Academics
Learn about the program of study, PA licensure requirements, and student learning outcomes.
Program information
RN program
Geisinger School of Nursing offers one program of study in professional nursing. After you complete the program, you’ll receive an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). You’ll then be eligible to apply for the National Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) to become a registered nurse.
To graduate from the GSON program, you’ll complete 70 credits. This includes 46 credits of nursing courses and 24 credits of general education courses.
Meet with the financial aid advisor to discuss financial aid before scheduling your college courses.
General education courses will be taken online for anyone who hasn’t completed them before starting the RN program at GSON. Courses must be taken during or before the semester listed in the plan of study. And all general education courses must be completed before your final semester.
LPN advanced placement: Do I qualify?
The LPN – RN track/plan of study requires 54 credits (30 nursing and 24 general education). Before starting nursing courses, you’ll need to complete Anatomy & Physiology I and II, General Psychology & Life Cycle Development. The plan of study must be completed within 3 years.
Applicant eligibility for advanced placement:
- Meet all admission and prerequisite requirements
- Graduate from a board-approved program
- Have a current U.S. LPN license in good standing
- All written work and testing must be met with satisfactory performance in the transition course to continue in the program.
GSON may recommend additional theory and clinical time, even if advanced standing is granted.
Students with advanced placement will automatically be excused from the following courses:
- N101: Nursing Fundamentals
- N111: Health Promotion for the Adult
- N121: Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family
Plan of study
Geisinger School of Nursing offers a 5-semester plan of study for the Associate Degree in Nursing. Fall and spring semesters are 16 weeks
and summer semesters are 12 weeks.
Grading
Grades will be reported within two weeks of the end of each semester.
Grades are on a numerical and letter scale as follows:
Course descriptions
Credit hours: 4 units (3 theory; 1 lab)
Introduces foundational anatomical and physiological concepts using a body-systems approach. Emphasizes structural organization, terminology, functional biochemistry; cytology, histology, common disorders and clinical applications as it applies to the study of integumentary, skeletal, muscular and nervous systems. This course is intended for students who are interested in pursuing careers within the health sciences.
Credit hours: 4 units (3 theory; 1 lab); Prerequisite: BIO111
Continues competencies from BIO 111 with a comprehensive study of the cardiovascular, endocrine, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems. This course is intended for students who are interested in pursuing careers within the health sciences.
Credit hours: 3 units
College level academic writing emphasizing rhetorical analysis, critical reading, and a structured, recursive writing process. Students compose essays in multiple genres; practice summary, analysis, synthesis, and researched argument; participate in peer review and conferences; and reflect on growth as writers. Prerequisite: N/A. level academic writing emphasizing rhetorical analysis, critical reading, and a structured, recursive writing process. Students compose essays in multiple genres; practice summary, analysis, synthesis, and researched argument; participate in peer review and conferences; and reflect on growth as writers.
Credit hours: 4 units (2 theory; 2 lab/clinical); Prerequisites: N101; Pre- or Corequisites: N121, BIO211, PSY275
This course is designed to explore aspects of health promotion and maintenance for the adult client. The theoretical component of the course will emphasize the basic needs of the individual in maintaining health and wellness and preventing illness. This course will encompass susceptible populations across the adult lifespan and discuss how specific cultural and biologic characteristics relate to the effective delivery of holistic nursing care. This course provides clinical and lab experiences that allow students to practice clinical judgement and apply theoretical concepts to nursing care of susceptible populations in a variety of settings.
Credit hours: 3 units
Provides an overview of human development across the life cycle, integrating physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains at each major stage. Emphasizes research methods, theories, and socio-cultural influences on development across the lifespan.
Credit hours: 3 units
Examination and application of major principles of psychology including: an introduction to scientific and research methods, biological foundations, sensation and perception, learning and conditioning, human development, motivation and emotion, thinking, memory, intelligence, personality theories, stress and coping, social psychology, psychological disorders and their treatment.
Credit hours: 3 units
Introduces the study of human society, social behavior, and social institutions. Emphasizes sociological perspectives, research methods, culture, socialization, and social change. Students will explore how social forces shape individual experiences and group interactions.
