School of Nursing

Petro Allied Health Center
(785) 231-1010 Ext. 1525

R.N. to BSN Articulation

 

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The RN Articulation Program at Washburn University School of Nursing is designed specifically for registered nurses seeking to earn a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. The program provides optimal flexibility in order to expedite program completion. The nursing courses can be completed in one calendar year if full-time study is pursued and all general education requirements are completed. Part time study is also available.

RN ARTICULATION PROGRAM CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS
One hundred twenty-four (124) credit hours are required for the BSN degree. Sixty-five (65) of these hours are general education requirements. General education hours may be taken at any accredited four-year or community college.

I. General Education Requirements
A. Humanities Courses: 9 credit hours required in at least 2 subject areas - Three hours of Music, Art or Theater are required.
1. English (excluding composition courses)
2. Philosophy
3. Religion
4. Music
5. Art
6. Mass Media
7. Modern foreign language
8. Theater
9. Communication
B. Social Sciences: 9 credit hours
1. General Psychology - 3 hrs.
2. General Sociology - 3 hrs.
3. Cultural Anthropology - 3 hrs.
C. Natural Sciences and Mathematics:
26-28 credit hours
1. Intro to Biology/Lab - 4-5 hrs.
2. Human Anatomy/Lab - 4 hrs.
3. Human Physiology/Lab - 4 hrs.
4. General Chemistry/Lab - 4-5 hrs.
5. Intro to Physics - 3 hrs.
6. Microbiology/Lab - 4 hrs.
7. Statistics - 3 hrs.

II. Supporting Courses: 6 credit hours
1. Nutrition - 3 hrs.
2. Principles of Human Development
(Life Span) 3 hrs.

III. University Requirements Common to All Bachelor Degrees: 11 credit hours
1. Six (6) credit hours of English Composition EN 101 and EN 300.
2. Lifetime Wellness(PE 198) - 2 hrs.
3. College Algebra

Eighty-four hours of graded coursework are required for graduation.

IV. Unrestricted Electives: 6 credit hours required - may include general education courses, algebra, nursing elective courses or independent study.

At least four (4) of the six hours must be upper division coursework completed at Washburn University.

V. Nursing Course Requirements: Fifty-nine (59) credit hours.

Forty hours of Junior-Senior work are required for the bachelors degree. At least 30 hours must be earned in residence at Washburn, including 20 of the last 30 hours, or 40 of the last 60 hours presented for the degree.

NOTE: If there is a question as to whether a course will transfer, please discuss with the nursing advisor in the School of Nursing prior to taking the course.

NURSING MAJOR REQUIREMENTS:
Fifty-nine (59) credit hours are required in the nursing major. A maximum of 33 nursing credit hours may be earned by the transfer/portfolio assessment or challenge examination process. Six credit hours of supporting courses (NU 220 and HS 131) may be earned by the transfer/portfolio assessment or challenge examination process. Two articulation pathways are available:

1. As a participant of the Kansas Articulation Plan (KAP), the WU School of Nursing will award 26 credits for the nursing courses listed below to graduates of Kansas nursing programs. Entrance into the WU School of Nursing RN to BSN Articulation Program must be within 5 years of graduation from the initial nursing program.

2. Nurses who graduated more than five years before entrance into the WU RN Articulation Program and nurses from outside Kansas may also earn credit for the courses listed below(See Transfer/Portfolio Credit). The following portfolio materials should be submitted to the School of Nursing:
-official transcript(s) of all nursing courses,
-description of all nursing courses (catalogue or course syllabus).
-detailed resume of your nursing experience.

If credit is not awarded, the nurse may pursue the challenge examination process explained below.

