RN-BSN Degree Completion Requirements

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Students are admitted to the RN-BSN Degree Completion program after they have completed the Associates Degree in Nursing or Diploma in Nursing, receive an unencumbered RN license, and any prerequisites or admission requirement.

The RN-BSN Degree Completion requires a total of 128 credit hours. Thirty-two semester hours must be earned through Saint Joseph’s College.

Diploma / Associate Nursing & Electives

Course Title	CRN#	Credits
Diploma / Associate Nursing Credits	NU	30.00 +/-
General Electives	GEN	29.00 +/-
TOTAL DIPLOMA / ASSOCIATE NURSING & ELECTIVES		59.00

General Education Requirements

Course Title	CRN#	Credits
English Composition I	EH106	3.0
English Composition II	EH107	3.0
Elementary Statistics	MA205	3.0
History	HIS	3.0
Philosophy	PHL	3.0
Nutrition	NN202	3.0
Theology	THE	3.0
Introduction to Psychology	PY101	3.0
Introduction to Sociology	SO201	3.0
Humanities	HMN	6.0
Environmental Science	ES101	3.0
TOTAL GENERAL EDUCATION CREDITS		36.0

 Core Nursing Requirements

Course Title	CRN#	Credits
Healthcare Informatics	HA214	3.0
Professional Transitions	NU300	3.0
Evidence-Based Practice	NU309	3.0
Health Assessment for RNs	NU316	4.0
Clinical Prevention and Population Health	NU321	4.0
Heathcare Policy	NU412	3.0
Quality Care and Patient Safety	NU413	3.0
Interprofessional Teams	NU414	3.0
Leadership and Management for RNs	NU415	4.0
Evidence-Based Practice Capstone	NU407P	3.0
TOTAL CORE NURSING REQUIREMENTS		33.0

 Saint Joseph’s College Online RN-BSN Degree

TOTAL RN-BSN DEGREE

128.0

Progression

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Students enrolled in the nursing major must follow the prescribed curriculum sequence. All 200 and 300 level nursing courses and health assessment must be completed before enrolling in 400-level courses. Students who receive less than a C+ grade (78) in a nursing course may not progress to subsequent courses until a passing grade is achieved (78 or above). Students may take a required nursing course twice. Students who receive less than a C+ grade (78) twice for the same nursing course or who have not received an acceptable transfer grade, will be required to withdraw from the nursing major.

Additional Admission Requirements

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1. Applicants must be graduates of a Diploma or Associate degree in Nursing, accredited at the time of graduation by CCNE or ACEN

• Diploma or Associate degree in Nursing program must have been completed with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

2. Applicants are required to hold an active, unrestricted RN license. RNs are to provide their license number to Saint Joseph’s College for verification. Applicants who have had license sanctions must be without restrictions during the two years prior to Saint Joseph’s application.

Note: Additional RN- Bachelor of Science in Nursing program policies can be located in the Student Handbook.

http://online.sjcme.edu/pdf/DistanceNursingHandbook.pdf

International Applicants

International applicants must be graduates of nursing programs equivalent to ACEN or CCNE-accredited baccalaureate nursing degrees. International applicants educated in countries other than the United States, must contact the Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (COGFNS) for credentialing at:  Commission of Foreign Nursing Schools, 3600 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651 USA.  Applicant Inquiries:  215-349-8767.  Graduates of foreign nursing schools must submit an official report from the COGFNS.

Criminal Background Check Policy

All students will be required to submit to a criminal background check as part of preparation for practica/capstone courses. Students will be enrolled in a web based background screening and immunization tracker program (CertifiedBackground.com). The results of the one- time criminal background check are stored until a student graduates from the SJC Online BSN program or is no longer in the nursing program. In the event that the clinical practica extend beyond a 12 month period, an additional background check may be required. Criminal Background check items disqualifying a student from continuing into the clinical portion of the program include the following:

1. Misdemeanor involving violence/drug related offenses
2. Felony, pending felony, sex abuse conviction

If a student disputes the background check findings, they have up to 2 weeks to do the following:

1. Contact Certified Background Check directly to dispute findings or request supporting documentation.
2. Submit their dispute in writing to the Program Director. (see Student Handbook for details)

Process of the dispute: (see Student Handbook for details).

Drug Screen Policy

All students will be required to submit to an initial urine 10-drug panel screening performed at a SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) certified laboratory as part of Phase I preparation for clinical practica. Students will be enrolled in a web based background screening and immunization tracker program where specific instructions for drug urine testing are provided (CertifiedBackground.com – (see Student Handbook for details). The results of the urine drug screen are stored until a student graduates from the SJC Online MSN program or is no longer in the nursing program. At the direction and discretion of the Program Director, additional drug urine screens may be requested of the student. Any substance found on urine drug screen not explained by prescription and identified within the PCP documented physical exam is considered unacceptable and is grounds for a student to be denied access to the remaining practica/capstone portion of the Saint Joseph’s College BSN program. If a student disputes the findings, they have up to 2 weeks to do the following: (see Student Handbook for details).

CPR Policy

All students in clinical courses must present evidence of provider CPR certification (copy of both sides of card) before starting clinical. A provider level CPR course includes one and two rescuer CPR and covers adult, infant and child CPR. Evidence of CPR certification will be submitted in the Certified Background online tracking program (see Student Handbook for details).

Health Requirements

All students are required to maintain Individual Health Insurance Coverage that covers $10,000 per claim. Additional health requirements may be deemed necessary by the clinical agency and are at the student’s expense. In addition to the College health requirements, MSN/FNP students are required to supply evidence of meeting the following requirements prior to starting clinical courses: Evidence of health requirements will be submitted in the Certified Background online tracking program (see Student Handbook for details) Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). All students must conform to clinical site Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) policies and the HIPAA national standards. It is required that all students supply the SJC Department of Online Nursing Education confirmation of attendance at HIPAA training either through their clinical agency or work agency. Documentation of attendance at a valid HIPAA training session will be submitted in the Certified Background online tracking program (see Student Handbook for details) All students must hold an active and unrestricted R.N. license in their state of practice. RN license numbers will be submitted in the Certified Background online tracking program. Documentation of this requirement will be submitted in the Certified Background online tracking program. (see Student Handbook for details).