Nursing - RN to BSN Completion 6001, B.S.

A Two-Year Program Leading to a B.S. Degree

Registered nurses who have graduated from a nationally accredited associate degree or diploma nursing program may apply for admission to the Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and earn a baccalaureate in nursing. The program is designed to provide professional registered nurses the opportunity to achieve advancement in their careers and seek leadership and management roles in the health care setting. The program offers experiences in various healthcare settings, including leadership and community nursing.

The RN to BSN Completion program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Information on accreditation status may be obtained by contacting the ACEN. They may be contacted at the following address: ACEN, Inc., 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326; 404-975-5000; or www.acenursing.org.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of the RN-BSN Completion program, the graduate will:

1. Apply leadership concepts through collaboration, teamwork, and the utilization of nursing informatics to improve patient care.
2. Utilize research to enhance nursing judgment in order to provide safe and quality care. 
3. Apply the concepts of holistic, culturally sensitive, and patient-centered care to professional practice.
4. Model professionalism by incorporating the BSN Essentials while adhering to the registered nursing practice standards. 
5. Evaluate health promotion and preventative care measures at individual and population levels.
6. Analyze factors that impact healthcare.

Admission Requirements

All applicants must meet the following basic admission requirements.

1. Meet admission requirements of the University.
2. Complete the appropriate placement test requirements (only required for applicants without math and English credit).
3. Possess an unencumbered Registered Nurse license prior to beginning NURS 460 - Community Health Nursing  and  NURS 475 - Nursing Leadership and Management , and maintain licensure in state of clinical practicum.
   Note: Applicants are advised to take the NCLEX exam prior to the start of the RN-BSN Completion Program.
4. Complete 30 credit hours of the ASN Core Courses (see below). Applicants that are within six hours of completing the ASN Core Courses, and are in good academic standing, may apply to the RN-BSN Completion Program.

• English Composition II must be completed prior to admission to the RN-BSN Completion Program.
• If not completed prior to admission, the math requirement must be completed concurrently with NURS 300 - Professional Nursing .
• If not completed prior to admission, the Humanities elective must be completed prior to or concurrently with NURS 490 - Capstone Experience in Baccalaureate Nursing .

5. Graduate from an accredited associate degree nursing program or diploma program in nursing. A maximum of 34 credit hours of nursing from an accredited associate degree or diploma program will be applied to the RN to BSN Program.
6. Applicants with grades less than C in required general education courses are not eligible for admission. Required general education courses may only be repeated one time in order to raise the grade to a C or better. This includes prerequisites to required courses.
7. Hold no grade of F in any 300 or 400 level nursing course.

Note: Admission to the University does not ensure admission to the nursing program. The number of students admitted is limited by the availability of instructional resources and clinical learning sites. Each applicant is reviewed individually. Any falsification of application information will result in denial of admission or removal from the program.

Requirements for All Baccalaureate Degree Nursing Students Admitted to the Program

Once students are admitted to the program and prior to the date set by the Nursing Department, students are responsible for completing the following requirements:

1. Assume responsibility for personal health care costs; therefore, students are strongly urged to maintain health insurance coverage.
2. Provide requirements as mandated by the clinical practicum agency including, but not limited to, CPR certification; proof of immunity to flu, varicella, measles, and tuberculosis; proof of Hepatitis B inoculation or refusal thereof; and criminal history and drug screening.
3. Provide proof of nursing licensure prior to enrollment in NURS 460 - Community Health Nursing  and NURS 475 - Nursing Leadership and Management .
4. Maintain access to a computer with Microsoft Office, a microphone, and the Internet.

Note: A fee for liability insurance will be charged to all nursing students through the University Bursar’s Office.

Standards for Progression and Graduation

For All NURS Courses

1. Students must earn a grade of B- or better in all required NURS courses. A required course may only be repeated one time in order to earn a grade of B- or better. 
2. Students earning a grade of C+, C, or D in a required NURS course must repeat the course the next available semester. Students not earning a grade of B- or better on the second attempt will be dismissed from the RN-BSN Program, and are not eligible for readmission to the RN-BSN Program. 
3. Students earning a grade of C+, C, or D in more than one NURS course or a grade of F in any NURS course will be dismissed from the RN-BSN Program and are not eligible for re-admission to the RN-BSN Program.

For all Other Required (Non-NURS) Courses

1. Students must earn a grade of C or better in all non-NURS courses. A required course may only be repeated one time in order to earn a grade of C or better. 
2. Students earning a grade less than a C in a required course must repeat the course the next available semester. Students not earning a grade of C or better on the second attempt will be dismissed from the RN-BSN Program, and are not eligible for readmission to the RN-BSN Program.

Other Requirements

1. Students must comply with all stated policies of the Vincennes University Nursing Department Student Handbook, clinical facilities, college catalog, and syllabi.
2. Students must complete the RN-BSN Program curriculum within five years of beginning NURS 300 .

Appeal Policy

Students that fail to meet Standards for Progression and Graduation have the right to appeal to the Chair of the Program. Appeals must be in writing and sent to vunursing@vinu.edu. Readmission to the RN-BSN Completion Program is not guaranteed.