Nursing Major (RN Track), BS in Nursing

RN Track for Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Distance Education (DE) programs in the College of Nursing that lead to professional licensure or that require clinical placements or clinical coursework must abide by board and state regulations in the state where the student resides and/or will be completing the clinical experiences.

Students who reside outside of Tennessee who plan to complete a clinical placement in a state other than Tennessee, will need to take additional steps to comply with the requirements of that state. Before applying to and beginning a program, you should become familiar with your state’s licensing and professional requirements and that of the state in which you plan to reside as a practitioner. You may also reach out to the College of Nursing and speak to an advisor by calling (865) 974-7606. The university cannot guarantee that its DE programs in the College of Nursing will meet all the requirements for licensure in any particular state. If the student moves from the state of Tennessee after admission to the program, continuation in the program will depend on the availability of the program within the new state where the student physically resides. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the UTK College of Nursing of a change in physical residence.

Distance Education programs at the University of Tennessee cannot currently admit students from the state of California.

You can find additional information about pre-licensure distance education requirements in individual states, visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN): https://www.ncsbn.org/671.htm.

1. RNs must meet university general education requirements or be a graduate of a Tennessee Board of Regents school. They are exempt from the sophomore level NURS 201 - Introduction to Nursing  course. Students will be given proficiency credit based on RN status. (Satisfactory/No Credit.)
2. Students starting upper division coursework will receive proficiency credit for select clinical nursing courses (27 credit hours). Courses for which credit will be attained include didactic courses equivalent to NURS 321 , NURS 363 , NURS 411 , NURS 412 , NURS 461  as well as Clinical Immersion courses equivalent to NURS 362S *, NURS 405 , NURS 462S *, and NRSP 495N *. These credits will be held in escrow until the graduating semester for a student. (Satisfactory/ No Credit.)
3. All students take the community course NURS 383 .
4. RN-BSN students are required to take  NURS 334 - Health Assessment for the Registered Nurse .
5. Proficiency credit can be obtained in several other courses by passing instructor-made exams or preparing other work as specified by the faculty. These courses include NURS 320 - Pathophysiology for the Registered Nurse  and NURS 401 - Pharmacotherapeutics for the Registered Nurse  (indicated by an asterisk). All proficiency credit not designated as Satisfactory/No Credit carries a letter grade.
6. The entire upper-division nursing curriculum can be completed in one calendar year. Students not enrolled in nursing courses for two consecutive semesters, excluding summer, will be administratively withdrawn from the program. Those seeking reentry must reapply to the College of Nursing.

Dual Application Process

For applicants seeking to enroll in a College of Nursing Graduate Program directly after the conclusion of the RN to BSN track, applicants would notate on their University of Tennessee Application this track. Applicants will then complete the necessary admission requirements set forth by the Graduate Program. (Not applicable for BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia Concentration).

uTrack Requirements

Universal Tracking (uTrack) is an academic monitoring system designed to help students stay on track for timely graduation. In order to remain on track, students must complete the minimum requirements for each tracking semester, known as milestones. Milestones include successful completion of specified courses and/or attainment of a minimum GPA. uTrack requirements only affect full-time, degree-seeking students.

Term 1

• NURS 305 - Professional Practice and Role Development 3 Credit Hours *
• NURS 320 - Pathophysiology for the Registered Nurse 3 Credit Hours
• NURS 334 - Health Assessment for the Registered Nurse 3 Credit Hours
• NURS 343 - Transcultural Nursing for the Registered Nurse 3 Credit Hours

Term 2

• NURS 350 - Healthcare Informatics 3 Credit Hours
• ¹  NURS 383 - Population Health and Global Health Perspectives for the Registered Nurse 5 Credit Hours
• NURS 401 - Pharmacotherapeutics for the Registered Nurse 4 Credit Hours
• NURS 472 - Evidence Based Practice and Nursing Research 3 Credit Hours

Term 3

• NURS 455 - Nursing Leadership and Management Dimensions 3 Credit Hours
• NURS 494 - Capstone Course for the Registered Nurse 4 Credit Hours *

Total Credit Hours 34

Footnotes

1. Clinical course is completed in the student’s geographic area.

Courses are offered in 8-week blocks with two courses offered each session.

* Meets Volunteer Core Requirements .