Nursing, LPN to BSN

Sharon Hudacek, Ed.D., Director, LPN to BSN Track

The LPN to BSN in Nursing option is for students who have completed an accredited Licensed Practical Nurse program.

The licensed practical nurse (LPN) student is recognized as an adult learner who comes with diverse life experiences, education and clinical skills, as well as motivation and ability to learn independently.  To facilitate advanced placement, opportunity is provided for students to validate, by examination, previously acquired educational and clinical competencies.

Licensed practical nurses seeking admission to the baccalaureate nursing program must meet the admission criteria for the University and submit a valid Pennsylvania LPN license. LPNs enroll as students in The College of Graduate and Continuing Education.

Planning for Enrollment
During the final 4 semesters, a full-time student normally attends on-campus classes during the day 2-3 days per week, in addition to either on-campus labs or off-campus clinical labs two days per week. Clinical experiences typically occur during day or evening shifts. Most clinical sites are located within 10 to 30 minutes of the campus by car.

Nursing students are advised not to work during their course of study in the nursing program. Time management is crucial throughout the program; students who choose to work while attending school full-time often experience difficulty coordinating their educational, work, and personal commitments. LPN’s must adhere to the same clinical requirements as all undergraduate nursing majors.  See Clinical requirements in catalog for details. 

Minimum Criteria for Enrollment in Nursing Courses
     •    Completion of specified prerequisite course work.
     •    A minimum of 2.00 [grade of C] in each prerequisite course.
     •    No more than one repeat of a prerequisite course.
     •    Students who score less than 13 on the math placement exam will be advised to take a remedial math course.
     •    Submit required civil, administrative, and criminal history clearance records.
     •    Must demonstrate the ability to meet the “Essential Functions of Nursing” described in the Policy Handbook of the Department of Nursing.  
         

LPN to BSN Track Prerequisites (20 credits) must be completed with a C or higher:

     •    BIOL 110-111 - (E) Human Anatomy and Physiology    (8 credits)
     •    CHEM 110-111 - (E) Introductory Chemistry  (6 credits)
     •    PSYC 210 - (Q) Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences  (3 credits)
     •    WRTG 107 - Composition  (3 credits)
 
_{NOTE:  ‘Prerequisite’ courses must be completed prior to enrolling in nursing courses, while ‘co-requisite’ courses may be completed concurrently with some nursing courses.}

LPN-BSN: Criteria for Progression in the Nursing Program
     •    A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.70 in sophomore nursing course work (NURS 241 , NURS 242 , and NURS 262 ).
     •    A cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or higher.

Credit by Examination [14cr lecture & 10.5cr lab/total of 24.5 credits]
All LPN-BSN students are eligible to earn credits for clinical courses in the content areas of Fundamental Skills, Maternity, Pediatrics, and Basic Medical-Surgical Nursing.  The Clinical Skills Challenge Exams are offered in June and July of each year.  Enrollment in the Clinical Skills Challenge is required for the extended summer session.

Advanced Placement Options:
[14cr lecture] *Kaplan Integrated Testing: Raw score of 68 required on all tests.   
Maternity & Pediatric Nursing – Advanced Placement Exams [6cr] NURS 373 , NURS 452 
Medical Surgical Nursing I and II – Advanced Placement Exam [8cr] NURS 251 , NURS 350 , NURS 371   
Clinical Labs - Practicum Testing [10.5cr lab]  
Maternity/Pediatrics & Basic Medical-Surgical Skills [10.5cr]  NURS 251L , NURS 350L , NURS 371L , NURS 373 , NURS 452L 

All LPNs are required to enroll in NURS 450  and NURS 450 LAB  
Advanced Placement  examination credits are only applicable to the nursing major at the University of Scranton, are not calculated in the GPA, and are not transferrable to another major. Additional transfer or portfolio credits for other course work may be earned as per university and departmental policy.

In addition to major courses, students must complete required General Education Courses that may be taken at any level of the curriculum.

Course of Study in the Nursing Major (Upon completion of pre-requisite courses)

Level I
            Fall
            BIOL 210w/lab - Introductory Medical Microbiology  (3cr)
            NURS 241 - (W) Perspectives in Professional Nursing  (3cr)
            NURS 262 - Pharmacology I  (1.5cr)

           Spring
           NURS 242w/lab - Health, Illness and Assessment  (3cr)
           NUTR 220 - Nutrition for the Health Care Professions  (3cr)

Level II
            Fall
            NURS 350** - Nursing Care of the Adult I  (3cr)
            NURS 352-352L - Mental Health Nursing (W - lab only)  (5.5cr)
            NURS 360 - Pharmacology II  (1.5cr)

           Spring
            NURS 371** - Nursing Care of the Adult II  (3cr)
            NURS 373** - Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family  (3cr)
            NURS 361 - Pharmacology III  (1.5cr)

            Fall
            NURS 450w/lab - Nursing Care of the Adult III   (5.5cr)
            NURS 452** - Nursing Care of Children and Adolescents  (3cr)
            NURS 493 - Research in Nursing  (3cr)

Level III
            NURS 471w/lab - (D) Community Health Nursing  (3.5cr)
            NURS 472w/lab - Advanced Nursing Concepts  (6cr)
            NURS 491 - Senior Seminar  (1cr)    
                                                                                 
Post Graduation Requirement

NCLEX Four [4] Day Review Course - After graduation

** Nursing Care of the Adult I & II (NURS 350  and NURS 371 ) - Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family (NURS 373  and NURS 452 ) can be challenged by Advanced Placement examinations.