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Nursing

School of the Health Professions

Department of Nursing

Interim Department Chair: Ellen Clayton, R.N., M.S.

Clinical Requirements

Clinical Requirements

Students have clinical experiences in the Nursing Resource Center, hospitals, and community-based settings. As students progress through the program, the opportunity to learn from experienced registered nurses in real-world settings allows the student to apply theory content to clinical practice. By the last semester for the final practicum experience, students work with a preceptor, following a typical nursing schedule. Throughout the program, clinical experiences may be scheduled for day or evening hours on weekdays or weekends. More detail on clinical requirements is included in the School of the Sciences Nursing Student Guide.

  1. CPR —In order to participate in clinical experiences, students must maintain current certification in the American Heart Association (AHA) Healthcare Provider Course. Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers course.
  2. Health requirements —In order to participate in clinical experiences, students must submit results of an annual PPD test and all other supplemental health requirements to Certified Background by July 1st.Required nursing student vaccinations and other requirements:
    • Tdap or TD (within the last 10 years)
    • 2 doses of MMR and a positive antibody titer
    • Written evidence of 2 doses of Varicella vaccine OR:
      1. Laboratory evidence of immunity or laboratory confirmation of disease
      2. Diagnosis or verification of a history of varicella disease by a health care provider or
      3. Diagnosis or verification of a history of Herpes Zoster by a health care provider
    • Written evidence of 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine and a positive antibody titer. If titer is negative, one booster shot is to be given followed by a repeat titer 1-2 months later to provide evidence of immunity.
    • Annual PPD test, if positive, a clear chest x-ray (within 5 years) and complete screening questionnaire-students must upload current documentation to Certified Background each year.
    • Annual influenza (flu) vaccine
    • CPR-specifically the AHA BLS for Health Care Providers
    • Proof of health insurance
    • Annual submission and upload of Student Acknowledgment and Waiver form to Certified Background
    • Annual Certified Background , background check - to be completed between June 1 and July 1 of each year
    • Annual Certified Background drug screen - to be completed between June 1 and July 1 of each year
    • Annual maintenance of student's Certified Background Immunization Tracker
    • Clinical documents to be completed per clinical course no later than August 1, unless otherwise stated by Clinical Contracts Manager.
    • Finger print and background check (senior students)

Students are not permitted into any clinical area without this information

  1. Clinical junior and senior requirements —Clinical requirements include but are not limited to vaccines, titers, background check, drug screening, physical examinations, health insurance, CPR and all other nursing student documentation must be completed as directed by the University and/or the Nursing Department. The necessary forms can be found under student documents on the School of the Sciences portal page by clicking on "Student Documents" and then finding the "Nursing" folder. Students are responsible for ensuring that they have met all clinical requirements for participation in the nursing program prior to the established annual deadline of July 1. Failure to do so will result in students being dropped from the clinical courses in which they are enrolled, which will adversely impact progression in the nursing program. Stevenson University Department of Nursing uses the Maryland Hospital Association's designated vendor, Certified Background , to manage student immunizations, compliance documents, background checks and drug screenings. Students should plan ahead for these extra expenses, as well as the cost of travel to clinical sites, and needed medical equipment, uniform and ID badge. Facility requirements may dictate that students come to the university and/or clinical sites prior to the start of courses to fill out necessary paperwork and complete necessary training. Students are not permitted to arrange their own clinical placements.
  2. Transportation —Transportation to and from clinical agencies is the responsibility of the student. Some clinical facilities may be at a distance from Stevenson University, so students should plan for extra time and expenses related to this travel.
  3. Dosage Policy --Students must meet the requirements for medication administration as outlined in theSchool of the Sciences Nursing Student Guide and NURS 200.
  4. Personal Health Insurance —Students are required to have personal health insurance coverage by the time they are eligible to take their first clinical course (NURS-310) and are encouraged to receive routine health care. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the Nursing Department in writing of any changes in health insurance carrier, benefits, or policy information. Students without health insurance may not participate in clinical experiences. The University does not provide or assume responsibility for student health care. The University requires a pre-entrance physical examination for all incoming students.

