Nursing, B.S.N.

The Nursing Program consists of four academic years. Students enter the program as pre-nursing majors and must complete the first three semesters of a pre-nursing curriculum consisting of General Education courses and nursing prerequisites. Students then apply for admission to the last five semesters which include 71 semester hours of upper-division nursing courses. When a student applies for admission to the last five semesters and is accepted and becomes enrolled, he/she is then classified as a Nursing major. The number of students accepted into the nursing courses is limited, making the application process competitive.

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.

Pre-nursing students enrolled in the University and pursuing the first three semesters of the curriculum should maintain a minimum 2.80 cumulative grade point average and are required to earn no less than a C (2.00) in any prerequisite course. Nursing clinicals may be offered in evening, night, or weekend shifts.

Admission and Progression in the Pre-nursing Curriculum

1. Any student formally admitted to the University may pursue the pre-nursing curriculum.
2. An information and application form, obtained from the School of Nursing, must be completed and on file in the School of Nursing.
3. Pre-nursing students are expected to seek advising from the nursing faculty each semester to ensure the proper sequence for program completion.

Admission and Progression in the Upper-division Nursing Curriculum

1. An updated information and application form and a progression to the junior level form must be on file in the School of Nursing.
2. Transcript validation of all prerequisite courses must be on file in the MTSU Records Office.
3. Student must have completed BIOL 2010 /BIOL 2011  with a grade of C (2.00) or better before making application to upper-division nursing.
4. Add 1/2 point to composite score for any student who can provide documented evidence of clinical experience providing direct patient care for a period of at least 380 hours within the two years prior to making application to upper-division nursing.
5. Applicants must have no grade less than a C (2.00) in any prerequisite and General Education course 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).
6. Scores from a standardized examination along with the cumulative college grade point average will be used to calculate a composite score and to rank candidates for progression to the upper division. To be considered for admission to upper-division nursing, a minimum GPA of 2.80 is required.
7. Students must attain a minimum grade of C (2.00) in all theory courses as well as a “pass” in each corresponding lab/clinical course.
8. Comprehensive assessment tools and/or standardized exams are administered throughout the curriculum. Expenses associated with these exams are the responsibility of the student, and evaluation methods are incorporated into the course grades.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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, or
    3. 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. Students admitted from other nursing programs in which a grade of D (less than 2.00) was made in nursing will not be readmitted.
    4. violate the student honor code.
13. If a student fails a nursing course at MTSU, he/she must repeat that course at MTSU.
14. Further specific details regarding admission and progression are available in the School of Nursing.