A nursing professor speaks to nursing students.

Nursing-Bachelor of Science and RN-to-BSN

Do you want to work on the frontlines of health care as a skilled nursing professional? Earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) from Hardin-Simmons University and prepare to make major impacts on the health and wellness of your community.

There is a strong history and foundation of health sciences at Hardin-Simmons University. With more than 90 years of shaping the medical workforce, HSU has been graduating nurses through its consortium for over 40 years. Dating even further back to 1931, HSU has partnered with Hendrick Health to facilitate nursing education.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Pending SACSCOC and Texas Board of Nursing Approval)

In 2022, the HSU Board of Trustees made a bold move and decided to begin the process of having our own nursing school on campus. Sandra Welling, Ph.D., RN, PAHM, CCM, CNE recently joined HSU as the Associate Dean and Founding Director of Nursing. Pending SACSCOC and the Texas Board of Nursing approval, we anticipate welcoming students beginning in the spring of 2025. Until then, HSU will continue the long partnership of educating and training nurses through the Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing Consortium.

Nurses are the foundation of the health care system and are always in high demand. As one of the best B.S.N. programs in the region, our graduates are sought after throughout Texas and the nation for their knowledge and dedication to their patients. Our B.S.N. program is also grounded in and enlightened by Christian principles like leading and serving in our communities.

R.N. to B.S.N. Program

If you’re a registered nurse, you can earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in as little as two semesters through the R.N. to B.S.N. program online at Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing (PHSSN). Our program stands out among online R.N. to B.S.N. programs because of its experienced faculty mentors, its ease and accessibility, and its commitment to Christian ethics and values.

Our intensive program will expand on your initial nursing preparation. Joining HSU—one of the best R.N. to B.S.N. programs in the region—will enhance your professional development; prepare you for more career opportunities in clinical practice; and help you better understand the cultural, political, economic, and social issues affecting patients and care every day. With our online R.N. to B.S.N. program, you can also earn your B.S.N. degree while working and caring for your family, no matter where you are located.

Program Contact

Dr. Sandra Welling

Associate Dean/Founding Director and Professor of Nursing sandra.welling@hsutx.edu

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Majors

Minors

Why Earn Your Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Hardin-Simmons?

Freshmen Foundations Course

Most universities do not introduce a nursing curriculum until a student’s junior year, after admittance into the nursing program. At HSU, students will have the opportunity to enroll in a nursing foundations course as early as their freshman year, allowing students a hands-on experience earlier, leading to a formed decision sooner regarding a declared major and future career development.

Servant Leadership

Faculty and students will have opportunities to serve outside of the classroom by participating in mission work, both domestically and abroad. The School of Nursing, like other programs at HSU, will regularly incorporate service into its curriculum with yearly mission trips, fundraising projects, and volunteering. These opportunities provide curriculum and spiritual enrichment, creating unique and powerful moments for all involved.

On-Campus Experience

Students in the nursing program will be integrated into campus life early. Through the on-campus experience, students will have access to mentorship opportunities, community engagement, mission work, and active learning environments. The Hardin-Simmons community is special. Anyone who steps foot onto campus, whether as a prospective student or alumnus, describes HSU with the same words: “It feels like home; The people genuinely care about me; I knew it was where I was meant to be.” The facility will house skills labs and simulators to allow active learning.

What Can You Do With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree?

Nursing is a remarkably diverse field of study. Many graduates enter the field of nursing in medical settings. However, graduates of our B.S.N. programs also go on to work in community settings, physician offices, mental health clinics, and missionary positions that take them across the globe. Our graduates go on to work at prestigious organizations such as the Hendrick Medical Center, the Children’s Medical Center, and even here at the Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing. Whether you take the traditional B.S.N. track or the R.N. to B.S.N. program online, you’ll also be well-prepared to attend an MSN program if you’d like to continue your nursing education and increase career opportunities.

On top of the personal and professional satisfaction you’ll feel helping others every day in a career you love, you’ll also benefit from amazing job security. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that health care occupations such as nursing will grow 16 percent over the next decade, adding more jobs than any other occupational field.

