Department Information
Dr. Wendy Nehring, Dean
Dr. Melessia Webb, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs
PO Box 70664
Phone: (423) 439-4578 or 1-888-37NURSE
Fax: (423) 439-4522
230 Roy S. Nicks Hall
Web address: www.etsu.edu/nursing
Email: nursing@etsu.edu
Facebook: www.facebook.com/etsunursing
Twitter: www.twitter.com/etsucon
Accreditation: The baccalaureate degree in nursing program at East Tennessee State is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 887-6791.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is the foundation for professional nursing practice. The professional nurse practices in collaboration with other health care providers and is responsible for coordinating and practicing comprehensive nursing care for individuals, families, groups, and communities, and assuming management and leadership positions in nursing practice.
The College of Nursing offers seven (7) tracks leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The Traditional BSN, Accelerated 2nd degree BSN, ETSU-HVMC Accelerated BSN, ETSU-Sevierville Accelerated BSN, and LPN-BSN offers coursework leading to initial licensure as a professional nurse. The RN-BSN option is designed for students who are already registered nurses but who are seeking a bachelor’s degree. The Dual Degree RN-BSN is offered with select community college partners for students enrolled in associates degree programs who are interested in simultaneously earning a bachelor’s degree.
A course of study that meets the degree requirements and the university’s General Education Program Requirements will be planned with the student through regular sessions with a College of Nursing professional advisor.
| Program Track | Director/Coordinator | |
| Traditional | Michelle Littleton | Director of Undergraduate Programs |
| Accelerated Second-Degree BSN Track | Michelle Littleton | Director of Undergraduate Programs |
| LPN-BSN Program | Tabitha Quillen | Director of Post-Licensure Programs |
| Kacie Hauldren | Coordinator of LPN-BSN Program |
| RN-BSN Program | Tabitha Quillen | Director of Undergraduate Post-Licensure Programs |
| Mary Campbell | Coordinator of RN-BSN Program |
| ETSU/HVMC Accelerated | Michelle Littleton | Director of Undergraduate Programs |
| Lisa Smithgall | Co-Coordinator of ETSU/HVMC Accelerated |
| Jessica Hudson | Co-Coordinator of ETSU/HVMC Accelerated |
| ETSU/Sevierville Program | Cindy Phillips | Director for BSN Program-Sevierville |
| Dual Degree | Mary Campbell | Coordinator of RN-BSN Program |
Admission Policy
Admission to the university as a Health Professions/Nursing Interest (HPNU) major does not assure admission to the major.
- Applicants must be in progress or have completed all ETSU General Education courses* (or equivalent from a Transfer Institution) including the four (4) Nursing Pre-requisite classes: Anatomy and Physiology I and II (with labs), Intro to Microbiology (with lab), and Probability and Statistics. At least three (3) of the four (4) pre-requisite math/science classes must be completed prior to the application deadline.
Applicants with greater than two (2) unsuccessful attempts to complete all required pre-requisite math/science courses will be ineligible for admission to the College of Nursing. Grades below a “C” (C-, D+, D, and F) are considered unsuccessful attempts.
* Applicants with completed Bachelor’s degrees are exempt from taking General Education Requirements (by virtue of the completed degree) but must complete the four pre-requisite math/science courses or equivalents with at least three (3) of the four (4) completed prior to the application deadline.
* Transfer students are responsible for making sure courses taken at other institutions are equivalent to ETSU General Education courses. For further information about transfer equivalency, go to https://www.etsu.edu/articulation/equivalencies.php. For a list of ETSU General Education requirements go to: https://www.etsu.edu/uged/gened.php
- A minimum cumulative College Level Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.6 as computed by East Tennessee State University (excluding developmental coursework) is required.
- Applicants, with the exception of LPN to BSN and RN to BSN, must apply to the College of Nursing using the Centralized Application System (Nursing CAS). LPN to BSN and RN to BSN applicants must apply to the College of Nursing using electronic or paper application found on the College of Nursing website.
- Official Transcripts from all higher education institutions must be sent to CAS with the exception of LPN to BSN and RN to BSN. LPN to BSN and RN to BSN applicants must submit official transcripts with the electronic or paper application. Students must also apply for General Admission to ETSU. This should be done well in advance of the application deadline. Detailed instructions and information are available at: https://www.etsu.edu/nursing/default.php
- Applicants, with the exception of LPN to BSN and RN to BSN, must submit (electronically) all scores from the standardized entrance exam. The standardized entrance exam may be taken twice within a two year period, but not twice in the same semester. Scores are valid for two (2) years. Information about scheduling and preparing for the standardized entrance exam can be obtained by contacting the College of Nursing Office of Student Services.
- ETSU College of Nursing does NOT require references, a personal statement or professional experience for admission.
