Pictured | Kailee Conant | Bachelor of Science in Nursing | Atlanta, Michigan (hometown)

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The B.S.N. degree program is offered at several Indiana University campuses. All campuses share similar admission standards, program outcomes, and courses. Admission and transfer policies are set by individual campuses and course sequencing may vary.

Beginning Spring 2018, students admitted to Indiana University South Bend who are interested in pursuing a baccalaureate degree in nursing will follow the degree map/plan of study for our revised curriculum. Our revised curriculum allows the student to complete the general education and prerequisite courses for the nursing major in the first two years of full-time study, during which students must engage in coursework with other students across the Dwyer College of Health Sciences and the university. This allows for the exchange of knowledge, development of professional communication and networking, and the generation of ideas and creativity required in healthcare today and in the future. The last two years of full-time study is concentrated on evidence-based nursing theoretical, scholarly, and practice- oriented coursework in a wide variety of settings.

Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences Student Policies and Procedures  >>

Mission, Goals, and Program Outcomes

The mission of the Indiana University South Bend School of Nursing is to prepare holistic, caring, ethical professional nurses who respect the uniqueness of each individual and who provide safe, competent healthcare to meet the needs of the individual, family, and community.

The purpose of the bachelor’s degree program is to produce graduates who think critically; are culturally, ethically, and legally competent; are effective, politically aware, communicators and coordinators of community resources; and are competent providers of health care, professional role models, and responsible managers. The curriculum focuses on health and wellness as well as alterations in states of wellness and viewing persons as part of their environments.

• A critical thinker who demonstrates intellectual engagement and uses evidence as a basis for clinical reasoning and decision making.
• A culturally sensitive individual who provides holistic individual, family, community, and population-centered nursing care.
• A knowledgeable care coordinator who facilitates access to resources across the continuum of health care environments in order to meet the evolving health care needs of individuals, families, communities, and populations.
• An individual who understands and considers the impact of health care policy, finance, and regulatory environments on care delivery.
• An individual who embodies the professional identity of the nurse and who translates the inherent values of the nursing profession into the ethical and legal practice of nursing.
• An effective communicator who collaborates with interprofessional team members, patients, and their support systems for improved health outcomes.
• A competent care provider who is prepared to practice to the full capacity of the professional nurse role in diverse health care environments.
• An accountable leader and manager who applies principles of systems and organizational processes and who balances resources to promote quality care and patient safety.
• An individual who embraces and employs innovations in information management and technology in the delivery of quality patient care.

Academic Policies

Students admitted to the clinical nursing major should consult the current IU South Bend Bulletin, BSN Student Policy Handbook and School of Nursing policy updates for additional policies governing their academic standing.

Admission, Progression, and Graduation Board

Comprised of college faculty, the Admission, Progression, and Graduation (APG) Board addresses student concerns and issues related to admission, progression through, and graduation from the degree programs offered by the Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences.

Academic Distinction

To graduate with academic distinction, bachelor’s degree candidates must complete a minimum of 60 credit hours at Indiana University. Academic distinction is conferred on graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and is based on grades earned through the eighth semester.

Academic Distinction
Highest Distinction | 3.90
High Distinction | 3.80
Distinction | 3.65

Academic Standing of Prenursing Students

The following academic standards apply regarding retention, probation, and dismissal. Students are responsible for knowing about university academic standards (found under the section entitled Academic Regulations and Policies located in the beginning of this publication), and their current status in relation to these standards.

Academic Standing

The following academic standards apply regarding retention, probation, and dismissal in accordance with the Indiana University School of Nursing. These standards differ from those that apply to the IU South Bend campus only. Students enrolled in the BSN degree program must follow the guidelines set forth by the Indiana University School of Nursing. Students are responsible for knowing about these academic standards and their current status in relation to these standards.

Good Standing

To remain in good standing, nursing and prenursing students must:

• Maintain a grade of C (2.0) or above in each course required for the degree, including all general-education prerequisite courses, without more than one repeat in any course
• Not declare a Pass/Fail in any prerequisite general-education course requirement
• Maintain a grade of C (2.0) or above or an S (Satisfactory) in each nursing major course
• Maintain a CGPA of 2.0 or above
• Not be on probation and/or not be dismissed
• Be in compliance with the general policies of the School of Nursing

Grade Point Averages

Admission Grade Point Average

Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) is a calculation of the minimum set of all work completed which meets application requirements. See program admission policies.

