RN-BSN

Prerequisite Info

Degree Requirements for the RN-BSN Student

A minimum of 128 semester hours and satisfactory completion of all RN-BSN program requirements is required , including supporting courses beyond the basic Associate Degree or Diploma in Nursing, general education and elective requirements, and 30 semester hours of required and elective nursing major courses.

The minimum prerequisites to the nursing major include:

• Composition II
• Two of the three required supporting courses
• Statistics

However, students are encouraged to complete all additional requirements prior to beginning the nursing major. Individual plans of study are strongly encouraged, so that alternative options can be explored if there are scheduling or deadline concerns.

Basic computer literacy (word processing skills, email, access to the Internet) is a prerequisite expectation for all students admitted to the College of Nursing . See Computer Competencies.

Rhetoric:

Most RN-BSN students will need additional coursework to meet the university's rhetoric requirement. Having typically completed composition I as part of the basic diploma or ADN, students tend to be held for composition II and speech. Experienced RNs, especially those who have specific responsibility for patient teaching or staff development programs, may be successful in petitioning the speech component of the rhetoric requirement. Students with writing fluency, especially those who have completed college-level courses requiring formal papers, may choose to petition the composition II component of the rhetoric requirement.

Supporting Courses

The associate degree or diploma RN is presumed to have prerequisite competency in basic communication (composition I), microbiology, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, introductory psychology and sociology, life-span human development and behavior, and basic nursing competency.

The following additional supporting course areas are designed to assist RNs in building on individual interests and strengths. Students must complete at least three supporting courses (a minimum of 9 sh total), choosing from at least two of the three areas and are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor to discuss their selections. The three supporting areas are:

Biophysical Science Supporting Area:

This area aims at growth in college-level basic science, e.g., chemistry, biology, genetics, epidemiology, pathology, pharmacology, and environmental science courses. Students considering masters level study in an advanced practice role such as nurse anesthesia would be strongly encouraged to complete a full year of biology and inorganic chemistry, a semester of organic and biochemistry, as well as physics, pathophysiology, and pharmacology.

Social Science Supporting Area:

This area aims at growth in the educator, group facilitator, and counselor roles that many RNs fill. Examples of support courses include psychology and sociology courses beyond the introductory level, courses that focus on a particular population such as children or the older adult, and education and counseling courses. Many RNs have also expressed interest in religion courses that help them to better understand the belief and support systems important to them and to others. Other students may choose political science courses, increasing knowledge and understanding of the political process and how health care professionals can contribute to the development of public policy and improvements in the delivery of health care services.

Business/Management Supporting Area:

This area aims at growth in the skills related to management, supervision, budgeting, and innovation or entrepreneurship. Examples of support courses include courses in computer applications or information management, economics, accounting, and grant writing. Many schools are also beginning to develop courses designed for current managers who are interested in developing ways to support creativity and innovation in the workplace.

Statistics:

Elementary statistics is required. Most elementary statistics courses presume competence in high school algebra. Some RN-BSN students choose to complete an upper-division statistics course, such as 22S:102 Introduction to Statistical Methods or 22S:101 Introduction to Biostatistics, which both satisfies the BSN requirement and meets the MSN requirement for a recent (no older than five years), upper-division statistics course.

General Education Requirements

Courses in the following areas are required prior to graduation. Many RN-BSN students choose to complete these requirements before beginning the nursing major. Some may also be taken with the nursing major to fill out a full-time schedule.

Cultural Anthropology:

This requirements aims for increased depth in the study of human behaviors, institutions, and social systems. University of Iowa courses that will meet this requirement include 113:3 Introduction to the Study of Culture and Society, and 113:10 Anthropology and Contemporary World Problems.  The Telecourse title "Faces of Culture" will also meet this requirement.  There are also numerous community college transfer courses.

Humanities OR Fine Arts:

Students must choose coursework (a minimum of 3 sh) from either of these areas. The Humanities requirement aims to assist students in becoming interpreters of culture by learning various strategies for critically examining a wide variety of texts. Humanities courses also examine how the human mind constructs patterns of meaning that define both the self and culture. The Fine Arts requirement aims to increase knowledge of the history, theory, and appreciation of the creative arts. Students may choose from traditional classroom offerings, but may also choose from studio, production, and performance courses.

Foreign Civilization and Culture OR Cultural Diversity:

Students must choose coursework (a minimum of 3 sh) from either of these areas. The Foreign Civilization and Culture requirement aims to increase knowledge and understanding of civilizations and cultures outside the United States . The focus may be historical or contemporary. The Cultural Diversity requirement aims to increase knowledge and understanding of cultures or peoples of the U.S. different from the majority or dominant culture or peoples. These differences may relate to race, ethnicity, gender, religion, social class, sexual orientation, or other significant human diversity.

Foreign Language Requirement:

The College of Nursing requires a minimum of two years at the high school level or one year at the college level of the same foreign language. Most students will have met this requirement with high school level courses. College level study of a foreign language or manual communication is encouraged and will count toward elective requirements. RN-BSN students who graduated from high school prior to 1991 are exempted from the foreign language requirement.

General Electives:

The amount of general elective credit needed varies widely. Most students find that they need between 7 to 9 general elective credits, in order to earn the 128 sh required for graduation. General elective credit can be met with any college credit course. Some students choose additional nursing elective credits to earn these additional hours, but electives can also be something just for fun or to meet personal goals. Not all students need general elective credit, so it is important to use the degree evaluation for planning and consult the program office if unsure.

Requirement for Credit in Residence

The University of Iowa requires that a significant portion of the credit for degree be earned in residence. Courses offered via the regular daytime schedule, the Iowa Communications Network, University of Iowa Telecourse , Guided Independent Study, or in the Saturday & Evening Program count toward resident credit. The requirement for credit in residence may be met in one of the following three ways:

• final 30 consecutive semester hours in residence, or
• 45 of the final 60 semester hours in residence, or
• a total of 90 semester hours in residence.