Iron Range RN Baccalaureate
Completion Program Cohort
Note: Please also click to see: Informational video
(or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcgY7oG6IT0&noredirect=1 )
Presented by:
Dr. Laura Schwarz, RN-BS Coordinator
School of Nursing
 Iron Range Nursing is a new model for rural
communities and their healthcare providers and
offers academic progression from Hibbing
Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing
program to Bachelor of Science in nursing and
Master of Science in Nursing and/or Doctor of
Nursing Practice degrees for qualified students.
 This presentation will discuss the Iron Range RN
Baccalaureate Completion Program as a part of
Iron Range Nursing
Minnesota State University Mankato
WELCOMES YOU!
People to KnowWe are Here to Help You!
Dr. Laura Schwarz, DNP, RN, CNE
RN Baccalaureate Completion
Program Coordinator
 laura.schwarz@mnsu.edu
 Phone: 507-389-6809
 Coordinate the implementation of the
RN Baccalaureate Completion Program
including the Iron Range Cohort
 Coordinate student admission and
progression through the RN
Baccalaureate Completion Program.
 Contact Dr. Schwarz for questions
regarding the program or courses
Dr. Julie Hebinstreit, EdD, RN, CNE
School of Nursing Chairperson
 Julia.Hebinstreit@mnsu.edu
 Phone: 507-389-6828
 SON Faculty member elected to
serve as chairperson for 3 years
 Coordinates activities within the
nursing department, chairs
department meetings, & facilitates
planning
 Contact Dr. Hebinstreit for
concerns related to the school of
nursing or the greater university
Terri Brandt
Iron Range RN-BS Cohort Advisor
Hibbing (HCC) Location
 TerriBrandt@hibbing.edu
 (218) 262-6775
 Contact Ms. Brandt for questions
related to applying to the program,
advisement & creating a plan of study
 Can meet “live” at HCC
Cindy Larson
Undergraduate Program,
Administrative Assistant
 Email: cynthia.larson@mnsu.edu
 Phone: 507-389-2370
 Send all paperwork (e.g. required
forms) to Ms. Larson
School of Nursing
Organizational Structure
RN Baccalaureate Completion
Program
 Part of the larger School of Nursing (SON) at
Minnesota State University, Mankato
 BS Completion Program Webpage
(http://ahn.mnsu.edu/nursing/undergraduate/completi
on/)
<
<
<
<
Program information
Student handbook
Forms
Policies
School of Nursing
 Established in 1953
 School of Nursing website
http://ahn.mnsu.edu/nursing/
 SON Philosophy:
http://ahn.mnsu.edu/nursing/about/philosophy.html
 Faculty and Staff webpage:
http://ahn.mnsu.edu/nursing/faculty/
Strong Emphasis on
Family & Societal Nursing
 Shifting of paradigms to “Think Family” (not individual)
across the lifespan
 Woven through the curriculum
 Faculty wrote textbook: “Family-Focused Care, Think
Family and Transform Nursing Practice” -to be
published in 2014
 Partnership with Glen Taylor Nursing Institute for Family
and Society
THE GLEN TAYLOR NURSING
INSTITUTE FOR FAMILY AND SOCIETY
 In 2008, Glen '62 and Becky Taylor pledged $7 Million to
Minnesota State Mankato's School of Nursing to be
used to establish the Glen Taylor Nursing Institute for
Family and Society
 Website http://ahn.mnsu.edu/nursing/institute/
 Hosted 2013 International Family Nursing Conference
in Minneapolis MN-June 2013
SON Programs
 Basic Nursing Program
 RN Baccalaureate Completion Program (including
Iron Range Nursing cohort of 20 admitted spring &
fall semesters, starts Spring 2014)
 Masters of Science: Nurse Educator Program
 Family Nurse Practitioner Program (including Iron
Range Nursing Cohort starting Fall 2014)
< MS step-out, 3 years total
< DNP, 5 years total
 Post-Master's DNP program
College of Allied Health and Nursing
(CAHN)
 School of Nursing is part of the College of Allied
Health and Nursing (CAHN)
 website http://ahn.mnsu.edu/
Dr. Kristine Retherford
Dean of CAHN
Requirements Prior to Starting
RN-BS Program
 RN by time semester applied for starts
 Cumulative (career) GPA of 2.8 or higher
 A College Level Statistics Course with a grade of
“C” or better completed by time semester
applied for starts
 Completion of at least 30 college semester
credits.
 Minimum of a “C” earned in all nursing courses
College Level Statistics Courses
In Iron Range Area
 HCC: MATH 2010 Statistics (4 cr)
< Prerequisite: MATH 1020: Advanced Algebra with a
grade of “C” or better, or Placement Exam
< HCC will offer MATH 1020 &/or MATH 2010 Statistics
this summer and fall 2013 if needed
 Other Local Colleges:
<
<
<
<
Itasca: MATH 1105 Elementary Statistics (4 cr)
Rainy River: MATH 2100 Probability Statisitics (3 cr)
Mesabi Range: STAT 2551 Statistics I (4 cr)
Lake Superior College: MATH 2210
Admission Cohort
 We will admit up to 20 Iron Range RN-BS cohort
students each semester
Steps to Applying to the
Iron Range RN-BS Completion
Program, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Step 1: Apply to and be accepted
by Minnesota State University,
< Go to this website: and apply as a transfer student:
http://www.mnsu.edu/admissions/applynow.html
< $20 application fee
< Request official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities
you have attended and have them sent to MSU Office of
Admissions, 122 Taylor Center, Mankato, MN.
