RN to BSN

Quick Facts

100% on-line courses.

60 Clock-Hour Leadership Clinical Experience May be Required.

Nine courses equal to thirty-two credits.

Students are admitted in the Summer semester.

General education courses can be taken before, during or after completing nursing courses.

Admissions Criteria

Final Policy

Admission criteria will change effect Fall 2022 (June 1st application deadline)  
Minimums: Overall GPA 3.0,
Math/Science GPA minimum 2.6

Admission - Admission to the university as a HPNU - Nursing Interest Advising major does not assure admission to the major.

1. Applicants must be in progress or have completed all ETSU General Education courses* (or equivalent from a Transfer Institution) including the four (4) Nursing Pre-requisite classes:  Anatomy and Physiology I and II (with labs), Intro to Microbiology (with lab), and Probability and Statistics. At least three (3) of the four (4) pre-requisite math/science classes must be completed prior to the application deadline.

* Applicants with greater than two (2) unsuccessful attempts to complete all required pre-requisite math/science courses will be ineligible for admission to the College of Nursing.  Grades below a “C” (C-, D+, D, and F) are considered unsuccessful attempts.

* Applicants with completed Bachelor’s degrees are exempt from taking General Education Requirements (by virtue of the completed degree) but must complete the four pre-requisite math/science courses or equivalents with at least three (3) of the four (4) completed prior to the application deadline.

*Transfer students are responsible for making sure courses taken at other institutions are equivalent to ETSU General Education courses. For further information about transfer equivalency, go to: https://www.etsu.edu/articulation/equivalencies.php . For a list of ETSU General Education requirements, go to: https://www.etsu.edu/uged/gened.php .

2. A minimum cumulative College Level Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.6 as computed by East Tennessee State University (excluding developmental coursework) is required.
   
   
3. RN to BSN applicants must apply to the College of Nursing Using NursingCAS   www.nursingcas.org
   
   
4. Official Transcripts from all higher education institutions must be sent to CAS. Students must also apply for General Admission to ETSU.  This should be done well in advance of the application deadline. Detailed instructions and information are available at: https://www.etsu.edu/nursing/default.php
   
   
5. Applicants, with the exception of LPN to BSN and RN to BSN, must submit (electronically) all scores from the standardized entrance exam. (TEAS) The standardized entrance exam may be taken twice within a two year period, but not twice in the same semester.  Scores are valid for two (2) years.
   
   
6. ETSU College of Nursing does NOT require references, a personal statement or professional experience for admission.
   
   
7. Applicants, with the exception of LPN to BSN and RN to BSN, are ranked by a point system which includes 100 possible points in four (4) areas: Overall GPA, Math/Science Nursing Pre-requisite GPA, Adjusted Individual Total Score, score of the standard entrance exam for a total of 400 possible points.  Applicants are admitted in point order. LPN to BSN and RN to BSN applicants are ranked by overall Grade Point Average (GPA) and admitted in ascending order.
   
   
8. Applicants who are admitted to ETSU as freshman with a high school GPA of 3.5 or above, ACT cumulative score of 29 or above, and maintain an ETSU overall GPA of 3.2 or higher, will be guaranteed admission to the nursing major.  Students must complete the College of Nursing application process and meet all other established admissions criteria.

Application Details

• Application Process & Selection

  Admission criteria will change effect Fall 2022 (June 1st application deadline)  
  Minimums: Overall GPA 3.0,
  Math/Science GPA minimum 2.6 and
  minimum on TEAS 58% overall

  There are 2 applications to the program:

  1. Apply to the ETSU, click here.
     • Please apply as a Transfer Student and select HPNU - Nursing Interest Advising (Pre-BSN) for the major.
     • Request ALL college and university transcripts, and high school transcript (if you graduated High School Fall 1989 or after) be sent to ETSU. It is the student’s responsibility to follow up with the Admissions Office regarding university acceptance (423-439-4213).
     • If you have been accepted at ETSU previously, please complete the online Re-admit Form to the university and request all official updated transcripts be sent to ETSU. No Re-Admission fee required.
  2. Complete the found on NursingCAS www.nursingCAS.org 
     
     You can apply to ETSU and complete the RN to BSN Application in the same time frame. The College of Nursing will accept RN to BSN applications for the Spring, Summer and Fall semesters (refer to deadlines). Admitted students will be classified as Pre-BSN students until they are accepted into the program. The College of Nursing will change the status to BSN when accepted. Pre-BSN status does not guarantee admission to the RN-BSN major.
     
