Nursing: R.N. to B.S.N. Program (for Registered Nurses)
Overview
Maryland R.N.-B.S.N. Articulation Model
Accelerated Format
International/Study Abroad Opportunities
Cohorts
Admissions Requirements
Non-Academic Clinical Requirements
Policies
Course descriptions
Katharine C. Cook, Ph.D., R.N., Dean
Jane A. Balkam, Ph.D., A.P.R.N., C.P.U., I.B.C.L.C.
Janice Brennan, M.S., R.N., B.C., C.N.E.
Erica Brinkley, D.N.P., R.N.
Bethany Correlli, M.S.N., R.N.
Linda Diaconis, Ph.D., R.N.
Barbara Friend, M.S.N., R.N
Roxanne Moran, Ph.D., R.N., C.N.E.
Mary O'Connor, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.C.H.E.
Mary Packard, Ph.D., R.N., Chair, Undergraduate Studies
The School of Nursing offers an R.N. to B.S.N. (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program to students admitted through the College of Adult Undergraduate Studies (CAUS). Designed for practicing registered nurses, the program challenges women and men to strive for intellectual and professional excellence, to build inclusive communities, to engage in service to others and to promote social responsibility.
The philosophy of the School guides the practice and teaching of nursing as a journey through deep caring connections with patients, students, colleagues and the discipline of nursing. Nursing is imagined and known through caring authentic presence with others and multiple ways of knowing. Nursing is a presence to life lived with those entrusted to our care, a beacon, attentive to the extraordinary in the mundane and boldly entering questions of meaning. All stories of individuals and of the discipline are valued as necessary to the growth and advancement of the profession. Healing practice is possible in partnership relationships; nursing creates safe welcoming places, encouraging growth, seeking to understand and knowing each other's hearts.
Nurses are called to care through advocacy, action, 'power-with' and trusting relationships with persons and groups in diverse settings. Nursing embraces diversity and commitment to social justice. With perseverance and fortitude, caring and compassion are preserved as the ethical foundation of nursing practice and scholarship.
A nursing way of being requires reflective practice, a listening, that allows for meaning-making in all dimensions of academic and practice endeavors. Nursing practice is characterized by thoughtfulness and necessarily lived out with intention. This way of being a School of Nursing in all aspects allows for possibilities for our mission to be realized—educating nurses to transform the world.
The nursing program builds on registered nurses' prior education and clinical experiences and prepares them for the challenges and opportunities of the contemporary health care environment. Through Notre Dame's innovative curriculum, R.N. professional opportunities are expanded in as few as two and a half years of part-time study.
The nursing program is approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing and is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, Georgia, 30326; Phone: 404-975-5000).
Notre Dame's nursing program is a truly accelerated R.N.-B.S.N. program, offering most R.N.s the opportunity to take every class they need in the accelerated format. Students begin their program of study with an upper-level nursing course designed to assist students with the transition to baccalaureate nursing education. The remaining nursing courses are spaced throughout the program and are enhanced by courses in the sciences and liberal arts.
Nursing majors must complete a minimum of 120 credits and all University and department requirements to earn the bachelor of science degree. The required credits include 24 general education credits, six elective credits, 31 credits of department requirements, 30 upper-level nursing credits per the Maryland R.N.-B.S.N. Articulation Model and 29 upper-level nursing credits earned at Notre Dame.
All nursing courses meet in four-hour sessions on the same day of the week and at the same four-hour time frame during the entire program. In all upper-level nursing courses, the theory/didactic portion of the course has a one-credit-hour-to-eight-clock-hour ratio per course. Thus, students and faculty meet for 24 hours for each 3-credit didactic nursing course offering, including the didactic portion of the health assessment and clinical course. The one-credit health assessment lab has a one-credit-hour-to-14-clock-hours ratio per course, i.e. 14 lab hours over the eight-week course, which are included in the four-hour class period. The 5-credit clinical course has a one-credit-hour-to-16-clock-hours ratio, or 32 hours of clinical experience. One hour per week is designated as clinical conference time and occurs during the scheduled class time; the remaining 24 hours and 8 hours respectively, are completed through mentored clinical experience.
