Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Financial aid is handled through the YSU Financial Aid office, and they can be reached at 330-941-3505 or [email protected]. To be eligible for aid, a student has to have at least six hours in any given semester; i.e. if a student takes one 3-hour course in each of Spring 1 and Spring 2 terms, they will have a total of six hours OR if taking courses starting in Spring 2, a student will need two 3-hour courses to equal six hours in the Spring semester. If a student has financial aid, it is up to the student to be sure that aid is applied and tuition is paid.

You will receive a welcome letter of acceptance from YSU Admissions asking you to commit and sign a Promise to Pay online. A welcome email will also be sent from the Centofanti School of Nursing signed by the RN-BSN Coordinator. This welcome email will include a survey requesting intention for part-time (one course every 7 weeks) or full-time (two courses every 7 weeks). Once the survey is completed and submitted, the RN-BSN Coordinator will review all official transcripts to determine the courses needed to attain a BSN. Following the transcript review, the Student Services Coordinator will create an individualized curriculum/advising plan and email it to the student. It is up to the student to review the curriculum/advising plan to be sure all transfer courses are accounted for. Students should take the initiative if they believe prior coursework should be reviewed for course credit by contacting the YSU nursing program. Additional information from the student in the form of course descriptions and/or syllabi may be needed, especially those taken at non-regionally accredited programs.

Yes, you will be given credit up to 39 hours for prior nursing courses from your associate degree or diploma nursing program. Block credit is given for eight non-nursing courses, and this is noted on your individual curriculum/advising sheet. Transfer credit will be given for any coursework taken that has been equated to RN to BSN-required courses after the transcript is reviewed from all colleges attended.

Yes, you may change from full-time (two courses per 7 weeks) to part-time (one course per 7 weeks) or start off part-time and change to full-time if desired. You should notify the nursing office whenever a change is needed. This will change your original curriculum/advising plan and the original planned graduation date.

After the student survey is completed and returned to the YSU nursing office by email, a detailed curriculum/advising sheet will be sent out by the Clinical and Student Services Coordinator that includes courses completed and courses still needing to be completed. Course sequencing will be on the bottom of this plan outlining when to take needed courses. This Advising/Curriculum Plan should be referred to and kept for registering for courses throughout the RN to BSN Program.

You will continually need to refer to your curriculum/advising plan as stated above. You will be able to follow this plan from start to graduation.

In your admissions letter from YSU Admissions, it explains how to get into the YSU portal to register for classes each 7 weeks. If you cannot log into the YSU portal, call the Tech Desk at 330-941-1595. For other questions regarding how to register or financial aid, call the Penguin Service Center at 330-941-6000 for help. Once you can log in, you will be able to register for classes. Steps on how to register are on the YSU portal.

The list of required books will be on your syllabus. Below are the steps to print your booklist after you have registered. This should be included with classes as you register and contact the Barnes & Noble Bookstore on the YSU campus or order from other textbook sources. How to print your booklist:

• YSU portal
• Click on Penguin portal and log in
• Click on Banner Self-Service
• Click on Student
• Click on Registration
• Select your term, submit
• Click on Student Summary Schedule and PRINT YOUR BOOKLIST
• Click on PRINT YOUR BOOKLIST HERE!
• This will take you directly to the Barnes & Noble site and you can order from there or just get the names of your books and buy or rent elsewhere. The YSU Bookstore phone number is 330-318-3331

All students have an individualized curriculum plan, so graduation dates are different for everyone. If all general education/support courses are complete, there are an additional nine nursing courses to take. They could be completed in less than a year depending on your full-time/part-time status. This program is an accelerated program and working nurses are recommended to take courses on a part-time basis.

Nursing courses include required practicum hours. Students complete practicum hours in various practicum learning environments within two courses: NURS 4852 Senior Capstone (20 practicum hours) and NURS 4854L Leadership in Nursing (40 practicum hours). The student should register for the corresponding lab when taking NURS 4854 Nursing Leadership. NURS 4852 Senior Capstone and NURS 4854/L Nursing Leadership should be taken during the last two terms and cannot be taken together. Students will work with qualified Preceptors in a leadership role to complete the required 60 total practicum hours.

Students identify a practice setting for their practicum learning activities. Permission must be obtained from appropriate people in the organization and a signed YSU contract must be on file for all agencies. Students must contact the Nursing Educator at their specific chosen facility for permission and requirements necessary for practicum learning. As a nursing student, you may be required to obtain health requirements, a criminal background check, drug screening, complete educational requirements/education and/or sign any required forms such as confidentiality agreements beyond those required for you as a present employee. A practicum contract with your precepting facility must be completed before beginning planned learning activities between the practicum agency and YSU. RN to BSN students must submit this information as early as possible to the Student and Clinical Services Coordinator in the YSU nursing office to allow time for the practicum contract to be requested and completed with signatures. The name of the signature authority to sign the contract and their email and other contact information will be needed to complete the practicum contract.

Yes, we recommend that you do your practicum learning where you work. Students should choose a nurse in a leadership role such as a charge nurse, Assistant Unit Manager/Unit Manager, shift supervisor, etc. You may discuss concerns on placement and practicum learning environment selection with the RN to BSN Coordinator for potential sites and the appropriate selection of a preceptor nurse. A practicum contract and a completed Preceptor Qualification form is required before beginning practicum learning activities. Most employers are supportive of their employees completing this practicum learning requirement. You should check the education department where you work for any specific health or orientation requirements needed while you are a practicum student.

You may request a hospital or health care agency in your area if you are not working. The nursing department can assist you in finding and requesting placement but be aware this will take additional time and should be requested at least two 7-week terms before registering for Senior Capstone when practicum hours are required. You may discuss concerns on placement and practicum learning environment selection with the RN to BSN Coordinator for potential sites and appropriate roles for the selection of your preceptor nurses.

When you are admitted and begin your first class in the program you will automatically be enrolled in the Centofanti School of Nursing Orientation Blackboard class. You will see this in your Blackboard list of classes and will remain in the course for information about YSU and the specific RN to BSN program until graduation. Module 7 in this orientation section is specific to the Centofanti School of Nursing RN to BSN program and includes the RN to BSN handbook specific to policies and information about this nursing program and a specific practicum and graduation section.

Blackboard orientation is included in the Centofanti School of Nursing orientation class and in each online class. During NURS 3725 Nursing Informatics, the first required nursing course, practice assignments in utilizing Blackboard Ultra will also be included in the course. The template layout setup of additional courses and implementation in the program should be similar in all online classes.

Yes, you may contact Tech Services at 330-941-1595 for technical questions for individual questions and assistance. This contact information is also included in the template of all online classes. The Penguin Service Center at 330-941-6000 is available to students for questions regarding registration, ordering books and general YSU questions.