Nursing

Students will be placed in either Fall or Spring start for their junior
year of upper-division coursework based on program capacity and academic performance.

Spring starts are desirable for students who wish to study abroad for a semester, complete a minor, or spread the credit load over nine semesters.

• The nine-semester (Spring start) timeframe is supported by financial aid in the same way as the eight-semester (Fall start option).
• The first two years of study focus on completion of the University’s Core Curriculum and lower-division nursing courses and prerequisites. Continuation to the upper-division BSN coursework is contingent upon successful completion with at least a 3.0 GPA and a minimum “C” grade in all lower-division prerequisite courses.
• Students in upper-division coursework rotate through a variety of clinical experiences in acute care and community health settings.
• Upon graduation, students are well prepared to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), a requirement for licensure as a registered nurse.

Once students begin their upper-division nursing courses,
they also complete a series of practicum or clinical courses that introduce them to professional nursing practice in a variety of healthcare settings. Some experiences include:

• Pediatric nursing in school and hospital-based settings
• Maternal-child nursing in hospital environments
• Medical-surgical nursing in acute care settings
• Geriatric nursing in long-term care and assisted living environments
• Psychiatric-mental health nursing in inpatient and community-based settings
• Community health nursing through a range of community-based agencies

The practicum experiences culminate with a senior practicum where students spend 5 weeks working closely with an RN preceptor in an area of nursing that is of particular interest to them. This experience facilitates the students’ transition to the role of professional nurses.