Bachelor Of Science In Nursing (B.S.N.)

The School of Nursing offers two (2) path options to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.): a pre-licensure option for students who do not hold a nursing license and an option for registered nurses. The B.S.N. program prepares students for careers as professional nurses caring for patients in hospitals and in community agencies such as public health services, schools, homes, and industries. In addition to providing comprehensive, efficient, and appropriate care service to individuals, families, groups, and communities, the program provides a basis for the nurses’ role as advocate, innovator, and collaborative leader. The program also provides a foundation for graduate study in nursing.

Pre-licensure Option

The pre-licensure option is a traditional four-year plan of study that prepares the student to write the licensure examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN®) and subsequently enter the workforce as a professional registered nurse. The B.S.N. pre-licensure option requires 122 semester hours of study and, is intended for students beginning their education in nursing. The B.S.N. pre-licensure curriculum is organized in a sequential, simple-to-complex approach designed to facilitate an understanding of the key principles, concepts and processes critical to safe, effective practice and successful matriculation. Therefore, students are required to complete the course work as outlined in the plan of study. The B.S.N. pre-licensure plan of study provides a semester-by-semester conceptualization of the required coursework involved.

Students interested in applying for admission to the B.S.N. program may fulfill the degree requirements for the entire program at Kentucky State University through course offerings in the various Colleges. A student may also transfer courses from an institution that offers comparable prerequisite or non-major courses that are approved by Kentucky State University and the School of Nursing.

All students must satisfactorily complete the minimum semester credit hours delineated in the B.S.N. pre-licensure plan of study, as well as any other requirements established by the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, to qualify for degree candidacy. Students must also meet established School of Nursing grade requirements in all major courses for academic progression in the program. Information on admission, retention, progression, dismissal, or readmission can be found in the B.S.N. Student Handbook on the School of Nursing website. The School of Nursing is responsible for all components of the B.S.N. program pre-licensure option, including but not limited to, the selection, supervision, and evaluation of nursing students, and the curriculum. As such, The School of Nursing reserves the right to modify any academic provisions or academic requirements when such action will serve the interest of the client/patient, the nursing program, or its students.

Academic Advising

Kentucky State University students who have declared an interest in the B.S.N. program and transfer students who are offered admission into the B.S.N. program shall be assigned a nursing faculty advisor who will assist with course and career planning. Mandatory advising is required each academic year as outlined in the B.S.N. Student Handbook.

Applicants with Foreign Education

Applicants to the B.S.N. program pre-licensure option whose first language is not English must score at least 550 (paper) or 80 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Registered nurses educated outside of the United States are required to present verification of having passed the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) examination. In addition, liberal arts and general studies credits earned at institutions of higher learning outside of the U.S. must be evaluated by the World Education Service (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), or International Academic Credential Evaluators (IACEI) for determination of transferability prior to submitting an application for admission to the B.S.N. program.

Admissions

Applicants to the B.S.N. programs whose first language is not English must score at least 550 (paper) or 80 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Registered nurses educated outside the United States are required to present verification of having passed the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) examination. Liberal-general studies credits earned at institutions of higher learning outside of the U.S. must be evaluated to determine transferability prior to submitting an application for admission to the RN-BSN program

Admission Requirements

Minimally, the following criteria must be met for pre-licensure (B.S.N.) admissions consideration:

• Admission to Kentucky State University.
• Official transcripts from all schools attended.
• Overall GPA of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale for all college coursework attempted including a GPA of at least 2.8 and a grade of C or better for all required pre-professional courses.
• Official report of Assessment Technologies Institute Test of Essentials Academic Skills (ATI TEAS).
• Letter of academic standing on official letterhead from any nursing program in which a student was previously enrolled.
• Personal essay.
• Completed School of Nursing application.

Applications to the School of Nursing are processed through NursingCAS, the centralized application service for nursing. Students are admitted in the fall only for the pre-licensure option. The application deadline for fall admission consideration is May 1st. All application materials must be received before the deadline established for the year the student desires to enter the B.S.N. prelicensure option. Applications are not transferrable from year to year. Applicants must reapply annually, by the submission deadline, for fall admission consideration. Visit www.nursingcas.org to start your application or log into an existing account.

Competitive Selection

A student must earn competitive admission to the School of Nursing once prerequisite course work is complete. Applications are ranked according to qualifiers including GPA and deficits. Deficits are pre-requisite courses which are not completed prior to application submission. Due to the competitive nature of the admissions process, deficits can significantly impact one’s chances for admission to the nursing major.

Please note that meeting the minimum requirements for admissions consideration does not guarantee admission. Each application is holistically reviewed by faculty who recommend to the administrative corpus the student applicants who appear to be best qualified. A personal interview may be required. Admission may be offered conditionally based on overall ranking and pending completion of all requirements. Applicants shall be notified in writing of the admissions decision. Visit the School of Nursing website or contact the School of Nursing for more details on admission criteria.

