RN to BSN Application and 2016 RN to BSN Degree Completion Program Program start: Summer 2016 Application Period: October 31, 2014 March 31, 2015 University of Great Falls Admissions Office RN to BSN Admissions Processing 1301 20th Street South Great Falls, MT 59405 www.ugf.edu/greatnurses UGF Admissions Office: (406) 791-5202 UGF Admissions Fax: (406) 791-5209 Admissions Office Email: rn2bsn@ugf.edu
Contents University of Great Falls RN to BSN Degree Completion Program Program Information. 3 Application Requirements.. 4 Application Steps.. 5-6 2
Program Information Accreditation The University of Great Falls (UGF) RN to BSN Nursing Program has received a five-year, full accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for its baccalaureate degree program. The Board of Commissioners of CCNE determined that the baccalaureate program at UGF meets all four accreditation standards with no compliance concerns. Those four standards are 1) program quality: mission and governance, 2) program quality: institutional commitment and resources, 3) program quality: curriculum and teaching-learning practices and 4) program effectiveness: assessment & achievement of program outcomes. CCNE is an autonomous accrediting agency contributing to the improvement of the public s health and serving public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices. Accreditation is a voluntary process and a reaffirmation of the quality and integrity of the programs evaluated. Academic Information The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree completion program is a selective program offered to licensed, practicing Registered Nurses in the Providence Health & Services System (and Affiliates). The program is a unique five semester program: - Includes a two-week session at the UGF Campus in Great Falls, Montana, for the first summer of the program. - Additional semesters are taught via distance learning using your own personal laptop and Microsoft Lync. - This program uses a cohort model, allowing the students to move through each class with the same group of students each semester. Employees of Providence Health & Services (and Affiliates) may be eligible to receive scholarship support through Providence. Additional information about the program can be found at www.ugf.edu/greatnurses. 3
Admission Requirements The University of Great Falls RN to BSN Degree Completion Program is a highly competitive program offered to licensed, practicing Registered Nurses in the Providence Health & Services System. The follow items must be met to be eligible for the program: Graduate of an Associate Degree program in Nursing (or diploma program) Active and unencumbered RN license Employed for 2 years of continuous full-time experience as a Registered Nurse (RN) at a Providence ministry (or Providence affiliate). LPN or CNA experience is ineligible. At time of application, RN must be in a benefited position and working either part-time or full-time (minimum 0.6 FTE = 24 hours/week or greater). Per diem employees are not eligible to apply for this program. RN must have already worked full-time for 2 consecutive years before moving to part-time. RN is in good standing (you are currently not on an action or performance plan nor have been on an action plan for the previous 12 months). o Providence/affiliate hire date on or before October 31, 2012 RN is currently not on a medical leave. Employees must Submit all required documents as per application instructions by March 31, 2015 o Application documents include the online application with a typed written essay, recommendation forms, and official school transcripts o Current Application Instructions and Deadlines can be found at www.ugf.edu/greatnurses *Note: Additional information regarding your readiness for the program can be found on the Readiness Profile located at www.ugf.edu/greatnurses This is a competitive program, not all candidates that meet eligibility requirements will be accepted. The University will review and rank each applicant based on a number of criteria. Although there are many criteria to judge an application, three important criteria include: A Personal Essay answering the question: How will this RN-BSN program benefit you as a professional nurse, benefit Providence and benefit the profession? Completion of program pre-requisite coursework with a C grade or better before the summer session 2016 start date: o Program pre-requisites: Anatomy & Physiology (4 credits), Microbiology (3 credits), and Nutrition (3 credits) 4
For the 2017 applicants, the pre-requisite courses must be completed at time of application. For the applicants applying for 2016, you need to be working towards completing the Core University Requirements, including the upper division English course. o For the 2017 applicants, you must have completed the upper division English course and be at 7 or less Core University credits at time of application. *Note: information regarding completion of program pre-requisite and core coursework can be found on the Self-Evaluation Worksheet. Application Steps All materials must be submitted between 10/31/2014 3/31/2015 Late applications will not be accepted. If you have previously submitted official transcripts to the University, these will remain on file and do not need to be resubmitted. The exception to this is if you have completed additional coursework since your official transcripts were originally mailed to UGF). 1. Submit the application for admission and nursing supplement (including personal essay) a. List your Program as Nursing (PH&S) b. List Term of Enrollment as Summer 2016 c. Application is for: Select UGF Main Campus d. Complete all questions on the Nursing Supplement, including the essay question. e. There is a Personal Statement in the regular application and an Essay section of the Nursing Supplement Form, please list the same essay in each section. Your essay should answer the question: How will this RN-BSN program benefit you as a professional nurse, benefit Providence and benefit the profession? The essay should not exceed one page, double-spaced. Please remember: this is a competitive program and your essay will be read and ranked against all other essays. Please ensure it is complete and clearly articulates why you are choosing this program. i. If you are applying to the RN to BSN Degree Completion Program and have previously applied to UGF using the online application, you will need to create a new Application Account. Click here to be taken to the online application. ii. If you have issues submitting an online application, please contact the Admissions Office for a Downloaded Printable Paper Admission Application. 5
2. Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended. Official transcripts must arrive at UGF Admissions Office in a sealed envelope by or before March 31, 2015. i. If you have previously submitted official transcripts to UGF, the transcripts will not need to be resubmitted unless additional coursework has been completed. ii. If you have completed additional coursework, a new official transcript MUST be submitted. iii. Transcripts can arrive prior to the application period. These will be held until your application is received. Applications Steps, continued 3. Ask your Nurse Manager to complete the on-line 2016 Recommendation form. These forms will not be accepted if completed by the student. a. To access the on-line recommendation form, click here. b. Recommendation forms need to be completed by March 31, 2015. c. Recommendation forms completed by a charge nurse will not be accepted. d. Previously submitted letters of recommendation will NOT be accepted. 4. Ask a Nursing Director or Physician (not a friend or family member) to complete the 2016 Recommendation Form. These forms will not be accepted if completed by the student. a. To access the on-line recommendation form, click here. b. Recommendation forms need to be completed by March 31, 2015. c. Previously submitted letters of recommendation will NOT be accepted. Applicants can expect to receive notification of their selection to the program by August 1, 2015. E-mail updates regarding the admission process will be sent to students in the interim from the end of the application close dates through the selection process. 6