Description

Nursing Program Description

The Stevenson University nursing program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing. The nursing program prepares graduates with the education to creatively meet the challenges and demands of nursing in the twenty-first century. The goal of the program is to educate nurses who, as members of the health care team, address the varied health concerns of individuals, families, groups and communities. Nurses practice in a wide variety of settings—clinics, schools, hospitals, businesses, long-term care facilities, community agencies, and urgent care centers. In addition to the very real satisfaction a person gains from helping others in need, the reasons to consider nursing as a profession include intellectual stimulation, continued educational development, and the opportunity to work closely with other allied health professionals. Registered nurses are concerned with the health of the whole person. They care for the sick and injured as well as help people maintain and improve their health. Hospital nurses are an integral part of the interdisciplinary health care team; they collaborate by means of nursing and medical diagnoses and deliver expert, compassionate, and complex holistic care.

A combination of liberal arts and science courses develops the foundation for studying the discipline of nursing. An important feature of this program is the strong clinical experience. Students in this program receive a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing and are prepared to take the licensure examination for registered nurses (National Council Licensure Examination—NCLEX-RN). The nursing program provides an educational foundation for graduate study in nursing as well as the knowledge and experience necessary for advancement within the nursing profession.

The first two years of the nursing curriculum focus mainly on the Stevenson Educational Experience (S.E.E.) and other requirements that provide the foundation for 3rd and 4th year nursing courses. The nursing program introduces students to the diversity of nursing roles from wellness advocate to bedside caregiver, with the clinical application of these roles in actual health care settings. Courses enable the student to assess clients in a variety of settings and to plan nursing care strategies that meet their needs. Students are given opportunities to provide nursing care to individuals and families from birth to old age. The last year of the nursing curriculum is designed to move the focus of nursing from individuals and families to groups within a larger socio-cultural context. Students have the opportunity to practice nursing in complex and diverse settings. As students progress through the program, theory and clinical expectations increase as students move toward their desired goal of becoming competent, knowledgeable and caring practitioners. More detail on clinical requirements is included in the School of the Sciences Nursing Student Guide .

Successful completion of at least three years of college preparatory math and science courses provides the best foundation for students who are entering directly from high school. A verbal SAT score of 520 or above, a math SAT score of 500 or above, and a high school unweighted grade point average of 3.4 and above have been strongly correlated with student success in the Stevenson nursing program.

Admission to the Nursing program is reserved for applicants who have demonstrated the ability to meet the demands of Stevenson University's bachelor's level nursing curriculum. Please see the University web site for current admissions requirements.

RN to BS and Masters Options

The RN to BS option is designed to allow registered nurses to build upon prior nursing knowledge and to enable them to develop an understanding of new nursing roles for a changing health care environment. Classes are available online and are also offered in partnership with multiple community colleges, hospitals and other settings throughout the state in an online/hybrid format. For more information on this program or the graduate nursing program, including course descriptions for RN to BS, RN to MS, and Masters level courses, see the School of Graduate and Professional Studies Catalog .

Nursing Resource Center

The Nursing Resource Center provides nursing students with the opportunity to practice newly learned skills and apply nursing knowledge in a simulated hospital environment located on campus. The nursing skills laboratories are each furnished with multiple hospital beds, along with wheelchairs, stretchers, and many other items of up-to-date hospital equipment. Both high fidelity simulation and static mannequins provide the opportunity for students to practice skills in a realistic and safe manner. Computer programs in the lab allow students to work on diverse tasks, such as dosage calculations and licensure examination preparation.

