School of Nursing

Professor Kay Lindgren, Director

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program prepares students for beginning practice as a registered nurse in a variety of settings. Students are prepared for graduate studies in nursing. The emphasis of the program is on the use of knowledge and skills to plan and implement nursing care. Students should refer to the Graduate Catalog for additional information about graduate studies.

Eligibility Requirements for Participation in the Nursing Program

Nursing is a practice discipline, with cognitive, sensory, affective, and psychomotor performance requirements. The faculty of the School of Nursing has identified the skills and professional behaviors that are essential to pursue a course of study to be eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination-R.N. and practice as a professional nurse. In order to progress in the nursing curriculum, a student must possess a functional level of capability to perform the duties required of a professional nurse. The essential eligibility requirements for participation in the nursing program are identified as Core Performance Standards.

These standards are adapted from the Southern Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing and are congruent with the skills presented in the document entitled Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing revised (1998), a publication of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. If these standards cannot be achieved by the student, either unassisted or with dependable use of assistive devices, the faculty reserves the right to exclude the student from clinical areas. Potential students are provided copies of the Core Performance Standards upon request. A copy of the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (2008) is available for review in the school’s Office of the Director.

The nursing program includes clinical components, practica and internships. Prior to and during contact with clients in clinical assignments, practicum experiences and internships, students are expected to exhibit good judgment, ethical conduct and appropriate emotional functioning. These are evaluated by the School of Nursing faculty using professional nursing standards.

These standards are listed in the online handbook for undergraduate and Gateway students, and with the Director of School of Nursing and Dean of College of Health, Education and Professional Studies. A student dismissed from the School of Nursing for not meeting these standards has the right to appeal the decision. Information about the process of appeal is available in the UTC Student Handbook and the Undergraduate Catalog.

Pre-Nursing

The Pre-Nursing advising process is developed to assist students to meet their academic needs and to ensure a timely graduation. Students not admitted fall semester directly into the Nursing major as a freshman will be advised by the UTC Center for Academic and Student Success during their freshman year.

After the freshman year, students not admitted to the nursing major as freshman will be advised by the School of Nursing Professional Advisor if they have a GPA of 2.75 or higher and a grade of C or higher in all nursing pre-requisite coursework. Transfer students will also be advised by the School of Nursing Professional Advisor if they have a GPA of 2.75 and a C in all nursing pre-requisite coursework.

There are several ways to be admitted to the nursing program:

As a freshman student entering UTC in the fall semester
As a transfer or pre-nursing student after pre-requisite coursework is completed
As a RN with an Associate Degree in Nursing (Gateway track)

Freshman Admission to the Nursing Major

Students desiring admission to the nursing major as a freshman must submit a completed written application on forms available from the School of Nursing. Candidates for freshman admission to the nursing major must make formal application to UTC and the School of Nursing by May 1 of their senior year of high school. Selection of applicants to the School of Nursing is highly competitive and is based on the following criteria:

High school GPA of 3.50 on a 4.0 scale.
Standardized test score for the ACT of 23 (SAT of 1620)
Two recommendation letters. One of which must be a high school faculty member from whom you have taken courses and the other may be from a second faculty member or supervisor.
Interview a BSN or higher Registered Nurse and write a reflective essay.
Apply to UTC through the UTC Admission’s office.

The faculty in the School of Nursing reserve the right to make exceptions to the freshman admission requirements. Written requests for exceptions to admission requirements, supported by evidence of extenuating circumstances, will be considered by the academic affairs committee after an official application for admission to the School of Nursing has been filed.

Continuance in the nursing major is reviewed at 32 hours and prior to the start of the nursing coursework. Students will be required to:

Maintain a 2.75 GPA
Maintain a C or above in all nursing pre-requisite coursework.
Maintain full-time study at UTC
Remain on track in their plan of study (see School of Nursing Professional advisor)
Submit an intent to progress by September 1 of the sophomore year
Meet with the School of Nursing advisor once per semester.
Meet with their assigned nursing faculty mentor at least once per semester.
Complete Nurs 1000 (3 credit hours) during the fall semester of their freshman year.
Join the Student Nurses Association

Students not maintaining the minimum requirements will be removed from the nursing major and will have to reapply once all pre-requisite coursework is completed.

