B.S.N. Degree Online for the Registered Nurse

RN to BSN Application Process:

1. First, apply to MSU; includes a $35.00 application fee. All prior official transcripts must be sent to: MSU Admissions & Enrollment Services, 500 University Ave W, Minot, ND 58707. If you are a returning student, you will need to “re-activate” your MSU status.
2. Second, apply to the RN to BSN online program. This includes:
1. complete Application for Admission to the RN to BSN Online Program,
2. submit a check made out to MSU for $25.00 (RN to BSN application fee),
3. submit copy of current unencumbered RN license,
4. submit copy of current CPR certification,
5. complete background check form, check to ND Attorney General for $44.50 and completed fingerprint card(s).
Mail all to M Smith, Advanced Standing Director, Dept of Nursing, MSU, 500 University Ave W. Minot, ND 58707, f) complete the MSU Immunization form ( you may sign the “Exemption Section” as you will be an online student. Mail or fax this form to MSU Student Health Center.
3. Once accepted to MSU, students will be advised by the RN to BSN Advanced Standing Director in the Department of Nursing.
4. Request an appointment with the RN to BSN Advanced Standing Director. A review of prior course work will be conducted, after which an individualized Program of Study will be developed. During the review, the Director will address the requirements for graduation from MSU and the nursing program. After evaluating all the information, the Director will recommend a date of application to the nursing program. Students will be admitted to the program in either the Fall or Spring semester.
5. Students who have graduated from a board approved nursing education program and have passed the NCLEX-RN exam must submit a copy of current unencumbered RN license with the RN to BSN online program application.
6. Students who have graduated from a board approved nursing education program BUT have not yet passed the NCLEX-RN exam, may complete the RN to BSN application form (along with required documents noted in #2 above) and take the following courses before acceptance into the RN to BSN program.
1. General Education courses
2. Required support course (PSY 241, or MATH 240)
3. Nursing 363 Nursing Theory & Research
4. Nursing 383 Professional Nursing
5. Special Topics course approved by the Nursing Department
Submission of copy of RN license is required as soon as achieved AND before any additional RN to BSN nursing courses can be taken ( N 483, N 457, N 458 and N 493).
7. Cumulative GPA 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale required
8. A criminal background check is required with the RN to BSN application and the completion of MSU Immunization form is required by MSU upon admission to MSU.

RN to BSN Program Includes One Clinical Course:
Nursing 458 Public Health Nursing for the Professional II 3SH

Information regarding Nursing 458 Public Health Nursing for the Professional II clinical course
N 458 requires the completion of 135 clinical hours. Forty ( 40) of the required 135 hours are to be completed in direct public health nursing at an official public health agency. The RN student is responsible to identify an official public health agency in their chosen community; this may be a local or state health department that employs public health registered nurses. All efforts are made to facilitate contract negotiations for the clinical experiences at the chosen agency in the RN student’s local area. The process takes considerable time to process and obtain approval of a clinical contract with the public health agency. Therefore, the admitted RN student must contact his/her local official public health agency immediately to identify a contact person, phone number, email address, & mailing address and provide this information to the MSU RN to BSN online Advanced Standing Advisor (Mary Smith RN, MS) as soon as possible. Delay in this process may impact progress and completion of the N 458 clinical course. In the event the chosen local public health agency is unavailable/not obtained completed educational agreement (contract), the RN student will make arrangements (at own expense) to complete the N 458 forty (40) clinical hours in Minot, ND at the local public health agency during pre-identified dates in June or July (summer). Campus housing at Minot State University may be available if needed. Fees for housing are the responsibility of the student.

Minot State University graduation requirements
The MSU Registrar’s Office reviews student transcripts for graduation requirements. All MSU and nursing requirements must be met prior to graduation. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 is required for all baccalaureate degree candidates. Students must have completed:

* 128 credits
* 60 credits from a 4 year institution
* 30 credits from Minot State University

Minot State General Education Courses (38 credits)
General Education courses taken in North Dakota and recognized by the North Dakota University System & the General Education Requirement Transfer Agreement (GERTA) are accepted at MSU. Credits earned at out of state institutions will be evaluated by the Registrar’s Office. General Education Courses are available online and on campus.
GE1: Communications    9 credits
GE2: History    3 credits
GE3: Humanities    6 credits
GE4: Wellness/Personal Development    2 credits
GE5: Math    4 credits
GE6: Science    8 credits
GE7: Social Science    6 credits

MSU Diversity Requirement (6 credits)
Effective 2008, diversity courses are required for all students. Each MSU student will be required to complete six (6) credits of designated diversity courses.

