Degree Requirements
NURS 240R - Pathophysiology
NURS 335R - Health Assessment Strategies
NURS 475R - Care of Populations
NURS 472R - Scholarly Inquiry: Connecting Research to Practice
NURS 484R - Quality, Safety and the Professional Nurse
NURS 480R - Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Systems
The accelerated registered nurse to Bachelor of Science in nursing (RN to BS) option in the School of Nursing is designed for students who have previously graduated from associate degree nursing programs and diploma nursing programs. This program is offered in a flexible, entirely online format to accommodate the needs of working registered nurses (RNs). The program format consists of eight-week courses, and can be completed in one year (three semesters) if most of the general education requirements are met at the time of admission. Students may also choose to pursue a slower program progression.
Bridge Process
Once a student entering the RN to BS program provides evidence of a current unencumbered RN license, the School of Nursing will complete an overall assessment of the student’s work experience and previously completed community college and university nursing coursework. The School of Nursing may then grant up to 40 or 43 proficiency credits to provide the student with advanced standing in the nursing program. These credits differ from the transfer of courses. If the student’s college or university credits are greater than five years old, the candidate will need to submit a portfolio to demonstrate proficiency in the areas in which credit is sought, along with evidence of a current unencumbered RN license.
Applicants who have completed their nursing coursework over five years prior to acceptance into the program are required to submit a portfolio of their professional work prior to their initial course in the program. The portfolio will be reviewed by the RN to BS program director. The proficiency credit is not applied to the student’s transcript until successful completion of the bridge courses with a grade of C or better. The proficiency credits will apply towards the nursing major at SIUE.
General Education Requirements for the Accelerated RN to BS Option
Prerequisite Requirements (must have a grade of C or higher)
- Anatomy & Physiology I (BLS, EL) - 4
- Anatomy & Physiology II (BLS, EL) - 4
- Microbiology (LS) - 3
Complete "Immersion" Prior to Registration in NURS 240R
Prior to enrolling in the first nursing course (NURS 240R), it is recommended that students complete the “immersion” to the RN-BS program on Blackboard. This immersion is separated into four modules. The first three modules provide information regarding (1) how to be a successful online student, (2) how to best use the Blackboard tools, and (3) library resources. In the fourth module, the student will demonstrate successful use of many of the Blackboard tools used in the nursing courses. The “immersion” will be a resource for students throughout the program.
Additional Curriculum Requirements
Senior Assignment
All nursing majors are required to complete a senior assignment. In the accelerated RN to BS program, students will complete their senior assignment in NURS 484R and 480R or NURS 606 and 490R in the accelerated undergraduate to graduate option. The senior assignment for the accelerated RN to BS program is completed remotely. At the end of NURS480R or 490R students will present their senior assignment project to course participants, course faculty and other invited faculty. Students in NURS 480R or 490R will complete a capstone reflection summarizing the development of the student from admission to the nursing program to graduation as a baccalaureate prepared professional nurse.
Student Transportation to Clinical Practicum
Students may be required to travel to clinical sites for the practicum experience. Transportation to those sites is the responsibility of the student.
Health/Background Check Information
At the student's expense, the following must be submitted to the approved vendor and according to the instructions and due dates provided by the School of Nursing:
- Immunization waiver form (provided to student)
- Criminal background check
- Unencumbered RN license (before enrollment in NURS 475R)
Retention
- Students must achieve a grade of 75.5% (rounded) or above to pass a nursing course and progress to the next sequence of courses. The grading scale for the School of Nursing is: A=93-100; B=85-92; C=76-84; D=68-75 and F below 68. Students will be excluded from the School of Nursing if they receive two failing grades (grades below C) in nursing courses.
- All students admitted to the undergraduate nursing program are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above.
- Students must receive a grade of C or higher for all prerequisite and corequisite courses for nursing. Corequisite courses include BIOL 240B, RA 101, STAT 107 (or STAT 244), and PHIL 225, 320, or 321. Students must complete ENG 101, ENG 102, and ACS 101 or ACS 103 or equivalents with a C or better prior to enrolling in NURS 475R.
- Students must meet the standards set in the SIUE School of Nursing Performance Standards https://www.siue.edu/nursing/academic-programs/. Students are subject to all the retention and progression standards as indicated in the SON policy and the SIUE Academic Standards of Performance 1I1.
- Students must meet all mandatory drug screening requirements, health mandates and background checks required by the school of nursing policies.
Accelerated Undergraduate to Graduate Nursing Options
Students in the accelerated RN to BS program may apply for accelerated graduate program options for Master of Science degrees in healthcare nursing administration or nurse educator, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree for the family nurse practitioner program. Students who are eligible to enter these options may replace seven credits of nursing undergraduate courses with nursing graduate courses, reducing both time and cost involved in attaining a graduate degree.
