Nursing (RN to BSN)

Students will study a wide range of curricular content required for licensure by the California Board of Registered Nursing. Students will also study the organization and function of health services, ethics and law in health care, writing skills for health professionals, leadership and management, nursing research, and the essentials of patient education.

Emphasis will be placed on evidence-based practice and critical thinking skills to provide safe and effective care to patients from diverse and multicultural populations and communities across the lifespan. Students will also take Community Health Nursing, which includes certification in reporting child abuse and disaster management, in accordance with the California Public Health Code of Regulations.

Program goals and objectives.

The faculty at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is committed to the following:

1. Providing a learning environment that nurtures cultural diversity and differences in learning styles and is free of discrimination and judgment.

2. Graduate well-prepared Bachelor of Science in Nursing students who demonstrate clinical behaviors and judgments to meet the essential competencies necessary to obtain licensure and join the workforce as an entry-level nurse.

3. Ensure that graduates possess the knowledge and skills necessary to respond to the community’s evolving healthcare delivery and practice needs.

4. Produce well-rounded nurses who are culturally sensitive, situationally adaptive, and active advocates for the community they serve.

5. Continuously review and revise its curriculum to ensure that its nursing graduates are well-equipped to adapt to the rapid changes in healthcare delivery and practice.

6. Build a learning platform to inspire nursing graduates to pursue recognition and excellence in practice, research, and community outreach.

7. Foster nurturing partnerships with its community organizations for academic programs.

8. Inspire nursing graduates to seek higher education by developing a plan for faculty growth and professional development.

• Asynchronous Courses Online
• RNs: Earn Your BSN Degree
• Job Placement Assistance
• Veteran & Military Benefits Eligible

All applicants to Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts must meet the General Admission Requirements for all Programs, including the entrance exam where required, and the additional admission requirements for this program.

• Graduated from an approved Registered Nursing program.
• Provide official transcripts that reflect a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all college coursework.
• Attend or view a live or recorded Information Session.
• Pass an interview with the Program Director or Associate Program Director in person or via a virtual conferencing platform, if necessary.
• Submit a two to three-page (2 – 3) typed essay on why they have chosen professional nursing as a career.
• Submit three (3) letters of recommendation. These may come from employers, immediate supervisors, health-related facilities where the applicant has volunteered, or faculty from previous college/university courses. These letters of recommendation must be submitted on official letterhead.
• Provide a resume that showcases your previous healthcare experience.
• Submit proof of current RN license.
• Complete all courses or equivalent listed in the Registered Nursing Prerequisite Courses: RN to BSN Pathway table. Generic BSN for Non-Registered Nurses and Advanced Placement for LVNs are available as residential programs and are approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (RN to BSN) admission track is a three (3) semester distance education program for Registered Nurses (RN) to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in one year. Each semester is 15 weeks long and covers five (5) courses. Course instructors will open a new lecture each weekday, and assignments must be submitted by the deadlines set by the course instructors and indicated in the course syllabi.

The two (2) practicum courses, Community Health Nursing Practicum and Leadership/Management in Nursing Practicum, require the student to do six (6) hours each week for 15 weeks in a clinical setting. Students are responsible for obtaining their local clinical site/preceptor based on their work or residence. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts has agreements with multiple clinical sites in the Bay Area, California, where students can alternatively complete their clinical/preceptorship.

The expected program completion time is 45 weeks, excluding holidays and vacation days. The Instructor-to- Student ratio is 1:25 during lectures and 1:1 during clinical externships.

At Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts (professional courses only), students receive 480 hours of didactic instruction and 180 hours of clinical training, enabling them to apply lecture topics to practical use. Additionally, students will dedicate 960 hours to out-of-school preparation.

Upcoming start date for this program: January 4, 2027.

Tuition and fees. Registration Fee (non-refundable) $100.00; Student Tuition Recovery Fund $0.00; Textbooks $250.00; Tuition $10,368.00. Total program cost $10,718.00. Total program cost excludes transportation, room and board, and personal expenses.

Total fees per period of enrollment. Period 1: $3,656.00; Period 2: $3,243.00; Period 3: $3,819.00.

Cost of Attendance, 2026–2027 (one academic year). Tuition & Fees $6,436.00; Books $150.00; Transportation $6,300.00; Food & Housing $17,876.00; Personal Expenses $638.00; Loan Fees $130.00; Laptop Fees $450.00; Total Cost of Attendance (One Academic Year) $31,980.00. Individual student costs will vary.

Financial aid. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts participates in various federal and state student financial assistance programs, including the Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, Direct and Direct PLUS Loans, Cal Grant, Sallie Mae® and Campus Door loans, and veteran benefits, for those who qualify. Each campus has a Financial Aid Advisor. Gurnick's FAFSA school code is 041698.

Net Price Calculator. Estimate your net price with Gurnick's Net Price Calculator.

Other fees, as applicable. ATI TEAS $120; background check $33–$75; drug testing $74–$148; CPR $55–$80; fingerprinting $81 and up; licensing board fees $200–$500 depending on the exam and license; campus parking permit $25; graduation ceremony fee $20–$50. Some of these fees may be paid by Gurnick Academy for some programs.

Career paths. Registered Nurse. The catalog lists Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes 29-1141.00, 29-1141.03 and 29-1141.01 for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program; please see a school official for the complete list of potential occupations.

What the degree leads to. The RN to BSN pathway of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is intended for students who have graduated from a Board-approved Registered Nurse program from an accredited institution and possess a current RN license: Registered Nurses complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in three (3) semesters of distance education. Students will also take Community Health Nursing, which includes certification in reporting child abuse and disaster management, in accordance with the California Public Health Code of Regulations.

Terminal educational outcomes. By the end of the baccalaureate nursing program, the graduate will be able to:

• Apply theoretical and clinical concepts of health promotion and disease prevention practices, provide a safe and nurturing environment, and lead innovations in nursing practices according to nursing regulations and accrediting agencies.
• Critically appraise, analyze, and create a framework integrating didactic and clinical learning into everyday practice and leadership activities.
• Evaluate patient care practices that are evidence-based and community-driven.
• Express a firm commitment to nursing research through active participation in professional organizations and educational advancement.
• Demonstrate leadership by becoming well-rounded, ethical, respectful, well-informed, and fully responsive to the community’s needs.

Career services. Gurnick Academy offers job placement assistance; help creating a professional resume and portfolio; mock interviews; one-on-one and interview coaching; professional development workshops; Gurnick Edge, a website geared to professionally enhancing nurses; and support after graduation, from career counseling to networking opportunities.

Job outlook and salary. Gurnick refers prospective students to the O*NET Online 29-1141.00 Registered Nurses job profile for general information about the profession and for salary data for California.