Nursing Department Statement of Purpose

The philosophy of the nursing program is articulated as follows:

“The Stevenson University nursing program, as an integral part of its parent institution, is dedicated to the pursuit of higher learning grounded in the arts, sciences, and humanities. The philosophy and curricular focus of the nursing program emphasizes the ethic of caring, critical thinking, and a spirit of inquiry in education, practice, service, and research. The nursing faculty believes nursing is a professional discipline with academic and practice dimensions. The nursing faculty values scholarship and academic integrity and seeks to foster professional involvement and life-long learning in students and graduates. The essence of nursing is grounded in the philosophy of caring. The nursing faculty believes that caring exists in authentic relationships through which all persons are respected and nurtured. Within these co-created relationships, caring opens the possibility of transformation, inviting growth, healing, and wholeness of persons, families, and communities. In the reflective practice of nursing and nursing education, a caring environment affirms diversity in ways of being and ways of knowing.”

Objectives

The nursing program is dedicated to the pursuit of higher learning grounded in the arts, sciences, and humanities. Program objectives reflect the philosophy and curricular focus, emphasizing the ethic of care, critical thinking, and a spirit of inquiry in education, practice, service and research. Based upon these and other concepts, students are encouraged in the practice of caring through interactions and forming of relationships between their patient/clients, peers and faculty. The program has six overall objectives that are delineated into distinct levels which determine course content and progression to more complex learning within the nursing program. These objectives provide the framework for theory and clinical learning experiences throughout the curriculum.

Upon completion of the Stevenson University baccalaureate nursing program, graduates will be able to:

  1. Integrate the concepts of caring in nursing practice in diverse health care settings across the health-illness continuum.
  2. Engage in holistic reflective nursing practice informed by the arts, sciences, and humanities.
  3. Exhibit competencies in critical thinking, communication, evidence-based decision making, scholarly inquiry and technical skills in the practice of nursing.
  4. Integrate professional competencies in the nursing roles of provider, designer, manager, and coordinator of care and participate as an active member of the profession.
  5. Assume ethical and legal responsibility and accountability in nursing practice, exemplifying the values of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice.
  6. Apply leadership concepts, skills, and decision-making in creating caring environments to promote health and healing in individuals, families, communities, and global populations.

Policies

Nursing Program Policies for Continuance and Progression in the Major

Students must earn a minimum GPA as outlined below, and the lowest acceptable grade is a "C" in all nursing, math, and science courses.

During the first two years of study, nursing students must successfully complete the required liberal arts, science and nursing courses. These courses provide the foundation needed for the junior and senior level clinical nursing courses. There are specific criteria that must be met to satisfy prerequisite requirements and before students are allowed to progress from one level to the next. These criteria are outlined below.

Progression criteria for students entering sophomore-level course sequence

To progress to NURS-110 and BIO-240 (offered in the sophomore year) students must meet the following requirements:

  1. Cumulative GPA of 2.70 or higher
  2. Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher in all science courses (BIO and CHEM designations.)
  3. Achievement of at least a "C" or better in all science, mathematics and nursing courses
  4. Successful completion of recommended first-year courses, including a minimum of two of the prerequisite science courses
  5. None or only one repeated science course

Progression criteria for students entering junior-level course sequence

To progress to the 300-level clinical nursing sequence, students must meet the following requirements:

  1. Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
  2. Cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all science courses
  3. Achievement of at least a "C" or better in all science, mathematics and nursing courses
  4. Successful completion of recommended first and second year courses
  5. None or only one repeated science or nursing course
  6. Completion of Nutrition ATI content mastery test
  7. Health insurance (See clinical requirements)
  8. Completion of CPR training (See clinical requirements)
  9. Completion of annual PPD (See clinical requirements)
  10. Completion of School of the Sciences health form (See clinical requirements)
  11. Completion of nursing program-specific health requirements (See clinical requirements)
  12. Student Acknowledgment and Waiver form (See health requirements)
  13. Completion of criminal background check and drug screening (See health requirements)
  14. Completion of clinical documents as required by hospitals (See clinical requirements)
  15. Purchase of all required medical equipment, uniform and badge

Progression criteria for students entering senior-level course sequence

To progress to the 400-level clinical nursing sequence, students must meet the following requirements:

