Advising Philosophy

Academic advising is an ongoing process where advisers welcome and introduce students to JMU's rich academic culture through communication designed to contribute to student development and academic success. Advisers guide students through the integration of curricular, co-curricular, and personal choices while encouraging students to engage in reflection and self-assessment to provide meaningful change-oriented intervention as appropriate.

Advisement in the Program

Nursing Academic Adviser/Faculty Adviser

In your first semester as a degree-seeking or non degree-seeking student, you will be assigned to a RN-BSN Program Faculty Adviser who will be your point of contact until you graduate. The faculty program adviser will review and complete a semester update on the student’s plan of study beginning when a student enters the program. Your faculty adviser will work with you to resolve issues such as:

• Progression through the program – Students may seek advice regarding progression through the program. Examples of topics include course selection, completion of General Education courses, transfer credit and graduation.
• Students may seek counsel related to personal and interpersonal difficulties that have an impact on the academic experience.
• Students may seek counsel related to difficulty with time management, organization, study skills, or academic achievement.
• During summer semesters, students will contact the program coordinator and/or operations coordinator to seek advice for all program related or personal questions and concerns.
• Students are required to meet virtually with their adviser to review their graduation requirements prior to submitting an application for graduation.

In order to maintain a productive advising relationship, the student is responsible for:

• Being proactive and initiating contact
• Giving thoughtful consideration to academic and career goals
• Preparing a list of questions and issues to discuss before advising meetings
• Actively participating in advising sessions
• Knowing the Academic Calendar and related deadlines for add/drop courses
• Scheduling courses consistent with educational goals that meet degree requirements
• Accepting responsibility for making final decisions regarding academic choices

RN-BSN Program Coordinator

You may contact the RN-BSN Program Coordinator, Dr. Karen Jagiello, at jagielkp@jmu.edu if you have unresolved advising issues or questions after you have contacted your faculty Adviser. Please seek assistance first from your current adviser. To schedule a meeting with the RN-BSN Program Coordinator, please contact the RN-BSN program operations coordinator at 540-568-7612. If you continue to have unresolved issues you may contact Dr. Jamie Robinson, the Associate Director for Undergraduate Programs at robin6jd@jmu.edu.

RN-BSN Operations Coordinator

The RN-BSN operations coordinator can be reached by emailing RN-BSN@jmu.edu or by calling 540-568-7612. The operations coordinator can answer questions about processes and procedures once you enter the RN-BSN program.

Admission Procedures for RN-BSN Program

Complete the RN-BSN Requirements and Pre–requisites

• Admission to the RN-BSN program of study in Nursing is competitive. Prospective students must have the following qualifications:
  • Associate Degree or Diploma in Nursing from an accredited community college or diploma nursing school that is accredited by a specialized accrediting agency for nursing education programs.
  • Transcripts reflecting a cumulative GPA on all college work attempted of 2.5 or better on a 4-point scale. Transcripts below 2.5 will be reviewed on an individual case by case basis.
  • TOEFL minimum score of 81 (internet-based test) or IELTS minimum score of 6.5 for international applicants.
  • Current unrestricted RN license in any state, Washington D.C., or a U.S possession or territory. If you live and practice in a state other than Virginia please contact Dr. Jagiello at jagielkp@jmu.edu prior to submitting an application to determine if you will be able to complete your community health clinical in your home state.
  • Graduates of foreign nursing schools, who are licensed outside of the United States, are required to pass the Qualifying Exam of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).
  • Employment as an RN for a minimum of six months or plans to practice concurrently with coursework.
  • Ability to meet the School of Nursing's Technical Standards for nursing practice. Review the Technical Standards. 
  • Meet all prerequisite course requirements with a grade of C or better by the orientation date of the term in which they are applying. View prerequisite course requirements.

Complete the RN-BSN Application to the Nursing Program:

• Complete the RN-BSN Online Application. Upon submission, applicants will be required to send official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended and a copy of their RN license to the program admission coordinator, Theresa Jennings, electronically at jennintl@jmu.edu or by postal mail to the following address:
  
  Theresa Jennings
  Admissions Coordinator
  Professional & Continuing Education
  MSC 6906
  127 West Bruce Street, Ice House 312
  Harrisonburg, VA 22807
  
  

  Transcripts should NOT be sent to UG Admissions. When given the option as to where your transcripts should be sent please choose “other” or “employer” so that you can input Theresa’s name and email address, rather than the default undergraduate or graduate admissions offices.

• Applicants requesting consideration of AP scores for possible transfer credit should have College Board send their AP scores to the Office of Admissions. Applicants should also notify the RN-BSN operations coordinator at RN-BSN@jmu.edu and the admission coordinator at jennintl@jmu.edu.
• All application materials must be received by the application deadline of the term in which the applicant is applying.
• The School of Nursing will only respond to applications that are complete

Submit the RN-BSN application by the following set dates:

There are two admission deadlines each year for the RN-BSN Nursing program.
For Fall admission:  July 15
For Spring admission: November 15

Students who are accepted to the RN-BSN program will be required to attend the mandatory online orientation prior to beginning course work. If a student is unable to attend the required mandatory orientation then the student will have to defer until the next semester when an orientation is offered. Deferment can be completed following the procedures noted under Deferment/Leave of absence section under Academic Policies.