     To receive full consideration, students must be fully admitted to East Tennessee State University by the nursing application deadline dates. Since admission to the university can take several weeks, students are encouraged to apply well in advance of the nursing deadlines. Consideration for the nursing major cannot be guaranteed if full admission to the university has not been obtained.

  
  

  NOTE:

  •  
  • ADN graduates- Students sitting for licensing exam (but do not have results) should attach a copy of NCLEX-RN registration as proof of eligibility for licensure

  Transfer of Nursing College credits: All nursing courses, in which a grade of “C” (2.0) or higher was earned, will be transferred in as nursing electives. Nursing courses, in which a grade of “C-“ or less was earned, are considered nursing failures. Please contact the Office of Student Services regarding the nursing failure policies and procedures.

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  Selection Process:

  Students are ranked according to a points-system that includes:

  1. Overall GPA (excluding developmental coursework) * - 100 points available
  2. Math-Science Requirements GPA (at least 3 of 4 courses must be complete upon application with remainder in progress and completed by end of term)** - 100 points available

  200 Total points are available.

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  Admission points breakdown:

  OVERALL GPA* - 100 Points Available

  • GPA 3.8 to 4.0 = 100 Admissions Points
  • GPA 3.6 to 3.79 = 90 Admissions Points
  • GPA 3.4 to 3.59 = 80 Admissions Points
  • GPA 3.2 to 3.39 = 70 Admissions Points
  • GPA 3.0 to 3.19 = 60 Admissions Points
  • GPA 2.8 to 2.99 = 50 Admissions Points
  • GPA 2.6 to 2.79 = 40 Admissions Points
  • GPA of less than 2.6 = 0 points

  Math-Science Requirements GPA** - 100 Points Available

  • GPA 3.8 to 4.0 = 100 Admissions Points
  • GPA 3.6 to 3.79 = 90 Admissions Points
  • GPA 3.4 to 3.59 = 80 Admissions Points
  • GPA 3.2 to 3.39 = 70 Admissions Points
  • GPA 3.0 to 3.19 = 60 Admissions Points
  • GPA 2.8 to 2.99 = 50 Admissions Points
  • GPA 2.6 to 2.79 = 40 Admissions Points
  • GPA 2.2 to 2.59 = 20 Admissions Points
  • GPA 2.0 to 2.19 = 10 Admissions Points
  • GPA of less than 2.0 = 0 points

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  Also required:

  General Education Courses will be required to graduate from ETSU with the BSN Degree.

  East Tennessee State University is fully in accord with the belief that educational and employment opportunities should be available to all persons without regard to age, sex, color, race, religion, national origin, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

  **NOTE: General education courses can be determined through individual program planning.

  **NOTE: Students who enroll in and successfully complete CSCI 1100/NFS 1010 will receive college credit. College credits are not awarded for the proficiency exam.

• Out of State Applications

  • Course and program availability varies by state and is established by each individual State Board of Nursing.

  • Students who reside outside of the state of Tennessee are responsible to contact their State Board of Nursing to confirm whether the course or program meets online degree program requirements in their state of residence prior to application.

• Articulation Agreements Credits

  Upon successful completion of NRSE 3200 Advancing to Professional Nursing Practice and NRSE 2030 Health Assessment Students will be awarded 8 – 12 articulation course credits identified in the articulation agreements at specific community colleges.
  

  Hospital diploma graduates upon successful completion of NRSE 3200 Advancing to Professional Nursing Practice and NRSE 2030 Health Assessment will be awarded 42 semester credits in nursing.

  Questions? For additional information contact Matt Johnson in the Office of Student Services by email or at 423.439.4528.

• Application Deadlines

   

  • Spring Semester - October 1 ( Note: Applications will continue to be accepted after this date pending availability.)

  • Summer Semester - February 1 ( Note: Applications will continue to be accepted after this date pending availability.)

  • Fall Semester - June 1 ( Note: Applications will continue to be accepted after this date pending availability.)

Contact Us

Margaret Mahlin

Academic advisor

• mahlin@etsu.edu
• 423-439-4531