Accelerated B.S.N. Program

Program Overview

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The Accelerated BSN Program is a full-time, 15-month Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program that prepares pre-licensure students who have already earned at least 60 college credits or a bachelor’s degree in another area of study to enter the profession of nursing as beginning practitioners. Candidates must have earned all general education requirements before being accepted into the program. Conditional admission may be offered to students who have completed all but the six nursing pre-requisites. The 120-credit Accelerated BSN Program includes 60 credits of professional nursing completed both online and on-campus at Thomas Edison State University.

Graduates of the Accelerated BSN Program are prepared to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Students must check the specific state board of nursing to see if the program meets the educational requirements for that state. Satisfactory performance on the NCLEX-RN® results in the graduate being known as a registered nurse.

The policies stated here apply only to students enrolling in the Accelerated BSN Program with degree requirements effective July 1, 2024. Due to the distinct nature of the program, many policies that apply to other W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professions students do not apply to students in this program. Please check the Accelerated BSN Program website, Student Handbook or with a nursing advisor with any questions. Additionally, please review the Student Handbook for course, clinical, and testing policies.

Three graduate courses, Health Policy (NUR-5290), Nursing Informatics Concepts and Issues (NUR-5310), and Financial Management in Nursing Practice (NUR-5820) will be completed by all BSN degree students as part of the professional nursing requirements. These 9 graduate credits may apply to the Master of Science Nursing degree requirements at Thomas Edison State University upon acceptance to that degree program. A grade of B or better is required in these courses for transfer. Students will be eligible to apply to the Master of Science in Nursing program only after they have earned the BSN degree and have successfully passed the NCLEX-RN®. The 9 credits grade of B (83) or better will be accepted as transfer credit upon admission to the MSN program, depending on the chosen area of study.

Graduate credits that were earned more than seven years prior to the student's enrollment date may not be applied to either the graduate degree or certificate without the permission of the dean of the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professions.

Program Requirements

General Education Featured Courses (45 Credits)

TESU Featured Courses are listed as a guide. Other courses may satisfy the areas and can be viewed on our website under General Education Courses. Students are encouraged to make regular appointments with their nursing academic advisor with questions about the general education and required courses.

A. Intellectual and Practical Skills (15 Credits)

ENC-1010Writing for Success

3

ENC-1020Writing for Success II

3

COM-2090Public Speaking

3

HPS-2000Statistics for the Health Professions

3

SOS-1100Fact, Fiction, or Fake? Information Literacy Today

3

For all TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Intellectual and Practical Skills.

B. Civic and Global Leadership (9 Credits)

SOC-1010Our Changing World: An Introduction to Sociology

3

ETH-2200Leading the Way: A Path Towards Ethical Leadership

3

POS-1100American Government

3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Civic and Global Leadership.

C. Knowledge of Human Cultures (15 Credits)

SOC-2100Marriage and the Family

3

HIS-1130American History I

3

FIL-1100Exploring American Cinema

3

Select two featured courses from the list below:
SOC-2910Criminology

3

HIS-1140American History II

3

HIS-1210Introduction to World History I

3

HUM-1030Introduction to the Humanities III: Music

3

PHI-1300Introduction to Critical Reasoning

3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Knowledge of Human Cultures.

D. Scientific Knowledge (6 Credits)

BIO-2080The Science of Nutrition

3

-

CHE-1110General Chemistry I

3

-
OR

HEA-3071Pathophysiology for Health Professionals

4

Professional Degree Requirements (72 Credits)

BIO-2110Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab

4

BIO-2120Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab

4

BIO-2510Introduction to Microbiology with Lab

4

Nursing Program Courses

Term 1 - 8 weeks

-
Hybrid Course

NUR-3220Fundamentals of Nursing

4

NUR-3280Health Assessment and Health Promotion

3

-
Online Course

NUR-3320Introduction to Critical Thinking in Nursing

1

Term 2 - 8 weeks

-
Hybrid Course

NUR-3380Applying the Nursing Process to Alteration in Health

4

-
Online Course

NUR-3420Advancing Nursing Practice

3

Term 3 - 8 weeks

-
Hybrid Course

NUR-3450Nursing Care of Clients with Alterations in Behavioral Health

3

NUR-3480Nursing Care of Clients with Acute and Chronic Conditions

4

Term 4 - 8 weeks

-
Hybrid Course

NUR-4210Women’s Health Across the Lifespan

3

-
Online Course

NUR-4190Exploring Evidence-Based Practice and Research in Nursing

3

Term 5 - 8 weeks

-
Hybrid Course

NUR-4220Nursing Care of Infants, Children, and Adolescents

3

-
Online Course

NUR-4430Public Health Nursing

4

NUR-5290Health Policy

3

Term 6 - 8 weeks

-
Hybrid Course

NUR-4420Nursing Care in the Community

3

-
Online Course

NUR-4280Leadership and Management in Nursing

3

NUR-5310Nursing Informatics: Concepts and Issues

3

Term 7 - 8 weeks

-
Hybrid Course

NUR-4320Nursing Care of Clients with Complex Health Conditions

4

-
Online Course

NUR-5820Financial Management in Nursing Practice

3

Term 8 - 8 weeks

-
Hybrid Course

NUR-4500Transition to Professional Practice

3

-
Online Course

NUR-4450Validating Nursing Competence

3

Elective (3 Credits)

For TESU course options, go to Elective Courses.

Total Credit Hours: 120

 

Admissions

The W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professions uses a holistic approach to review applications for the Accelerated B.S.N. Program. Applicants who complete and meet all admission requirements may be invited to interview with the School of Nursing Admissions Committee. Submission of an application does not guarantee an interview. Additionally, an invitation to an interview does not guarantee admission into the program.  Please review the admissions process for the Accelerated B.S.N. Program details, Frequently Asked Questions, and BSNA Handbook to review admissions and program details.  

Acclerated BSN Admissions Requirements:

  • A GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred
  • Completion of a minimum of 60 undergraduate credit hours that includes the TESU Bachelor’s Degree general education requirements1 and prerequisite courses2

Pre-requisite Courses Required

Semester Credits

Anatomy and Physiology I with Laboratory

4

Anatomy and Physiology II with Laboratory

4

Chemistry I or Pathophysiology

3

Microbiology with Laboratory

4

Statistics

3

Nutrition

3

  • Personal Statement (minimum 250 words related to admission/educational/career goals).
  • ATI TEAS Exam (scores of 70% or better in each subcategory is preferred). This requirement is waived for students who have previously completed a bachelor’s degree.
  • Resume is optional.
  • An interview may be conducted by the nursing staff.

 

1 https://www.tesu.edu/academics/courses/general-education

2 Students may be conditionally accepted while completing the prerequisite courses. Placement in the program will depend on prerequisite courses being completed with a grade of “C” or better.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, the graduate will be able to:

  • Apply nursing and interprofessional knowledge, theory, and evidence to facilitate clinical judgement in providing nursing care for diverse individuals, families, and communities.
  • Implement person-centered, nursing care for diverse individuals, families, and communities to promote positive health outcomes.
  • Examine collaborative approaches to public and population health for health promotion and disease management for diverse communities.
  • Use evidence to guide clinical judgement to improve healthcare for diverse individuals, families, and communities.
  • Employ established and emerging interventions to deliver nursing care for diverse individuals, families, and communities that ensures quality and safety.
  • Collaborate with interprofessional team members and stakeholders to optimize nursing care and health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.
  • Use resources appropriately and efficiently to provide safe, quality, and equitable care and facilitate transitions of care for diverse individuals, families, and populations.
  • Employ informatics and healthcare technologies in accordance with best practices that demonstrate professional, regulatory, and ethical standards in providing nursing care for diverse individuals, families, and communities.
  • Demonstrate a professional nursing identity to effectively care for diverse individuals, families, and communities.
  • Participate in personal and professional development activities that foster well-being and contribute to a culture of lifelong learning and leadership.