2005 - 2006 Nursing Program (NURS)

Mission | Program Goals | Program Requirements | Prerequisite Requirements | Application | Additional Requirements Upon Acceptance | Dismissal from the Program | Nursing Major | Basic Plan of Study | Advanced Standing | Course Descriptions

Dean - Jean Dyer
Program Director - Diane Van Os

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 nurses. 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 the profession of nursing.

Program Goals

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

1. Provide professional nursing care based on knowledge derived from theory and research.
2. Synthesize the theoretical and empirical knowledge from nursing, life, physical and social sciences, and the arts and humanities with the practice of professional nursing.
3. Apply the nursing process to provide nursing care for individuals, families, groups, and communities in a variety of health care settings.
4. Accept responsibility and accountability for the effectiveness of their own nursing practice.
5. Influence the quality of nursing and health care within practice settings through the use of leadership skills, management concepts, and knowledge of the political system.
6. Evaluate research to determine the applicability of research findings to nursing practice.
7. 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.
8. Incorporate professional values with the ethical, moral, and legal aspects of nursing practice.
9. Recognize the health needs of today's society and function in a changing health care delivery system.
10. Apply critical thinking skills in personal and professional transitional situations.

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 is provided in the sections "Undergraduate Degree Requirements" and "Academic Policies and Procedures."

Admission & Prerequisite Support Course Requirements

Students who qualify for admission to Westminster College can declare a pre-nursing major. Students apply to progress into nursing courses after completing the prerequisite support classes with a grade of C- or higher, including the liberal education classes, ENGL 110, and SOC 105 or SOC 253 or ANTH 252. Students who have a minimum cumulative and prerequisite grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale in both the prerequisite and general education courses will be considered for admission to the undergraduate nursing program. Please refer to the chart below for a complete list of required prerequisite coursework.

All nursing students are encouraged to take the Math Placement Test upon entering Westminster College in order to determine if additional coursework in mathematics is necessary prior to enrolling in MATH 150. A computer class or computer competency exam must be successfully passed as a prerequisite.

Application to the Nursing Program

In addition to applying for admission to Westminster College, students apply to the Nursing Program during the sophomore year of study. Acceptance is determined by the School of Nursing & Health Sciences Admission and Progression Committee, which bases its decisions on the following criteria:

1. A minimum cumulative and prerequisite grade point average of 2.70, and a grade of C- or higher in all prerequisite courses.
2. Three letters of recommendation indicating qualifications for success in nursing. Transfer students (excluding licensed practical nurses) transferring from another school of nursing must also submit a letter of recommendation from the transfer school's Dean of Nursing.
3. Priority is given to qualified students who have taken at least two semesters at Westminster.
4. 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.
5. A typed Letter of Intent, which includes statements related to the candidate's skills and qualifications. The letter is judged on content, clarity, motivation to become a nurse, spelling, and grammar.
6. Students will be required to provide proof of state and federal background checks every year and at time of application.
7. Students will be required to provide drug testing results from an approved laboratory at time of application.

Applications to progress in the undergraduate nursing program will be reviewed after the nursing student submits to the School of Nursing a completed application form, copies of transcripts from all schools attended, and letters of recommendation. Applications will only be reviewed for those students who have submitted all necessary paperwork by the identified deadline.

Additional Requirements Upon Acceptance

Upon approval to progress, students are asked to present a current health certificate indicating health status and current immunizations, including Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccinations, 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 coursework. 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 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 will be required to provide proof of state and federal background checks every year.

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 continued 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, evening, or weekend shifts.

Students need to be aware that they:

1. 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.
2. Are required to achieve a grade of C or higher in nursing coursework. 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

3. Must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.3 or higher in nursing coursework in order to graduate.
4. Must fulfill the required prerequisites before enrolling in a course. Can repeat only one clinical course one time only, including withdrawal from the course for failure.

Academic Probation and Dismissal Policy

A student may receive a clinical/classroom warning of probationary status at any time during a clinical or classroom experience if the instructor determines that the student's performance is unsatisfactory. The written warning will outline what the student must do to meet the course requirements. Students who have been placed on probation will be formally evaluated at the end of that course. Probation will be removed if the student is able to successfully meet the objectives by the end of the course. Students must be removed from probation to progress to the next course. However, any probationary status will be documented in the student record.

A student will be dismissed from the nursing program for any of the following reasons:

1. Violations of the academic honesty policies (see below).
2. Violation of the American Nurses Association "Code for Nurses" guidelines for ethical practice, or the National Student Nurses' Association "Code of Academic and Clinical Conduct."
3. Failure to maintain a grade point average (GPA) appropriate to the program.
4. A documented pattern of unprofessional behavior in the classroom or clinical setting.
5. Unsafe practice in the clinical area.
6. Failure of a second nursing course.

Students dismissed from the nursing program related to clinical/classroom deficiencies must petition the Admission & Progression Committee for readmission if they wish to reenter the program. Matters of personal concern to the student will be considered at this time. The Admission & Progression Committee will make a recommendation to the Dean of the School of Nursing & Health Sciences regarding readmission to the nursing program.

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

Nursing Major

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 "Academic Policies and Procedures" for further explanation of the college's credit/no credit policy concerning the following LE requirements.

Skills Requirements (2)
SPCH 111 Public Presentations (2)

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
ECON/PLSC 200FN Social Sciences I Foundation Course

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
HIST/PHIL/ENGL 200FN Humanities Foundation Course

Group 6: Literature, one course (4)
ENGL 220 Introduction to Literature
HIST/PHIL/ENGL 200FN Humanities Foundation Course

Group 7: Arts Survey, one course (3)
ART 110 Survey of Art
MUSC 110 Survey of Western Art Music
THTR 124 Survey of the Theatre
ART/MUSC/THTR 200FN Experiencing the Arts (fulfills Group 7 & 8)

Group 8: Arts/Physical Activity, one course (1-3)
ART 101 Beginning Drawing
ART 103 Beginning Painting
ART 148 Fundamentals of Pottery
MUSC 115 Griffin Chorus
MUSC 125 Westminster Jazz Combo
MUSC 135 Westminster Chamber Orchestra
MUSC 315 Westminster Chamber Singers
PE Any physical activity class
THTR 127 Stagecraft
THTR 180 Acting I
ART/MUSC/THTR 200FN Experiencing the Arts (fulfills Group 7 & 8)

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
HIST/PHIL/ENGL 200FN Humanities Foundation Course

Basic Plan of Study

* Beginning in the Spring of the junior year, all nursing courses are taught in 7-week blocks.

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 liberal education courses during the summer to lighten their semester course loads.

Options for Advanced Standing

Transfer Students

Program requirements must be met by all nursing students. Transfer students may meet some of their requirements by equivalent transfer credit.

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 coursework, taken in an accredited college or university, will be made by the nursing program.

Licensed Practical Nurses

Licensed 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.