SVSU Nursing Application

IMPORTANT: Be sure to complete the entire application packet. If your application is incomplete, we cannot process it. The entire application must be completed and submitted in one sitting. It cannot be saved to come back to later.

1. You MUST apply and be admitted to SVSU before applying to the nursing program. The free SVSU Application for Admission is separate from the Nursing Program Application.
2. Your Nursing Program Application, with attachments, if required, and SVSU Application for Admission must be submitted by Monday, October 31 at 11:59 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
3. The selection process will include a review of your academic credentials, overall GPA, science/statistics GPA of requisite nursing courses: Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL 232 & 233), Human Nutrition (BIOL 236), Microbiology (BIOL 237), General Chemistry (CHEM 111/111L), Statistics (PS225! or MATH 132A or B or SOC 225 or PSYC 299), Social Sciences:  General Psychology (PSYC 100) and Introduction to Sociology (SOC 111), General Education Categories 9 - oral communication, and 10 -written communication courses.
4. Applicants eligible to move forward in the selection process must complete a preliminary background check. Instructions will be emailed to you via your SVSU email account.
5. The SVSU Registrar must have official transcripts on file from all colleges and/or universities ever attended other than SVSU. Required documents only if you have completed credits or have credits in progress at another institution:
   1. Current class schedule from other institutions.
   2. Unofficial transcript from other institution(s) if the SVSU Registrar does not have an updated official transcript on file.
   3. If your SVSU degree audit does not reflect approved course substitutes, you must submit a copy of your signed course petition form(s).
6. If you are transferring Anatomy & Physiology courses to SVSU, the courses must be petitioned. Use this link to access a petition form. To petition a course: (1) Fill out the petition form. (2) Include a course syllabus, if possible. If a syllabus is not available, include a course description from the University catalog where the course was completed. (3) Include a transcript verifying you have completed the course, or will complete the course, with a passing grade. (4) Email to Dr. Tami Pobocik at tpobocik@svsu.edu. 

Once you have submitted your application, you will be notified via your SVSU email account whether you are eligible for consideration for a seat in the nursing program based on meeting the minimum application criteria and will be given further instructions for completing the required preliminary background check.

Students will be notified through their SVSU email account of application decisions. Email notifications of acceptance decisions will be sent the week after Thanksgiving break in fall semester and the end of May in winter semester.  

Does SVSU’s nursing program have a wait list?

No, SVSU does not have a wait list. SVSU has competitive admission to the nursing program.

How many students apply to the nursing program and how many are admitted?

SVSU is approved by the State of Michigan to accept up to 96 full-time nursing cohort students each fall semester and up to 96 full-time nursing cohort students each winter semester. SVSU accepts up to 32 part-time nursing cohort students each spring (May) semester. The number of applicants varies each semester. Recently, 100-130 students have applied each semester. 

How long does it take to complete SVSU’s full-time nursing program?

It usually takes a student 4 to 4 ½ years. Students complete 1 1/2 to 2 years of prerequisite nursing courses and 2 1/2 years of professional nursing courses.

What is the average GPA of students being admitted to the Basic Nursing Program?

The nursing program at SVSU is selective. While the catalog states that an applicant must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the science/statistics nursing prerequisites and an overall GPA of 3.0 to apply, scores in that range may not be competitive depending on the applicant pool.  As stated in the SVSU catalog, the other factors in determining admission are written and oral communication course grades, social science course grades and number of credits completed at SVSU.

When are the deadlines to apply?

Students must apply by the third Monday in April for fall selection and the third Monday in October for winter selection.

Do all the prerequisite nursing courses have to be completed by the application deadline date?

No, nursing prerequisite courses must be completed by the time a student enters the nursing program and not by the deadline date. For example, if a student applies in April for fall admission, they may finish winter semester courses and take spring or summer courses if needed. If a student applies in October, they may finish fall semester courses. Applications are scored based on prerequisite nursing courses that are COMPLETED by the deadline date, and students are admitted provisionally while final prerequisite courses are in progress. The higher your overall GPA and your science/statistics GPA (anatomy and physiology I and II, human nutrition, microbiology, general chemistry with laboratory and statistics), the higher your nursing application score will be.

