Gurnick Academy BSN Programs
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts has a detailed Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program that will advance your nursing education and career potential. The program lines up with the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation to increase the proportion of nurses with bachelor’s degrees to 80% by 2020. This addresses the growing need for higher education in nursing.
The BSN program at Gurnick Academy merges professional skills with career-focused education and hands-on experience to enable you to reach your personal and career goals. Students learn through classroom lectures combined with sophisticated training equipment. They get practical experience from skilled physicians, nurses, instructors, and technologists.
You can choose from multiple BSN pathways based on your current education:
- Generic BSN Program – A detailed 32-month program for students starting their nursing education
- LVN to BSN Advanced Placement – An accelerated 15-month pathway for Licensed Vocational Nurses
- RN to BSN Advanced Placement – An efficient 12-month program for Registered Nurses seeking to advance their education
The BSN curriculum covers everything in nursing from maternal and newborn care to pediatrics, gerontology, mental health, and medical-surgical nursing. The program also focuses on community health nursing and nursing informatics to prepare you for today’s digital world.
Your studies will include valuable clinical experience in multiple nursing environments. Clinical rotations put you right in the middle of nursing practice. You’ll apply your classroom knowledge in ground settings. The program also helps you prepare for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination after completion.
Gurnick Academy builds positive self-esteem and offers supportive services to help students succeed academically, professionally, and personally. The program’s curriculum and educators are selected carefully to maximize your learning experience and expand your knowledge base for academic and professional growth.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows employment of Registered Nurses is projected to grow 9% from 2020-2030, with about 194,500 job openings annually. Getting a BSN is a smart career move, especially when healthcare employers prefer nurses with bachelor’s-level education.
The BSN program is available at the Concord campus, and plans are underway to expand to the San Jose campus once the California Board of Registered Nursing gives approval.
Types of Programs Offered
Gurnick Academy’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program has several educational paths that match your credentials and career goals. Each path gives you unique benefits in program length and specialized curriculum.
The General or Full BSN Program takes 32 months with 120 approved instructional weeks. This complete pathway works best when you want to start your nursing education without previous healthcare credentials. You’ll learn both theory and practical skills through well-laid-out semesters.
Licensed Vocational Nurses can take the LVN to BSN Advanced Placement path. This accelerated 15-month route needs 64 approved instructional weeks. You must complete a 3-week LVN to RN transition course (RN 180) to review your readiness. After that, you’ll finish four semesters that add up to 63 semester credit hours. The path includes 802.5 hours of didactic instruction and 652.5 hours of clinical and lab training.
Registered Nurses can choose the RN to BSN Advanced Placement path. This optimized 12-month option requires 45 approved instructional weeks. The program builds on your nursing knowledge and focuses on leadership, research, and specialized care areas.
Gurnick also offers an LVN 30-Unit Option for California-licensed LVNs. This non-degree path helps you prepare for the California Registered Nurse licensure examination. Keep in mind that finishing this option won’t give you a BSN degree, and some states might not recognize you as a registered nurse.
These programs cover key nursing areas like maternal/newborn care, pediatrics, mental health, and medical-surgical nursing. The upper-level BSN coursework teaches advanced topics that ADN programs don’t cover, such as nursing technology, research, and informatics.
Unlike Associate Degree programs that focus mainly on practical skills, the BSN curriculum takes a closer look at theoretical knowledge while keeping strong clinical training. This approach lines up with today’s healthcare needs where employers prefer nurses with bachelor’s-level education.
Your choice of pathway should match your current credentials, career goals, and available time. Each option helps optimize your learning experience and prepares you for advanced nursing roles.
Online and Hybrid Options
Gurnick Academy’s BSN programs put flexible learning at their heart. Students can pursue nursing education whatever their busy schedule looks like. The academy has designed programs that work for working adults through a mix of online and hybrid learning methods.
