What is the VBSN?
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Davenport University’s Veterans Bachelor of Science Nursing (VBSN) academic pathway is designed to help service members with military medical experience. This academic pathway into the BSN-Pre Licensure program will fast-track many military personnel by granting advanced standing of 40+ credits toward your BSN for transcripted military training or credit by exam. Only honorably discharged service members are welcomed into this highly competitive academic pathway if they can maintain the highest standards of excellence that are outlined in the VBSN Student Contract.
VBSN - Direct Admit
Military personnel who are currently serving or have been honorably discharged and have experienced paramedic level certified medical military training equivalent to LPN training, Medic 68W levels 10 and 20, and Navy Corpsman have the potential to go through an accelerated acceptance process at the Grand Rapids (W.A. Lettinga), Lansing, Great Lakes Bay or Warren Campus. The following requirements will be waived: essay, references and TEAS test. Students will be accepted until seats are filled.
VBSN - Direct Admit Application Steps
Step 1:
- Apply to Davenport at davenport.edu/apply
- Send all official high school, college and military transcripts to the Registrar's Officeat electronictranscripts@davenport.edu.
Step 2:
- Apply to nursing at nursingcas.org
- Search for Davenport University
- Select Veteran BSN (VBSN) Direct Admit Program - Grand Rapids, Great Lakes Bay, Lansing, Warren
Which class should I take? When should I take it?
See our Recommended Program Sequences:
How can I get credit?
Military personnel who have been honorably discharged and have experienced paramedic level certified medical military training equivalent to LPN training, Medic 68W levels 10 and 20, and Navy Corpsman have the potential to obtain an accelerated nursing degree. Academic credit is available through CLEP, DSST, and placement exams and through military credit transfer.
As of October 2015, Davenport University has begun to partner with the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC) to provide incoming military students with the most advanced standing possible. Every Davenport academic college has worked extensively with the VBSN team and METC to give every military student the highest amount of advanced standing in their major of choice. Davenport University does not give generic academic credit for military credit; rather, the University gives personalized credit to each service member. The Veterans Bachelor of Science in Nursing (VBSN) team and the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC) are dedicated to educating service members and providing them with the highest amount of credit for their military service.
If you are a METC graduate or METC transfer student, view a partial list of the METC transfer credits available here.
Testing Options
CLEP | ACCUPLACER | DSST | Placement Exam |
ENGL 109/110 | English Placement into ENGL 110 (earn credit for ENGL 109) |
ENGL 110 | - |
MATH 125 | Math placement into MATH 135 (earn credit for MATH 125) |
- | - |
CHEM 150/150L | - | COMM 120 | NURS 125 |
BIOL 110/110L | - | STAT 219 | NURS 126 |
PSYC 101 | - | - | NURS 135 |
Some programs require a student to complete a portion of their degree plan off-campus.
View a full list of those programs and courses