Department of Nursing

Kathleen M. Rayman, Chair

Mission

The mission of the Department of Nursing at Appalachian State University is to prepare nurse leaders and providers advancing the nursing profession through education, scholarship and practice in service to the community.

Goals

The goals of the BSN program are to:

Provide a quality program in nursing based on a liberal education and professional nursing values, competencies, and knowledge
Facilitate the development and implementation of professional nursing roles in caring for individuals, families, groups, and communities from diverse geographical and cultural backgrounds through the application of knowledge, theory, and research from nursing as well as other related disciplines
Instill in students an appreciation for and commitment to lifelong learning, scholarship, and service in order to promote their personal growth, advance the profession of nursing, and meet the health needs of society
Prepare nurses who can practice as generalists in any health care setting
Provide a foundation for graduate nursing education

Program Outcomes

The following educational outcomes are based on the mission, goals, and philosophy of Appalachian State University’s Department of Nursing. The program graduate will:

Utilize clinical judgment and foundational knowledge of the liberal arts and sciences to provide nursing care that is safe, holistic, equitable and evidence-based to diverse individuals and populations across the lifespan.
Exhibit a person-centered approach respecting diversity, values, beliefs, needs, preferences, resources and determinants of health unique to healthcare consumers and stakeholders.
Collaborate with consumers, stakeholders, and healthcare team members to coordinate a continuum of care that focuses on wellness and prevention, restorative care, chronic disease management, and palliative care.
Communicate through personal interaction and use of information technologies in a manner that demonstrates respect, authenticity, confidentiality, while ensuring safety and quality care.
Promote personal and professional growth through participation in self-care modalities, educational offerings, and civic partnerships that lead to healthier lifestyles and equitable care for consumers and communities.
Demonstrate leadership and accountability in accordance with ethical, legal, and professional standards in nursing practice.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) (809A/51.3801)

[This program is for students who have the educational goal of obtaining the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in order to be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) to become a registered nurse (RN).]

The Appalachian State University Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The BSN program is designed to provide an undergraduate student the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, leading to licensure as a Registered Nurse.

BSN GPA requirements: 3.0 cumulative GPA required for admission*, 2.5 cumulative and 2.5 major GPA (NUR courses) required for retention, and 2.5 cumulative and 2.5 major GPA (NUR courses) required for graduation.

*Note that admission is competitive and requires an application process. Declaration of major happens after a student has been provisionally accepted into the BSN program. Please see nursing.appstate.edu for more information.

BSN grade requirements: All BSN majors must earn a minimum grade of “C” (2.0) in each required course on the major program of study. Students must earn a minimum grade of “B-” (2.7) in CHE 1101 , CHE 1102 , CHE 1110 , CHE 1120 , ES 2040 , ES 2050 , and BIO 2200 .

Admission Criteria

The application deadline for admission is the first day of the spring semester. Acceptance into the prelicensure BSN program is based on the student’s application, earned GPA, and academic performance on selected preliminary course work. Scores from standardized tests and other methods of evaluation may also be considered when evaluating applicants.

Beginning with the January 2022 admissions cycle, students will be required to be a certified nursing assistant (CNA) before applying to the program. Specific guidelines on admission requirements and application forms are available on the Department of Nursing website at nursing.appstate.edu/students/admissions.

Students must apply for admission to Appalachian State University prior to admission to the BSN degree nursing program. Acceptance to the University, completion of preliminary course work, GPA, and standardized tests do not guarantee admission to the BSN program. Admission of students is a competitive process. Not all applicants who meet the requirements can be accommodated; therefore, applicants whose credentials present the best qualifications of those meeting requirements will be selected.

Academic Standards for Retention in the BSN Program

To progress from one semester to the next in the BSN program, a student must earn a minimum grade of “C” (2.0) or higher in each required course counted towards the program of study (81 credit hours), and achieve a grade of “Satisfactory” in each clinical nursing course. If a student receives a grade of “Incomplete” for a nursing course, the “Incomplete” must be satisfied with a grade of “C” (2.0) or higher before a student may progress to the next semester of nursing courses. Students must also maintain a cumulative GPA and a major GPA (NUR courses) of at least 2.5 at the end of the junior spring semester and each semester thereafter; maintain current CPR certification at the healthcare provider level; maintain yearly tuberculosis screening; meet all current health and immunization requirements of the Department of Nursing; and adhere to all policies of the University, the Nursing Department, and the clinical agencies where assigned for clinical experiences. Failure to meet these standards may result in dismissal from the program.

Students may be allowed to repeat one nursing (NUR) course one time if they earn a grade below “C.” (2.0) Failure to achieve a grade of at least a “C” (2.0) in a nursing (NUR) course results in dismissal from the nursing program. Students should refer to nursing.appstate.edu for complete policies and procedures regarding progression in the BSN program, dismissal from the BSN program and possible readmission to the BSN program following dismissal.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) (563A/51.3801)

[For students who have already earned an associate degree in nursing, AAS (Associate of Applied Science) or a Diploma in Nursing, and have passed the national licensing exam (NCLEX) for registered nurses (RN).]

The Appalachian State University Bachelor of Science in Nursing online RN to BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).The RN to BSN program is designed to provide a registered nurse (RN) the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN). This program recognizes prior learning and clinical competencies as part of the undergraduate curriculum. The undergraduate program reflects a transition to professional nursing practice. Courses in the RN to BSN program are offered in an online format.

RN to BSN GPA requirements: 2.5 cumulative GPA required for admission, 2.5 cumulative GPA and 2.5 major GPA required for retention, and 2.5 cumulative and 2.5 major GPA required for graduation.

RN to BSN grade requirements: All RN to BSN majors must earn a minimum grade of “C” (2.0) in each Required Core and NUR course.

Admission Criteria

Criteria for admission to the RN to BSN program include: submission of an application; admission to Appalachian State University by meeting the general requirements for admission as a transfer student; provision of evidence of an earned associate degree in nursing, AAS (Associate of Applied Science) or a Diploma in Nursing from an accredited institution; possession of a current unrestricted and unencumbered RN license from North Carolina and/or compact state; and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale calculated over all college coursework. Admission to the RN-BSN program is contingent on completion of all required core, elective and/or cognate courses with a minimum grade of “C” (2.0) in each course. All required core, elective and cognate courses must be satisfactorily completed prior to beginning the RN-BSN program.

Academic Standards for Retention in the RN to BSN Program

In order to progress through the RN to BSN program, the student must maintain a current unrestricted and unencumbered RN license from North Carolina and/or compact state; achieve a grade of “C” (2.0) or higher in each nursing course before proceeding to the next nursing course; maintain a cumulative GPA and a major GPA of 2.5 or higher; maintain current CPR certification, annual TB screening; and adhere to all policies of the University, the nursing program, and clinical agencies. Failure to meet these standards may result in dismissal from the program.

Students may be allowed to repeat one nursing course one time if they earn a grade below “C” (2.0). Failure to achieve a grade of at least a “C” (2.0) in a nursing (NUR) course results in dismissal from the nursing program. Students should refer to www.nursing.appstate.edu for complete policies and procedures regarding progression in the RN to BSN program.

Transfer Credit

All nursing courses must be taken at Appalachian State University. The Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) with North Carolina community colleges and other relevant university policies will be followed in evaluating non-nursing credits from North Carolina community colleges.

Programs

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Courses

Nursing