2024-2025 Academic Catalog 
    
    Nov 12, 2024  
2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Nursing, R.N. to B.S.N.


Overview and Accreditation

The BSN Program is a nationally accredited RN to BSN Program that is designed for the working registered nurse. In this program, nursing graduates can complete their BSN in three or four semesters.

All nursing classes and support courses are offered online. Some courses require learning experiences that may be completed in the student’s home county.  Completion of the BSN degree requires a total of 120 credit hours.

The baccalaureate degree in nursing program at Bluefield State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, D.C. 20001 (202) 887-6791.

Mission: The mission of the RN to BSN Program is to provide students an opportunity for quality baccalaureate nursing education that is both affordable and geographically accessible, and prepares students to meet the diverse health care needs of the community, state, and nation. The nursing faculty is committed to planning and implementing a quality baccalaureate program for registered nurses which promotes students’ intellectual, personal, ethical, and cultural development in a diverse and caring environment. The scope of professional nursing education is believed to be one that enables and empowers the student to recognize the ethical, legislative, economic, regulatory and political aspects that define the scope of professional nursing practice. The roles inherent in the status of the professional nurse include but are not limited to: provider of direct and indirect care, designer/manager/coordinator of care, member of a profession, patient/client advocate and educator, and life-long learner.

Goal: The goal of the BSN Program is to provide registered nurses with learning opportunities to acquire the knowledge base and skills to practice nursing at the professional level.

Student Outcomes

  1. Assess the health/illness status of individuals, families, important others, and communities throughout the lifespan utilizing a holistic perspective.
  2. Determine how components of diversity, equity, and inclusion impact health and health care.
  3. Apply an ethical decision-making framework incorporating the ANA Professional Code of Ethics, professional standards, and an awareness of personal values and culture in nursing practice.
  4. Utilize professional nursing management, leadership, and interprofessional educational (IPE) skills to coordinate comprehensive relationship-centered care.
  5. Utilize effective advocacy, critical thinking, clinical reasoning, communication skills, and interprofessional collaboration skills as a basis for professional nursing practice.
  6. Appraise nursing research and evidence-based nursing strategies in designing person-centered care throughout the lifespan.
  7. Apply an increased depth and breadth of knowledge in managing the health of persons and populations.

BSN Eligibility Requirements

  1. GPA of 2.5 from university courses.
  2. Meet general admission requirements of Bluefield State University.
  3. Have completed the English and Math general studies requirements.
  4. Be a graduate of a state approved nursing program.
  5. Be a graduate of an ACEN or CNEA accredited Associate Degree or Diploma Nursing Program.
  6. If not a graduate of Bluefield State University’s Associate of Science in Nursing program, official transcripts are required.
  7. Have a current, unrestricted U.S. RN license - BSN faculty will verify this online.
  8. Second Year ASN students may be accepted but enrollment is contingent upon passage of the NCLEX-RN licensure examination prior to the first day of class.
  9. Meeting minimal qualifications does not guarantee acceptance.

Application:

The application to the RN to BSN program is online (https://bluefieldstate.edu/academics/degrees/registered-nurse-22-bsn) and available year-round. Call Admissions at 304-327-4065 or 4066 with any questions.

The fall class will be accepted beginning in the spring semester of the year for which admission is sought.

*Out of state residents may qualify for “metro rate” tuition.

Program Requirements for BSN Degree


Lower Level Nursing Courses (A.S.N. Nursing)


Total Credit Hours: 40


*Students who have fewer than 40 nursing credit hours in their Associate Degree Nursing program will need to take additional electives to earn the required 120 credit hours for the BSN degree.

Basic Skills Component


Composition


Total Credit Hours: 6

Mathematics


Total Credit Hours: 3

Technology Literacy


Total Credit Hours: 3

Communication


Total Credit Hours: 3

Total Credit Hours: 15


Core Skills Component


Literature


Total Credit Hours: 3


Fine Arts/Humanities/Social Science


Required


Recommended


3rd course may be selected from


Total Credit Hours: 9


Health & Wellness


Physical Education


Total Credit Hours: 2-3


Physical & Biological Sciences


(Must include laboratory courses)

Remaining 4 credits of lecture/lab may be selected from


Biology

General Engineering Technology

Total Credit Hours: 8


Required


Elementary Statistics


Total Credit Hours: 3


Electives


Up to 12 credits as needed to reach 120 credits for graduation

12 Credits Electives 100-400 level classes


Total Credit Hours: 12


Total Credit Hours: 28


Total Credit Hours: 120


72 credit hours may be transferred from a community college. An additional 8 credit hours may be considered for transfer, evaluated on an individual basis.