ADVANCE STANDING/TRANSFER CREDIT
A. Courses Available for Transfer/Portfolio Assessment Credit

Nursing Courses Semester Credit Hours
NU 303 Nursing Technologies I 1
NU 315 Nursing I Practicum 2
NU 340 Nursing Technologies II 1
NU 355 Nursing of Childbearing & Childbearing Families 4
NU 357 Childbearing Nursing Practicum 1
NU 359 Nursing of Children Practicum 1
NU 385 Nursing II (Adult M/S Nursing) 4
NU 387 Nursing II Practicum 1
NU 440 Technologies III 1
NU 473 Nursing III (Adult M/S Nursing) 2
NU 474 Nursing III Practicum 3
NU 484 Mental Health Nursing 3
NU 486 Mental Health Nursing Practicum 2
TOTAL credit hours 26

Supporting Courses Semester Credit Hours
NU 220 Principles of Nutrition 3
HS 131 Human Development 3
TOTAL credit hours 6

B. Required Nursing Courses
Course Semester Credit Hours
NU 304 Health Assessment 3*
NU 313 Fundamental Pathophysiology & Pharmacology 4*
NU 308 Family Health & Nursing Science 5
NU 343 Advanced Pathophysiology/Pharmacology 3
NU 475 Nursing Research 2
NU 478 Complex Care Concepts 2
NU 479 Professional Nursing Leadership 3
NU 482 Community/Public Health Nursing 3
NU 483 Community/Public Health Nursing Practicum 2
NU 490 Capstone Practicum 2
Nursing Elective/Independent Study 2
Nursing Elective 2
TOTAL credit hours 33
* May be available for portfolio assessment or challenge credit.

SUMMARY OF BSN NURSING CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS:
Nursing Transfer/Portfolio/Challenge
Exam credits 26 credit hours
Challenge Exam credits 7 credit hours Required courses 26 credit hours
TOTAL 59 credit hours

SUMMARY OF TOTAL BSN PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
General Education Requirements 65 credit hours
Nursing Major 59 credit hours TOTAL 124 credit hours

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION FOR SPECIFIC COURSES:
A. Thirty-three (33) credit hours of nursing are available for Credit By Examination for Registered Nurse Students through the School of Nursing. Twenty-six (26) credit hours may be obtained through the NLN Mobility Profile II examinations: Forms 5317 (Care of the Adult Client); 5327 (Care of the Client During Childbearing and Care of the Child); and 5337 (Care of the Client With Mental Disorders) will satisfy requirements for the following:

1. NLN exam Book I-----15 credit hours for the following courses:
NU 303 Nursing Technologies I 1 hr.
NU 315 Nursing Practicum I 2 hrs.
NU 340 Nursing Technologies II 1 hr.
NU 385 Nursing II (Adult M/S I) 4 hrs.
NU 387 Nursing Practicum I 1 hr.
NU 440 Nursing Technologies III 1 hr.
NU 473 Nursing III (Adult M/S II) 2 hrs.
NU 474 Nursing III Practicum 2 hrs.
TOTAL 15 hours

2. NLN exam Book II-----6 credit hours for the following courses:
NU 355 Nursing of Childbearing & Childbearing Families 4 hrs.
NU 357 Nursing of Childbearing Practicum 1 hr.
NU 359 Nursing of Children Practicum 1 hr.
TOTAL 6 hours

3. NLN exam Book III------5 credit hours for the following courses:
NU 484 Mental Health Nursing 3 hrs.
NU 486 Mental Health Practicum 2 hrs.
TOTAL 5 hours

*****A decision score of 90 is required to obtain advance standing credit for NLN Mobility Profile examinations.

B. If credit is not awarded, either by direct transfer credit or portfolio examination, credit by examination may be recommended for the following nursing courses:
NU 304 Health Assessment 3 hrs.
NU 313 Fundamental Pathophysiology & Pharmacology 4 hrs.
TOTAL 7 hours

NLN Mobility Profile II Examination 26 credit hours
Credit by Examination
(upon recommendation) 7 credit hours
TOTAL 33 credit hours

RN CURRICULUM PATTERN
RN students may take courses on a part-time basis, but for those who wish to go full time and have met the general education course requirements for the major and have advanced standing status (either by reason of transfer credit for equivalent content or through credit-by-examination), the following course sequence will provide for completion of BSN requirements in one additional academic year. These courses require regular enrollment. Some courses may be available during summer session.

