Bryan College of Health Sciences

Bryan College, a private entity, was founded in 1922. William Jennings Bryan gave his home (Fairview) and the surrounding land to the Nebraska Conference of the United Methodist Church to establish a hospital in Lincoln. Bryan Memorial Hospital opened its doors on June 6, 1926 thanks to the generous donations made by William Bryan and others and the Bryan School of Nursing opened in the same year.

The Bryan College of Health Sciences includes the School of Nursing and the School of Nurse Anesthesia as well as other health-related divisions, offering a graduate degree for Nurse Anesthesia and certificate options for both undergraduate and graduate students. The college offers many of its courses as partially or fully online.

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Admission Requirements (not all-inclusive)

1. Cumulative High School 2.75 GPA from accredited High School or GED
2. Cumulative 2.75 GPA of 2.75 core High School curriculum (Math, Science, English, and Social Studies)
3. ACT composite score of 21 and above or SAT total of 1500 and above

RN to BSN Completion

Bryan College of Health Science offers a 128 credit BSN. Of the 128 credits needed to earn the degree, 42 credits are pre-licensure, awarded to those entering the program with an Associate Degree or Diploma in Nursing. General education accounts for 59 credits and the additional 27 credits are for nursing.

Admission Requirements (not all-inclusive)

1. Graduation from accredited diploma or associate degree nursing program
2. Active, unrestricted Nebraska RN license
3. References
4. Personal interview for qualified applicants

Graduate

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Track Options

Nurse Educator

Nurse Leadership

Graduates from this program will be qualified for leadership and teaching positions in various areas such as colleges, universities, patient education, staff development, continuing education or training in healthcare.

Admission Requirements (not all-inclusive)

1. Bachelor’s with major in Nursing from regionally accredited institution and Nursing program accreditation
2. Cumulative BSN GPA 3.0
3. Current, unencumbered RN license in Nebraska, or the state where the practicum will occur

RN to MSN

Students can apply to the RN to MSN program and select specialty tracts, Nurse Leadership or Nurse Educator.  He or she will then complete the RN to MSN bridge coursework (8-11 credits) and after completion, move directly into the MSN program.  RNs with a non-nursing Bachelor's degree may also apply to the Master of Science in Nursing program through the following admission requirements:

Admission Requirements (not all-inclusive)

1. Minimum one year as a practicing RN
2. Hold a non-nursing Bachelor's Degree
3. GPA of 3.0 in an RN program (a GPA under 3.0 may be considered for provisional admission)
4. Current, unencumbered license as an RN in the state where practicum will occur

Post-MSN Certificates

Certificate program options are available Post-MSN in nurse leadership and nurse education.

Education Doctorate (EdD)

Bryan College of Health Sciences is one of the few in the country and the ONLY education doctorate (EdD) with an emphasis on Nursing Education in the region.

Admission requirements (not all-inclusive)

1. MSN from regionally accredited institution with a nursing program accreditation
2. Cumulative GPA of 3.0 in MSN program
3. Current, unencumbered license as an RN
4. Official transcripts from all colleges
5. Two professional references
6. Meeting with program facility member or graduate recruiter
7. Sample academic writing
8. Narrative explanation of professional goals

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)

Bryan College of Health Sciences offers a 36-month program for Registered Nurses that leads to a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP).

Requirements Considered (not all-inclusive)

1. Current, unencumbered RN license in the state of Nebraska (or eligible for licensure in Nebraska)
2. Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing or in an appropriate related discipline
3. Overall 3.0 or better GPA for all college work
4. GRE scores
5. Current provider status in the AHA approved BLS, ACLS, PALS
6. Minimum 1-year experience as RN - preferred 2 years
7. Clinical abilities should include: hemodynamic monitoring, arrhythmia identification, blood gas interpretation, initiation of peripheral lines, universal precautions, use of vasoactive drugs, alpha/beta-blockers, and anti-arrhythmia medications

Critical Care experience must be obtained in a critical care area within the United States, its territories, or a US military hospital outside of the United States. A critical care area is defined as one where, on a daily basis, the RN manages invasive hemodynamic monitors (such as pulmonary artery catheter, CVP, arterial); cardiac assist devices; mechanical ventilation; and vasoactive drips (such as norepinephrine, epinephrine, dobutamine, nicardipine, nitroglycerine). 

Critical Care Areas Accepted

• Surgical Intensive Care
• Cardiothoracic Intensive Care
• Coronary Intensive Care
• Medical Intensive Care
• Pediatric or Neonatal Intensive Care
• Applicants with experience in other areas may be considered providing they can demonstrate competence with invasive monitoring, ventilators and critical care pharmacology

Accreditation and Approval

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

The Master of Science in Nursing Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The College is actively pursuing the process to add the RN-MSN entry option to the currently accredited MSN program.

The School of Nurse Anesthesia is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).

Bryan College of Health Sciences is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Bryan College of Health Sciences Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is approved by the Nebraska State Board of Nursing.

Rankings

US News & World Report (2019)

• #51 (tie) in Nursing-Anesthesia

BestEducationSchools.com (2018)

• #728 Education School (out of 2410; top 35%) in the United States
• #12 Education School in Nebraska

Format & Tuition of Available Program

•  
  Format
  Tuition
  Score
• Nurse Educator - BSN to MSN
  Online
  $20,952
  3.5 /5
• Nurse Educator - MSN to Post Grad Certificate
  Online
  $9,894
  3.5 /5