A student applying for to RN to BSN Program must meet the following admissions criteria:

1. Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) or diploma in nursing for a regionally accredited institution.
2. A current, unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse from the state in which the student resides.
3. Minimum GPA of 2.0 and a “C” or better in all transfer credits.
4. Must pass a criminal background check.
5. “C” or better in all required nursing pre-requisites.

The RN to BSN Program is designed for registered nurses with an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing. The program will prepare the undergraduate nurse to engage in efforts that will drive quality health care by collaborating and engaging with diverse communities and promoting the advancement of the nursing profession by exemplifying altruistic leadership. The degree will emphasize articulation and implementation of professional baccalaureate nursing practice focusing on population health, nursing leadership, informatics, health policy and evidence-based research. The program will provide a holistic structure for professional nursing practice that will serve as the foundation towards further degree advancement in nursing and/or the healthcare field.

The RN to BSN Program was developed by the following professional standards:

1. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice.
2. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) Core Competencies for Health Professionals from Health Professions Education: A Bridge to Quality.
3. The Quality and Safety Education for Nursing (QSEN) Quality and Safety in Nursing: A Competency Approach to Improving Outcomes.
4. The National League for Nursing (NLN) Outcomes and Competencies for Graduates of Baccalaureate Programs in Nursing.

Program Goals

1. Prepare students for professional nursing practice that is focused on leading and improving the health and well-being of those served (individual, family, community or population) through the use of: 1) evidence-based research, 2) patient centered care approaches and 3) Innovation.
2. The RN to BSN program will provide a holistic structure for professional nursing practice that will serve as the foundation towards further degree advancement.

End of Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

1. Apply theories and concepts from the liberal arts, humanities and sciences as the foundation for professional nursing practice.
2. Demonstrate knowledge and utilization of quality improvement and safety management concepts to provide competent professional nursing care.
3. Translate credible nursing research into evidence-based nursing practice.
4. Manage information technology in the delivery of providing enhanced innovative quality patient care in various healthcare settings.
5. Integrate knowledge of healthcare policy, financial concepts and regulatory requirements that influence the delivery of healthcare.
6. Facilitate effective communication and collaboration to improve health outcomes and minimize risks to improve practice.
7. Apply and analyze principles of prevention and health promotion at both the individual and population level, across the lifespan.
8. Demonstrate professional values, ethics, morals and legal conduct, as well as, accountability for personal and professional behavior.
9. Demonstrate a spirit of inquiry and scholarship that supports professional growth and lifelong learning in a profession with diverse evolving societal needs.

Grading

A student must achieve a minimum final course grade of 77% for successful completion of all major coursework. Grades will be rounded from the tenth only.

RN to BSN Progression:

1. The minimum grade of a C+/ 77%/GPA of 2.3 is required for all nursing courses.
2. Maintain an overall GPA of 2.0.
3. A student is allowed to repeat a max of three different nursing courses one time due to failure. Failure of the repeat course or a fourth nursing course will result in dismissal from the program.
4. All nursing courses must be taken at NCWU.

Academic Performance Counseling

The student, faculty, or Director of the RN to BSN program may initiate a counseling conference when a student is in jeopardy of not meeting course objectives. The purpose of a counseling conference is to provide an opportunity for the student, instructor, or Dean to discuss areas of concern.

Conflict Resolution

If a student encounters any concerns or conflict in a nursing major course or clinical practice experience, the student must first notify the faculty member involved in the major course or clinical practice experience. If the concern or conflict is left unresolved, the student should follow the hierarchical chain below:

1. Course Faculty
2. Advisor
3. Director of the RN to BSN Program
4. Associate Dean of Adult Professional Studies
5. Vice President of Academic Affairs/Provost

Students are expected to consult a faculty member when encountering ethical questions or concerns in practice.

Clinical Practice Experience (CPE) Requirements

The RN to BSN Program at North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is currently seeking national accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), which endorses programs of nursing for high standards in quality and integrity.

For each degree level of nursing the CCNE requires “Clinical Practice Experiences” that allow the student to integrate new knowledge and skills into nursing practice.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2012) defines nursing and the achievement of baccalaureate standards as follows:

“Nursing is a practice discipline that includes both direct and indirect care activities that impact health outcomes. Baccalaureate programs provide opportunities for practice experiences designed to assist graduates to achieve The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice. All baccalaureate programs, including RN to BSN programs, must provide practice experiences for students to bridge to baccalaureate level professional nursing practice” (AACN, 2012).

The Clinical Practice Experiences are guided by the course faculty through application-based learning assignments/virtual simulation/quality and/or community projects.

Examples of Clinical Practice Experiences: Expectations per the RN to Baccalaureate Curriculum White Paper (AACN) - https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/News/WhitePapers/RN-BSN-Expectations-White-Paper.pdf.

The evaluation method for the clinical practice experiences utilizes rubrics and evaluation forms via Typhon. The planned clinical practice experiences are evaluated based upon written assignments from the student and evaluations by the student’s audience, when applicable.

NOTE: It is the student’s responsibility to meet the requirements set for by any agencies the student may be completing a clinical practice experience, including but not limited to immunizations, tuberculin skin testing, criminal background check and drug screening.

Typhon

Students are required to purchase a Typhon account. Typhon is the software the students will be utilizing to address social problems, collaboration, patient education and program learning outcomes with each Clinical Practice Experience Assignments, as noted on the syllabi. The evaluation method for the courses will be conducted via Typhon (Course Evaluations). Typhon will also contribute to the development of the students Professional Portfolio throughout the entire program to include the clinical practice experiences designated on each course syllabi.

Faculty

In NUR 330 , NUR 335 , NUR 345 , NUR 350 , NUR 400  and NUR 410  faculty are responsible for supervising/guiding the clinical practice experience application-based learning assignments with the student and setting (when appropriate) to ensure the student is meeting the course learning objectives, as well as, helping students identify an appropriate Capstone Project to demonstrate application of new knowledge and skills into practice areas of research, leadership and population health.

Field Extender

Students identify a Field Extender whom may be in the practice setting to serve as an additional resource by facilitating and supporting the student during NUR 400  and NUR 410  as the student develops their Clinical Practice Project in collaboration with the cource Faculty.