Alcohol and Controlled Substances

The use of alcohol and illegal use of controlled substances, including alcohol, can seriously injure the health of students, impair their performance of their responsibilities, and endanger the safety and well-being of fellow students and members of the general public. Students who are engaged in clinical work at a practicum site may be required to submit to random tests for illegal use of controlled substances as provided by the law or regulations of the contracting agency. Just cause for student disciplinary action includes, but is not limited to, use or unauthorized possession of intoxicants, controlled or illegal substances, or materials dangerous to public health and safety. It is not acceptable to use alcohol or illegal drugs prior to or during class or clinical. Immediate disciplinary action will be taken. Recognizing that substance abuse is a professional hazard, in addition to the Kentucky State University Substance Abuse, Alcohol and Drug Policies, the School of Nursing, has established a substance abuse and drug/alcohol testing policy. This policy applies to all students who have matriculated in the School of Nursing.

Background Check and Drug Testing

Participation in clinical experiences, rotations or fieldwork is a required part of the curriculum and a requirement for graduation. All students will be required to have a background screening and drug test upon admission. If the results of either requirement indicate that the student would not be eligible for placement at the school’s practicum agencies, the student’s admission will be rescinded. Students may be required to repeat either requirement (i.e., background screening and/or drug testing) should the practicum agency require more frequent monitoring. If at any time during the period of enrollment, the student’s background screen or drug test results preclude placement in a practicum agency, the student will be required to withdraw from the program. At the time of application for licensure, students will be required to submit to fingerprinting and criminal background check as a component of the Kentucky Board of Nursing licensure application process.

Technical Standards

Applicants to the School of Nursing are expected to be capable of completing the entire nursing curriculum and of earning a B.S.N. degree. Nursing is a practice discipline with cognitive, sensory, affective, and psychomotor performance requirements. The school's technical standards provide an objective measure on which to base informed decisions about whether individual students will be able to participate in the nursing program. Technical standards also help students determine whether they will need accommodations or modifications in order to participate. Exemplars of technical standards can be found in the B.S.N. Student Handbook available on the School of Nursing webpage. Students with disabilities who believe that they may need assistance in meeting the core performance standards should contact the Kentucky State University Office of Disability Resource Services.

Expenses

Nursing students are charged the same tuition rate and general fees as students enrolled in other University programs. However, students accepted into the nursing major incur additional expenses related to clinical uniform requirements, summative and formative testing, official ceremonial regalia, association membership, and practicum equipment and materials.

Retention, Progression, & Dismissal

Governing policies including policy on admission, retention, progression, dismissal and readmission for the School of Nursing B.S.N. program can be found online in the B.S.N. Student Handbook on the School of Nursing webpage.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pre-Licensure BSN

Plan of Study Grid

Term 1 (Fall)		Hours
BIO 107	Anatomy & Physiology I	4
ENG 101	English Comp I	4
KSU 118	Intro. to University Learning	3
MAT 115	College Algebra	3
PSY 200	General Psychology	3
COM 103	Interpersonal Communication	3
	Hours	20
Term 2 (Spring)
BIO 108	Anatomy & Physiology II	4
ENG 102	English Comp II	3
FNU 104	Basic Nutrition	3
KSU 186	Navigate. the Tech. World	3
	Hours	13
Term 3 (Fall)
ALH 205	Dimen. Ana. for Pharm. Calcula	1
BSS 300	Statistics for BSS	3
CHE 209	Survey Gen/Organic/Biochemi	4
SOC 203	Principles of Sociology	3
Foreign Language I 1		3
	Hours	14
Term 4 (Spring)
ALH 210	Term. for Health Care Profess.	2
BIO 204	Fund of Microbiology	3
NUR 200B	Intro to Genetics & Mol. Thera	3
PSY 223/303	Theor. & Met. in Dev. Psych.	3
NUR 205	Pharmacological Concept in Nur	3
Foreign Language II 1		3
	Hours	17
Term 5 (Fall)
NUR 325B	Intro. to Healthcare Info.	3
NUR 330B	Hea. Assess. & Comm. Acr. Life	4
NUR 340B	Nurs. Care of Adu. w/ Ac. Chr.	4
NUR 340BP	Nur. Car. of Adul. w/ AC Pract	3
NUR 341B	Profess. & Patient Safety	2
	Hours	16
Term 6 (Spring)
NUR 345B	Nurs. Care in Behav. Health	3
NUR 345BP	Nursing Care Beh. Hea. Prac.	2
NUR 405B	Nurs. Care of Wom. Chil. & Fam	3
NUR 405BP	Nur. Care of W, C, F Pract.	2
NUR 421B	Prof. Role 2: Imp. Hea. System	2
	Hours	12
Term 7 (Fall)
NUR 440B	Nurs. Care of Adu. w/ Com. H.	5
NUR 440BP	Nurs. Car. of Adu. w/ Prac.	3
NUR 450B	Nursing Care of Older Adults	2
NUR 450BP	Nursing Care of Older Adults	2
NUR 451B	Prof. Role 3: Nur. Resch.	2
	Hours	14
Term 8 (Spring)
NUR 460B	Comm. & Pub. Hea. Nurs.	3
NUR 461B	Profess. Role 4: Lead. & Prof.	2
NUR 462B	Intensive Rev. & Asses.	2
NUR 465BP	Prof. Nursing Internship	3
Free Elective		3
	Hours	13
	Total Hours	119

¹

Both courses are required to be the same language. Two semesters of sign language may be acceptable.