NR 414: Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
A holistic approach to evaluating physiological, developmental, psychosocial, spiritual, age-related, socioeconomic and sociocultural components of a patients health.
CHOICE BSN
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
CHOICE: Connecting Health Occupations with Innovative Curriculum Experiences
Are you currently employed in the health care field but want to join the nursing profession? The CHOICE BSN program at Regis allows you to remain in your current job while pursuing a BSN degree. Through night and weekend classes, you’ll explore, learn and develop the skills necessary to nurture patients and further your career options.
Despite a different format, CHOICE offers you the same opportunities and challenges as a traditional BSN program, while helping you make the most of your time. Classes are held in the evenings 2x per week on Regis’ Northwest Denver campus, and clinical rotations are scheduled on weekends at our clinical partner sites.
The CHOICE BSN degree program has a competitive admissions process. Students are selected based on academic performance, recommendations, writing skills demonstrated in the personal statement and any healthcare and/or volunteer experience. Academic performance is weighted more heavily than the other criteria. Priority admission is given to health care professionals, although applicants without health care experience are eligible to apply. We accept 24 students in our fall term and 24 students in our spring term.
Program Snapshot
Program Format
Evening on-campus classes
Weekend clinicals*
Credits for Completion
120 credit hours
Generous transfer credit opportunities
Tuition for the 23-24 Academic Year
$891 per credit hour
View Full Degree Curriculum and Requirements
*Please note: In the final semester of the program, clinicals may be any day of the week.
Sample CHOICE BSN Classes
NR 422: Clinical Leadership in Professional Nursing
Apply leadership theories to individual roles, skills and decision-making processes in the provision of nursing care, including health care team coordination, oversight and accountability.
NR 472: Community and Population-Focused Nursing
Analyze nursing roles at the individual, family, community and systems level of practice, with an emphasis on promoting healthy communities through epidemiological, ethical, environmental and public health principles.
Clinical Education
Students complete 756 hours of clinical education to learn hands-on skills in real health care settings across the Front Range (Ft. Collins to Colorado Springs and Boulder to Aurora). Clinicals will be primarily scheduled on the weekends, however, clinicals in your last semester can be any day of the week.
Program Length
Earn your four-year degree, which includes two years of prerequisites and core studies requirements and two years of major course work specific to professional nursing. Graduates are awarded the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree with eligibility to take the national licensing examination (NCLEX-RN).
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science degree in Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Regis University’s Loretto Heights School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
How to Apply
To apply to the CHOICE Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, you will need:
- Completed online application through NursingCAS
- Official transcripts from prior college(s) and institutions
- Resume
- Essay
- Two professional and/or academic recommendations
The first step in the application process is to contact an admissions counselor, who can evaluate your prior learning credit, provide information regarding financial aid and tuition assistance and help you through the entire application process.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year: $891 per credit hour
Total program credits: 120
Tuition is one part of the overall cost of attendance, which includes all expenses students may have, including basic living costs. For more information about tuition, fees and your estimated cost of attendance, visit our Cost of Attendance for Adult Undergraduates and Graduate Students page. Tuition and fees are subject to change.
Additional fees may include a nursing lab fee, background check and drug screen costs, application fees and clinical fees, among others. Credit hours listed are the total number of credits required to graduate. Students complete 58 credit hours before starting the program, and the final 62 credit hours are completed at Regis at the listed rate.
Curious about financial aid options? Regis offers a variety of scholarships, grants and other programs to help you pay for school. Visit Financial Aid for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for admission into the program?
This program is designed specifically for individuals who are currently working in the health care field. A minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA is required to apply. All applicants must have three of the four science prerequisites completed by the application deadline. All prerequisites, including the four science courses must be completed by the program start date for those admitted.
Do you require the GRE, HESI, TEAS or any other admissions/pre-nursing exam with my application?
No. Standardized exams will not be reviewed in your application.
Do you require a supplemental application in addition to the NursingCAS application?
No. All applications will be fully submitted through NursingCAS only. No supplemental applications or additional fees are necessary.
Do I need to send transcripts directly to Regis University or only to NursingCAS?
As part of the application process, you should submit all official transcripts directly to NursingCAS. Transcripts sent directly to Regis University will not be considered in the application process.
Are there any requirements as to who should complete the letters of recommendation and how many are needed?
Two electronic letters of recommendation must be submitted directly to NursingCAS on the standard NursingCAS form. Paper references are not accepted. These recommendations must be submitted by professional or academic references. Arrange for NursingCAS to receive all of your references by the application deadline date. Personal references will not be accepted.
How can I learn more about the program?
Information sessions are offered frequently. All on-campus information sessions are hosted in Peter Claver Hall, and online sessions are hosted through Zoom technology. RSVP today!
Is your program accredited?
Yes. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science degree in Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Regis University’s Loretto Heights School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
What is the typical schedule for a CHOICE BSN student?