Credit hours: 6 units (3.5 theory; 2.5 lab/clinical); Prerequisites: N101, N111, N121; Pre- or Corequisite: BIO243
This course is designed to explain concepts relating to various health alterations faced by client. This course emphasizes the effects of stress on homeostasis in adults. Principles of pharmacology and techniques of medication administration are emphasized. Students will utilize the nursing process to examine best practices related to management of disease processes.
Guided clinical learning experiences are offered in an acute care setting. Client-centered care focusing on evidence-based practice is emphasized through appropriate use of the nursing process. Clinical and laboratory experiences will enable the student to develop clinical competencies in the learning laboratory and to integrate theoretical concepts with clinical skills.
Credit hours: 6 units (3.5 theory; 2.5 lab/clinical); Pre-requisites: N101, N111, N121, N211; Co-requisite: N222;
Pre- or Corequisites: ENG100, SOC101
This course is designed to build upon the theories and clinical experiences of N211 (Medical Surgical Nursing I). It will further explore concepts relating to various health alterations faced by clients. This course emphasizes the effects of stress on homeostasis in adults. Principles of pharmacology and techniques of medication administration will continue to be emphasized. Students will integrate the nursing process to examine best practices related to management of disease processes.
Guided clinical learning experiences are offered in an acute care setting. Client-centered care focusing on evidence-based practice is emphasized through appropriate use of the nursing process. Clinical and laboratory experiences will enable the student to correlate knowledge, prioritization, and clinical judgement to enhance the client’s plan of care.
Credit hours: 4 units (3 theory; 1 lab)
Provides students a comprehensive study of microorganisms, including their structure, metabolism, genetics, growth, and control. Emphasizes microbial roles in health and disease, immunology, infection control, and clinical applications.
Credit hours: 2 units; Prerequisites: N101, N111, N121, N211, N221, N222; Co-requisites: N231, N232)
This course is designed to prepare the student for successful completion of the NCLEX examination. Students will participate in the ATI Capstone NCLEX review program to enhance test tasking strategies and solidify knowledge gained throughout the program.
Credit hours: 6 units (4 theory; 2 lab/clinical); Pre-requisites: N101; Pre- or Corequisites: BIO211, PSY275
This course is designed to introduce the student to concepts of nursing care for the child-bearing family. Emphasis is placed on applying concepts of childbearing and childrearing within the family unit from the prenatal client to the adolescent client. Principles of growth and development are correlated to nursing and medical diagnoses. The
theoretical content includes the care of families experiencing normal pregnancy and childbirth as well as pediatrics. Health promotion surrounding the childbearing family is also emphasized.
The clinical learning component includes experiences in the prenatal, antenatal, perinatal and postpartum management of the patient in the acute care and community settings. Pediatric clinical experiences will also be utilized for student learning. Evidence-based practice for the childbearing family is presented within a framework that is based on a philosophy of physiological and developmental normalcy that stresses safety and the optimization of outcomes.
Credit hours: 5 units (3 theory; 2 lab/clinical); Prerequisite: N101, N111, N121, N211, N221, N222; Corequisites: N232, N233
This course is designed to facilitate learning regarding clients who are experiencing high-risk, complex, multi-system health care alterations across the life span. Nursing concepts related to the needs of the critically ill patient will be emphasized. The course will incorporate advanced nursing skills and the theoretical knowledge required when caring for patients with complex health alterations. Caring relationships and critical thinking skills are emphasized, in addition to the psychodynamics involved when caring for individuals and families experiencing a life-threatening crisis. Clinical and lab experiences offer the student the guided application of theoretical knowledge and technical skills required to provide holistic nursing care to this complex population.
Credit hours: 8 units (5 theory and 3 lab/clinical); Pre- or Corequisites: BIO111, PSY123
This course is designed to introduce students to nursing fundamentals based on concepts of critical thinking and wellness. Theoretical concepts include an introduction to professional nursing as a caring profession, communication techniques, introduction to legal and ethical issues, nursing physical assessment and history-taking, nursing process and the teaching-learning process. An overview will be provided on various types of healthcare settings and patient care delivery systems.