Semester 1 (16 Hours)
NU 304 3 Hours
NU 308 5 Hours
NU 313 4 Hours
NU 478 2 Hours
NU elective 2 Hours
16 Hours

Semester 2 (17 Hours)
NU 343 3 Hours
NU 475 3 Hours
NU 479 3 Hours
NU 482 2 Hours
NU 483 2 Hours
NU 490 2 Hours
NU Elective 2 Hours
17 Hours

RN ARTICULATION ADVISEMENT AND PROCEDURES
Registered Nurse students seeking advisement in course work applying toward the degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing are encouraged to meet with a designated faculty advisor in the School of Nursing. The faculty advisor will assist the registered nurse student in developing an individualized degree plan based on work completed to date, the remaining requirements for the degree, and the specific needs of the student, such as full or part-time study, and day or evening classes. The faculty advisor will follow closely the progress of the registered nurse student through the program. Following admission to the School of Nursing advanced standing and/or transfer credit allowance will be determined. A final degree check is made by the Dean of Nursing and the Registrar s office prior to graduation to determine eligibility for graduation based on completion of all general education and nursing requirements for the degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Registered Nurses wishing to complete requirements for the B.S.N. should proceed as follows:
1. Obtain a copy of the Program of Study for Registered Nurses (RN Articulation for the BSN) that is available in the School of Nursing.
2. Schedule an appointment with a faculty advisor.
3. Apply for admission to the University by submitting to the Admissions Office the degree seeking application for Admission to the University.
4. Provide to the School of Nursing transcripts of the completed nursing program and of previous college credits obtained.
5. Meet with a nursing faculty advisor prior to each semester course enrollment.
6. Complete lower division general education courses which are the requirements for the BSN. All science courses must be completed prior to enrollment in upper division nursing courses.
7. File the RN application prior to, or during the semester of enrollment in NU 308. NU 308 (Nursing Science and Family Health) is the required transition or "bridge course" for RN students. This course provides the theoretical framework for the Nursing Major and familiarization with concepts that are integrated throughout the curriculum.
8. Graduates of Kansas associate degree or diploma nursing programs within the past ten years may receive direct transfer credit or Advanced Standing Credit equivalent for nursing courses according to the provisions of the Kansas Statewide Nursing Articulation Plan.
9. RN diploma graduates from other states and Kansas graduates of more than ten years ago, may obtain credit by examination (CBE) for advanced standing in the nursing major. Thirty-three (33) of the fifty-nine (59) credit hours of nursing are available for credit by examination for registered nurse students. RN students with an Associate Degree in Nursing may receive direct transfer credit for nursing course work taken in an NLN accredited ADN program. A maximum of 33 credit hours in nursing may be transferred from an associate degree nursing program. Forty upper division hours are required for graduation. Validation examinations are offered each semester at specified times through the School of Nursing and the Counseling and Testing Center of the University. Information is available in the School of Nursing on testing dates and preparation study guides.
10. Complete remaining upper division nursing course requirements. These courses may be completed in the equivalent of one academic year of full time study.

ADVANCED STANDING CREDIT
Registered Nurses may receive advanced standing credit that applies toward meeting University and Nursing Major requirements in the following ways:

1. TRANSFER CREDIT:
a. General Education Courses:
Washburn University will accept college-level courses from other recognized colleges and universities for transfer credit as defined by the policies in the Washburn University Catalog.
b. Nursing Courses:
Registered nurses who are graduates of Kansas associate degree or diploma programs within the past ten years may receive direct transfer credit for nursing courses as per the Kansas Statewide Nursing Articulation Plan. Registered Nurses who are graduates of other associate degree nursing programs may receive transfer credit for nursing course work taken in NLN accredited AND nursing programs when, in the judgment of the Dean of Nursing at Washburn University, the course content is equivalent to content required for the nursing major at Washburn University. Registered Nurse students who wish nursing transfer credit must submit to the School of Nursing a transcript from the college previously attended, together with a college catalog and all nursing course syllabi from the respective nursing courses completed. A maximum of 33 credit hours of nursing transfer credit will be awarded to graduates from associate degree nursing programs, provided the forty hour upper division requirement for graduation is met.

2. HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY:
a. High School Honors program in English waives the EN 101 (Freshman Composition) requirement.
b. Two (2) years of high school Algebra (at grade of B or above) may waive the MA 110/116 Algebra requirement which is the prerequisite for MA 140, Statistics.

3. C.L.E.P. EXAMINATIONS:
General examinations and subject examinations are offered under the College Level Examination Program (C.L.E.P.). The exams are designed to award credit to students entering the University at the Freshman Level. For more information, see index under "CLEP".

 


 


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