Top Jobs for B.S.N. Program Graduates

Registered nurse
Nurse educator
Health policy nurse
Nurse recruiter
Clinical research nurse
Forensic nurse
Nurse health coach

Salary for B.S.N. Program Graduates

The estimated salary of alumni from our BSN program is $79,231.

Program Details

At HSU, programs are grounded in and enlightened by Christian principles like leading and serving in our communities. At the core of the pending Hardin-Simmons University School of Nursing is servant leadership which focuses on nurturing, fostering, and empowering others, to generate a community of creativity, collaboration, satisfaction, and successful performance.

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35 (NIV)

Leading this program is Dr. Sandra Welling, Associate Dean/Founding Director and Professor of Nursing. For the last seven years, she has worked at a faith-based liberal arts institution. She has extensive experience in program development and has facilitated the development of two MSN programs, a Practical Nurse program, extensive BSN expansions, and hybrid BSN programs, and designed five simulation labs.

At the core of everyone called to nursing is a need to serve. Dr. Welling’s focus on service is evident in the curriculum she and Assistant Professor of Nursing Laura Wade, MSN, RN, CNE, are developing for the new school of nursing.

“God is at the center of the program. Our leaders are Christ-centric and servants to the community.”

She has served as a CCNE site visitor since 2015 and a liaison for Higher Learning Commission.

Dr. Welling received the RN Diploma from Methodist College of Nursing in Omaha, Nebraska, the BSN from the University Detroit Mercy, MSN from Regis University, Rueckert-Hartman School for Health Professions, and the Ph.D. from New Mexico State University.

Previous experience includes Visiting Professor for the MSN Program (online) at Chamberlain University in Chicago, Illinois, Interim Chief Academic Officer, and Dean of Nursing at Presentation College in Aberdeen South Dakota, where she has also served as a Professor and Dean of Nursing.

BSN Admission Requirements

All Applicants must complete the Application Process, which will then be reviewed by the PHSSN Admissions Committee to determine if students meet the below requirements.

Cumulative grade point average (GPA) must be a minimum of a 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
Completion of all nursing prerequisite courses with a letter grade of ‘C’ or higher (Letter grade of less than ‘C’ will not be accepted toward Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree)
Course Exception: Students must complete the required Anatomy & Physiology, and Microbiology courses with a grade of at least ‘B’ before admission to PHSSN
Students are also required to take a Nursing Entrance Exam
Completion of General Education and Prerequisite coursework before entering first semester at PHSSN (HSU Degree Plan)

Online RN to BSN Admission Requirements

Full admission to the R.N. to B.S.N. program online is granted to applicants who have met all admissions requirements. Applications will be reviewed holistically and exclusively. The following is required of applicants for the R.N. to B.S.N. Program Online:

Current, active RN unencumbered license
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 for admission consideration. All calculated grades from schools attended are admission grade point average
Prerequisite coursework completed with a grade of “C” or better, prior to the beginning of this program
Students must successfully complete all nursing courses (with a grade of ‘C’ or better) in sequential order at each level before progressing to the next level in the curriculum
All applicants who receive offers of admission must consent to a criminal background check (a complete FBI/DPS background check). A history of criminal conduct or conviction may result in withdrawal of admission offer. Refer to the PHSSN website school policy in the student handbook

All online R.N. to B.S.N. program applicants must provide documentation of the following prior to enrollment:

Professional liability insurance
Completion of a current physical
Proof of health insurance
Compliance with the School of Nursing’s required immunizations. (Contact PHSSN for current list)
Healthcare provider BLS or ACLS (CPR) certification (adult, infant, & child)
Current negative 10-panel drug screen

We believe that the cost of education should never hinder your dreams of helping others. That’s why our program offers numerous awards and grants every year for nursing students. In addition to these exclusive awards, you may also be eligible for university-wide awards. Learn more about scholarships at Hardin-Simmons University.

If you’re interested in joining one of the best R.N. to B.S.N. programs in the region, you may also want to learn more about other programs at Hardin-Simmons University that are similar:

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Degree

Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate

Master of Science in Nursing