College of Nursing

Rosalie Mainous, PhD, APRN, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN is Dean and Warwick Professor of Nursing. Karen Butler, DNP, RN, FAAN, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Kristin Ashford, PhD, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAAN, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Faculty & Interprofessional Education Affairs and Professor. Sheila Melander, PhD, APRN, ACNP-BC, FCCM, FAANP, FAAN, Associate Dean of MSN & DNP Faculty & Practice Affairs. Thomas H. Kelly, PhD, Associate Dean for Research.

Accreditation

The College of Nursing has had continuous accreditation since 1967. The baccalaureate degree curriculum offered by the College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing.

Undergraduate Program in Nursing

The University of Kentucky grants the following degree in the College of Nursing:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Admission Requirements

The College of Nursing enrollment is composed of four-year students, transfer, registered nurse, second-degree, licensed practical/vocational nurse, medic trained, and dual degree students. Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to the College of Nursing. Preference is given to Kentucky residents.

Applicants must be in a state of good health enabling them to carry out the functions of the professional nurse. Routinely, each student will be required to obtain rubella and rubeola titers and have an annual tuberculin test or chest x-ray. (Other immunizations may be required. Check with the College of Nursing for a current list.)

The University of Kentucky will consider for admission any applicant who demonstrates the ability to perform or to learn to perform the skills listed below. Applicants are not required to disclose the nature of any disability, but an applicant with questions about these technical requirements is strongly encouraged to discuss the issue with the dean for the particular program of study. If appropriate, and upon the request of the applicant, student or faculty, reasonable accommodations for a disability will be provided.

Students must possess aptitude, abilities, and skills in five areas:

• observation;
• communication;
• sensory and motor coordination and function;
• conceptualization, integration, and quantification; and,
• behavioral and social skills, abilities and aptitude.

Full details on these standards are available by contacting the College of Nursing.

Progression to upper-division courses is regulated so that the total number of full-time equivalents at the beginning of the junior year does not exceed 120.

Admission Criteria

Criteria for admission to the 4-year BSN program include:

Freshman Student

Students will be admitted as freshmen to a pre-nursing curriculum based on the following criteria:

1. high school grade-point average of 3.40 (unweighted) or above on a 4.0 scale and a minimum of 22 ACT composite (if applying with a test score) and ability to qualify for CHE 103 ,
2. meeting criteria for selective admission to the University of Kentucky (see the Undergraduate Admission  section of this Catalog for more information).

Sophomore Student

Selection for admission to the nursing curriculum will occur at the sophomore level for all students based on the following criteria:​​​​

1. a minimum cumulative and science grade-point average of 3.00,
2. a grade of C or better in all required pre-nursing courses,
3. completion of the UK College of Nursing-approved Medicaid Nurse Aid training program, and
4. the Internet-based TOEFL is required of all applicants whose first or primary language is other than English with a minimum cumulative TOEFL score of 90 and at least minimum scores of 26 in speaking, 22 in listening, 20 in writing and 22 in reading.

In addition, any or all of the following information may be requested as part of the admission application:

1. a writing exercise based on the criteria established by the College of Nursing,
2. two letters of reference from individuals who can assess potential for success (e.g., teacher, employer), and
3. an interview with members of the Admission and Progression Committee or their designees.

Transfer Student

1. Transfer students with less than 24 hours of college credit must meet the criteria for entering freshmen and have a minimum grade-point average of 3.00 on all college work attempted as computed by the Office of Admissions.
2. Transfer students with more than 24 hours of college credit must maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 on all college work attempted and have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 in science courses as computed by the Office of Admissions.
3. Applicants whose first or primary language is not English must have a minimum TOEFL score of 90, with minimum scores of 26 in speaking, 22 in listening, 20 in writing and 22 in reading.

All applicants must have grades of C or better in all courses required for CON curriculum.

In addition, any or all of the following information may be requested as part of the application:

1. a writing exercise based on the criteria established by the College of Nursing,
2. two letters of reference from individuals who can assess potential for success (e.g., teacher, employer),
3. completion of an approved Medicaid Nurse Aid training program, and
4. an interview with members of the Admission and Progression Committee or their designee.

Admission of Registered Nurses to the RN-BSN Track

A student who is a registered nurse (RN) will be considered for admission to upper-division courses in the nursing program based on the following criteria:

1. a statement of academic and professional goals,
2. all nursing courses taken in associate degree or diploma programs are considered lower-division courses and are not equivalent to upper-division courses in this program. The applicant must have at least a GPA of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0 in all college course work attempted as computed by the Office of Admissions. Students with a GPA of 2.0 to 2.49 may be provisionally admitted to the RN to BSN track with admission committee approval. With provisional admission, a grade of B or better must be earned in the first and second nursing courses that are completed in sequential blocks. Students will be removed from provisional status to full admission when grade goals for course one and course two are met. Failure to meet provisional admission grade requirements for either of the first two nursing courses will result in removal from the program.

