The goal of the RN-to-B.S.N. Program at Ohio University is to make the B.S.N. geographically and academically feasible for any RN in Southeast Ohio. The RN-to-B.S.N. Program builds upon the education received in the RN’s prelicensure nursing program and provides a foundation for future graduate study. The faculty of the School of Nursing operates on the belief that all RNs are working to improve the health and wellness of the clients we serve. Each of us is at a different point on our career paths; consequently, the classroom becomes one arena for colleagues to work together to improve the care we provide clients.

RN-to-B.S.N. Online
The RN-to-B.S.N. courses are transitioning to online delivery to make them even more accessible to our students. Beginning Spring 2003, the first two nursing courses (NRSE 300 and 310) were offered online. Most of the courses offered in this way will be in a blended format, meaning that the students will meet as a group once or twice during each quarter. The vast majority of the work, however, is done online by students. The residencies are mandatory, so students should plan to attend.

In fall of 2003, three more courses in the sequence go online (NRSE 325, 330 and 416), bringing the total to five. Each quarter, at least two more nursing courses will be added to the online format until all 12 courses are online.

Students who want to take courses in the online format must apply for admission to Ohio University through the Admission office in Athens, OH. For more information, e-mail admissions@ohio.edu or call 740.593.4100. Application can be completed online at: http://www.ohiou.edu/admissions/

Application deadlines for transfer students follow:

More information about the RN-to-B.S.N. online, including residency schedule, textbooks for online courses, and parking while on the Athens campus, is available at:

http://www.ouwb.ohiou.edu/nursing/

The completion of any baccalaureate degree from any university requires an individual to meet five things.

1. a required number of credits. At Ohio University one needs to acquire 192 quarter hours of credit (this is the same as 126 semester hours). These credits are distributed among general education, prerequisites, and major coursework.
2. a specified set of general education courses. At Ohio University general education courses are called “tier” courses. One must complete Tiers I, II, and III before graduation. Tier courses will be explained later.
3. a minimum grade point average. One needs a cumulative GPA of 2.00 to graduate with a baccalaureate degree from Ohio University.
4. a residency requirement. A specified number of credits must be completed at Ohio University.
5. the specific course requirements of the chosen major. The RN-to-B.S.N. Program divides these requirements into four categories. Each category will be explained more fully later in this document.

Specific requirements for admission to RN-to-B.S.N. Program are:

1. Graduate of a state board of nursing approved associate degree or diploma program in nursing.
2. Admission to Ohio University.
3. Evaluation by the School of Nursing of the official transcripts from all schools attended since graduation from high school and the evaluation of scores from all proficiency or professional tests.*
4. Completion of identified prerequisite coursework.
5. Ohio RN license (or eligible to be granted Ohio licensure).
6. Professional liability insurance.
7. Documentation that immunizations (tetanus, MMR, polio, Hepatitis B) are current or provision of appropriate waivers. Documentation of annual Mantoux testing for TB and any prescribed follow-up (or provision of appropriate waivers).
8. Current CPR certification.
   
   * Excelsior College Exams in Nursing - 1-800-967-1139

1. Complete Excelsior College Exams in nursing. More information is available about this option for those interested. Their web site address is http://www.excelsior.edu/nur_home.htm.
2. Place previous credits in an escrow account until 10 credit hours of upper division nursing coursework at Ohio University has been completed with a grade of C or better. Escrow credits are then moved on to the transcript.
3. Individual evaluation of the specific courses taken in the prelicensure RN program.

The RN-to-B.S.N. program is an Athens-based program. This means that all official parts of your academic records are housed in the School's main office (Grover Center E365, Athens, Ohio 45701). Information sent to all B.S.N. students comes from this office, which makes it essential that we have current addresses and phone numbers.

You are (or will be) assigned a faculty member from the Athens campus as your academic advisor. This is the first person you need to contact when you have a question. These advisors (who are also the faculty who teach in the program) have office hours available on the regional campuses (also called university centers). Contact your faculty advisor at their regional campus office to schedule advising appointments. Advising may take place in person, via telephone, or through e-mail. You may reach these individuals by E-mail or by calling them at their designated campus. That information may be found on the Faculty Page of this site.

If you need advice during Ohio University breaks, e.g. between quarters or during the summer when faculty are not easily available, call 740.593.4494 or e-mail nursing@ohio.edu. We will answer your question and copy your advisor with your message and our response.

Applications for admission can be obtained from several sources: the School of Nursing, the Office of Admissions, and regional campuses. For transfer admissions guidelines and forms that can be downloaded from the web go to http://www.ohiou.edu/admissions/trans.htm. Please remember that RN-to-B.S.N. students are “Athens” students regardless of on which campus they attend class. Application deadlines for admission for transfer students are as follows:

Applications for admission and official transcripts are to be sent to the Athens campus:

Office of Admissions
Chubb Hall 120
Athens, Ohio 45701-2979

Admission materials DO NOT go to a regional campus except in special circumstances. In any special circumstance the director of the School of Nursing will explain when and how to send materials to the regional campus.

For transfer admissions guidelines and forms go to http://www.ohiou.edu/admissions/trans.htm.

Any student who has ever completed any course at any time (even if 40 years ago) needs to check with the School of Nursing to find out what academic major is listed on the academic record. The majority of students who are re-enrolling or who are continuing, but in a new major, will need to complete an Application for Update of Program (a.k.a. Change of College) form. All Ohio University Zanesville and Ohio University Chillicothe associate degree nursing students need to complete this form. The form will be sent to you from the School of Nursing. Call us.

Not sure how all of your previous coursework will be counted? It is possible to obtain an advising review of previous coursework. Send an unofficial copy of each transcript that lists any course(s) taken after graduation from high school with a letter requesting an advising review to:

Emily Harman, M.S.N., RN
Interim Director, School of Nursing
Ohio University
Grover Center E365
Athens, Ohio 45701- 2979

Phone: 740.593.4494
Toll Free: 1.800.560.0144
Fax: 740.593.0286
E-mail: nursing@ohio.edu

A review of all coursework and an indication of the relevant equivalencies to Ohio University courses will be completed and returned to you.

Click on the course number to open a copy of syllabus for the course. Additional documents used in the course are linked under the course name. Courses that are only delivered online are designated by a yellow bullet in the left column--this bullet links to the RN-to-B.S.N. Web site.

Required Nursing Courses:

• APA Publication Manual Activity
• Health History Format & Guidelines

• Integumentary System Form (including body diagram form)
• Eye Assessment Form
• Ear, Head, and Neck Assessment Form
• Respiratory Assessment Form
• Cardiovascular/Peripheral Vascular Assessment Form
• Abdominal Assessment Form
• Musculoseletal Assessment Form
• Neurological Assessment Form
• Equipment Sign-Out Form
• Client Consent Form
• Evaluation of Student Performance in Integrated Physical Assessment Form

Community Health Nursing (4)

• Injury and Violence Prevention

Mgt. Issues in Nursing (4)

• T-P Leadership Questionnaire

Clinical Applications in Nursing (4)

• Guidelines for Selection of Clinical Experiences
• Learning Objective Form
• Student Evaluation of the Preceptor
• Preceptor and/or Agency Contract Request Form

Strategic Planning in Nursing Care (4)

1. Preceptor and/or Agency Contract Request Form
2. Student Evaluation of Preceptor
3. Objectives in Weekly Journal #1
4. Objectives in Weekly Journal #2
   

There are several resource documents that are used in more than one class. Click here to view a list of those resources with links to the resource documents.