Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing RN to BSN Program Department of Nursing College of Health Sciences Appalachian State University

Program Description: This part time degree completion program, leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, is designed for the student who has earned an Associate in Applied Science Degree, Nursing (ADN) or a Diploma in Nursing from a hospital program, and holds an RN license to practice nursing in North Carolina or a compact state. The RN-BSN program provides the academic knowledge and skills necessary to advance in the nursing field by seeking a higher level position and/or to apply for graduate study in nursing. The Appalachian RN-BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Distance Education RN-BSN programs are cohort based, a concept of providing a schedule of courses to an identified group of students who begin and complete their program of study at a particular location. Cohorts begin at varying times, and the prospective student must select a particular cohort to attend (i.e., students may enter a cohort only at selected beginning times and at particular sites). The major nursing courses are offered only one time in each cohort program, and students must be prepared to take these courses according to the program schedule. Effective Fall 2012, should approval be granted by SACS and UNC General Administration, RN-BSN classes will be delivered via the web; however, some nursing courses will involve clinical hours at a physical location. Appalachian faculty teach the nursing courses, and online delivery is proposed to begin in Fall 2012. Upper-division, major nursing coursework is currently delivered at selected sites in western North Carolina to cohorts, with a program duration of 16 months (four terms, including one summer term); however, effective Fall 2012 delivery is anticipated to be online. The RN-BSN program requires a total of 124 semester hours of credit. It is comprised of 30 semester hours of nursing courses, 30 semester hours of Appalachian credit awarded after the third term of the program for previous learning and clinical competencies, and 64 semester hours of lower-division transfer credit (consisting of the RN- BSN Required Core, nursing cognate courses, and elective courses) to complete the BSN degree.

Components of the RN-BSN Program 124 Semester Hours, Minimum Grade of "C"/2.0 is required in each course Required Core (44 SH): The RN to BSN Required Core (effective for students entering the program through Spring Semester 2014) is to be completed at a community college or other accredited institution, preferably before entering the cohort or before the last term of the program: 1.English Composition (6SH) Two Composition Courses 2.Humanities/Fine Arts (12 SH) One literature course required One fine arts course required Two additional courses from: art, dance, drama, foreign language, music, literature, interdisciplinary humanities, philosophy, and religion 3.Social/Behavioral Sciences (12 SH) One History Course An Introductory course in sociology An Introductory course in psychology An additional course from: anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology 4.Mathematics (6 SH) An introductory mathematics course (survey, college algebra, trigonometry, calculus, etc.) An introductory statistics course (does not have to have a math prefix) 5.Natural Sciences (8SH) Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab

Nursing Cognate Courses (18 SH) Nursing Cognates are support courses for the major that are required for the BSN degree, and must be completed at a community college or other accredited institution. All cognate coursework must be completed before the last term of the RN-BSN program. 1.Human Anatomy & Physiology* if not taken as part of the Required Core (8 SH) 2.Microbiology w/lab (4 SH) 3.Developmental Psychology or Human Growth and Development* if not taken as part of the Required Core (3 SH) 4.College level Statistics* if not taken as part of the Required Core (3 SH) *Courses in Nursing Cognates may also count as part of the Required Core, and additional hours needed are made up in General Electives to earn the total 124 Semester Hours required for the BSN Degree. Nursing Major Coursework (30 SH): The following nursing major courses (30 SH) are offered in the RN-BSN program (two courses per term): NUR 3000 Nursing Infomatics (3 SH) NUR 3011 Concepts of Professional Nursing (4 SH) NUR 3021 Health Assessment (4 SH) NUR 3031 Nursing Care of Older Adults (3 SH) NUR 4021 Nursing Care of Communities (4 SH) NUR 4029 Nursing Leadership & Management (4 SH) NUR 4032 Professional Nursing Synthesis (5 SH) NUR 4033 Nursing Research (3 SH) *All students must have reliable access to the internet, and a high-speed/broadband access (cable or DSL) is strongly recommended.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) Check Sheet 2011-2012 College of Health Sciences (CHS) Department of Nursing Major Code 563A Academic Coordinator: Dr. Phoebe Pollitt CIP Code 51.1601 828-262-8091 Non-Teaching pollittpa@appstate.edu www.nursing.appstate.edu REQUIRED CORE... 44 The RN/BSN Degree is a program designed to provide the opportunity for RNs to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Students must meet the general requirements for admission to Appalachian State as a transfer student; provision of evidence of an earned Associate Degree in Applied Science or Diploma in Nursing from an accredited institution; possession of a current unrestricted and unencumbered license to practice nursing in North Carolina and/or compact state; must have worked as an RN within the past 3 years or graduated from an ADN/Diploma program within a year of being admitted to Appalachian. Students who are accepted and enrolled in the RN/BSN program must complete the following course requirements with a minimum grade of "C" in each course. English Composition (6 sh) Two English composition courses: Humanities/Fine Arts (12 sh) One literature course required, One fine arts course required, Two additional courses from: art, dance, drama, foreign language, music, literature, interdisciplinary humanities, philosophy, and religion: Social/Behavioral Sciences (12 sh) One history course, An introductory course in sociology, An introductory course in psychology, An additional course from: anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology*: Mathematics (6 sh) Introductory mathematics course (survey, college algebra, trigonometry, calculus, etc.) Introductory statistics course (does not have to be math prefix)*: Natural Sciences (8 sh) Human Anatomy & Physiology with Lab*:

COGNATE COURSES... 18* Human Anatomy & Physiology (4 sh) if not taken as part of the Required Core (8 sh): Microbiology with lab (4 sh): _ Developmental Psychology or Human Growth and Development (3 sh) if not taken as part of the Required Core: College level Statistics (3 sh) if not taken as part of the Required Core: *Courses in the Cognate may also counts as part of the Required Core, and additional hours needed are made up in General Electives to total the 124 degree requirements. MAJOR COURSES... 60 NUR 3000 (3 sh) Nursing Informatics NUR 3011 (4 sh) Concepts of Professional Nursing (W) NUR 3021 (4 sh) Health Assessment NUR 3031 (3 sh) Nursing Care of Older Adults NUR 4021 (4 sh) Nursing Care of Communities * NUR 4029 (4 sh) Nursing Leadership and Management NUR 4032 (5 sh) Professional Nursing Synthesis (CAP) NUR 4033 (3 sh) Nursing Research * A minimum grade of "C" or higher is required in each nursing course before proceeding to the next nursing course; however, an overall GPA of 2.50 is required in the nursing courses at the end of the junior year and every semester thereafter. NOTE: Only one course may be repeated (one time) during progression through the nursing curriculum. *UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE THIRD SEMESTER OF THE PROGRAM, THE STUDENT WILL RECEIVE 30 HOURS OF VALIDATED CREDIT FOR PRIOR NURSING COURSES AND CLINICAL COMPETENCIES (30 SH). ELECTIVES (as needed to meet the 124 sh requirement)... 3-17 TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS:.... 124

Appalachian Credit Awarded (30 SH): Students who successfully complete three terms of the RN-BSN program will be awarded 30 semester hours of Appalachian credit for previous learning and clinical competence. Elective Course Requirements (to complete the required 124 SH): The BSN degree requires a total of 124 semester hours. If a student has fewer than 124 hours on record after completing all other degree requirements, the remaining credit hours must be obtained by taking general elective courses that are transferable to Appalachian. Any required elective courses should be taken at a community college or other accredited institution, and must be completed before the last term of the RN-BSN Program. Completion of lower-division (freshman and sophomore) coursework: Concurrent enrollment (i.e., taking courses through Appalachian and a NC community college or other accredited institution during the same term) is allowed during the first three terms of the program as long as maximum hours per term are not exceeded. All lower-division coursework (Required Core, nursing cognate courses, and any elective courses) should be completed before the last term of the RN-BSN program. Admission to the University: Students must meet Appalachian State University admission requirements. (Admission to the university does not automatically guarantee admission to the RN-BSN program.) Admission Requirements for the RN-BSN Program: Admission Decisions for the RN to BSN program are made by the Department of Nursing. To meet the RN-BSN admission requirements, in addition to meeting university admission standards, students must: hold an Associate in Applied Science Degree (ADN), Nursing from an accredited institution, or a Diploma in Nursing from an accredited hospital nursing program hold a current, unrestricted and unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license to practice nursing in North Carolina or a compact state

