2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Oct 08, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Nursing, RN to BSN


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Nursing, RN to BSN Degree Plan 

The RN to BSN Completion Program provides qualified registered nurses the opportunity to complete the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in nursing with two years of full-time study. Once enrolled in upper level nursing courses, a student should complete the curriculum within three (3) semesters.

The faculty recognize that a significant number of returning students elect to attend college part-time in order to maintain work and/or family responsibilities. Therefore, the program is designed to accommodate the working non-traditional part-time student. Students are encouraged to complete the prerequisites prior to enrolling in upper division nursing courses; however, admission is granted for those students completing the minimum nine hours of pre-requisite courses listed under the admission requirements.

Since the RN to BSN Completion Program courses are available online, students are able to study and participate in class discussions any time day or night, according to the student’s personal schedule.

There are associated clinical hours with two of the nine BSN courses. These clinical hours are carried out under the supervision of an approved preceptor at a facility determined by the student and course faculty. Clinical hours are scheduled by the student in conjunction with faculty and preceptor.

Nursing courses with a clinical component include a 1:1 credit hour to contact hour ratio for theory and a 1:3 credit hour to contact hour ratio for clinical learning experiences. For example, a five-hour credit nursing course consists of three-credit/three-contact hours of theory and two-credit/six-contact hours of clinical learning experiences a week. Students are required to complete an average of six-contact hours a week of clinical learning experiences over a 15-week semester, or 90 clinical hours.

General Education (27 Hours)


Click here to see the General Education Curriculum  

(Science courses are included in the major. PHIL 2403 - Introduction to Philosophy and Ethics  and PSYC 2003 - General Psychology  are required.)

Note:


++Courses with a clinical component

Total Hours - 120


Student may need additional upper-level hours to complete the required 40 junior/senior hours and 120 hours for the degree.

To earn a degree from SAU, a student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours on the SAU campus or through SAU extension classes. Of the last 30 hours taken, 24 hours must be taken on the SAU campus or through SAU extension classes. Please note that graduation from SAU with a BSN requires the student to have completed 40 junior/senior hours.

To meet admission requirements for the Department of Nursing, the applicant must:

  1. Be admitted to SAU with regular or conditional admission status and/or maintain a cumulative 2.00 GPA at SAU.
  2. Be a graduate from an accredited associate degree program or diploma program.
  3. Students are encouraged to complete all general education requirements prior to enrolling in upper division nursing courses.
  4. Students who have completed SPCH 1113 - Introduction to Public Speaking , PHIL 2403 - Introduction to Philosophy and Ethics ; and SOC 3183 - Statistics  may be allowed to enroll in the upper division nursing courses.
  5. Have transcripts evaluated by nursing faculty if transferring from another college or university. NOTE: SAU’s Department of Nursing follows the Arkansas Nursing Articulation Model for transfer credits in nursing; however, courses taken at community colleges are not counted as part of the junior/senior hours required for graduation at SAU.
  6. Possess an unencumbered state license to practice in the state in which the clinical experiences will be obtained.
  7. Have proof of Hepatitis B vaccination, TB screening, and current American Heart Association CPR certification.
  8. To comply with mandates from clinical agencies utilized by the SAU Department of Nursing, students enrolled in all nursing programs are required at the initial semester of enrollment and yearly thereafter to have criminal background checks, driving history record checks, and urine drug screens in order to remain enrolled in any nursing course. All screenings are conducted at the expense of the individual student. More information and pricing are available on the nursing website at www.saumag.edu/nursing.
  9. Realize if an injury occurs in the clinical setting, the student is responsible for all applicable cost related to the injury. Students are strongly encouraged to obtain health insurance. Information concerning health insurance available for SAU students may be accessed at the following website: www.saumag.edu.
  10. Submit a completed Department of Nursing application according to the deadlines posted on the nursing website.
  11. Application forms may be obtained from the Nursing Department or from our website www.saumag.edu/nursing.
  12. Mail application and a copy of all unofficial transcripts to:

    Southern Arkansas University
    Department of Nursing
    Attention: RN-BSN Program Application
    100 E. University
    MSC 9406
    Magnolia, AR 71753
    Or deliver to Wharton Nursing Building, room 201A.

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