About the B.S. in Nursing (BSN-T) Traditional
Do you want to help others? Do you enjoy caring for other people? If so, Nursing may be the career choice for you. Today, healthcare, nursing, and educational organizations are advocating for an increase in the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses entering the nursing workforce and National Louis University is ready to help you be one of those BSN prepared nurses.
Program Highlights
National Louis University has been educating students for 140 years and is ready to assist students wishing to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing to advance their education in the on-ground program. The BSN-Traditional (BSN-T) entry pathway is for students who have completed all prerequisite coursework.
Students who have not completed all prerequisite coursework will be admitted as a Pre-Nursing student. To be fully admitted to the professional nursing sequence all Nursing prerequisite courses must be completed with a “C” or better and have a college cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Full admission to the Nursing major occurs at the conclusion of prerequisite coursework.
Clinical Experience
You will have clinical experiences beginning in the first quarter of full admission to the professional Nursing sequence. Your lab and simulation experiences will occur in the Center for Simulation and Interprofessional Education on the Chicago campus. Clinical experiences will occur at a variety of facilities in the Chicago Metro area. You will have clinical experiences across the lifespan including Adult Health, Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynecologic Health, Behavioral Health and Population Health. These clinical experiences will prepare you to care for a diverse patient population, across many healthcare delivery sites, and across the lifespan. Each student will round out their clinical experiences with an immersive clinical at the end of the program. You will complete in excess of 740 clinical hours preparing you for your future role as a professional nurse.
A Supportive Community
You will join a cohort of other students with whom you can share your professional goals and be supported by professional and dedicated faculty throughout your time in the program.
Prerequisites:
- General Biology with Lab
- Chemistry
- Microbiology with Lab
- Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
- Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab
- Introduction to Psychology
- Developmental (Lifespan) Psychology
- Introduction to Philosophy
- Introduction to Math Concepts or College Algebra
Please note: it is helpful to have completed the general education coursework necessary for a bachelor’s degree prior to starting the professional nursing sequence as there is no opportunity for additional classes except during the summer term.
What You'll Learn
Completion of this program will prepare you for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Exam (NCLEX) and to care for patients across the lifespan, providing evidence-based, patient-centered care to optimize outcomes.
Critical Thinking
As critical thinking and clinical judgement are key to the nursing profession, you will have ample opportunities to learn and enhance these skills. You will also explore the various career options available to BSN prepared RNs.
Health Assessment
You will learn how to assess individuals across the lifespan to identify variations from normal. These findings will then be discussed with the healthcare team and in collaboration create a plan of care for the client.
Ethics in Healthcare
Nursing has been voted the most trusted profession for over two decades (Gallup Honesty and Ethics Poll 2026). This is due to nurses providing ethical care for individuals, families, and communities with integrity and compassion.
Leadership in Nursing Practice
Nurses are leaders and leaders implement the future. Our program provides knowledge on how to delegate successfully, improve quality and safety, and become an agent of change to assume leadership roles within the nursing profession.
