Nursing, B.S.N.

Nursing  
615-898-4803
Jenny Sauls, program director
Nursinginfo@mtsu.edu

The Nursing Program consists of four academic years. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are awarded the B.S.N. and become eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Registered Nurse (RN) licensure.

All applicants will be admitted based on academic candidacy route of admissions and rank-ordered based on composite score.

Admission through Academic Candidacy

All students with a composite score of 7.75 or higher will be admitted. Students with less than 7.75 composite will be admitted pending space availability.

For further information about the composite score, see the BSN Program Admission, Progression, and Retention Policy.

All Applicants

1. An online application must be on file in the School of Nursing by published application deadlines.
2. Transcript validation of all prerequisite courses must be on file in the MTSU Records Office by published application deadlines.
3. At least one biology grade must be posted by application deadline.
4. Applicants must have no grade less than a C (2.00) in any prerequisite and General Education course with the exception of  Human Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOL 2010 )), Human Anatomy and Physiology II, (BIOL 2020 ) and Microbiology in Disease (BIOL 2100 ) which requires a B (3.00) by the end of Summer Term (for those entering in Fall Semester), or by the end of Fall Semester (for those entering in Spring Semester).
5. Scores from a standardized examination along with the inclusive (MTSU and transfer) college grade point average will be used to calculate a composite score and to rank candidates for progression to upper division. To be considered for admission to upper-division nursing, a minimum GPA of 3.00 and a minimum Entrance Exam composite score of 75 is required as well as a 75 minimum subscore on each of the following components of the HESI standardized entrance exam: a. Mathematics; b. Biology; c. Chemistry; d. Anatomy and Physiology.
6. Students will be asked to present evidence of physical and/or mental health prior to or at any time during their enrollment in the nursing courses. Students must be physically, emotionally, and cognitively able to meet the criteria required for clinical skills. Students must be able to perform clinical skills without physical or psychological threat to themselves or others. Students who have chronic health problems which are controlled and which do not put themselves or others in danger are eligible to be considered for admission.
7. Faculty reserves the right to determine each student’s eligibility to participate in clinical rotations based upon satisfactory preparation, meeting School of Nursing and clinical agency’s policies, and performance at a safe level of practice. If any of these are not satisfactory, faculty may give a student an unsatisfactory grade and ask a student to leave the clinical agency for the day.
8. Students with infectious diseases will not be permitted to participate in clinical experiences. Causes for clinical absences must be cleared with the instructor and reported to the clinical agency before the clinical experience is to begin. Unexcused absences will be counted as unsatisfactory clinical performance.
9. Students must attain a minimum grade of B (3.00) in all theory courses as well as a “pass” in each corresponding lab/clinical course.
10. Students will be dismissed from the Nursing major if they
    1. commit a breach of ethics or gross professional negligence, or
    2. use mind-altering drugs or alcohol when engaged in any nursing activity in or outside of class,
    3. fail to make a ‘B’ or better in all upper-division courses. One repeat is allowed.
    4. fail two or more courses in the same semester;
    5. fail to progress due to unsuccessful attainment of requirements. Students who fail to progress will be readmitted on a space-available basis. Only one readmission for failure to progress will be allowed.
    6. violate the student honor code.
11. If a student fails a nursing course at MTSU, he/she must repeat that course at MTSU.
12. Students from other nursing programs will not be admitted.
13. Students are allowed to withdraw from nursing courses one (1) time only.
14. A student may apply to the program a total of two (2) times.
15. The specific details regarding admission and progression are available online in the document BSN Program Admission, Progression, and Retention Policy.