have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale calculated over all college/post secondary coursework (cumulative GPA as calculated by the Department of Nursing) have completed the majority of Nursing Required Core, cognate and elective coursework, with no more than six non-nursing courses remaining to be completed prior to admission have been employed in the practice of nursing within three years prior to entering the RN-BSN program. (Applicants who have received an Associate Degree in Nursing, or a Diploma in Nursing within one year of entering the RN-BSN program are not required to have been employed in nursing within three years before entering a program.) Test Scores: No test scores (ACT or SAT) are required for admission to this RN-BSN program. Proposed Cohorts: County Location Semester Start Information Session (ASU faculty and staff will be present to answer questions about the program and application process) Catawba ASU Hickory Spring 2012 Cohort Start canceled. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the program manager about the proposed Fall 2012 Online Cohort. N/A ONLINE!! Fall 2012 Seeking approval to begin program online in Fall 2012 Application for Admission: Applications must be complete (online application submitted, fee paid, and all supporting documents received) and ready for review by the applicable the deadline. Request Information: Effective July 1, 2011 federal regulations will require all institutions of higher education (including Appalachian State) that deliver online instruction (whether part of an online or sitebased degree program) to have written authorization from the state in which each student resides. If you reside outside of North Carolina and intend to apply to one of Appalachian s distance education programs, please notify the program manager.

Significant Points Career Outlook Registered nurses (RNs) constitute the largest healthcare occupation, with 2.6 million jobs. About 60 percent of RN jobs are in hospitals. The three typical educational paths to registered nursing are a bachelor's degree, an associate degree, and a diploma from an approved nursing program; advanced practice nurses clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners need a master s degree. Overall job opportunities are expected to be excellent, but may vary by employment and geographic setting; some employers report difficulty in attracting and retaining an adequate number of RNs. Nature of Work Registered nurses (RNs), regardless of specialty or work setting, treat patients, educate patients and the public about various medical conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients' family members. RNs record patients' medical histories and symptoms, help perform diagnostic tests and analyze results, operate medical machinery, administer treatment and medications, and help with patient follow-up and rehabilitation. Education and Training There are three typical educational paths to registered nursing a bachelor's of science degree in nursing (BSN), an associate degree in nursing (ADN), and a diploma. BSN programs, offered by colleges and universities, take about 4 years to complete. ADN programs, offered by community and junior colleges, take about 2 to 3 years to complete. Diploma programs, administered in hospitals, last about 3 years. Generally, licensed graduates of any of the three types of educational programs qualify for entry-level positions as a staff nurse. There are hundreds of registered nursing programs that result in an ADN or BSN; however, there are relatively few diploma programs. Licensure and Certification In all States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, students must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass a national licensing examination, known as the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX-RN, in order to obtain a nursing license. Other eligibility requirements for licensure vary by State. Contact your State s board of nursing for details.

Employment As the largest healthcare occupation, registered nurses held about 2.6 million jobs in 2008. Hospitals employed the majority of RNs, with 60 percent of such jobs. About 8 percent of jobs were in offices of physicians, 5 percent in home healthcare services, 5 percent in nursing care facilities, and 3 percent in employment services. The remainder worked mostly in government agencies, social assistance agencies, and educational services. Job Outlook Overall job opportunities for registered nurses are expected to be excellent, but may vary by employment and geographic setting. Some employers report difficulty in attracting and retaining an adequate number of RNs. Employment of RNs is expected to grow much faster than the average and, because the occupation is very large, 581,500 new jobs will result, among the largest number of new jobs for any occupation. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of job openings will result from the need to replace experienced nurses who leave the occupation. Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow by 22 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth will be driven by technological advances in patient care, which permit a greater number of health problems to be treated, and by an increasing emphasis on preventive care. In addition, the number of older people, who are much more likely than younger people to need nursing care, is projected to grow rapidly. However, employment of RNs will not grow at the same rate in every industry. The projected growth rates for RNs in the industries with the highest employment of these workers are: Industry Percent Offices of physicians 48 Home health care services 33 Nursing care facilities 25 Employment services 24 Hospitals, public and private 17

Earnings Median annual wages of registered nurses were $62,450 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $51,640 and $76,570. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $43,410, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $92,240. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of registered nurses in May 2008 were: Employment services $68,160 General medical and surgical hospitals 63,880 Offices of physicians 59,210 Home health care services 58,740 Nursing care facilities 57,060 Many employers offer flexible work schedules, child care, educational benefits, and bonuses. About 21 percent of registered nurses are union members or covered by union contract. *All Career Outlook information can be found at: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos08 Program Manager: Ms. Debi Tabor Email: tabords@appstate.edu Toll-free Phone: 800-355-4084 Local Phone: 828-262-3113 Fax: 828-265-8673