Bachelor of Science in Nursing B.S.N.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Georgia College is fully approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing (237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217-3858; 478-207-2440) and is designed to satisfy the current educational requirements prescribed by the Board of Nursing for professional licensure. Upon successful completion of this program, the unlicensed graduate is eligible to apply for licensure as a registered professional nurse by examination (NCLEX-RN). Approval for admission to the licensing examination and subsequent licensure of qualified applicants is granted by the Georgia Board of Nursing. Criminal background checks are required by O.C.G.A. § 43-26-7. Any history of arrest may affect the applicant’s ability to complete the program or obtain licensure.
The BSN program at Georgia College is fully approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Nursing Admission Requirements
Admission to the nursing program is highly competitive and may be limited based on availability of qualified faculty and maintaining student to faculty:ratios required by standards of the Georgia Board of Nursing. All students who apply to the major may not be admitted.
Agencies where clinical and practical experiences take place may require students to undergo a criminal background check, to complete urine drug screens, and to meet the agency requirements for immunizations. Students desiring to enter the School of Nursing should consider these requirements. Agencies may refuse any student based on failure to meet these guidelines or other agency guidelines. Refusal of an agency to accept a student may delay or prevent a student from completing the program. Professional licensing boards may also refuse to license individuals who have committed certain criminal acts or other acts of moral turpitude.
Undeclared: Nursing Track - An applicant who meets Georgia College requirements may be admitted to the University for any academic term and be classified as an Undeclared: Nursing Track student. This enables the student to take core curriculum courses. Acceptance as an Undeclared: Nursing Track student does not guarantee acceptance into the upper division nursing major.
Nursing Major - Enrollment in the nursing major is limited to the most qualified students as determined by the Admission, Progression, and Recognition Committee of the Nursing Faculty Organization.
Minimum criteria for admission to the upper division nursing major:
- Completion of all Core Curriculum requirements for health science majors
- Attainment of cumulative and pre-nursing GPAs of at least 2.75
- Attainment of a grade of C or better in each of the following courses: Introductory Sciences (Survey Chemistry (1151 & 1152 or Biology 1100 & 1120), Human Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOL 2160), Human Anatomy and Physiology II (BIOL 2170), Microbiology (BIOL 3180), English Composition (ENGL 1101), and Probability and Statistics (MATH 2600) and Healthcare Delivery Systems (NRSG 2780).
- Successful completion of legislative requirements
- Submission of official SAT or ACT scores to the Admissions Office
- Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) score (latest version)
Students who have met these minimum criteria must apply to the School of Nursing for acceptance into the upper division nursing major (http://www.gcsu.edu/health/nursing/nursing-bsn). Students who satisfy the basic requirements for admission as described above are evaluated by an admission's formula and ranked. Applications for Fall admission into the nursing major should be submitted by the first Friday in February. Applications for Spring admission into the nursing major should be submitted by the last Friday in July. Application to the RN-BSN program is open, for details see the RN-BSN Application process. All potential students are encouraged to communicate with their advisors as admission dates and admission criteria are subject to change.
Technical Standards for Admission to and Retention in the Undergraduate Program
Nurses have an obligation not only to themselves and the profession but also to the public to provide safe, competent and responsible care. Nursing students shall be in reasonably good health, and any disability should not hinder the student in administering safe nursing care. The following is a list of examples of essential functions that a student must be capable of performing while in the nursing program at Georgia College. The examples are not intended to be exhaustive.
Core performance standards for admission and progression as recommended by the Southern Regional Educational Board (SREB)
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Requirements
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Standards
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Examples
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Critical thinking
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Critical thinking ability for effective clinical reasoning and clinical judgement consistent with level of educational preparation
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Identification of cause/effect relationships in clinical situations
Use of the scientific method in the development of patient care plans
Evaluation of the effectiveness of nursing interventions
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Professional Relationships
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Interpersonal skills sufficient for professional interactions with a diverse population of individuals, families and groups
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Establishment of rapport with patients' clients and colleagues
Capacity to engage in successful conflict resolution
Peer accountability
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Communication
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Communication adeptness sufficient for verbal and written professional interactions
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Explanation of treatment procedures, initiation of health teaching
Documentation and interpretation of nursing actions and patient/client responses
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Mobility
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Physical abilities sufficient for movement from room to room and in small spaces.
