Nursing (RN to BSN), BS

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Program: V6100

The Registeres Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree Program (RN to BSN) provides Registered Nurses who have an associate’s degree in nursing or diploma in nursing with the opportunity to advance in their educational and career goals. Through this program, students build upon the foundational skills attained in previous nursing courses and experiences. Upper-division coursework in the RN to BSN Program at Polk State College places emphasis on nursing leadership and professional development in order to transform registered nurses into leaders prepared to provide excellent, evidence-based care for diverse populations.

Admission Criteria

Admission to the BSN Program requires an active, unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse (which requires verification from the state that issued the license) an associate’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution, or a diploma in nursing from an institution accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission; and at least a cumulative 2.5 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 point scale in all postsecondary coursework. If the student’s associate’s degree is from a non-regionally accredited institution, but one that is accredited by a body that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, a course-by-course evaluation is done according to Polk State College’s transfer practices and policies.

The RN to BSN Program coursework requires access to a reliable computer and Internet connection. Students are expected to have basic computer competence upon admission.

All students are expected to maintain an active, unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse while enrolled in the RN to BSN Program. Upon admission to the program, each student is required to sign an affidavit attesting to good moral character and pledging to adhere to professional standards of conduct as set forward in Florida Statute 464, The Nurse Practice Act. Registered nurse students are expected to maintain current certification in CPR, obtain an annual screening for TB exposure (PPD), maintain appropriate vaccinations to protect against occupational exposures (i.e., Tdap, MMR, Hepatitis B, and Varicella), adhere to safe and accepted use of prescribed drugs, and avoid use of illicit substances.

Transfer Students: Students who have started the RN to BSN Program at another institution may be eligible to transfer to the Polk State College program. Transcripts are reviewed on a course-by-course basis to determine equivalency to Polk State College courses.

Accreditation

The Polk State College BSN program has been accepted for Candidacy by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC), 3343 Peachtree Road, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326, phone (404) 975-5000. The program is preparing for a site visit in October 2012. Assuming a successful site review, the Polk State College BSN program will be accredited by the time the first group of students complete the program in December 2012.

Course Progression in the RN to BSN Program

The RN to BSN curriculum provides a flexible format that minimizes the prerequisites needed for students to progress. Students are not required to complete all lower-division courses before enrolling in upper-division courses; most upper-division courses may be taken in a non-sequential format. All students must take NUR 3825 Professional Role Transformation as the first upper-division nursing course and must take NUR 4940 Professional Nursing Excellence as the last upper-division nursing course in the program. There is sufficient reinforcement of key concepts across the curriculum, without redundancy of material, to enable students to be successful if courses are taken in a variable order or on a part-time schedule due to work and family responsibilities. In order to promote timely progression toward graduation, most of the upper-division courses are offered at an accelerated pace, allowing part-time students to complete the 42 upper-division credit hours in 7 semesters and full-time students to complete these courses in 4 semesters. Due to the pace and rigor of courses, students should not enroll in more than 12 credit hours per semester.

Suggested Course Progression for BSN Upper-Division Coursework

NUR 3825 Professional Role Transformation (must be completed as the first upper-division nursing course)
NUR 3125 Nursing Science
NUR 3065 Health Assessment
NUR 3687 Promoting Health and Wellness
NUR 3846 Nursing Theory
MAN 3303 Leadership and Management Practices
NUR 3874 Informatics and Clinical Reasoning
NUR 4169 Evidence-Based Practice
NUR 4108 Professional Nursing Advocacy
NUR 4827 Nursing Leadership
Elective (GEB 3213 Communications in Business, HSA 4553Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare, or MAN 3240 Organizational Behavior)
NUR 4636 Family and Community Health Nursing
NUR 4940 Professional Nursing Excellence (must be completed as the last upper-division nursing course)

General Education Requirements (36 Credits Required)

Note: Students who have completed an AA degree at a public Florida college have already met the General Education requirements. Students who have completed an AA degree at an institution outside of Florida (or those who have earned an AS degree or diploma in nursing) but have General Education courses that vary from the requirements below, should consult with an advisor to determine if acceptable substitutions may satisfy some or all of Polk State College’s General Education requirements. Students with a diploma in nursing may need to take additional General Education courses. These courses do not have to be completed prior to enrollment in the RN to BSN classes.

Students who are taking General Education courses with the goal of admission to the RN to BSN program at Polk State College should select courses based on the General Education requirements of the Polk State RN to BSN program (V6100).

Communications (9 Credits Required)

Mathematics (6 Credits Required)

Humanities (6 Credits Required)

HUM 2020 - Introduction to Humanities

And one of the following:

Social Sciences (6 Credits Required)

Part 1

PSY 2012 - General Psychology

Part 2 (one course)

Natural Sciences (9 Credits Required)

RN to BSN Program Requirements

Technical Courses from AS Nursing Degree (42 Credits Required)

Lower-division nursing and nutrition credits (32 credits)
Note: Students who attended institutions where nutrition coursework is integrated across the AS nursing curriculum (such as Polk State College) are considered to have met the nutrition credit requirement.

DEP 2004 - Human Development
MCB 2010C - Microbiology
One additional Biological Sciences (BSC), Chemistry (CHM), or Physics (PHY) course (3 credits). This course is not required to have a lab component.

Upper-Division Courses (39 Credits Required)

Upper-Division Elective Courses (Choose one) (3 Credits Required)

Total Credits for RN TO BSN Degree: 120

Graduation Requirements for the RN to BSN Degree Program

Complete 120 credits as outlined above.
Earn an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher.
Earn a grade of C or better in all upper-division coursework.
Demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language through any of the following means: completion of two years of high school instruction in the same foreign language, completion of a minimum of 8 college-level credits in one foreign language, achievement of minimum scores on a foreign language proficiency exam approved by the Registrar’s Office, or completion of a high school diploma from a foreign country where the student studied in a language other than English.
Complete 25 percent (30 credit hours) of the RN to BSN Program at Polk State College.
Complete at least 25 percent (11 credit hours) of the upper-division courses required for the RN to BSN program at Polk State College including the capstone course, NUR 4940 Professional Nursing Excellence.