Nursing, BS

Purpose

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BS NURS) is a rigorous online RN-to-BSN degree completion program for Registered Nurses (RNs). Applicants should carefully consider if an online program best meets their learning style. Enrollment is limited based on the number of available seats each semester.

The RN-to-BSN Program provides a career ladder from the AS Nursing degree to the BS Nursing degree for RNs who have earned an associate in nursing degree or a diploma in a nursing program that allows graduates to qualify for a RN license. Coursework will continue to build upon the registered nursing curriculum foundation. The program offers a diverse population of students with innovative educational experiences and opportunities to meet the health care needs of the communities they serve. Through the educational process, the student will be able to internalize the values, traditions, and obligations of the professional nurse and gain a greater professional perspective and increased critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

The RN-to-BSN Program prepares graduates for career promotions and advancement in nursing to include positions in academia, community health, management, and leadership. It also provides a foundation for advancement to graduate level education programs. Current occupational employment and wage data for Registered Nurses is published by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm

 

Accreditation

The Associate and Baccalaureate of Science degree nursing programs at Florida SouthWestern State College at the Charlotte, Collier, and Lee campuses located in Punta Gorda, Naples, and Fort Myers, Florida are accredited by the:

 

 

 

 

 

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN)

3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400

Atlanta, Georgia 30326

Telephone: 404-975-5000

http://acenursing.org/

*The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Baccalaureate nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

 

Program Structure

The program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting of 120 credit hours in the following areas: 36 credit hours of General Education Requirements, Additional Lower Division Requirements; 30 credit hours of Upper Division Program Requirements, and Additional Program Requirements.

The RN-to-BSN Program includes courses in professional issues, informatics, pathophysiology, pharmacology, research, advanced health assessment, multicultural nursing, community health, and leadership. Courses are taken online to accommodate various schedules. Students must complete all General Education Requirements prior to enrolling in NUR 4827C Leadership in Nursing Practice in the last semester of the RN-to-BSN Program.

Admission Requirements

1. Applicants must possess a Registered Nurse License - Must have a valid, active, unrestricted, and unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license, permitting work in Florida. Note: the license must remain current throughout enrollment in the RN-to-BSN Program.
2. Applicants must complete the Bachelor’s Degree admissions application online, pay the $30.00 application fee, and be accepted to Florida SouthWestern State College.  Applicants must also pay the $25.00 Nursing application evaluation fee.  Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or university must be sent directly to the Office of the Registrar.
3. Applicants must have minimum of 60 transferrable credit hours from any regionally or nationally accredited college or university, as defined by State Board of Education rule.
4. Applicants must have completed a minimum of five (5) of the following Additional Lower Division Requirements.  The additional two (2) courses must be completed by the end of the second semester in the program:

• PSY 2012 - Introduction to Psychology  3 credits

OR

SYG 1000 - Principles of Sociology  3 credits

• DEP 2004 - Lifespan Development  3 credits
• HUN 1201 - Human Nutrition  3 credits
• STA 2023 - Statistical Methods I  3 credits
• MCB 2010C - Microbiology  4 credits
• BSC 1085C - Anatomy and Physiology I ​ 4 credits

OR

BSC 1093C - Anatomy and Physiology I  4 credits

• BSC 1086C - Anatomy and Physiology II ​ 4 credits

OR

BSC 1094C - Anatomy and Physiology II  4 credits

5. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale in all college-level coursework.

Academic Standards

The academic standards in the RN-to-BSN Program are very rigorous and require full commitment.

1. A student who attempts and/or fails a nursing course will be permitted to re-take that nursing course only once on a space-available basis.
2. An ‘attempt’ is defined as a course registration in effect at the end of the add/drop period.
3. Attempting with failure or withdrawal in any second nursing course may result in dismissal from the program.
4. A student who is removed from the program due to failures or withdrawals must petition to the Program Director and faculty for consideration of readmission.

Graduation Requirements

1. Students must fulfill all specific degree requirements of their program to be eligible for graduation.
2. Students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 120 credit hours as outlined in the Nursing, BS program of study.
3. To satisfy residency requirements, a minimum of 15 credit hours of Upper Division Program Requirements and a minimum of 30 total credit hours must be completed at Florida SouthWestern State College.
4. Students must earn a minimum cumulative grade point average in the program of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
5. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all Upper Division (3000 or 4000 level) Program Requirements and all Additional Program Requirements.
6. Students must complete the State of Florida General Education Core Requirements, including any assessment of General Education outcomes required by the College. Transfer courses will be reviewed for equivalency.  Students who transfer to Florida SouthWestern State College with an Associate in Arts degree from a Florida College or a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution are considered to have met the General Education component of the degree.
7. Students must complete the State Civic Literacy Competency Requirement which is met by achieving a passing score on the Florida Civic Literacy Exam and by successfully passing a civic literacy course.
8. Students must successfully complete 12 semester hours of coursework demonstrating college-level writing skills with a grade of “C” or better in order to meet the Writing Intensive Requirement.  Six (6) credit hours must be taken in English Composition and six (6) credit hours must be taken in additional coursework that demonstrates college-level writing skills.
9. Students must satisfy the State Foreign Language Competency Requirement which is met by completing one of the following:

• 2 years of the same High School Foreign Language, or
• Documented foreign language proficiency through testing (for example, CLEP), or
• 2 semesters of the same College Level Foreign Language (Level II proficiency).

Note: Students who wish to participate in the Commencement Ceremony must indicate their intention to attend the Commencement Ceremony by completing the Commencement Application by the published deadline.

Course Prerequisites

Many courses require prerequisites. Check the description of each course in the list below for prerequisites, minimum grade requirements, and other restrictions. Students must complete all prerequisites for a course prior to registering for it.