R.N. to B.S.N. Pathway, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)
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.
Professional Nursing Practice Outcomes
Upon completion of the baccalaureate nursing program the BSN graduate:
- Treats patients as holistic, unique and self-directive with the right to make decisions for themselves concerning health matters.
- Uses the nursing process to provide, manage, and evaluate culturally competent primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention for diverse clients across the life span in a variety of settings.
- Uses evidence-based nursing practice, critical thinking, research methodologies, informatics, and healthcare technology to provide therapeutic interventions, predict outcomes, and influence the delivery of health care.
- Assumes a leadership role in health care by communicating and collaborating with patients, health care professionals, and health care systems.
- Supports safe, quality, responsible, and economic interdisciplinary health care as a consumer and sociopolitical advocate within multiple health care systems.
- Promotes the ethical and legal practice of professional nursing.
- Demonstrates 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.
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.
Plan for Registered Nurses (RN-BSN)
The School of Nursing offers the opportunity for Associate Degree registered nurses to earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Admission requirements include an Associate Degree in Nursing from a program accredited by ACEN or NLN CNEA (or 3 year diploma program), and a RN license from an approved state that is free and unrestricted, meaning that it has not been subject to reprimand, revocation, probation, suspension, restriction, limitation, disciplinary action, discretionary review/hearing or encumbrance nor had any type of complaint filed against it.
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, NFA 201 Essentials of Nutrition, NSC 232 Health Assessment and Promotion, NSC 232L Health Assessment and Promotion, NSC 242 Communication in Nursing, and NSC 252 Intro to Professional Nursing) 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 by the Baccalaureate Nursing Admission/Readmission Committee. 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.
Protocol for Accepting RN-BSN Students as General Education Certified
Eastern Kentucky University will consider all RN-BSN applicants, who are currently licensed nurses with professional work experience, as General Education certified based on the following standards:
- Applicants will have completed an associate degree for which they have earned a minimum of fifteen (15) General Education credit hours.
- Applicants will have taken and passed the NCLEX RN licensure exam. Competencies demonstrated by this exam are sufficient to satisfy certain General Education competencies.
- Applicants have practical experiential learning that can be applied to the General Education competencies.
Note: Must have 120 total credit hours to complete BSN
Program Requirements
CIP Code: 51.3801
Summary Checklist for General Education
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Element 1 | ||
| A: Written Communication | 3 | |
| B: Written Communication | 3 | |
| C: Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Element 2 | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Element 3 | ||
| A: Arts | 3 | |
| B: Humanities | 3 | |
| Element 4 | ||
| Natural Sciences | 6 | |
| Element 5 | ||
| A: Historical Science | 3 | |
| B: Social Behaviorial Science | 3 | |
| Element 6 | ||
| Diversity of Perspectives Experiences | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Students are expected to complete Elements 1 and 2 within their first 60 hours of college credit.
Major
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Graduation Requirements | ||
| General Education | 36 | |
| (See above for Protocol for Accepting RN-BSN Students as General Education Certified) | ||
| Student Success Seminar | ||
| HSO 100 | Student Success Seminar (waived for transfers with 30+ hrs.) | 1 |
| Writing Intensive Course (Hrs. incorporated into Major/Supporting/Gen Ed/Free Electives category) | ||
| Upper division courses (42 hrs. distributed throughout Major/Supporting/Gen Ed/Free Electives categories) | ||
| ACCT - RN to B.S.N. majors will fulfill ACCT with the following. (Credit hours are incorporated into Major requirements) | ||
| Complex Health Systems | ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| NSC 381 | Perspectives in Professional Nursing I | 3 |
| NSC 383 | Perspectives in Professional Nursing II | 3 |
| 19 hours upon completion of NSC 385: | 19 | |
| NSC 385 | Perspectives in Professional Nursing III 1 | 4 |
| NSC 390W | Research for EBNP | 2 |
| NSC 440 | Leadership and Management | 3 |
| NSC 442 | Complex Health Systems | 3 |
| NSC 442C | Complex Health Systems | 2 |
| NSC 445 | Professional Role Transitions | 2 |
| NSC 486 | RN Public Health Nursing | 3 |
| NSC 386C | Adult Health Nursing II | 3 |
| Supporting Course Requirements | ||
| Choose from 0-3 hours of the following: | 0-3 | |
| Social Statistics (does not meet Element 2) | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Reasoning (Element 2) | ||
| Applied Statistics (Element 2) G | ||
| Free Electives | ||
| Choose from 36-39 hours of free electives | 36-39 | |
May be met with previous Associate Nursing degree courses. | ||
| Total Hours | 120-126 | |
- 1
Upon successful completion of NSC 385 Perspectives in Professional Nursing III, the RN is granted credit for NSC 380 Adult Health Nursing I, NSC 380C Adult Health Nursing I Clinical, NSC 386 Adult Health Nursing II, NSC 386C Adult Health Nursing II, NSC 484 Adult Health Nursing III, and NSC 484C Adult Health III Clinical (19 hrs.).
- G
Course also satisfies a General Education element. Hours are included within the 36 hr. General Education requirement above.