Nursing, B.S. - Accelerated Second Degree

Also see

Nursing, B.S.  (Traditional, 4 years) Nursing, B.S. - RN to B.S. Multicultural Health

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Students who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree in another discipline may apply for admission to the Accelerated Second Degree in Nursing. Students in the ASD program are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree upon completion of Nursing academic requirements. Graduates of the ASD program will then be eligible to take the National Council licensing examination for licensure as a Registered Nurse (NCLEX).

The baccalaureate programs in Nursing at the University of Saint Joseph is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K St. NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.

Program outcomes

The student will:

1. Integrate the aesthetics and empirics of Nursing with the natural/behavior sciences, the humanities and interprofessional education to provide holistic care for individuals, families, groups, communities and populations
2. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in leadership that promote quality improvement and patient safety
3. Implement an evidence-based and theoretically guided framework for Nursing practice including the five patterns of knowing in Nursing and transition theory 
4. Use data from diverse sources with knowledge and skill in informatics and patient care technology to promote safety and optimal patient outcomes
5. Appraise and respond to the economic, legal, political and social issues that impact health and wellness of individuals, families, groups, communities and populations
6. Communicate and collaborate with other members of the health care team to advocate for high quality and safe patient care
7. Deliver culturally appropriate Nursing care through health promotion and disease prevention to populations on a local and global level
8. Assume responsibility and accountability for ethical professional behavior and Nursing care
9. Demonstrate competent Nursing practice in diverse settings caring for individuals, families, groups, communities and populations

Criteria for admission

Admission requirements: Selection and placement in any of the undergraduate Nursing programs is competitive and on a space-available basis. To register for Nursing courses and to be officially accepted into the Nursing major, students must fulfill prerequisite course requirements and meet the standards for academic performance required by the department of Nursing. The department reviews prospective applicants with the Office of Admissions. Applicants should contact the admissions for specific application deadlines.

Students are expected to apply to this program with the following completed:

• B.S. or B.A. in a non-Nursing degree
• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• Grade of B- or above in all prerequisite science courses, which must have been taken within the past five years
• Transfer student grades earned previously in Biology and Chemistry courses are assessed for their equivalencies by the ASD program director in consultation with the natural science faculty
• Interviews are granted to students who have submitted an application and transcripts and who have the minimum GPA
• Placement in this program is competitive, is available on a space-available basis and is completed in a continuous 15-month cycle

Students are expected to have completed these prerequisites:

BIOL 114 - Introduction to Cellular Biology  with lab
BIOL 241 - Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology I  with lab
BIOL 242 - Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology II  with lab
BIOL 301 - Microbiology  with lab
CHEM 170 - Principles of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry  with lab
CHEM 240 - Biochemistry of the Human Body  with lab
NUTR 380 - Nutrition for Nursing Practice  
PSYC 238 - Human Development Through the Lifespan 
MATH 110 - Elementary Statistics  

Application requirements

• Completed application submitted online at nursingcas.org or www.usj.edu/admissions

• Official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended
• Personal statement indicating interest in Nursing and strength of academic preparation for success
• Letter of recommendation from previous employer or professor attesting to the candidate’s ability to do academic work
• Students taking prerequisite courses when they apply must submit mid-semester grades and then the final transcript

Criteria for progression in the Accelerated Second Degree Nursing Program

All accelerated second-degree students who are admitted into the Nursing program must meet the requirements for continued progression in the program as noted below:

Students are allowed to progress in the Nursing Program under the following criteria:

First Term:

• All grades in required courses must be a B- or higher.
• Students who earn one C+ in one of these nursing courses, N201, N226 , N220 may progress without repeating the course.
• A second grade of C+ or less in any course in the first term will result in dismissal from program.
• Any grade in a nursing course less than a C+ will need to be repeated subject to limits on repeat courses.

 All 300 & 400 level nursing courses:

• All grades in required nursing courses must be a B- or higher.
• If a student has no prior C+ in a nursing course but earns a C+ in any 200, 300 or 400 level course, the student must repeat the course and earn a grade of B- or higher in the repeated course in order to progress.
• If a student has previously earned a C+ or less in a 200, 300 or 400 level nursing course and earns a C+ or less in any subsequent course, the student will be dismissed from the program.

All Students:

• A student is allowed to withdraw only from one nursing course for academic reasons only. Withdrawals for non-academic reasons will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

In addition to the above guidelines, students will be dismissed from the program under the following additional circumstances:

• Failure to successfully remediate a Notification of Needs Improvement within the semester it is received.
• Failure to pass the clinical experience will result in failure of the course, despite the grade earned for the classroom content.
• Failure to pass a clinical experience will also result in dismissal from the program if this is the student’s second nursing course with an earned grade of C+ or less.

Once dismissed from the ASD nursing program, a student cannot apply for and will not be admitted or reinstated into any USJ pre-licensure nursing program.

Any student who withdraws from any Nursing course will be required to meet with his/her faculty advisor.

Health requirement

• Physical examination and vaccination form upon entering the program, and every two years thereafter
• Immunization against: Rubeola, Rubella (or titer), Mumps, Poliomyelitis; Tetanus booster within 10 years
• Initial two-step Tuberculosis skin test 1-3 weeks apart, then annual updates while in the program
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) titer or two vaccines
• Hepatitis B vaccine
• Evidence of health insurance, submitted every semester
• Influenza vaccine yearly per due date set by the Nursing department

Uniforms and equipment for clinical experiences

Students are responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and several specific items of equipment necessary for clinical experience. Students are also responsible for arranging their own transportation to clinical agencies. For details regarding these requirements, see the Student Handbook for Nursing Majors.

Criminal background investigation and drug screening

All undergraduates must have a Criminal Background Investigation and drug testing completed and on file prior to their first Nursing course. A letter will be provided to each student accepted into the major with instructions. The background check may need to be updated throughout the program.

CPR course requirement

All students must provide annual evidence of completion of a CPR course for health care providers prior to starting clinical courses. The CPR course must be the AHA BLS for health care provider course good for two years.