The RN to BSN Articulation Track is for Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Degree (AASN or ADN) or diploma nurses seeking a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Licensed Registered Nurses (RNs) in the articulation tracks and graduate program meet course requirements through didactic courses, laboratory activities, practicum, and projects. 

Program Goals and Outcomes

1. Goal: Provide excellent learning opportunities to prepare graduates to meet national standards for entry into practice as competent, professional registered nurses.
   Outcome:
   Performance on Licensure Exam: 88% or more of the pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates will pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) on the first attempt.
2. Goal: Provide relevant education and resources for students to graduate in a timely manner.
   Outcomes:
   Program Completion (100%): 40% or more of the students entering the BSN program will earn the BSN degree within 100% of the time of the published program length
   Program Completion (150%): 70% or more of the students entering the BSN program will earn the BSN degree within 150% of the time of the published program length.
3. Goal: Prepare graduates to function in role-related nursing employment.
   Outcome:
   Job Placement: 90% or more of BSN graduates contacted report employment in nursing 9-12 months post-graduation.

BSN End of Program Student Learning Outcomes

1. Practices safe, compassionate, and effective holistic/multidimensional patient-centered care to diverse patients/clients* in multiple settings from a global perspective by incorporating theories and evidence-based findings.
2. Supports patients/clients in preventing disease, maintaining wellness, promoting and restoring health and advocating for death with dignity.
3. Evaluates patient-centered care for patients/clients across the lifespan based on common and complex health needs and compromised multiple health states when considering multiple determinants of health.
4. Synthesizes clinical reasoning and judgment in nursing practice utilizing critical thinking, nursing process, informatics, research, and evidence-based findings.
5. Employs safe, effective, compassionate patient-centered care in collaboration with patients/clients and members of the interprofessional and intraprofessional healthcare team.
6. Differentiates multiple role dimensions and practices within ethical, legal and regulatory frameworks when caring for diverse patients/clients as a member of the interprofessional and intraprofessional healthcare team.
7. Demonstrates professional integrity, effective communication, active inquiry and service to the community.

Admission

RN to BSN applications are processed through ApplyTexas.  Follow the instructions carefully so that the correct major is chosen (RN-BSN: Registered Nurse to BSN-ONLINE DEGREE). If the wrong major is selected, there can be a delay in the admission decision.

Admission to Lamar University is required as well as admission to the RN-BSN Articulation Track in the Dishman School of Nursing. Official transcripts from other colleges or universities must be evaluated by Lamar University.

To be considered for admission to the RN-BSN Track, the student must:

1. Have an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Degree (AASN or ADN) or diploma in nursing from an approved program. 
2. Apply and be admitted to Lamar University.
3. Have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher. Students with a cumulative GPA between 2.0 and 2.49 may be admitted on a conditional basis, allowing them to enroll in 6 hours of nursing courses and must earn a grade of "B" or better to progress in the RN-BSN Track.
4. Must have a "C" or better in ENGL 1301 Composition I, ENGL 1302 Composition II, MATH 1314 College Algebra(Non-Calculus) or MATH 1332 Contemporary Mathematics I, MATH 1342 Elementary Statistical Methods/PSYC 2317 Introduction to Statistical Methods, BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I, BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II, BIOL 2421 Microbiology for Science Majors, PSYC 2315 Lifespan Development, and NUTR 1322 Basic Nutrition to be accepted in the program.
5. Have a current, unencumbered license to practice professional nursing (RN) in the U.S. or an approved U.S. territory. Provisional admission is available for students who have graduated from an approved program but have not yet obtained full licensure as a RN. Provisional admission allows students to enroll in non-practicum courses over two compressed semesters while obtaining full licensure. 

The admission process is as follows:

1. The student should follow the instructions for ApplyTexas, selecting Online Campus, then the correct degree code (Registered Nurse to BSN - ONLINE DEGREE), and the semester in which the student wants to enroll.
2. Send official transcripts to the:
   Lamar University Admissions Office
   P.O. Box 10009
   Beaumont, Texas 77710
3. The Lamar University Admissions Office will then determine the students' admission status, and what courses will transfer. Admissions will send an email with the decision regarding the students' acceptance to Lamar University.
4. The Dishman School of Nursing will be notified after admission is complete.
5. The Dishman School of Nursing will review the student’s file and transcripts to determine if the student meets the admission requirements for the RN-BSN Track.
6. Accepted students will receive a packet by email from the Dishman School of Nursing providing them with details regarding their degree plan and the requirements necessary to progress in the track. Students will need to review the packet and their degree plan through their degree audit on Banner Self-Serv.
7. After students have reviewed the acceptance packet, they must email their advisor confirming their acceptance and schedule an advising appointment.

Curriculum

Students can complete the RN-BSN Track in  7 compressed semesters (if all core courses are fulfilled prior to admission). All nursing courses in the RN-BSN Track are 8 weeks long (10 weeks during summer sessions). General education courses are either 8 weeks or 15 weeks long and may be completed concurrently with nursing courses, unless considered a pre-requisite course. 

Students are required to consult with an RN-BSN Articulation Track Advisor before each semester to discuss the best option for their academic progress. 

Progression in the RN to BSN Track

Students are required to earn a grade of “C” or better in each nursing course while following the sequence identified for the program of study.

The grading scale for nursing courses in the RN-BSN Track is as follows:

• A= 100-90 Excellent
• B = 89-80 Good
• C = 79-75 Satisfactory
• D = 74-60 Failure
• F = 59-0 Failure

In order to progress in the RN-BSN Track students are required to:

• Maintain a current unencumbered nursing license
• Complete a criminal background screening
• Maintain Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification
• Submit to a physical exam completed by their physician
• Provide documentation of required immunizations
• Obtain nursing liability insurance

These requirements are the responsibility of the student and are not included in Lamar University’s tuition and fees. 

Escrow Courses for RN-BSN Students

RN-BSN students will be awarded 31 hours of undergraduate nursing credits via escrow, which will be added to the student's transcript once the nursing capstone course, NURS 4580 Synthesis in Professional Nursing, has been successfully completed.

Transfer Credits

An official transcript evaluation by Lamar University is required for all transfer credits. Transfer credits that are not equivalent to Lamar University credits must be evaluated on an individual basis by the appropriate department chair. Credit earned at other regionally accredited institutions will be considered for transfer to Lamar University based on the policies outlined in the Transfer Credit Evaluation section of the Lamar University Undergraduate Admissions Process and Requirement section of this catalog. Technical credits will not be accepted by the Dishman School of Nursing.  Please speak with an advisor regarding questions about transfer credits.