Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN): LPN to BSN

Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN):
LPN to BSN

RIBN LPN to BSN is a three-year educational pathway that includes all coursework required to complete an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Nursing at Forsyth Tech and a Bachelor of Science (BSN) Degree in Nursing at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU). Students are dually enrolled at Forsyth Tech and WSSU for the first two years of study while completing general education and associate degree nursing classes. Following successful completion of the second year of study, students are awarded an AAS degree from Forsyth Tech and are eligible to take the RN licensing exam (NCLEX-RN). After passing NCLEX-RN, students continue at WSSU to complete the final three semesters of nursing coursework to earn their BSN degree from WSSU.

A BSN provides nurses with a number of advantages. Many RN positions in hospitals and other health care settings now require a BSN degree for employment or advancement. A BSN also positions students to continue their education at the graduate level in nursing or in other related fields such as health care administration or public health.

Who Should Apply?

RIBN LPN to BSN is ideal for those students who:

are licensed as an LPN in the state of North Carolina,
desire to continue their education to earn their associate and baccalaureate nursing degrees,
prefer to complete most of their coursework at a local community college, and
desire an affordable and seamless pathway to a BSN degree.

As most tuition is paid at community college rates, RIBN LPN-BSN provides students with an affordable way to earn a BSN degree. In addition, RIBN students are eligible to apply for Forgivable Loans of Service (FELS) for the second and third years of study. Please visit the FELS website for additional information.

Course of Study

The three-year RIBN LPN-BSN curriculum includes nine semesters of study with Forsyth Tech serving as the “home” school for the first six semesters. First year classes (1st through 3rd semesters) at Forsyth Tech include Anatomy and Physiology, English, Psychology, Math, and a choice of several electives. During the summer of the second year of study (4th semester) students begin nursing coursework with NUR 214. Upon completion of NUR 214 with a grade of “B” or higher, students are awarded credit for the following associate degree nursing courses: NUR 111, NUR 112, NUR 212, and NUR 113. Associate degree nursing classes NUR 114, NUR 211, and NUR 213 are completed during the fall and spring semesters of year two. Students are awarded an AAS degree from Forsyth Tech following successful completion of all associate degree pre- equisite and nursing coursework.

While completing the first two years (1st through 6th semesters), RIBN LPN to BSN students take one online class each fall and spring semester at WSSU in addition to their Forsyth Tech classes. This coursework includes classes in history, fine arts, literature, and other subject areas to meet baccalaureate degree general education requirements. The third and final year (7th through 9th semesters) at WSSU is devoted to baccalaureate nursing classes focusing on leadership, community and public health, nursing research, and gerontology. Students must pass NCLEX-RN prior to beginning third year baccalaureate nursing classes. All third year classes are online. Students graduate with a BSN from WSSU following successful completion of these classes.

View and print a copy of the RIBN LPN-BSN curriculum here.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must meet minimum admission requirements as determined by Forsyth Tech and WSSU to be eligible for RIBN LPN-BSN.

Minimum admission requirements for RIBN LPN-BSN:

Successful completion of a practical nursing program.
A GPA of 2.6 or higher in practical nursing courses.
Successful completion of ENG 111 and PSY 150 with a grade of “C” or higher prior to the beginning of the first semester of RIBN.
Applicants must hold a current unrestricted licensure as an LPN in the State of North Carolina.
Applicants must have completed at least six months of full time employment as an LPN.
Applicants must be accepted as a student at WSSU for the fall 2019 semester.
Applicants to WSSU must meet a number of requirements to be considered for admission. For information on these requirements, please visit the WSSU website.
Applicants must obtain an adjusted individual score of 60% or higher on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS or TEAS V). Test scores are valid for two years.
Applicants must demonstrate competency in English, Reading, and Math through either placement testing, SAT or ACT testing, completion of a college level English and math course with a grade of “C” or higher, completion of DMA/DRE courses, or multiple measures. To demonstrate competency through multiple measures, all of the following conditions must be met:
- The applicant has graduated within the past five years from a NC high school that is legally authorized to operate in the state.
- The applicant has an unweighted high school GPA of 2.6 or higher. The transcript must clearly indicate that the GPA is unweighted.
- The applicant has completed four eligible high school math courses.

Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to RIBN LPN-BSN as eligible applicants are ranked and selected based on specific academic criteria. Please see the section titled “Selection of Applicants” for more detailed information.

Please note that Forsyth Technical Community College also offers an LPN-RN Transition Program. This program has an application process that is independent of the application process for RIBN LPN-BSN. If you wish to apply to the LPN-RN Transition Program at Forsyth Tech, please refer to the application instructions and admissions requirements as described on the Forsyth Tech website for this program. Applicants may not apply for both the LPN-RN Transition Program and RIBN LPN-BSN simultaneously.

Information Sessions

RIBN applicants are not required to attend a Nursing Information Session or complete the Online Nursing Information Session posted under “Nursing” on the Forsyth Tech webpage titled “Applying for Nursing and Allied Health Programs”. The information presented in these sessions is specific to the ADN and PN application process. RIBN applicants should refer to the application instructions provided below and are encouraged, but not required, to attend a RIBN LPN-BSN Information Session at Forsyth Tech. RIBN Information Sessions are scheduled for the following dates:

October 3, 2018
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Paul Wiles School of Nursing
Bob Greene Hall, Room 264

December 4, 2018
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Paul Wiles School of Nursing
Bob Greene Hall, Room 264

How to Apply for Summer 2019 RIBN LPN-BSN

To begin the application process, complete and submit a RIBN application.

View and print a RIBN LPN-BSN application here.

The RIBN Advisor will accept applications for the Fall 2019 RIBN class beginning October 1, 2018 and no later than 5:00 PM on February 11, 2019. Submit your application by mail or email to:

Angela Burcham
Nursing Success Advisor
Paul M. Wiles School of Nursing, Room 200
Forsyth Tech Community College
2100 Silas Creek Parkway
Winston-Salem, NC 27103-5197
aburcham@forsythtech.edu
336.757.3617

The RIBN Advisor will contact you after receiving your application to guide you through the remaining steps of the application process. All testing must be completed and items submitted by the deadline dates as indicated below to be considered for the Summer 2019 class.

Due by 5:00 PM Monday, February 4, 2019:

RIBN LPN-BSN application.
ACT and/or SAT scores if you are under the age of 21 with fewer than 24 transferable college credits.
Official transcripts from high school and all colleges attended through fall 2018 semester. Transcripts must arrive in a sealed unopened envelope and include the school seal or an original signature. Transcripts should be addressed to the RIBN Advisor or to the Admissions Office at Forsyth Tech. Transcripts may also be submitted electronically through the National Student Clearinghouse to either smaloney@forsythtech.edu or admissions@forsythtech.edu.

Due by 5:00 PM on Monday, February 18, 2019:

NC Residency Certification Number. To obtain your number, complete the NC Residency Determination form if you have not previously completed. Complete the form here.
Make a note of your Residency Certification Number after completing the form to include on your Forsyth Tech application.
Forsyth Tech application. The RIBN Advisor will provide you with a paper Forsyth Tech application after receiving your RIBN application. Return the completed Forsyth Tech application to the RIBN Advisor.
Placement testing scores if competency in English, Math, and Reading has not been demonstrated through other means (see “Admissions Requirements” for more details). The RIBN Advisor will notify you if placement testing is required after reviewing your RIBN application. Applicants must complete and pass placement testing prior to taking TEAS.
TEAS scores. The RIBN Advisor will provide you with information on taking TEAS after receiving your RIBN application.
An acceptance letter from WSSU or documentation that your WSSU application has been submitted. The RIBN Advisor will provide you with information on submitting your WSSU application after receiving your RIBN application.
Documentation from an employer that the applicant has completed at least six months of full time employment as an LPN.

Applicants are encouraged to begin the application process early and contact the RIBN Advisor with any questions.

ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills)

The TEAS assesses how well a student is academically prepared for learning nursing-related content. Forsyth Tech will accept TEAS scores (TEAS V or ATI TEAS) if taken at another school within the past two years. It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit a copy of these scores to the RIBN Advisor. Listed below are several available resources that may help you in being successful on the TEAS.

Study manuals are available for review in the following locations at Forsyth Tech:
Main Campus library (Ardmore building), Stokes County Office (Danbury), Grady Swisher Center (Kernersville), and Mazie Woodruff Center (Carver Road, Winston Salem). The manuals cannot be checked out.
TEAS preparation materials may be purchased through the ATI Nursing Education website.
ACA 085-Improving Study Skills, an eight-week online course offered by Forsyth Tech, may be completed wherever Internet access is available. Additional credit is not given to RIBN applicants who have completed the one credit hour course during
the selection process.

The RIBN Advisor will provide your name and contact information to the TEAS Coordinator to schedule your test after confirming that you have met GPA and English, Reading, and Math competency requirements. It is highly recommended that applicants pay the $55.00 test fee prior to the day of testing, as the proctor cannot accept any form of payment. Test fees can be paid at the cashier’s office on the second floor of the Allman Center on the main campus. Upon arrival for testing, applicants will be asked to present a payment receipt and a photo ID.

Applicants are allowed three attempts to meet the minimum required Adjusted Individual Score. If unsuccessful on the second attempt, applicants must wait eight weeks before testing a third and final time. A one year waiting period is required before resuming the TEAS testing process after a third unsuccessful attempt.

Selection of Applicants

Admission to RIBN LPN-BSN is highly competitive. All applicants who have satisfied the minimum admission requirements and completed the application process by the deadline dates as indicated above will be ranked numerically based on GPA and TEAS scores. Although completion of BIO 165/166 or BIO 168/169 is not required to be eligible for RIBN LPN-BSN, applicants who have completed one or both of these courses by the end of the fall 2017 semester will be awarded up to three additional ranking points based on the grade earned in these courses. Please note that the BIO 165/166 sequence must be completed at the same college to transfer. Applicants with the highest ranking scores will be accepted for the Summer RIBN LPN-BSN 2019 class. In the event of a tie, the applicant with the higher Adjusted Individual Science Score on the TEAS Exam will be selected.

Additional Requirements for RIBN LPN-BSN Students

Once admitted, students must meet the following requirements to maintain their enrollment in RIBN LPN-BSN:

Students must achieve a grade of “C” or higher in all general education and baccalaureate nursing courses and a grade of “B” or higher in all associate degree nursing courses to progress in RIBN.
Students must complete NUR 214 with a grade of “B” or higher to be awarded credit for NUR 111, NUR 112, NUR 212, and NUR 113 and progress to associate degree nursing coursework the following semester.
RIBN students must maintain dual enrollment at Forsyth Tech and WSSU by completing at least one WSSU course during two semesters (fall, spring, or summer) of each year for the first two years of study.
RIBN students must pass the NCLEX-RN between their second and third years of study to progress to third year nursing classes at WSSU and complete their BSN degree.

In addition, RIBN LPN-BSN students are expected to abide by all Forsyth Tech and WSSU student policies and guidelines. Students who fail to abide by these policies and guidelines will be subject to disciplinary action and possible dismissal from RIBN.

Financial Aid

Students interested in applying for financial aid should begin the process as soon as possible by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have questions or need assistance with completing the application, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at Forsyth Tech. During the first two years of RIBN, Forsyth Tech is considered to be the “home school” for financial aid purposes. Financial aid is processed through WSSU during the third and final year.

RIBN students should not apply for and cannot receive financial aid through both Forsyth Tech and WSSU simultaneously. Semester hours at WSSU are not included when calculating the amount of financial aid to be awarded during the first three years of study. Other
options, such as scholarships and FELS, may be available, however, to provide additional assistance with tuition and expenses.

Questions?

The RIBN Advisor is available to meet with applicants interested in learning more about RIBN. If you have questions or would to schedule an appointment, please contact Susan Maloney through the email address and/or telephone number listed below.