Academic Plan of Study


Total Credit Hours: 11


Spring Semester - Junior Year


Total Credit Hours: 6


Fall Semester - Senior Year


Total Credit Hours: 6


Spring Semester - Senior Year


Total Credit Hours: 7


Total Credit Hours: 28


* Open enrollment course available to RNs and to qualified (GPA 3.0) current second year Bluefield State University A.S.N. students.

** Open enrollment courses available to RNs only.

 

Part-Time/Open Enrollment Option


RNs who wish to pursue the BSN degree may enroll in the 3 BSN open enrollment courses (if seats available) while awaiting full-time admission to the program. This option helps ease the transition to online learning and helps to lighten the academic load for the newly graduated RN as well as the experienced RN considering returning to school.

The 3 BSN open enrollment courses are:


  • NURS 301  - Advanced Health Assessment for Registered Nurses.  Credit Hour(s): 3*
  • NURS 303  - Complex Health Problems. Credit Hour(s): 3*
  • NURS 306  - Ethics and Issues in Professional Nursing. Credit Hour(s): 3*

 

To take these courses, students must complete the BSN application online and then email the Office of Admissions (admissions@bluefieldstate.edu) and Carol Cofer RN to BSN Program Director (ccofer@bluefieldstate.edu) that the part-time/open enrollment option is desired.

*Students must complete BSN nursing courses within 5 years of enrollment in the program.  If a course is completed as an “open-enrollment” course, that course is valid for 7 years.

Three Semester Option


The 3-semester option is available to students admitted to the RN to BSN program who are currently enrolled in the Junior Year - Fall Semester. Applications are due by November 1 and will be reviewed by the BSN faculty. Students will be notified by the conclusion of fall semester if they have been accepted.

This option is academically rigorous, requiring 20-30 hours of academic work each week, regular communication with nursing instructors, and is best suited to the mature student who can commit the time necessary to complete the demanding course work. The applicant’s academic performance in the BSN Program will be evaluated when faculty review applications. Space is limited in this track.

Academic Plan of Study - 3 semester Track


The semesters are as follows:

Total Credit Hours: 9

Junior Year - Spring Semester


Total Credit Hours: 9

Senior Year - Fall Semester


Total Credit Hours: 10

* NURS 412  is an independent, advanced practicum that requires exceptional time management and leadership skills.

Minimal Eligibility Requirements - 3 Semester Track


  1. Overall GPA 3.0 or greater.
  2. Bluefield State University overall GPA 3.0 or greater.
  3. Student’s grade in each BSN Nursing course must be a “B” or higher.  Priority will be given to students with an “A” in the BSN courses.
  4. Student must make a grade of “B” or higher on the oral presentation in NURS 300 
  5. Student must make a grade of “B” or higher on the Complex Case Study Formal Paper and pass the final exam in NURS 303 
  6. The candidate must show a mastery of APA skills as evidenced by their assignments in NURS 300   and NURS 303  . Oral and written communication skills from assignments in these 2 courses will be used to evaluate critical thinking and competency in APA, which is mandatory to succeed as a 3 Semester student.
  7. Completion of all support courses by the conclusion of the first semester in the BSN Program.*

 

*If a student has completed all the open enrollment BSN nursing courses (NURS 301  , NURS 303  , NURS 306 ), exceptions may be considered for completion of electives. All electives must be completed prior to starting the last (third) semester of the nursing program.

 

Transfer Students


Students transferring from RN to BSN nursing programs at other accredited institutions of higher education must complete a minimum of fifteen (15) credit hours of BSN nursing courses at Bluefield State University. Transfer applicants must meet the requirements for admission into Bluefield State University’s RN to BSN program. Students seeking transfer must submit official transcripts. Additionally, course descriptions and course syllabi for any nursing courses being considered for credit must be provided to the program director. Only nursing courses completed with a grade of “C” or better and completed within the last two (2) years will be considered. Transfer students will be evaluated on an individual basis. Students desiring to transfer into the RN to BSN program should contact the BSN program director.