To enhance students' classroom and clinical education, several nursing courses integrate "service-learning" experiences. At Notre Dame, registered nursing students interact personally with faculty and fellow students while also taking advantage of up-to-date technology through online assignments and electronic communication with colleagues.
A grade of C (2.0) or higher is required for English Composition, Values/Ethics, Basic Statistics, all 31 credits of department requirements, and all 29 credits of upper-level nursing courses, whether they are taken at Notre Dame, accepted as transfer credit or challenged.
Maryland R.N.-B.S.N. Articulation Model
Notre Dame is a participant in the Maryland R.N.-B.S.N. Articulation Model.
All registered nurses admitted to CAUS will enter under the terms of this model, as they apply to Notre Dame's nursing program:
- Up to 60 community college credits will be accepted in transfer
- No community college nursing credits will be transferred
- All R.N.s with an active license in Maryland or a compact state will be granted 30 upper-level nursing credits per the Articulation Model
- R.N.s will complete the remaining 29 upper-level nursing credits and any additional program requirements through Notre Dame
A minimum of 30 earned credits from Notre Dame is required for graduation. The final 30 credits for the degree must be earned at Notre Dame.
Specific course requirements for the accelerated bachelor of science degree with a major in nursing include:
General Education requirements (24 Credits)*
200-level Philosophy (3)
200-level Religious Studies (3)
300/400-level Religious Studies (3)
English Composition (3)
Literature (3)
History (3)
Values (Ethics or Moral Issues) (3)
Math (Basic Statistics) (3)
*The general education requirements for natural and social sciences are part of the department requirements.
Please Note: As part of the degree program (120 credits) at least one course must be focused on gender studies and one on cross-cultural studies. Students who take the upper-level religious studies course as part of the accelerated sequence will fulfill the gender studies requirement through that course. The cross-cultural studies requirement will be fulfilled through the upper-level nursing course NUR-431 Community Health Nursing. Students who have earned an associate degree prior to admission to the University are exempt from the gender and cross-cultural requirement. However, most students will still have to complete the upper-level religious studies course to fulfill general education requirements; Community Health Nursing is a required course for the nursing major.
Electives (6 credits)
Department Requirements for the Nursing Major. (31 credits)
Human Anatomy & Physiology (6)*
Nutrition (3)
Microbiology (3)*
Survey of General, Organic and Biochemistry (4)*
Introduction to Psychology a (3)
Human Growth & Development a (3)
Introduction to Microcomputer Applications a, b (3)
Introduction to Sociology (3)
Genetics and Genomics for Clinical Practice (3)
*Lab Required
a Challenge Exam Available
b For an equivalent course to be accepted in transfer, the course must have been taken within five years prior to admission with a grade of C or higher.
Upper-Level nursing credits from ADN or diploma program granted through Maryland R.N.-B.S.N. Articulation Model (30 credits)
Upper-level nursing courses at Notre Dame (29 credits)
NUR-301 Holistic Health Assessment (4)
NUR-303 Nursing Informatics (2)
NUR-304 Healthy Aging (3)**
NUR-402 Transition to Professional Nursing Practice (3)
NUR-406 Contemporary Nursing Trends and Theory (3)**
NUR-407 Nursing Research (3)**
NUR-430 Family Nursing Assessment and Intervention (3)***
NUR-431 Community Health Nursing (fulfills cross-cultural requirement) (5)**
NUR-432 Nursing Leadership in the New Millennium (3)**
** Must be earned within five years of graduation.
***Must be earned within five years of graduation; five credit course for cohorts that began before fall 2009.
Accelerated Format
Associate degree R.N.s who want to study in a fully accelerated delivery mode can complete all remaining requirements for the bachelor's degree in two and a half years. 57 of the 120 credits may be completed in an accelerated format. Most of the other 63 credits must be completed prior to starting the accelerated sequence. In the accelerated format, R.N.s study with a group of peers, called a cohort, which meets weekly on the same day, at the same four-hour period, throughout the program. This consistency makes it easier for working R.N.s to integrate their work schedules and personal/family lives with their academic schedules. R.N.s who graduated from diploma programs may also study in the accelerated format once all pre-requisite courses are completed.
