Undergraduate BSN Course Information

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Mission Statement

The primary mission of the Department of Nursing is to educate professional nurses who are caring, competent, and qualified to practice in a constantly changing environment and with diverse populations.

Program Objectives

Integrate theoretical and evidence-based knowledge in the application of the nursing process to individuals, families, groups, aggregates and/or communities across practice settings.
Formulate nursing care that promotes wellness and incorporates the rights, unique abilities, beliefs, and values of persons as those persons develop throughout their life experiences.
Demonstrate leadership and management skills by collaborating with health team members in response to the clinical organizational, technological and fiscal challenges in the practice environment.
Demonstrate proficiency in written, verbal, nonverbal, and information technology modes of communication in professional settings.
Incorporate accountability, professional values and the application of professional nursing standards in the practice of caring and compassionate nursing in a changing health care environment.
Incorporate professional goals that include a commitment of service to the community and life-long learning.
Accreditation

This program is accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120, (202) 463-6930, http://www.aacn.nche.edu

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Program Plan

Liberal Studies

(CH 107-108* or CH 111-112 satisfies the natural science requirement. SO 101 satisfies 4 credits of the social science requirement. Transfer students, see note below.)

Health Promotion

All students must satisfy the university's liberal studies and health promotion requirements. For complete information refer to the Liberal Studies Program and Graduation Requirements section of the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Major

NE 200 Basic Health Assessment, Interviewing and Communication (T)	2
NE 200L Basic Health Assessment, Interviewing and Communication (L)	1
NE 201 Introduction to Nursing Concepts	4
NE 202 Introduction to Nursing Skills I (L)	1
NE 204 Introduction to Nursing Skills II (C)	2
NE 212 Pharmacology and Therapeutics (T)	2
NE 222 Pathophysiology (T)	3
NE 301 Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (T)	3
NE 311 Adult Health Nursing (T)	4
NE 312 Adult Health Nursing (C)	6
NE 322 Introduction to Nursing Research (T)	2
NE 371 Maternal - Infant Nursing (T)	2
NE 372 Maternal - Infant Nursing (C)	2
NE 381 Child and Family Nursing (T)	4
NE 382 Child and Family Nursing (C)	3
NE 420 Community Health Nursing & Continuity of Care (T)	4
NE 421 Community Health Nursing & Continuity of Care (C)	4
NE 422 Nursing Issues Seminar (T)	2
NE 431 Management Concepts in Nursing (T)	2
NE 432 Management Concepts in Nursing (C)	4
NE 435 Senior Nursing Seminar (T)	2

Other Required Courses

21-22

PY 100 General Psychology	4
BI 201 Human Anatomy (or BI 104)	3-4
BI 202 Human Physiology	5
BI 203* Medical Microbiology	5
HN 301 A + B Nutrition for Health Professionals	4

Review Testing Package**

General Electives

Total Credits for Degree

130

Key: T=Theory, C=Clinic

* Transfer Students: Other chemistry and/or microbiology courses may be substituted for the Northern Michigan University chemistry and microbiology course requirement (chemistry: 6 semester credit minimum; microbiology: 2 semester credits minimum) at the discretion of the nursing faculty.

** Review Testing Package
Beginning Winter 2001, each semester all BSN nursing majors will enroll in a special noncredit course for which a fee is assessed. The fee will be added to the tuition bill, and will cover the cost of participating in a review-testing package. The purpose of this review-testing package is to assist students in their progression through the BSN nursing program and to be successful on their RN licensing exam after graduation. Many nursing programs are using this method to ensure success of nursing graduates on the NCLEX-RN.

Note: RN students will be advised by the department regarding validation of previous course work.

BSN Program Policies from Undergraduate Bulletin

Pre-Admission Policies

The department strongly recommends that prospective nursing students prepare themselves in high school by taking the following courses: English (four years), mathematics (three or four years, including two years of algebra), social studies (four years) and one unit each of biology, chemistry and physics. Students without the necessary high school preparation in algebra and chemistry may need to take additional preparatory courses in these subjects, which will lengthen their program.

Prospective transfer students from community colleges should take courses equivalent to those listed as requirements for admission to the nursing sequence.

Entering students are assigned an adviser who helps them plan an academic program of pre-nursing courses. When the prerequisites are nearly completed students may apply for admission to the baccalaureate nursing sequence in consultation with an adviser.

Note: Completion of prerequisites does not guarantee admission to the nursing program.

Admission to the Baccalaureate Nursing Sequence

Before applying for admission to the nursing sequence applicants must:

1. Be admitted to Northern Michigan University;

2. Have completed or be in the process of completing the following courses: BI 201, BI 202, CH 107, CH 108, PY 100 and SO 101 or equivalent courses.
Prerequisites must be completed with a "C-" or better. In special circumstances, with permission of the department, BI 104 may be substituted for BI 201;

3. Admission Criteria: 2.75 or greater cumulative NMU GPA is required for students to be eligible for admission into the nursing major. (The transfer grade point average will be used until a student completes 12 credit hours at NMU).

