Nursing BSN

At the completion of the program, the graduate will:

• Integrate theoretical and empirical knowledge from the sciences and humanities curriculum into the practice of nursing.
• Provide holistic and competent care that promotes health and disease prevention to diverse individuals and populations.
• Utilize evidence to enhance quality and safety in nursing practice.
• Demonstrate inter- and intra-professional communication and collaboration to improve client outcomes.
• Utilize information management and technology in the provision of client care.
• Model civic engagement and fiscal responsibility in the delivery of health care.
• Demonstrate ethical values, leadership and professionalism in the practice of nursing.
• Assume accountability for intellectual growth, professional development and competent practice.

Clinical attendance is mandatory. Students must be punctual and prepared for all clinical experiences regardless of type (client care, simulation, observational experience, seminar, virtual, etc.). Time missed for dismissal from any clinical experience is considered clinical absence. 

Clinical experiences are a vital component of the learning experience, and students are expected to attend all clinical hours as scheduled. Faculty recognize that extenuating circumstances occur; thus, students who miss up to the equivalent of one week of clinical hours per course will make-up the missed times as directed by faculty and may continue clinical participation in the course. All students are required to make-up missed clinical hours, incomplete clinical hours will result in course failure, with a grade of (F) submitted for the course.

Any student who exceeds the equivalent of one week of clinical hours may not continue clinical participation resulting in course failure.  

All clinical absence time and unplanned SNAH closure on clinical days will be made up as allocated by the course faculty. For NUR 115, NUR 170, and NUR 265, students will be required to complete clinical make-up as allocated and scheduled per syllabus.  No changes will be made to scheduled clinical make-up days

Students are responsible for reporting a clinical absence at least 30 minutes before each day of their assigned clinical time or as otherwise directed by the course faculty.

Students are responsible for reporting clinical tardiness as soon as possible or as otherwise directed by the course faculty. 

Students not properly reporting a clinical absence or tardiness will receive a warning from the course faculty. A second offense may result in failure of the course. 

Students are granted one excused late arrival for up to 30 minutes. This late arrival will not count toward the course hour limit and the student will be permitted to complete the clinical day. Subsequent tardiness shall result in the student being dismissed from the clinical setting and clinical absence time will be accrued for that clinical day. 

Pre-licensure BSN Progression Policy

ACADEMIC PROGRESSION POLICY: This policy delineates the academic standards required of students admitted to the pre-licensure undergraduate nursing program.

ACADEMIC PROGRESSION: The Nursing curriculum is designed to move the student from a fundamental understanding of basic concepts to complex critical thinking and application in clinical settings. Academic progression is designed to support educational success, licensure and transition to practice. 

Definitions:

COURSE ATTEMPT: 

A course attempt in one pre-licensure nursing program applies to all pre-licensure programs.

A leave of absence does not negate previously attempted nursing courses. 

An attempt is defined as earning a grade in a course or late-dropping the course.

Progression Requirements:

1. Successful completion of the following prerequisite or corequisite courses is defined as a grade of 74% or better according to the University or School of Nursing and Allied Health  grading scale. Required prerequisite or corequisite courses are:

 BIO 175: Human Anatomy and Physiology I 

BIO 176: Human Anatomy and Physiology II 

BIO 185: Microbiology 

HSC 253: Nutrition - Health and Disease

CSS 101: College Studies Seminar 

ECN 260: American Health Care System 

ENG 101: Craft of Language

ENG 206: Public Speaking and Presentation 

MAT 115: Clinical Mathematics 

MAT 128: Applied Statistics

PHI 490: Ethical and Legal Dimensions in the Health Sciences 

PHI 285: Philosophy of Medicine

PSY 100: Introductory Psychology 

SOC 101: Introduction to Sociology

3 credits of General Electives

3 credits of Humanities Electives

2. A student who attempts (see definition above) or earns less than a 74%, per the Undergraduate Grading Policy, (# NUR 5.5) in the same prerequisite or corequisite course for a second time will be dismissed from the Nursing major. Academic advising relative to other majors/options will be provided.

3. A student may have no more than two unsuccessful attempts across all of the prerequisite or corequisite requirements in the nursing program. Students exceeding this requirement will be dismissed from the Nursing major. Academic advising relative to other majors/options will be provided.