Do all ten categories of SVSU’s general education requirements need to be completed before I apply to the nursing program?

No, only nursing prerequisite courses must be completed which include specific courses in general education categories three, four, six, seven, nine and ten. The remaining general education requirements must be completed by graduation.

May I repeat a required nursing prerequisite course?

Yes, students may repeat three required prerequisite courses. No required prerequisite courses may be repeated more than once.  In computation of the GPA for nursing required prerequisite courses, up to three retake grades will be calculated.  We strongly suggest that you meet with the Health and Human Services Academic Advisor to discuss repeats prior to taking them.  You may schedule an appointment by emailing nursing@svsu.edu for more information.

Is a C minus (“C-”) grade acceptable for a required nursing prerequisite course?

All required nursing prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” (2.0) or better except for anatomy and physiology courses which must each be completed with a grade of “B-” (2.7) or better.

May I take physiology and anatomy I at my local community college and physiology and anatomy II at SVSU?

Students are strongly encouraged to take both anatomy and phyisiology I and II at the same institution so they do not miss any course content. Grades in anatomy and physiology are the strongest predictor of success in a nursing program. Please consult with the Health and Human Services Academic Advisor at nursing@svsu.edu for more information about the course petition process.

How do I apply to the nursing program?

Selection involves a two part process. First, students visit the SVSU nursing department web site at www.svsu.edu/nursing to access the nursing program application. Click on the blue "Apply to Nursing" button on the right side of the page.  Read all of the instructions on the page and when you are ready click on the link at the bottom of the page to start your online application. The application link is only visible during the nursing application period. Once you have submitted your application, you will be notified via your SVSU email account whether your application meets the nursing program requirements enabling you to move forward to the background check.

Do I need references or volunteer experience?

References or volunteer experiences are not needed. Students do not receive “extra points” for their references or volunteer experiences; however, having volunteer experience may provide you with information to draw upon in clinical situations.

How will I be notified if I have been accepted to the nursing program?

Students will be notified of nursing application decisions via their SVSU email account. 

What happens if a student is not accepted into the nursing program?

Students may reapply the next semester for a total of three times.

What if I am a transfer student? How does my application compare with that of SVSU students?

All applicants, whether they are current SVSU students or transfer students, compete on the same level; however, current SVSU students are given extra points on their application based on the number of credits completed at SVSU.

If I am currently completing courses at another university or community college, how do I find out how my credits transfer to SVSU?

Contact the pre-nursing advisor in the College of Health and Human Services for assistance by emailing nursing@svsu.edu or calling 989-964-4517. 

May I take nursing courses during spring and/or summer semester to complete my degree sooner?

No, nursing courses are offered during the fall and winter semesters only, with the exception of the spring/summer prior to graduating.  An internship is required.

What is SNA (Student Nurses Association)?

SVSU students who have declared a pre-nursing major will receive information about Student Nurses Association (SNA) events via their SVSU email accounts. Pre-nursing students are encouraged to join SNA and become involved in this organization.

How can I get more information or answers to my questions?

You may email nursing@svsu.edu to schedule an appointment with the College of Health and Human Services advisor. They may also be reached by telephone at (989) 964-4517 if you have additional questions.

Do you offer Freshman Admission to the Nursing Program?

Yes, based on a competitive admission process, a limited number of first semester freshman students will be accepted into the nursing program. To be eligible for consideration as a freshman admit, students must have applied to SVSU with a declared pre-nursing major, have a minimum high school GPA of 3.5 or better and an ACT score of 26 or better or an SAT score of 1200 or better.
Qualified students will automatically begin professional nursing courses the semester after they complete their nursing prerequisite courses (no wait list), based on maintaining a cumulative college GPA of 3.3 or better. Direct admits must submit a nursing application during the semester they are completing their nursing prerequisites so that we know they are ready for their seat in the program the following semester. 
Qualified first semester freshman pre-nursing students will be sent an invitation via their SVSU email account from the Nursing Department Chair to participate in the Freshman Admission to Nursing Program. Students must accept their direct admission seat in the program by responding to the email invitation by the posted deadline date.

