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08/05/2016 6:58 pm
Nursing Department
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4059
Fax: 815-394-5166Sarah Urban, Ph.D., RN, CNE
Department Chair of Nursing
Associate Professor of Nursing
08/05/2016 6:57 pm
Q: What is a BSN degree?
A: The bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN) is a four-year, full-time program. Students complete approximately 2 years of prerequisite and degree requirement courses followed by 2 years in the nursing program if the student stays on track with course completion. Upon program completion, students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam (Registered Nurse [RN] Exam). This program is intended for students who do not hold an RN license.
Q: Is there a time limit on how long ago prerequisite science support courses have been taken and can still be used to meet the entrance requirements to the program?
A: Yes, science support courses (anatomy, microbiology, and chemistry) must be completed within 5 years of admission to the nursing program.
Q: How do I know if a course that I’ve previously taken will meet the entrance requirements for the program?
A: Transferology is a quick and easy way to find out if the college credit you’ve earned will transfer to Rockford University. Simply visit the Transferology page and enter your courses to find equivalent courses at RU. The Admissions Department can also help with reviewing transfer courses.
Q: I have completed university coursework or a degree outside of the United States. How do I know which of these credits will be accepted at Rockford University?
A: First, you’ll need to have this coursework evaluated by an independent evaluation company. Here is a link to an evaluation company that applicants with international documents can use.http://www.ierf.org/ We will not evaluate foreign transcripts which have not first been evaluated by an independent evaluation company.
Q: Do you accept 2nd bachelor degree students for nursing at Rockford University?
A: Yes, 2nd bachelor degree students can be admitted to the University as undeclared students (area of interest nursing) and can apply to the nursing program. Please contact the Office of Admission for admission criteria.
Q: How many entry points are there per year into the nursing program?
A: Two: spring and fall semester.
Q: Who has to take the TEAS exam?
A: The TEAS is designed as a predictor of success for nursing program applicants. This exam is required for transfer and traditional applicants; it is not required for Early Decision option students.
Q: Does work experience in a healthcare facility better an applicant’s chances of being selected?
A: No. However, working in a healthcare facility gives you valuable experience that can help as you complete nursing program coursework and clinical experiences. However, academic preparation, especially in high school chemistry, algebra, and other science and math courses, are critical to prepare for college level courses.
Q: If I want to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA), what do I have to do?
A: Students that have successfully completed NURS 201 – Foundations of Person-Centered Care can apply to take the CNA certification exam. The student should contact the nursing department chair for their information to be submitted to take the CNA exam. For all information related to becoming a CNA, including testing dates and locations, go to the following Web site, http://www.nurseaidetesting.com.
Q: If I took a nursing prerequisite course and received a grade that I didn’t like, and took that same class again, what grade will you accept?
A: If the course is taken at another institution, no course with a grade of less than a “C” will be accepted. A student who receives a grade lower than a C- in any required natural and social science support course may repeat the course and have the repeated course grade counted toward the CGPA. Only one of the required natural and social science support courses may be repeated. If a student receives a grade lower than a C- grade in more than one of the required natural and social science support courses, they will not be considered for admission to the program.
Q: What is provisional acceptance?
A: When a student is notified of a provisional acceptance, this means that a space has been reserved for that student in the nursing program for the following class. This becomes a full acceptance upon successfully completing any remaining prerequisites and maintaining progression requirements.
Q: Once admitted to the nursing program, how long will it take to complete nursing course requirements?
A: Nursing course work is sequenced over 4 semesters. Students who retake a course or take courses out of sequence may need longer to complete the program.
Q: Can a student take nursing courses without being enrolled in the School of Nursing?
A: Currently one nursing course, NURS 150 – Contemporary Nutrition, can be taken without having been accepted into the nursing program.
Q: Is there a Student Nurses Association at Rockford University?
A: Yes. Contact the nursing department for meeting times and places for the Nursing Student Organization (NSO). First-year and new students are encouraged to join.
Q: Once I’ve been admitted to the nursing program, must I always maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA)?
A: Yes. At the completion of the first nursing semester, students are required to achieve a nursing GPA of 2.3 calculated for all NURS courses and a cumulative GPA for all Rockford University courses of 2.7. At the completion of the second, third and fourth nursing semesters, students are required to achieve a nursing GPA of 2.5 calculated for all NURS courses and a cumulative GPA for all Rockford University courses of 2.7.
Q: What if I fail a nursing course?
A: You must immediately discuss your academic issues with your academic faculty advisor. The nursing student handbook outlines the complete policy for program progression and dismissal policies. Note: You may repeat a nursing course only once. Two withdrawals and/or failures in any combination of nursing courses will result in dismissal.
Nursing Department
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4059
Fax: 815-394-5166Sarah Urban, Ph.D., RN, CNE
Department Chair of Nursing
Associate Professor of Nursing
For those interested in the Nursing Program, please contact Admissions at 815-226-4050.
08/05/2016 6:56 pm
Nursing Degree Progression & Retention Requirements
To maintain good standing in the program, students must meet the requirements listed. Also see the Nursing Program Handbook for full descriptions.