4. A student must have a minimum earned cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to enter into the “Required Nursing courses”, listed below,  beginning with NUR 160. Students are expected to maintain a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA while in the nursing program. Students with less than a GPA of 2.50 will be placed on Academic Probation. Students who are on Academic Probation for 2 consecutive semesters will be dismissed from the program.

5. Successful completion of required Nursing courses  is defined as a 77% or better according to the School of Nursing and Allied Health Grading Scale. Refer to the Undergraduate Nursing Grading Policy. Required Nursing  (NUR/INT/HSC) Courses are:

NUR 160: History and Theory of Nursing Practice

NUR 170: Foundational Nursing I 

NUR 280: Concepts of Pathophysiology

NUR 265: Health Assessment 

NUR 260: Pharmacology

NUR 271: Foundations of Health and Illness

NUR 275: Health and Illness I 

NUR 295: Health and Illness II 

NUR 312: Human Diversity and Cultural Care in Nursing

NUR 349: Nursing Internship 

NUR 355: Health and Illness III 

NUR 405: Health and Illness IV 

NUR 401: Research in Health Care

NUR 410: Issues and Trends in Nursing

NUR 422: Professional Leadership Development and Transition to Practice

NUR 430: Nursing in a Global Society 

HSC 244: Health Information Technology 

INT 302: Introduction to Capstone

INT 322: Teaching and Learning

INT 450 Capstone 

3 Credits of 300-400 Level NUR Electives

6. A student who attempts (see definition above) any required Nursing courses (NUR/INT)  in the nursing program or earns less than a 77% per the Undergraduate Nursing Grading Policy in the same required Nursing course for a second time will be dismissed from the Nursing major. Academic advising relative to other majors/options will be provided.

7. A student may have no more than two unsuccessful attempts across all of the required nursing courses (NUR/INT) in the program. Students exceeding this requirement will be dismissed from the Nursing major. Academic advising relative to other majors/options will be provided.

8. Students who wish to return to the University after a leave of absence or re-enroll after withdrawing from the University will follow the re-enrollment policies of the University. Prior to a student re-entering the program of study, faculty reserve the right to assign placement in the curriculum and to require remedial activities.

9. Any exceptions to the two-attempt limit must be approved by the Dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health. 

10. Any transfer requests between programs must be approved by the Dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health. All students requesting a transfer must be in good academic standing including a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.

11. Students dismissed from the 3 year or 4 year BSN program may not transfer into the ASN, 3 year BSN, or 4 year BSN program.

RN to BSN Progression Policy

RN to BSN Academic Progression Policy: This policy delineates the academic standards required of students admitted to the RN to BSN  nursing program.

ACADEMIC PROGRESSION: The Nursing curriculum is designed to move the student from a fundamental understanding of basic concepts to complex critical thinking and incorporation of evidence-based findings to practice settings. Academic progression is designed to support educational success, the development of leadership qualities, and the delivery of holistic, safe, and competent nursing care. 

Definitions: 

COURSE ATTEMPT:

A leave of absence does not negate previously attempted nursing courses. 

An attempt is defined as earning a grade in a course or late-dropping the course.

Progression Requirements:

1. All students must have an active RN license on file  in order to be enrolled in any RN to BSN courses with the exception of NUR 301, NUR 312, INT 322, and NUR 340.

2. Students must obtain their RN license within one (1) year of starting the program and maintain an active RN license throughout the RN to BSN program. If an RN license is not obtained within one (1) year or the license is not active, the student will be dismissed from the RN to BSN Program

3. Students must have an active RN license before enrolling in INT 302 and INT 450.

4. Students must secure employment or volunteer in a health care setting for eight (8) hours weekly by the beginning of the second semester of enrollment in order to continue in the RN to BSN/INT core courses. Students must maintain employment or volunteering in a health care setting for eight (8) hours weekly throughout the program. 

5. Students are expected to maintain a 2.50 minimum cumulative GPA while in the nursing program. Students with less than a GPA of 2.50 will be placed on Academic Probation. Students who are on Academic Probation for 2 consecutive semesters will be dismissed from the program.

6. Successful completion of required  RN to BSN NUR/INT core courses and required Sciences and Humanities courses is defined as 77% or better according to the Undergraduate Nursing Policy Grading Policy. Required courses are.

CSS 101: College Studies Seminar

ECN 260: American Healthcare System

ENG 454: Narrative Medicine

PHL 285: Philosophy of Medicine

MAT 128: Applied Statistics

NUR 301: Conceptual Foundations of Nursing Practice

NUR 312: Human Development and Cultural Care in Nursing

INT 302: Introduction to Capstone

NUR 340: Comprehensive Health Assessment

INT 322:  Teaching and Learning

NUR 410: Issues and Trends in Nursing

NUR 430: Nursing in a Global Society

NUR 401: Research in Health Care

NUR 420: Leadership and Management in Nursing

INT 450: Capstone

6 credits of General Electives

3 credits of Humanities Electives

3 credits of 300-400 level NUR Electives

7. A student who attempts (see definition above) or earns less than a 77%, in all RN to BSN NUR/INT core courses and required Sciences and    Humanities courses for a second time will be dismissed from the Nursing major. Academic advising relative to other majors/options will be provided

8. A student may have no more than two unsuccessful attempts across all of the RN to BSN NUR/INT core courses and required Sciences and Humanities courses. Students exceeding this requirement will be dismissed from the Nursing major. Academic advising relative to other majors/options will be provided.

9. Students are expected to complete all required courses for program completion prior to registering for INT 450. INT 450 must be taken in the last semester of the program during the last 7 weeks. 

10. A grade of 77% or higher for the Capstone Paper is required to successfully complete INT 450. 

Grading Standards Policy

Purpose: To explain the grading standards.

1. Grades on quizzes, exams (tests) and other forms of evaluation are carried out to two decimal places and not rounded.

2. Rounding occurs at the end of the semester only with final course grades. Final course grades ending with 0.5 or greater are rounded upward unless the final course grade is less than required, in which case no rounding occurs.

Example:

79.47 = 79%. It does not round up.

79.74 = 80%.

76.99 = 76.99%. It does not round up.

3. In any course, all course outcomes and/or additional course requirements must be met, or a course grade of “F” will be assigned regardless of points earned. 

      Example:

If a student earns a passing course grade but does not meet course or clinical outcomes, a grade of “F” will be awarded

Students Enrolled in the ASN Program 

1. A course grade of “C+” (77%) or higher is required in all NUR courses.

Students Enrolled in the Pre-licensure BSN Track

1. A course grade of “C+” (77%) or higher is required in all NUR courses.

2. INT 450: A student must achieve a grade of  “C+” (77%) or higher on the Capstone Paper to pass the course.  If not achieved, the grade on the paper will be the grade of record.

Minimum Examination Grade Policy for Students Enrolled in the ASN and Pre-licensure BSN Tracks:

Students must achieve a weighted examination average grade of 77% in all nursing (NUR)  courses to successfully complete the course. If a weighted examination average of 77% is achieved, the other course points such as extra credit, quizzes, assignments, and ATI will be added into the final grade calculation and this grade will be entered as the student’s overall average. If a student does not earn the weighted examination average of 77%, the weighted examination average will be entered as the student’s overall course grade. A minimum grade of 77% is required to pass this course.

Students Enrolled in the RN to BSN Track

1. A grade of “C+” (77%) or higher is required for all RN to BSN NUR/INT Core Courses and required Sciences & Humanities Courses for students matriculating Fall 2021 and after.

2. All course outcomes and/or additional course requirements must be met to successfully complete the course as outlined in the course syllabus.

3. INT 450: A student must achieve a grade of “C+” (77%) or higher on the Capstone Paper to pass the course. If not achieved, the grade on the paper will be the grade of record.

Pre-Licensure

RN to BSN

RN to BSN Students will transfer approximately 65 credits from an associates degree curriculum. 

65 transfer credits + 55 RN to BSN curriculum credits = 120 credits

Four-Year Traditional BSN Course Sequence

¹

Must be taken the last semester of the of the program

²

Must be taken during last 7 weeks of the program

Three-Year Accelerated BSN Course Sequence

RN to BSN Course Sequence