Nursing, BSN Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN) Program

Total number of hours for the program: 120.

The RIBN program provides an accelerated option for Associate Degree Nursing students desiring a career as a bachelor-of-science educated registered nurse. Students will be dually enrolled at WCU and a community college partner throughout the first three years of the program and will be required to meet both schools’ program and admissions requirements. Major prerequisites and nursing courses for the first three years of the program will be taken at the community college partner. Students will complete the Liberal Studies Program per WCU requirements. The remaining upper-level major nursing courses will be completed through the WCU School of Nursing.

Admission

Minimum GPA Requirement: 3.00 Students are admitted to the community college Associate Degree Nursing program. Students who meet RIBN criteria are referred to the WCU School of Nursing for admission. Admission is based on a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on all previous undergraduate college work (or unweighted high school GPA if the student has completed less than 20 hours of college coursework) and applicable test scores. Students are expected to adhere to the technical and professional standards and safe practice policies of the program and also the academic requirements explained below. For the most up-to-date information regarding these standards, refer to the nursing website.

When do students apply? To be considered for admission, all students must have completed, or be in the process of completing, all admissions requirements (GPA and testing). Refer to the WCU RIBN nursing website noted below for application deadlines.

Required Prerequisites: Applicants must meet admission requirements for both the community college and university (such as Certified Nursing Assistant certification, etc.).

Retention in the Program: Students must take and pass with a grade of C (2.00) or better all required courses. In addition, courses that combine selected content areas require the student to demonstrate competency in each content area by achieving a minimum exam score average of C (77%). For more information on retention policies in the nursing program, refer to the nursing website at https://www.wcu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/HHS/nursing/undergrad-programs/ribn/index.aspx

Traditional RIBN Program:

The courses required for the major are the same for each affiliate community college, however, the sequence may vary somewhat.

First Year (Community College 28 semester hours, WCU 3 hours)

Summer Freshman Year,

WCU 3 hours upper-level credit - NSG 346 preferred, or Upper-level Elective or Upper-Level Perspectives course

Fall (14 hours)

Liberal Studies Perspectives course (3 hours)

Spring (14 hours)

PSY 150 - General Psychology Credits: 3

Sophomore Year (Community College 39 Semester hours, WCU 3 hours )

Community College Courses (39 hours)

Fall (18 Community College Hours)

Liberal Studies Perspectives course (3 hours)

Spring (16 Community College Hours)

Liberal Studies Perspectives course (3 hours)

Summer (5 Community College Hours)

WCU Upper-Level Elective (3 Hours)

Junior Year (Community College 23 hours, WCU 3 hours)

Upper-level Perspectives course (WCU 3 hours)

Fall (13 Community College Hours, WCU 3 Hours)

Community College Courses (13 hours)

Spring (10 Community College Hours)

WCU Upper-level Perspectives course (3)

Summer Community College Courses

Senior Year (WCU 21 semester hours)

Fall (9 Hours)

NSG 327 - Nursing in Healthcare Policy and Systems Credits: 3
NSG 302 - Community Health Nursing I: Theory Credits: 3
NSG 305 - Community Health Nursing III: Intervention Project Credits: 1
NSG 374 - Community Health Nursing II: Practice Experience Credits: 2

Spring (12 Hours)

NSG 328 - Nursing Leadership for Quality Healthcare Credits: 3
NSG 331 - Perspectives of Nursing Care for Older Adults Credits: 3
NSG 471 - Nursing Research I: Research Process Credits: 2
NSG 472 - Nursing Research II: Critical Reading Credits: 2
NSG 473 - Nursing Research III: Clinical Application Credits: 2
Refer to the nursing website for additional information www.ribn.wcu.edu

Alternate entry RIBN program (aRIBN)

First-year traditional RIBN curriculum is completed at the time of admission to the program. The applicant would be admitted to Year Two of the program to begin nursing courses at the partnering community college. The student would be dually enrolled through WCU to complete outstanding Liberal Studies courses during Years Two and Three of the program. The student would transition to the traditional Year Four curriculum as appropriate.

Inclusive/Innovative RIBN program (iRIBN)

The iRIBN applicant enters into the RIBN program at Year Two of the course of study at the community college with the previous completion of Liberal Studies per university requirements. The iRIBN student would begin nursing courses at the community college and should select one of the two following course work plans as listed below: