Mar 29, 2024  
Catalog/Handbook 2015-2016 
    
Catalog/Handbook 2015-2016 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Nursing (RN to BSN), BS


Program: V6100

The Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program (RN to BSN Program) 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 knowledge and 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.

Accreditation

The Polk State College BSN Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), located at 3343 Peachtree Road, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326; telephone: (404) 975-5000.

Admission Criteria

Admission to the BSN Program requires the applicant to have 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 Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), formerly 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. Students must meet the requirements for college-level mathematics, reading, and writing. Any deficiencies must be satisfied prior to admission to the baccalaureate program. If the student’s associate’s degree is from a non-regionally accredited institution, but is nationally accredited, the degree qualifies for admissions, but 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.

The student must maintain an active, unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse while enrolled in the RN to BSN Program. Upon admission, each student is required to sign an affidavit attesting to good moral character and pledging to adhere to the professional standards of conduct set forward in Florida Statute 464, The Nurse Practice Act. Registered nurses who are enrolled as 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 the use of illicit substances.

Transfer Students

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

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; however, there is a recommended sequence. 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 in 8-week Fasttrack terms. This format allows part-time students to complete the 42 upper-division credit hours in seven semesters and full-time students to complete these courses in four semesters. Suggested course sequences for full-time and part-time students are located on the Nursing Program website (or these can be obtained from an advisor). Due to the pace and rigor of courses, students should not enroll in more than two Nursing Program courses during each 8-week Fasttrack term.

At the completion of the program, the graduate is expected to:

  1. Demonstrate high moral and ethical standards in professional nursing practice.
  2. Exhibit skills in nursing leadership to promote effective communication, thus building collaborative relationships in a variety of settings.
  3. Use emerging technologies to manage health information and guide professional decision-making.
  4. Integrate nursing science in making evidence-based clinical judgments to provide safe, cost-effective, high quality care.
  5. Cultivate a spirit of inquiry by using scholarly evidence and published theories or frameworks to implement changes in nursing practice.
  6. Implement a culturally competent, health-promoting plan of care for individuals, families, and community to provide for multidimensional comfort and safety.
  7. Advocate for the nursing profession with regard to health legislation and regulation.
  8. Value continuous learning that empowers personal and professional growth.

Concurrent Enrollment in the AS and BS in Nursing Degree Programs (V6110)

Students enrolled in the Associate in Science in Nursing degree program at Polk State may take selected baccalaureate nursing classes concurrently with associate-level classes as space is available. To be eligible for concurrent enrollment, students must meet the following four requirements: (1) have a completed AA degree or the equivalent; (2) complete NUR 1211C Adult Health I or NUR 1020C Foundations of Nursing Practice, and NUR 1140C Pharmacology (or alternatively, NUR 1033C Transition I or NUR 1051C Health Professional to RN:Transition I and NUR 1140C Pharmacology) with at least a B; (3) earn at least a B in all nursing courses in the first enrollment in each course; and (4) have at least a 3.0 overall cumulative GPA.

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 outside of Florida (or those who have earned an AS or AAS degree) 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.

Pursuant to Florida Statute Section 1007.25(3) and SBE Rule 6A.14.0303, students must complete at least one course from a list of courses that are common to all state colleges and universities for each of the General Education subject areas: Communications, Mathematics, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. The options outlined below ensure that all students who earn a degree at Polk State meet this statewide requirement.

Students enrolling at Polk State College whose goal is admission to the RN to BSN Program should select courses based on the General Education requirements of the Polk State RN to BSN program (V6100).

RN to BSN Program Requirements


Technical Courses from AS Nursing Degree (42 Credits Required)


  • Lower-division Nursing and Nutrition courses (32 credits)
    Note: Students who attended institutions where Nutrition coursework is integrated across the AS in Nursing program curriculum (such as Polk State College) are considered as having met the Nutrition credit requirement.

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 college-level course at the Elementary-2 level (or higher) in a foreign language or in American Sign Language (ASL) (e.g., SPN 1131 First-Year Spanish II, FRE 1131 First Year French II, or ASL 1150 American Sign Language II), achievement of minimum scores on a foreign language proficiency exam approved by the Registrar’s Office, achievement of a score of three (3) or higher on the Advanced Placement exam in a foreign language, 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.