Nov 21, 2024

Catalog/Handbook 2024-2025

Nursing (RN-to-BSN), BS

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Program: V6100

The Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program (RN-to-BSN Program) provides a registered nurse who has an associate degree or diploma in nursing with the opportunity to advance in his or her educational and career goals. Through this program, the student builds 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 to transform the registered nurse into a leader who is 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).

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: 404.975.5000
Website: www.acenursing.org

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 degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution or a diploma in nursing with General Education courses from a regionally accredited institution; and at least a cumulative 2.5 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0-point scale in all postsecondary coursework. Each enrolling student must meet the requirements for college-level mathematics, reading, and writing, and any deficiencies must be satisfied prior to admission to the baccalaureate program. If the student’s associate degree is from a non-regionally accredited institution, but one that is nationally accredited, the degree qualifies for admission, 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 with a camera or webcam and a stable Internet connection. The student is 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 attest to good moral character and pledge to adhere to the professional standards of conduct set forward in Florida Statute 464: The Nurse Practice Act. Prior to enrolling in courses with a clinical component (i.e., NUR 4638C Individual, Family, and Population Health and NUR 4940C Professional Nursing Excellence (Capstone Course)), the student must provide evidence of current CPR certification, a current screening for TB exposure (PPD), and all appropriate vaccinations to protect against occupational exposures (e.g., Tdap, MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella). Each student is expected to adhere to safe and accepted use of prescribed drugs and avoid the use of illicit substances. Clinical agencies may require documentation of these requirements and may institute additional requirements.

Transfer Student Information

A student who has started an RN-to-BSN Program at another institution may be eligible to transfer to Polk State College. The transcript is reviewed on a course-by-course basis to determine equivalency to Polk State College’s courses.

Course Progression in the RN-to-BSN Program

The RN-to-BSN curriculum provides a flexible format that minimizes the prerequisites needed to progress. A student is not required (but is encouraged) 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. Each student must take NUR 3825 Professional Role Transformation as the first upper-division nursing course and must take NUR 4940C Professional Nursing Excellence as the last upper-division course in the program. There is sufficient reinforcement of key concepts across the curriculum, without redundancy of material, to enable the student to be successful if courses are taken in a variable order or on a part-time schedule due to work and family responsibilities. To promote timely progression toward graduation, most of the upper-division courses are offered in an eight-week Fasttrack format. This format allows a part-time student to complete the upper-division credit hours in five semesters, and the full-time student to complete these courses in three semesters. Suggested course sequences for the full-time and part-time student are located on the Nursing Program website (or these can be obtained from an advisor). Due to the pace and rigor of courses, the student should not enroll in more than two Nursing Program courses during each eight-week Fasttrack session.

Note: The RN-BSN Program is undergoing a revision beginning in the Spring 2024 Term. Each student is encouraged to work closely with advising to create an Education Plan that allows for timely completion of the existing program.

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

PLO 1: Demonstrate accountability for ethical practice through caring behaviors provided to individuals, families, and communities, as well as though modeling self-care.

PLO 2: Exhibit nursing leadership and management skills to promote effective communication and lead interdisciplinary healthcare teams.

PLO 3: Use emerging technologies to manage health information and guide professional decision making.

PLO 4: Integrate nursing science while making evidence-based clinical judgments to provide safe, cost-effective, high-quality care.

PLO 5: Cultivate a spirit of inquiry by using scholarly evidence, published theories, and effective frameworks to implement changes in nursing practice.

PLO 6: Implement culturally competent, health-promoting plans of care for individuals, families, and communities, enabling multidimensional comfort and safety.

PLO 7: Explore various levels of healthcare advocacy within diverse settings.

PLO 8: Demonstrate active inquiry and engagement to promote continuous learning and empower personal and professional growth.

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

Note: Concurrent enrollment is paused for the 2024-2025 Academic Year due to revisions in the RN-to-BSN curriculum.

General Education Requirements (36 Credits Required)

Note: A student who has completed an AA degree at a public Florida college has already met the General Education requirements. A student who has completed an AA degree outside of Florida (or who has earned an AS or AAS degree) and has 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 State Board of Education Rule 6A.14.0303, the student 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 each student who earns a degree at Polk State meets this statewide requirement.

A student enrolling at the College with the goal of RN-to-BSN Program admission should select courses based on the General Education requirements of the Program (V6100).

Communications (6 Credits Required)

Mathematics (6 Credits Required)

Humanities (9 Credits Required)

LIT 1000 - Introduction to Literature

And the student must choose two of the following:

Social Sciences (6 Credits Required)

Natural Sciences (9 Credits Required)

BSC 2085C - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BSC 2086C - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
Any BSC, CHM, or PHY course (lab not required)

RN-to-BSN Program Requirements

Additional Lower-Division Courses (12 Credits Required*)

DEP 2004 - Human Development
MCB 2010C - Microbiology
HUN 1201 - Principles of Nutrition
*Note: Two credit hours from the BSC, CHM, or PHY course taken to meet the Natural Sciences requirement in General Education are used to meet the 12 credits required in this area.

Elective (1 Credit Required)

Note: The student may use any AA elective course not included in the program of study to meet this requirement (e.g., MAT 1033; HSC 1531). A student who completes a four-credit-hour BSC, CHM, or PHY course as part of the Natural Sciences requirement in General Education has met this requirement. A student who has completed the five-credit-hour version of BSC 2085C or BSC 2086C has also met this requirement.

Total Lower-Division Non-Nursing Credit Hours: 49

Credits for AS in Nursing Courses (Block Credit for Active License): 39

Upper-Division Courses (32 Credits Required)

Total Credits for RN-to-BSN Degree: 120

Civic Literacy Competency

Pursuant to Rule 6A-10.02413 of the Florida Administrative Code, effective in the Fall 2022 Semester, competency in civic literacy is a requirement for each student receiving an Associate in Arts or baccalaureate degree. Competency in civic literacy must be demonstrated through one of the two options listed below:

Option 1:

Successful completion of one of the following courses:
AMH 1010 - History of the United States: 1607-1877 (effective in the Fall 2024 Semester)
AMH 1020 - History of the United States: 1877 to the Present
POS 2041 - American National Government

AND

Successful completion of the Florida Civic Literacy Examination with a score of 60% or better.

Option 2:

Completion of one of the following assessments with the score indicated:

The Advanced Placement (AP) Exam in U.S. Government and Politics with a score of three or better.
The Advanced Placement (AP) Exam in United States History with a score of four or better.
The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) American Government Exam with a score of 50 or better.

Note: All approved accelerated credit is listed in Credit-By-Exam Equivalencies. The Credit-by-Exam section of the Florida State Articulation Committee website provides further details.

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 the minimum score on a foreign language proficiency exam approved by the Registrar’s Office, achievement of a score of three 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 (i.e., 30 credit hours) of the RN-to-BSN Program at Polk State College.
Complete at least 25 percent (i.e., eight credit hours) of the upper-division courses required for the RN-to-BSN Program at Polk State College, including the Capstone Course NUR 4940C Professional Nursing Excellence.