* Three (3) of these credits fulfill the General Education requirement.
* Three (3) of these credits fulfill the Graduation requirement.

Only courses officially designated by the Curricular Diversity and Campus Climate Committee (CDCCC) will satisfy these requirements. Diversity courses will be marked on official transcripts. Refer to listing of approved courses: Diversity Requirements

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Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN)

Application Requirements for Admission into the Nursing Major
Admission to the nursing major (NURS 255 and higher numbers) requires that a student has demonstrated scholarly ability to pursue a professional career in nursing. An Application for Admission to the Nursing Major must be submitted by October 1 for Spring admission and by February 1 for Fall admission, along with the $25.00 application fee.

Prior to applying to the nursing major, a student must have met the following criteria:

A. Completed Minot State University admission requirements. This needs to be done before making application to the nursing major.

B. Completed all science courses within 10 years prior to admission to the nursing major

C. Maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75.*

D. Achieved a minimum grade of “C” in each required support course. (Support courses that are repeated must be successfully completed with a “C” or better prior to application.)

E. Required Lab Science Courses can be repeated only once.

F. Achieved a GPA of 2.8 in required support courses.

G. Completed or enrolled in a minimum of 50 SH

H. Completed a minimum of 8 required support courses of which two are Sciences (Biol 142, Biol 220, Biol 221, Chem 115).

I. Completed or enrolled in all required support courses for the nursing major.

Required Support Courses 40 SH
BIOL 142 General Microbiology 4
BIOL 220 Anatomy & Physiology I 4
BIOL 221 Anatomy & Physiology II 4
CHEM 115 Introductory Chemistry (or equivalent) 4
SOC 110 Intro to Sociology 3
PSY 111 Intro to Psychology 3
ENG 110 or 120 College Composition I or II 3
HMS 213 Life Span Growth & Development 3
NURS 253 Nursing Perspectives 3
COMM 110 Fund of Public Speaking 3
HMS 240 Nutrition 3
Cultural Course (HMS 333, SS 283, Soc 374)
Cultural courses must address a variety of cultures.		 3

J. All students born outside the United States and Canada must complete the TOEFL:IBT with a minimum score of 79 or minimum paper based score of 550 as a requirement for admission into the nursing major.

K. All applicants must take the TEAS V test and achieve a “proficient” level score to be eligible for admission.

L. A 1-2 page essay on your philosophy of nursing must be included with the application.

M. Two references must be submitted before the deadline for application. The reference form may be downloaded from the DON web page. These reference forms must be mailed directly to the Department of Nursing at Minot State University by the recommender (not the applicant).

N. The signature of your advisor is required for admission application. It is expected that you communicate through email, phone, or in person with your advisor during the application process.

* May waive as a condition for application the required cumulative GPA from a previous bachelor’s degree as transcripted by Minot State University on the official transcript. The required support course GPA remains at 2.8 for application. In addition, the candidate requesting this waiver must score a minimum of 78% on the TEAS V test to be considered for admission. The cumulative GPA will be used as a tiebreaker.

  • Fulfilling the stated admission requirements does not guarantee admission into the nursing program.
  • Established assessment benchmarks must be met by students for progression and graduation.
  • Successful completion of the nursing program does not guarantee professional licensure.
  • The number of admissions can be altered based on available resources.

Nursing Department Selection Policy and Procedure

Policy
By November 15, available positions will be filled for the following Spring semester. By March 15, the available positions will be filled for the following Fall semester. The positions will be filled from eligible applicants based upon the following “Procedure.” These selected students will be deemed “admitted” pending satisfactory review of transcripts.

Procedure
1. Positions will be filled through guaranteed admission and/or ranking.

