Navigating Undergraduate Nursing Programs: A Comprehensive Overview

The path to becoming a registered nurse (RN) often begins with selecting the right undergraduate nursing program. This article provides a comprehensive overview of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs, exploring key aspects such as admission requirements, curriculum structure, program features, and factors to consider when choosing a program. It aims to guide prospective students through the complexities of undergraduate nursing education, helping them make informed decisions that align with their career aspirations.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is designed to prepare a competent, self-directed, general practitioner of nursing who can assume increasing responsibility and leadership in the delivery of nursing care. Earning your nursing degree, particularly at the BSN level, significantly expands your professional opportunities and career advancement potential in healthcare. Many healthcare systems prefer hiring nurses with a bachelor’s-level nursing degree over those with associate degrees, and some organizations require a BSN degree for certain positions.

Admission Requirements

General Requirements

Prospective students must apply to the university through the Office of Admissions, pay the application fee, and submit official transcripts to the UT Arlington’s Admission’s Office. The Admission’s Office is also responsible for calculating the admission GPA. Basic admission requirements must be met before a student can be accepted. After admission to the University, a College of Nursing and Health Innovation (CONHI) Undergraduate Academic Advisor will review the application file for nursing-specific requirements. Students should review the CONHI undergraduate program-specific requirements.

At Florida State University, students are admitted through a competitive application process to the College of Nursing after they have completed the nursing prerequisites and a minimum of sixty (60) credit hours of courses that fulfill General Education / Graduation Requirements per the FSU catalog or an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree from an accredited Florida public institution. To be qualified for admissions, applicants must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and earn a C or better in all prerequisite coursework. Please note, a C- (minus) is not accepted for prerequisite coursework. Students must complete the following graduation requirements by the end of the semester in which they submit their application. All transfer and non-FSU applicants must ALSO submit the Florida State University Transfer application.

Standardized Entrance Exams

All students are required to take a standardized entrance exam to evaluate prospective students and their potential for successful program completion. Nursing and Health students admitted to UT Arlington as freshman or transfer students are required to take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam for their standardized admission exam to the BSN Prelicensure program. The TEAS exam is an assessment of a student’s academic preparedness for health science-related programs. UT Arlington's BSN Prelicensure program requires students to meet a proficiency score in each section to be eligible to apply. Proficient scores range from 58.7%-77.3%. If the TEAS exam is repeated, all sections must be re-taken.

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Criminal Background Check

All students accepted to the upper division nursing program must complete their Board of Nursing (BON) criminal background check (CBC) and receive their results by the first week in March (fall applicants) or the first week in September (spring graduates). All requests are submitted by completing a BON CBC Form in MyMav. Once received, the information is reviewed to determine if a prior request has been sent or if this is a new request. After this determination is made, your information will be submitted to the BON on a roster, or we will contact you for more information. It takes the BON 7 to 10 business days to process these requests. Once the BON receives your criminal background check results, it takes at least 10 business days (sometimes longer) before you will receive the results in the form of a blue postcard or outcome letter. You will be instructed where to upload The CBC process takes at least 3 to 4 weeks from start to finish. Keep your blue postcard or outcome letter in a safe place. Students are encouraged to take a picture of the letter or side of the card with your name and address to keep as a backup copy just in case it is misplaced. Note: The BON communicates directly with students and does not relate personal student information to the College. We have new process to initiate the Board of Nursing criminal background check. You are required to submit your request via MyMav. Please verify your information is correct in MyMav before proceeding. If your information is incorrect, click on this link for information on how to submit a records change. Completed prior the JR I semester start.

Holistic Admissions

The College of Nursing at Florida State University utilizes a holistic admissions process that assesses an applicant’s unique experiences alongside traditional measures of academic achievement. Community engagement and work experience are considered along with the overall grade point average and prerequisite grade point average to select the most qualified applicants for entry into our program. This approach allows them to use multiple sources of information to get the fullest picture of each applicant’s potential and helps ensure the potential for success in both nursing school and later as a professional nurse. The Admissions Committee uses a holistic assessment process that considers many factors, including student experiences and academic metrics.

Curriculum Structure and Learning Experiences

Foundational Courses

You’ll start your BSN degree program with 8-week general education courses. During your second year, you’ll wrap up your general and healthcare foundational courses and begin your nursing core. The BSN Prelicensure curriculum is divided into four semesters to provide continuity and integration in the learning experiences.

Clinical Experiences

Hands-on practice in our on-campus skills lab and simulation lab, as well as in a variety of hospitals, clinics and other public health care settings, begins within your first year in the program. Nursing courses include classroom and laboratory activities correlated with supervised clinical practice experiences. You’ll also embark on your first clinical experience. Nursing core continues into your third year, which also entails specialty and advanced classes. You’ll also work alongside medical professionals and gain caregiving experience during clinical rotations. The BSN program is FOUR consecutive semesters in length (15-16 months) and provides learning experiences in various clinical settings, including community health agencies, clinics, hospitals, and homes. Students will develop skills in managing patients from various backgrounds and cultures.