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Movement about patient's room, work spaces and treatment areas
Administration of rescue procedures-cardiopulmonary resuscitation
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Motor skills
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Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient for providing safe, effective nursing care
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Calibration and use of equipment
Therapeutic positioning of patients
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Hearing
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Auditory ability sufficient for monitoring and assessing health needs
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Ability to hear monitoring device alarm and other emergency signals
Ability to discern auscultatory sounds and cries for help
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Visual
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Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care
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Ability to observe patient's condition and responses to treatments
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Tactile
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Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment
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Ability to palpitate in physical examinations and various therapeutic interventions
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Additional Requirements
Students who are accepted into the BSN program must submit evidence of health status, health insurance, immunizations, TB screening, RN or other professional license if applicable, current American Heart Association Health Care Provider certification (CPR), ability to meet technical standards, and other documents and laboratory tests specified by clinical agencies. In addition, criminal background checks and urine drug screens are required by many clinical facilities.
Any student who is licensed by the State of Georgia must submit evidence of current licensure annually including those who are Registered Nurses.
Additional Fees for Nursing Students
Nursing students should expect the following additional fees: HESI testing (may be included in some course fees), uniforms, watch with sweep-second hand, physical assessment equipment, official GC picture identification, malpractice insurance, health insurance , criminal background screens, clinical travel expenses and laboratory fees (for additional health screening such as urine drug screens, titers, etc. as well as academic laboratory and testing fees). Estimated costs of additional fees for the BSN program are approximately $2,000.00 excluding health insurance premiums. In addition, nursing textbooks tend to be more costly than books for core courses, but are often used in several courses. Other fees related to licensure may include passport size pictures, NCLEX RN testing fee and fingerprinting.
The large number of health care agencies in the region makes it possible for the College of Health Sciences to offer a variety of clinical learning opportunities; however, students can anticipate driving up to 100 miles for clinical learning on occasion. Travel expenses are the responsibility of the student.
Nursing B.S.N.
Areas A, B, C, D for health professions majors, & E (See Core section of the Catalog) (42 semester hours)
Degree Requirements
Area F
Major Requirements (60 semester hours)
Dismissal Policy
Nursing majors are required to achieve a grade of C or higher in all nursing courses to remain in the nursing program. Students no earning a grade of C or higher may petition the School of Nursing Admissions and progressions Committee for readmission to the program. Student readmission, when approved, requires a new program of study and the timing of the student's return is based on the space available in the nursing cohorts. Students may not repeat more than one nursing course. A nursing student who is unsuccessful in two nursing courses in ineligible to continue in the program.
NOTE: A 1-hour seminar course is a program requirement during the first semester of the freshman year in all majors but is not counted in the total hours for graduation. The freshman seminar for nursing students facilitates development of skills necessary for a successful and meaningful collegiate experience. Students will take GCSU 0001 to meet the 1-hour seminar requirement.
Testing
Students admitted to the Georgia College Nursing Program will be required to take nationally normed tests throughout the curriculum. Students who have difficulty with standardized test taking are advised to consider this requirement before selecting nursing as a major. Standardized tests are given in all clinical nursing courses. A standardized Exit Exam is also part of the requirement for graduation in the BSN program.
NOTE: In order to graduate, students must also fulfill other requirements specified in the Graduation Requirements Section of the Catalog.
Career Information for BSN Graduates
Registered nurses are employed in a wide variety of settings and roles. In Georgia, ample professional opportunities exist in varied health care agencies for graduates of the baccalaureate nursing program. The need for baccalaureate prepared registered nurses increases yearly.