The Caylor School of Nursing offers two options to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree: the BSN Option and the RN-BSN Option (see following pages).
The end-of-program student learning outcomes state the graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program will:
- incorporate knowledge from the humanities, arts, social, and natural sciences into nursing as a basis for decision making in the delivery of care,
- apply a variety of leadership concepts such as quality improvement, nursing skills, and decision making to provide, coordinate, and oversee safe, quality nursing care,
- apply evidence-based practice and participate in the evaluation of the most current research,
- assimilate data from relevant sources which include technology and patient information systems to plan and document care and adhere to the ethical standards related to data security and confidentiality,
- demonstrate basic knowledge of health care policy including financial and regulatory environments to manage resources and time to achieve patient and organizational outcomes,
- use effective communication and collaboration as a member of the interprofessional health care team to advocate for and provide high quality and safe patient care,
- promote health adaptation and disease prevention for individuals, families, groups, and communities,
- adhere to standards of professional practice and be accountable for his/her own actions and behaviors and provide culturally competent nursing care within legal, ethical, and regulatory bodies,
- be prepared to deliver safe, effective, and efficient nursing care to individuals, families, support systems, groups, communities, and populations across the lifespan in today’s complex health care environment.
BSN Option
A student must successfully complete a total of 122 credit hours to be eligible for graduation; 62 general education credit hours and 60 nursing credit hours. Graduates of the BSN Option are eligible to apply to write the NCLEX-RN through the state Board of Nursing in which they plan to practice. The Board of Nursing has the right to deny licensure to practice nursing to individuals guilty of crime, unprofessional conduct, or incompetence. Direct any questions regarding eligibility to take the licensing examination to the Board of Nursing in the state in which the student wishes to be registered. The specific rules related to eligibility for the licensing may be found as follows: TN Rule 1000-01-.13, (2-5); FL Rule Section 464.008, F.S.; KY Rule 201KAR20:070.
Please be aware that in certain academic programs requiring internship or placement, an additional criminal background check, and an chain of custody urine drug screen (in addition to the one required with the medical profile), may be required by affiliate agencies and organizations. If required, these tests would be at the student’s expense.
BSN Option Admission Requirements
Students must first be admitted to the University before formally applying for admission to the BSN program. Admission to the University, however, does not guarantee admission to the BSN program. Admission to the program is competitive. Factors considered include: cumulative grade point average, ACT/SAT scores, grades/grade point average in required BSN Degree Core Curriculum courses, number of repeated courses and withdrawals, and grade improvement over time. The Admissions Committee will review all applicants’ materials. Applicants will be considered based on admission criteria. Interviews may be conducted.
Any omission, false, or misleading information on the application related to prior admission to a nursing school will preclude the student from being considered for admission or will result in the student being dismissed from the program.
Admission criteria for the BSN Option include:
- Admission to LMU.
- Formal application for admission to the CSON BSN Option Program.
- Satisfactory completion of general education and program course requirements (non-degree holding transfer students may take LNCN 100 and CIVX 300 at any time during the nursing program, or prior to matriculation).
- Submission of official academic transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended.
- Completion of BIOL 100, BIOL 230, BIOL 261, BIOL 262, CHEM 100, PSYC 221, MATH 270, and HLTH 210, with grades no lower than “C”.
- Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher.
- Completed medical profile form.
Prior to beginning the BSN nursing program the student must submit:
- A completed physical examination form.
- Evidence of a negative chain of custody urine drug screen and background check.
- Current negative two-step TST or blood assay for Mycobac. Tuberc. with a completed TB Risk Assessment form; Rubella, Rubeola & Mumps titer or documentation of 2 MMR vaccines; Varicella titer or immunization with Varicella vaccine; Flu immunization; COVID immunization; Hepatitis B immunization series; and proof of Tdap booster within the past 10 years.
- Current CPR certification (must be Healthcare provider and include adult, child and infant training).
- Proof of medical insurance coverage.
- Completed and signed Student Essential Functions Form.