The clinical laboratory portion of this course will enable the student to develop clinical competencies in the learning laboratory and to integrate theoretical concepts with clinical skills. Through selected guided experiences in direct care and the community, the student will apply acquired skills and knowledge to meet the basic healthcare needs of individuals.
Credit hours: 2 units (1.5 theory; 0.5 lab/clinical); Prerequisites: BIO111, BIO211, PSY123, PSY275. Must have a current LPN license; Corequisite: N211; Pre- or Corequisite: BIO243
This course is designed to integrate prior knowledge and experience as a practical nurse with theoretical concepts and clinical judgement of the professional nurse. This course focuses on the role and responsibility of the professional nurse, including differentiation between scope of practice for the LPN vs. RN, as well as the theoretical basis for the nursing process. The lab component of this course will focus on principles and techniques used in obtaining a health assessment and physical examination.
Credit hours: 4 units (2.5 theory; 1.5 clinical); Prerequisites: N101, N111, N121, N211; Corequisite: N221; Pre- or Corequisites: ENG100; SOC101
This course is designed to introduce the concepts of nursing care as related to patients experiencing psychiatric and mental health alterations. The theoretical framework emphasizes therapeutic and interpersonal relationship skills, including self-awareness skills, communication skills, the group process and psychopathological disorders. The student will gain knowledge of psychiatric and mental health alterations and appropriate treatments. The lab and clinical components include experiences with one-to-one relationships and group interpersonal situations in acute, chronic and community mental health systems.
Credit hours: 5 units (3 theory; 2 lab/clinical); Prerequisites: N101, N111, N121, N211, N221, N222; Corequisites: N231, N233)
This course is designed to aid the student in preparing for their transition to future independent nursing practice. Clinical judgement, prioritization, and delegation skills will be explored as students manage the care of multiple clients.
Clinical experiences are designed to provide the student opportunities to apply clinical judgement, prioritization and delegation skills as well as professionalism, collaboration and time management skill in the delivery of nursing care. A significant portion of the clinical experience will be completed through a preceptorship.
Pennsylvania requirements for eligibility for licensure or entry into the nursing profession
Pennsylvania requirements for eligibility for licensure or entry into the nursing profession
Degree requirement:
- Completion of approved nursing program
An applicant, to be eligible for examination for licensure as a registered nurse, shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the Board that they have completed work equal to a standard high school course as evaluated by the Board and has satisfactorily completed an approved program of professional nursing. Approved programs shall include an associate degree, bachelor's degree, or diploma nursing program.
Examination requirement:
- 1 Examination: An applicant must receive a passing grade on either the National Council of State Boards - Registered Nursing Exam (NCLEX-RN) or the State Board Test Pool Exam (SBTPE) as a requirement for licensure.
Experience:
- No experience requirement for licensure.
Continuing education:
- 3 Hours: Applicants must complete 3 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting for initial licensure.
- 30 hours of continuing education is required for biennial renewal of license. Of those 30 hours, 2 hours must be Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting.
Initial licensing fee:
- $95 – Fee for in-state educated RN exam applicants
- $115 – Fee for RN exam applicants educated in another state or jurisdiction
- $120 – Fee for applications for licensure by endorsement
- $145 – Fee for licensure by endorsement with examination
Licensure Renewal Fee:
- $122 – Biennial renewal of license.
End of program student learning outcomes
At the end of the program, the graduate will:
- Model safe nursing care in all practice settings. (Safety)
- Collaborate with the patient, family and members of the healthcare team to assist the client in achieving optimal outcomes. (Teamwork and Collaboration)
- Implement clinical judgement when providing patient-centered care. (Client-centered care and clinical judgment)
- Integrate data and technology for information-gathering, communication and patient care. (Informatics)
- Practice within the ethical, legal and regulatory framework of nursing and standards of nursing practice. (Professionalism)
- Examine evidence-based research to guide nursing practice. (Evidence-based practice)