NURSING PROGRAM — ONLINE CURRICULUM FOR RN-TO-BS STUDENTS

Bachelor of Science Curriculum for RN-to-BS Students

The Online RN-to-BS Program is open only to nurses holding a current unrestricted United States license to practice as Registered Nurse (RN). This unique collaboration between the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the Division of Corporate, Continuing and Distance Education (CCDE) of the University of
Massachusetts Boston maximizes accessibility and convenience for highly motivated, independent professionals. Most course activities are completed online, in the student’s place of employment, or in the community. On-campus activities include an orientation, four hours of laboratory instruction during the Health Assessment and Promotion course, and one on-campus meeting for each nursing course. Applicants from outside of the greater Boston area may contact the program office to discuss arrangements for completing these requirements off-campus. The program is accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education.

General Academic Requirements

Newly admitted students meet with the Program Coordinator and are encouraged to meet regularly with the Program Coordinator regarding issues such as credit transfer and academic progression. Upon admission, applicants must first complete courses in statistics, pharmacology, and nursing. (The latter two may be completed via NLN examinations.) Students then join a cohort that completes the program in five semesters, including summer, fall, and spring terms. An orientation to the online technology used in course delivery is offered to maximize student success. General education and elective course requirements may be satisfied at any time prior to graduation through the Division of Corporate, Continuing, and Distance Education with online courses, if available, or (with prior approval) at another accredited college or university.

Students are expected to adhere to all other undergraduate academic requirements and policies found in the latest issue of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Student Handbook, available at the College office or online at www.cnhs.umb.edu, and this catalog. This includes, among others, Required Exams, Examinations for Course Credit, and Clinical Clearance and Criminal Offender Record Investigation policies.
Graduation requirements stipulate that students must complete a minimum of 30 residency credits at UMass Boston. CLEP and NLN exams for course credit are not considered residency credits.

Progression Requirements for RN-to-BS Program Majors

Once matriculated into the Online RN-to-BS Program, the academic standards are the same for all baccalaureate candidates whether RN-to-BS or Pre Licensure. To complete this 120-credit baccalaureate degree program, RNs are required to maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and to receive a grade of at least a C+ (2.25 or 77%) in all required science and nursing courses. No required science or nursing course may be taken pass/fail. A grade of C-or below is considered a failing grade. In nursing courses with two components, theory and clinical, each component must be successfully completed. A student failing the course must repeat both components. A student will receive an academic warning if s/he receives a grade of C or less in one required science or nursing course, or demonstrates a pattern of withdrawal from required courses. The conditions of the academic warning are determined by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Student Affairs Committee based on a review of the student’s record.

Failure to successfully repeat a prerequisite or nursing course or failure in a second prerequisite or nursing course may result in dismissal from the College. Students may appeal dismissal through a procedure outlined in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Student Handbook

Bachelor of Science Curriculum for RN-to-BS Students

Courses Required Prior to Admission Credits

English I and II	6
Anatomy and Physiology I and II 1,2	8
Microbiology 1,2	4
Growth and Development	3
Social and Behavioral Science Elective	3
Courses Required Prior to Beginning Nursing Courses
Statistics 3
Choose one of the following: ECON 205, MSIS 111, MATH 125, ESPE 310, PSYCH Z270, SOCIOL 270
Pharmacology 2	3
Nutrition 2	3

Notes:

1. There is no time limit for accepting natural science transfer credit.

2. May be met by scoring at the 50th percentile or higher on an NLN achievement test.

3. Check the catalogue for prerequisites.

NLN Examinations for Course Credit: For RN Students Only

NLN Exams may only be taken by Registered Nurses to satisfy certain program requirements. Students must obtain a score at the 50th percentile or better on the following NLN Examinations:

NLN Examination	Credits	In Lieu of
Anatomy and Physiology	8	BIOL 207-208
Microbiology	4	BIOL 209
Pharmacology	3	NURSNG 314
Nutrition and Diet Therapy	3	EHS150

More information on NLN Examinations is available from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences 617.287.7500, or complete the application available at http://www.cnhs.umb.edu

	Credits
Nursing Courses — Year I
Nursing 360 (Professional Issues in Nursing)	6
Nursing 361 (Health Assessment and Promotion)	6
Nursing 362 (Nursing Research and Informatics)	6
Nursing Courses — Year II
Nursing 460 Evidence-Based Practice	6
Nursing 461 Community Health Nursing 4	6

Notes:

4. Students must successfully complete the Writing Proficiency Requirement (WPR) prior to enrolling in NURSNG 461. The requirement may be met through an on-campus examination or by submitting a portfolio; please see WPR section of this catalog. The Community Health Nursing course includes an 84-hour clinical practicum. While engaged in the practicum, students attend the online portion of the class and have conference calls with their instructor to optimize the learning experience.

University General Education Requirements

• World Culture and Language, 6 credits
• Arts and Humanities, 6 credits
• Electives, 8 credits

May be met any time prior to completion of the program.

Chemistry is strongly recommended as an elective for students planning to apply to a nurse practitioner program.

Criteria for Admission

Applicants for admission to the Online RN-to-BS Program are encouraged to apply for admission specifying whether they want to be considered for the Fall, Spring, or Summer cohort class. Currently, the College is developing articulation agreements with several Commonwealth of Massachusetts public and private community colleges. If you are a graduate of such a college, please contact the Program Coordinator to determine your eligibility for admission as an alumna of one of the collaborating colleges. Criteria for admission include:

• Current unrestricted United States license to practice as Registered Nurse (RN)
• GPA of 2.75 or better, with a C or better in science courses
• Two letters of recommendation
• The following college courses:
  • English I and II 6 credits
  • Anatomy and Physiology I and II 8 credits
  • Microbiology 4 credits
  • Growth and Development 3 credits
  • Social and Behavioral Science elective 3 credits
    

Transfer Credits

Up to 90 transfer credits may be accepted. There is no time limit on accepting science courses. Thirty-eight credits will be awarded in recognition of having completed a registered nurse program and passing the National Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Technology Requirements

• Pentium III PC or G3 MAC with 256k memory
• 56k Internet Service Provider
• Internet Explorer 6.0 or Netscape 6.0 is required (AOL and MSN Explorer do not work)
• Microsoft Office, including MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel

All three of the following free software programs are required to utilize chat and video streaming:

• Shockwave Player: available at http://www.macromedia.com/software/shockwaveplayer
• Real Player: available at www.real.com/realone
• Acrobat Reader: available at www.adobe.com