Can I work while I am in nursing school?

We do not encourage students to work any more than sixteen hours (16) per week because of the academic and time demands of nursing school. 

It is critical that all candidates for a nursing degree possess certain fundamental skills and abilities. A person qualified for the nursing program is one who has met SVSU’s academic standards and is able, with or without reasonable accommodations, to demonstrate on a regular basis the ability to perform the essential functions of a registered nurse and to provide safe and quality nursing care.

The list of core skills and abilities set forth below is designed to help students make an informed decision about whether to pursue a career in nursing.  The examples of necessary activities provided below are not exhaustive; individual clinical sites may have stricter requirements to which students practicing in that site must adhere.  Additional specific requirements and competencies of the nursing program (e.g., academic standards) are outlined in course syllabi and clinical performance tools. Before deciding whether to obtain a nursing degree, it is important that all students consider whether he or she will be able to perform the essential functions of nursing, with or without accommodations. All nursing students are required to meet the same standards.  SVSU fully complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate against students with disabilities.  If at any time you wish to discuss whether reasonable accommodations can be provided by SVSU, you should submit a written request for accommodation to SVSU Disability Services.  In order to allow Disability Services ample time to determine whether reasonable accommodations can be provided, whenever possible, the request should be submitted prior to entry into a course for which the student believes reasonable accommodations may be needed.

If admitted to the nursing program (or are selected for a seat in the BSN Program), you need to meet and comply with the requirements listed below in order to remain in the nursing program.  PLEASE NOTE THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS. 

If you have questions about your background check, immunizations, BLS certification or other health requirements please contact our Nursing Clinical Coordinator Marielle Lewis (mklewis1@svsu.edu; 989-964-2011). 

IMMUNIZATIONS

Immunizations & BLS certifications are required by our clinical agencies when a student begins clinical courses (first semester of the nursing program).

Almost all of our healthcare agencies require COVID vaccination. In order to progress through the nursing program, it is necessary for you to have all the required COVID vaccinations and boosters or documentation of valid religious or medical exemptions. It must be understood that if you are not vaccinated, we cannot guarantee that you can progress through the program, and no special clinical accommodations are to be made as declared by the State Board of Nursing.

Please note that you will need documentation of injection or titers. A titer is a laboratory test that measures the presence and amount of antibodies in blood. If your immunizations are not current, up to 6 months may be required to obtain this documentation. The following is a list of required immunizations:

• Hepatitis B (3 vaccine series)
• Tuberculosis (TB) skin test (two 1 step TB skin tests administered one to three weeks apart) and a chest X-ray if your skin test is positive for TB
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) (2 vaccines or titer) – a titer is a lab test (IgG).
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) (2 vaccines or titer)-If the titer is negative, the two vaccine series is required.
• Polio
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) (done within last 10 years)
• Annual Flu Immunization

BLS

Certification: Must be the American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Course. We will not approve other courses. Submitted copy must be front and back of card and card must be signed. Certificates OR letters from provider are accepted temporarily until card arrives. 

LATEX

Please note that the clinical agencies/laboratories we use cannot provide a latex-free environment so we may not be able to place students with latex allergies. We will ask for a statement from your health care provider, as well as possibly requiring a lab (blood) test if you have or develop a sensitivity to latex indicating that it is safe for you to continue in those environments.

BACKGROUND CHECK/DRUG TESTING

If you are an eligible candidate for the nursing program you will be notified about where to obtain a background check; outside or independent results are not acceptable.

If you are admitted to the nursing program, you will be notified about where to obtain a drug test; outside or independent results are not acceptable.

TRANSPORTATION

Students are responsible for providing transportation to and from all courses and/or practicum learning experiences. Students must have reliable transportation to the clinical site at locations on multiple schedules during the day and night.

PHYSICAL EXAM

You must have a physical exam completed if admitted to the program.

*Please note that other requirements from clinical agencies may be requested.