDU opens multiple doors to the nursing profession. The university stays true to its mission of community-based healthcare and tackles health disparities head-on.

Online and Hybrid Options

Charles R. Drew University provides flexible learning options that meet student needs in its nursing programs. The college welcomes modern educational approaches and blends traditional classroom experiences with digital learning technologies.

Online education offerings at the university have grown substantially over recent years. The 2019-2020 academic year saw 872 students take at least one online class at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, with 239 undergraduate students among them. Students who completed their coursework entirely online that year numbered 311. These numbers show remarkable growth since 2015-2016 when the university had no fully online students.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program demonstrates the university’s dedication to flexible education at the graduate level. This program employs an executive-education format that combines synchronous and asynchronous online classes with essential on-campus immersion weekends. Students attend weekend sessions that combine three hours of synchronous online instruction with twelve hours of asynchronous learning. Working professionals pursuing advanced nursing credentials benefit from this balanced approach.

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Master’s program also offers a flexible executive-education format. Students attend one weekend session monthly each semester for theoretical content delivery. The program blends face-to-face and web-enhanced teaching methods between sessions to aid student-faculty collaboration and clarify theoretical concepts.

These hybrid learning models showcase Charles Drew University nursing program’s dedication to making education available while maintaining quality standards. The CDU nursing program combines digital learning technologies with traditional instruction methods to prepare students for technology-driven healthcare environments. Students gain theoretical knowledge and practical skills through this comprehensive approach.

Students with work responsibilities or family commitments benefit from this mix of online and in-person instruction. This flexibility aligns with the university’s mission to increase healthcare profession diversity by making quality nursing education available to more students, especially those from underserved communities who need to work while earning their degrees.

Admission Requirements

The Mervyn M. Dymally College of Nursing BSN Programs at Charles R. Drew University sets specific academic and documentation standards. Students must be well-prepared to meet the program’s rigorous educational requirements.

The BSN program requires all applications through Nursing CAS, along with official transcripts from previous institutions. New college students should submit their high school transcripts, while transfer students need to provide their college records. The program looks for candidates with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in both high school and college coursework.

Notwithstanding that, the CDU nursing program shows some flexibility. Students with GPAs between 2.00-2.99 might receive conditional admission, except for prerequisite nursing courses. Each case undergoes individual review and might need extra documentation.

A complete application package for the Charles Drew nursing program should include:

• One academic or professional letter of recommendation
• Resume or curriculum vitae showing professional experience and activities
• Personal statement
• Official transcripts from all schools attended

Students can transfer up to 46 units to meet the 16 prerequisite course requirements for upper division BSN coursework. Most prerequisites need a minimum grade of C, but math and science courses just need a B or higher. Science and math prerequisites must be completed within seven years before applying.

The Pre-Nursing Track at Charles R. Drew University works best for new college students and transfers who still have prerequisites to complete. But admission to Pre-Nursing doesn’t guarantee a spot in the BSN program.

Students who already have a bachelor’s degree can’t join the BSN program. These candidates should look into the Master of Science in Nursing-Entry Level Master’s program instead.

International students must meet extra requirements. They need a course-to-course evaluation listing all completed post-secondary subjects, U.S. semester credit and grade equivalents, and degree details.

What’s Different about the BSN Programs at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Mervyn M. Dymally College of Nursing

The BSN program at Mervyn M. Dymally College of Nursing stands out with its blend of academic excellence and community-focused healthcare education. The program’s social mission puts emphasis on serving underrepresented and under-resourced communities. This core value shapes the entire curriculum.

Small class sizes with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensure individual attention throughout your studies. Students build closer relationships with instructors who provide guidance and mentorship in this intimate learning environment. Faculty members come from a variety of clinical backgrounds and research interests, which adds depth to your education beyond textbook knowledge.

Clinical rotations at the CDU nursing program give students exceptional exposure to different healthcare settings. Students get practical experience in many healthcare environments, from major urban medical centers to community clinics that serve vulnerable populations. Most programs limit clinical experiences to one or two facilities. This wide exposure opens up various career paths after graduation.

Charles Drew University’s nursing program stands out by weaving cultural competence into healthcare delivery. Cultural awareness runs through all courses instead of being treated as a separate topic. Students learn to provide quality care to patients from all backgrounds – a vital skill in today’s healthcare world.

South Los Angeles location gives students unique opportunities to tackle health disparities firsthand. This urban environment becomes part of the classroom experience and offers learning opportunities that go beyond textbooks. Students develop practical skills in health promotion, disease prevention, and patient advocacy by working directly with underserved communities.

The Charles Drew nursing program teaches students to work well within healthcare teams. This approach mirrors modern healthcare systems and prepares students for today’s collaborative nursing practice.

The curriculum builds leadership skills alongside technical nursing expertise. Students prepare not just for entry-level positions but also for future roles in management and policy where they can make broader changes in healthcare.