The RN to BSN pathway shows this flexibility perfectly as a 3-semester distance education program that runs completely online. Registered Nurses can earn their Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing within a year through this accelerated option. Each semester runs for 15 weeks. The program belongs to the Concord Campus even though students learn online.
Licensed Vocational Nurses in the LVN to BSN pathway take 17 semester credit hours of general education courses online during their third semester. Students get the best of both worlds with this hybrid approach. The pathway includes 802.5 hours of didactic instruction plus 652.5 hours of clinical and lab training. This combination helps students apply their knowledge in ground settings.
Gurnick Academy’s online learning environment brings several benefits:
- You can keep your current job while advancing your education
- Your coursework fits around your existing commitments
- You achieve academic goals even with time constraints
These programs focus on careers and help create new professional paths. The online format makes continued education available to everyone, whether they want job market growth or higher positions.
The B.S. in Nursing (RN to BSN) Program serves as an accelerated degree path made for Registered Nurses. Students can take some prerequisite courses in both online and hybrid formats. This gives extra flexibility when preparing to enter the program.
Quality nursing education remains at the core while students maintain their work-life balance, thanks to well-planned online components. This approach shows Gurnick’s steadfast dedication to creating educational paths that work for students in a variety of situations and circumstances.
Admission Requirements
Getting into Gurnick Academy’s BSN program means meeting several requirements that will prepare you for this challenging nursing field.
You must submit a completed online application on Gurnick Academy’s website. The program’s general admission requirements state that you should be at least 18 years old and have an official high school transcript or GED. You’ll meet with an admission advisor and a financial aid advisor to review all required disclosures before enrollment.
Academic prerequisites are the foundations of the admission process. Your college coursework must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher. The program will verify your academic standing through official transcripts. You must complete all BSN program prerequisites before admission.
The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS VII) will review your skills in math, reading, English, language use, and science. You must score 64% or higher to pass. The exam costs $120.00 and you can take it twice per year.
The program looks for candidates who have shown their dedication to healthcare through:
- A 2-3 page essay explaining your choice of professional nursing as a career
- Three recommendation letters on formal organizational stationery from employers, supervisors, or faculty
- Proof of health-related or community work experience
- An interview with the Nursing Program Director or designee
You must also meet Gurnick Academy’s requirements for immunizations, health screening, background check, and CPR certification.
The selection process ranks candidates based on their prerequisite GPA, TEAS VII scores, interview performance, essay quality, recommendation letters, and healthcare experience. This full review helps select candidates who have both academic strength and personal qualities needed in nursing.
You can apply any time of the year for this full-time program. Advisors will help guide you through each step of your nursing education experience at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts.
What’s Different about the BSN Programs at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts BSN Programs stand out from other of the best nursing schools. Small class sizes allow students to receive individual attention and guidance throughout their educational experience.
The BSN curriculum at Gurnick combines theory and practice in innovative ways. Students get hands-on experience from day one and apply their knowledge in simulated environments before working in clinical settings. This approach helps build confidence and practical skills that prepare them for ground nursing scenarios.
Experienced nursing professionals make up Gurnick Academy’s faculty. They bring their current industry knowledge to the classroom. Students learn the latest healthcare practices and technologies rather than just academic concepts.
The Gurnick BSN program places a strong emphasis on career development. Students develop professional skills in healthcare leadership and evidence-based practice. They also learn about team collaboration – skills that employers value in today’s complex healthcare settings.
The program’s commitment to technology sets it apart. Students work with advanced simulation technology and electronic health record systems similar to those in modern healthcare facilities. This ensures they’re technologically competent when they graduate.
Strong partnerships with California’s healthcare facilities give students varied clinical experiences with different specialties and patient populations. These connections often lead to job opportunities after graduation.
Students can enter the program at multiple points based on their educational background. This flexibility recognizes their existing knowledge and skills, which helps optimize their education without repeating what they already know.
The BSN program prepares students for both immediate employment and future growth. The curriculum includes elements that support advanced education and specialization. This creates a solid foundation for graduate studies and specialized certifications in their nursing careers.