Traditional Pre-licensure BSN Program Option

The Pre-licensure Traditional BSN program option requires 128 credit hours for degree conferral, and consists of four semesters of prerequisite courses that are foundational to the upper-division nursing courses taught the following four semesters.

The Pre-licensure BSN program option has two admission pathways:

1. Freshman Direct Admit Pathway for graduating high school seniors

2. Transfer Pathway for internal and external transfer students

Upon successful completion of the prerequisite and upper-division coursework, the student will be awarded a BSN degree from Lipscomb University. Students who complete this program of study will have experienced multiple clinical placements prior to graduation. This degree provides students with training in nursing education strongly complemented by extensive study in the humanities and social sciences. Thus, students are well-prepared to function as a nurse and also have the necessary foundation to pursue master’s and doctoral studies in nursing.

The Baccalaureate nursing program at Lipscomb University located in Nashville, TN is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850 Atlanta, GA 30326

P: (404) 975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Baccalaureate nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

The Pre-licensure BSN program option has full approval status from the Tennessee Board of Nursing (TBON).

Costs

Lipscomb undergraduate tuition applies to this program with degree-specific fees applicable to the junior and senior years.  Please visit https://www.lipscomb.edu/academics/programs/nursing for more information.

Mission

To educate baccalaureate nurses to be leaders in providing service to humanity as evidenced by quality, compassionate care that is focused on the holistic needs of patients and their families in the community.

Pre-Licensure BSN End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes:

Graduates of Lipscomb University’s Pre-licensure BSN program will be able to:

1. Synthesize knowledge from nursing, humanities, and biophysical and social sciences into the practice of professional nursing.

2. Provide patient-centered health care to culturally diverse populations in a variety of environments, both independently and in collaboration with other health care team members.

3. Demonstrate skills in critical thinking, decision-making, information management and the nursing process with individuals, families and groups experiencing complex health problems.

4. Educate and counsel individuals, families, communities and other groups using teaching/learning principles that promote, maintain and restore health.

5. Evaluate and apply evidence-based findings to professional nursing practice.

6. Utilize leadership skills in addressing professional nursing and health care issues.

7. Demonstrate accountability for decisions about nursing practice that provide safe and high quality care.

8. Communicate and collaborate with members of the health care team and consumers to provide and improve the delivery of health care.

Role Specific Graduate Competencies:

Upon completion of the BSN program at Lipscomb University, the graduate will be expected to function as a:

• Provider of Patient-Centered Care
• Leader/Manager
• Member of the Profession
• Patient Safety Advocate
• Educator

The competencies for these roles are spiraled throughout the nursing curriculum. Progressing from awareness to knowledge to proficiency, they are guided by the educational framework, course objectives, Student Learning Outcomes, and Program Outcomes. Each competency will not necessarily be addressed in each course. These competencies will be utilized in the evaluation components for nursing courses.

Provider of Patient-Centered Care:

The graduate from Lipscomb University School of Nursing will be prepared to assume accountability for the delivery of safe, high quality, patient-centered care based on evidence for diverse individuals, families, groups, communities and populations in a variety of settings. Through the use of the nursing process, the baccalaureate generalist will use their skills to prevent illness and injury and to promote, restore and maintain health across the lifespan.

Leader/Manager:

The graduate from Lipscomb University School of Nursing will be prepared to coordinate and manage care through the use of technology, resources and information systems. The graduate will use their leadership skills to delegate tasks to other health care personnel and supervise and evaluate their performance.

Member of the Profession:

The graduate of Lipscomb University School of Nursing will assume responsibility and accountability for their practice as a professional nurse and will engage in continuous professional development and lifelong learning.

Patient Safety Advocate:

The graduate of Lipscomb University School of Nursing will demonstrate knowledge of professional, governmental and accreditation standards pertaining to safe practice. They will apply technology and information management tools to support safe processes of care and evaluate the impact on patient outcomes.

Educator:

The graduate of Lipscomb University School of Nursing will demonstrate the ability to assess learning and effectively teach patients about wellness, prevention and acute and chronic illness management.

