LPN to BSN Program

Degree Offered

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Nature of the Program

The WVU School of Nursing: Keyser Campus Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LPN to BSN) Program provides a seamless pathway for a current LPN to earn a baccalaureate degree to enter the registered nursing (RN) profession. Courses are offered afternoons/evenings and weekends to accommodate the working LPN's schedule. As a university, WVU is committed to ensuring that the LPN to BSN bridge is as smooth as possible, with support and resources built into the program. One course in the program, NSG 213, is specifically designed to help the LPN transition from practical to professional nursing, and is focused on assessment, advanced skills, and clinical judgment. Students in the LPN to BSN program complete their nursing didactic coursework online. The nursing clinical component is completed face to face in state of the science skills/simulation labs and healthcare facilities, to enable students to apply their learning to actual client, family, and community situations that warrant nursing intervention. Upon successful completion of the LPN to BSN program, students earn 22 hours of escrow credits for their LPN licensure and professional experience, which translates to more than a semester's worth of work. Upon conferral of the BSN degree, the graduate will take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX)-RN. The curriculum has been carefully designed to equip graduates to begin professional nursing practice with patients of all ages in any healthcare setting where there is a position for the professional nurse at the start of their RN career. The program also provides an excellent foundation for graduate study in nursing.

The mission of the WVU School of Nursing is to improve the health of West Virginians, as well as our regional and global communities, through the delivery of excellent student-centered programs and evidence-based teaching, scholarship, and service. This mission is responsive to changing healthcare needs and emerging national and state advances in technology and healthcare delivery and is enhanced by a supportive and open environment. The faculty's educational effort is directed at providing a high quality, student-centered program of instruction which prepares superb professional nurses to meet basic healthcare needs. Unique characteristics of the state mandate that the healthcare needs of rural populations and vulnerable groups be a major focus of education, research, and service, including faculty practice.

Further information about the School of Nursing LPN to BSN program on the WVU Keyser (Potomac State) campus is available at https://academics.potomacstatecollege.edu/majors/four-year-programs/nursing-lpn-to-bsn or by contacting the WVU School of Nursing: Potomac State Department, J. Edward Kelley Complex, 400 Kelley Drive, Keyser, WV 26726, 304-788-7176.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master's degree program in nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice program at West Virginia University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

Criminal Background Checks and Drug Screening

Nursing students are required by clinical agencies to undergo federal and state criminal background checks and a drug screen prior to clinical experiences, as well as annual drug screens. Felony convictions, some serious misdemeanors, and positive drug screens may preclude participation in clinical rotations. This could, in turn, prevent the completion of clinical course requirements and completion of the nursing program. It could also result in admission ineligibility or program dismissal.

Transportation, Immunizations, Confidentiality/ HIPAA Training, and BLS Certification

Students are expected to provide their own transportation, approved uniforms, equipment, and instruments for clinical courses. Some clinical experiences require travel throughout a multi-county, multi-state area. Proof of a physical exam, tuberculosis testing, specific immunizations, and titers are required for all LPN to BSN nursing students. Annual training in confidentiality and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are also required. Nursing students are required to maintain current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Rural Care and Community Engagement

In keeping with the university's commitment to improving health care for all West Virginians, nursing students complete a community nursing experience during their senior year. Throughout the LPN to BSN Program, students also complete 50 hours of approved community service and document the hours on WVU iServe as a requirement for graduation.

Laptop Program

WVU Keyser LPN to BSN students are required to participate in the campus' nursing laptop program. A laptop specifications sheet is provided to each student upon admission to the nursing program. Each student will bring their laptop for class, lab, and clinical every day.

Tuition and Scholarships

WVU Keyser nursing tuition information can be found at: https://tuition.wvu.edu/undergraduate/wvu-keyser-campus-online. The School of Nursing offers several scholarships. These scholarships require completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be considered for financial aid. Most School of Nursing scholarships are available only to students already admitted to the School of Nursing and are awarded each April for the following academic year. However, there are a limited number of scholarships for which students may apply before admission. Further information about scholarships is provided on the WVU Keyser https://admissions.potomacstatecollege.edu/cost-and-aid/scholarships and School of Nursing https://nursing.wvu.edu/students/resources/scholarship-opportunities/ websites.

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Administration

Chair

• April Shapiro - PhD (West Virginia University)

Track Coordinator

• Mary Keister - MSN (Aspen University)

Program Assistant

• Anna Kephart - AA Business Technology-Medical Secretarial (Tifflin University)

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Faculty

Tenured Associate Professor

• April Shapiro - PhD (West Virginia University)

Assistant Professor

• Heather Dignan - PhD (West Virginia University)

Instructor

• Mary Keister - MSN (Aspen University)

Admissions

Note: Admission criteria are subject to change; visit https://academics.potomacstatecollege.edu/majors/four-year-programs/nursing-lpn-to-bsn for the most current criteria.