  1. Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
  2. Achievement of at least a "C" or better in all nursing courses
  3. None or only one repeated science or nursing course
  4. Completion of all junior level nursing courses
  5. Health insurance (See clinical requirements)
  6. Current CPR certification (See clinical requirements)
  7. Completion of annual PPD (See clinical requirements)
  8. Update of nursing program-specific health requirements (See clinical requirements)
  9. Student Acknowledgment and Waiver form (See clinical requirements)
  10. Completion of finger print and background check for NURS 405
  11. Completion of criminal background check and drug screening (See clinical requirements)
  12. Completion of clinical documents as required by hospitals (See clinical requirements)
  13. Achievement of 100% on dosage exam, per course requirements
  14. Completion of required ATI content mastery tests

Probation:

If a student achieves a grade of "C-," "D+," "D," or "F" in any science, math or nursing course, the course must be repeated and a "C" or better must be achieved to satisfy the prerequisite requirements. A maximum of one science or nursing course may be repeated once throughout the nursing program, even if it is a course repeated to improve GPA. Additionally, a student who achieves a grade of "C-," "D+," "D," or "F" in any science or nursing course will be placed on probation in the nursing major for the remainder of the program. If a student achieves a grade of "C-," "D+," "D," or "F" in MATH-135, the course must be repeated and a grade of "C" or better must be achieved to satisfy prerequisite requirements. MATH-135 may only be repeated two times. Students in the nursing major are not allowed to take science or nursing courses off campus.

Dismissal from the nursing major:

Students who earn a second grade of "C-," "D+," "D," or "F" in either a science or nursing course will be automatically dismissed from the nursing program. If a third grade of "C-" or lower is earned in MATH-135, the student will be automatically dismissed from the nursing program. Students who are dismissed from the nursing major are not eligible for readmission to the major.

Requirements

The courses listed below are required for completion of the bachelor's degree with a major in nursing for students following the full-time curriculum plan beginning fall, 2015. Students must also complete the requirements for the Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE).

Specific pre- and co-requisites for each course are listed in the course descriptions.

In general, students take lower-level (100- and 200-level) courses in freshman or sophomore years and upper-level (300- and 400-level) courses in junior or senior years. Courses in the nursing program are carefully sequenced to provide students with a growing theory base to promote success in subsequent courses. It is critical that nursing students on this plan consult their academic advisor when planning their course schedule.

Major Requirements:

BIO 113General Biology I: Cell Biology and Genetics

3 credits
BIO 113LGeneral Biology I Laboratory: Cell Biology and Genetics

1 credit
BIO 203Microbiology

4 credits
BIO 222Human Anatomy

4 credits
BIO 240Nutrition

3 credits
BIO 322Human Physiology

4 credits
CHEM 110Foundations of General, Organic and Biochemistry

3 credits
CHEM 110LFoundations of General, Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory

1 credit
MATH 135Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning

3 credits
NURS 102New Student Seminar-Nursing

1 credit
NURS 110Computer Technology in Nursing

3 credits
NURS 200Dosage Calculations

1 credit
NURS 310Introduction to Clinical Nursing

5 credits
NURS 311Communication and Cultural Competence in Professional Nursing

4 credits
NURS 317Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I

3 credits
NURS 318Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II

3 credits
NURS 330Health Assessment

3 credits
NURS 337Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

4 credits
NURS 338Care of the Childbearing Family

4 credits
NURS 360Medical/Surgical Nursing I

4 credits
NURS 405Care of Vulnerable Populations in the Community

4 credits
NURS 409Care of Children and Families

4 credits
NURS 435Professionalism in Nursing

3 credits
NURS 437Introduction to Nursing Research

3 credits
NURS 440Leadership Practicum in Contemporary Nursing Practice

4 credits
NURS 460Medical/Surgical Nursing II

4 credits
NURS 470Medical/Surgical Nursing III

6 credits
PHIL 215Ethics

3 credits
PSY 101Introduction to Psychology

3 credits
PSY 108Human Growth and Development

3 credits
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology

3 credits

Minor in Nursing

A minor in nursing is not available.

Course Descriptions

See Nursing Course Descriptions