FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
Why do I have to pay $120 and submit official transcripts to OHSU? Can’t you just get my information from my community college application?
OHSU requires that OCNE CC students submit their online transition paperwork, which is a declaration of interest to transition to OHSU. This paperwork lets OHSU know who you are and allows us to plan on for your transition year. The $120 is a processing fee that is used to manage your paperwork by the SoN and Registrar’s Office. It is non-refundable. OHSU also requires that we receive transcripts from all college institutions attended where college level coursework was taken; this is OHSU policy. Federal regulations (FERPA) prohibit your community college from sharing any academic information about you with OHSU, so this is why we require that students submit these updated transcripts at the time of transition paperwork submission.
I must have missed a step when I filled out the online paperwork. I don’t have the Non-Nursing Coursework Plan/Enrollment Agreement Form/Signature Page I’m supposed to turn in with my packet. Where can I find those forms?
The Non-Nursing Coursework Plan can be found here.
The Enrollment Agreement Form can be found here.
The Signature Page is the final page of the online transition paperwork that must be printed at the time you click submit and enter your $120 payment; if you did not print this page, you need to contact the Office of Recruitment, Admissions, and Progression (Office of Admissions) at 503-494-7725.
I’m having some trouble figuring out which non-nursing coursework I still need to meet my graduation requirements. Who can help me?
The Office of Admissions is happy to help you with your non-nursing coursework plans. You can fill out the free transcript evaluation form that we offer OCNE CC students. We will send your form back letting you know what you’re still needing to take to meet the graduation requirements for OHSU. We are also happy to answer any questions that you might have outside of the evaluation process; you can reach us at 503-494-7725 or proginfo@ohsu.edu.
Another useful resource is the Oregon Course Equivalency Guide or Washington Course Equivalency Guide, which you can use to see what courses from the local public institutions meet our non-nursing requirements.
What are upper division non-nursing electives?
All students need 15 quarter credits of 300-400 level, upper division non-nursing coursework in order to graduate with the B.S. with a major in nursing from OHSU. This coursework can be from any department (except nursing). Upper division prerequisites and co-requisites can also count toward this requirement. (For example, if you took the 4 credit course PSY 370 to meet your Lifespan Development prerequisite requirement, this course can also count to meet 4 credits of upper division elective coursework; you would only need 11 more upper division non-nursing credits for graduation.)
Does OHSU accept a waiver for Writing 123 or 227 to meet the Technical Writing requirement?
OHSU accepts coursework that is taken as a college level course, from a regionally accredited institution, where the grade for the course is C- or higher. If you have taken an AP, CLEP, or other type of exam to meet a graduation requirement, this will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Typically OHSU will accept AP or CLEP credit as long as it shows on an official transcript as credit taken towards a certain course. For example, if your official transcript shows “AP exam- 3 credits of technical writing/WR 123” or something similar to this, this will typically work to meet that requirement.
Also, if you have a previous bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, OHSU will waive your 9 quarter credits of writing required for graduation. Your bachelor’s degree is sufficient to meet these 9 quarter credits of writing (including WR 123/227) because we assume that you can already write at the college level.
When it comes time to transition, will I have an academic advisor assigned to me?
All students are assigned a Program Coordinator when they transition to OHSU. Your Program Coordinator can answer any questions that you might have about registration, orientation, your graduation requirements, program curriculum, or clinical placements. Depending upon the community college you are transitioning from, you will be associated with a specific OHSU campus, either the Portland or Ashland campus; this will determine who your Program Coordinator is. Until you begin the final step of transitioning to OHSU (and receive your transition packet with your Program Coordinator assignment), the Office of Admissions is happy to answer your questions related to your transition.
I paid $200 to hold my place. Will that be credited to my first term tuition in the OCNE program at OHSU?
