Veterans and Licensed Practical Nurse to BSN (VL-BSN) Pathway

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The VL-BSN pathway is designed for LPNs and Veterans with military healthcare experience who have multiple roles with work, family, and school. Courses are offered in a hybrid format, blending online learning and in-person interaction. The pathway supports veteran and LPN students to successfully matriculate, graduate with their BSN, and pass the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN^©), opening access to new employment opportunities in high-demand RN jobs.

The VL-BSN Pathway is designed for Licensed Practical Nurses and military medics who meet eligibility criteria. LPNs must have current licensure in the state of Washington. Current or former honorably discharged military medics who have successfully completed the US Air Force Course L8AQJ4N031 01AA (4NOX1) and US Air Force skill level 5 as well as additional courses to meet the minimum competency to be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses. NCLEX-PN^© or the US Army Practical Nursing Specialist are eligible to apply. Airforce Medics (4NOX1, skill level 5) and Navy Corpsmen (HM000, Rank: HM3, E-4 and above) who have not met the minimum competency to be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN^© may do so by successfully completing the Corpsman/Medic to Practical Nursing (CM-PN) pathway at Olympic College. All military or veteran applicants should meet with the Healthcare Pathway Student Success Coach to confirm eligibility before applying.

Students are admitted to the VL-BSN Pathway for a Fall Quarter start. Application to the VL-BSN Pathway is a separate procedure in addition to the application to Olympic College. Admission to Olympic College does not guarantee admission to the VL-BSN Pathway. Acceptance into the VL-BSN Pathway is based on a factoring system that includes academic and non-academic metrics. Please visit www.olympic.edu/nursing for application instructions and admission information.

Required Courses (180 credits)

Prior Learning (28 credits)

Nursing credits applied for LPN License, Military Medic or Corpsman applicants with required clinical experience as defined and documented in admission requirements.

General Education Requirement (63 credits)

RN to BSN General Education Requirements

World Language: Two years in high school of the same world language or 10 credits of one language at the college level. Students who were educated in another language through the 8th grade may be exempt from this requirement.
Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning Skills (10 credits): 5 credits fulfilled by statistics (at Olympic College, approved classes are MATH& 146 and BUS 215); 5 credits fulfilled by advanced mathematics (MATH& 107 or higher).
Writing (15 credits): Must include 5 credits of English composition and 10 additional credits of writing-intensive coursework. The 10 additional credits may be earned by BSN core courses.
Humanities (15 credits): College-level foreign language credits can be applied towards this requirement and may be completed while in OC PN or BSN programs. Up to 9 credits of BNURS classes may count toward the humanities requirement.
Social Sciences (15 credits): May be completed while in OC PN or BSN programs. Up to 12 credits of BNURS classes may count toward the social sciences requirement.
Natural Sciences (23 credits): Must include 6 credits of college-level chemistry, 12 credits of anatomy and physiology (can be met via examination), 5 credits of microbiology (can be met via examination).
Electives: As needed to complete total pathway general education requirements.

Some BNURS courses may be used for social science, humanities, and symbolic reasoning/quantitative skills distribution requirements. Program progression is contingent upon successful completion (minimum grade of 2.0 or above) in each course. Please see advisor for details.

Completion of general education courses required for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is not required to be eligible to apply to the pathway, but completion before program start is highly recommended.

Prerequisites

ENGL& 101 - English Composition I Credits: 5
BIOL& 241 - Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 Credits: 6
BIOL& 242 - Human Anatomy & Physiology 2 Credits: 6
BIOL& 260 - Microbiology Credits: 5
(CHEM& 121 and BIOL& 160 are required prerequisites for BIOL& 241 and BIOL& 260)
CHEM& 121 - Intro to Chemistry Credits: 6
(or CHEM& 141/151 and CHEM& 142/152 (as an alternative to CHEM& 121)
PSYC& 100 - General Psychology Credits: 5
or
PSYC 102 - Psychology of Adjustment Credits: 5

Required Support Courses

NUTR& 101 - Human Nutrition Credits: 5
or
NURSE 118 - Nutrition for Professional Nursing Credits: 2

Optional Support Courses

ENGL& 102 - Composition II Credits: 5

In-Program Courses (119 credits)

Veterans and Licensed Practical Nurse to BSN (VL-BSN) Pathway

Required Courses (180 credits)

Prior Learning (28 credits)

General Education Requirement (63 credits)

RN to BSN General Education Requirements

Prerequisites

Required Support Courses

Optional Support Courses

In-Program Courses (119 credits)

Fall - First Year

Winter - First Year

Spring - First Year

Summer - Second Year

Fall - Second Year

Winter - Second Year

Spring - Second Year

Summer - Third Year