Why Choose Nursing?

Nursing is the largest health care profession with workforce shortages anticipated for the next two decades.  Earnings are above average, particularly for advanced practice nurses who have additional education and certifications.  Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Ferris are eligible to write the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) to become a registered nurse.  

Registered Nurses (RNs) with the BSN degree are preferentially hired in a variety of health care settings because they are prepared to provide nursing care for a wide variety of patient populations.  The Registered Nursing BSN program at Ferris prepares nurses to promote health, prevent disease and to help patients cope with a variety of health problems.  RNs with a BSN degree can anticipate opportunities in hospital nursing with positions to include medical, surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatric, emergency or intensive care units.  RNs can also work in a variety ambulatory care settings such as clinics, emergency medical centers, surgicenters and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) or in long-term care settings caring for the elderly.  In addition, BSN prepared RNs can also expand their clinical practice to community settings such as Public Health, home care, hospice or school nursing.  BSN prepared RNs are also educated to assume entry level management positions in the health care system.

Students in the Ferris Nursing program engage in a learner-centered approach to the study of nursing theory and skills in the classroom, online and in a state of the art nursing skills laboratory while also having the opportunity to practice direct patient care in hospital and community settings under the guidance of clinically expert faculty.  The nursing program at Ferris has two professional sequence (nursing course) tracks.  The first track is a six semester professional sequence that follows the equivalent of one year of pre-requisite coursework.  This track is intended for traditional students who have not earned a college degree.  The second track is a three semester professional sequence that is designed for students who have a BS degree in another field.  Graduates from either track are eligible to write the licensure exam to become a Registered Nurse.   In addition, graduates of the BSN program can continue their education in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at Ferris or at another University setting.

Get a Great Job

Due to the current nursing shortage, faster than average growth is expected through the year 2020 and beyond.  This increased need is based on industry growth and the projected replacement of existing practicing nurses.  

Average full-time RNs earn $24 per hour with an average starting hourly rate of $20 in the Midwest.  The average annual salary for a staff RN in 2006 was $47,200.  Advanced practice nurses with education beyond the BSN can earn salaries ranging from $55,000 to $90,000 per year, depending on the specialty and location of employment.

Admission Requirements

Students must be admitted to the University.  To be qualified to enter the professional sequence of the program, a student must have at least a 2.7 cumulative GPA with a minimum grade of “B-“ in the following courses or their equivalent:  MATH 115 or MATH 117, BIOL 108, BIOL 205 & CHEM 114.  Students must also complete the following  courses or their equivalent with a grade of “C” or higher:  ENGL 150, COMM 105 or COMM 221 or COMM 121, MRIS 102, CCHS 101, CCHS 102 & CCHS 103.  Students must also complete one foundations course in each of the categories of Social Awareness and Cultural Enrichment before entering the professional sequence of the program.

To assure all students of quality education in the classroom, laboratory and clinical instructional practice, enrollment is limited based on guidelines set forth by the MI State Board of Nursing.  Students who have met or will meet the program’s qualification criteria by the end of the Spring semester are required to apply to the program’s professional sequence between January 15 and January 30 of the year prior to the Fall Semester entry for this track of the program.  

Students who are applying for the accelerated program must have an earned BS degree and must complete the required pre-requisite science courses: BIOL 108, BIOL 205 & CHEM 114 or their equivalents; and core curriculum courses: CCHS 101, CCHS 102, CCHS 103 and EHSM 315; prior to beginning the three semester professional sequence.  Students who have or will meet these qualification criteria by the end of the fall semester are required to apply to the program’s professional sequence between August 1 and August 15 prior to the January entry for this track of the program.

Graduation Requirements

Both the traditional and accelerated tracks lead to a bachelor of science in nursing degree.  Graduation requires a minimum of 2.0 GPA overall.  Students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in all major (NURS) and core courses and meet all the general education requirements as outlined in the General Education website.

If a student interrupts progression in the professional sequence of the program, re-entry cannot be guaranteed due to space limitations in laboratory and clinical placement sites.

More Information

Arlene Morton, Program Coordinator
Linda Kuk, pre-professional Advising Assistant
College of Allied Health Sciences
Ferris State University
200 Ferris Drive
Big Rapids, MI  49307
231-591-2270
mortona@ferris.edu,
kukl@ferris.edu OR
nursing@ferris.edu

This program is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

The NLNAC publishes a variety of nursing and nursing education materials, including a list of nursing programs and information on student financial aid. For a complete list of NLN publications, write for a career information brochure.  Send your request to:

Communications Department
National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission
61 Broadway 33rd Floor
New York, NY  10006
FAX:   800-669-1656, ext. 153
www.nlnac.org