Nursing

Nursing graduates play an essential role in healthcare. Registered Nurses (RN) are vital to the healthcare team as they provide and coordinate patient care. RNs assess patients, administer medication and treatments, consult with doctors, and educate patients on how to manage their illnesses or injuries.

We offer two (2) different pathways that include didactic and hands-on training. The first track is a six-semester program for non-nursing applicants.

We offer a second track for those with a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)/ Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license and who have completed general education courses. LVN to RN applicants can complete the program in two semesters, along with a three-week LVN to RN transition course. After program completion, students will receive a National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) prep class to prepare for the RN licensure board examination.

Program goals and objectives.

• Provide a high-quality educational experience to each individual desirous of entering the healthcare profession.
• Provide a depth of human understanding and a wide range of nursing skills based on communication and scientific principles.
• Guide the associate degree student in collaborative practice with other healthcare professionals to meet patient nursing needs.
• Apply the nursing process to provide safe and effective care.
• Help develop the associate degree student to become a role model, patient advocate, patient educator, and caregiver who provides an environment conducive to maintaining dignity and maximizing the wellness of each individual.
• Guide the associate degree student to actively participate in the learning process and assist with developing self-awareness and self-direction.
• Provide a shared learning environment between faculty and students by exchanging knowledge and experience to promote change within the participants.
• Prepare the associate degree student with the knowledge, skill, and ability to administer safe, ethical, competent nursing care as a beginning practitioner in various settings.

• Approved by the BRN
• Hands-On Sim Lab Training
• Clinical Hours Provided
• NCLEX-RN Exam Prep
• Job Placement Assistance

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.

• Attend or view a live or recorded Information Session.
• Applicants must meet the following admission policies of Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts: immunization, health screening, background check, and CPR certification (See Policies of Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts in the School Catalog and “Admissions”).
• Applicants must submit a completed application. It is recommended that interested applicants meet with the admission advisor to complete the application.
• Applicants must take an Admission Assessment: The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS VII). It tests math, reading, English, language use, and science. All students are encouraged to log on to atitesting.com for study material and other valuable resources and information. The TEAS VII Test Passing score = 64% or better.
• Applicants will be asked to participate in an interview with the Nursing Program Director, Assistant Program Director, or their designee, either in person or via a virtual conferencing platform, if necessary.
• Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 (on a 4-point scale) or higher in non-biology prerequisite coursework. Official transcripts are required.
• Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 (on a 4-point scale) or higher in math and science prerequisite coursework. Official transcripts are required.
• Applicants must submit a two- to three-page (2 – 3) written essay on why they have chosen professional nursing as a career.
• Applicants must submit three (3) letters of recommendation to the nursing program. These may come from employers, immediate work supervisors, health-related facilities where the applicant has volunteered, or faculty from previous college/university coursework. These letters of recommendation must be submitted using formal organizational stationery.
• The applicant will submit proof of health-related &/or community work, e.g., volunteering at health fairs, hospitals, or clinics, working with the homeless, mentoring or tutoring other students, or serving as a Big Brother or Big Sister. These experiences must be substantiated with a document or letter of verification on formal organizational stationery.
• Applicants will be rank-ordered based on the following score, which includes: • Admission Assessment Test (TEAS) • Personal Interview • Written Essay • Three Letters of Recommendation • Community Work • Health-Related Experience ADN (LVN to RN) Pathway

The Associate of Science in Nursing (ADN) program is a degree program that provides a library and classrooms equipped with audiovisual teaching aids, textbooks, journals, anatomical charts, and models. The Instructor-to- Student ratio is 1:12 in the laboratory and clinical, 1:28 in residential lectures, and 1:25 in online lectures.

The ADN program is designed with two (2) separate admission pathways. The pathways are intended for full- time attendance.

Generic ADN (6 semesters for 80 Semester Credit Hours) In the program’s first two (2) semesters, students will take 33 Semester-Credit Hours of General Education courses via online delivery.

The third semester is 15 weeks and comprises 14 Semester Credit Hours (nine (9) lectures and five (5) clinical and skills lab hours). Courses include Fundamentals of Nursing, encompassing theory, skills, and clinical practice, as well as Health Assessment, Pharmacology, and Pathophysiology. Theory and Lab will be held Monday through Friday. The clinical schedule may vary depending on the availability of the clinical site.

