Dec 11, 2024  
2015-2016 Course Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Nursing, B.S.


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Nursing, B.S. - Traditional  (4 years)

Nursing, B.S. - Accelerated Second Degree   (15 months)

Nursing, B.S. - RN to B.S. Programs


Mission Statement

The Department of Nursing educates students for all levels of nursing practice by building on a firm foundation in the liberal arts and sciences. The mission promotes the growth of the whole person in a caring environment and fosters strong ethical values, intellectual curiosity, personal integrity and a commitment to the health and well-being of society. The goal is to prepare graduates to practice the art and science of Nursing, be effective leaders and use evidence-based resources to improve the health of persons, families and communities.

Traditional B.S. (4 years)

Students in the traditional program are high school graduates or transfer students who have had no previous education for professional nursing. Upon graduation, students are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensing Examination for licensure as a Registered Nurse.

The baccalaureate programs in Nursing at the University of Saint Joseph are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036, 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 through emancipatory knowing
  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 Sophomore Admission into Nursing (effective August 1, 2014)

  • Grade B minus (B-) or above in all science courses and in Nursing 200.
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better
  • Previously completed science or nursing courses for which students achieved a grade of C or better will not need to be retaken if taken prior to Fall 2014 semester.
  • If a student earns less than B minus (B-) in any science or Nursing course, one repeat of a science and nursing course is permitted. Students must repeat the course before they can progress.
  • A student may only withdraw once from a Nursing class over the course of the Nursing Program
  • A student who does not meet the above requirements to progress in the Nursing major will be dismissed from the program

Application to Nursing Major

By the end of the fall semester of sophomore year, students complete the Application to the Nursing Major and submit it to the Nursing department.

  • Acceptance into the Nursing major is determined by the Nursing faculty
  • Transfer students’ grades previously earned in Biology and Chemistry courses are assessed by the Nursing chairperson, in consultation with the Natural Science chairpersons, when transcripts are reviewed as part of the application process to the Nursing major
  • Grades in science courses transferred from other institutions will be counted in determining progression in the major
  • Once a decision has been made, all applicants will receive a written response from the Nursing chairperson

Health Requirements

  • Physical examination and vaccination form needed upon entering the program, and every two years thereafter
  • Immunization against: Rubeola, Rubella (or titer), Mumps, Poliomyelitis; Tdap booster within 10 years
  • Two-step Tuberculosis skin test
  • Varicella (Chicken Pox) titer or two vaccines
  • Hepatitis B vaccine
  • Evidence of health insurance, submitted yearly
  • Influenza vaccine yearly

Uniforms and Equipment for Clinical Experiences

Students are responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and several specific items of equipment necessary for clinical experiences. Students are also responsible for arranging their own transportation to clinical agencies. For details on 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 during the spring of their sophomore year. A letter will be provided to each student accepted into the major with instructions. The background investigation 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 have an American Heart Association designation good for two years.

Progression in the Nursing Major


Freshmen, Sophomore, Juniors, and Transfer Students in Nursing:

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.67 or above in all Nursing courses
  • Earn grades of B minus (B-) or better in all Nursing and science courses
  • Grades in sciences transferred from other institutions taken prior to Fall 2014 will count toward the repeat policy if they are less than a B minus (B-). 
  • If a student earns less than B minus (B-) in any science or Nursing course taken after August 10, 2014, one repeat of a science and one repeat of a Nursing course is permitted. Students must repeat the course before they can progress.
  • A student may only withdraw once from a Nursing course over the duration of the Nursing program
  • A student who does not meet the above requirements to progress in the Nursing major will be dismissed from the program

Senior nursing students during 2015-2016 academic year:

Students in the graduating class of 2016 must:

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.33 or above in all Nursing courses. (Note: This is not a change from the previous policy.)
  • Earn grades of B minus (B-) or better in all Nursing courses
  • Students will not need to repeat previously completed science or Nursing courses in which they achieved a grade of C or better
  • Beginning in the Fall 2014 semester, if a student earns less than B minus (B-) in any Nursing course, one repeat of one course is permitted. Students must repeat the course before they can progress.
  • A student may only withdraw once from a Nursing course over the duration of the Nursing Program
  • A student who does not meet the above requirements to progress in the Nursing major will be dismissed from the program

Degree Requirements


Suggested Plan of Study


 

State Law on Nursing Licensure


Regarding eligibility for licensure as a professional nurse at the completion of the educational program in nursing, Public Act 86-365, an Act Concerning the Licensure and Discipline of Health Care Professionals Regulated by the Department of Health Services (July 1, 1986), allows the State Department of Health Services to perform the following functions:

  • To determine the eligibility of any applicant for licensure, registration, certification, or a permit

  • To deny any applicant’s eligibility for a permit or licensure by examination, endorsement, reciprocity, or for the reinstatement of a voided license if the Department of Health Services determines that such applicant has committed or has been found guilty of committing acts which are contrary to public health and safety 

  • The Department of Health Services has authority to deny nursing licensure to an individual who has committed or been found guilty of committing a felony or an act that does not conform to the accepted standards of the nursing profession. This would apply whether the individual is seeking licensure by examination or endorsement.

The Department of Health Services has the discretionary power to determine whether Public Act 86-365 applies to the individual applying for licensure. Individuals seeking licensure would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Some factors that could be considered by the Department of Health Services in reviewing licensure applications are:

  • The nature of the act and its relationship to professional practice

  • The time frame in which the act was committed

  • The extent of rehabilitation demonstrated by the applicant

Note:  This information pertains to Connecticut. Please check with the state in which you wish to be licensed, as requirements vary.

Nursing Comprehensive Exam


The comprehensive examination is a University-wide requirement for all graduating seniors and is given to determine basic competence in their area of study. Nursing students do not meet this graduation requirement until they have successfully passed the Nursing comprehensive examination.

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