AUSON – Auburn University School of Nursing – was established in 1979 in Auburn, Alabama. There are nine baccalaureate nursing programs in the state of Alabama, and Auburn University’s is the newest. They have designed a mission that focuses on fostering excellent relationships with students in order to ensure they get the best education, outreach and service and have the most opportunities to take part in research.While participating in the various programs that the university offers, students will be instructed on how to deliver true patient-centered care that is holistic and focuses on the needs of the patient regardless of their cultural background. Once graduated, students would be able to take on positions of leadership in their field, particularly for those who have obtained their Master’s degree (MSN). As advanced practice nurses, they are able to work in any type of health care service in the community. Auburn university currently offers two nursing programs for nurse practitioners. Let’s take a look at both these programs.

BSN Program

During the BSN program, undergraduate students are able to learn what it means to be a professional nurse. On completion, they are awarded a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, which allows them to take the NCLEX-RN exam. This allows them to become registered nurses (RNs) and start their employment.In order to take part in the program, students must first complete a pre-professional nursing science program. This is why the first two years of the program are known as pre-nursing. If students already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, they may be able to transfer credits for this and shorten their degree pathway. The rest of the program includes five semesters, during which time students will be instructed in classrooms, laboratories and more. They will gain a great deal of clinical experience as well.Admissions for the BSN program are in the spring and in the fall. A formal application for admission must be made, at which point students will also be informed of the documentation that they must provide. All details and the application forms can be obtained from the Auburn University website. It is very important to ensure all deadlines are met in order to be admitted to the program. Those who are considered will be invited for interview.Students need to have completed three out of the following five courses to be considered:

1. Principles of biology with lab
2. Fundamentals of chemistry I with lab
3. Microbiology with lab
4. Anatomy and physiology I with lab
5. Anatomy and physiology II with lab

The science courses must have been completed in the past five years. Additional requirements include a science GPA, a pre-nursing GPA and interview score. The GPA has to be at least 2.5. Interviews only take place once in an academic cycle. If they are denied admission to the program, they will have the opportunity to reapply at the next cycle. It is very important to realize that this BSN program is in high demand nationally, which means competition is fierce. Indeed, the average GPA is 3.55.

Joint MSN Program

The second program the university offers is the joint MSN degree program. This is designed for those who already hold a BSN and want to gain further nursing education. It is a joint program as it is offered together with Auburn University Montgomery. This means that the resources that are available at the two schools are fully accessible to students.The MSN follows a number of different programs that students can choose from. These include the:

• Primary care practitioner
• Nurse educator

The nurse educator program takes 33 semester hours to complete as well as 240 clinical hours. The primary care practitioner program is longer. It requires 43 semester hours and 840 clinical hours.Admission criteria for this degree program are very stringent too. They include:

• a BSN degree from a fully accredited university or college.
• a recommendation from the previous university that places the student in good academic standing.
• an undergraduate statistics course, which students must pass with at least a C mark.
• a GPA of at least 3.0.
• a full, valid RN license that is unencumbered.
• three separated letters of recommendation and reference.
• a current and up-to-date resume.
• an essay that explains the reason why the student wants to take part in the MSN program. This is one of the most important parts and students should take time to learn how to write an essay.