- Applicants, with the exception of LPN to BSN and RN to BSN, are ranked by a point system which includes 100 possible points in four (4) areas: Overall GPA, Math/Science Nursing Pre-requisite GPA, Adjusted Individual Total Score, and Adjusted Individual Reading section score of the standard entrance exam for a total of 400 possible points. Applicants are admitted in point order. LPN to BSN and RN to BSN applicants are ranked by overall Grade Point Average (GPA) and admitted in ascending order.
- Applicants, who are admitted to ETSU as a freshman with a high school GPA of 3.5 or above, ACT cumulative score of 29 or above, and maintain an ETSU overall GPA of 3.2 or higher, will be guaranteed admission to the nursing major. Students must complete the College of Nursing application process and meet all other established admissions criteria.
Progression Policy
All students admitted to the nursing major must earn a minimum grade of “C” (2.0) in each required theory and/or clinical nursing course. Grades of C- and below indicates a nursing course failure. Students in the BSN accelerated 2nd degree program who fail a course will be moved to the traditional program pending space availability (see number 3).
- Students must achieve an overall average of 75% on all exams (content and final) within a didactic course to pass the course. Points for course assignments other than exams (i.e., quizzes, class assignments, group work) are not calculated into the course grade until the 75% benchmark on exams is attained. Once the 75% benchmark is reached, any additional points earned by the student will be applied to calculate the final course grade. If a student fails to achieve an overall exam average of 75%, the student will receive the letter grade equivalent to the average of the exam scores and be required to repeat the course.
- If the student withdraws failing from a nursing didactic course or is unsuccessful in a nursing didactic course by earning a grade less than a “C” (2.0), the student will be placed on probationary status in the College of Nursing.* Progression in the nursing program will be suspended pending space availability as determined by the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs (or designee). Course availability is not guaranteed, and students may be required to submit documentation of circumstance for consideration.
- If a student earns less than a “C” (2.0) in two required didactic courses - whether in the same semester or over a period of semesters - he or she is automatically dismissed from the College of Nursing. Students dismissed from the undergraduate nursing program for academic failure may appeal to the Undergraduate Academic Standards Committee one time for readmission to the program. Filing an Academic Appeal does not guarantee permission to repeat the course or reinstatement to the BSN program. All appeals are reviewed on an individual basis. This policy applies even if one of the failed courses has been repeated previously with the grade of “C” (2.0) or higher.
- Students who withdraw failing or earn a grade of less than “C” (2.0) in any one clinical course at any time within the nursing major will be automatically dismissed from the College of Nursing. Students dismissed from the undergraduate nursing program for academic failure may appeal to the UAS Committee one time for readmission to the program. Filing an Academic Appeal does not guarantee permission to repeat the course or reinstatement to the BSN program. All appeals are reviewed on an individual basis.
- If a student’s appeal is granted and the student is permitted to return to the program, the following conditions apply:
- The student is on probationary status until the failed course is successfully completed.*
- The student is required to sign an Undergraduate Academic Performance Agreement (UAPA).
- Space within the class/clinical course is not guaranteed. The Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs (or designee) will direct the placement process based on space availability.
- Subsequent grades below the grade of “C” (2.0) will result in a second academic dismissal from the program with no option to appeal to the UAS Committee for readmission.
- Students will be removed from probationary status when the course is completed successfully and the terms of the UAPA are fulfilled.
- If a student drops a didactic course that has a co-requisite clinical course, the student must also withdraw from the corresponding clinical course.
- Students who withdraw from the same nursing course more than once will be academically dismissed from the College of Nursing. Students dismissed from the undergraduate nursing program for repeated withdrawals may appeal to the UAS Committee one time for readmission to the program. Filing an Academic Appeal does not guarantee permission to repeat the course or reinstatement to the BSN program. All appeals are reviewed on an individual basis. If the student is re-instated based upon the outcome of the appeal, the student shall be on probationary status until the course is completed successfully. * Permission to retake the course is not guaranteed and will be determined by the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs (or designee) pending space availability.
*Students not enrolled in a clinical for one or more semesters will be required to take NRSE 4300 Skills Validation
Criminal Background Checks
To progress clinically, students will be required to complete a Criminal Background Check at his or her own expense from a specified vendor. Unfavorable results may result in a student’s inability to continue in clinical courses; review of the contents of the background check and the determination for eligibility for participation at a clinical site will be conducted by affiliated clinical agencies. Although the College of Nursing does not receive the contents of the background check, documentation of completion is kept with the students Clinical Course Health Requirement file.
Degree Requirements: 120 credits
Minimum Grade Policy
All students admitted to the nursing major must earn a minimum grade of “C” (2.0) in each required theory and/or clinical nursing course.
General Education Requirements
These requirements include earning 41-42 credits in Communication, Humanities and Fine Arts, Social and Behavior Sciences, History, Natural Sciences and Mathematics categories.
Major Specific courses listed in General Education Requirements:
Additional Major Requirements for Admission
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