NURSR:BSN - Bachelor of Science in Nursing - RN to BSN Program

Program Objectives 

Upon completion of the BSN, graduates will be able to:  

(1) Synthesize knowledge from nursing and related disciplines in the provision of care to clients within the health-illness continuum throughout the life span. 

(2) Utilize creative leadership to promote quality health care and patient safety in a rapidly changing multicultural, multiethnic, and global environment. 

(3) Synthesize and apply evidence and research findings from nursing and from other disciplines to improve or change nursing practice. 

(4) Use appropriate and current technology and skills in the delivery of safe and effective patient care.

(5) Function as an advocate and change agent in influencing healthcare policies, delivery, economics, and health disparities to improve the quality of health for diverse populations. 

(6) Collaborate and communicate with members of the health care team in the delivery of individualized, cost-effective and ethical health care services. 

(7) Demonstrate an understanding of accountability, responsibility, values, and standards of moral, ethical, and legal conduct that impact on the role and practice of the professional nurse. 

(8) Utilize theoretical knowledge and clinical competencies in caring for culturally diverse populations in a variety of clinical settings.

Program Policies 

Students who enter FIU without an Associate of Arts (AA) degree, transfer from out-of-state, or transfer from a private community college must meet the FIU core curriculum requirements. See a nursing advisor (305) 348-7703 in the Office of Student Services for admission information. 

Nursing students are responsible for transportation expenses related to clinical experiences. They are required to carry health and accident insurance.  To safeguard the health of clients, nursing students are required to submit proof of health examination and immunizations upon entry into the nursing program. Students must submit proof of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification (American Heart Association) prior to entering clinical courses in the nursing major.  This CPR certification must cover the period of enrollment in the program.  

The Florida Board of Nursing and clinical agencies require the disclosure of arrest and conviction records for misdemeanors and/or felonies; therefore, this information will be required at the time of application.  Applicants are required to submit to criminal background checks and drug testing. Expenses associated with background checks and drug testing (including repeat testing) are the responsibility of the student. Findings may affect a student’s ability to participate in clinical experiences and complete the program, and/or obtain registered nurse licensure.  

In addition to undergraduate tuition and fees, nursing students may be charged a fee for courses with an “L” suffix for laboratory supplies. 

Students who request a transfer from another nursing program must provide a letter of good standing from the nursing program in which they were enrolled. 

The College reserves the right to terminate a student from the nursing program for reasons related to the inability to carry out professional responsibilities safely.  

Note: The programs, policies, requirements, and regulations listed in this catalog are continually subject to review in order to serve the needs of the University’s and College’s various publics and to respond to the mandates of the Florida Department of Education, Board of Governors, the Legislature, and other regulatory and accrediting agencies. Changes may be made without advance notice. Please refer to the General Information section for the University’s policies, requirements, and regulations. Please refer to the College's website for updated information on nursing.

Scholastic Requirements

To remain in good academic standing, students must achieve a grade of ‘C’ or higher in nursing courses. A student who earns less than a ‘C’ in any nursing course will be required to repeat the course in order to progress in the nursing program. A student may repeat a course one time only. Students who have failed (C- or lower) two nursing courses or have two failures in the same nursing course will be dismissed from the program.

Specialized Admissions Requirements for BS in Nursing (RN-BSN)

The RN-BSN Program is a specialized admissions status program; and therefore, admission is competitive based on previous academic performance, utilizing a holistic student approach, and additional criteria for entry into the BSN Program. A criterion-based point system is used for the admission evaluation of applicants to the traditional RN-BSN program.

To be admitted to the RN-BSN Program, applicants must have:

(1) Unencumbered Florida Registered Nurse License,

(2) 2.75 Cumulative GPA (no prerequisite grade below a C) from an ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, formerly NLNAC) accredited ASN or Diploma Nursing program. You may verify your nursing program’s accreditation at the following link: http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programsearch.htm,

(3) Minimum 60 transferable lower division college credits,

(4) Meet a) Florida mandated Gordon Rule requirements; b) University Core Curriculum requirements; and c) University foreign language requirement.  These requirements can be met with an Associate in Arts (AA) from a Florida State College System or non-nursing Bachelor's degree in another field from an accredited institution.

(5) Applicants with foreign degrees that have Florida RN licensure could apply if degree earned is evaluated to be equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree or Doctorate in Medicine degree at an accredited U.S. institution,

(6) RN-BSN applicants who have taken BSN courses at another institution and are requesting a transfer into the NWCHNS RN-BSN Program must have all coursework evaluated by FIU Nursing Faculty to determine course equivalency and are allowed a maximum of 6 transfer upper division Nursing credits and,

(7) Approved transferred nursing coursework must be completed within 5 years of enrollment at the time of admission.

(8) The Florida Board of Nursing and clinical agencies require the disclosure of arrest and conviction records for misdemeanors and/or felonies; therefore, this information will be required at the time of application. Applicants are required to submit to criminal background checks and drug testing. Expenses associated with background checks and drug testing (including repeat testing) are the responsibility of the student. Findings may affect a student’s ability to participate in clinical experiences and complete the program, and/or obtain registered nurse licensure.

Prior to admission, degree seeking applicants without an Associate in Arts degree from a Florida State Institution must satisfy the same current admission Undergraduate Catalog Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences requirements as beginning freshmen. Graduates of diploma nursing programs who do not have transferable college credit will be required to complete the FIU lower division credit requirements prior to admission. Visit the website at:http://www.fiuonline.com/programs/online-undergraduate-degrees/rntobsn/ for program information.

There are no majors associated with this program.

There are no tracks, specializations, concentrations, areas of emphasis, or other curricular offerings associated with this program.