Nursing - B.S.N.

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in Nursing prepares practitioners for professional nursing, helps them understand their role in society and prepares them for graduate study. The program emphasizes professional knowledge, skills and compassionate nursing practices. Students begin with courses that demonstrate the core foundations of the nursing profession and its historical roots. The capstone preceptorship exposes students to research and professional-practice concepts that will ensure their abilities to be nurse leaders and healthcare advocates.

Throughout the curriculum, students study life-span and cultural diversity issues while applying evidence-based practice to their profession.

The Nursing major includes the following optional concentrations:

• The Accelerated Second Degree concentration is for students who hold a bachelor's degree and wish to pursue the B.S.N. degree in an accelerated manner.
• The LPN and Allied Health concentration is a bridge program designed to meet the unique demands of licensed practical nurses, paramedics, respiratory therapists, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants, field/combat medics and emergency medical technicians.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

New Students

Traditional Admission

Admission to the Nursing major is selective; the process is competitive, and acceptance is never guaranteed. Prospective applicants must have completed:

• High school level mathematics, biology and chemistry.
• In addition, students must have achieved one of the following:
  • Minimum 2.700 overall high school GPA (on a 4.000-point scale); and a minimum 22 ACT composite or a minimum 1100 SAT score; or
  • Minimum 3.0 overall high school GPA (on a 4.000-point scale).

Early Admission

Early admission students are granted admission to the professional nursing sequence as new students provided they meet the early admission criteria and maintain the progression requirements. Students must signify they want to be considered for early admission and agree to declare Kent State as their college of choice. The early admission program has a limited number of seats, with an emphasis on students who can enhance the College of Nursing's mission to improve healthy living in a diverse, changing society.

Transfer Students

Traditional Admission

Admission to the Nursing major requires a minimum 2.750 overall GPA and completion of 12 college credit hours from an institutional-accredited college or university.

Transfer students who have successfully completed a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State University will be evaluated on their Kent State overall GPA only, along with the prerequisite criteria for admission into the Professional Nursing Sequence.

Direct Admission

Admission to the Professional Nursing Sequence requires meeting prerequisite criteria. Students who have failed out of another nursing program are not eligible for admission to Kent State's B.S.N. degree.

Transfer students from another accredited B.S.N. degree who have completed at least one laboratory or clinical course must have achieved the following for admission to Kent State's B.S.N. degree:

• Minimum 3.200 overall GPA in all college-level coursework
• Minimum 2.750 GPA for the required (or equivalent) science courses in Kent State's B.S.N. degree: BSCI 21010 and BSCI 21020 and BSCI 20021 (or BSCI 30171) and CHEM 10050 (or CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060)
• Minimum C grade in the following prerequisite courses:
  • Anatomy and Physiology (BSCI 21010 and BSCI 21020)
  • Microbiology (BSCI 20021 or BSCI 30171)
  • Genetics (BSCI 30050 or BSCI 30156)
  • Chemistry (CHEM 10050, CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060)
  • Math (MATH 10040 or MATH 10041)
• Good academic standing at current college or university

Students who want to be considered for direct admission to Kent State's B.S.N. program must complete the Direct Admission Request.

Admission to the Accelerated Second Degree Concentration

Admission to the Accelerated Second Degree concentration requires a completed bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.750 overall GPA. Students who have failed out of a nursing program are not eligible to apply to the Accelerated Second Degree concentration. Accelerated students must have all college-level core and nursing prerequisite courses complete:

• Anatomy and Physiology (BSCI 21010 and BSCI 21020)
• Microbiology (BSCI 20021 or BSCI 30171)
• Chemistry (CHEM 10050, CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060)
• Human Growth and Development (NURS 20950)
• Minimum 2.750 overall GPA and minimum 2.750 science GPA
• Minimum C grade in all science and mathematics courses

International Students

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Meet educational eligibility requirements to take the registered nurse licensing examination (National Certification and Licensure Exam).
2. Acquire competencies based on professional standards to assume the role of the professional nurse and for career advancement, including graduate studies.
3. Provide equitable evidence-based care to diverse populations as a member of a diverse, interprofessional team.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

NURS 40089 is only offered in another country for students who travel abroad. A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

²

Students who have successfully completed ATTR 25057 (or EXSC 25057) and ATTR 25058 (or EXSC 25058) with a minimum C grade may use those courses in place of BSCI 21010 and BSCI 21020.

