East Tennessee State University

East Tennessee State University (ESTU), with a population of almost 12,600 students, is located within an immediate community of nearly 60,000 citizens and is also part of the larger Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia region of 480,000.

Because of its size and location, ETSU can offer the variety of programs of a large university while faculty and staff provide the personal attention found in smaller schools. Each student is treated as a valued individual and welcomed to the safe, "small town" atmosphere of the campus.

The College of Nursing

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ETSU's College of Nursing is a leader in the state and nation, offering innovative nursing education at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. The College of Nursing is nationally recognized for its nurse-managed health centers, rural focus, interdisciplinary programs and community partnerships.

Our more than 100 Bachelor of Science (BSN) graduates each year far exceed the national average on passing the national licensing exam. Of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduates seeking national certification as nurse practitioners, 100% have achieved certification. Our alumni are practicing all over the globe, in all kinds of nursing positions. Here are some other special features of our programs:

• The College of Nursing is committed to student success. Extensive peer tutoring, mentoring, assistance with test-taking and study skills, and professional advising are all available within the college.
• Programs are offered in patterns that help students achieve their academic goals. We offer a day BSN, an evening/weekend BSN option, a part-time LPN-BSN option and an accelerated second-degree BSN option. We also offer blocked scheduling 1-2 days a week for nurse practitioner students and a growing number of online courses for RN-BSN and MSN students.
• ETSU offers excellent clinical experiences in several acute care medical centers and in a variety of community agencies. In addition, students rotate through at least 1 of 10 health care centers managed exclusively by College of Nursing faculty. These include a rural health clinic, a clinic for homeless and indigent clients, the ETSU Student Health Services Clinic, and six school-based clinics in elementary, middle and high schools across the region.
• More than 60% of the faculty members are nationally certified as nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists, so students are taught by experts in clinical practice! About 80% of our tenured/tenure-track faculty hold a doctorate in nursing or a related field.
• ETSU is a national leader in interdisciplinary education and in preparing health care providers to serve rural communities. Undergraduate and graduate students have the unique opportunity to take nursing courses along with medical and public health students within surrounding rural communities.
• The college offers a global health issues course online, followed by an international practicum. In the past few years, students and faculty have traveled to such places as Ecuador, Sweden and Zimbabwe to study health care in other countries.
• An honors program in nursing is available for BSN students interested in expanding their learning opportunities and having one-on-one faculty mentoring while completing a research project.
• Excellent financial assistance is available for full-time graduate students. Opportunities for scholarships, graduate assistantships and other forms of financial assistance are available from the university and the college.

BSN Programs

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The traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program consists of 5 semesters in the major after completion of pre-requisite courses. You can become a BSN major by enrolling at ETSU as a pre-nursing student, by changing majors or by transferring to ETSU from another university.

A special LPN-BSN track is available on campus and a mostly online RN-BSN track is offered at various sites throughout the region. An 18-month accelerated BSN curriculum is available for second-degree students who already hold a bachelor's degree. Recently, a weekend/evening BSN program has been added.

MSN Program

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The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program prepares nurses for advanced practice and specialization in nursing. The MSN program can be completed in 4 terms, (F, Sp, Su, F), or in 8 terms, if attending on a part-time basis. An individualized curriculum is designed for students pursuing a Post-Master's Certificate in Advanced Practice Nursing or a Graduate Certificate in Health Care Management or Gerontology. The following specialty tracks are offered for both MSN and Post-Master's students:

• Nursing Administration
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Adult Nurse Practitioner
• Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The Master of Science in Nursing Regent Online Degree Program (MSN-RODP) is a completely online MSN option for students. MSN-RODP allows you access to high-quality, affordable, student centered nursing education opportunities, thanks to the cooperative efforts of the six Tennessee Board of Regents universities. The following concentrations are offered through the MSN-RODP program:

• Nursing Education
• Nursing Informatics
• Nursing Administration
• Advanced Practice (Family Nurse Practitioner, Holistic Nursing)

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)

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The purpose of the doctoral program at ETSU is to prepare you as expert practitioners and nurse scientists who will conduct applied clinical research and provide leadership in the health care delivery system.

The College of Nursing hosts a strong cadre of faculty involved in clinical practice and clinical research. We are nationally known for our work in interdisciplinary education and nurse managed care. We are eager to recruit well-qualified applicants whose research interests and career goals match the strengths of our program. Full- or part-time study is available. Excellent financial assistance is available for students who are pursuing the program on a full-time basis (9 credit hours per semester).

Diversity at ETSU

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ETSU commits itself to creating and perpetuating an environment in which diversity of people and thought is respected. We embrace the belief that differences should be celebrated. Our aspiration is to create a university that fully appreciates the culture and the history of its surrounding region while it seeks to understand and accept the practices,

Accreditation

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The School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), guaranteeing you an excellent education. The university holds the highest accreditation a school can earn--regional accreditation.

East Tennessee State University is fully accredited by the Commission on College Nursing Education (CCNE) at One DuPont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120.

Information

If you are interested in this school and would like to find out more, please Request Information from East Tennessee State University.

For more information, visit the home page of East Tennessee State University - College of Nursing.