Nursing (B.S.N.)

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The RN to BSN Program prepares the registered nurse to be a holistic practitioner who provides comforting and inclusive care for all people, rooted in scientific evidence, where the student is responsible for their intellectual development, personal growth, and well-being while cultivating a sense of purpose that inspires commitment to lifelong learning and service. Graduates of the BSN program are expected to perform according Scope and Standards for Practice (ANA, 2015); Code for Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (ANA, 2015); The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (AACN, 2008); Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN, 2007); AACN (2012) white paper, “Expectations for Practice Experiences in the RN to Baccalaureate Curriculum”; and Core Competencies in the Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Competencies.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to

demonstrate effective communication and leadership strategies with the patient and interprofessional team to ensure safe, holistic, quality care to patients, families, and across the community.
execute a culturally congruent plan of care that is patient-centered and invokes optimal health promotion and prevention behaviors across the lifespan
apply knowledge from the liberal arts curriculum to inform nursing practice.
assimilate professional code of conduct, nursing standards, and ethical principles, and to foster sound clinical judgment and decision making.
integrate research and evidence-based practices into the nursing process through the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data to promote optimal health of individuals, families, and communities.
pursue a sense of purpose that inspires a commitment to lifelong learning and meaningful work to enhance nursing practice.
nurture caring and collaborative relationships with patients and families, the healthcare team, and community that promote positive patient outcomes.

Note:

Admissions information specific to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program (B.S.N.) can be found in the Admissions to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies of the online catalog.

Admissions Criteria

Students are mandated to complete the requirements below for admission into the Nursing RN to BSN program:

Associates degree or diploma in nursing
Current, unrestricted United States RN licensure
If you are preparing to take the NCLEX, you are welcome to apply and start the program on a provisional basis. Once you successfully pass your RN licensure, you may enter the RN to BSN program
Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate study
GPA waivers are available; contact the Admissions Office
Documentation of Federal Criminal Background and Child Abuse Clearance
Current AHA or ARC Basic life support (BLS) [Adult, Child, Infant, and AED]
Health insurance & medical malpractice insurance
Transcripts are requested from previous educational experiences
Current resume or curriculum vitae

Course Requirements:

Note:

Repetition of Nursing Courses

A student may repeat a nursing course once for a satisfactory final grade (“C” or better).

A maximum of two different nursing courses may be repeated due to an unsatisfactory grade (“D” or less) or withdrawal. Students who are unable to meet this expectation may not continue in the Nursing curriculum sequence. Readmission to nursing courses in the Online RN to BSN Track will be considered on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed.

A student who demonstrates unsafe behavior (directly endangering the physiological and/or psychosocial well-being of a client) during a clinical practice experience, and on the basis of this receives an unsatisfactory final grade (less than a “C” grade), will not be permitted to repeat that course or continue in the Nursing curriculum sequence.

Clinical Site Placement

Students are placed at three clinical site locations (clinical placements) at the beginning of each subterm. Students may decline Etown placements for their own preferred site, for example, their place of work. The clinical instructor works with students to identify a qualified preceptor clinical site and thus approves the clinical location. If a qualified preceptor is unavailable, the lead course facility will place the student with an approved preceptor.

The student may view clinical placements and assigned preceptors three weeks prior to course start date. Students are given the first week of the course to complete this process. The identified preceptor agrees to spend a specific number of hours in the clinical setting with the student. The student is responsible for obtaining their own transportation to and from all clinical sites.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Elizabethtown College is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, phone 202-887-6791, fax 202-87-8476. Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted. https://www.ccneaccreditation.org.