College of Nursing

Sylvia T. Brown, Dean, 4205L Health Sciences Building
Annette Peery, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Nursing Program; Interim Chair, Department of Baccalaureate Education, 3166F Health Sciences Building

Faculty

College of Nursing Faculty

Curriculum

The baccalaureate program in nursing educates students for professional nursing practice and is characterized by a combination of foundations curriculum and nursing courses. The focus of the nursing courses is on nursing theory and scientific principles applied to the care of healthy persons as well as to acute and chronic health problems of individuals, families, and groups. Clinical experiences are provided in a variety of health care settings, such as hospitals, health departments, nursing homes, mental health centers, and other health-related community agencies. Graduates are prepared for beginning positions in nursing with the potential for positions of leadership and graduate study.

All students – high school graduates, transfer students, second degree students, diploma or associate-degree graduates in nursing – earn the bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN). The awarding of the BSN does not license one as a registered nurse. A separate examination (NCLEX-RN) is administered by the board of nursing in the state in which the applicant wishes to be registered. The College of Nursing will certify completion of degree requirements, but meeting other requirements for licensure is the responsibility of each candidate.

Registered nurses seeking to obtain a BSN are offered opportunities for educational accessibility, flexibility, and mobility. The curriculum track is 100 percent online. The curriculum track is designed to build on students’ past education and experience and expose registered nurses to innovative instructional methods for meeting course objectives. Registered nurse students meet course requirements by transfer, advanced placement, credit by exam, CLEP, RN/BSN Statewide Articulation Agreement, and completion of courses by enrollment. Required sciences, foundations curriculum, and cognate courses must be completed prior to entry into the curriculum track. To be eligible for transfer credits, students must enter a North Carolina community college associate degree nursing program fall 2015 or later, and completed the curriculum as noted in the Uniform Articulation Agreement. Students must hold a current unrestricted license and practice as a registered nurse in North Carolina or a NCBON recognized compact state, or be admitted to the RIBN program. Students who were admitted to the RIBN program and remain in the program, will be directly admitted to the RN/BSN option at the prescribed point in the curriculum (RIBN students’ plan of study may exceed the total BSN hours).

The accelerated second degree BSN option is designed for students who have earned a baccalaureate or higher degree and are interested in pursuing a BSN degree with eligibility to obtaining licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN).

All students are required to demonstrate computer competency, which can be met by placement or enrollment in BITE 2000 .

The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036; telephone 202-887-6791 and approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.

Admission Criteria for the Undergraduate BSN Option

Freshmen may declare an intent to enroll in nursing until officially admitted to the College of Nursing after filing an application for admission to the major and meeting eligibility requirements prior to enrollment in the first nursing courses. Students should not apply to the College of Nursing until their last semester of pre-requisite courses. Eligibility is based upon a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA (cumulative 2.75 GPA effective fall, 2017), a standardized preadmission test (prelicensure students only) and completion of foundations curriculum requirements. A minimum grade of C (2.0) is required in biology, chemistry, and college algebra or equivalent. Admission to nursing courses is competitive and limited due to space availability and accrediting requirements. Students desiring readmission after an absence of one or more semesters must follow the readmission procedure as outlined in the College of Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook. Financial aid is available through scholarships and loans from government and private sources, work-study, and self-help programs. Information is available from the university director of financial aid or the College of Nursing director of student services.

Admission Criteria for the Accelerated Second Degree BSN Option

To be eligible to apply for this option the applicant must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and at least a B (3.0) in each of the specified mathematics, biology, and chemistry courses. A “C” (2.0) in the other prerequisite courses is also required. All science prerequisite courses must be less than 5 years old at the time of admission. In addition, the applicant must have completed a standardized pre-admission test and meet required scores for admission.

Admission Criteria for the RN/BSN Option

All RN/BSN students enroll at East Carolina University with an intended major of nursing. Admission determination is based on the RN/BSN admission ranking system. Upon admission to the RN/BSN option, students may declare their major as nursing. Registered nurses are admitted upon completion of specified general education and science prerequisites. Admission to the RN/BSN option requires that the following university and College of Nursing requirements be met:

Associate degree or diploma in nursing from an accredited educational institution
Current, unrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse in North Carolina or a North Carolina State Board of Nursing compact state (international applicants must validate credentials with the Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools before applying for RN licensure.)
Minimum requirements as specified in the current undergraduate catalog
Minimum overall grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
Grade of “C” or higher in all mathematics and science courses
Satisfactory completion of prerequisite general education and cognate courses
Criminal background checks and drug screenings are required prior to enrolling in nursing courses.

RIBN students who are successful at their respective community colleges will be directly admitted to the ECU College of Nursing RN/BSN option at the prescribed point in their RIBN curriculum.

Requirements

The College of Nursing requires a grade of C (2.0) as the minimum passing grade for all nursing courses. Opportunity to repeat a nursing course is limited by the College of Nursing Progression requirements as printed in the current student handbook. Students must earn a 2.0 (C) to pass a required nursing course. If a student earns less than a 2.0 (C) in more than one course, they are not eligible to continue in the CON.

Upon admission to the College of Nursing students are required to complete all admission and clinical requirements including criminal background check, drug screen, immunizations. Once admitted, students will be notified with specific instructions in completing the College of Nursing requirements. Specific health requirements and performance standards are stated in the College of Nursing Student Handbook .

The College of Nursing utilizes diagnostic tests throughout the CON undergraduate curriculum. Tests may also be required prior to admission, during the semester, or near the completion of the semester. Results are used to assist students from entrance to graduation in determining nursing content that has been mastered. Various enhancement materials are used to assist with identified weaknesses.

Credit for courses in the College of Nursing is determined by the following formula: one classroom/lecture hour per week equals 1 s.h. credit; two lab or seminar hours per week equals 1 s.h. credit; and three practicum hours per week equals 1 s.h. credit.

Programs

Bachelor’s

Courses

Nursing