Nursing, B.S.N

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree
WellStar College of Health and Human Services, Baccalaureate Nursing Program
(470) 578-6061

The baccalaureate degree and master’s degree in nursing at Kennesaw State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. 

The purpose of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing is to prepare graduates for generalist nursing practice. Graduates will be prepared to practice with patients including individuals, families, groups, and populations across the lifespan and across the continuum of healthcare environments. Upon completion of this program graduates will:

1. Synthesize knowledge from a liberal education including social science, natural science, nursing science, and the art and ethics of caring as a foundation for providing holistic nursing care.
2. Implement competent, patient-centered care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations along the health-illness continuum and throughout the lifespan within multicultural environments.
3. Utilize leadership skills to critically examine and continuously improve healthcare delivery systems, with emphasis on safety, quality, and fiscal responsibility.
4. Analyze current research and apply conceptual/theoretical models for translating evidence into clinical practice.
5. Apply knowledge and skills in information management and patient care technology in the delivery of quality patient care.
6. Identify the significance of local, state, national, and global healthcare policies including financial and regulatory environments.
7. Demonstrate effective communication skills with an interdisciplinary healthcare team including collaboration, negotiation, and conflict management.
8. Employ principles of health promotion, and disease/injury prevention in providing care to individuals and populations.
9. Assume responsibility and accountability for professionalism, including lifelong learning, and the inherent values of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity and social justice in the practice of nursing.

Admission Requirements

Requirements for students include:

• Annual health history and physical exam

• Immunizations and proof of immunity to specified communicable diseases as required by clinical agencies

• Annual tuberculosis screening (more frequently for some clinical agencies)

• Health insurance

• Certification in health care provider cardiopulmonary resuscitation by the American Heart Association

• Uniforms (must be purchased from designated School of Nursing vendor), stethoscope, and a suitable watch.

• An initial fee of approximately $400.00 to cover the cost of achievement exams taken during the program, $15 for professional liability insurance, and $50 per semester for clinical lab fee.

• Attend mandatory nursing orientation session prior to entry into the nursing program

• Criminal background check and drug screen (cost incurred by student) must be conducted by vendor designated by the School of Nursing. Dismissal from the program may result if student is not capable of meeting clinical agency requirements for criminal background check and/or is found to have a positive drug screen.

• Students’ health records will be released to clinical agencies when requested for clinical credentialing. Students enrolled in clinical nursing courses who have not met the above requirements may be administratively withdrawn from courses.

Baccalaureate Program Admission Criteria

 

• Must be admitted to Kennesaw State University and have a KSU ID and email address. 

 

• All nursing students must complete the Regent’s requirements prior to admission to the nursing program.

 

• The following prerequisite courses must be completed prior to beginning the Nursing program: ENGL 1101 , ENGL 1102 ; MATH 1101  or MATH 1111 , STAT 1107 ; CHEM 1151 , CHEM 1151L , CHEM 1152 , CHEM 1152L ; BIOL 2221 , BIOL 2221L , BIOL 2222 ,BIOL 2222L , BIOL 2261 ; PSYC 1101 , PSYC 3305 ; and SOCI 1101 .

 

• Applicants must complete seven of the prerequisite requirements to be considered for admission, and five of the seven must be math and natural science courses. Note: courses with lab component will be considered one prerequisite. Students will receive one calculated grade for the class and lab (weighting the course grade 75% and lab grade 25%).

 

• Applicants must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average with a minimum grade of “C” in each required science and mathematics course. In addition, an applicant who repeats two different natural science courses or repeats the same natural science course twice because of grades below “C” within the past 5 years will not be considered for admission to the program.

 

• To be considered for admission, applicants must not have more than two withdrawals per course from any prerequisite nursing courses on their academic transcripts.

Admission is a competitive process and will be based on a combination of grades received in prerequisite courses required in the program of study and the score received on the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skill)exam. Applicants must achieve a minimum of 78 on the TEAS exam and the cost is incurred by the student. The exam can be taken up to 2 times a year. Note: Due to high numbers of applicants, most students accepted have test scores and grade point averages well above the minimum requirements.

Applications for entry into the baccalaureate nursing sequence must be completed by published deadlines.

Decisions regarding admission into the nursing sequence and progression in the program will be made by a nursing admissions committee.

Students who were previously enrolled in a nursing program and not eligible to return to the former nursing program will not be eligible for admission to the KSU Nursing Program.

All applicants must be aware that the state examining board has the right to refuse to grant a registered nurse license to any individual regardless of educational credentials under circumstances of (1) falsification of application for licensure (2) conviction of a felony or crime of moral turpitude; other moral and legal violations specified in the Georgia law.

Transfer Credit for Nursing Courses

In order for any course to be considered for transfer credit, the nursing course must be from an accredited nursing program within the past two years and a grade of “B” or better, received in the course. Nursing courses older than two years will be considered only if the student has been out of the former program for two terms or less and was continuously enrolled in the former nursing program. A letter must be obtained from the School of Nursing Chair/Department Head stating that the student is eligible to return to the nursing program and is in good academic standing. Students who are not eligible to return to their former nursing program will not be able to apply to the nursing program. In addition, students will need to successfully complete a medication calculation test at 90% or better (limited to two attempts) and a nursing skills check-off (limited to three attempts) before beginning a clinical nursing course. Transfers will be considered only if there is an open available space in the Nursing Program.

Progression and Readmission within the Baccalaureate Nursing Program

Criteria for progression to the junior and senior year and graduation from the baccalaureate degree program are as follows:

 

• Receive at least a “C” in all nursing, natural science and mathematics courses.

 

• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.7.

 

• A student may repeat only one nursing course (including BIOL 3317 ). A grade less than “C” in any two nursing courses will result in being dismissed from the program. Students who are dismissed are not eligible to reapply. Students must earn a minimum of “C” in each nursing course and BIOL 3317 to progress.

If a student leaves the program temporarily, whether by choice or because of failure, readmission to the nursing sequence is not guaranteed. Eligible students who drop out of the nursing sequence for any reason will be readmitted to the sequence on a space-available basis. Students will be accommodated in rank order according to their GPA. Students interested in reentry must notify the director in writing of their interest. A student who has a cumulative GPA of less than 2.7 will not be considered for readmission. If a student has been on a leave from the nursing program for more than two calendar years, the student will need to reapply for admission to the program and repeat the entire sequence of required nursing courses.

Admission, Progression and Retention Decision Appeals

A formal appeal of a decision to deny admission, to delay progression, or to dismiss a student from the WellStar School of Nursing may be made to the Admissions, Progression and Retention Committee within 30 days of notification. Prior to an appeal, students are encouraged to meet with the Associate Director of the WSON for Undergraduate Programs or designee. The committee will review the student appeal, WSON academic and clinical history, and any exceptional or extenuating circumstances. The committee will notify the student of the decision in writing. If a student wishes to appeal the decision of the Admissions, Progression and Retention Committee, a formal appeal must be submitted in writing to the Director of the WellStar School of Nursing or designee within 30 days of receipt of notification of the Committee’s decision. The decision of the Director is final.

The program of study in nursing offers the opportunity to obtain a BSN degree.  After completion of the degree, and upon the recommendation of the chair, graduates will be eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX) to practice as a registered nurse (R.N.). All applicants must be aware that the state examining board has the right to refuse to grant a registered nurse license to any individual regardless of educational credentials under circumstances of (1) falsification of application for licensure (2) conviction of a felony or crime of moral turpitude; other moral and legal violations specified in the Georgia law.

Core Performance Standards

The WellStar College of Health and Human Services has adopted core performance standards for admission and progression within the nursing major. These standards identify the abilities and skills necessary to perform in an independent manner. If a student admitted to the program believes that he or she cannot meet one or more of the standards without accommodations or modifications, then the student should notify the Chair of the School of Nursing in writing.  The nursing program will determine, on an individual basis, whether or not necessary accommodations or modifications can reasonably be made. Core performance standards for admission and progression are contained in the program application, which is available online or from the WellStar School of Nursing.