Nursing, RN - BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing, B.S.N.)
The College of Science and Health offers a baccalaureate degree in Nursing that provides a foundation of knowledge and skills necessary to be eligible to apply to write the National Council Licensure Examination. Upon satisfactory completion of this examination, the candidate is licensed as a registered professional nurse (RN). The program is designed with a strong clinical emphasis, based upon the relationship among the concepts of nursing, person, health-illness, environment, nursing education, nursing research, and ethical concepts applied to nursing. Students gain both theoretical knowledge and practical experience in healthcare agencies to prepare them to respond to the challenge of providing quality nursing care to individuals and groups. Some clinical agencies may require criminal background checks and may refuse to allow a student to gain experience in a clinical agency in accordance with provisions of Missouri State Law. A minimum grade of C in each course in the major is required for progression in and completion of the nursing program. The program is fully approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
The Department of Nursing allows individuals who have been admitted to the B.S.N. program, who have a current, unencumbered Missouri license to practice as a licensed practical nurse (L.P.N.), to apply for advanced placement through tested experience. LPNs who have completed the Army’s practical nurse program or airmen who have completed the Air Force 4N Training Program may apply for advanced placement. Other military medical service (e.g.Navy, Marine Corp, Coast Guard) personnel with equivalent training as the Army’s practical nurse program or the Air Force 4N Training Program may request review of credentials. Tested experience is established through verification of LPN license, standardized testing, and skills validation of select competencies. Please contact the Department of Nursing for specific information on testing procedures and scheduling.
Progression Requirements
Students must achieve a grade of "C" or higher in all required nursing courses in order to continue progression in the Nursing Program. Any student who receives a final course grade of C in two or more nursing courses in a single semester during the Nursing Program will be placed on nursing academic probation. Students placed on Nursing Academic Probation will be required to enroll in NUR 300 Strategies for Success in Nursing in order to progress in the nursing curriculum. Specific Nursing progression, probation, and dismissal policies are available in the School of Nursing and Health Professions.
Eligibility for Nursing Licensure
Completion of the BSN program does not guarantee eligibility to write the licensure examination. Completion of the program guarantees eligibility to apply to the State Board of Nursing to write the national licensure examination (NCLEX-RN). A criminal background check is conducted by the Missouri State Board of Nursing before a decision is made regarding certificate of registration or authority; permit or license pursuant to section 335.011 to 335.066 for any one or any combination of causes stated in 335.066 subsection 2 of the State of Missouri Nursing Practice Act. Specific information may be obtained by contacting the Missouri State Board of Nursing.
Students who choose this bachelor degree program will have no more than 6 years from admission or subsequent declaration to meet the requirements listed below. If certification, accreditation or statutory requirements change and additional requirements become effective during this time, the new requirements take precedence.
RN-BSN Students
RN's who graduate from an approved ADN, AAS-Nursing, or diploma program must meet the general admission requirements of MWSU and the admission requirements of the School of Science and Health Professions and hold a valid RN license. Specific admission and graduation requirements for RN-BSN students are available in the School of Nursing and Health Professions.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies | 42 | |
| Students must complete General Studies courses | ||
| A minimum of 30 credit hours will be used to meet the following course requirements: | 30 | |
| Introduction to Standards-Based Nursing | ||
| Introduction to Clinical Nursing Practice | ||
| Pharmacology I | ||
| Pharmacology II | ||
| Adult Health I | ||
| Adult Health Clinical I | ||
| Maternal/Newborn Nursing | ||
| Pediatric Nursing | ||
| Adult Health II | ||
| Adult Health Clinical II | ||
| Mental Health Nursing | ||
| Nursing Senior Seminar | ||
| Major Requirements | 53-54 | |
| BIO 250 | Anatomy and Physiology | 5 |
| BIO 251 | Medical and Public Health Microbiology | 4 |
| CHE 101 | Introductory Chemistry | 4-5 |
| or CHE 111 | General Chemistry I | |
| PHL 230 | Ethics | 3 |
| or PHL 231 | Healthcare Ethics | |
| PSY 101 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 240 | Life-Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| NUR 314 | Quantitative Analysis for Health Care Research | 3 |
| NUR 384 | Bridge to Baccalaureate Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 385 | Health Promotion and Assessment for the RN-BSN Student | 3 |
| NUR 390 | Evidence-based Practice in Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 424 | Care Coordination Across the Lifespan | 2 |
| NUR 455 | Community and Population Health for RN | 3 |
| NUR 474 | Nursing Leadership and Management | 3 |
| NUR 479 | RN-BSN Capstone Clinical | 5 |
| Restricted Electives | 6 | |
| Select a minimum of six credit hours from the following: | ||
| Introduction to Epidemiology and Biostatistics | ||
| Introduction to Population Health | ||
| Pathophysiology 1 | ||
| Nutrition in Nursing 1 | ||
- 1
In order to meet the standards set forth by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing for baccalaureate degree programs, students earn credit in Nutrition in Nursing and Pathophysiology.
Program Graduation Requirements
- Earn a grade of C or higher in all major coursework.
- Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and a major GPA of at least 2.0.
University Graduation Requirements
- Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
- Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in upper-division courses. Lower-division transfer courses accepted as meeting upper-division departmental course requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
- Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
- Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments.
- Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
- Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam.