May 21, 2024  
2023-2024 Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Catalog

RN - BSN., Nursing [8019] ‡


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Bachelor of Science

(120 Credit Hours)

Dean of Nursing

Dr. Tammy Sawmelle, Ph.D., MSN, RN

For more information about the program contact:
BSN Program Manager

Dr. Katie Tinley
Tinleyk@SCF.edu

Program Description and Goal

The Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN.) Program is designed primarily as a 2+2 program for current Florida registered nurses (RN) who would like to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN.). This program incorporates prior nursing education and experience in nursing practice, theory and concepts. BSN. coursework addresses topics related to leadership and management, informatics, community and public health, nursing theory and research. This program is approved by the Florida State Department of Education.

This program is approved by the Florida State Department of Education.   The Baccalaureate nursing program at State College of Florida is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326  (404) 975-5000.

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Baccalaureate nursing programs is Continuing Accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm

The RN to BSN Program further expands the RN’s knowledge base, enhancing his or her professional and leadership skills, which will meet the future health care needs of the community.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Apply holistic health concepts with individuals, families, and communities in the role of professional nurse as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
  • Evaluate theories and concepts impacting professional nursing.
  • Competently perform a health history and physical appraisal incorporating principles of holistic health, and cultural humility.
  • Incorporate ethical principles and legal standards to advocate for individuals as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
  • Incorporate effective communication strategies with individuals, families, and/or communities in the role of professional nurse.
  • Discriminate information from a variety of sources to promote safe care and improve outcomes.
  • Integrate leadership concepts in the provision of high-quality nursing care.
  • Analyze the influence of health care policy, finance, and regulatory environments on professional nursing practice.

Separate Application


‡ Degrees/programs will require a separate application and acceptance notification from the specific department before enrollment in the desired program.

Admission Requirements


  1. A 2.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0;
  2. A current, unencumbered, unrestricted Florida RN license or eligible for Florida RN licensure.
  3. Completion of at least 60 hours and completion of all prerequisite courses listed below.  Courses transferred with fewer credits than listed will be evaluated on a case by case by case basis.

RN-B.S.N. Program Requirements


Prerequisite Courses: 36 Credit Hours


Completion of all or part of the academic courses required does not guarantee acceptance into the RN to B.S.N. Program.

Additional Academic Requirements: 9 Credit Hours


Courses from the prerequisites (+) count toward the 36 credit hours needed in general education requirements, Areas I - V .

To complete this requirement, students will need to complete the following courses:

BSN: 38 Credit Hours


Postsecondary Civics Literacy


The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a Florida College System institution or state university in 2018-19 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. Prior to the award of an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree, first-time-in-college students entering a Florida College System institution in the 2018-19 school year, and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy through one of the following options prior to graduation:

(1) Successfully passing either POSX041 American Government or AMHX020 Introductory Survey Since 1877. Each of the courses must include the following competencies:

(a) Understanding of the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government;

(b) An understanding of the United States Constitution and its application;

(c) Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-government; and

(d) An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.

(2) Achieving the standard score on one of the following assessments:

Assessment                                                                             Standard Score

AP Government and Politics: United States                                     3

AP United States History                                                                      4

CLEP: American Government                                                          50

BSN Electives: 6 Credit Hours


Minimum of two courses from this list:

Lower/Upper Level Electives: up to 7 Credit Hours to meet 120 Credit Hours graduation requirement


  • Any A.A. elective course

Validated Nursing Credits


Upon validation of an unrestricted, unencumbered Florida RN license up to 30 credit hours will be awarded at the completion of the upper division nursing core courses and application for B.S.N. graduation.

Notification on Professional Licensure


(USDOE Regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) and National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity (NC- SARA) : Current and prospective students for certain programs at State College of Florida (SCF) that lead to professional licensure and/or credential are hereby notified that SCF programs fulfill education requirements for specific professional licensure and/or certification required for employment in the intended occupation of the academic program, in the state of Florida. SCF has not determined whether its programs meet other states’ educational or professional requirements. Since the professional licensure and certification requirements vary from state to state and are subject to change, current and prospective students are strongly advised to determine whether courses and programs will meet the professional licensure requirements in states where they are located by contacting the appropriate licensing authority.

Licensure Requirement


Students must submit a current, unencumbered, unrestricted Florida RN license by 2/28 for students admitted for Spring, 6/30 for students admitted for Summer, and 9/30 for students admitted for Fall, and maintain their license throughout their study in the RN to B.S.N. Program

Graduation Requirements for Bachelor’s Degrees


The following general requirements for graduation from SCF must be met by all candidates for the Bachelor of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science degrees. Additional requirements may exist for individual programs.

  1. Students must satisfactorily complete 120 credit hours. For residency purposes, a minimum of 30 credit hours required for graduation must be completed at SCF. All other specific degree requirements also must be met. Developmental education (formerly college preparatory) instruction may not be counted toward fulfilling the total number of credit hours required for residency purposes or graduation.
  2. For purposes of conferring the bachelor’s degree, students must complete at least 30 credit hours of courses numbered 3000 level or above. Of these, at least 15 credit hours must be taken at SCF.
  3. Students must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4 .0 scale for all work completed at SCF and a 2.0 grade point average or higher for combined coursework with SCF that includes all transferable credits.
  4. Students must earn a grade of C or better in all upper division program requirements.
  5. Students must complete the general education requirements (36 credit hours) as defined in the Associate in Arts degree. Students who transfer to SCF with either an Associate in Arts degree or a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution are considered to have met the general education component of the degree. Courses will be reviewed for equivalency for students who transfer without an Associate in Arts or bachelor’s degree.
  6. Students must have completed Florida’s foreign language requirement prior to the completion of the bachelor’s degree. Students may meet this competency by:  A) successful completion of two years (four semesters) of the same foreign language officially documented on a high school transcript; or B) successful completion (grade C or better) of two semesters of the same foreign language at a college or university officially documented on a college/university transcript; or C) education completed outside the United States as documented on an official foreign high school transcript that reflects a primary language other than English; D) or Successful completion of two foreign language equivalents through Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), or UEXCEL exams.  One or more of these exams can be in combination with successful completion of college/university credit in the same foreign language subject area.  Official transcripts from a high school, college and/or university and/or official examination results must be submitted to the educational records office.
  7. For students wishing to pursue another bachelor’s degree, the student must complete a minimum of 15 additional credit hours beyond the first bachelor’s degree as well as any other degree requirements and graduation requirements listed above for the second program. 

SCF reserves the right to make changes in the regulations, offerings, requirements and any provisions announced in this Catalog at any time as circumstances require.

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