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    Nursing Education


    Tennessee Wesleyan College
    Fort Sanders Nursing Department
    Knoxville, TN


    Tennessee Wesleyan College, Knoxville Campus
       
    Why Should I Attend TWC?
    The Fort Sanders Nursing Department at Tennessee Wesleyan College offers a baccalaureate degree (BSN) to pre-licensure and Registered Nurse students. The program builds on general education courses in the humanities and natural and behavioral sciences which provide a breadth and depth of learning experiences with a strong foundation of Christian values. The upper division courses evolve from nursing competencies to promote optimum health, prevent illness, and provide end-of-life care with diverse populations in a variety of settings. The curriculum plan is available upon request. All theory and clinical nursing courses are offered in Knoxville.

    What Makes This Program Unique?
    This program was established as a partnership between the former Fort Sanders School of Nursing in Knoxville, Tennessee and Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tennessee. This joint endeavor combines the long history of excellence in nursing education with the college tradition of providing quality, liberal arts education to meet the needs of the community. Fort Sanders Nursing Department at Tennessee Wesleyan College is committed to higher education for professional nurses, lifelong learning and professional values. 

    What is the Objective of the Nursing Department?
    The Nursing Department's objective is to educate a beginning professional nurse who will function in this role as a provider of care, a manager of care and as an active member of the profession of nursing. The faculty is committed to providing the essential knowledge and abilities to enter professional practice as a generalist as well as developing a foundation for continuing education and graduate study. Students experience personal contact and close communication with experienced nursing faculty. Low clinical ratios provide an opportunity for meaningful/collaborative relationships between faculty and students.

    How Do I Apply to The Baccalaureate Nursing Program?
    Application for admission to upper division nursing courses should be made in the sophomore year. Students will be selected in the spring for admission to the fall class. Selection will be based on, but not limited to, academic ability and achievement, high school and college transcripts, references, and personal interviews.

    How Long Will It Take Me To Complete The BSN Program?
    The program of study for the baccalaureate nursing student consists of eight consecutive semesters (four years). 

    General Education Requirements for a BSN Degree
    (64 semester hours)

    English: 6 semester hours

    Psychology: 3 semester hours

    Religion: 3 semester hours

    Speech or Public Speaking:
    3 semester hours

    Chemistry: 4 semester hours

    Ethics, Philosophy or UD Religion:
    3 semester hours

    Literature: 6 semester hours

    Nutrition: 3 semester hours

    Math Elective (excluding DSM):
    3 semester hours

    History: 6 semester hours

    Microbiology: 4 semester hours

    Anatomy/Physiology:
    8 semester hours

    Sociology: 3 semester hours

    Fine Arts: 3 semester hours

    Statistics: 3 semester hours

    Physical Education: 2 semester hours

    Orientation: 1 semester hour

    Upper Division Nursing Courses
    (64 semester semester hours)

    Pharmacology: 4 semester hours

    Nursing Synthesis:4 semester hours

    Health Assessment:
    4 semester hours

    Community Health Nursing:
    4 semester hours

    Role Preparation: 2 semester hours

    Mental Health Nursing:
    4 semester hours

    Foundations of Nursing:
    6 semester hours

    Maternal-Newborn Nursing:
    5 semester hours

    Adult Health Nursing:
    10 semester hours

    Professional Issues:
    2 semester hours

    Advanced Nursing:6 semester hours

    Leadership/Management:
    6 semester hours

    Research in Nursing:
    2 semester hours

    Pediatric Nursing: 5 semester hours



    Clinical Experience
       
    What are the Requirements in the Program?
    Clinical experiences will be selected to meet the specific outcomes set for each course to enhance the integration of theory to clinical practice. The program has access to clinical sites in Knoxville and the surrounding area including the facilities of Covenant Health, one of East Tennessee's largest and most comprehensive integrated healthcare delivery systems. Other clinical facilities include East Tennessee Children's Hospital, as well as community health and nursing home sites.

    The Nursing Department uses a variety of teaching strategies to facilitate the active participation of the student in the learning process. The lecture/seminar method will be used along with case studies, group projects, seminars, student presentations and computer adaptive learning vignettes to stimulate critical thinking and decision making. The nursing courses will be taught on the Knoxville campus at Pellissippi Parkway.
     

    How Do I Enter the RN to BSN Program?
    Admission to the RN to BSN program requires completion of the 64 semester hours of general education courses, a completed Tennessee Wesleyan College application for admission, official college transcripts, proof of RN licensure and graduation from an NLNAC/CCNE accredited program in nursing, and references relative to clinical competence.

    RN students will be selected in the spring for admission to the summer semester. Transition to Professional Nursing (NU305) must be taken for official admission to the Nursing Department.

    RN's entering the program will have previous work placed in escrow until they have validated competency in the following courses: Transition to Professional Nursing, Pharmacology, and Health Assessment. The RN's course work will then be removed from escrow and assigned 31 semester credit hours. In addition, Pharmacology, Health Assessment and Advanced Nursing may be challenged (12 semester hours).

    Tuition Discount for Covenant Health RN Employees in RN/BSN program - $330 per credit hour.

    How Long will It Take Me to Complete the RN to BSN Program?
    An RN student returning to school full time could complete the requirements for a BSN in two semesters and one summer session. Part-time students also have several options for completion. 

    Upper Division Nursing Courses For The Registered Nurse Program

    Summer
    Transition to Professional Nursing (NU305) - 3 semester hours

    Fall
    Pharmacology (NU301) - 4 semester hours
    Health Assessment (NU303) - 4 semester hours
    Community Health Nursing (NU 415) - 4 semester hours
    Research in Nursing (NU405) - 2 semester hours
    TOTAL - 14 semester hours

    Spring
    Professional Issues (NU 315) - 2 semester hours
    Leadership/Management (NU440) - 6 semester hours
    Advanced Nursing (NU 431) - 4 semester hours
    Nursing Synthesis (NU 441) - 4 semester hours
    TOTAL - 16 semester hours

    Center for Parish/Faith Community Nursing
    Faith Community Nursing is a new specialty recognized by the American Nurses Association and focuses on providing care to the whole person - body, mind, and spirit. The Center for Faith Community Nursing at Tennessee Wesleyan College Fort Sanders Nursing Department will provide continuing education workshops for Parish Nurses and others interested in providing spiritual care to patients/clients. A complete Faith Community Nurse training program will be offered once or twice a year as the need arises. For more information, please call the Center at TWC-FSN, 865-777-5100 or reply to Lisa Kirkland, MS, RN, CRRN at lkirkland@twcnet.edu.

    For more about Parish/Faith Community Nursing, click here

    TWC-FSN Honor Society
    The Board of Directors of Sigma Theta Tau International has approved Tennessee Wesleyan College to the Rho Mu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. For more information contact Sharon Bailey, MSN, RN, Treasurer at 865-777-5100 or sbailey@twcnet.edu..
     

    Tennessee Wesleyan College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, 404-679-4500. The program has received full approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing, 227 French Landing, Suite 300, Heritage Place MetroCenter, Nashville, TN 37243, (615) 532-5166, and is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120, 202-463-6930. 

    For Information Contact:

    Tennessee Wesleyan College
    Fort Sanders Nursing Department
    9821 Cogdill Rd., Suite 2
    Knoxville, Tennessee 37932
    (865) 777-5100
    nferguso@covhlth.com

    Tennessee Wesleyan College
    P.O. Box 40
    Athens, TN 37371-0040
    1-800-PICK-TWC
    www.twcnet.edu

    © 2010 Covenant Health
    100 Fort Sanders West Blvd.
    Knoxville, TN 37922
    (865) 374-1000