If you were previously enrolled at JMU as a degree-seeking undergraduate student and have at least one graded (including withdrawals) semester at JMU, you must also request permission for re-entry to the university. View the process on re-entry to JMU

Re-entry Dates and Deadlines:
Fall Semester: July 1
Spring Semester: November 1
Summer Sessions: April 1  

Admission Appeals

The admission appeal process is the means by which a denied applicant for admission to the JMU RN-BSN Program may request a second review by the RN-BSN Admissions and Progression committee. The appeal process is not the means by which a denied student should request consideration for admission for a future academic semester. In that case, a new application must be submitted during the RN-BSN application time frame. Any applicant denied admission or placed on the wait list to the RN-BSN program who has met all the pre–requisites stated by the School of Nursing may submit a letter of appeal. If a student does not meet the minimum requirements stated by the School of Nursing an appeal will not take place. The committee is interested in circumstances beyond the student’s control and additional information not submitted or available at the time the student applied for admission. Life experiences that may have impacted the student’s academic performance are also considered.

Appeal procedure:

If a student wishes to appeal the admission decision, the student will need to:

1. Submit a formal, one-page letter of appeal stating the reason for appeal along with discussing any circumstances that they believe may not have been considered within the first round of decisions. This letter of appeal should also provide clear evidence of possible future academic success.
2. The students should also provide the committee with any updated transcripts and/or grade reports.
3. Appeals must be submitted by mail emailed to RN-BSN@jmu.edu.

Appeal review calendar:

A student must request an appeal to the decision within two weeks of receiving the initial decision of denial. If a student does not request an appeal within that time frame the committee will not review the decision. Once the appeal is submitted the student will be notified of a decision within three weeks of the receipt of the appeal. Students submitting appeals will be notified of the final appeal decision via US Mail and email.

In preparing your appeal, please understand the following:

• There is a limit of one appeal per academic term. Decisions rendered are final and non-negotiable.
• Letters of recommendation will not be considered.
• Reporting errors made on the application are not a basis for the reversal of a decision.
• Appeals letters must be submitted by the applicant.
• Appeal letters written by anyone other than the applicant will not be considered.

Required Admission and Program Completion Documentation

Documentation of Clinical Practice

Admitted Students must submit proof of employment as a RN and completion of the required 540 hours of practice as a RN.

• New graduates must show proof of employment as a RN by the time of orientation.
• All students must provide proof to the program coordinator and/or the RN-BSN program operations coordinator that the 540 practice hours have been completed. Proof is defined as a letter on official company letterhead from the student’s employer (manager or supervisor) stating student’s hire date and hours worked to date. Credit for clinical practice will be applied during the student’s final semester.

TrueScreen

The School of Nursing requires students to enroll in TrueScreen’s electronic service that provides online management of student screenings required by JMU-affiliated clinical facilities. Components of TrueScreen include a background check and drug screen (completed through Application Station), CPR certification, immunizations, and signed program forms, including verification of meeting program technical standards (completed through myRecordTracker.) All forms are available for download in myRecordTracker.

Students will be required to maintain current documentation in myRecordTracker throughout program progression. Documentation of TB, BLS for Healthcare Providers, and an active RN License MUST be kept current during all semesters of the RN-BSN program. Students will not be able to attend community health clinical if requirements have expired and an academic hold will be placed on their student account. Additionally, students will receive a grade of Incomplete in both community health courses if requirements remain unresolved.

The RN-BSN program documentation noted below is required to meet regulatory requirements from the Virginia State Board of Nursing:

Initial Requirements (on admission to program)

Annual Requirements: Documentation MUST be kept current during all semesters in the Nursing program.

Please note: Students may be required to provide additional documentation as requested by their clinical agency. All students are responsible for maintaining current immunizations and certifications.

Immunizations

Varicella titer and immunizations may be done at any location or provider of the student’s choice.

CPR Certification

All students must be CPR certified through the American Heart Association prior to program entry and maintain current certification throughout enrollment in the program. The approved CPR certification course is the American Heart Association Healthcare Provider course for CPR AED for adult, infant & child. Students are responsible for verifying that they register and complete the correct CPR course. Students failing to maintain current and/or approved CPR certification will not be permitted in the clinical setting. All clinical facilities mandate that all students have current health provider CPR certification.

The copy must show front & back of the card and the card must be signed. Students should be aware that it usually takes 3-4 weeks after completing a course to receive the card. Plan to take the CPR course at least 5-6 weeks prior to the deadline for uploading the initial CPR card and for the renewal process and card.

