2002 - 2003 Nursing Program (NURS)

Kathleen Emrich, Dean and Program Director

Mission of the Undergraduate Nursing Program

The primary goal of the undergraduate nursing program is to prepare professional nurse generalists whose liberal arts and professional education enables them to meet the health care needs of society and to continue life-long personal and professional development. To this end, the program offers a major in nursing leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. The program is designed to accommodate beginning undergraduate students, transfer students, students seeking a second degree, and licensed practical and registered nurse students. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the national licensing examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

The nursing curriculum is designed with the premise that to be excellent practitioners, students must be able to think critically, communicate effectively, understand their own values, and be sensitive to the values of others. In addition, they must have a thorough understanding of the theoretical, empirical, and practical knowledge related to nursing.

Program Objectives

The undergraduate nursing program is structured so that graduates of the program will be able to:

Provide professional nursing care based on knowledge derived from theory and research.
Synthesize the theoretical and empirical knowledge from nursing, life, physical and social sciences, and the arts and humanities with the practice of professional nursing.
Use the nursing process to provide nursing care for individuals, families, groups, and communities in a variety of health care settings.
Accept responsibility and accountability for the effectiveness of their own nursing practice.
Influence the quality of nursing and health care within practice settings through the use of leadership skills, management concepts, and a knowledge of the political system.
Evaluate research to determine the applicability of research findings to nursing practice.
Collaborate with other health care providers and members of the general public in promoting the health and well being of people throughout the life cycle.
Incorporate professional values with the ethical, moral, and legal aspects of nursing practice.
Recognize the health needs of today's society and function in a changing health care delivery system.

Program Requirements

The undergraduate nursing program may be completed in four years. Attending at least one summer term is highly recommended to lighten the student's academic load. Requirements include courses in the humanities, life sciences, behavioral and physical sciences, and nursing. Many of the courses are structured on a sequential basis. Students must be careful to take these sequential courses in the correct order. Following the basic plan of study and obtaining approval of all course registrations from a nursing faculty advisor will prevent a student from having to wait a full year to complete a sequence. Additional information about college policies, such as credit by examination, is provided in the section "Undergraduate Degree Requirements."

Prerequisite Support Course Requirements

Students begin the nursing major after completing the prerequisite support classes with a grade of C- or higher, including the liberal education classes, ENGL 110, MATH 150, and SOC 105 or SOC 253. Students who have a minimum cumulative or prerequisite grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale will be considered for admission to the undergraduate nursing program. Please refer to the chart on page 231 for a complete list of required prerequisite course work.

All nursing students are encouraged to take the Math Placement Test upon entering Westminster College in order to determine if additional course work in mathematics is necessary prior to enrolling in MATH 105.

Application to the Nursing Program

In addition to applying for admission to Westminster College, students apply to the Nursing Program. Acceptance is determined by the Admission and Progression Committee, which bases its decisions on the following criteria:

A minimum grade point average of 2.50, cumulative or prerequisite, and a grade of C- or higher in all prerequisite courses.
Three letters of recommendation indicating qualifications for success in nursing. Transfer students (excluding licensed practical and registered nurse students) from another school of nursing must also submit a letter of recommendation from the transfer school's Dean of Nursing.
Number of hours completed at Westminster. Priority is given to qualified students who have taken at least two semesters at Westminster.
Criteria for the LPN are the same as for basic students except that the applicant must be a graduate of an accredited practical nursing program and submit proof of a valid current Utah practical nurse license in good standing.
Criteria for RNs are similar to those for basic students. The applicant must be a graduate of an accredited associate degree or diploma program and must provide a copy of a valid current Utah registered nurse license in good standing with the application. Registered nurses, with the help of advisors, develop individualized courses of study.
A typed Letter of Intent, which includes statements concerning candidates' skills and qualifications. The letter is judged on content, clarity, spelling, and grammar.