< You will receive a transfer evaluation when the process is
complete.
Step 2: Apply to the RN-BS
Program: Iron Range applicants
will have a “special” application
denoting they are applying for the
Iron Range Cohort
Step 3: Be accepted to the RN-BS
program:
< You will be notified in writing
< You will receive instructions on what to do next
(including orientation and registering for classes)
Tiered Admission System
 A tier system will be used for admission to the
RN Baccalaureate Completion Program in the
case of more than 20 qualified applicants
 Tier 1 students are those who have all of their
general education requirements completed at the
time of the application deadline.
 Tier 2 students are those who have not
completed their general education requirements
at the time of the application deadline.
Tiered Admission System
 Priority admission will be granted to Tier 1
students first. If there are spots left in the 20
student cohort, Tier 2 students will be ranked by
the number of general education areas they have
left. If needed, random selection tie breakers will
be held between Tier 2 students with the same
number of general education areas left to fulfill.
Tiered Admission System
 If there are more Tier 1 candidates than the 20
student cohort holds, a random selection will be
utilized to choose those who are admitted. Of
these students, those who are not admitted will
be placed on a waiting list. During the
subsequent admission cycles, the wait listed
students will be given first right of refusal. The
remainder of spots in the cohort will utilize the
Tier 1 and Tier 2 system.
RN Baccalaureate Completion
Program Spring & Fall 2014
Admits
 Follow 2013-2014 Bulletin
http://www.mnsu.edu/supersite/academics/bulletins/
 60 credits are transferred in from AD program and
another 30 given for RN licensure (these 30 go
toward the 40 upper division credits).
 Students still most often still need to fulfill some gen
eds
General Education
 Transfer students with Associate Nursing
Degrees must fulfill all 3 requirements for Gen
Eds:
1. 40 Credits overall in Goal Areas 1-10
2. A minimum of 1 course in each of Goals 3-10
3. 1 course in each part of Goal area 1
< 1 written communication course
< 1 verbal communication course
General Education
 As members of the MnSCU system, MSU,
Hibbing and INEC schools all have the same 1-10
Goal Areas. According to state policy, whatever
Goal Area a course is placed into at Hibbing or
an INEC school, must be the same Goal Area
MSU will place it into after transfer. Select your
Hibbing or INEC school courses by following the
3 requirements on the previous slide and your
General Eds will be completed for MSU!
General Education
 Transfer students with completed MnTC or AA
Degree have fulfilled all General Education
requirements at MSU
 Transfer students with a completed BA/BS
Degree have fulfilled all General Education
requirements at MSU
Diverse Cultures Requirement
All students must complete two different Diverse
Cultures courses for Graduation from MSU
 Transfer students with at least 60 semester
credit hours have fulfilled the Diverse Cultures
requirement at MSU
 Transfer students with a completed AA Degree
have fulfilled the Diverse Cultures requirement at
MSU
Writing Intensive Requirement
All students must complete 2 (two) Writing
Intensive courses for a minimum of 6 credits
 Transfer students with at least 30 semester
credit hours will be granted 3 Writing Intensive
credits (one course)
 Transfer students with a completed AA Degree
will be granted 3 Writing Intensive credits (one
course)
Writing Intensive Options at
Hibbing & INEC Schools
(Choose 1)
< Hibbing Community College:
 ENGL 1070: Tech Report Writing (3cr)
 ENGL 1090: Advanced Comp (3cr)
 ENGL 2100: Creative Writing (3cr)
< Itasca Community College:
 Engl 1105: Technical Writing (3cr)
 Engl 1113: Research Writing (3cr)
 Engl 1109: Writing about Literature (3cr)
 Engl 2106: Creative Writing: Prose (3cr)
Writing Intensive Options
Continued (Choose 1)
< Rainy River Community College:
 ENGL 1020: Composition II (3cr)
< Mesabi Range Community & Technical College:
 ENGL 1512: College Writing II (4cr)
 ENGL 1532: Technical Writing (3cr)
 ENGL 2545: Creative Writing (3cr)
< Lake Superior College:
 ENGL 1109: College Composition II (3cr)
 ENGL 1100: Creative Writing (3cr)
 ENGL 1107: Professional & Technical Writing (3cr)
Program Requirements
Summarized
 Must meet all 10 Undergraduate Goal areas (if you
have an AA degree, you have met this)
 Must meet Diverse Cultures Course Requirement (if
you have 60 semester credit hours, you have met this)
 Writing Intensive Course requirement-minimum of 2
courses (if you are a transfer student, you will be
granted 3 credits/one course and may have met the
requirement for the second class depending on which
writing course(s) you have taken in you AD program
 Strongly Suggest MSU’s NURS 101 W Courage Caring
and Team Building as Writing Intensive course if you
have not yet taken (is offered online)
RN Baccalaureate Completion Program
 Bachelor of Science (BS) with a major in Nursing
(not Bachelor of Science in Nursing or BSN)
 Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
(CCNE) Accredited
 Baccalaureate Essentials (set forth by CCNE)
woven throughout curriculum
 Curriculum-30 Credits
 We will schedule you for 300 level courses first
 7 Core courses
 100% online
NURS 320
Critical Inquiry & Evidence Based
Practice for RN’s (4)
 Introduction to fundamental theories, concepts,
evidence, and competencies pertaining to
scientific inquiry, development of nursing
knowledge, evidence-based and informed
practice, and research utilization in nursing
practice.
