Program Overview
An accelerated 16-month BSN at Nevada’s oldest nursing school (founded 1956) with a choice few programs offer — complete it on the main Reno campus or at a new Lake Tahoe campus focused on rural and mountain healthcare — and the school coordinates all of your clinical placements for you.
The University of Nevada, Reno’s Orvis School of Nursing offers an intensive Accelerated 16-Month BSN that runs four consecutive full-time semesters. It’s built for students who have completed the required prerequisite coursework — whether through two years of college or a prior bachelor’s degree in another field — and are ready to enter the professional phase of nursing.
A distinctive feature is the choice of campus: students can study at the main Reno campus or at the new Lake Tahoe campus, where the program focuses on preparing nurses for rural and mountain communities (with a residential cohort model).
As Nevada’s oldest nursing school (founded 1956) and part of a Carnegie R1 research university, Orvis coordinates all clinical placements for students, removing the burden of sourcing your own sites and ensuring faculty-guided experiences across diverse settings.
Cohorts begin in spring or fall, with roughly 96 students admitted per term.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at the University of Nevada, Reno Orvis School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), effective April 12, 2021 through December 31, 2031. The program is approved by the Nevada State Board of Nursing, and the University of Nevada, Reno is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
Admissions & Requirements
Admission is competitive, using a point-based matrix that scores prerequisite GPA, TEAS performance, and additional factors (such as Nevada residency, military service, and prior healthcare licensure or certification). Meeting the minimums does not guarantee a seat.
- Be admitted to the University of Nevada, Reno for the term in which you apply (apply to the University the semester before the nursing application term)
- Minimum 2.8 GPA in required coursework (minimum grade of C in required coursework; C− in additional prerequisite coursework)
- Minimum 65% on the ATI TEAS exam, taken within one year before applying (may be taken twice per cycle; most recent score used)
- Submit official transcripts to both the University and NursingCAS, and apply through NursingCAS within the application period (fee required)
- Up to 16 credits may be in progress at application, with no more than four science credits pending
Applications are accepted twice a year, with deadlines in September (for spring entry) and January (for fall entry).
Curriculum
The 16-month nursing core builds on completed prerequisites and moves quickly into clinical practice. The program of study consists of the following nursing (NURS) courses, pairing theory with practicum and laboratory experiences:
Foundations & Assessment
- NURS 301 – Health Assessment of the Individual (3) and NURS 301L Laboratory (1): comprehensive health history and physical assessment skills.
- NURS 317 – Nursing Fundamentals & Population Health: Theory (3) and NURS 318 Practicum (3): foundational nursing care and population health concepts.
Pathophysiology & Pharmacology
- NURS 331 – Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I (3) and NURS 332 – Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II (3): disease processes and medication therapy across the lifespan.
- NURS 407 – Pathophysiology: A Conceptual Approach (3): conceptual foundations of altered physiology.
Nursing Care of the Individual (I-III)
- NURS 343 – Nursing Care of the Individual I: Theory (3), NURS 346 Practicum (3, 135 clinical hours), and NURS 346L Laboratory (1).
- NURS 439 – Nursing Care of the Individual II: Theory (3), NURS 434 Practicum (2, 90 clinical hours), and NURS 434L Laboratory (1).
- NURS 453 – Nursing Care of the Individual III: Theory (4), NURS 454 Practicum (4), and NURS 454L Laboratory (1).
Specialty & Population Care
- NURS 402 – Communication & Mental Health: Theory (2) and NURS 413 Practicum (1): mental health nursing and therapeutic communication.
- NURS 353 – Nursing Care of Childbearing Women, Children & Families: Theory (4) and NURS 347 Practicum (2): maternal-newborn and pediatric/family care.
- NURS 475 – Population Health Theory (3): community and population-focused nursing.
Professional Practice
- NURS 466 – Nursing Research (3): evidence-based practice and research appraisal.
- NURS 467 – Informatics, Technology, & Health Policy (3): health information systems and policy.
- NURS 441 – Nursing Leadership and Management (3): leadership and care coordination in health systems.
- NURS 485 – Transitioning to the Professional Nursing Role (3): capstone transition to entry-level RN practice.
More detail is available in the UNR program catalog.
Clinical Experience
The program involves extensive clinical practice across community health, critical care, mental health, pediatrics, maternal-newborn, and other settings, with hands-on experience beginning early. The Orvis School of Nursing coordinates all clinical placements (and provides transportation to clinical sites for the Lake Tahoe cohort), so students gain faculty-guided experience across a variety of healthcare environments without having to arrange placements themselves.
Tuition
As a public university, UNR charges by residency. The program’s estimated total of about $30,387 includes tuition, mandatory student fees, and additional required expenses such as textbooks, uniforms, immunizations, and background checks — so tuition and mandatory fees alone are lower, and the figure varies by residency status. Financial aid, scholarships, and grants are available.
Confirm current figures via the official tuition and fees page.
Additional Programs
The Accelerated 16-Month BSN is delivered on campus (Reno or Lake Tahoe), not online. Orvis also offers a fully online RN-to-BSN, plus graduate programs — MSN, DNP (BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP), and post-master’s APRN certificates (Family, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Pediatric Acute Care, Psychiatric-Mental Health, Nursing Education, and Clinical Leadership).