Nursing

Nursing at Collin

RN-to-BSN
Advance: your Degree- your Career- your Life.

The RN-to-BSN is a post licensure program designed to prepare the students with an understanding of: nursing, health and healing, the environment, and persons as diverse individuals, families, populations, and communities.

The graduate of the Collin College RN-to-BSN Program is prepared to:

• Use clinical reasoning and knowledge based on the nursing program of study, evidence-based practice outcomes, and research studies as the basis for decision-making and comprehensive, safe patient and population care.
• Demonstrate inquiry and analysis in applying patient care technologies and information systems to support safe nursing practice and population risk reduction.
• Develop safety and quality improvement activities as part of the interdisciplinary team and as an advocate and manager of nursing care.
• Educate on changes in health status and promote population risk reduction with diverse communities in collaboration with members of the interdisciplinary health care team.
• Monitor institutional, professional, and public policy to maintain adherence to standards of practice within legal, ethical, and regulatory frameworks of the professional nurse.
• Demonstrate leadership skills related to financial, human resource, clinical, and professional issues in providing and evaluating care.
• Demonstrate leadership and advocacy that reflect the values and ethics of the nursing profession.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) will be awarded based upon achieving satisfactory score(s) in all courses.

FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES/CORE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS STATEMENT

After initial acceptance to this program, all students are required to meet specific functional abilities - with or without accommodations - for successful completion of the program and to function safely and effectively in the variety of the profession's settings. The specific functional requirements are found in the Functional Abilities/Core Performance Standards documents provided in the program information on the Nursing website http://www.collin.edu/nursing. Students who think they may not be able to meet the functional standards and need accommodation are encouraged to contact the college ACCESS department as soon as this program is of interest.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Various scholarships are available to students when they have been accepted into the Nursing Program. Most scholarships are awarded based on financial need. Other types of monetary support are available through the college's Financial Aid Office.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Students assume financial responsibility for: tuition, fees, books, and other possible requirements to complete the degree such as uniforms, immunizations, transportation (may include clinical parking passes), clinical accessories/equipment, drug testing, health coverage, testing and tutorial software, and personal computers.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Admission to the Nursing RN-to-BSN Program is selective. Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the RN-to-BSN Program. Registration into upper division nursing courses is by permission only. Information and applications may be obtained from the Nursing Office or the Nursing website: http://www.collin.edu/nursing.

• Complete an application for admission to Collin College.
• The RN-to-BSN program is for Registered Nurses. Must hold a current Texas unencumbered RN license or an enhanced nurse license compact (eNLC)-multi state license. Graduate nurses (GN's) may apply and be conditionally admitted to the program but must pass the NCLEX before starting course work.
• Submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities that have pre-program requirement course work to be considered and list the awarding of an associate degree in nursing.
• Complete an associate degree in nursing from an accredited educational institution.
• Minimum overall grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Must be within six (6) to eight (8) credit hours of completion of the Texas Core Curriculum at time of application: All general education courses and pre-program requirement course work must be completed prior to registering for upper division Nursing courses.

Students will need to complete a practicum project to finish the program. Students may need to complete clinical requirements as required by a facility. These situations should be discussed with the program director as soon as identified so a plan can be developed to gain entry to the facility.

Prior to enrollment in upper division nursing courses: Students who will be earning a baccalaureate degree from Collin College MUST satisfy ALL course work requirements of the Texas core curriculum. Collin College will ensure students transferring into the RN-to-BSN program have completely met the core objectives defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board which encompasses the 42-semester credit hour requirement. Academic advisors are available at each campus to assist students in evaluation of prior course work and selection of equivalent courses. The following semester hours must be completed prior to enrollment in upper-division nursing courses.