Cumulative Grade Point Average

Cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is a reflection of all work completed at Indiana University. Courses transferred from another institution are not used in calculating this average. Transfer course grade point average (GPA) is calculated in AGPA for BSN application for admission. See BSN degree program admission.

Nursing Grade Point Average

Nursing grade point average (NGPA) is a reflection of all work completed; including grades earned in initial and repeat enrollment (FX policy applies) that apply toward the requirements of appropriate programs. Courses transferred from other institutions are included in calculating this average.

Probation

Academic Probation

A prenursing student is placed on academic probation according to the policies of IU South Bend. A nursing student is placed on academic probation when the CGPA falls below 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Academic probation is removed following the semester in which the cumulative and semester grade point averages are 2.0 or higher. Nursing students should also see progression policies listed under Clinical Progression in the School of Nursing Program.

Disciplinary Probation

Disciplinary probation is administered under the Indiana University Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, the Statement of Essential Abilities and Code of Ethics for Nurses.

Dismissal

A prenursing student is dismissed based upon the dismissal policies of IU South Bend, found earlier in this publication.

A nursing student is dismissed from the program when, in the judgment of the APG Committee, there is a lack of progress toward the degree. Lack of progress includes, but is not limited to the following:

• Failure to achieve a 2.0 semester GPA in any two consecutive semesters
• Failure to achieve a CGPA of 2.0 in any two semesters
• Failure to achieve a minimum grade of C (2.0) or S (Satisfactory) in any one nursing course (didactic or practicum/clinical) by the second attempt, or any two nursing courses (didactic or practicum/clinical) on the first attempt
• Failure to meet Indiana University School of Nursing essential abilities expectations (refer to the Statement of Essential Abilities listed under General Policies of the School of Nursing in this section of this publication)

Dismissal may occur without prior probation.

Any student who is academically dismissed at one Indiana University campus is also in dismissal status at all other Indiana University campuses. Falsification of records and reports, plagiarism, or cheating on an examination, quiz, or any other assignment is cause for dismissal (see Indiana University Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct).

The faculty reserves the right to dismiss any nursing student whose personal integrity, health, or conduct demonstrates unfitness to continue preparation for the profession of nursing. Integrity and conduct is judged according to the standards of the most recent Code of Ethics for Nurses as adopted by the American Nurses’ Association and the IU School of Nursing Statement of Essential Abilities.

The dismissal of any nursing student is contingent upon review by the College APG Board on the campus of enrollment. Nursing student dismissal is subject to the appeal process on the campus of enrollment.

Reinstatement

Students who have been dismissed and desire reinstatement must submit a written request for reinstatement to the College APG Board. The written request must be submitted by May 1 for fall reinstatement, October 1 for spring reinstatement, and February 1 for summer session reinstatement. This request requires a list of the specific courses in which the student wishes to enroll and, as appropriate, an explanation of any extenuating circumstances that may have hindered academic performance, and a Plan for Success addressing areas of deficiency.

Reinstatement requests are evaluated individually by the APG Board on the basis of academic standing, potential for progress toward the degree, availability of resources, and satisfactory completion of any conditions and/or faculty recommendations existing at the time of dismissal. Reinstatement to the School of Nursing is not automatic and is limited to one review.

Appeals for immediate reinstatement are not considered except as warranted by extraordinary circumstances. In such cases, students reinstated by the APG Board have prescribed standards of performance for the semester for which they are reinstated. Failure to meet these standards results in an irrevocable dismissal.

Students who are reinstated must adhere to policies in effect at the time of reinstatement. (See BSN Student Policy Handbook, the IU South Bend Bulletin, and policy updates.)

A nursing student is reinstated only one time. A reinstated nursing student is dismissed from the School of Nursing upon failure of one additional nursing course, breach of the Code of Ethics for Nurses, the Statement of Essential Abilities, or the Indiana University Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct (see dismissal policy). For reinstatement priority, refer to Clinical Progression in the Nursing Program section of this publication.

