RN to BSN Program

The RN to BSN program is designed for students with or without an associate degree or diploma in nursing who are looking to enter professional nursing or advance further in their professional nursing career. The program provides the academic knowledge and clinical skills necessary to advance in the nursing field by seeking a higher-level position and/or to apply for graduate study in nursing. The Bachelor’s Program is designed for registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma in nursing who are looking to further their education.

Program Objectives

• The student must be able to provide individualized comprehensive care based on the principles of nursing.
• The student will demonstrate knowledge of the healthcare delivery system and health occupations.
• The student will demonstrate the ability to communicate and use interpersonal skills effectively.
• The student will demonstrate legal and ethical responsibilities.
• The student will demonstrate an understanding of and apply wellness and disease concepts.
• The student will recognize and practice safety and security procedures.
• The student will recognize and respond to emergency situations.
• The student will recognize and practice infection control procedures.
• The student will demonstrate an understanding of information technology applications in healthcare.
• The student will demonstrate employability skills.
• The student will demonstrate knowledge of bloodborne diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
• The student will demonstrate and apply basic math and science skills.
• The student will demonstrate competencies in the core components of professional nursing professional behavior.
• The student will demonstrate competencies in the core components of professional nursing communication.
• The student will demonstrate competencies in the core components of the professional nursing assessment.
• The student will demonstrate competencies in the core components of professional nurse-clinical decision-making.
• The student will demonstrate competencies in the core components of the professional nursing-caring intervention.
• The student will demonstrate competencies in the core components of professional nursing teaching and learning.
• The student will demonstrate competencies in the core components of professional nursing collaboration.
• The student will demonstrate competencies in the core components of professional nursing-managing care.
• The student will demonstrate competencies in the core components of professional nurse leadership and delegation.
• The student must be able to demonstrate responsibility for continued personal and professional development through enrollment in graduate education, continuing education programs, professional reading, participation in professional organizations, and service to the community.
• Exhibit ethical principles that demonstrate interactions with patients/clients, healthcare professionals, and the public.
• Combine knowledge from nursing, sciences, and humanities to meet the patient’s/client’s physiological, psychological, sociocultural, developmental, and spiritual needs.
• Evaluate ethical, legal, economic, and political factors that affect the management of healthcare for individuals, families, and communities.
• Incorporate community resources to meet primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare needs for individuals, families, and communities.
• Utilize critical thinking to resolve healthcare issues.
• Be prepared for a leadership role within one’s scope of practice.
• Evaluate research findings for use in nursing practice.
• Utilize effective communication in the healthcare environment.
• Participate in activities that support the profession of nursing.

Credit by Examination for RN to BSN Program
Students in the BSN program may earn credit in approved courses by earning “C” or better on the appropriate Tampa Medical College examination offered on the Baccalaureate level through NLN OR RUN EXAM platforms for the following subjects:

Pharmacology	NUR 303
Pathophysiology for Nursing	NUR 302
Management in Nursing Examination	NUR 402
Baccalaureate Capstone Examination	NUR 404

Students wishing to obtain credit by examination must demonstrate satisfactory completion of core nursing courses (i.e., Fundamentals, Pharmacology, and Medical-Surgical Nursing) related to the subject matter areas of the Tampa Medical College curriculum and will be required to complete competency testing prior to receiving credit. The Student must see the campus registrar for additional information on requirements and costs.

Credit awarded by examination becomes part of the student’s permanent record, and the grade earned on the examination is used in calculating students’ cumulative GPAs.

A student must obtain approval from the appropriate campus Academic Dean to take credit-by-examination.

A student may obtain the required forms and additional information through the appropriate campus Registrar.

A student is not eligible to attempt credit-by-examination for any courses in which the student is currently enrolled.

A student who has completed a course and earned a grade of “D” or “F” is eligible to repeat it through credit-by-examination.

Grades for courses repeated through credit-by-examination are recorded in the same way as courses repeated through class attendance.

If a student has applied to graduate at the end of the term and intends to take one or more courses through credit-by-examination, that student must notify the registrar.

Credential Awarded
The student receives a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Nursing once all program competencies and objectives are fulfilled and the required basic skills have been demonstrated. Students in the Bachelor’s Program may apply to receive their Associate of Science in Nursing after completing at least 83 credits. Students who have received their Associate of Science Degree will be able to sit for their NCLEX RN boards while completing their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Advanced placement students who have an RN license will not need to take the NCLEX examination.

Program Delivery
The program is delivered using a combination of residential (on-campus), distance learning (online), and hybrid learning (on-campus & online) courses.

Program Length
Full Time: 147 credits
Part-Time: 147 credits
Clock Hours: 2730