Essential Competencies for Nursing Practice

Delivering care as a registered nurse requires many competencies, such as the functional abilities listed below:

• Ability to see, hear, touch, smell and distinguish colors.
• Ability to speak and write with accuracy, clarity and efficiency.
• Manual dexterity, gross and fine movements.
• Ability to learn, think critically, analyze, assess, solve problems and reach judgment.
• Emotional stability and ability to accept responsibility and accountability.

All students enrolled in the BSN program must satisfactorily demonstrate these competencies in the didactic, laboratory, seminar and clinical courses throughout their program of study.

Admission Requirements

1. Freshman Direct Admit Pathway is for graduating high school seniors meeting or exceeding the following minimum requirements:

• 3.0 High School GPA on a 4.0 scale
• 22 or higher cumulative ACT score (SAT/CLT equivalent)
• University Application Completion
• Progression readiness evaluation prior to entering upper division nursing courses (didactic-to-clinical) that requires students to meet/fulfill the following criteria: 
  • Earned “C” or higher in each lower division nursing pre-requisite course
  • Earned cumulative 3.0 GPA in the prescribed 66 credit hours of lower division nursing pre-requisite coursework
  • Earned “B” or higher average in the following five pre-requisite science courses:
    • CM 1024 Chemistry for Health Sciences
    • BY 2424 Introduction to Microbiology
    • BY 2434 Anatomy & Physiology I
    • BY 2444 Anatomy & Physiology II
    • NURS 2103 Pathophysiology

2. Transfer Pathway is for internal and external transfer students meeting or exceeding the following minimum requirements:

• University and School of Nursing Application Completion:
  • Includes letters of recommendation and goal statement, and submission of official transcripts from any/all programs of higher education
• Undergraduate earned 3.0 GPA or higher in the prescribed 66 hours of lower division nursing pre-requisite course work
• Earned “C” or higher in each required lower division nursing pre-requisite course
• Earned “B” or higher average in the following five pre-requisite science courses:
  • CM 1024 Chemistry for Health Sciences
  • BY 2424 Introduction to Microbiology
  • BY 2434 Anatomy & Physiology I
  • BY 2444 Anatomy & Physiology II
  • NURS 2103 Pathophysiology

* Transfer students are evaluated on an individual basis with careful consideration for external transfer credit eligibility.

**Students will be admitted/progress to the upper division courses in the nursing curriculum only after successful completion of required perquisite courses.

Transfer Student Credit

Lipscomb University School of Nursing offers a competitive program for prospective student nurses and only accepts transfer science courses with a minimum passing grade of a “C” or higher in accordance with admitting students into the University. 

Please note: The “B” average requirement in the pre-requisite science courses also applies to transfer science courses as students continue the application process for the Lipscomb University School of Nursing.

Lipscomb University is a participant in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway. For more information, see the catalog section in Admissions entitled “Tennessee Transfer Pathway” or go to http://www.tntransferpathway.org/.

Lipscomb University School of Nursing may have articulation agreements not covered by the Pathways. Students are encouraged to check the websites or catalogs of his/her individual community colleges to determine additional transfer agreements available.

Students who transfer to Lipscomb University will be required to meet graduation Bible course and chapel requirements. These will be determined based on past course work and whether the student has a previous degree.

Chapel requirements will be the same as for all other students enrolled at Lipscomb University with the exception of the semesters in which they are enrolled in upper division nursing courses. During these semesters a modified requirement will be in place.

Upper Division (didactic-to-clinical) Nursing Requirements:

1. Prior to beginning the upper division nursing curriculum (and at the beginning of each subsequent year), students must submit documentation of required immunizations/titers.  See the Pre-licensure BSN Program Nursing Student Handbook for a list of requirements.
2. A clear criminal background check and negative drug screen are also required by all clinical agencies. See the Pre-licensure BSN Program Nursing Student Handbook for additional requirements.
3. Students must meet eligibility requirements for licensure in Tennessee.
4. Students must maintain a 76% exam average in all nursing courses, as well as a 76% course average, in order to progress in the program.
5. Graduation requirements for earning a BSN degree from Lipscomb University include the completion of all required courses for the nursing major for a total of 128 credit hours.

Licensure

After successful completion of the prescribed curriculum, the pre-licensure student is eligible to apply to the State Board of Nursing to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).  Licensure is required to deliver patient care as a Registered Nurse (RN).

Program of Study Requirements

• Nursing: BSN (Pre-licensure)