With the accelerated program, students complete several courses over the time frame of an average semester, but are usually concentrating on only one course at a time. Courses in the accelerated format range from five weeks to 10 weeks in length with class meetings at times convenient for working students. Cohort meeting times may be scheduled mornings, afternoons, or evenings on weekdays. Courses in the accelerated format are scheduled in an academically sound order that is designed to foster student success in the program.
The 57 credits of accelerated courses will be taken in an order similar to the following:
NUR-402 Transition to Professional Nursing Practice (3)
CST-130 Introduction to Microcomputers (3)
NUR-303 Nursing Informatics (2)
ENG-205 Literature (3)
PHL 200-level Philosophy (3)
PHL Values/Ethics (3)
CHM-108 Survey of General, Organic, and Biochemistry (4)
BIO-260 Genetics and Genomics for Clinical Practice (3)
NUR-301 Holistic Health Assessment (4)
NUR-406 Contemporary Trends and Theory (3)
MAT-215 Basic Statistics (3)
NUR-407 Nursing Research (3)
RST-201 Introduction to Biblical Studies (3)
NUR-304 Healthy Aging (3)
NUR-430 Family Nursing Assessment and Intervention (4)
NUR-431 Community Health Nursing (5)
RST-390 300/400 Religious Studies (3)
NUR-432 Nursing Leadership in the New Millennium (3)
In addition Nutrition (3 credits) can be challenged through testing or taken online. All nursing courses must be completed in the order listed and within a five-year period beginning with the completion of the third upper-level nursing course, NUR-406 Theory and Trends in Nursing.
Students who have transfer credit for any of the courses in the accelerated sequence "sit out" while that course is being offered and rejoin the cohort when the next course begins. Students who are unable to complete a course in the designated sequence may have to drop out of the current cohort and join another cohort in order to complete the courses in the designated sequence.
International/Study Abroad Opportunities
Special Topics in Nursing may be taken in place of Healthy Aging, Contemporary Trends and Theory, Family Nursing, Community Health Nursing, or Leadership. Contact the School of Nursing at 410-532-5526 for more information.
Cohorts
Students may join cohorts that meet at the Notre Dame campus, the HEAT Center in Harford County, or one of 16 partner hospitals. Students studying in hospital cohorts must work at that partner hospital.
Admission Requirements
In addition to matriculation requirements for all students in CAUS, all nursing majors must have an active R.N. license in Maryland or a compact state prior to matriculation.
Non-Academic Clinical Requirements
All students are responsible for their own transportation to and from clinical experiences. Students must complete the following requirements, at their own cost, prior to starting Community Health Nursing: active R.N. license in Maryland or a compact state; CPR certification; negative TB screening status; polio and tetanus vaccination; Hepatitis B vaccination or declination; evidence of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (titers or vaccination), and seasonal flu vaccination. Students must also sign statements that certify indemnity, confidentiality and Standard Precautions training. Students may also be required to complete a background check 10 days before clinical placement if stipulated in agency contracts. Students will not be allowed to start clinical courses until all required documentation is completed.
Policies
In addition to the policies and procedures in this catalog and the CAUS Handbook, all nursing majors are responsible for the policies and procedures in the current School of Nursing Accelerated R.N. to B.S.N. Student Handbook. Copies of the current version of both handbooks are on each cohort's Joule site under the "Information" section.
Course Descriptions
NUR-301 HOLISTIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Introduces the student to knowledge and skills essential for holistic health assessment. The psychological, physical, environmental, social, spiritual and genetic components of a health assessment will be applied. The student will practice assessment and interviewing skills in a skills laboratory. The student will analyze both subjective and objective data and document findings in the appropriate format. This course has 2 components: theory (3 credits) and practice (1 credit). Prerequisite: Acceptance into the nursing major. [4 credits], 8 weeks.