Applications for fall admission are accepted November 1 through July 1 each year, following a rolling admissions process: Upon application, the applicant’s file is reviewed to determine if they meet the admission criteria and have submitted all required documents; those applicants meeting all admission/documents criteria are then notified of their admission status. Applicants meeting the criteria but not offered a seat will be added to a waiting list and notified by email if a seat becomes available. To be eligible for admission to the LPN to BSN program, the applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Have completed a board-approved, accredited practical nursing program
• Hold an active, unencumbered LPN license
• Have taken the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam and earned a total score of at least 60%
• Have one year of experience as a practicing LPN before beginning the first nursing course (NSG 213; first summer semester)
• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on all college-level work attempted if applicable
• Complete all steps for application here: https://academics.potomacstatecollege.edu/majors/four-year-programs/nursing-lpn-to-bsn 

Applicants admitted to the LPN to BSN program are notified by e-mail at the time of admission. All students accepted for admission to the LPN to BSN program must attend a nursing program orientation session. Students will receive information about the orientation and other requirements in a welcome letter sent via the student’s MIX e-mail, usually in July.

Students who have been dismissed from any nursing program (WVU or otherwise) are ineligible for admission to any of the WVU BSN programs; however, students who have received degrees or additional credentialing post-academic dismissal from a nursing program are eligible for admission to the WVU ABSN, RN to BSN, or graduate programs, provided they meet all other admission requirements and based on space available.

General Education Foundations

Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.

NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
General Education Foundations
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric		3-6
ENGL 101 & ENGL 102	Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research
or ENGL 103	Accelerated Academic Writing
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology		4-6
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning		3-4
F4 - Society & Connections		3
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past		3
F6 - The Arts & Creativity		3
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity		3
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree)		9
Total Hours		31-37

Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.

Curriculum Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
University Requirements		9
Pre-Requisite or Co-Requisite Requirements		34
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Major Requirements		79
Total Hours		122

University Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Outstanding GEF Requirements (5, 6 and 7)		9
Total Hours		9

Pre-Requisite or Co-Requisite Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required in all courses applied towards the degree.
A minimum grade of C is required in all Nursing Major Requirements.
NSG 213	Transition to Professional Nursing	6
NSG 311	Alterations in Adult Health 1	6
NSG 312	Alterations in Adult Health 2	6
NSG 320	Pediatrics and Family-Centered Care	4
NSG 330	Alterations in Mental Health and Wellbeing	4
NSG 350	Evidence-Based Practice and Nursing Scholarship	3
NSG 360	Professional Standards of Nursing Care	3
NSG 410	Women's Health and Newborn Nursing Care	4
NSG 411	Population Health and Healthcare Policy	6
NSG 412	Personal and Professional Leadership Development	7
NSG 460	Alterations in Adult Health 3	4
NSG 486	Comprehensive NCLEX Review	2
NSG Elective		2
Escrow Credit *		22
Total Hours		79

*

Due to LPN licensure and work experience, award escrow credit for the following courses upon graduation:

• BIOL 102 & BIOL 102L
• HN&F 171
• PSYC 241
• WVUE 191
• NSG 100
• NSG 212
• NSG 250

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer	Hours
BIOL 230 & 230L	4	BIOL 231 & 231L	4	MICB 200	3
CHEM 111 & 111L	4	CHEM 112 & 112L	4	NSG 213	6
PSYC 101	3	ENGL 101	3
MATH 124	3	STAT 211	3
	14		14		9
Second Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer	Hours
ENGL 102	3	NSG 312	6	GEF Elective (5, 6 or 7)	3
NSG 410	4	NSG 320	4	GEF Elective (5, 6 or 7)	3
NSG 311	6	NSG 360	3	GEF Elective (5, 6 or 7)	3
NSG 350	3
	16		13		9
Third Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
NSG 330	4	NSG 412	7
NSG 411	6	NSG 460	4
NSG Elective	2	NSG 486	2
	12		13
Fourth Year
Fall	Hours
Escrow Credit	22
	22
Total credit hours: 122

Major Learning Outcomes

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

1. Integrate knowledgeand theories fromnursing and other disciplines to form the basis for clinical judgement and innovation in nursing practice.
2. Evaluate evidence-based, inclusive, equitable,and compassionate nursing care for diverse individuals, families,and communities.
3. Engage in collaborative partnerships with communities, public health, and other industries to address social determinants of health and improve health outcomes.
4. Utilize evidence-based nursing interventions, information, and communication technologies to drive decisions that enhance quality of care, reduce risk potential, and improve health outcomes in accordance with regulatory standards and health policy.
5. Collaborate with interprofessional teams, families, and communities to support the acquisition of shared knowledge and expertise to optimize communication and the healthcare experience to strengthen health outcomes.
6. Coordinate nursing resources within complex systems to promote safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations.
7. Model behaviors that reflect accountability, integrity, and characteristics that align with professional and ethical nursing standards.
8. Participate in activities and self-reflection that foster personal health and resilience to support well-being, the acquisition of nursing expertise, leadership development, and lifelong learning.

Progression Requirements