Program Admission

Courses required for admission may be taken at any Indiana University campus or may be accepted as transfer credit hours from other accredited institutions. However, admission is campus specific and priority consideration is given to those students completing the majority of their coursework at IU South Bend. Admission to the major is highly competitive. Contact an academic advisor for more information.

Specific admission requirements vary from campus to campus at Indiana University. When choosing courses to meet curriculum requirements, students who begin their prenursing coursework on one campus of Indiana University but plan to apply for admission on another campus of Indiana University should be in close contact with the School of Nursing advisor on the campus to which they plan to apply. Submission of an official credit transfer report (CTR) to the School of Nursing is required for all work being transferred from another university by established deadlines. To obtain an official CTR, the student must request an official transcript from the other institution(s) to be forwarded to the IU South Bend Office of Admissions for evaluation.

Admission to the university as a prenursing student and successful completion of the prerequisite coursework do not guarantee admission to the nursing major. The number of admitted students is limited to those who can be accommodated given available resources.

Application and Admission Requirements

• Admission to Indiana University as a degree-seeking student.
• Maintenance of a cumulative grade point average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Maintenance of an application GPA of no less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Although a 3.0 AGPA is the minimum required for application, admission is competitive and a higher AGPA may be required in a given application pool.
• Maintenance of a science GPA of no less than 2.7 on a 4.0 scale. Although a 2.7 SGPA is the minimum requirement for application, admission is competitive and a higher SGPA may be required in a given application pool.
• Completion of chemistry (a one-year high school course, or CHEM-C 101 Elementary Chemistry 1, CHEM-C 121 Elementary Chemistry Laboratory 1 equivalent) with a grade of C (2.0) or higher within the past five years.
• Passing a comprehensive criminal background check and urine drug screening.
• Completion of the following required courses with a grade of C or higher by the second attempt:

• CHEM-C 102 Elementary Chemistry 2
• ENG-W 131 Reading, Writing, and Inquiry I
• MICR-M 250 Microbial Cell Biology
• MICR-M 255 Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr.)
• NURS-B 108 Personal Health and Wellness (2 cr.)
• PHSL-P 261 Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 (5 cr.)
• PHSL-P 262 Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 (5 cr.)
• PSY-P 103 General Psychology
• PSY-P 216 Life Span Developmental Psychology
• SOC-S 161 Principles of Sociology

Application and admission are valid only for the semester designated. Students who are not offered admission upon the second application attempt become ineligible for admission. Students offered admission to the nursing major must enroll in nursing coursework at a time designated by the School of Nursing. Failure to enroll in nursing coursework in the designated semester necessitates reapplying to the program.

Students admitted to the nursing major must formally accept or decline admission to the degree program, in writing, prior to the beginning of the semester to which they are admitted. Students accepted to the program but decline acceptance must reapply to the program of choice and compete with the applicant pool for the semester in which they request entrance. Students have only one opportunity to decline admission in writing prior to losing their eligibility to apply.

Students admitted to the nursing major who withdraw from coursework within the first semester must reapply for admission to the program. These students have one opportunity for readmission, must reapply within a time frame that would allow the student timely completion of the program considering the seven-year limit of specific courses, and must adhere to the published dates for application on their campuses.

Repeat Policy

The School of Nursing policy requires students to achieve a grade of C (2.0) in each required course. Students who earn a grade of less than C in a required course must earn a grade of C by the second completed attempt. Students who earn a grade of less than C in a required course are strongly urged to successfully complete the course in the next semester of enrollment, providing the course is offered.
Both prenursing and nursing students who do not successfully complete all required general-education courses with a minimum grade of C by the second completed attempt are ineligible for admission to the Nursing Program or are dismissed from the School of Nursing.

Students may repeat only three courses, or a maximum of 11 credit hours, of the required general-education courses in an effort to achieve a C or higher in each course (two science or three general-education electives). The School of Nursing follows the IU South Bend grade replacement policy.

Seven-Year Limit

Courses in life span development, required sciences, and statistics must have been completed within seven (7) years prior to the semester in which a student begins the nursing major. This policy does not apply to registered nurses in the RN to BSN program.