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

Accelerated Second Degree Concentration Requirements

LPN and Allied Health Concentration Requirements

Progression Requirements

• All students in the B.S.N. degree must have a minimum 2.000 overall GPA each semester to continue in the program; failure to achieve this GPA each semester will result in not permitted to continue in the program.
• All students in the B.S.N. degree must have earned a minimum C grade in each science course required in the B.S.N. curriculum. All required biology and chemistry courses must be successfully completed with a minimum C grade to graduate with the B.S.N. degree.
• Students in the traditional (no concentration) and Accelerated Second Degree concentration must have a minimum C grade in each of the sophomore nursing courses to progress to the junior nursing sequence.
• Students in the traditional (no concentration) program must have a minimum C grade in each of the junior nursing courses (NURS 30010, NURS 30020 and NURS 30035) to progress to the senior nursing sequence.
• All students must have a minimum C grade in each of the senior nursing courses (NURS 40005, NURS 40010, NURS 40020, NURS 40030, NURS 40045 and NURS 40872) to progress and graduate.
• Students in the Accelerated Second Degree and LPN and Allied Health concentrations may take junior- and senior-level courses concurrently as specified by their curriculum.
• Students in the traditional (no concentration) program may take a maximum of two clinical courses each semester.
• Students in the Accelerated Second Degree and LPN and Allied Health concentrations are permitted to take three clinical courses each term, as specified by their curriculum.
• Students in the Accelerated Second Degree and LPN and Allied Health concentrations who do not earn a minimum C grade in any nursing courses will no longer be permitted to take three clinical courses in a semester.

Professional Nursing Sequence

Students are eligible to apply to the Professional Nursing Sequence during the semester in which they anticipate completing or have completed 30 credit hours. Admission to the Professional Nursing Sequence is based on overall GPA and science GPA. Students who completed required prerequisite science courses while in the College Credit Plus (CCP) program may elect to repeat prerequisite science courses to be used in the calculation of the science GPA.

Students must meet all the following requirements to be eligible for admission to the Professional Nursing Sequence:

• Minimum 2.750 overall GPA
• Minimum 2.750 GPA in the required sciences:
  • BSCI 21010
  • BSCI 21020
  • BSCI 20021 or BSCI 30171
  • CHEM 10050 or CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060
• Minimum C grade in each of the prerequisite courses:
  • BSCI 21010
  • BSCI 21020
  • BSCI 20021 or BSCI 30171
  • CHEM 10050 or CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060
  • MATH 10040 or MATH 10041
• Candidates who meet the admission criteria for the Professional Nursing Sequence will be selected using a holistic admission process including the individual's personal experiences, attributes and metrics.

Professional Nursing Sequence for LPN and Allied Health Concentration

Students in the LPN and Allied Health concentration will need to complete all core and prerequisite coursework to be admitted to the Professional Nursing Sequence. Admission is competitive and is never guaranteed.

Admission checklist for the Professional Nursing Sequence for students in the LPN and Allied Health concentration:

• Students are eligible to make application during the semester in which they anticipate completing, or have completed the core courses, along with:
  • UC 10001
  • MATH 10040 or MATH 10041 or NURS 31010 or PH 30002 or PSYC 21621
  • SOC 12050 or SOC 22778
  • NUTR 23511
  • NURS 20950
  • PSYC 11762
  • CHEM 10050, CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060
  • BSCI 30050 or BSCI 30156
  • BSCI 20021 or BSCI 30171
  • BSCI 21020
  • BSCI 21010
  • NURS 10060
• Minimum 2.750 overall GPA and minimum 2.750 science GPA
• Minimum C grade in all science and mathematics courses
• Unrestricted practice license (priority admission is given to students with two or more years of practice in their field)

The collage dean may review the student's educational files to determine if adequate progression has been made.

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum C grade is required in all specified NURS, BSCI, CHEM and Kent Core MATH courses.
• Students must earn a combined minimum 2.750 GPA in BSCI 21010 and BSCI 21020 and BSCI 20021 (or BSCI 30171) and CHEM 10050 (or CHEM 10055 or CHEM 10060).

Roadmaps

Nursing Major (No Concentration)

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Accelerated Second Degree Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

LPN and Allied Health Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Geauga Campus (Nursing major only)
  • Kent Campus (Nursing major and Accelerated Second Degree and LPN and Allied Health concentrations)
  • Salem Campus (Nursing major only)
  • Stark Campus (Nursing major only)
  • Trumbull Campus (Nursing major only)

The B.S.N. degree in Nursing at Kent State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.