Applications to the undergraduate nursing program will be reviewed after the prospective nursing student submits to the School of Nursing a completed application form, copies of transcripts from all schools attended, and letters of recommendation. Students may apply for admission to the School of Nursing beginning the first working day of October. RN students' deadline for application is prior to fall semester when RN students begin nursing courses. Application materials are available in the School of Nursing Office.

Additional Requirements Upon Acceptance

Upon acceptance to the program, students are asked to present a current health certificate indicating health status and current immunizations, including Hepatitis B vaccination, and a negative TB test or its equivalent. All students are required to present evidence of current CPR certification and current immunizations before they can begin clinical course work. CPR certification and immunizations must be kept current throughout the program. Students will be responsible for providing documentation for their file on a yearly basis. A copy of current Utah licensure in good standing for practical or registered nurses needs to be provided to the School of Nursing. Malpractice insurance will be purchased by Westminster College and billed to each student. Nursing students are required to have their own health insurance.

Students need to be able to provide for their own transportation to clinical sites. Students are expected to wear the official nursing student uniform to clinical experiences and to abide by the dress standard as outlined in the Undergraduate Nursing Student Handbook.

For successful progression through the program, nursing students are required to maintain high academic and personal standards. Elaboration of progression policies are published in the Undergraduate Nursing Student Handbook.

Clinical rotations may be scheduled during day or evening hours.

Students need to be aware that they:

Are expected to be honest, responsible, dependable, and mature. The nursing faculty expects that students will be responsible for maintaining integrity in meeting course requirements. This includes being responsible for their own learning, making appropriate contacts when unable to meet clinical assignments, and honesty in written work and exams. The college policy on academic honesty outlines actions that may be taken in the event of dishonesty.

Are required to achieve a grade of C or higher in nursing course work. To achieve the minimum grade requirement, a grade of C or higher is necessary in both theoretical and clinical components of each nursing course. Grades of C- and below are not acceptable.

Nursing Program Grading System
A	(4.0)	95-100%
A-	(3.7)	90-94%
B+	(3.3)	87-89%
B	(3.0)	83-86%
B-	(2.7)	80-82%
C+	(2.3)	78-79%
C	(2.0)	75-77%
C-	(1.7)	73-74%
D+	(1.3)	69-72%
D	(1.0)	65-68%
D-	(0.7)	62-64%
F	(0.0)	61 & below

Must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.3 or higher in nursing course work in order to graduate. This means students have to earn some grades that are higher than a C or they will fail to meet the minimum grade point average.
Can repeat only one clinical course one time only, including withdrawal from the course for failure, and must fulfill the required prerequisites before enrolling in a course.

Dismissal from the Program

The School of Nursing reserves the right to dismiss those students from the program whose scholastic achievement falls below the standards required, whose physical or emotional health is impaired, or whose conduct is unsatisfactory due to, but not limited by, such behavioral problems as cheating, plagiarizing, and drug or alcohol abuse. Students who fail two clinical courses in the nursing major will be dismissed from the program.

Students have the right to appeal decisions of academic evaluation or dismissal through the Appeals Process of the School of Nursing. The procedure for appeal is outlined in the Undergraduate Nursing Student Handbook.

Nursing Major

Liberal Education Courses

Credit Hours

The following courses, which fulfill LE requirements, are also nursing prerequisites:

BIOL 103 Human Anatomy and Lab
BIOL 104 Human Physiology and Lab
BIOL 111 Clinical Microbiology and Lab
(The above three courses combined fulfill Group 1: Life Sciences LE requirement.)