CHOICE BSN students have class two evenings a week (typically from 5 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evenings), and complete the majority of their clinical rotations on the weekends.
How competitive is admission into the program? How many applications do you receive and how many do you accept?
We receive an average of 80-120 applications each year. We accept 24 students in the fall term which starts in August, and 24 students in the spring term which starts in January. The final admission decision is made by the Loretto Heights School of Nursing and is based on a number of factors including cumulative GPA, science GPA, current resume, two recommendation forms, personal statement, and previous health care and/or volunteer experience. Priority admission into the CHOICE BSN program is given to health care professionals.
Do you have a waiting list?
We do not offer a waiting list at Regis University. If you are selected as an alternate and a position in the program becomes available, you will be notified immediately. Alternates are selected based on a variety of factors in order to maintain the class profile and are not numerically ranked.
Where are clinical rotations completed?
Clinical rotations are completed at a variety of hospitals and health care facilities in the Denver metro area. We use facilities as far north as Longmont United Hospital and Boulder Community Hospital and as far south as Sky Ridge Medical Center and Parker Adventist Hospital.
Does Regis offer financial aid to CHOICE BSN students?
Yes. Most CHOICE BSN students are taking financial aid in some form for their tuition/fees. Regis University offers a wide range of opportunities for financial aid including scholarships, grants, loans, student employment and financing options. You will be connected with your financial aid counselor upon acceptance to begin this process.
Are students required to have laptops for the program?
Yes. All campus-based nursing students are required to bring a laptop to class.
Minimum System Requirements
Students will be required to take exams via Examplify. Students must have a mobile device that meets the following minimum requirements found at ExamSoft.
For Windows:
- Operating System: 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 10.
- Alternate versions of Windows 10, such as Windows RT and Windows 10 S, are NOT supported at this time.
- If you are using a Microsoft Surface device, please read this article for important instructions on Windows 10 “S mode” versus the standard Windows 10. S mode is not compatible with Examplify.
- Only genuine versions of Windows Operating Systems are supported.
- The English (United States) Language Pack must be installed.
- ExamSoft does not support tablet devices other than Surface Pro, as detailed above.
- CPU Processor: 2.0 GHz Intel i3 processor or equivalent
- RAM: 4GB or higher
- Hard drive: highest recommended for the operating system or 1GB of available space.
- For onsite support, and in order to back up the answer files to a USB drive, a working USB port is required (newer devices may require an adaptor).
- For technical troubleshooting, account passwords including BitLocker keys, may be required.
- Internet connection for download, registration, exam download and upload.
- Examplify cannot be run within virtualized environments or environments that require persistent network (local or otherwise) connections during secure exams. This includes, but is not limited to, VMWare, Parallels, Citrix workspace, virtual disks, streamed images, etc.
- Screen resolution should be at least 1024 x 768.
- Administrator-level account permissions (view instructions).
The upcoming Windows 10 Version 20H2 update expected in October 2020 has not been certified as compatible for use with Examplify for Windows. Please do not upgrade to this version until it has been approved by ExamSoft.
For instructions on how to check your computer’s specifications, view the tutorial.
The following requirements apply for exams with ExamID or ExamMonitor enabled:
- Examplify version 2.4 or greater
- Hard drive: 2GB or higher available space
- RAM: 8GB or higher recommended; 4GB required
- Webcam (no virtual cameras or phones as cameras)
- Microphone (no headphones, no virtual mics)
- Internet: 2.5 Mbps upload speed
Please note:
- You may not use any virtual camera software with ExamID or ExamMonitor.
- The versions of Windows 10 utilized in testing are 1903, 1909, and 2004.
For Mac:
- MacOS Catalina (version 10.15) is only compatible with Examplify version 2.0.6 or higher (Released on 10/14/19 or later)
- Supported operating systems: OS X 10.13 (High Sierra), OS X 10.14 (Mojave), Mac OS Catalina (10.15). Only genuine versions of Mac operating systems are supported.
- CPU: Intel processor.
- RAM: 4GB or higher.
- Hard Drive: 1GB or higher available space.
- For onsite support, and in order to back up the answer files to a USB drive, a working USB port is required (Newer devices may require an adaptor).
- For technical troubleshooting, account passwords including device passwords may be required.
- Server version of Mac OS X is not supported.
- This software cannot be used on virtual operating systems such as Microsoft’s Virtual Machine, Parallels, VMware, VMware Fusion or any other virtual environments.
- Internet connection for download, registration, exam download and upload.
- Administrator-level account permissions (view instructions).
- Examplify cannot operate within virtualized environments or environments that require persistent network (local or otherwise) connections during secure exams. This includes, but is not limited to, VMWare, Parallels, Citrix workspace, virtual disks, streamed images, etc.
