Program at a glance

How much does it cost? 

Learn more about nursing degree costs and how to afford a degree from the University of Nevada, Reno.

How long does it take?

Once in the nursing program, choose from three bachelor's degree options ranging from 12 to 16 months in length.

Who can apply? 

Open to all active students who have a high-school diploma or higher and have completed the nursing prerequisite courses.

Why pursue a bachelor's degree in nursing?

Nurses with a bachelor's degree are prepared with the skills and knowledge to assist doctors, physician assistants, and other health care experts in the care of sick or injured people. Bachelor's degree nurses have added training in leadership, nursing research, management and have more options when choosing where to focus their learning and career in health care. Today, more hospitals and employers prefer to hire a nurse with a bachelor's degree over an associate's degree.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of your bachelor of nursing degree, you’ll have the skills and the knowledge to:

  1. Integrate concepts from the arts and sciences in promoting health and managing complex nursing care situations.
  2. Apply leadership concepts, skills and decision making in the provision, and oversight of nursing practice in a variety of settings.
  3. Translate principles of patient safety and quality improvement into the delivery of high quality of care.
  4. Appraise, critically summarize and translate current evidence into nursing practice.
  5. Integrate knowledge, processes and skills from nursing science; information and patient care technologies; and communication tools to facilitate clinical decision-making, and the delivery of safe and effective nursing care.
  6. Describe the effects of health policy, economic, legal, political and socio-cultural factors on the delivery of and advocacy for equitable health care.
  7. Demonstrate effective professional communication and collaboration to optimize health outcomes.
  8. Deliver and advocate for health promotion and disease prevention strategies at the individual, family, community and population levels.
  9. Demonstrate value-based, professional behaviors that integrate altruism, autonomy, integrity, social justice, and respect for diversity and human dignity.
  10. Demonstrate critical thinking, clinical decision making, and psychomotor skills necessary for the delivery of competent, evidence-based, holistic and compassionate care to patients across the life span

Clinical experience

Nursing is a practice profession, and in both the traditional BSN and the ASBSN, students jump into clinical settings where you apply what you are learning in class to direct patient care, beginning your first semester. You'll learn with nurses and faculty at the bedside of all the hospitals in Northern Nevada.

Acute care clinical sites range from medical and surgical units to critical care and the emergency department. One entire semester is devoted to a wide variety of community-based sites. The OSN has a state-of-the-art, high-fidelity simulation center where you can practice in a controlled, realistic setting.

Learn more about the Orvis School of Nursing

The Orvis School of Nursing trains the next generation of nurse leaders to promote the health and wellbeing of diverse populations in Nevada, the nation, and the world through excellence in nursing education, discovery, and engagement.

Options in the nursing degree program

The Orvis School of Nursing offers three paths for students to earn a bachelor of science in nursing. The traditional 16-month program and the RN-BSN track. Each program provides students with advanced knowledge of modern healthcare practices, principles, and equipment.

The baccalaureate degree program is approved by the Nevada State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Join the state's finest nurses

The Orvis School of Nursing trains the next generation of nurse leaders to promote the health and wellbeing of diverse populations in Nevada, the nation and the world through excellence in nursing education, discovery and engagement.

Visit the Orvis School of Nursing
three nursing students practicing skills in a simulation lab

Careers with a degree in nursing

The nursing industry continues to be in high demand for new nurses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is predicted that there will be 194,500 openings for registered nurses (RN) each year through 2030, and the workforce is expected to grow 9% between 2020 and 2030. The annual median pay for RNs is $77,600 in 2021 (BLS).

You can afford the University of Nevada, Reno

76% of students receive financial aid

Almost everyone is eligible to receive some kind of aid. We offer need-based and merit-based forms of financial aid to help you afford college.

54% of all students graduate with no debt

That's right. More than half of our students leave the University of Nevada, Reno with no student debt.