During Semester 3 at Florida State University, students attend clinicals outside of Tallahassee. Students may be assigned clinical rotations in locations such as (but not limited to) Jacksonville, Pensacola, Orlando or Atlanta. During Semester 4, students may be placed outside Tallahassee for their internship. Every effort will be made to accommodate students' requests for placement. Students are responsible for all transportation and living costs.

Honors Program

The UT Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation, in conjunction with the Honors College, offers the opportunity to earn an Honors Degree. To earn this degree, a student must have at least 24 hours of Honors coursework, including at least 12 hours of honors coursework in nursing at UTA. The 12 hours in nursing must include 3 hours in Research (a required course), and a 3-hour Senior Project (Thesis/Creative Activity, Service Learning, Study Abroad, or Internship). The remainder of the student’s Honors hours can be earned in any of the nursing courses in which a student contracts for an Honors project. Honors College admission is competitive. Though you must meet the above criteria, admission is not based solely on grades or scores. The Admissions Committee looks for evidence in the application of strong analytic and imaginative abilities.

Program Features and Support Services

Faculty and Class Sizes

Class sizes in the BSN degree program are kept to a minimum and are taught by instructors with extensive experience and credibility in the nursing field. The teachers and administration of Arizona College really do care about us. In my first month, the Dean had a 1-on-1 meeting with me to see how I was feeling. If you are doubting whether you can become a nurse, the Arizona College teachers and staff will show you that you absolutely can.

Simulation Laboratories

The BSN degree program is supported by a variety of web-based education applications that support the development of critical thinking and critical judgement. State-of-the-art high fidelity human patient simulation laboratories provide a safe space for practicing clinical care and learning by peer feedback and self reflection.

Student Success Programs

The Student Success Program was initially implemented in 2004 to increase retention and graduation rates of nursing students from disadvantaged backgrounds (including racial and ethnic minorities underrepresented among registered nurses) by providing activities to support their success. With the launching of the online program in 2010, the program was conceptualized to address the unique needs of online students. All pre-licensure nursing students can benefit from Student Success services. Beginning during JR I Orientation and continuing until graduation, the Student Success Coordinators assist students with the transition into nursing school, provide stress management strategies, and support students through classroom and online presentations that focus on clinical course content. Peer mentors are coordinated through Student Success. Students may be referred to the Student Success Center by faculty or they may seek assistance directly with the coordinator and faculty. The most common areas of student need include: study skills, time management, test-taking strategies, math, HESI comprehensive exam and course preparation sessions. A course, Learning Professional Nursing and Life Skills (NURS 2232), is offered to assist students who experience challenges with testing, time management, study habits, and/or professional behavior. This course is required for students who fail a nursing course and/or score below a preset standard on the course HESI tests. The Center has relocated to the second floor of Pickard Hall, room 220. There are five computers housed in the area, a large open room for group studying or meetings, and resources that can be checked for current student use.

E-Tutoring

E-tutoring is available for all undergraduate students experiencing academic difficulty.

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Factors to Consider When Choosing a Program

Accreditation

When choosing your nursing degree program, look for accreditation from recognized bodies like the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Offered at our main campus in Tallahassee, Florida, our nationally accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program provides students with quality preparation to pursue nursing careers in all specialties and areas of nursing.

NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Consider the program’s NCLEX-RN pass rates, as this shows how well the program prepares students for licensure. As a graduate of the BSN degree program, you are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX).

Clinical Placement Opportunities and Program Scheduling

Evaluate clinical placement opportunities, faculty qualifications, and whether the program offers the program scheduling based on your lifestyle. Clarkson College accepts students into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program beginning in the fall, spring and summer semesters.

Work-Life Balance

Undergraduate education requires students to have dedicated time to devote to studying, completing assignments, preparing for, and other course work. Students are encouraged to consider their work schedules and commitments considering the demands of the nursing program and adjust accordingly. Commitments which compete with undergraduate study may result in suboptimal academic performance and place the student in academic jeopardy. In general, for every-one semester credit hour of enrollment a student should allocate 3 hours of study time outside of class. It is recommended that a student’s employment not exceed 16-20 hours per week in either regular or summer semesters. Limit the number of hours you work to 16 per week. Study EVERY Plan to study a minimum of 20-30 minutes EACH day for EACH course. Use the resources available to you. This includes clinical faculty, lead teacher, peer mentors, student success, family, and friends. To be the most successful on nursing school tests, you must know the material and understand how to apply the information on a test. Good test taking strategies DO NOT replace knowledge, but they can enhance your ability to do well on tests when you are well informed.

Previous Life and Work Experience

Clarkson College applicants and current students may inquire about the possibility of receiving credit for previous life and/or work experience(s) per Academic Policy AA-47.

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