The New York State Action Coalition was founded for the purpose of taking active steps towards making BSN programs more accessible and affordable to New York’s nursing students. This comes on the heels of revelations that BSN-educated RNs contribute to a reduction in patient re-admittance rates and rates of mortality, and are generally better prepared for the complexity and diversity of modern healthcare. BSN-educated RNs also enjoy a much higher rate of job placement immediately following graduation.
The Healthcare Workforce Development Subcommittee of the New York State Workforce Investment Board found that more nursing students than ever before are completing BSN programs as a path to initial licensure, both in response to the State’s push for more BSN-educated nurses and because of the better opportunities a BSN affords. In fact, in 2014 almost 99% of New York’s nursing graduates entered the workforce with a bachelor’s degree or higher. This shows the great strides New York is making in improving the preparedness of its nursing workforce.
Students looking to enroll in a pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program as a path to initial RN license will work with the New York Board of Nursing to secure their license after graduation.
Enrolling in New York’s Pre-Licensure BSN Programs
New York BSN programs range from 124-128 credit hour programs, including courses in liberal arts, prerequisite courses, and nursing core and clinical courses. For example, one of New York’s top nursing programs requires that students complete the following course requirements:
- General Education – 44 credits
- Nursing Prerequisites – 20 credits
- Nursing Courses – 64 credits
In addition to online programs, New York Board of Nursing-approved Baccalaureate nursing programs have campuses located in cities including, but not limited to, the following:
- Oneont
- Delhi
- Syracuse
- Morrisville
- Binghamton
- Utica
- Rochester
- Old Westbury
- Bronx
- Brooklyn
- Staten Island
- Jamaica
Applicants will first submit a general university application, which will include high school transcripts and standardized testing scores (such as the SAT, ACT, AP, or IB). After being accepted to the university, they will be able to complete nursing prerequisite courses. After completing all pre-nursing courses with a grade of C or better in each course (averaging to a cumulative 2.75 GPA), students will be eligible to be admitted to the nursing program, which takes place during the last two years of the four-year program.
Pre-Nursing, Core Nursing and Clinical Integration
The following prerequisite courses are to be completed with a 2.75 average cumulative GPA during the first two years of the program before students are admitted to the nursing segment of New York’s BSN programs:
- Nutrition and Diet Therapy
- Technical Math
- Bio-Organic Chemistry (with lab)
- Statistical Analysis
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II
- Microbiology
- Human Development
After completing the prerequisite and general education courses, core nursing courses begin in a student’s junior year. They include baccalaureate-level nursing courses including, but not limited to, the following:
- Health Assessment and Promotion
- Adult and Elder Nursing
- Professional Nursing
- Pathophysiology
- Introduction to Research: Evidence-Based Clinical Practice
- Acute Care Psychiatric Nursing
- Nursing Pharmacotherapeutics
- Maternity Nursing
- Pediatric Nursing
- Foundations of Genetics and Genomics for Health Care
- Community Health Nursing
- Leadership and Management Nursing
In general, New York’s pre-licensure BSN programs require between 700-1,000 hours of clinical experience during the last two years of the program. Many universities will offer on-campus clinical experiences, clinical simulations, and off-campus clinical experiences. Students may choose to be placed in a clinical environment close to home.
In New York, hospitals or medical centers that offers clinicals include, but are not limited to, the following:
- NYU Langone Medical Center
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
- Sinai Hospital
- Bellevue Hospital
- New York-Presbyterian
Submitting an Application for RN Licensure and Passing the NCLEX-RN
After graduating from a pre-licensure BSN program, graduates are eligible to apply for a New York RN license by examination. To apply, graduates will follow these simple steps:
- Submit New York RN Application for Licensure
- Submit $143 licensure and first registration fee (made payable to the New York State Education Department)
- Have nursing school submit Certification of Professional Education
Applicants may mail their admissions materials to the New York Board of Nursing at the following mailing address:
New York State Education Department
Office of the Professions
PO Box 22063
Albany, New York 12201
Before taking the NCLEX-RN Exam, candidates will review the NCLEX Candidate Bulletin, which will serve as a guide throughout the entire testing process. This bulletin outlines the procedures for receiving an Authorization to Test from the New York Board of Nursing, for registering for the NCLEX-RN Exam with Pearson VUE, and more.
Once registered, students may schedule their NCLEX-RN exam at any of the Pearson Professional Testing Centers located in New York:
- New York
- Brooklyn
- Rego Park
- White Plains
- Lake Success
- Staten Island
Residencies and Career Opportunities for RNs with BSN Degrees in New York
With a BSN degree, RNs have access to higher level nursing jobs that are likely to provide higher salaries. For example, BSN-prepared RNs in New York can get involved in nursing education, leadership, management, and supervision, which either prefer or require baccalaureate degree preparation. The following are just a few of the jobs open to RNs with BSN degrees in New York as of February 2015:
- Nurse Educator – St. John’s Senior Services, Rochester
- Nurse Manager – Stat Staff Professionals Inc., Cooperstown
- Clinical Educator – New York Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital, Cortlandt Manor
- Clinical Nurse Manager – mount Sinai Medical Center, New York
- Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE) – Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Bronx
Further, employed BSN-prepared RNs have the opportunity to participate in residencies, which will provide further preparation in clinical specialties. The following are just a few New York hospitals that provide this benefit to employees.
New York–Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital
With a proven reputation for being at the forefront of high quality nursing care, New York-Presbyterian Children’s Hospital is dedicated to helping employed RNs reach for ongoing, educational enrichment. Along with providing continuing education and training to employed RNs, this hospital provides residency training programs.
Mt. Sinai Medical Center
Not only is Mt. Sinai Medical Center a recipient of the prestigious Magnet Award, but it is also home to the Center for Nursing Research and Education. This research center fosters evidence-based practice, research, and scholarship. Along with this, Mt. Sinai’s dedication to nursing excellence is also evident in the fact that it offers clinical residency programs. Mt. Sinai offers residencies in clinical specialties including, but not limited to, the following:
- Cardiology/Cardiothoracic Services
- Emergency Department
- GI and Surgical Specialties
- Women and Children Services
- Neurosciences
- Rehabilitation
Bellevue Hospital Center
As a part of New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), Bellevue is one of eleven acute care teaching hospitals throughout New York offering clinical residency programs that provide RNs with continual, practical experience. RNs at Bellevue will have the opportunity to work in one of the largest municipal healthcare systems in the entire United States. At Bellevue, RNs can specialize in any of the following areas:
- Critical Care
- Burn
- Cardiac
- Medical
- Pediatric
- Trauma and Snake Bite
- Emergency Services