Transfer Students

Intercampus Transfer

Nursing students in good academic standing may seek intercampus transfer by petitioning the APG Board at least one semester in advance of the requested transfer. Due to the difference in course sequencing, students seeking an intercampus transfer should do so only at the completion of all nursing courses required in the sophomore or junior year. Intercampus transfer requests submitted to the APG Board that ask for mid-year transfer consideration is discouraged.

Intercampus transfer requests are evaluated individually on the basis of the student’s academic record, the availability of space in the required courses, and faculty and facility resources.

Nursing students who wish to transfer between campuses should check for the process on the campus to which they are transferring. To transfer to the South Bend campus, the student must submit an intercampus transfer form found on their Registrar's site, a completed IU South Bend School of Nursing Clinical Transfer Application, available from the Advising Center and required supporting documentation. Applications must be received by April 1 for fall; October 1 for spring. The application will be reviewed and then forwarded to the APG Board for final approval at the end of the semester prior to requested term of enrollment. Admission is based on space availability in the clinical program.

Transfer from Non-Indiana University Nursing Program

Nursing students in good academic standing at another university who wish to transfer should contact the Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences Assistant Dean of Student Success. Nursing courses completed at other universities must be evaluated by the College APG Board for transfer equivalency and for student placement. Students must pass the skills validation examinations and supply extensive documentation, including copies of the syllabi for each nursing course completed at another university and a release of information form. These syllabi must be evaluated in comparison to the IU South Bend nursing courses. This process can take time; therefore, students are encouraged to contact the IU South Bend School of Nursing at least three months prior to the semester they wish to begin at IU South Bend.

A.S.N./A.D.N. nursing courses are nontransferable to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program.

Dismissed Transfer Students

IU South Bend School of Nursing does not accept students into the nursing major if the student has been dismissed or has a failing record from another nursing program, including Indiana University programs, in the past five years. If the five years have been exceeded an individual record review occurs. The Seven Year Limit Policy will be enforced.

Clinical Progression in the Nursing Program

After admission to the Nursing Program, placement in nursing courses is based upon the following priority ranking:

1. Full-time, regularly progressing students.
2. Part-time, regularly progressing students.
3. Students who interrupted their studies but are in good academic standing.
4. Students who failed and successfully repeated a nursing course.
5. Students who need to repeat a nursing course.
6. Students who were dismissed and are reinstated.
7. Intercampus transfers.
8. Transfers from other nursing programs according to APG guidelines.

If additional criteria are needed to determine placement, the date of becoming out-of-progression and CGPA is used.

Out-of-Progression

Nursing students who withdrew from the second sophomore semester, junior year, or senior year of coursework, or have failed a nursing course are considered to be out-of-progression. Students who do not meet health and safety requirement deadlines are considered to be out-of-progression. Nursing students who withdraw from all or part of the fourth semester of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program must reapply to the program.

Resuming Progression

Prenursing students who interrupt their studies and are in good standing may reenter at any time without prior approval of the School of Nursing. These students are subject to the policies in effect at the time of reentry and space availability.

Prenursing and nursing students in poor standing (or dismissed) must request approval to continue from the Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences APG Board. Students must include in their request a Plan for Success addressing areas of deficiency.

Nursing students who wish to reenter or progress must submit a written request for reentry to the Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences APG Board by July 1 for fall reinstatement, October 1 for spring reinstatement, and February 1 for summer session reinstatement. This request requires a list of the specific courses in which the student wishes to enroll and, as appropriate, an explanation of any extenuating circumstances that may have hindered academic performance, and a Plan for Success addressing areas of deficiency. All requests for progression are evaluated on the basis of available resources, and, if appropriate, on the satisfactory completion of any conditions and/or faculty recommendations existing at the time progression was disrupted.

Students who reenter must adhere to the academic policies in effect at the time of resuming studies.

For progression priority, refer to the previous section on Clinical Progression in this publication.

Skills Validation Policy

Students who interrupt their studies are required to demonstrate validation of clinical skills to reenter the clinical courses. Also, transfer students who completed clinical courses in another program must successfully complete a clinical skills validation and mathematics proficiency by enrolling into and successfully completing NURS-K220, Clinical Skills prior to acceptance into the program. (See BSN Student Policy Handbook for current skills validation requirements.)

