Undergraduate Catalog 2012-13

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Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program

This is a traditional four year program designed for those who do not have a bachelor’s degree and are not yet registered nurses. Others who might consider this option are those with a bachelor’s degree who want to move at a slower pace than the accelerated BSN and licensed practical nurses who want to become registered nurses. The BSN curriculum is based on concepts and theories of nursing, liberal arts, and the sciences. The nursing process is incorporated throughout the curriculum. Carefully planned laboratory experiences, such as simulation and clinical experiences are an integral part of the program of study, beginning in the first semester and continuing throughout. Hospitals and healthcare agencies in northern Kentucky, Greater Cincinnati, and southern Indiana serve as clinical practice settings during day and evening hours. Members of the faculty continue to practice in healthcare settings and participate in research and other scholarly endeavors.

Graduates of the BSN program are prepared to function as providers of care, managers of care, and members of the discipline of nursing. They use critical thinking, communication, and technical skills in providing care to individuals and families. Knowledge is specific and factual and can be applied directly to practice. The practice of BSN graduates occurs in a variety of hospital, clinic, and community settings.

Graduates of the BSN program are awarded the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing and are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses and to continue their nursing education at the master's and doctoral levels.

Pre-major requirements: Students may declare pre-nursing (XNRS) as their major if they meet the following criteria: minimum ACT composite score of 20 or higher and no academic deficiencies. Transfer students with more than 24 credit hours must have a minimum GPA of 2.50. Transfer students with fewer than 24 earned credit hours must have a minimum GPA of 2.50, a minimum ACT composite score of 20 or higher and no academic deficiencies. Current NKU students seeking to change their major to pre-nursing must have a minimum GPA of 2.50 and must schedule an appointment with an academic advisor by calling 859-572-5895. Students majoring in pre-nursing will be advised by an academic advisor to develop an educational plan for nursing admission and progression. Students are allowed to maintain their pre-nursing status for only three semesters before applying to the BSN program. If students do not meet the criteria for acceptance into the baccalaureate nursing program after three semesters, they will be encouraged to select another major to facilitate their timely graduation from NKU. Pre-nursing students may enroll in courses that fulfill the prerequisite classes to apply to nursing and the support courses to progress into the nursing baccalaureate program, plus general education courses required for the bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Admission requirements: Students who apply by January 15 are applying to begin nursing courses the following fall semester. Students who apply by August 15 are applying to begin nursing courses the following spring semester.

To be considered for the selective admission to the BSN program all applicants must:

• Be admitted to NKU as a degree-seeking student with no academic deficiencies.
• Submit a separate application to the nursing program. The application is available in the nursing office in Albright Health Center 303 or online (http://healthprofessions.nku.edu). Mail or fax the completed application to the Department of Nursing. This application is in addition to the university application.
• Have a minimum grade of C or higher in “BIO 208/208L: Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Laboratory.”
• Have a minimum grade of C or higher in “PSY 100: Introduction to Psychology.”
• Be eligible to take “CHE 115/115L: Physiological Chemistry with Laboratory.”
• Be eligible to take “STA 205: Introduction to Statistical Methods” or “STA 212: Statistics for Business Applications I.”
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00-point scale or 3.00 on a 4.00 scale on all previous college work for the last 60 semester credit hours, whichever is higher. GPAs for admission to the BSN program will be calculated using NKU and transfer coursework.
• Have no more than one semester of science course failures in the required science courses for the program in the last 4 years (C-, D, and F are considered failures) prior to entry into the program. This requirement applies to BIO 120/120L, BIO 121/121L, BIO 126, BIO 202/202L, BIO 208/208L, BIO 209/209L, CHE 102, CHE 115/CHE 115L, CHE 120/120L, CHE 121/121L or equivalent transfer courses.
• Earn grades in nursing support courses of C or higher. Support courses include PSY 100, PSY 220, STA 205 or STA 212, INF 355, BIO 202/202L, BIO 126, BIO 208/208L, BIO 209/209L, CHE 115/115L or CHE 120/120L and CHE 121/121L. Grades of C- are not accepted for prerequisites, co-requisites or nursing classes.
• Complete science courses required for admission to nursing within the 8 years immediately prior to the date of beginning the program.

Additionally:

• The ACT is required for those transfer applicants with fewer than 24 semester hours from an accredited institution.
• All applicants transferring from a non-accredited institution are required to take the ACT.
• Applicants whose native language is other than English must demonstrate an established level of English proficiency by taking the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT). See special admission requirements for details.
• If a student is accepted into the nursing program, he or she must have the following coursework completed with a grade of C or higher before beginning nursing classes: “BIO 209/209L: Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Laboratory”; “PSY 220: Lifespan Development”; “BIO 126: Human Nutrition”; “CHE 115/115L: Physiological Chemistry”; and either “STA 205: Introduction to Statistical Methods” or “STA 212: Statistics for Business Applications I.” A personal interview may be requested by the nursing admission/readmission committee.
• All accepted students must pass a criminal background check before starting nursing classes.

Acceptance into the nursing program is provisional pending successful completion of the criminal background check, TOEFL test, if applicable, as well as completion of the above-listed courses.

Licensed practical nurses are eligible to apply to the BSN program if they have graduated from a practical nursing program and passed the NCLEX-PN within the last 4 years or are actively employed as an LPN. If LPNs are accepted into the BSN program, they must take an independent-study class with a nursing faculty member during their first semester in the nursing program. Credit for "NRS 210L: Development of Clinical Nursing Skills," "NRS 215: Fundamental Concepts of Professional Nursing Practicum," and "NRS 215P: Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practicum" will be considered. LPNs are encouraged to make an appointment with an academic advisor prior to applying to the BSN program.

