Why Should I attend TWC/FSN Nursing Program?
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)

Upper Division Nursing Courses
(64 semester semester hours)
 

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).


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.

Center for Parish Nursing
Parish 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 Parish 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 Parish 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 Webb, MS, RN at lwebb@twcnet.edu or Alice Grady, MSN, RN, FNP, at agrady@twcnet.edu.

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 Ann Walker, MSN, RN, President at 865-777-5100 or awalker@covhlth.com.

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 nursing program has received full approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing, 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.