May 08, 2024  
2023-2024 UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG 
    
2023-2024 UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Traditional


The program provides education and training for pre-licensure nursing students to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and be eligible, upon graduation, to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) required for registered nurse (RN) licensure.  The curriculum is based on requirements of the Tennessee Board of Nursing (TBON), as well as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The program includes standard core content (pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, foundational nursing skills, evidence-based practice), nursing and clinical content across the lifespan (maternity/OB, newborn, pediatrics, adult, older adult), and content on the profession (mental health, professional nursing, leadership and management, ethics, policy, and transition to practice).

Traditional students achieve a four-year degree that includes four semesters of general education and nursing prerequisite courses (120 credits) and four semesters of courses in the nursing major (120 credits).

Bachelor of Science in Nursing


The program provides education and training for pre-licensure nursing students to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and be eligible, upon graduation, to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) required for registered nurse (RN) licensure.  The curriculum is based on requirements of the Tennessee Board of Nursing (TBON), as well as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The program includes standard core content (pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, foundational nursing skills, evidence-based practice), nursing and clinical content across the lifespan (maternity/OB, newborn, pediatrics, adult, older adult), and content on the profession (professional nursing, leadership and management, ethics, policy, and transition to practice).

Traditional students achieve a four-year degree that includes four semesters of general education and nursing prerequisite courses (120 credits) and four semesters of courses in the nursing major (120 credits).

The baccalaureate program at LCON prepares the graduate to: 

  1. Provide safe, compassionate, inclusive, high-quality nursing care across the lifespan and continuum of healthcare settings.  

  1. Use evidence-based research, informatics, and technologies in nursing practice to improve the health of diverse populations.  

  1. Explore the impact of social determinants of health, legal factors, and political factors that shape healthcare delivery and professional nursing practice. 

  1. Communicate and collaborate effectively as a leader and member of interprofessional teams to impact healthcare delivery. 

  1. Implement clinical prevention and health promotion strategies to improve patient and population health outcomes. 

  1. Integrate personal and professional values and ethical principles into the design and delivery of person-centered care. 

  1. Demonstrate practices that foster personal health, resilience, well-being, and lifelong learning to support the acquisition of nursing expertise and leadership.

Pre-Nursing Curriculum (60 hours)


Students must complete 60 hours toward their degree prior to entering the nursing major. This includes university general education requirements, required prerequisite courses to enter the nursing major, and elective coursework.

University General Education Program (41 hours)


Click here for University General Education Program requirements. The following general education requirements are also required prerequisite courses for entrance into the nursing major. Students must achieve a grade of “C” or better for all nursing prerequisite courses.

Social/Behavioral Science


Math


Support Courses for Nursing Major (14 hours)


The following are additional required prerequisite courses for entrance into the nursing major. Students must achieve a grade of “C” or better for all nursing prerequisite courses.

Microbiology


Nutrition


Lifespan Development


Elective (5 hours)


Five additional credit hours of courses must be completed prior to the student entering the nursing major.

Application and Admission Requirements for the Nursing Major


Students will apply to the nursing major at the beginning of their final semester of their pre-nursing curriculum. To be eligible for admission, students must achieve the following after finishing the last pre-nursing semester. These requirements also apply to students transferring to the university. Transfer students must also have secured admission to the university prior to applying to the nursing major.

  1. Completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours, including the university general education curriculum (41 hours), additional nursing prerequisite course requirements (14 hours), and additional pre-nursing electives (5 hours).
  2. Minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.0.
  3. Minimum grade of “C” and an overall nursing prerequisite GPA of 3.0 for the following courses: BIOL 1230, BIOL 1231, BIOL 2010, BIOL 2011, BIOL 2020, BIOL 2011, CHEM 1010, CHEM 1011, EDPR 2111, MATH 1530 or equivalent, and NUTR 2202. One nursing prerequisite course may be repeated only once; if repeated, the second earned letter grade of the repeated course will be used in the nursing prerequisite GPA calculation (regardless if grade is higher or lower).
  4. For BIOL 1230/1231, BIOL 2010/2011, BIOL 2020/2021, and CHEM 1010/1011, in person classes are preferred, as students who take these in person demonstrate greater success in the nursing program.

  5. AP credit (score of 3 or higher), will be accepted for CHEM 1010/1011 and MATH 1530.”

The following are required for application to the nursing major.

  • Transcript (for transfer students, an official transcript is required)
  • Resume
  • Letter of Interest - To learn about resumes/letter of interest, visit Career Services
  • Recommendation Letter - Can be written by anyone that can speak to your academic ability (i.e. professor, counselor, advisor, etc.)

All application decisions will be sent to the student’s memphis.edu email addresses six (6) weeks after the application deadline has passed. For students in the process of completing pre-nursing coursework during the semester of application, acceptance to the nursing major will be on a provisional basis. At the completion of that final term, the student must satisfy all of the requirements in 1-5 above. After receipt of final grades, if the student fails to satisfy all requirements, the acceptance will be rescinded and the student will have to reapply in a future application cycle once those requirements are met.

Students transferring to the university from another accredited nursing program must also include in their application a letter of good standing from the Dean/Director of the previous Nursing program.

The Nursing Major (60 hours)


Students will complete 60 credits in the nursing major to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

Sample Four-Year Curriculum Plan


Pre-Nursing Curriculum


The pre-nursing curriculum must be completed in its entirety prior to entering the nursing major.

Freshman Year


Fall Semester - 16 hours

Spring Semester - 16 hours

Sophomore Year


Fall Semester - 16 hours

Spring Semester - 12 hours

Nursing Curriculum


In the nursing curriculum, students must successfully complete all courses in a semester prior to progressing to the next sequence. Students must enroll in all courses at the start of the sequence. If a student withdraws from a course or does not achieve a grade of “C” or better, the course must be retaken in the following semester. The student can then progress to the next sequence once the course is successfully completed.

Students may only repeat a nursing course once. Failure to achieve a grade of “C” or better on the second attempt results in academic disqualification from the nursing major. Failure to achieve a grade of “C” or better in more than one nursing course also resultsin academic disqualification.

Junior Year


Senior Year


Sequence 4 - Spring Semester - 15 hours