NURS 362
Family & Societal Nursing for
RNs(4)
 NURS 362 Family & Societal Nursing for RNs(4)
Examination of family level approaches that
promote health while exploring concepts of
family as client, family health experience, and
nurse – family relationships. Nursing strategies
to enhance family level care during acute,
chronic and critical illnesses are analyzed.
NURS 382
Provider of Care I for RNs (4)
 Explores the nurse’s role in interacting with and
providing care to families of diverse religious,
ethnic, and cultural backgrounds across the
lifespan. Examines spirituality and the
integration of complementary and alternative
therapies with conventional practices to provide
holistic care.
NURS 402
Psychosocial & Interprofessional
Communications for RNs (4)
 Communication is an essential skill for
professional RNs. This course will cover
professional communication strategies,
including patient and family interactions, dealing
with mental-health issues, effective interprofessional communication, and issues unique
utilizing technology and information systems.
NURS 412
Leadership & Management Principles
for RNs (4)
 This course explores leadership and
management principles and concepts necessary
for the professional nurse to function effectively
in a changing health care system incorporating
collaborative strategies, technology, financial
issues, and the complexity of care.
NURS 420
Informatics, Quality & Safety in
Nursing Practice for RNs (4)
 Enhances the role of the nurse in the promotion
of quality and safety and the use of national
guidelines, technology, and informatics to create
a culture of quality and safety, prevent and
reduce medical errors, and support health care
reimbursement.
NURS 482 Provider of Care II for
RNs (6)
 Synthesis of nursing and public health practice
within the community. Nursing care of
individuals, families, and groups is addressed
within context of promoting, maintaining, and
restoring health. Health promotion, disease
prevention and health education are
interventions to reduce health disparities.
 You will have 90 experiential (clinical) hours for
NURS 482, some students prefer to reduce their
work hours or vacation time during the semester
they take NURS 482
Important Regarding NURS 482
 MUST be taken last
 Faculty must be public health certified to teach
community health clinical
 You will be eligible for public health certification
after taking NURS 482!
 NURS 482 is a clinical course which is nonprecepted (you will not need to find a clinical
“site”) with activities out in the community
Course Offering & Load
 We offer all of the courses each semester
< Fall Semester-15 weeks plus finals week
< Spring Semester-15 weeks plus finals week
< Summer Session-10 weeks (no finals week)
 Credit load
<
<
<
<
Full time (12 credits/semester)
accelerated (more than 12 credits/semester),
part time (4-8 credits/semester)
Most students finish in 3 semesters (full time)
Example of full-time (finish in 1 year)
 Fall Semester (12 credits):
< N320 (4 credits)
< N362 (4 credits)
< N482 (4 credits)
 Spring Semester (12 credits):
< N402 (4 credits)
< N412 (4 credits)
< N420 (4 credits)
 Summer Session (6 credits):
< N482 (6 credits)
Homework Expectations
 3-4 hours of homework per credit per week
 Example: a 3-credit course would be 9-12 hours
of homework per week
 Strongly suggest going part-time if you work full
time!
Online Synchronous
Orientation Meetings
 Most of the program faculty schedule online
synchronous meetings for their courses the first
Wednesday of the semester
 Please plan to take the first Wed. of each
semester off from work so that you may attend
these “virtual” meetings
Desire2Learn (D2L)
 All courses will be delivered 100% online through D2L
 This will be asynchronous with the exception of online
synchronous orientation meetings at the start of each
semester
 NOT self-paced, NOT independent-study
 Each course will follow a schedule and you can expect
to have course work which you will need to complete
each week.
Online Tuition Rates
 Tuition for 1 - 11 credits is $297.34 per credit.
 Banded tuition is $3,333.79 (from 12 - 18 credits)
+ $35 per credit (online tuition rate)
< Examples:
 12 Credits = $3,333.79 + $35 x 12 credits = $420,
Total = $3,753.79
 13 Credits = $3,333.79 + $35 x 13 credits = $455,
Total = $3,788.79
Student Fees
 Student Fees from 1 - 11 credits is $35.91 per
credit
 Banded student fees from 12 - 18 credits is
$432.25
Success!!!
Questions & Best Wishes
 Don’t be afraid to ask, we are here to help and
want you to be successful!