King University Nursing School Review

King University (KU), previously known as King College, is located in Bristol, Tennessee, which is part of the Tri-Cities Metropolitan area, and has a population of 450,000. The area is home to NASCAR’s Bristol Motor Speedway, and is known as the Birthplace of Country Music.

The campus of King University is located on 135 wooded acres. Founded as a Christian Presbyterian College in 1867, the school patterned itself after a classical liberal arts model. Currently it offers over 80 major and minor programs, and enrolls over 2000 students each semester.

Nursing Programs

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

The BSN program is designed for students to begin their careers in nursing. This traditional program is four years (eight semesters) long, and prepares students to be ready to take the licensure exam (NCLEX-RN) for Registered Nurses (RNs).

This program begins in the junior year after taking core classes for the degree. Students must have a 2.75 GPA or higher, a C or better in their science and math courses, and a passing score on the TEAS exam. Students must take at least 124 credit hours to graduate.

Students will perform their clinical work in area hospitals, health departments, and schools. They will also complete a senior capstone project in a management setting, and have a chance to critique current research studies in nursing, to gain a better understanding of the research process.

The School of Nursing at King University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and is approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

RN to BSN

RNs that already hold a Diploma or Associate of Science degree in Nursing are able to pursue this alternative method to earning their BSN degree. To be eligible to apply, students will need to have a Tennessee or compact Multi-State RN license.

This program starts in the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters. Students that start together will progress through the program together over the course of 16 months.

Students may transfer credit from prior education to King University, provided it came from an approved nursing program and earned a grade of C or higher. There is no limit to how many hours of credit can be transferred.

Online RN to BSN

This accredited program is offered completely online. Clinical work is required, however, and will be assigned in the student’s work environment. This program is idea for working professional nurses, or those with other commitments.

To be able to enroll, students must have a Diploma or an Associate of Science degree in Nursing, and must hold a current RN license in Tennessee, or multi-state license.

Designed to be completed in as little as 16 months, this program requires students to take 32 credit hours of core nursing classes, and a total of 124 credit hours to complete the degree.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to BSN

LPNs may earn advanced placement status in the BSN program and get credit for up to 6 credit hours of coursework after they complete 12 credit hours in the nursing program with a grade of C+ or higher.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

This program is for nurses who wish to get into advanced practice and leadership. The four specialization tracks in the MSN program are nursing education, nursing administration, family nurse practitioner, and dual degree MSN/Master’s of Business Administration (MBA).

To apply to the MSN program, students need to have a BSN degree and a GPA of 3.0 or better. They also need to have a current RN license and CPR or Basic Life Support certification.

The core MSN degree program requires 15 credit hours of class work. The specialization tracks require an additional 20 to 38 credit hours to complete. In addition, students will be required to complete between 240 and 600 practicum hours, depending on their specialization.

Contact:
King University
1350 King College Road,
Bristol, TN 37620