Medical:
Immunization and Health Compliance:
Nursing Department
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4059
Fax: 815-394-5166Sarah Urban, Ph.D., RN, CNE
Department Chair of Nursing
Associate Professor of Nursing
08/05/2016 6:52 pm
This page guides you through the various admission pathways, prerequisites, and special requirements for the nursing program at Rockford University.
The Early Action option is specifically for high school seniors looking to secure their place in the nursing program before starting college. This option is your chance to get ahead if you are still in high school and know that nursing is the career path for you!
Students will be notified of admission decision by April 1st of their senior year. Actual enrollment is contingent on receipt of an official high school transcript by July 1st of the year of enrollment, verifying that all admission criteria have been met. Students must successfully meet the nursing prerequisite course and GPA requirements before starting the nursing program. Accepted Early Action students do not need to take the TEAS entrance exam.
Admission to Rockford University does not guarantee admission to the nursing program. In order to be successful as a Rockford University nursing student, the Nursing Department has established minimum entrance requirements prior to enrolling in courses with the intent of pursuing a major in nursing.
Eligibility: Current Rockford University students and transfer students.
Transfer students will follow the steps for standard admission. After applying to Rockford University, please submit transcripts from prior institutions for evaluation. Transfer students will be evaluated by the prerequisite course criteria, GPA requirement, and TEAS exam score described in the understanding prerequisite requirements section below. Transfer courses will count toward overall GPA for program admission.
The science prerequisite courses, general education prerequisite courses, and GPA requirements listed below are required for nursing program admission. The nursing faculty reserves the right to consider the merit of individual cases, based on student petition. If a student is currently in progress with prerequisite courses during the semester when the student applies to the nursing program, the nursing department may consider that student’s application for provisional admission. Provisional admission indicates that a student is offered nursing program admission if the requirements in progress (prerequisite courses or TEAS exam) are completed satisfactorily prior to starting the nursing program.
Students who have been denied admission to the nursing program due to missing prerequisite requirements may submit an application requesting admission to the nursing program, if admission criteria are met, during the next application period. Automatic admission to the program for the next academic year is not guaranteed. Each student case will be considered individually and are handled on a space-available basis.
Students must achieve a minimum of a “C” 2.0 grade in the prerequisite courses below. Although a “C” 2.0 is the minimum requirement, the overall natural science GPA must be a 2.5 and overall GPA must be 2.75.
To be eligible for nursing program admission, students must meet the following criteria for grade point average (GPA) and credit hours:
The ATI TEAS exam must be completed within 6 months of the nursing application deadline that the student is applying for. To meet admission criteria, students must obtain a score of proficient or higher overall as well as on the reading, math, science, and English language usage subcategories. Applicants taking the TEAS will be allowed to retake the exam during the same admission process, however, there must be 45 days between tests. The TEAS can be taken twice in the same admission process. After two unsuccessful attempts the student will need to take the TEAS again the following semester. The maximum is three attempts.
Review all course requirements for the nursing program in the academic catalog.
Once admitted into the program, students must meet several requirements to start the program and attend lab and clinical experiences. Please see the current Nursing Student Handbook for a detailed description of the requirements.
All students entering the nursing program are required to undergo a criminal background check and random urine drug/alcohol screen.
To be completed by January 1 (Spring entrance) or August 1 (Fall entrance):
Nursing
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4059
Fax:815-394-5166Sarah Urban, Ph.D., RN, CNE
Department Chair of Nursing
Associate Professor of Nursing
08/05/2016 6:52 pm
The baccalaureate nursing program at Rockford University located in Rockford, Illinois is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the baccalaureate nursing program is continuing accreditation with warning.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program on the ACEN website.
The nursing program is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
The nursing program is also a member of the Illinois Association of Colleges of Nursing.
Nursing Department
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4059
Fax: 815-394-5166Sarah Urban, Ph.D., RN, CNE
Department Chair of Nursing
Associate Professor of Nursing
08/05/2016 6:50 pm
Department of Nursing Student Learning Outcomes: Based upon its mission, the goals of the Rockford University nursing program are to:
Nursing Department
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4059
Fax: 815-394-5166Sarah Urban, Ph.D., RN, CNE
Department Chair of Nursing
Associate Professor of Nursing
08/05/2016 4:26 pm
Community-based learning promotes learning through active participation in service experiences. Community-based learning opportunities for nursing majors provides students the chance to apply skills and knowledge learned in the classroom setting in real-life situations. Students will experience a variety of community-based learning opportunities from working with individuals and families in acute care settings to working with families and groups in community settings.
Nursing faculty at Rockford University believe that learning takes place both in and out of the classroom. Community-based learning is a critical element in nursing education that extends learning beyond the textbook and classroom setting into the community at large. Community-based learning provides students with the opportunity to utilize reflective thinking, discussion with faculty and peers, and writing about the experience to expand the learning experience.
Community-based learning is an important means of fostering a sense of caring for others. Nurses “care” for members of their community and service learning facilitates the growth and development of caring behaviors in our nursing graduates.
Learn more about Rockford University’s Community-Based Learning program
Nursing Department
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4059
Fax: 815-394-5166Sarah Urban, Ph.D., RN, CNE
Department Chair of Nursing
Associate Professor of Nursing
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