Nursing

Overview

The Nursing program reflects a curriculum that is responsive to health-care needs of society. The purpose of the baccalaureate program is to prepare beginning professional nurses, who as generalists possess clinical competence to function in various settings. Education for the role of the nurse includes an emphasis on patient-centered care, preparation to function as members of an interdisciplinary health-care team, the use of evidence in practice, quality improvement and informatics. The graduate is prepared to deliver nursing-care services to individuals, families, communities and populations as well as participate in the advancement of the nursing profession through contributions to practice, education, administration and knowledge development, maintaining the integrity of the profession and its practice the provision of leadership in social justice through health-care advocacy. The baccalaureate program provides a foundation for graduate education in nursing.

High school graduates are admitted as freshmen into the program, which leads to a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing. Total class enrollment is limited in consideration of educational and clinical resources. The curriculum can be completed in eight regular semesters of full-time study or four academic years.

The University of Scranton’s Nursing program has the full approval of the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. It is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120, (202) 887-6791.

The curriculum is based on a planned progression of courses so as to develop and build upon knowledge and skills at levels of increasing competency. Therefore, all required courses must be taken in sequence. For progression through the Nursing program, a minimum average grade of C must be attained in the prerequisite Natural Science courses (BIOL 110-111, BIOL 210, CHEM 110-111, NUTR 220). A minimum grade of C must be attained in the prerequisite Quantitative course, PSYC 210, and in each Nursing course. Students who score less than a 13 on the Math Placement exam during Freshman Orientation will be required to complete MATH 106 or an equivalent course. A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher and a GPA of 2.7 or higher in Nursing courses is required for progression to the junior level.

Final grade for Nursing courses with concurrent clinical laboratory: The clinical laboratory component of a Nursing course shall be on the basis of S, Satisfactory (Pass), or U, Unsatisfactory (Fail). If the student obtains an S in the clinical laboratory, the final grade in the course, which is entered on the permanent transcript, shall be the grade assigned for the lecture portion of the course. If the student does not obtain an S in the clinical laboratory, the final grade in the course, which is entered on the permanent transcript, shall be an F, no matter what grade was assigned for the lecture portion of the course. Both lecture and clinical components must be repeated if a grade of C-, D+, D or F is obtained in a Nursing course. To maximize success in the national licensure examination (NCLEX), senior students are required to complete an NCLEX review course prior to taking the exam.

Prior to the second semester of the sophomore year, students enrolled in the Nursing program must present a certificate as evidence of having completed the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and AED Basic Life Support course for health-care providers by the American Heart Association or CPR for the Professional Rescuer by the American Red Cross. In order to graduate, Nursing majors are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service during freshman and sophomore years, for a total of 40 hours. College of Graduate and Continuing Education students will meet the service-learning requirement by completing major courses that have a service learning component.

In addition to the general University tuition and fees, students majoring in Nursing assume responsibility for the following: uniforms and other required clinical accessories, yearly physical examinations, entrance eye examination, immunizations, comprehensive achievement tests, liability insurance, health insurance and any travel expenses incurred. Students must also provide their own transportation to and from agencies utilized for clinical laboratories and visits. Senior status in the program is defined as completion of at least 100 credits, including cognate and prerequisite courses for NURS 450 and NURS 452.

Applicants and students should be aware that Pennsylvania law prohibits licensure of individuals convicted of felonies related to controlled substance and may prohibit licensure if there is a conviction for any felonious act. For details, see the admissions materials and the Student Handbook of the Department of Nursing. Prior to clinical courses during the second semester of sophomore year, all Nursing majors are required to submit a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance and a Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check to the Nursing Department. Students whose primary residence is out of state must also submit an FBI background check. These clearances are maintained on file in the Department of Nursing. Copies will be provided to clinical sites upon request.

Upon graduation the student is eligible for admission to the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination).

The Department of Nursing also offers a flexible program for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses interested in returning to school to complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing. An accelerated track is offered for students interested in pursuing graduate education and who meet the admission criteria for this option. For B.S. requirements, please see the section on the College of Graduate and Continuing Education.

Forensic Health Concentration

This concentration is open to all undergraduate students but is of particular interest to those in health-related majors such as Nursing, Counseling and Human Services, and Occupational Therapy. Requirements for the concentration include four 3-credit courses and one 3-credit elective course for a total of 15 credits. See further details about the Forensic Health Concentration.

Nursing Curriculum
Dept. and No.				Descriptive Title of Course	Credits
				FIRST YEAR	FALL	SPRING
MAJOR		NURS 140 1		Introduction to Nursing Concepts		3
GE NSCI		CHEM 110–111		Introduction to Chemistry	3	3
GE NSCI		BIOL 110–111		Structure & Function	4	4
GE WRTG–SPCH		WRTG 107 – COMM 100		Composition – Public Speaking	3	3
GE C/IL		C/IL 102		Computing and Information Literacy		3
GE PHIL-T/RS		PHIL 120		Introduction to Philosophy	3
GE S/BH		PSYC 110		Fundamentals of Psychology	3
GE FSEM		INTD 100		Freshman Seminar	1
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education		1
					17	17
				SECOND YEAR
MAJOR		NURS 250		Physical Assessment / Health Patterns	3
MAJOR		NURS 251		Nursing Related to the Health Patterns		4
MAJOR		NURS 262		Pharmacology I		1
COGNATE		NUTR 220 1		Nutrition for Health Professions		3
COGNATE		BIOL 210		Introductory Medical Microbiology	3
GE QUAN		PSYC 210		Psychological Statistics		3
GE PHIL-T/RS		PHIL 210		Ethics	3
GE PHIL-T/RS		T/RS 121 - 122		Theology I - II	3	3
GE HUMN		HUMN ELECT		Humanities Electives	6
GE S/BH		PSYC 225 3		Abnormal Psychology		3
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education		1
					18	18
				THIRD YEAR
MAJOR		NURS 350–371		Nursing Care of the Adult I–II	5.5	5.5
MAJOR		NURS 352		Mental Health Nursing	5.5
MAJOR		NURS 373		Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family		5
MAJOR		NURS 360–361		Pharmacology II–III	1	1
GE PHIL-T/RS		PHIL 212 3		Medical Ethics	3
GE ELECT		PSYC 221 3 – ELECT		Childhood and Adolescence – Elective	3	3
					18	14.5
				FOURTH YEAR
MAJOR		NURS 450		Nursing Care of the Adult III	5.5
MAJOR		NURS 452		Nursing Care of Children and Adolescents	4.5
MAJOR		NURS 493		Research in Nursing	3
MAJOR		NURS 471		Community Health Nursing		3.5
MAJOR		NURS 473 2		Synth. of Leadership Concepts in Nursing		3
MAJOR		NURS 475 2		Critical Care Nursing		3
GE HUMN		HUMN ELECT		Humanities Elective	3	3
GE ELECT		FREE ELECT		Free Elective		3
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education	1
					17	15.5
					Total: 135 Credits
1 Fall or spring semester 2 ROTC option available 3 Recommended by the department