Core Curriculum Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree Program
Students enrolled in the BSN Option of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program must complete 62 general education credit hours. Students admitted to the program who have earned a Bachelor’s Degree (or higher) will be required to meet the eight general education program requirements if not obtained already. These include: BIOL 100, PSYC 221, CHEM 100, MATH 270, BIOL 230, BIOL 261, BIOL 262, and HLTH 210.
No student may begin the BSN Option, until all general education and program requirements are met. However, students who do not have a Bachelor’s degree may take LNCN 100 and CIVX 300 courses at any time during the BSN Program.
General Education
LMU Specific Courses
I. English Communication
II. Humanities
III. Behavioral/Social Sciences
PSCY 221 is a requirement of the nursing program.
IV. Mathematics
MATH 270 is a requirement of the nursing program.
V. History
Must take 6 hours of history courses. Courses do not have to be in sequence.
VI. Natural Sciences/Physical Sciences
VII. Collateral Courses required for BSN Program
General Education Proficiency
Required testing and other measures are used to determine the extent to which students achieve the learning outcomes of The Lincoln Liberal Arts Core Curriculum at both the Associates and Baccalaureate levels. Students graduating from an Associate’s degree program are tested in the semester of graduation. Students pursuing a baccalaureate degree are tested when enrolled in CIVX 300. Students are strongly encouraged to become familiar with the tests which are used and to perform at their highest level on each of these tests. Students achieving scores and ratings demonstrating achievement more than one standard deviation above the LMU average shall receive a LMU General Education Outstanding Achievement Certificate.
Students pursuing a baccalaureate degree must exceed a minimum score on both the ETS Proficiency Profile exam and the ETS Essay Writing Exam or pay an additional fee of $20 per exam to repeat the necessary exam for which they fall below the achievement level set by the LMU General Education Committee. Results of the repeated test(s) will be used by the LMU General Education Committee to determine if the student has met or exceeded the student learning outcomes of The Lincoln Liberal Arts Core Curriculum. If the student’s subsequent results from repeated testing fall below the achievement levels set by the LMU GE Committee, the GE Committee will prescribe a specific remediation plan and mechanisms to demonstrate achievement of The Lincoln Liberal Arts Core Curriculum student learning outcomes. Until that achievement is successfully demonstrated the student will have a No Credit (“NC”) grade assigned for CIVX300. The expected levels to demonstrate achievement of The Lincoln Liberal Arts Core Curriculum are: Essay Writing - greater than a rating of 2 and ETS Proficiency Profile – greater than one standard deviation less than the three-year LMU average on this exam. Scores from repeated exams are not included in this average calculation.
BSN Option
The first two years of curriculum consist of general education courses which provide a broad science and liberal arts foundation for nursing theory and clinical practice. Once the general education requirements have been met, the full-time BSN student could complete the program in four sequential semesters: Fall I, Spring, Summer, and Fall II (17 months) at the Cedar Bluff, Chattanooga, Lexington, KY, and Tampa, FL sites. The program at the Harrogate Site is based on traditional semesters and is delivered Fall I, Spring I, Fall II, and Spring II. The Tower Site is traditional with a start date in January and is delivered Spring I, Fall I, Spring II, and Fall II.
BSN Option Core Curriculum
Note: For courses with a NURS prefix, 1 clock hour of lecture per week for 15 weeks earns 1 credit hour; 3 clock hours of clinical/lab time per week for 15 weeks earns 1 credit hour. In addition, students may only register for a NURS course with the signature of a nursing advisor or the BSN Program Chair on their registration form.
Transfer of Credit for the BSN Option
Up to 59 credit hours of general education and collateral courses may be transferred into the BSN program from accredited institutions. All transferred coursework must carry a grade of “C” or better. Credit for Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, and/or Microbiology (including labs for these courses) earned more than eight years ago must be approved by the BSN Program Chair
All transfer credit into the BSN program must be approved by both the BSN Program Chair, and the Dean of the Caylor School of Nursing. No nursing courses will be transferred into the BSN Program.