Clinical Hours Requirements

Clinical hour requirements are carefully calculated to meet academic and accreditation standards. Therefore, all clinical hours are mandatory and all missed time must be made up. See the BSN Student Policy Handbook and/or course syllabus for specific clinical requirements and policies regarding missed time. Insufficient clinical hours results in course failure.

Withdrawal Policies

Withdrawals (grade of W) are issued to students wishing to withdraw from any or all courses if the official withdrawal forms are completed by the deadline dates established by the registrar’s office for each semester. A grade of W appears on student transcripts when students complete the official withdrawal forms and obtain the appropriate signature(s).

• Students enrolled in a modular (half-semester) nursing course must withdraw from that course before the course meets for the sixth time.
• After the tenth week of a sixteen-week course, the grade awarded is an F unless the student petitions the faculty for an exception to the policy. An exception may be granted only if the student has a didactic grade of at least C (2.0) or a clinical grade of S (Satisfactory), and has compelling reasons for withdrawing. The faculty and campus dean (or designee) determine if the grade of W is issued.
• A grade of F is recorded on the official transcript if a student stops attending but does not officially withdraw from a class.
• Students may be withdrawn from (a) nursing course(s) until a required prerequisite general-education course is satisfactorily completed.
• Students withdrawing from nursing coursework must complete this work prior to progression in the program.
• Withdrawal from a required nursing didactic course requires withdrawal from corequisite nursing clinical course(s).

Students who withdraw from the nursing major in the first semester must seek readmission to the program. Admission is subject to competitive review.

Withdrawal from Nursing Program courses constitutes a disruption in progression and requires that a student seek reinstatement or reentry to the program. (Refer to reinstatement and/or progression policies.)

Students withdrawing from required nursing coursework are considered to be out-of-progression students. The date of graduation for out-of-progression students is not guaranteed.

More than three academic withdrawals in a semester is considered lack of progress toward the degree. If a student withdraws from a didactic course that requires automatic withdraw from a corequisite course, this withdrawal from the two courses is counted as one withdrawal. A pattern of withdrawals may influence a request for consideration of progression, reinstatement, or reentry to the Nursing Program.

Graduation Requirements for the BSN

Students assume responsibility for meeting degree requirements and for filing an official application for a degree. Application for the degree must be made at the time of program planning for the final semester. The student must file the degree application with the School of Nursing recorder by September 15 for December graduation and by January 15 for May, June, or August graduation. Minors are declared and approved on the official application for degree and require the signature of the appropriate department chair to confirm completion of the minor.

Students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program are responsible for meeting the following degree requirements. Though the School of Nursing makes every attempt to provide students with academic advising and program planning assistance, students are accountable for complying with all published academic policies related to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program. To be eligible for graduation from the program students must:

• Complete a minimum of 120 credit hours with a grade of C or higher in each course required for the degree. Of the 120 credit hours, 63 credit hours must reflect nursing major courses. Credit hours earned in remedial learning skill courses and repeated courses do not count in the 120 credit hour total, nor in the 63 nursing credit hour total.
• Achieve a grade of C or higher in all didactic courses applied to the BSN degree and an S (Satisfactory) in all clinical/practicum courses.
• Achieve an Indiana University CGPA of at least a 2.0 (C). This includes all transfer coursework applied to the degree.
• Complete at least 30 credit hours of required nursing major courses on the Indiana University campus awarding the BSN degree.
• Complete all BSN degree requirements within six years of enrolling in the first nursing course in the nursing major.
• Apply for degree candidacy the semester prior to completing all degree requirements, following the published procedures on the campus awarding degree.
• Nonlicensed students are required to complete an NCLEX readiness examination.

Completion of Degree Requirements­­

The registrar must receive all removal of Incompletes, deferred grades, special credit, and independent study grades no later than three weeks prior to the end of classes of the student’s last semester or summer session before graduation.

Application for Licensure Examination

The School of Nursing makes available the necessary forms to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in Indiana. Those students taking the examination in other states are responsible for obtaining the appropriate forms from those states. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the application procedure and meet the mailing and payment deadlines for taking the NCLEX.

The School of Nursing administers required assessment tools for preparation for the NCLEX in the last semester of the program. The assessment tools used will be introduced in the final semester courses.

Photo credit | Teresa Sheppard