Registered Nurses with an Associate Degree

The registered nurse with an associate degree in nursing from a college accredited by one of the six regional academic accrediting associations will be considered for admission with a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0 in all course work attempted as computed by the Office of Admissions. NOTE: RN licensure is required prior to beginning clinical experiences.

Registered Nurses who are Diploma-Prepared

The registered nurse who is a graduate of a diploma program will be considered for admission after earning a minimum of 60 credits from a regionally accredited college with a 2.5 minimum GPA which include:

• English - 6 semester credits
• Natural Sciences - 6 semester credits
• Social Sciences - 6 semester credits
• Humanities - 6 semester credits
• Nursing* - 28 semester credits

*Nursing credits may be earned from regionally accredited colleges by taking the courses or by submission of a portfolio of RN licensure and experience to the RN-BSN Track Coordinator.

Other Registered Nurses

Registered nurses who received their nursing education abroad or from an educational institution that is not regionally accredited but have demonstrated passing the appropriate NCLEX exam and are licensed to practice in the state of Kentucky will be considered for admission after earning or transferring in a minimum of 60 college credits with a 2.5 minimum GPA. These courses should include:

• English - 6 semester credits
• Natural Sciences - 6 semester credits
• Social Sciences - 6 semester credits
• Humanities - 6 semester credits
• Nursing* - 28 semester credits

*Nursing credits may be earned from regionally accredited colleges by taking the courses or by submission of a portfolio of RN licensure and experience to the RN-BSN Track Coordinator.

Accelerated BSN Admissions

Accelerated BSN (ABSN) Second degree applicants - those having a bachelor’s degree in another area and, students who are licensed practical nurses or veterans of armed services who completed medic training as indicated on a Joint Services Transcript - must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on all college work attempted and a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all science courses.

The licensed practical/vocational nurse with a LPN/LVN degree in nursing from a college accredited by one of the six regional academic accrediting associations, who has demonstrated a passing score on the NCLEX-PN exam, and holds an unencumbered license to practice in Kentucky will be considered for admission to the accelerated BSN track with a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0 in all course work attempted as computed by the Office of Admissions. 

Application Deadlines

The application deadlines are:

4-year BSN applicants - March 1

ABSN applicants - March 1 for fall semester, August 15 for spring semester

Registered nurse  applicants - 

• Block I admissions: March 15 for summer semester, July 15 for fall semester, and November 1 for spring semester
• Block II admissions: May 26 for summer, September 1 for fall, February 1 for spring

Readmission After Suspension

Students will be eligible to apply for readmission to the College of Nursing after suspension from the College when they meet criteria as stated in Section B 1 and 2 of this policy.

Part-Time Study

The traditional and accelerated nursing curricula were designed with co-requisites and courses taken in sequence. Therefore, students will be admitted to these options with the expectation that they will follow the prescribed nursing curriculum. RN students who are working toward the completion of the BSN degree on a part-time basis must plan a course of study with the appropriate College of Nursing personnel or committee and may not alter that plan without prior approval from the College of Nursing.

Candidates for the degree who do not complete all requirements within a seven-year period (five years for RN students) after admission will have their records reevaluated and may be required to repeat or take selected courses.

Financial Aid

The college has scholarships designated for Nursing students. Inquiries should be directed to the Office of Student Services, College of Nursing.

Students may also wish to pursue funds available through hospitals and other agencies that offer financial assistance in return for a work commitment.

Academic Advising

Students who are admitted to the College of Nursing are assigned to an advisor within the college. Curriculum plans are determined in the first semester of enrollment in the college and updated each semester. Questions regarding progression through the program may be directed to the Office of Student Services, College of Nursing.

Graduate Study

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is a professional clinical doctorate program which focuses on development of advanced competencies for complex practice, and research utilization for the improvement of clinical care delivery, patient outcomes, and system management. Graduates will be expert in designing, implementing, managing, and evaluating health care delivery systems and will be prepared to lead at the highest clinical and executive ranks.

There are two entry points to the DNP program: the post-Master of Science in Nursing (MS) entry option for those with an awarded master’s degree in nursing that are already prepared in the role of an advanced practice nurse; and the post-Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) entry option. This option builds on the BSN degree and prepares individuals for an APRN role. Both options culminate with the DNP degree.

Note: The College of Nursing also offers the terminal academic degree program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing - Health Care Systems Leadership. For more information on this program, refer to The Graduate School Catalog at: http:// gradschool.uky.edu/graduate-school-bulletin.

The College of Nursing also offers the terminal academic degree program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing - Health Care Systems Leadership. For more information on this program, refer to The Graduate School Catalog at: http://gradschool.uky.edu/graduate-school-bulletin.

For further information, contact:

College of Nursing
315 College of Nursing Building
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40536-0232
859-323-5108
email: conss@uky.edu
www.uky.edu/nursing/

Programs

• Nursing, A.B.S.N.
• Nursing, B.S.N.
• Nursing, R.N.-B.S.N.

• Post B.S.N. - D.N.P. in Nursing
• Post Graduate Certificate Option
• Post M.S.N. - D.N.P. in Nursing