2. Ranking will be accomplished through a point system: (Total possible 25)

  1. Required support courses GPA will be calculated as 5 x the GPA of completed support courses at the time of application for a maximum of 20 points.
  2. TEAS V – points will be given for the following scores: Proficient (1) Advanced (3) Exemplary (5)
  3. Eligible applicants will be ranked using the GPA from the completed required support courses and results of the TEAS.

3. Tie Breaker: Cumulative GPA will be used to break a tie.

4. Selection: The qualified applicants are selected for admission assignment in the following semester. Remaining qualified applicants will remain ranked as “alternates” for that semester.

  • Upon the disqualification or withdrawal of a selected student, the open positions will be offered to the highest ranked student from the list of alternates.

5. Continuing Requirements for Admission after Selection: The admission status is subject to a review of the transcript after posting of grades for the semester during which application was made. A satisfactory review includes:

  • Maintained a minimum cumulative GPA (grade point average) of 2.75.
  • Completion of all required support courses, with a minimum grade of “C.” Achieve an overall GPA of 2.8 in the Required Support Courses. An “I” in a course will be judged as an incomplete if the faculty member for the course or courses does not provide written documentation that all requirements have been satisfactorily completed at a minimum grade of “C” by the first day of classes of the semester of admission; therefore, an “I” without the above required written documentation means a student would be ineligible for admission.
  • Completion of 50 semester hours.

6. English language proficiency requirement. (See MSU Undergraduate Catalog for policy. See J. under Requirements for Admission to the Nursing Major.)

7. Criminal Background Check, CPR and Health Protection Requirements are required upon acceptance.

8. A student not meeting required criteria may reapply during the next application period.

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Egypt’s Nursing Education

With Egypt’s nursing education system in crisis, the country’s education authorities recently revealed plans for upgrading. The myriad challenges to be addressed include poorly resourced colleges, outdated curricula, low levels of English language comprehension among students and lack of practical training opportunities. Basma Hassan is one of around 15,000 students attending 18 state-run nursing colleges in Egypt. On applying to attend nursing college four years ago, she assumed she would be a well-qualified nurse with a bright future career. Today she feels disappointed. “The subjects we study are tedious and of no practical use,” she said. “There is no attention to promoting our nursing skills and command of English. The teaching staff are merely focusing on cramming our minds with theoretical bits of information.”

Two years ago, studies at these institutions were extended from three years to five with the declared aim of enhancing students’ English language skills. Said fourth-year student, Mervat Mansour: “This aim remains elusive. We do not study English in the first three years of education. And when we do in the fourth year, we are unable to comprehend medical terminology.” She also complained about lack of practical studies. “When we are sent to hospitals for training, we do not get enough cooperation from doctors – apparently because they traditionally do not have a good view of nurses, like the rest of society. Meanwhile, senior nurses in those hospitals manipulate us into running errands and doing jobs that have nothing to do with nursing.” To Dr Azza Abdel Gawad, a medical professor at Egypt’s second largest public university, Ain Shams, nursing college curricula desperately need developing in order to cope with the latest medical knowledge. “In addition, it is necessary to boost the medical culture of nurses, whose knowledge is limited to primary information. For example, they need to know that they have to care for patients’ social backgrounds, not merely their physical health, in order to ensure that integrated health care is provided,” she argued.

Drawing on her teaching experience, Abdel Gawad said she was shocked at the inability of nursing students to communicate in spoken and written English. “We should intensify teaching English to them from the first year at college.” Recently the woes of nursing education were the focus of a meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities, which supervises academic education in Egypt. Admitting to low standards of current nursing education, Dr Ferial Abdel Aziz, who heads the council’s nursing sector, disclosed a plan to upgrade the system in order to qualify competent nurses. “Our plan focuses on increasing specialised information and expanding practical training for nursing students,” she told the press. “More attention will also be given to grooming teaching staff for these colleges in order to make them better capable of doing the job.”

According to Abdel Aziz, a suggestion being considered is to oblige nursing graduates to take tests every year or two to assess their skills and update their medical information, before their licences are renewed. She added that there would also be more interest in and allocations for renovating infrastructure and facilities, including laboratories and medical digital libraries, at nursing colleges: “We firmly believe that developing nursing colleges should start with providing a better educational environment.”

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