Admissions

Registered Nurse to BSN Advanced Placement
Registered nurses who are actively licensed as Registered Professional Nurses in the State of Illinois may petition escrow credit for specific courses. An RN interested in credit for prior learning must complete the following steps:

A. Provide current, original Illinois license to the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs for photocopying.

B. Complete a skills competency self-evaluation and affirm their ability to practice safely in a variety of settings.

C. Have official transcripts sent documenting fundamentals of nursing/adult health, pediatric, obstetrical, and mental health nursing with a grade of "C" or better to receive credit for that content.

Click here to download the SACN RN to BSN curriculum sheet. If you do not have the Acrobat® plug-in for your browser, simply click here to download it.

D. The following may be awarded with a grade of "CR":

N307 Foundations of Nursing Practice                       8 credits

N317 Adult Health Deviations                                    3 credits

N350 Nursing of Families with Infants and Children     8 credits

N453 Mental Health Nursing                                     4 credits

N324 Principles of Pharmacology                             3 credits

E. The RN may demonstrate proficiency in community/mental health nursing by either:

i. Taking N453 for 8 credits, or
ii. submitting transcripts and documentation for a mental health nursing course, earning 4 CR credits, and taking N454 (Community Health Nursing) for 4 credits.

F. An RN may receive eight (8) CR credits for N401, Nursing Care of the Adult with Health Deviations, upon completion of steps A-C above and successful completion of N431, Nursing Leadership/Management in Health Care Systems-RN (5 credits) for practicing RNs.

Information on Requests for Credits
 Information on requests for credits, examining procedures and cost are available in the office of Student Affairs. Requests for credit will be forwarded to the Curriculum Committee. The Curriculum Committee will review each request on a case by case basis according to established procedure. The decision of the Curriculum Committee as to whether or not credit will be awarded will be considered final.

1. The student must complete the application process for the BSN program and be accepted into the BSN program.
   
2. The student must present written documentation of post-secondary credit (i.e. college or diploma school transcripts and if requested, course description and/or course syllabus) or appropriate current work experience (i.e. portfolio).
   
3. For selected theory courses (as determined by the College at its discretion) in the current catalog the student may demonstrate mastery of content by satisfactory completion (78%) of a written comprehensive proficiency exam administered by the College. For each theory course the student will be required to submit a non-refundable examination fee of $100 and receive a 78% on a comprehensive examination administered by the College. The examination fee must be submitted prior to examination.
   
4. For selected laboratory/clinical courses (as determined by the College at their discretion) in the current catalog the student may demonstrate mastery of content. The student will demonstrate mastery of each individual laboratory/clinical course by satisfactory completion of a written proficiency exam (78%) and a skill/practicum examination as administered by the College for each laboratory/clinical course with a minimum score of 78%. A $200 non-refundable examination fee for each examination must be submitted prior to examination.
   
5. The examination fee must be paid before sitting for an exam. If the student passes an exam (earns a 78% or better on the examination) a grade of CR will be entered on the transcript. The College reserves the right to charge a posting fee of 50% of the current tuition for the course. Students will be notified in advance of testing of a posting fee. If the student fails an exam for a theory course or either part, (written or lab practicum proficiency for) a laboratory or clinical course, no grade will be entered and the student must enroll in and pass the course to meet graduation requirements. To qualify for the proficiency exam the student must not be currently enrolled in the class in the semester in which the exam is taken.
   
6. Upon payment of the examination fee, the student may meet with the Course Coordinator or designate for tutoring/guidance (two occasions maximum). The Course Coordinator will provide the student with an appropriate study guide or other materials.
   
7. The following steps are to be followed by RNs requesting escrow credit in N307,N317, N350, N453 (Mental Health), N324 or credit for N401.
A. RN must provide original Illinois RN license to the Director of Student Services for photocopying.
B. RNs must complete a skills competency self-evaluation and affirm their ability to practice safely in a variety of comprehensive settings.
C. Official transcripts must be submitted documenting fundamentals of nursing/adult health, pediatric, obstetrical and mental health nursing with a grade of “C” or better to receive credit for that content.
D.

The RN will request semester escrow credit hours for:

N307 Foundations of Nursing Practice                                                     8 credits

N317 Adult Health Deviations                                                                 3 credits                  N324 Principles of Pharmacology                                                           3 credits
N350 Nursing of Families with Infants and Children                                   8 credits
   
8. The RN may demonstrate proficiency in community/mental health nursing by either:
A. taking N453 for 8 credits, or
B. submitting transcripts and documentation of a mental health nursing course, earning 4 credits, and taking community health (N454) for 4 credits
   
9. For selected courses (as determined by the College at their discretion) in the current College catalog, the RN student may demonstrate mastery of content in one of two following ways:
A. Documented clinical excellence, submission of examination fee, and satisfactory completion of proficiency exam as administered by the College or
B. Proof of nationally recognized certification in the selected area.

The College reserves the right to charge a posting fee. The student will be informed of the posting fee at the time of request for credit.

 

10. An RN may receive eight (8) credits (8CR) for N401 upon completion of steps 7A, 7B, 7C above and successful completion of N431 (5 credits) for practicing RN's.