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Bachelor of Science in Nursing Application Requirements

Admission to this program is limited to permanent residents of the state of Florida.

Important information regarding the hybrid, prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program

It is important that all applicants are aware of the unique features of this hybrid nursing program. Hybrid education includes distance learning, which is as challenging as face-to-face instruction, if not more so. The Major Core requirements of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program require outstanding critical thinking skills and nursing judgment, along with a commitment to academic rigor.

• The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a prelicensure program, is designed for individuals seeking an accessible, hybrid pathway to become a registered nurse. As currently structured and planned, coursework is delivered online, while students attend in-person skills and simulation labs at the St. Petersburg, Florida, location and complete supervised clinical rotations with health care partners.
• The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a prelicensure program, is designed for individuals with little to no prior experience in health care settings. Students will have opportunities to build nursing knowledge and develop clinical skills in labs, simulation centers, supervised hospitals, and during community-based rotations.
• Students must submit health and compliance documentation to participate in clinical experiences. Excelsior currently requires submission through CastleBranch, a third-party system that manages all clinical experience compliance.
• Submission of a background check (Results must allow a student to participate in clinical at every contracted agency per ÿÈÕ´ó¹Ï and agency agreement. Note: ÿÈÕ´ó¹Ï is not responsible for determining the effect of any prior criminal history on an applicant’s/student’s ability to be licensed as an RN in any U.S. state or jurisdiction. For information related to criminal history and RN licensure, contact the state board of nursing where licensure is desired.).
• Submission of a drug screen (screen includes tetrahydrocannabinol [THC], a substance in marijuana).
• Determination of clinical clearance based on any health and compliance requirements, including results of a background and/or drug screen, is made by the clinical sites. If a clinical site determines that a student is not eligible to participate in clinical experiences, the student may therefore be unable to meet course learning outcomes.
• Health requirements that must be completed to participate in clinicals are the following:
  • Current CPR certification
  • Immunizations:
    • Influenza
    • MMR (2 vaccinations or positive titers within the past 5 years)
    • Varicella (2 vaccinations or positive titers within the past 5 years)
    • At least 1 dose of meningococcal ACWY vaccine within the last 5 years or a complete 2- or 3-dose series of MenB
    • Hep B (3 vaccinations or positive titers within the past 5 years or declination)
    • Tuberculosis (2 step PPD skin test or QuantiFERON/T-spot)
    • Tdap (within the past 10 years)

• Health Status Report (Physical Examination and Health Status Attestation)
• N-95 Fit Test or declination
• Proof of active health insurance

All health and compliance requirements must be active and up to date for the duration of the program. Students may also be required to repeat the background check and drug screen during the program due to expiration of these items.

Individual clinical facilities may have additional health, vaccine, and compliance requirements. Students who are unable or unwilling to provide the necessary documentation may not be eligible to participate in clinical experiences and, therefore, may be unable to meet course learning outcomes.

• Students admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, a prelicensure program, are assigned a primary academic advisor but may also work with different members of the academic advisement team during their enrollment.
• Repeating any ÿÈÕ´ó¹Ï sources of credit will require students to pay the tuition and/or fees that are associated with that requirement.
• A student’s success or failure in completing program requirements (including all ÿÈÕ´ó¹Ï sources of credit) will affect their progress through the Bachelor of Science in Nursing prelicensure program. The time limit for completion of the bachelor’s degree is six years.
• Pass rates for the National Council Licensure Examination-RN (NCLEX-RN) are updated and available on the ÿÈÕ´ó¹Ï website.
• This is a hybrid program and all on-site components will be at the Excelsior site in St. Petersburg, Florida. Clinical opportunities will be at clinical sites in Florida. Didactic learning will have synchronous and asynchronous components. Labs, simulation, and testing will all take place at the Excelsior site in St. Petersburg, Florida.
• Students may be required to be on-site at least once per week beginning with the first nursing major course. Once clinical courses begin, students will be required at a clinical location 1–2 days per week. On-site days for simulation will also be required. Didactic courses are online with the exception of testing which is on-site and will be required. On-site requirements vary from term to term. Because each institution of higher education maintains its own credit transfer policy, the acceptance of credits earned is at the discretion of each institution and nursing credits are not likely to transfer to other institutions.
• Students are responsible for reading and understanding the RN licensure requirements in the state they hope to practice in following graduation or if considering relocation. Students may consult with the State Board team and review the State Authorization and Disclosures webpage for current information regarding eligibility for RN licensure in each state and U.S. jurisdiction.
• Students are required to review the ÿÈÕ´ó¹Ï Catalog prior to applying.

ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS

ÿÈÕ´ó¹Ï accepts applications for admission into the prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program from the state of Florida only.

Applicants to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program must meet the following eligibility qualifications:

• Achievement of an admissions grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher in high school or previous undergraduate college-level work.
  • A high school GPA (or GED with minimum passing score in each subject area) will be used if applicant has 12 or fewer college credits. Acceptable documents include official high school transcript, GED, or equivalent.
  • A college GPA will be used if more than 13 college credits have been awarded.