CHEM 103 Introduction to Chemistry, LE
ENGL 110 Composition and Research, LE
MATH 150 Elementary Statistics
SOC 105 Introduction to Sociology, LE
or
SOC 253 Sociology of the Family, LE

4
4
4

4
4
4
4

4

Requirement Description		Credit Hours
I.	Foreign Language Requirement	4
	All nursing majors must complete 4 hours of foreign language. See Foreign Language Requirement for equivalencies, AP and CLEP credit policy.	4
II.	Prerequisite/Support Courses	44 - 45
	BIOL 103 Human Anatomy and Lab BIOL 104 Human Physiology and Lab BIOL 111 Clinical Microbiology and Lab CHEM 103 Introduction to Chemistry and Lab, LE CHEM 201 Organic and Biochemistry ENGL 110 Composition and Research, LE MATH 105 Intermediate Algebra or higher MATH 150 Elementary Statistics, LE* NURS 210 Nutrition NURS 280 Pathophysiology PSYC 303 Life Span Developmental Psychology SOC 105 Introduction to Sociology, LE (4) or SOC 253 Sociology of the Family, LE (4) Successful completion of the Computer Competency Exam or CMPT 098 (1) *MATH 150 must be taken prior to enrollment in Junior-level nursing courses.	4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 3 3 4 0 - 1
III.	Required Nursing Courses	57
	NURS 220 Pharmacology NURS 302 Health Assessment NURS 303 Introduction to Professional Nursing NURS 304 Adult Health Nursing NURS 306 Gerontological Nursing NURS 308 Nursing of the Childbearing Family NURS 309 Child Health Nursing NURS 390 Nursing Theory and Research NURS 404 Critical Care Nursing NURS 405 Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing NURS 408 Community Health Nursing NURS 409 Nursing Leadership	2 2 5 6 3 6 6 3 6 6 6 6
TOTAL HOURS FOR THE NURSING MAJOR		105 -106

Remaining Liberal Education Requirements

English and computer literacy skills requirements, and liberal education requirements Groups 1, 2, and 4, are fulfilled by nursing prerequisites and may not be taken for credit/no credit. See "Registration Policies" for further explanation of the college's credit/no credit policy concerning the following LE requirements.

Skills Requirements (2)
SPCH 111 Public Presentations

Group 3: Social Sciences I, one course (4)
ECON 105 Introduction to Economics as a Social Science
ECON 253 Elementary Macroeconomics
PLSC 101 Introduction to Political Science
PLSC 121 American National Government

Group 5: History, one course (3-4)
HIST 112 Western Civilization I
HIST 113 Western Civilization II
HIST 212 World History to 1500
HIST 220 United States History

Group 6: Literature, one course (4)
ENGL 220 Introduction to Literature

Group 7: Arts Survey, one course (3)
ART 110 Survey of Art
MUSC 110 Survey of Music
THTR 124 Survey of the Theatre

Group 8: Arts/Physical Activity, one course (1-3)
ART 101 Beginning Drawing
ART 103 Beginning Painting
ART 148 Fundamentals of Pottery
MUSC 105 Ensembles (3)
MUSC 305 Ensembles (3)
PE Any physical activity class
THTR 127 Stagecraft
THTR 180 Acting I

Group 9: Philosophy/Religion, one course (3-4)
PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 102 Critical Thinking
PHIL 206 Introduction to Ethics
REL 101 Religions of the World

Basic Plan of Study

Fall			Spring
Freshman Year
BIOL	103 Human Anatomy	4	BIOL	104 Human Physiology	4
CHEM	103 Intro to Chem	4	CHEM	201 Organic/Biochem	4
ENGL	110 Comp & Research	4	PSYC	303 Life Span Dev Psyc	3
MATH	105 Intermed Algebra	3	SOC SOC	105 Intro to Soc or 253 Soc of Family	4
LE Class Arts/Phys. Education		1	LE Class Survey or Speech		2-3
		16			17-18

Sophomore Year
BIOL	111 Clinical Microbiology	4	NURS	220 Pharmacology	2
NURS	210 Nutrition	3	NURS	302 Health Assessment	2
NURS	280 Pathophysiology	3	NURS	303 Intro to Prof Nursing	5
LE Class Survey or Speech		2-3	MATH	150 Elementary Statistics	4
CMPT 098 Basic Computer Skills (if necessary) or LE Class Hist, Lit, Phil/Rel Soc Sci I or For Lang		1-4	LE Class Hist, Lit, Phil/Rel, Soc Sci I or For Lang		3-4
		13-17			16-17