The fourth semester comprises ten (10) Semester Credit Hours (six (6) lectures and four (4) clinical hours). Courses include Introduction to Med/Surg I Theory and Clinical, and Intermediate Med/Surg Theory and Clinical. Classes will be held Monday through Friday. The clinical schedule may vary depending on the availability of the clinical site.

The fifth semester consists of 14 Semester Credit Hours (nine (9) lectures and five (5) clinical hours). Courses include Maternal/Newborn Theory and Clinical, Care of Children Theory and Clinical, and Advanced Med/Surg I Theory and Clinical. Theory and Lab will be held Monday through Friday. The clinical schedule may vary depending on the availability of the clinical site.

The sixth semester comprises nine (9) Semester Credit Hours (five (5) lectures and four (4) clinical hours). Courses include Mental Health Nursing Theory and Clinical, as well as Complex Med-Surg Theory and Clinical/Leadership. Classes will be held Monday through Friday. The clinical schedule may vary depending on the availability of the clinical site.

Students enrolled in this pathway receive 885 hours of didactic instruction and 900 hours of clinical and laboratory instruction, allowing them to apply lecture topics to practical use.

In the program’s first two (2) semesters, students will take 33 Semester-Credit Hours of General Education courses via online delivery.

The third semester is 15 weeks and comprises 14 Semester Credit Hours (nine (9) lectures and five (5) clinical and skills lab hours). Courses include Fundamentals of Nursing, encompassing theory, skills, and clinical practice, as well as Health Assessment, Pharmacology, and Pathophysiology. Theory and Lab will be held Monday through Friday. The clinical schedule may vary depending on the availability of the clinical site.

The fourth semester comprises ten (10) Semester Credit Hours (six (6) lectures and four (4) clinical hours). Courses include Introduction to Med/Surg I Theory and Clinical, and Intermediate Med/Surg Theory and Clinical. Classes will be held Monday through Friday. The clinical schedule may vary depending on the availability of the clinical site.

The fifth semester consists of 14 Semester Credit Hours (nine (9) lectures and five (5) clinical hours). Courses include Maternal/Newborn Theory and Clinical, Care of Children Theory and Clinical, and Advanced Med/Surg I Theory and Clinical. Theory and Lab will be held Monday through Friday. The clinical schedule may vary depending on the availability of the clinical site.

The sixth semester comprises nine (9) Semester Credit Hours (five (5) lectures and four (4) clinical hours). Courses include Mental Health Nursing Theory and Clinical, as well as Complex Med-Surg Theory and Clinical/Leadership. Classes will be held Monday through Friday. The clinical schedule may vary depending on the availability of the clinical site.

Students enrolled in this pathway receive 885 hours of didactic instruction and 900 hours of clinical and laboratory instruction, allowing them to apply lecture topics to practical use.

Upcoming start date for this program: May 3, 2027 (application deadline February 19, 2027).

Tuition and fees. Registration Fee (non-refundable) $100.00; Student Tuition Recovery Fund $0.00; Textbooks $675.00; Tuition $101,760.00. Total program cost $102,535.00. Total program cost excludes transportation, room and board, and personal expenses.

Cost per credit. $520.00 per general education credit; $1,800.00 per core credit.

Total fees per period of enrollment. Period 1: $9,065.00; Period 2: $8,420.00; Period 3: $25,375.00; Period 4: $18,075.00; Period 5: $25,300.00; Period 6: $16,300.00.

Cost of Attendance, 2026–2027 (one academic year). Tuition & Fees $17,260.00; Books $225.00; Transportation $6,300.00; Food & Housing $17,876.00; Personal Expenses $638.00; Loan Fees $98.00; Laptop Fees $450.00; Total Cost of Attendance (One Academic Year) $42,847.00. 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.

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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.

Certification and licensure. NCLEX-RN.

School Performance Fact Sheet, calendar year 2024. Associate of Science in Nursing – 80 Semester Credit Hours at the Fresno campus reported an on-time completion rate of 93% (100 of 108 students available for graduation); a job placement rate of 74% (72 of 97 graduates available for employment employed in the field); a license examination passage rate of 93% (91 of 98 graduates who took the exam passed on the first attempt) (published March 17, 2026).