Nursing, B.S.N.

The School of Nursing offers a pre-licensure undergraduate program, the completion of which results in educational eligibility for the graduate to write the Registered Nurse Licensing Examination for R.N. Licensure. Additionally, the School of Nursing offers an online post-licensure undergraduate program through which the licensed registered nurse may complete the requirements for the B.S.N. degree. A Graduate M.S.N. program is offered through the RODP that includes multiple tracts. Students must review their course of studies with a designated School of Nursing Advisor each semester.

Accreditation

The B.S.N. Program is approved by the Tennessee Department of Health, Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). These organizations may be reached at:

Tennessee Board of Nursing
227 French Landing Heritage Place
Suite 300, Metro Center
Nashville, TN 37243

National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850  Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
www.nlnac.org

Additional Admission Requirements

B.S.N. Admission Requirements

(See www.apsu.edu/nursing01 for latest admission criteria)

General Information

1. There are 3 semesters of pre-requisite classes that must be completed before beginning nursing classes.
2. There are 2 application periods. Fall (application deadline May 1) and Spring (application deadline September 1).
3. The application and information about admission testing is posted on the School of Nursing website at www.apsu.edu/nursing01 (March 1 and July 1).
4. The TEAS admission test composes 1/3 of your ranking for admission to the School of Nursing. This is administered in April and August.
5. READ the admission criteria on the website if you have not yet done so.
6. Core classes and deficiencies must be completed before beginning nursing classes (no grade lower than a “C” is acceptable in nursing prerequisites).
7. GPA must be 3.0 (based on the BSN Core Curriculum courses which follow) to be eligible to apply. To be competitive your GPA should be closer to 3.5. (Any course that has been repeated will have all grades included when computing your average admission purposes.)

In order to apply the student must:

1. Be admitted to Austin Peay State University by the School of Nursing application deadline.
2. Complete and submit the School of Nursing application by the application deadline, Only completed applications will be considered for admission.
3. Have completed at least 30 hours with no grades lower than a “C” in nursing prerequites and APSU general education requirements. These hours must include:
   
   1. 8 hours of science from
      BIOL 2010/2011
       ,
      BIOL 2020/2021
       and/or
      BIOL 2300/2301
        
   2. 6 hours nursing prerequisites from PSY 1010 , PSY 3100 , SOC 2010 , and/or MATH 1530 
   3. 16 hours of APSU core from ENGL 1010 , ENGL 1020 , 
      ENGL 2030
        , HIST 2010 , HIST 2020 , Humanities 6 hours, and/or COMM 1010 
   4. APSU 1000  (not required for transfer students with more than 12 hours)
4. Have a documented plan for completion of remaining core and prerequisite courses prior to starting nursing courses.
5. Have completed all prerequisite Biology courses within seven (7) years of the time of application.
6. Have cleared any high school deficiencies.
7. Meet core performance and professional (technical) standards.

Further admission requirements (for ranking of applicant pool) that students must have:

1. A minimum calculated GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale based on grades received in APSU general education requirements and nursing prerequisites.
   
   1. Consideration is given to students who have a calculated GPA greater than 3.0 and/or who have completed all core and prerequisite courses at Austin Peay.
   2. If a student attempts a course more than once, the grades from every attempt will be used to calculate the admission GPA.
2. Completed the required standardized nursing entrance examination by the School of Nursing application deadline. The required examination may be taken once per application period.
   
   1. The fee-based examination must be taken on campus at APSU unless there are extenuating circumstances recognized by the School of Nursing Admission and Retention Committee.

Following acceptance into the B.S.N. program, students must:

1. Provide evidence of liability and health insurance. Evidence of physical and/or mental health may be required following admission or at any time during the program;
2. Provide verification of a negative report of a two-step tuberculin skin test dated no more than two months prior to enrollment in nursing courses (a negative chest X-ray will be required in the context of a positive tuberculin skin test), proof of immunity to rubella, varicella, rubeola, and Hepatitis B series and a tetanus booster within the last 10 years;
3. Provide verification of current certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support (CPS), comparable to the Health Care Provider Course of the American Heart Association; and,
4. Comply with criminal background checks and drug screening as required for eligibility to access entrance into specific clinical agencies as related to clinical course objectives.

Pending review by the Tennessee Board of Nursing, persons who have been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation could be ineligible for Registered Nurse Licensure in the State of Tennessee, even though they have successfully completed the program.

B.S.N. Completion Program Admission Requirements

Application and admission requirements to the B.S.N. completion track are the same as for the basic program. In addition, authorization to practice as a registered nurse either by licensure or board authorization must be documented prior to initiation of any clinical course. Upper division credit status must be determined by the B.S.N. completion track. Coordinator or School of Nursing Director at the time of initial application for specified nursing courses. To receive escrow transfer credit for lower division nursing courses, students must submit verification of graduation from an NLNAC accredited program.

Students not graduating from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited program must take approved College Examinations or courses as specifically advised by the B.S.N. completion track Coordinator or School of Nursing Director.