Mar 29, 2024  
University Catalog 2011-2014 (PRINTED) 
    
University Catalog 2011-2014 (PRINTED) [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Nursing, B.S.


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The professional nursing curriculum leads to the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing. The undergraduate program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-2001. Some courses are open to non-majors who may find one or more courses helpful in achieving their own professional or personal goals.

The total number of units required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing is 180¬-195 units, of which 99-111 units are in the major. Consult with an advisor for the specific number of units required in all areas of the degree including GE and free electives.

Admission to the Program


The program consists of two pathways to the degree, each of which has separate admission criteria and program requirements.

Basic Pre-Licensure BSN Program

In this pathway to the BSN degree, freshmen, transfer, or continuing students are first admitted as pre-nursing majors, provided that they meet the supplementary eligibility requirements, and then they must complete the prerequisites for the nursing major as part of their basic pre-¬licensure program.

The requirements for admission to the basic pre-licensure program for entering freshmen are a 3.0 high school GPA and an sat score of 900 on the math and verbal portions of the exam. The requirements for admission to the pre-nursing major for continuing or transfer students are a 2.75 GPA in at least 20 units of the required prerequisite coursework and a 2.75 cumulative GPA.

Entering freshman are admitted as pre-nursing majors through the admissions process if they designate pre-nursing as their intended major and meet the eligibility requirements. Transfer students and continuing students seeking admission to the pre-nursing major must obtain approval from a pre-nursing adviser in the University Academic Advisement Center provided they have met the eligibility requirements. Pre-nursing majors may apply to be admitted as nursing majors once they successfully complete the prerequisites for the nursing major.

Applicants to the nursing major are screened competitively based on a variety of indicators. Please check the School of Nursing website for a complete, discussion of the admission process to the school. http://www.calstatela.edu/dept/nursing/index.htm

RN BSN Transfer Program

The second pathway is the R.N. BSN Transfer Program, in which students who possess a California R.N. License and transfer in with an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science in Nursing or with an NLNAC Accredited diploma are admitted directly to the nursing major.

Admission to the RN-BSN Program also requires a separate application with a copy of the CA RN license attached. The minimum GPA accepted from the transfer institution is 2.00. Please check the school of nursing website for further details.

Applications are accepted September 1 to December 1 of each academic year. Applications are submitted the year prior to beginning nursing courses. Contact school of nursing for further details or look on the school of nursing website: http://www.calstatela.edu/dept/nursing/index.htm

Required Prerequisites (37 units)


The following courses are prerequisites for admission to The Bachelor of Nursing program: For both the Basic Pre-Licensure BSN student and the RN BSN transfer student:

Completion of one course meeting the general education requirement in critical thinking:


General Information


 Students in the nursing program must carry university liability insurance, personal health insurance, and workers’ compensation when required by a clinical agency. Nursing students must have a valid California driver’s license and access to an automobile covered by appropriate automobile insurance. Prior to entering the first clinical lab, students must have a current CPR card, a physical examination, proof of immunity to rubella and hepatitis B and other specified infectious diseases, a two-step Mantoux skin test and a chest X-ray, if there is proof of a positive TB skin test.

Additional immunizations may be necessary if required by clinical agencies. Annual renewal of CPR certification, an annual physical examination and a two step Mantoux skin test or chest x-ray, if indicated, will be required. Information about professional behavior, clinical attire and picture identification regulations can be found in the undergraduate student handbook. All nursing students are required to complete a background check upon admission to the program.

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully assess any personal criminal background before applying to the School of Nursing. Nursing students must have a cleared background check that is acceptable to clinical agencies after acceptance to the School of Nursing. Since the California State Board of Nursing makes the final determination on eligibility for licensure, a positive background check may be a barrier to licensure, certification and employment.

School Regulations


  •  Students in the Nursing major must maintain good academic standing and attain grades of C or better in all nursing courses and in all natural and social science courses prerequisite or corequisite to the major. Nursing courses and prerequisite science courses for which the student earns less than a grade of C may be repeated only once, and then with instructor consent. To meet the requirement of continuing satisfactory performance, students on academic probation are not permitted to enroll in a nursing course until the probation has been removed.
  • Students may not enroll in any course that requires other nursing prerequisites unless the prerequisite courses are completed with grades of C or better.
  • Basic nursing students must take at least two diagnostic readiness tests for the R.N. Licensure Examination (NCLEX) at their own expense, one prior to NURS 486 and one while enrolled in NURS 486.

 

Requirements for the Major (99-111 units)


The basic program requires a total of 195 units for the degree, including 111 units in required courses in nursing and related fields. The RN BSN transfer program requires a total of 180 units for the degree, including 99 units in required courses in nursing and related fields. See Undergraduate Studies: General Information  for details about General Education and other requirements that constitute the units outside the major.

Required in Nursing (87-95 units)*


Lower Division Required Courses RN BSN (44-49 units)


Students in the Basic BSN program are required to complete the 49 units of lower division coursework listed below. Students in the RN BSN Transfer program meet these lower division required courses by completing 44 nursing units of transfer credit granted by the School of Nursing for RN transfer students only.

Note:

Students must complete the natural science courses before beginning upper division courses. R.N. students may enroll in the last natural science course concurrent with the first quarter of 300-level nursing courses.

Upper Division Required Courses (43-46 units)


 Basic BSN students are required to take 46 upper division units. RN BSN Transfer students are required to take 43 upper division units.

Notes:


* If after completion of all University and Nursing major requirements additional units are required for graduation, it is recommended that students complete up to six units in Nursing elective courses.

** Required only of basic students.

*** Required only of R.N. transfer students.

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