Admitted students must:

• Submit proof of “CPR for Health Providers” certification in effect for the upcoming academic year.
• Submit immunization records and completed health forms (all records must be submitted together) before the posted deadline.
• Purchase professional liability insurance, which is paid concurrently with their tuition.
• Submit proof of health insurance coverage or sign a health insurance waiver.
• Provide own transportation to clinical agencies.
• Maintain the minimum GPA required for progression (see BSN student handbook on Blackboard).
• Purchase appropriate uniforms prior to the first day of clinical.

NKU College of Health Professions policies:

• Student criminal background check: Healthcare agencies are charged with providing care and protecting the safety of vulnerable populations including children and the aged. Agencies used for clinical placement require students to undergo criminal background checks and may deny clinical access to those convicted of felonies and certain misdemeanors. Conviction of these offenses may result in a student’s denial of admission to, or dismissal from, the College of Health Professions. Applicants are required to submit to criminal background checks as identified by the College of Health Professions as part of the application process. The cost of this and any subsequent screening will be borne by the student. The student is responsible for notifying the College of Health Professions of any change in the status of this record after starting the program. Note that successful completion of a criminal background check does not ensure eligibility for certification, licensure, or future employment.
• Transfer students: Students previously enrolled in another NLNAC-accredited program in nursing may be eligible to transfer into the nursing program at NKU. In addition to admission requirements, the following apply to all transfer students:
  • Transfer students are considered on a space-available basis. Eligibility is determined by the nursing Admissions, Progression, Graduation Committee (APG). Students with more than one nursing semester failure are not eligible to apply.
  • The following must be submitted: a letter from the director of the previous program attended explaining the reasons for withdrawal; official transcripts of all college work attempted; and syllabi of all nursing courses taken. An interview may be requested by the APG committee. Students requesting advanced placement in the nursing program may be required to pass a simulated clinical performance and dosage computation examination. In addition, a written theory examination may be required.
  • The last 30 semester hours of the major must be completed at NKU.
  • Students transferring to NKU after failing a nursing class at another nursing school will be dismissed from NKU's BSN program if they fail a nursing class at NKU (C or below).
• Progression:
  • Students may take the general education support courses required prior to admission to the program. However, students must be admitted to the bachelor’s degree nursing program in order to take courses in nursing.
  • To continue in the nursing program, students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.70 and achieve a grade of C or higher in all required nursing and support courses. Students who began the BSN program prior to the spring of 2011 must maintain the minimum GPA in effect at the time of their entry.
  • Students withdrawing from the nursing program for any reason are requested to have an exit interview with the program director or faculty advisor.
  • Per the Northern Kentucky University Bachelor’s Degree Nursing Program policy, students may repeat only one semester in which one or more nursing courses were failed. Students who have a second semester with a failing grade in nursing are dismissed from the BSN program and are ineligible for readmission. A failure is considered a C- or below.
  • If a didactic course has a clinical co-requisite course, both must be repeated concurrently.
  • Transfer students who are admitted and either incurred a nursing failure in their prior nursing program or were dismissed from their prior program due to academic nursing failure are ineligible to repeat ANY failed nursing course and will be dismissed.
  • Critical skills: Students are required to show ability to perform certain basic nursing skills during each semester. Failure to demonstrate continued ability to perform these skills will provide a basis for failure of the clinical component.
  • Students must concurrently take and pass nursing courses that are co-requisites.
• Evolve ® Curriculum Support: All students will participate in the Evolve® Curriculum Support Program. This is a commercial program that provides additional resources for student learning. It is composed of case studies, practice tests/quizzes, and standardized testing. Completion of these will be dictated by course syllabi, and standardized test scores will contribute to final course grades in select nursing courses. A minimum score of 900 is required on the HESI RN-EXIT exam in order to graduate from the traditional BSN and BSN 2nd degree programs. A fee attached to selected courses (currently $100 per semester) will be assessed for this service.
• Academic leave: If a student identifies that there are situational or personal factors that may preclude his or her academic success, he or she may request an Academic Leave from the BSN program for a single semester. If approved, the student will be eligible to return to his or her current placement in the curriculum and will not be required to apply for readmission to the BSN program. The policy and procedures for an Academic Leave request are outlined in the BSN student handbook, which is available on Blackboard. The student may apply for more than one academic leave; however, the leaves may not be back to back, and the student must complete the BSN program within 8 semesters.
• Readmission: Applications for readmission to the nursing program will be considered on an individual and space available basis. Students must submit an application for readmission to the Admission, Progression, and Graduation committee. A letter supporting the request for readmission must be attached to the application. This letter should outline strategies for success in the program. Students applying for readmission may be required to have an interview with the program director or faculty advisor. To be considered for readmission, the student must have at least the minimum GPA that was stipulated for progression at the time of his or her initial admission to the BSN program. The faculty member may state that written, specific conditions must be met by the student when recommended for readmission. A student who did not successfully complete the first semester of the nursing program must apply as a new student and meet all requirements listed under “Admission Requirements.” (See BSN student handbook.) Students readmitted to the program are subject to the requirements of the catalog in effect for all nursing courses at the time of re-entry. Students who have been dismissed from the nursing program are not eligible for readmission.

Student advising: Upon admission to the nursing program, students are assigned to a faculty academic advisor and are required to meet with this advisor at least once each semester. Students are encouraged to maintain regular contact with their advisor so that progress and performance can be discussed and counsel provided as necessary.

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.

Degree Requirements: Traditional BSN for students admitted fall 2010 and later

Traditional BSN for students admitted prior to fall 2010

Students admitted prior to fall 2010 should refer to the catalog for the year in which they were admitted and to the current BSN student handbook. Required courses for students admitted prior to fall 2010 are listed below.

Degree Requirements: Traditional BSN for students admitted prior to fall 2010

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