The Higher Education Opportunity Act (Public Law 110-315) (HEOA) was enacted on August 14, 2008, and reauthorizes the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). These links below provide our site visitors with the consumer information required by the law. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required for some of the information links below.

Financial Aid Overview

Visit our Financial Aid pages for information regarding the following:

• How to Apply for Aid
• Types of Aid
• General Information
• Title IV Refund & Repayment Policy
• Net Price Calculator

Contact Information for Obtaining Financial Aid

General Information

Career Development Information

Health and Safety Information

Student Outcomes

Voter Registration

Privacy of Student Records – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

BHSN conforms to the regulations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 which protects the privacy of student educational records, establishes the right of students to inspect and review their educational records and provides guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data.  Effective October 26, 2001, institutions are permitted to disclose, without the consent or knowledge of the student or parent, personally identifiable information from the student’s education records to the representative of the Attorney General of the United States in response to an ex parte order in connection with the investigation or prosecution of terrorism crimes.

Materials maintained in active student files include:

1. All application materials, including high school and college transcripts and reference letters.  References submitted in confidence and for which the student had waived their right to see are not available for student review.
2. Documents related to the student's academic progress, e.g. clinical evaluations, requests for withdrawal, clinical/ academic warning letters.
3. Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing Transcript.

Materials maintained in graduate files (files retained for five years after completion or withdrawal from the program) include:

1. Application Materials (no letters of reference).
2. BHSN transcript.
3. Documents related to academic progress.

After 5 years, the student’s permanent record will consist of the final BHSN transcript. All other materials will be discarded.

Procedure for Reviewing Records

Active student records are kept in locked, confidential files in the Admissions Office. The Registrar/Education Finance Specialist maintains financial records and permanent records of graduates. To protect students’ rights, the following procedure is used to request records:

1. If a student wishes to review his/her record, the Registrar must be contacted during posted business hours.
2. At the arranged time, the record is reviewed in the Admissions Office.  No record may be removed from the office.
3. If a student has any questions concerning a record, he/she will be referred to the appropriate personnel for resolution.

Personally identifiable information contained in the student record will be furnished to the following authorized persons: school officials, faculty and or hospital officials who have a legitimate educational interest.

Procedure for Release of Records

Students must meet financial obligations to BHSN and/or Bridgeport Hospital and complete the Student Clearance Form before any written information in the student’s file, grades, official transcripts or references are released.

Students may have official transcripts sent to other institutions, prospective employers, authorized agencies, or receive personal copies upon completion of the "Transcript Request Form" available at the office of the Registrar.  The fee is $3.00 per transcript.

Requests for written information, other than transcripts, that pertain to the program must be made in writing to BHSN.  The fee for obtaining such information is 50 cents per page.

Students with Disabilities

BHSN’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is dependent upon the following requirement: students with a hidden or visible disability that may require classroom, clinical or test-taking modifications must provide at the time of registration documentation of the disability. Disclosure of a documented by the disability will enable BHSN to plan for provision of reasonable accommodations. BHSN is under no obligation to provide accommodations unless the student has disclosed the nature of the disability in writing and has made a written request for special accommodations to the Admissions Specialist. Documentation of the disability is required from an appropriate Health Care Provider.

Tuition Refund Policy

Withdrawal or dismissal from BHSN within four (4) weeks entitles the student to a proportional refund of tuition.  Refunds are granted if the student complies with the leave of absence (LOA), withdrawal or dismissal procedures. The schedule of tuition refunds is as follows:

(Fees are not refundable).
Proportional refunds of tuition monies are also in effect for those courses that do not meet on a full semester basis. Calculation must be based on last date of verifiable attendance. Refunds take approximately 10-14 days to process.

NOTE:  All Title IV recipients who withdraw will have a pro-rata refund calculation performed as defined by the higher education amendment of 1998.  In addition, an Exit Counseling Session is required for all students receiving Stafford Student Loans.  For more information on this policy, please contact the Education Finance Specialist.

Student Withdrawal

Students may elect to withdraw from any course in the nursing program.  Withdrawal must occur prior to the administration of the final exam to receive a grade of “W” on the transcript. The student meets with the Level Academic Program Coordinator to discuss factors precipitating withdrawal.
When a student withdraws, the student should:

1. Submit a written letter of intent to the Level Academic Program Coordinator or the Director of BHSN.
2. Schedule and complete an exit interview with the Director and the Education Finance Specialist for completion of the Student Clearance Form.

For a request to return to the program within one year, students must follow the policy on Students Requesting to Return to Program. The Admissions Committee will consider the identified factors and recommendations in the decision-making process.


Grievance Procedure/Complaints/Inquiries Click here for details.


Leave of Absence (LOA)

A student considering a LOA must address concerns with the appropriate Program Coordinator or Associate Director. The student must be in good academic and clinical standing in order to eligible for a LOA. If eligible, the student submits a written request to the Director for approval. A one-year LOA may be granted only once to the student. An exit interview and completion of a Student Clearance Form are required with the Director and the Education Finance Specialist. A $50 non-refundable matriculation fee must be paid in order to hold a place in the class. If the LOA is requested during a course, a grade of “W” will be assigned to the student’s transcript. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Admission’s Chairperson at least 60 days prior to the start of the course to discuss re-admission requirements.


