Nursing

Nursing as an art and science is based on scientific, aesthetic, and ethical knowledge. The professional nurse diagnoses and treats human responses to illness, helps restore wellness, promotes health, and brings comfort to the dying patient. Caring, commitment, critical thinking, and practice competence are characteristics of the USI nurse.

Graduates of the USI nursing program are employed in hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, clinics, research facilities, and numerous other community settings. Clinical specialty areas include medical, surgical, maternal-child, geriatric, and psychiatric nursing. Additional education and experience provide career opportunities in teaching, research, management, and independent practice.

The undergraduate nursing program is designed to prepare the professional nurse as a generalist to plan, implement, and evaluate health care for individuals, families, and groups in institutional and community settings.

Completion of the undergraduate program provides the foundation for professional practice and graduate study in nursing. Students completing and meeting the requirements for graduation from the nursing program will be eligible to sit for the registered nurse licensure exam.

In addition to classroom instruction and simulated learning activities, clinical learning occurs in local hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, clinics, and other agencies. Students gain experience with patients in medical, surgical, psychiatric, maternity, pediatric, gerontology, oncology, operating room, critical care, emergency room, post-anesthesia, and community settings. Clinical practice prepares students for employment in these areas following graduation.

The nursing program is accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at the University of Southern Indiana is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

RN to BSN Program

Students who have earned an associate degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program and are licensed as a Registered Nursing in the U.S. and wish to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing can apply for admission to USI’s Online RN to BSN program: Nursing Major, B.S.N. (RN to BSN) . The information below applies to students seeking a BSN degree who have not already earned an associate degree in nursing.

BSN Program Admission Requirements

Admission to the USI baccalaureate nursing program requires admission to the University and a separate application to the nursing program. Admission is competitive and limited by the availability of instructional resources and clinical learning sites. The number of students admitted to the nursing program each year is dependent upon learning resources.

There are three methods of admission to the program: direct admission, conditional direct admission, and standard admission.

To be admitted/enrolled in nursing program courses, students must have a minimum grade of C or better in: BIOL 121 ; BIOL 122 ; CHEM 141 (or CHEM 142 and CHEM 143 ) or CHEM 262 ; ENG 101 ; ENG 201 ; CMST 101 or CMST 107 ; PSY 201 .

Students earning less than a C grade in three sciences courses will not be eligible to be admitted or enrolled in nursing courses.
Anatomy and physiology and chemistry course credit must be earned, or equivalent competence demonstrated, within five (5) years of enrollment in clinical nursing courses.
Students must achieve a C or better in BIOL 272 and NUTR 376 to progress to second semester of nursing courses.
Students must complete IPH 356 and HP 302 to progress to second semester of nursing courses.

All students selected for admission to the nursing program also must meet clinical agency requirements, present evidence of satisfactory health status, be eligible for RN licensure, and capable of fulfilling clinical practice requirements. Admission to the nursing program is based on academic qualifications and is contingent upon a satisfactory criminal record check and drug screening. The number of students admitted to the nursing program is limited by the availability of instructional resources and clinical learning sites.

Non-native speakers of English must provide an official report confirming a satisfactory level of English proficiency. USI accepts results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), IELTS, Cambridge English Advanced, Duo Lingo, EIKEN, or Pearson Test of English Academic exams. For a full list of minimum scores for each of the acceptable English proficiency options and country exemptions, visit www.usi.edu/international/admissions/how-to-apply.

BSN Direct Admission

Direct admission to the nursing program is possible for students with outstanding high school grades and SAT/ACT scores. Students should apply for direct admission within the first calendar year of high school graduation. To qualify for direct admission, students must have both:

A high school junior or senior year cumulative GPA of a 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale
One standardized exam score that meets the following requirements:
- SAT taken after March 2016 with a combined score of 1240 (reading and math, with minimum 580 in each area)
- ACT composite score of 26

Accepted direct admission students must maintain eligibility by earning a college GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale, by completing the first year prerequisite courses (see below*) prior to August 1 after their first year of college, and by completing all prerequisite second year courses according to the curriculum.

To qualify for conditional direct admission, students must have one of the following:

A junior or senior year cumulative high school GPA of 3.4 to 3.49 on a 4.0 scale and minimum ACT of 26 or a SAT after March 2016 with a combined score of 1240 (evidence-based reading and math, with minimum 580 in each area).
A junior or senior year (fall or spring) cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale and minimum ACT of 25 or a SAT after March 2016 with a combined score of 1210 (evidence-based reading and math, with minimum 560 in each area).

To complete an application for direct admission please complete and submit the Direct Admission Application. The application should be submitted within the first calendar year of high school graduation. A 200 word essay explaining your desire to pursue nursing as a career is required with the application and must be submitted separately either by email to cnhpadmissions@usi.edu or to the secure fax 812-465-7092.

* First year prerequisite courses:
ENG 101	ENG 201	BIOL 121	BIOL 122
MATH 114	PSY 201	CHEM 141 (or CHEM 142 and CHEM 143 ) or CHEM 262	KIN 192
UNIV 101	HP 115	CMST 101 or CMST 107
All students must earn a grade of “C” or better in the following classes:
BIOL 121	BIOL 122	CMST 101 or CMST 107	PSY 201
ENG 101	ENG 201	CHEM 141 (or CHEM 142 and CHEM 143 ) or CHEM 262	NUTR 376
BIOL 272	Ways of Knowing/Social Inquiry or BS Skills/Social Science course
Science eligibility rule: Any student who receives more than two ‘Ds’ or ‘Fs’ in any of the required science courses prior to beginning the professional nursing courses is ineligible for the USI nursing program. Anatomy and physiology and chemistry course credit must be earned, or equivalent competence demonstrated, within five (5) years of enrollment in clinical nursing courses.

BSN Standard Admission

There are two admission cycles and entry points: Fall Entry (applications due in the Spring) and Spring Entry (applications due in the fall).

Standard Admission to the undergraduate nursing program may occur after completion of 31 hours of required university courses. Students accepted through the standard admission process must maintain eligibility by completing all prerequisite second-year courses according to the curriculum.

USI’s undergraduate nursing program uses a paperless application system. Applicants will complete the initial undergraduate nursing program application and required supplemental documentation online.

Mission of the Standard Admission Process: The mission of the BSN Standard Admission process is to identify compassionate, dedicated applicants, with diverse experiences in leadership and community engagement, who possess a broad knowledge base, and the communication skills necessary to grow into nurses who are safe, competent, critical thinkers prepared to meet the constantly evolving needs of the community.

Vision of the Standard Admission Process: Develop nurses who embody attributes needed to become change agents within a global society.

Standard Admission Process

Admission to the program is competitive and selection of applicants is based upon the applicant’s academic performance, personal statement and resume, and interview. The maximum achievable score is 100.5 points.

GPA in required first year prerequisite courses x 10 for a maximum possible 40 points. First year courses used for the GPA are as follows:
ENG 101	ENG 201	BIOL 121	BIOL 122
MATH 114	PSY 201	CHEM 141 (or CHEM 142 and CHEM 143 ) or CHEM 262	KIN 192
UNIV 101	HP 115	CMST 101 or CMST 107
If a student takes the two course option of CHEM 142 and CHEM 143 , the grades for each will be averaged for the points to be applied to the student’s application.
Additional points for grades in BIOL 121 , BIOL 122 , and CHEM 141 for a maximum 7.5 points, as follows: A=2.5 pts; B+=2.0 pts; B=1.5 pts; C+=1.0 pts; C=.5 pts.
One additional point per each of the three classes BIOL 121 , BIOL 122 , and CHEM 141 taken at USI for a maximum possible 3 pts.
All students must earn a grade of “C” or better in the following classes:
BIOL 121	BIOL 122	CMST 101 or CMST 107	PSY 201
ENG 101	ENG 201	CHEM 141 (or CHEM 142 and CHEM 143 ) or CHEM 262	NUTR 376
BIOL 272	Ways of Knowing/Social Inquiry or BS Skills/Social Science course
Science eligibility rule: Any student who receives more than two ‘Ds’ or ‘Fs’ in any of the required science courses prior to beginning the professional nursing courses is ineligible for the USI nursing program. Anatomy and physiology and chemistry course credit must be earned, or equivalent competence demonstrated, within five (5) years of enrollment in clinical nursing courses.

Personal Statement and Leadership and Community Engagement Resume (20 points)

The student will submit a personal statement of 150 words or less describing why they want to become a nurse.

The student will complete a form showcasing leadership and community engagement activities. List the most current extra-curricular and community service activities, awards/honors, and work experience first. Describe work experience and include any leadership roles if applicable. Do not duplicate any entries.

Interview (30 points)

The student will participate in a personal interview.

Application Requirements

Acceptance to the University of Southern Indiana as an undergraduate student
Application to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at the College of Nursing and Health Professions
Submission of a Personal Statement and Leadership and Community Engagement Resume
Participation in a personal interview
Non-native speakers of English must meet English proficiency requirements as established by the USI Center for International Programs

Programs

Bachelor of Science in Nursing