The baccalaureate nursing program is based upon the belief that preparation for professional nursing encompasses a broad liberal, general, and professional education. The mission of the School of Nursing is to educate nurses at the Associate, Baccalaureate, Masters and Doctorate levels who work in inter-professional environments to promote health and well-being for diverse populations across the Commonwealth, country and world.

BSN Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate nursing program the BSN graduate will:

1. Demonstrate self-care, professionalism, accountability, and competence in nursing practice with a commitment to advancing the profession of nursing and respecting clients’ rights to self-direction and decision-making.
2. Synthesize communication, collaboration, critical thinking, research, leadership, and teaching/learning knowledge when functioning as a leader or member of an intra/inter-professional health care team.
3. Evaluate safe effective, quality health care for complex clients.
4. Examine the impact of ethical and legal issues on complex health care and nursing practice.
5. Use the nursing process, evidence- based nursing practice, critical thinking, research methodologies, informatics, and health care technology to provide therapeutic interventions across levels of prevention, predict outcomes, and influence the care of patients with complex health problems.
6. Synthesize knowledge of systems including sociopolitical, cultural, and epidemiologic systems, and health care economics when analyzing complex care situations.
7. Advocate for improved care for complex care patients.

Admission and Progression Requirements

All students who are accepted by EKU’s Admissions Office and declare their major as baccalaureate nursing (four-year nursing) are admitted to the University as pre-baccalaureate nursing majors. However, admission to the freshman year does not guarantee admission to the laboratory nursing courses. Students seeking to enter NSC 232 Health Assessment and Promotion, NSC 242 Communication in Nursing, and NSC 252 Intro to Professional Nursing in the third semester of the curriculum must meet minimum program GPA requirements of 2.5 and have School of Nursing chair approval. Spaces in these courses are limited and are reserved for students whose academic record indicates they are more likely to be eligible to be considered for and admitted to the clinical nursing courses.

To be eligible to be considered for admission to the clinical nursing courses, students must have completed the first three semesters of college work as outlined in the curriculum plan and have submitted a complete department application. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C”/2.0 or better, and a minimum institutional GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale must be obtained. For the prelicensure nursing program, [Nursing Pre-RN (B.S.N.)], some prerequisite courses (BIO 307 Human Anatomy and Physiology I , BIO 273 Clinical Microbiology/MLS 209 Microbiology for Health Sciences, BIO 308 Human Anatomy and Physiology II, CHE 105 Chemistry for the Health Sciences,and NFA 201 Essentials of Nutrition) must have been taken within five years prior to the time application is made for admission to the clinical nursing courses unless an exception has been approved by the department.

For the prelicensure Nursing (B.S.N.) Second Degree Concentration, the courses in BIO 307 Human Anatomy and Physiology I , BIO 273 Clinical Microbiology/MLS 209 Microbiology for Health Sciences, BIO 308 Human Anatomy and Physiology II, and NFA 201 Essentials of Nutrition must have been taken within five years prior to the time application is made for admission to the concentration unless an exception has been approved by the department. Completion of eligibility criteria does not guarantee admission to the clinical nursing courses. Admission to the clinical courses is competitive and based on review of the applicants’ academic history. Spaces are limited and the most qualified applicants will be selected for admission.

In addition to the academic criteria required for admission, the student must meet the standards written into the Commonwealth of Kentucky Nurse Practice Act. Specifically, the Nurse Practice Act requires that each student be of good moral and ethical character, good mental and physical health, and be academically qualified to fulfill the role and responsibilities of a person licensed to practice as a professional nurse. Students must meet all clinical agency placement requirements.

For progression, students must earn a grade of “C”/2.0 or better in all nursing and supporting courses. Students who fail to meet the requirements for progression must apply for readmission through the Baccalaureate Admission/Readmission Committee. Readmission to a nursing course is not guaranteed to any student. Please refer to the Baccalaureate Nursing Student Handbook for specific information on readmission procedures. The program reserves the right to alter the suggested plan as necessary to enhance a quality educational program.

For additional admission information please refer to the Selection Criteria at https://nursing.eku.edu/baccalaureate-programs

Transfers from Other Colleges and Universities

Academic credits earned at other accredited colleges or universities are transferable upon approval of the appropriate department at Eastern Kentucky University. Official transcripts are to be submitted by the student to the Office of the Registrar. Credits more than eight years old must be approved.