Yes. Prior to your actual transition to OHSU, the SoN will send you a transition packet asking you to confirm your transition plans with a signed Transition Agreement form and $200 tuition deposit. The $200 deposit will be deposited into your student account and will go toward your first term of tuition. If you decide to “defer” and transition the following term, the tuition deposit is rolled over for that following term. If you decide not to transition to OHSU at all, the tuition deposit is non-refundable.
Can I change pathways?
Yes, OHSU wants to make the transition process work for every student and make this as easy as possible for students. If you need to change pathways to an earlier pathway (e.g.- you indicated wanting to complete your AAS when you initially filled out the online transition paperwork and now want to transition directly to an OHSU campus before completing your AAS), contact the Office of Admissions at 503-494-7725 as soon as possible to see if it is not too late to make this change. Typically students need to contact us about a change to an earlier pathway at least several months before the earlier pathway begins.
If you need to change pathways to an later pathway (e.g.- you indicated wanting to transition prior to completing your AASwhen you initially filled out the online transition paperwork and now want to transition after your AAS), contact the Office of Admissions at 503-494-7725 to make this change. Typically students need to contact us about a change to a later pathway as long as they notify OHSU prior to their Orientation event.
Can I change campuses for my transition year?
. If you would like to transition to either our Portland or Ashland campuses, and take classes on campus for your final year, you would select the direct transition option when filling out your transition paperwork. If you would like to transition to OHSU after completing your AAS at your community college your coursework will be completed online and can be completed outside of your community college’s region.
What if I want to go part-time for my transition year?
If you are transitioning to OHSU through our on-campus option you must attend classes as a full-time student. If you will be completing your transition coursework online and would like to complete the program at a part-time rate, please call the Office of Admissions to discuss the possibility of transferring your materials to our RN-BS program.
Will any of my work hours count toward clinical hours?
OHSU does not offer clinical credit for professional work performed. All clinical credit received will be through the courses you take and the clinical experiences you have as a result of those courses.
I’ve seen the program of study (this link needs to be removed) for my program, but what will these OHSU courses cover?
The course catalog lists the course descriptions for the coursework required in your curriculum.
Which terms will I have clinicals in and what will my clinical schedule look like?
You will have clinical experiences every term. If you are transitioning directly to an OHSU campus you will likely have about 15 hours of clinical per week for your first two terms, and 27 hours of clinical per week for the remaining two terms.
If you are transitioning to OHSU through our online pathway you will likely have 15 hours per week of clinical for the first two terms and 27 hours per week for your final term. As you can see, the program is rigorous. We generally try to encourage students not to work while they are attending school. Flexible part-time work may be able to be managed. Hours and times for clinical experiences will vary each term and can take place at any time a nurse works—day or night, any day of the week Monday through Sunday.
Do I need to purchase textbooks for my coursework?
Yes, you will need to purchase textbooks. Generally, the booklist is made available by orientation. You can check the OHSU Bookstore Web site periodically to see if they have posted the list.
Will I need to repeat the criminal background check and drug screen as I transition to OHSU?
If you transition directly to OHSU through either our on-campus option or directly after completing your AAS, we will accept a copy of your current background check results that you submitted to your OCNE CC; there is no need to get another background check done for your direct transition.
Currently OHSU will accept drug screen results up to 36 months old. OHSU requires a 5 panel drug screen targeting cocaine, opiates, amphetamines/methamphetamines, marijuana, and phencyclidine (PCP). More information on our drug testing policy can be found on our website.
What if I don’t pass my NCLEX? Can I still transition to OHSU?
Students have the option to transition to OHSU before or after completing their AAS and taking the NCLEX examination. If you elect to join OHSU after completing your AAS you must successfully pass your NCLEX before beginning coursework with OHSU.
What is the difference between transitioning to OHSU via the online OCNE pathway and going to OHSU for the RNBS program?
The online transition through the OCNE pathway is a full time program of study designed to be completed in one year to receive your Bachelor of Science with a major in nursing. The RN-BS program is designed for working nurses, enrolling in one or two courses per term, and generally takes between seven and 11 quarters to complete the entire program of study.