Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), RN-BSN

The program provides education and training for licensed registered nurses (RNs) to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). 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, evidence-based practice) and content on the profession (professional nursing, population and community health, leadership and management, ethics, policy, and transition to practice).

Students must complete all university general education requirements, upper division electives (3000-4000 level courses), and 31 credit hours in nursing (which may include credit by examination and credit for prior learning).

Application and Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

The requirements for admission to the RN-BSN program include:

1. An earned Associate Degree in Nursing or Diploma from an accredited institution.
2. Admission to the University of Memphis as a degree-seeking undergraduate student.
3. An active, unencumbered RN license, or be eligible for licensure. If eligible for licensure, a provisional acceptance will be provided; the student must provide proof of licensure within 6 months of application or the provisional acceptance will be rescinded.
4. Minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.5.

Additionally, the following prerequisite courses must be completed.

• Anatomy and Physiology I w/Lab*
• Anatomy and Physiology II w/Lab*
• Microbiology w/Lab*
• English Comp. I
• English Comp. II
• Intro to Sociology or General Psychology
• Nutrition
• Any of the following Maths can be taken as the pre-requisite:
  • MATH 1420 - Foundations of Mathematics
  • MATH 1530 - Prob/Statistics/Non Calculus**
  • MATH 1710 - College Algebra
  • MATH 1730 - Pre-Calculus
  • MATH 1830 - Elementary Calculus
  • MATH 1910 - Calculus I

* For prerequisite science courses, they must have been completed within the last seven (7) years prior to admission. For those later than 7 years, validation of knowledge from a current healthcare employer may be accepted.

** MATH 1530 (Statistics) can satisfy the prerequisite and general education requirement. MATH 1530 will be required once admitted into the program if not already completed.

Application

Students must complete the UofM Global application for the RN to BSN program. For the application, students will be required to submit:

1. Proof of RN licensure.
2. Offical transcripts from all attended institutions of higher education.

Residency Requirements

Applicants to online and hybrid nursing programs must be residents of a state in which the Loewenberg College of Nursing (LCON) is authorized to provide distance education. LCON is NOT authorized to offer distance education in California. Students who reside outside of Tennessee and plan to enroll in an online program of study that leads to advanced nursing licensure are individually responsible for verifying that the program meets the requirements for advanced licensure in their state. Online nursing students should contact the state licensing body from which they will be seeking licensure to ensure eligibility requirements.

Students who relocate to California, in which LCON is not authorized to offer distance education, will be required to fulfill their remaining course requirements in Tennessee or another authorized state, or to withdraw from the program.

Nursing Coursework (31 hours)

• NURS 3007 - Introduction to Professional Nursing, RN-BSN ** Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 3009 - Pharmacology in Nursing, RN-BSN ** Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 3109 - Health Assessment, RN-BSN ** Credit Hours: 2
• NURS 3110 - Health Assessment Lab, RN-BSN ** Credit Hours: 1
• NURS 3401 - Clinical Pathophysiology, RN-BSN ** Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 4111 - Evidence-Based Practice and Research in Nursing, RN-BSN ** Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 4126 - Community Health Nursing, RN-BSN ** Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 4128 - Community Health Nursing Practicum, RN-BSN ** Credit Hours: 1
• NURS 4207 - Transitions into Professional Nursing Practice, RN-BSN ** Credit Hours: 4
• NURS 4208 - Transitions into Professional Nursing Practice Practicum, RN-BSN ** Credit Hours: 2-8
• Upper Division Elective (3000-4000 level) Credits / Units: 3

Credit for Prior Learning

The Loewenberg College of Nursing (LCON) appreciates the knowledge and skills that RN students bring to the BSN program and acquire through formal mentored residencies and internship programs. Accordingly, students may earn college credit for prior learning experience with approval. Course credit may be earned through a national standardized achievement exam and by professional portfolio. 

Credit by Examination

Credit by examination (CBE) can be earned for three RN-BSN courses:

• Health Assessment & Lab (NURS 3109/3110)
• Pathophysiology (NURS 3401)
• Pharmacology (NURS 3009)

Students will be awarded college level credit after admission to LCON by successfully passing a professionally recognized national exam at the national proficiency benchmark. CBE can be earned by (a) achieving proficiency on a standardized achievement exam taken in the associate degree nursing (ADN) program or (b) taking a national standardized exam at LCON.

Credit for Prior Learning

Credit through prior learning assessment portfolio may be earned for a maximum of four (4) credits in the Transitions into Professional Nursing Practice Practicum (NURS 4208). Professional experiences with validation may include:

• New graduate residency
• Preceptor experiences for students and new graduates
• Professionally recognized continuing education credits
• Scholarly presentations and publications
• Clinical project leadership
• Clinical teaching in higher education
• Leadership in professional nursing or healthcare organization
• National nursing certification

Sample RN-BSN Curriculum Plan