Admission to the Nursing Major (for non- RNs and students not admitted as freshman)

Students not admitted directly into the Nursing major as a freshman have an opportunity to apply for an open position in the upper-division nursing courses once they have completed the nursing pre-requisite coursework. Students desiring admission or readmission to the nursing major must submit a completed written application on forms available from the School of Nursing. Candidates for the nursing major (Nursing 2110-2140) must make formal application by February 1 for the fall class. Students transferring from other nursing programs should also submit the written application by February 1 for the fall class. Enrollment is limited and the number of qualified applicants often exceeds the number of students who can be admitted. The following are considered when evaluating candidates for admission:

Admission to UTC prior to the School of Nursing application deadline.
Completion of credit hours required for sophomore classification including the following prerequisite courses with no grade lower than a C:

CHEM 1110 /CHEM 1110L
BIOL 1910 , BIOL 2080 , BIOL 2100
ENGL 1010 , ENGL 1020
PSY 1010
NURS 2260

A minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 point scale at UTC.
Minimum Science GPA of 2.75. The nursing major includes a strong biophysical science component; thus the first grade earned in a required science course will be used to compute the student’s science GPA.
Three of the five required science courses must be completed by the application deadline.
Number of prerequisite courses completed at UTC.
Students must take the TEAS^TM (Test of Essential Academic Skills) Version V and complete all four sections (math, English, reading and science). Students mus score at the proficient level or higher to be considered for admission.
Physical and emotional characteristics appropriate for nursing practice.

The faculty in the School of Nursing reserve the right to make exceptions to the admission requirements. Written requests for exceptions to admission requirements, supported by evidence of extenuating circumstances, will be considered by the academic affairs committee after an official application for admission to the School of Nursing has been filed.

Acceptance of transfer and substitute credits in nursing to meet requirements of the curriculum will be determined by the school. A student who transfers into the nursing program at UTC will be required to repeat any nursing or other required courses which are not considered comparable to the UTC curriculum or in which the grade earned is lower than a C. Transfer students must meet the same standards as other students in the program.

Candidates will receive written notification of their admission status. Candidates who are accepted for admission must complete a background check and drug screening before being fully admitted. Individuals who are not accepted for a given class, and who desire to be considered for the next class must reapply.

Admission to the Gateway Program for Registered Nurses

The Gateway Program is a flexible curriculum which enables registered nurses to obtain baccalaureate degrees in nursing while maintaining their roles in careers and families. Planned with the mid-career RN in mind, the Gateway Program is individualized and allows maximum college credit for previous educational experiences. The prospective RN student should seek advisement from the Gateway Coordinator and transcript evaluation from the Records Office for this program of study.

Graduation from an accredited diploma or associate degree nursing program.
Show eligibility to return to the last educational institution attended and meet UTC’s continuation standards.
Show a C (2.00) average on all postsecondary courses.
Admission to UTC.
Current licensure as a registered nurse in Tennessee or multistate privilege to practice is required.

Expenses and Transportation

In addition to regular education costs, nursing students must meet the following expenses: uniforms, standardized test fees, yearly liability and health insurance, initial physical examinations, immunizations, CPR certification, respirator fit testing and others as required. Some nursing courses may require miscellaneous fees. Since clinical experiences in nursing are obtained in a variety of health care settings in local and remote areas, students are individually responsible for transportation to these sites.

Insurance and Health Requirements

Students must meet specific physical examination and immunization requirements as specified by state law and by the rules and regulations set forth by the various clinical agencies. All students must have health insurance and must participate in the school’s liability insurance program. Specific information concerning these requirements will be provided to the students at appropriate times by the nursing faculty.

Licensure (for non-RNs)

Upon successful completion of the baccalaureate program in nursing, and upon certification by the director that the student possesses the requirements, the student is eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination-RN. Persons previously convicted of a felony may not be permitted to write the NCLEX exam. Applicants for licensure in Tennessee must obtain an additional background check as specified by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

Continuation Standards

In view of the nature of nursing and the fact that maintenance and quality of human life may be adversely affected by individuals providing nursing care, the following standards have been adopted and are applied by the nursing faculty.

To progress in nursing, students are required to: a) make a minimum grade of C or S in all nursing and required courses (exclusive of electives); b) maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0; c) maintain active liability and health insurance policies and other clinical requirements for clinical courses; d) maintain current CPR certification, and e) meet School of Nursing health requirements.
Students in the Nursing major may earn a grade of D, F, or NC in only one course with a nursing (NURS) designation. If a student earns a second D, F, or NC, the student will be dismissed from the program, even if the second D, F, or NC is earned in the same semester as the first grade of D, F, or NC.
Students who do not complete a course, or who make a grade of D, F or NC in an undergraduate Nursing course, and who are eligible to repeat a course, are permitted to register for that course on a space-available basis.
If in the judgment of the professor there is reason to question the emotional or physical condition of a student or the safety or quality of nursing care provided, the professor has the right and obligation to exclude the student from the clinical area. The incident or reason underlying such an action shall be brought to the attention of the course faculty on or before the next clinical day. The student will receive written notification of the recommendation of the course faculty. Should the decision be unacceptable to the student, he/she may appeal to the director, and thereafter in accordance with University policy.
Exceptions to the above policies may be made at the discretion of the academic affairs committee or the director of the School of Nursing.