NUR-303 NURSING INFORMATICS
Students are introduced to online computer applications used in nursing and health care. Students acquire technical skills needed for the application of patient care technologies and competency in information literacy, information management, and information management systems for the purpose of safe, competent and quality patient care. Prerequisite: Facility in Windows operating system and competency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Internet Explorer; Introduction to Microcomputer Applications or waiver. [2 credits], 4 weeks
NUR-304 HEALTHY AGING
Explores the multiple dimensions of aging in America and in global societies. The course focuses on the foundations of healthy, successful aging based on national indicators, as well as the personal definitions and meanings of the older adult. Students will learn to support optimal promotion of health and wellness while exploring the care of who might also be experiencing illness, recovery or the end-of-life. The complex relationships among person-health-nursing-environment will be examined in depth. Prerequisite: Transition to Professional Nursing Practice, Nursing Research. [3 credits], 6 weeks
NUR-402 TRANSITION TO PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICE
Introduces students to skills that are essential for the successful transition to professional nursing practice and baccalaureate education. Includes an overview of the Notre Dame Nursing Program and an examination of: Transition Theory, the reciprocal relationship of theory and research and critical events in nursing history. Students will explore the most recent advances in information retrieval, the essential components of professional writing and presentations, and skills that will enhance critical thinking. Prerequisites: College Writing; Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Microbiology; Human Growth and Development; Introduction to Psychology; Introduction to Sociology; 8 credits of electives. [3 credits], 6 weeks
NUR-406 CONTEMPORARY NURSING TRENDS AND THEORY
Focuses on the use of nursing theory and contemporary challenges of providing and ensuring quality nursing and health care. Nursing process is reviewed with emphasis on evidence-based practice and health care today including current professional, legal and ethical standards. Prerequisites: Transition to Professional Nursing Practice, Medical Ethics. [3 credits], 6 weeks
NUR-407 NURSING RESEARCH
Introduces students to knowledge and skills that are essential for a consumer of nursing research. Examines use of the research process as a method to enhance scientific inquiry and to develop a knowledge base for nursing practice. Critical appraisal of both qualitative and quantitative methods in published nursing research is emphasized. Includes interpretation of basic descriptive and inferential statistics in published studies and evaluation of studies for nursing practice. Prerequisites: Transition to Professional Nursing Practice, Contemporary Nursing Trends and Theory, Basic Statistics. [3 credits], 7 weeks
NUR-428 SPECIAL TOPICS IN NURSING
Allows students to substitute an international/study abroad opportunity for one of the required nursing courses. May be taken in place of Healthy Aging, Contemporary Nursing Trends and Theory, Family Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Nursing Leadership. [3-5 credits]
NUR-430 FAMILY NURSING ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION
Provides the theoretical foundation for family nursing assessment and intervention with emphasis on family health promotion and health risk reduction. A variety of family assessment frameworks derived from nursing theories, social sciences and family therapy are examined. Students analyze the effects of demographic and social change on family health. Family assessment and intervention skills are refined. Prerequisite: Transition to Professional Nursing Practice, Nursing Research. [3 credits]; 6 weeks
NUR-431 CONCEPTS OF COMMUNITY HEALTH
Analyzes selected public health and nursing models for community health nursing practice in culturally diverse environments. Students explore specific issues and societal concerns that affect global and public health, including health care needs of vulnerable communities and populations at risk. Students are guided to develop intercultural competence through a series of activities and projects throughout the course. Students assess community health needs and implement strategies, as appropriate, to support health system integrity. A reflection on nursing care of communities as social justice is explored. Community health nurses' contributions to the health of populations and their role in governmental-legislative activities are examined. Prerequisites: Transition to Professional Nursing Practice, Nursing Research. [5 credits] This course has 2 components: theory (3 credits= 24 hours) and practice (2 credits = 32 hours); 8 weeks
NUR-432 NURSING LEADERSHIP IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM
Integrates previously learned nursing knowledge and skills with contemporary leadership and management theories, enabling students to more clearly define their roles as baccalaureate-prepared nurses. Students analyze the transition process to professional nursing practice opportunities for continued professional development, and leadership/management challenges created by increasingly complex health care environments. