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Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Initial RN Licensure

BSN Program Goals

The goals of the BSN Program are to:

  1. Provide a baccalaureate Christ-centered nursing education within a liberal arts framework which is excellence-driven and provides opportunity for the development of the total person - spiritual, psychological, sociocultural, and professional.
  2. Prepare graduates who demonstrate a commitment to Christian values and ethics in nursing practice.
  3. Prepare graduates who demonstrate intellectual excellence and commitment to lifelong learning.
  4. Prepare graduates for servant-leadership to church and society.
  5. Prepare the graduate for entry into the profession of nursing as a generalist for culturally competent practice across the lifespan and continuum of care.
  6. Provide knowledge in baccalaureate nursing that serves as a basis for entry into graduate level nursing education.

BSN Expected Student Outcomes

The graduate of the baccalaureate nursing program will be able to:

  1. Explain, support, and defend the concept that each person is unique and holistic and has rights to self-determination in matters pertaining to health. (1,2,3,4,5,6)
  2. Synthesize the nursing process to assist diverse persons toward meeting basic needs in various settings. (3,5,6)
  3. Incorporate the roles of the professional nurse which include advocate, communicator, counselor, change agent, teacher, leader, provider, and manager of care to assist the client toward optimum levels of wellness. (1,2,3,4,5,6)
  4. Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication with patients, families, and members of the healthcare team. (1,2,3,4,5,6)
  5. Use critical thinking skills and clinical judgment to integrate knowledge from nursing and the liberal arts in the promotion of health and wellness. (1,2,3,5,6)
  6. Utilize evidence-based data to contribute to the improvement of healthcare and nursing practice. (1,2,3,5,6)
  7. Assume legal and ethical responsibility for nursing activities. (2,3,5,6)
  8. Demonstrate accountability for professional growth and lifelong learning. (2,3,5,6)
  9. Appraise own personal growth and actions based on Christian values. (1,2,4)
  10. Demonstrate skills in use of informatics that support safe and ethical nursing practice. (1,2,3,5,6)

Curriculum

The programs of the College of Nursing are approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. CCNE may be contacted at 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, D.C. 20001 or 202.887.6791.

The program leads to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (RN to BSN, Traditional BSN and Accelerated tracks). The RN to BSN track offers a curriculum of study leading to the BSN for registered nurses who have graduated from associate degree or diploma programs. The College of Nursing also offers the Traditional BSN track, a curriculum of study leading to the BSN degree as the first professional degree in nursing, to students who have completed two years of pre-nursing study. The BSN-accelerated track offers a curriculum of intensive study for students who have completed a baccalaureate in another field or who have completed 64 credit hours in general education requirements toward a bachelor's degree.

The nursing student qualifies as a full participant in the intellectual community of the liberal arts college. Students majoring in nursing share with other students at Union University a basic foundation in the social and physical sciences, as well as in general knowledge. The faculty of the College of Nursing expresses the belief that nursing is a dynamic discipline reflecting change based on an ever-expanding body of knowledge. Through application of principles from the physical and social sciences, nursing is directed toward helping to meet society’s health needs. The professional nurse with a BSN degree applies principles from a diverse supporting curriculum to the science of nursing and functions as a care provider, manager, health teacher, advocate, and change agent. In addition to learning alternate ways of organizing and delivering nursing care for hospitalized clients, the BSN student learns to practice in community settings where health promotion and maintenance is the principal concern. All BSN program tracks provide nursing knowledge and clinical experiences which encourage expanded roles, innovation, nontraditional practice opportunities, use of independent nursing judgment in health care planning, and use of the research process and findings. To this end, the BSN student’s curriculum provides a professional practice base and preparation for future specialized graduate studies.

Progression to Graduate Programs

The College of Nursing has created opportunities for Union Nursing students to progress seamlessly through degrees. The pre-BSN applicant (traditional, RN-BSN, BSNA) should apply for progressions the Fall of their last year in the BSN program. The applicant would choose the track to which they wanted to progress. The applicant would first have to meet progressions criteria.

Following successful completion of the BSN program, the graduate would need to meet the criteria in order to progress and would forego the application process. Any student who applied for progressions and did not meet the progression criteria would still be allowed to apply as any other applicant.

Clinical Agencies Agreements for Nursing Students

The College of Nursing maintains a contractual relationship with many clinical and health care agencies throughout west and middle Tennessee. These consist of hospitals, long-term care facilities, public and regional health departments, child-care and developmental facilities, mental health facilities, and home health care agencies. Contracts detail responsibility for each party regarding placement, supervision, and evaluation of students while in the clinical agency.

Admission to the Traditional BSN Track (Initial R.N. Licensure)

  1. Applicants to the College of Nursing (CON) should apply for progression by March 1 of their sophomore year in college. A minimum of 63 prescribed semester hours must be completed before enrollment in the first nursing class in the Fall Semester. Students who have been enrolled at Union University for the 1st 2 years of prerequisite courses are guaranteed placement in the Fall nursing cohort their junior year if Priority Progressions Criteria is achieved by March 1st of their sophomore year. Priority Progressions Criteria includes an ACT of 20, a cumulative GPA of 3.0, and a Science GPA of 3.0. Applicants will be required to have a “C” grade or better in all prerequisite natural science, social science, math and English courses (with no more than 7 credit hours accepted below a C grade in other pre-nursing courses). A transfer student may be allowed to take the religion requirements (6 hours of the 65 prescribed semester hours) after admission to the College of Nursing.
  2. Official transcripts must be submitted to Enrollment Services from all institutions of higher learning. Any applicant with an Anatomy and Physiology or Pathophysiology course credit that is more than five years old must take the corresponding NLN Achievement Test and achieve a set passing score or retake the courses for credit.
  3. Official transcripts must be submitted to Enrollment Services from all institutions of higher learning. Any applicant with an Anatomy and Physiology or Pathophysiology course credit that is more than five years old must take the corresponding NLN Achievement Test and achieve a set passing score or retake the courses for credit.
  4. Fully completed Health History and Physical Examination Form (obtained in the College of Nursing), must be submitted prior to beginning the first semester. This form must include documentation of current immunizations, including the following: tetanus booster within the past 10 years; Hepatitis B vaccination series; MMR; positive Varicella titer and negative screen for tuberculosis (skin test or chest x-ray) within the past 12 months or documentation of compliance with CDC guidelines for tuberculosis screening, as well as any additional vaccinations required by clinical facilities. The student must update this information annually. Failure to have current health information on file will result in the student being asked to withdraw from clinical nursing courses. The CON follows guidelines of the Southern Regional Education Board Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing Education.
  5. The student must have documentation of a clear criminal background check and a clean urine drug screen, completed before beginning nursing curriculum. Random drug screens will be performed periodically throughout the nursing program and as required by clinical facilities.
  6. An interview with a nursing applicant may be requested. The interview allows the student an opportunity to become acquainted with the College of Nursing and allows the interview committee an opportunity to evaluate the student’s potential for nursing education.
  7. Each accepted applicant will be notified and given a reasonable length of time to indicate a commitment to attend Union University.
  8. The Licensure Application, which is completed prior to graduation, asks the question, “Have you ever been convicted of a violation of the law other than a minor traffic violation?” A reported conviction (and/or any license revocation) does not necessarily mean that the graduate will be denied licensure. Any College of Nursing applicant who would be affected by this disclosure requirement is recommended to schedule an appointment with the Associate Dean of the Undergraduate Programs for a confidential discussion of the specific situation and concern.
  9. Current American Heart Association (AHA) health care provider CPR certification must be maintained throughout the nursing program of study.
  10. The student must provide documentation of current individual health insurance.
  11. All international students will meet the same freshman and transfer requirements for regular admission to the University as outlined in "Admission of International Students."
  12. No Nursing courses will be transferred into Union.
  13. Sciences may only be repeated once per course (this stipulation does not include repeating a course due to expiration). 

Requirements for Progression in the BSN Program

The student enrolls in the courses in nursing education according to the prescribed sequence. At least a C grade in each nursing course is required for progression in the nursing curriculum. Students who receive a grade of less than C in any nursing course may not proceed to the next course until the failed course has been repeated with a final grade of C or above. Nursing courses may be repeated only once. Permission to progress must be obtained from College of Nursing faculty and will be dependent upon meeting course prerequisites and corequisites. A student who receives a grade of D or below must reapply to the College of Nursing for consideration to be allowed to repeat the nursing course the next time it is offered in the scheduled sequence of courses. To progress to the final year of the program, a student must have a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Continuation in the program is also contingent upon compliance with ethical and professional standards of conduct. Students who remove school or hospital property without permission will be subject to immediate disciplinary action. Graduation requirements follow the guidelines of Union University.

Readmission to the BSN Program

A student who wishes to reenter the nursing program should submit a letter to the Chair and Associate Dean of the College of Nursing requesting readmission to the College of Nursing well in advance of the semester in which they wish to enroll. Their request for readmission will be considered along with other applicants to the program. Students with a 2.75 or higher cumulative GPA will be considered for readmission.

A student who receives a final grade less than C in two Nursing courses will not be readmitted to the Nursing Program but will be advised to seek another major. Withdrawal from a nursing course does not guarantee readmission.

Students readmitted to the program may be asked to audit or repeat courses in which they previously earned a C in consideration of the length of absence or change in curriculum. They may also be required to take a standardized exam and competency assessment to assess retention of previous course knowledge.

Uniforms and Insurance Requirements

Students must purchase appropriate uniforms. The College of Nursing will provide necessary forms for ordering the uniforms.

Students will be charged for the school’s group policy liability insurance when participating in a nursing course that requires clinical experience.

Assessment of Majors

Nursing majors are required to take standardized nursing tests at specific points throughout the program of study. As a part of NUR 499, students will take a standardized comprehensive exam to evaluate readiness to take the NCLEX licensure exam. Successful completion of NUR 499 includes scoring at or above the benchmark set by the College of Nursing. The student will not be able to graduate without successfully meeting the requirements of NUR 499. Student assessments include, but are not limited to, communication skills, therapeutic nursing interventions and critical thinking skills. Basic and accelerated nursing students are expected to take the NCLEX-RN licensure after completion of the program of nursing to become registered nurses.

Student Organizations

The National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) is the largest health professional student organization in the United States and the only one for nursing students. All basic BSN students are encouraged to participate. The organization provides opportunity for contributing to nursing education, to provide programs of professional interest and to aid in the development of the whole person, thereby providing for the highest quality health care. The chapter meets monthly; members may also attend state and national meetings. In addition, RN to BSN students are strongly encouraged to hold membership in Tennessee Nurses Association (TNA).

Nu Lambda is a chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, the Nursing Honor Society. Its purposes are to recognize superior achievement, to develop leadership qualities, to foster high professional standards, to encourage creative work, and to strengthen commitment to the ideals and purposes of the profession. Membership is by invitation to students who have completed one-half of the upper division nursing curriculum, achieved a 3.0 GPA, and rank in the highest 35 percent of their class. After graduation, students continue their membership in the society as alumni.

Student Awards

The Nursing Faculty is presented to the outstanding graduating student who has demonstrated an above average level of theoretical knowledge in the classroom and a high degree of skill in clinical thus showing promise of achievement in nursing.

The Terry Robinson Nursing is presented to the student who has evidenced an extraordinary degree of motivation toward nursing with a quiet, steady and courageous persistence toward their goal.

The Emily Saffel Nursing is established in memory of Emily, born with a congenital heart defect resistant to treatment, and surviving 2 1/2 weeks. Her only contact with God’s world was the caring voices and touch of her family, doctors, and nurses. This award is to recognize characteristics of the kind of nursing that her family hopes she received during her brief life.

The Georgia Wilson Nursing was established by Miss Georgia Wilson to be presented to the member of the BSN (basic) graduating class who is deemed by the nursing faculty to have been the most outstanding in clinical nursing.

The Leighton Williams Nursing recognizes the characteristics that Leighton Williams displayed in all of her interactions. Leighton impacted everyone around her with her true joy for life. She was always celebrating and uplifting others with her sweet smile and disposition. Leighton lived a full life in her brief twenty years and those who knew her are better because of her ability to love others fearlessly and inspire others to do the same. The characteristics of the recipient will include compassion, joy and a heart that truly yearns to serve our Lord.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Initial RN Licensure Tracks