The School of Nursing offers programs from the certificate level to graduate degree. The School of Nursing offers several program options: 1) a licensed practical nursing certificate; 2) a BSN degree program; 3) an LPN to BSN program (for LPNs desiring to obtain a baccalaureate degree); 4) an RN to BSN degree program (for registered nurses who desire to obtain a baccalaureate degree in nursing; and 5) an MSN degree program with a family nurse practitioner functional track as its specialty.

The BSN program prepares students to function as professional nurses in a variety of hospital and community settings. Students acquire the requisite knowledge and skills to practice across a variety of settings with diverse populations within the health care system and be independently skillful in the promotion and maintenance of health, the prevention of disease, and the management, coordination and supervision of client care.

The program leading to the bachelor of science in nursing degree combines the study of humanities and physical and behavioral sciences with professional nursing courses and clinical experience. To complete the program, students are expected to demonstrate competency in critical thinking, communication, and therapeutic nursing interventions when providing care for clients, families and communities. Graduates of the program are qualified to take the National Council for Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) and to apply for entrance to graduate programs in nursing.

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.

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 Human Anatomy, BI 202 Human Physiology, CH 107 Introductory Chemistry I, CH 108 Introductory Chemistry II, PY 100 Psychology and SO 101 Introductory Sociology or equivalent courses. Prerequisites must be completed with a "C-"or better. In special circumstances, the department may substitute BI 104 for BI 201; and

3. have a 2.75 or greater cumulative NMU GPA. The transfer grade point average will be used until a student completes 12 credit hours at NMU.

All prospective BSN students must complete and submit an application with a current transcript of grades to the School of Nursing by February 1 for the succeeding fall semester, or by October 1 for the succeeding winter semester.

The School of Nursing admits a limited number of students to the baccalaureate nursing sequence in each semester. 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. 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.

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 Introduction to Nursing Concepts: Theory (4 credits), NE 202 Introduction to Nursing Skills I: Lab (1 credit) and NE 204 Introduction to Nursing Concepts II:Clinical (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 Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2 credits).

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

Preadmission requirements are the same as delineated in "Admission to the Baccalaureate Nursing Sequence."

Credit for 39 semester hours of 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. RNs who enter the BSN program with a deficit in nursing credits can make up the deficit with credits from the School of Nursing including nursing electives, NE 399 and/or NE 491. If the scheduling and/or staffing of nursing courses does not allow the student the opportunity to make up the credit deficit from nursing courses, other courses may be substituted with department approval.

To be admitted to the nursing major, RN to BSN applicants must:

1. be admitted to Northern Michigan University;

2. have graduated from a state-approved diploma or associate degree program in nursing;

3. provide a photocopy of a Michigan RN license (or proof of being in process of obtaining licensure);

4. have a 2.75 or greater cumulative NMU GPA. The transfer grade point average will be used until a student completes 12 credit hours at NMU; and

5. have completed or concurrently enrolled in the following courses: CH 107, CH 108, CH 112, BI 201, BI 202, BI 203, SO 101, PY 100, HN 301. NE 391 and NE 392. Prerequisites must be completed with a "C-" or higher. In special circumstances the department may substitute BI 104 for BI 201.

To remain in the program, all students:

1. must maintain a minimum 2.25 cumulative grade point average. 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. Since the student is not enrolled in any nursing classes 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 class;

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

3. may only fail one nursing course throughout the curriculum. Failure in more than one of the following nursing courses will result in dismissal from the program: NE 200/200L Basic Health Assessment, Interviewing and Communication: Theory and Laboratory; NE 201/202 Introduction to Nursing Concepts: Theory and Laboratory; NE 301/302 Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing: Theory and Clinical; NE 311/312 Adult Health Nursing: Theory and Clinical; NE 371/372 Maternal-Infant Nursing: Theory and Clinical; NE 381/382 Child and Family Nursing: Theory and Clinical; NE 420/421Community Health Nursing and Continuity of Care: Theory and Clinical; and NE 431/432 Management Concepts in Nursing;

4. must complete all nursing courses with a minimum grade of "C" or "S" when course is graded "S/U";

5. must adhere to the university student code; and

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

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 School of Nursing if specific questions arise.

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

BSN majors enroll in a special noncredit course each semester that costs an additional $60. This fee covers the cost of BSN students participating in a review testing package to assist them in their progression through the BSN curriculum and to be successful on their RN licensing exam after graduation.

In addition to content exams each semester while students are in the BSN program, students will be provided a pre-RN review course at no additional cost.