4. Progression Criteria: A 2.25 cumulative GPA is the minimum required GPA for students to remain enrolled in the nursing major. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.25 while in the nursing program. If the cumulative GPA falls below 2.25, the student is not eligible to enroll in a nursing course until the cumulative GPA is raised to 2.25. Because the student is not enrolled in any nursing courses while the GPA is less than 2.25, the student must reapply to the nursing major when the student's GPA enables the student to again enroll in a nursing course.

5. Progression Criteria: Students must earn a "C" or better in nursing courses with traditional letter grades and must earn an "S" (satisfactory) in nursing courses with "S/U" grading in order to progress in the nursing curriculum.

6. Nursing theory courses that have an adjunct nursing clinical course are considered as one course in respect to the above criteria. They are not considered one course however, for GPA calculation by the university.

7. Applications: File an application with current transcript of grades with the Department of Nursing by February 1 for the succeeding fall semester, or by October 1 for the succeeding winter semester.

The Nursing Department admits a limited number of students to the baccalaureate nursing sequence in each semester. If the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of placements available the faculty reserves the right to select the applicants who shall be admitted. The remaining eligible applicants may apply for admission the following semester. Ordinarily, students may expect to complete the entire program in approximately three academic years after being admitted to the nursing sequence, assuming that they complete all of their courses satisfactorily and in sequence.

The department reserves the right to determine the method of selecting students admitted. The faculty reserves the right to withdraw any student whose health, conduct, scholastic standing or clinical practice is such that it is inadvisable for the student to remain in the School of Nursing. Each student is responsible for reading the Northern Michigan University Undergraduate Bulletin and the Student Nurse Handbook, and seeking consultation with the Nursing Department if specific questions arise. Records and applications of all students are reviewed promptly, and students are notified of acceptance or rejection no later than the beginning of the pre registration period.

Admission of Licensed Practical Nurses
to the Baccalaureate Program

Students with an LPN license who request admission to the BSN program, and who have graduated from an LPN program within 5 years of admission into the BSN program and/or who have worked as an LPN within 5 years of admission into the BSN program, are granted, without testing, advanced placement credit for: NE 201 (4 credits), NE 202 (1 credit) and NE 204 (2 credits).

LPN student applicants who have not practiced as an LPN and have graduated more than five years prior to admission will be required to successfully complete challenge exams for advanced placement credit.

All LPN student applicants may take the NLN Pharmacology placement exam for advanced placement credit for NE 212 (2 credits).

Students must submit a copy of their current Michigan LPN license prior to acceptance into the BSN program.

NE 200 and NE 200L will be prerequisites for admission into the BSN program. All other preadmission requirements remain the same.

Admission of Transfer Students

Transfer students must follow the procedures stated above and may apply for admission to the nursing sequence when eligible. The same selection criteria and procedures are followed as for all pre-nursing students.

Admission of Registered Nurses

Credit for selected previous nursing courses will be granted to those individuals transferring from an NLN accredited program or a community college with whom the School of Nursing has an articulation agreement, and successful completion of the Department RN to BSN transition classes.

To be admitted to the nursing major, ADN and diploma nurses must possess a current RN license and be licensed in Michigan. RN students must also complete selected prerequisites including NE 391/392 Transitions in Nursing before they will be admitted to the nursing major. The Department of Nursing will supply further information and advising.

Note: RN students will be advised by the school regarding validation of previous course work.

Retention in the Nursing Sequence

To remain in the program, students:

Must maintain a minimum 2.25 cumulative grade point average;

Must successfully complete a nursing course on the first or second attempt (i.e., students may repeat a nursing course only once);

May only fail one nursing course throughout the curriculum. Failure of more than one nursing course will result in dismissal from the program (new policy dated Fall 2001). Courses that are related including NE 200/200L, NE 201/202, NE 301/302, NE 311/312, NE 371/372, NE 381 382, NE 420/421 and NE 431/432 are considered one nursing course.

Must complete all nursing courses with a minimum grade of "C" or "S" when course is graded S.

Must adhere to the university student code; and

Must demonstrate a pattern of safe clinical practice commensurate with their educational experiences.

Students who withdraw from the program and wish to reenter must follow the same application and admission procedure as all pre-nursing students.

Note: Before graduation, students must pass the RN-CAT Exam. Students may take the exam only two times per semester. (This graduation requirement does not apply to RN-BSN program students.) All other Department of Nursing student policies are clearly described in the BSN Student Nurse Handbook, which is available in the school office.

Traditional BSN Application

BSN Handbook

BSN Information Packet

NMU Undergraduate Bulletin