Transfer students must submit copies of all transcripts along with their application to the program. These transcripts will be considered a part of the application process and are necessary to determine admission and placement.

Students wishing to transfer nursing courses from another accredited institution must have a grade equivalent of “C”/2.0 or better in any nursing course to be transferred. In addition, the applicant must submit complete course outlines and/or syllabi. This material should be submitted well in advance of expected matriculation to provide time for necessary evaluation.

Clinical Requirements:

Transportation to all clinical experiences is the responsibility of the student. Students are expected to adhere to all program and clinical agency policies and must meet all clinical agency placement requirements. To be compliant with Joint Commission regulations, clinical agency contractual agreements, and ensure a safe clinical environment the following items are required before a student can progress to a clinical experience:

    1. Proof of professional liability insurance purchased through the University.

    2. Proof of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for the Health Care Professional.

    3. Proof of Rubella, Measles (Rubeola), and Mumps immunity.

    4. Proof of Hepatitis B immunity.

    5. Proof of negative Tuberculosis screening.

    6. Proof of Varicella immunity.

    7. Documentation of adult TDaP vaccine (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis).

    8. Documentation of annual Influenza vaccine.

    9. Proof of full vaccination for Covid 19.

    10. Documentation of the CHS-approved Criminal Background Check.

    11. Documentation of the CHS-approved Drug Screening.

    12. Proof of Personal Health Insurance.

    13. Other documentation as required by specific clinical facilities.

Specific Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree

In addition to the general requirements for the baccalaureate degree, students must earn a grade of “C”/2.0 or better in all nursing and supporting courses.

Program Requirements

CIP Code: 51.3801

 Major

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
University Graduation Requirements
General Education		36
Foundations of Learning
GSD 101	Foundations of Learning	3
Upper division courses (42 hrs. distributed throughout Major/Supporting/Gen Ed/Free Electives categories)
Major Requirements
Core Courses
NSC 232	Health Assessment and Promotion	2
NSC 232L	Health Assessment and Promotion	1
NSC 242	Communication in Nursing	3
NSC 252	Intro to Professional Nursing	3
NSC 330	Clinical Drug Therapy	3
NSC 332	Health Assessment and Promotion II	1
NSC 332L	Health Assessment and Promotion	1
NSC 350	Pathophysiology	3
NSC 380	Adult Health Nursing I	2
NSC 380C	Adult Health Nursing I Clinical	2
NSC 386	Adult Health Nursing II	7
NSC 386C	Adult Health Nursing II	3
NSC 390	Research for EBNP	2
NSC 392	Mental Health Nursing	3
NSC 392C	Mental Health Nursing Clinical	2
NSC 396	Family Health Nursing	5
NSC 396C	Family Health Nursing	2
NSC 480	Health Care Leadership	3
NSC 484	Adult Health Nursing III	2.5
NSC 484C	Adult Health III Clinical	2.5
NSC 487	Public Health Nursing	2.5
NSC 487C	Public Health Nursing	2.5
NSC 492	Complex Client Health Care	2
NSC 492C	Complex Client Health Care Clinical	3
NSC 495	Professional Role Transition	2
NSC 496	Application of Nursing Theory	2
Supporting Course Requirements
BIO 307	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	3
BIO 273	Clinical Microbiology	3-4
or MLS 209	Microbiology for Health Sciences
BIO 308	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	3
CHE 105	Chemistry for the Health Sciences (Element 4) G
CHE 105L	Health Science Chemistry Lab (Element 4) G
MAT 105	Mathematics with Applications (or higher level math course with a minimum grade of C) (Element 2) G
NFA 201	Essentials of Nutrition	3
Choose from one of the following:		3-4
SOC 232	Social Statistics
STA 215	Introduction to Statistical Reasoning
STA 270	Applied Statistics
Choose from one of the following:
PSY 200	Introduction to Psychology (Element 5) G
Free Electives		0-1
Total Hours		120-121

G

Course also satisfies a General Education element. Hours are included within the 36 hr. General Education requirement above.

Specific Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree

In addition to the general requirements for the baccalaureate degree, students must earn a grade of “C”/2.0 or better in all nursing and supporting courses.