Nursing, BSN

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is a RN to BSN degree completion program for registered nurses. The program provides a Career Ladder from the AS degree to the BS degree for registered nurses who have earned a diploma or Associate of Science Degree in Nursing. Coursework in  the program 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 community 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. Current occupational employment and wages 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

Program Highlights:

The RN to BSN in Nursing Program includes courses in professional issues, informatics, research, legal and ethical aspects of health care, advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, clinical decision-making, leadership, and community health. Courses are taken online to accommodate various schedules. Students may choose a full-time course load (12 or more hours) or a part-time course load (less than 12 hours). In the community health and leadership courses, students will have practical experiences that will prepare them with applying theoretical knowledge in the workplace.

Accreditation:

The Florida SouthWestern State College RN to BSN Program is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Telephone: 404-975-5000
http://acenursing.org/

Career Opportunities:

The RN to BSN program prepares registered nurses 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.

Special Notices:

For practicum experiences outside of our five county service area, it is the responsibility of the student to collaborate with program faculty to secure an appropriate clinical agency.

Please note that it may be necessary to complete the practicum experience in the Fort Myers area if a clinical agreement cannot be secured with the student’s preferred host agency. Due to the current regulations governing online learning, the RN-BSN program is not able to admit out- of-state students.

Admission Requirements:

1. Complete all general education, common prerequisites (electives), core courses, and the foreign language competency requirement before applying to the program.
2. After fulfilling the requirements in number one above, complete an online College admissions application.  Applications which have not satisfied the requirements in number one will not be considered.
3. Request all official transcripts from previously attended colleges or universities to be sent to the Office of the Registrar.  Note that a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale in all college level coursework is required for admission.
4. Submit a copy of a valid, active, unencumbered RN license from the state in which the applicant is practicing.  Note that the license must remain current throughout a student’s enrollment in the RN to BSN program.
5. Applicants must have earned an Associate Degree in Nursing from an institution regionally accredited by a U.S. Department of Education agency and from a Nursing Program that is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (formerly NLNAC). Graduate of diploma nursing programs, accredited by ACEN, will also be considered for admission.
6. Prior to enrolling in practicum courses, students must satisfactorily complete a college- approved criminal records check and drug test.  This expense is the student’s responsibility. Failure to complete this requirement will result in a hold on student registration.  Students must comply with the Florida Board of Nursing requirements for reporting criminal violations to both the Board of Nursing and the RN to BSN program as specified in the Florida Code and Regulations.

BSN Program Applicants with Associate or Baccalaureate Degrees:

Students who transfer to Florida SouthWestern State College with a previous associate of arts degree from a Florida college or baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university are considered to have met the General Education Core and Elective coursework (60 credit hours) of the degree.

Transient Student Enrollment in Upper Division Coursework:

Transient students must obtain prior approval to enroll in Upper Division Nursing Core coursework. Transient students are currently enrolled college students who register for courses at another institution on a temporary basis (e.g., university students attending summer semester at a state college). In order to take courses at another institution, students must receive approval from their home institution. The application will initiate your request and be routed to the appropriate personnel. Students initiate this process using Florida Virtual Campus at www.floridashines.org/.

Priority Application Deadlines:

Fall Semester Start - Application due by August 1
Spring Semester Start - Application due by December 1
Summer Semester Start - Application due by April 1

Graduation Requirements:

1. Complete 120 credit hours as outlined in the Nursing RN to BSN Program of Study.
2. Satisfy residency requirements by completing a minimum of 30 credit hours of Upper Division Nursing Core coursework at Florida SouthWestern State College.
3. Earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
4. Earn a grade of “C” or better in all RN to BSN courses.
5. Complete a Graduation Application by the published deadline.

Foreign Language Competency Requirement:

Foreign Language Competency:

• 2 years of the same High School Foreign Language, or
• Documented foreign language proficiency through testing (for example, CLEP)
• 2 semesters of the same College Level Foreign Language (level II proficiency), or
• Level II proficiency - this criterion occurs when a student has completed the second course of a sequence of college foreign language without completing the first course.  For example, if a student has successfully completed a college-level Spanish II but not Spanish I, then the student has met the Foreign Language Competency requirement.