Junior Year
NURS	304 Adult Health Nursing	6	NURS	308 Nsg. of the Childbearing Family	6
NURS	306 Gerontological Nurs	3	NURS	309 Child Health Nsg	6
NURS	390 Theory & Research	3	LE Class Hist, Lit, Phil/Rel, Soc Sci I or For Lang		4
LE Class Hist, Lit, Phil/Rel, Soc Sci I or For Lang		4			16
		16

Senior Year
NURS	405 Psyc/Mental Health Nsg	6	NURS	404 Critical Care Nsg	6
NURS	408 Community Health Nsg	6	NURS	409 Nursing Leadership	6
LE Class Hist, Lit, Phil/Rel, Soc Sci I or For Lang		3 - 4	LE Class Hist, Lit, Phil/Rel, Soc Sci I or For Lan		3 - 4
		15 - 16			15 - 16

May Term

Elective courses are offered during May Term.

Summer Term

Nursing students who follow this basic plan of study are strongly encouraged to take at least two of the following LE courses during the summer: History, Literature, Philosophy/Religion, Social Sciences I, or Foreign Language. To lighten their semester course loads, nursing students are strongly encouraged to attend additional Summer Terms in order to pick up a number of their liberal education requirements instead of taking the LE courses during the Fall or Spring semesters of the regular school year.

Options for Advanced Standing

Transfer Students

Program requirements must be met by all nursing students. Transfer students who are licensed practical nurses or registered nurses may meet some of these requirements by equivalent transfer credit and validation of prior competency through credit by examination.

Microbiology and human physiology must have been taken within the past five years. Students who took these courses longer than five years ago may repeat the course or satisfy requirements by passing a National League for Nursing (NLN) examination. If the student enters with a pathophysiology class taken within the past five years, the time frame for microbiology and human physiology will be waived.

Nursing prerequisite courses need to be fulfilled by students with prior degrees. Individual evaluations of comparable academic course work, taken in an accredited college or university, will be made by the nursing program.

Licensed Practical Nurses

In lieu of repeating the course NURS 220, Pharmacology, licensed practical nurses are encouraged to demonstrate their competency by passing the National League for Nursing (NLN) standardized examination. Practical nurses may choose to take a basic skills test for NURS 303, Introduction to Professional Nursing. Students who pass the basic skills test enroll for 3 hours of NURS 303, rather than 5 hours. Licensed practical nurse students enter the program as second semester sophomores and follow the basic plan of study.

Registered Nurses

Registered nurses, with the help of their advisors, develop individualized programs of study. This program will reflect how and when the student plans to complete support/prerequisite courses and core nursing courses. NURS 303 is waived. Registered nurses are encouraged to take the National League for Nursing (NLN) Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam (ACE) II RN-BSN and pharmacology examinations. Upon achieving satisfactory scores, the student is awarded academic credit for the following courses:

NURS	220 Pharmacology	2
NURS	304 Adult Health Nursing	6
NURS	308 Nursing of the Childbearing Family	6
NURS	309 Child Health Nursing	6
NURS	405 Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing	6

Test results must be evaluated prior to students enrolling in any 400-level nursing courses. In addition to credit by examination, registered nurse students who have current CCRN Certification may challenge NURS 404, Critical Care Nursing.

Nursing Courses to be Taken by RN Students at Westminster

Registered nurse students must complete, at a minimum, thirty-six semester hours at Westminster to include the following nursing courses:

Requirement Description		Credit Hours
I.	Required Nursing Courses	28
	NURS 302 Health Assessment NURS 306 Gerontological Nursing NURS 380 Dimensions of Nursing NURS 390 Nursing Theory and Research NURS 404 Critical Care Nursing NURS 408 Community Health Nursing NURS 409 Nursing Leadership	2 3 2 3 6 6 6
II.	Additional Courses	8
	A minimum of eight hours of additional course work to be taken at Westminster College	8
MINIMUM HOURS TO BE TAKEN AT WESTMINSTER FOR RN STUDENTS		36