TrueScreen Noncompliance

Failure to provide initial documentation will result in forfeit of position in the RN-BSN program and student being administratively dropped from all courses. All TrueScreen processes must be complete by the orientation date of the semester in which a student is applying. Please be aware of orientation dates to avoid program dismissal.

Unresolved Student Documentation Hold

Failure to maintain current documentation will result in an Unresolved Student Documentation Hold being placed on the student account. This hold will prevent students from registering for classes, requesting transcripts, and receiving their diploma. Students may contact the RN-BSN program operations coordinator to help with resolution of this hold.

James Madison University School of Nursing Required Competencies

All students must complete the JMU Honor Code, Mental Health, Sexual Misconduct Prevention, Alcohol and Other Drugs, Bloodborne Pathogens, and Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging training modules as well as the School of Nursing HIPAA training. Successful completion of the training in NSG 324 satisfies this requirement. Proof of completion will be documented in students’ record in SharePoint and maintained by the SON.

Program Requirements

Tuition and Estimated Program Costs

Please go to the Cost of Attendance Calculator to see the estimated cost of attendance for your program of study.

The Financial Aid Office considers expenses on this list in determining financial need and eligibility levels for nursing students. This is the list of estimated expenses to assist the student in submitting financial aid applications.

The following expenses are reasonable anticipated costs based on the following rates:

New Students:
In-State: $463 per credit hour
Out-of-State: $473 per credit hour

The below table is based on in-state tuition rates.

*Textbook costs based on the price of new books purchased on Amazon. Does not include optional textbooks.

**Summer tuition is based on the regular undergraduate rate for online courses. These are the 2023-2024 rates and will change when the new academic year rates are posted.

Students who are considering the Costa Rica study abroad to satisfy their community health clinical hours should be aware that the tuition is governed by the Centre for Global Engagement and may be higher, especially for out of state students.  This should be considered during planning.  More information can be found at the Study Abroad Short-Term Program Fees page.

Textbooks

The School of Nursing faculty members have selected textbooks best identified to promote mastery of nursing knowledge and clinical reasoning as students’ progress through the RN-BSN curriculum. Students have the choice of purchasing either standard textbooks or electronic textbooks. Some texts are used across courses.

Minimum Standards for Information Literacy

All entering JMU students are required to demonstrate a minimum level of computer and internet literacy. Each student must demonstrate the competency by the successful completion of the NSG 324 Strategies for Success course and any online learning/technology assessments assigned in courses in the RN-BSN Program.

The following are considered the minimum level of competency needed to participate in the online program:

1. 1. Install software onto your computer (such as web browsers, etc)
   2. Download and use the Two Factor Authentication (Duo) to access JMU services (My Madison, Canvas, Library, etc.)
   3. Use an internet browser to log onto websites and other applications with a user ID, password, and DUO
   4. Download and use required internet browsers, such as Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Internet Explorer
   5. Be able to search the Internet using a search engine
   6. Search and register for classes using your My Madison account
   7. Receive, send, and reply to JMU communications through Outlook email and Canvas messaging including attaching files to emails as required
      • Outlook
      • Canvas
   8. Develop, file, revise, edit, save, and print Microsoft Word documents (includes copy, paste, spell, and grammar check)
      • On a PC – Office 365 Tutorials
        Basic use of Microsoft Word
        Basic use of Microsoft PowerPoint
        Basic use of Microsoft Excel
      • On a Mac – Basic use of Microsoft Word on a Mac
        Basic use of Microsoft PowerPoint on a Mac
        Basic use of Microsoft Excel on a Mac
      • • formatting and citations into written work.
   9. Save a backup Copy of your course files
   10. Convert a picture to a pdf document.
   11. Create a video presentation using ScreenPal, You Tube, or other video app.
       • SreenPal
       • YouTube
       • iMovie
   12. Incorporate 7th edition APA formatting and citations into written work.
   13. Follow and participate in an online discussion, chat or blog.
   14. Log on and navigate the Canvas Learning Management System effectively, including checking grades, grading rubrics, uploading Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, URL, and video files to assignments, etc.
       Canvas Student Guide
   15. Create and maintain a Weebly ePortfolio including uploading Word documents and submitting link
   16. Use the Library resources to:
       • Use the research guides
       • Retrieve articles
       • Cite sources
       • Use Librarian support
   17. Download the Zoom software and be able to participate in a Zoom session.

Computer Hardware and Software Requirements for Online RN-BSN Program

These are recommendations. In general, any computer up to 3 years old should be able to access and use JMU’s resources. Performance may be impacted with the age of the computer.
Visit www.jmu.edu/computing/quick/student.shtml to get answers to your computing questions including:

• information on acquiring Microsoft Office for free
• academic pricing on Dell and Apple computers available through the JMU Bookstore that meet or exceed these recommendations

If you already own a computer, we recommend these minimum specifications:

Recommended Minimum Configuration for Computers:

**Computers must have both video and audio capabilities.

Computer Help/Support:
Information Technology Help Desk at (540) 568-3555 or helpdesk@jmu.edu