Conduct Policies Click here for details


Probation, Suspension and Dismissal

BHSN reserves the right to place a student on probationary status, suspend or dismiss a student for academic, clinical, behavioral, administrative or other appropriate reasons. Reasons are not limited to, but may include, failure to meet:

1. program requirements;
2. course requirements, either academic or clinical;
3. financial obligations to BHSN or Bridgeport Hospital;
4. legal and ethical standards of practice;
5. standards of safe and competent care;
6. standards of moral, civil, professional and/or unlawful conduct.

Student Drug and Alcohol Policy

The Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 and the Drug Free Work Place Act of 1988 requires that schools, their students and employees certify that they have adopted and implemented practices that prevent the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol. Therefore, it is the policy of this institution in accordance with 34 CFR 86.100 to distribute annually in writing this policy to each student:

1. Standards of conduct at this institution prohibit the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by any student on the campus or at a School activity.
2. Legal sanctions will be taken under Local, State or Federal law to prevent and uncover those who would unlawfully possess, use or distribute illicit drugs and alcohol.
3. A handbook with information will be provided for students each year as a reminder of this policy.
4. Drug and alcohol counseling, treatment and rehabilitation services are available to students.  Students who need help will be referred to these sources either by the Director or the Senior Vice President for Patient Care Operations.
5. This institution will impose disciplinary sanctions consistent with Local, State, and Federal Law.  The Director will determine the sanction after consultation with the Sr. Vice President for Patient Care Operations, U.S. Department of Education, law enforcement officials, rehabilitation staff and others depending on each individual situation.  Each instance will be treated on an individual basis.  Continuation as a student will depend on factors that include but are not limited to the severity of the offense, completion of an appropriate rehabilitation program, frequency of the violation, arrest records and convictions.
6. Biennial review will be made by BHSN's Director to determine this policy's effectiveness, and the need for changes, updates and revisions.

Illicit drug or alcohol use by students is in direct conflict with the philosophy of BHSN, the professions of nursing and surgical technology.  Therefore, the faculty of BHSN does not sanction the indiscriminate use, unauthorized possession, use or exchange of drugs and/or alcohol.  Unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol will result in dismissal and is punishable to the fullest extent of the law.

Student Health Program and Vaccination Policy

Bridgeport Hospital’s Industrial Medical Center provides students with initial medical treatment for minor illnesses, health counseling, health instruction, consultation service and medical attention for injuries incurred during student experiences. Licensed health care personnel provide these services. Students are encouraged to seek additional care for illness by their private health care provider.

It is highly recommended for students to have insurance that will cover medical, emergency and hospital care. Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing is not responsible for the cost of emergency care, hospital care, specialized diagnostic procedures and/or treatments provided for a student.

Mantoux Tuberculin testing (PPD) is required annually or a physician documented chest X-ray report. Hepatitis B immunization is optional but strongly recommended. This immunization is provided by the Industrial Medical Center at cost to students. A declination form must be signed and returned by the student who does not complete this immunization. Annual influenza immunization is also strongly recommended and is offered by the Industrial Medical Center. Drug testing is required prior to entry and re-entry into BHSN. All drug testing must be done at the Industrial Medical Center for a fee.  

The Industrial Medical Center is located at 226 Mill Hill Ave, Bridgeport, CT.  The hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  (203) 384-3290.  If an illness/injury occurs during a student’s clinical experience when the Industrial Medical Center is closed, students may be seen in the Emergency Department for care. All required incident/injury documentation must be completed. A copy of the incident/injury will be given to the Director of the School of Nursing.

Graduation Requirements

Before graduation, a student must complete the following:

1. All course requirements*, including submission of non-nursing offical transcripts
2. Standardized tests that help to evaluate a student's ability to apply essential knowledge in clinical situations (only applies to Nursing Program)
3. Graduate Exit Survey
4. Payment of outstanding financial obligations to BHSN and Bridgeport Hospital
5. Exit interview with the Education Finance Specialist / Registrar
6. Student Clearance Form
7. Exit interview with the Associate Director or Director of BHSN.

*In addition, Surgical Technology students are required to complete a total of 1114 program hours and 120 clinical cases (minimum of 80 first scrub cases and a minimum of 40 second scrub cases)

Upon satisfactory completion of all the aforementioned requirements, the Nursing Diploma and pin or Surgical Technology Certificate and pin are awarded at Graduation ceremonies. Sterile Processing students receive a certificate.

IMPORTANT:  BHSN official transcript and/or references will be withheld if graduation requirements are not met. In addition, official transcripts to the State Board of Examiners are held for Nursing graduates who have completed the program but do not meet graduation requirements.

Sterile Processing Program

The Sterile Processing student will receive a Certificate upon completion of the following program requirements:

1. Completion of all course requirements
2. Payment of outstanding financial obligations to BHSN and Bridgeport Hospital