The upcoming Apple macOS 11 (Big Sur) expected in October 2020 has not been certified as compatible for use with Examplify for Mac. Please do not upgrade to this version until it has been approved by ExamSoft.
For instructions on how to check your computer’s specifications, view the tutorial.
The following requirements apply for exams with ExamID or ExamMonitor enabled:
- Examplify version 2.4 or greater
- Hard drive: 2GB or higher available space
- RAM: 8GB or higher recommended; 4GB required
- Webcam (no virtual cameras or phones as cameras)
- Microphone (no headphones, no virtual mics)
- Internet: 2Mpbs upload speed
Please note:
You may not use any virtual camera software with ExamID or ExamMonitor.
Where can I take my prerequisites? Can I take prerequisites at a community college?
Prerequisite classes may be completed at any regionally accredited college or university, including community colleges. Loretto Heights School of Nursing (LHSON) at Regis University only accepts online science classes from accredited universities and colleges. We do not accept science classes from Sofia Learning, Straighterline and Portage. All required science classes must be taken within the last 10 years. View our transfer guide for all Colorado community colleges.
What is the time limit on prerequisites?
We recommend that prerequisites be taken within the last seven years; however, we will consider all courses regardless of the amount of time since completion. Because of the nature of the program, it is important that students have knowledge of all prerequisite subjects in order to build on that foundation.
Can online courses meet the prerequisite requirements?
Yes. We accept online courses for prerequisite requirements as long as they meet the following criteria: completed at a regionally accredited institution, meet the semester hour and grade requirements, and contain a lab component, if required.
What courses can I take for Religious Studies?
It is important that religious studies courses be taken from a religious studies or philosophy department. Courses taken from humanities, literature, anthropology or history departments, for example, will not be accepted. If your school does not have a religious studies department, you will want to take religious studies courses (such as comparative religions, philosophy of religion, world religions east and/or west) from your school's philosophy department. A general philosophy course such as Introduction to Philosophy does not fulfill the religious studies prerequisite requirement.
Where can I take Health Care Ethics?
Health Care Ethics is a required prerequisite that must be taken prior to your intended start date. Health Care Ethics is offered online at Regis University every eight weeks. All transfer courses for Health Care Ethics must be reviewed individually and approved by the Division of Health Services Education. Incoming students will have the opportunity to complete the Applied Ethics in Health Care (HCE 430) course from Regis University the term prior to starting the program. Once accepted or placed on the alternate list, we will notify you of the course offering and facilitate your registration. Students can look for an upper-division course equivalency outside of Regis University; however, we recommend that you receive confirmation that the course will fulfill the requirement before registering for it. If a health care ethics course is completed at an institution other than Regis University, then the student must also complete an online module to fully complete our requirement. Designed by Regis University HCE 430 faculty, the module explores Jesuit and Catholic thought surrounding ethical considerations in healthcare.
Do you accept combined Anatomy and Physiology courses?
We will accept combined courses as long as the full series was completed and the courses included lectures and labs. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a C- or above.
Can I take ________ course for _______ course?
Students often want to determine if a particular course will substitute for one of the prerequisites. Typically, course substitutions are not accepted and students need to complete the courses as listed. However, if you would like to send a course description from the school catalog, and preferably a course syllabus, with a note regarding your rationale for substitution to healthcare@regis.edu, we will be glad to evaluate your request.
Do Advanced Placement (AP) courses taken in high school count toward prerequisite requirements?
Yes. See the AP exams we will accept, along with our minimum required passing score for credit. Please note: You must send official test scores to Regis University in order to receive transfer credit.
How do you calculate repeated course work into the GPA?
We will use the highest grades received for repeated prerequisite courses when we calculate your prerequisite science GPA. The cumulative GPA is calculated by NursingCAS and will include all completed course work, including course repeats. Regis University will remove courses from the NursingCAS cumulative GPA calculation if the course was completed at a nationally accredited institution. Regis University will add courses completed at an international institution from a provided international credential evaluation to the NursingCAS cumulative GPA calculation.
Do my credits transfer?
We highly recommend that you request an unofficial evaluation of your college credits. The evaluation can serve as a useful tool as you create a plan for completing your prerequisites and prepare for the admissions process. To request an evaluation, please send PDF copies of your unofficial transcripts to: unoffeval@regis.edu or fax them to: 303.964.5534. The DOB and SSN should be masked, and a transcript key is required for all transcripts. Please indicate you would like an unofficial evaluation and include your program of interest (Accelerated BSN) with your name, phone number, mailing address, and preferred email address. Your unofficial evaluation will be emailed to you within 7-10 business days. Please note that this evaluation is intended to help you plan your remaining prerequisites only. The grades reflected on this evaluation are not official and thus have no impact on your admissions decision.
A Culture of Excellence
Learn more about our historic Loretto Heights School of Nursing within the Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions and other programs they offer.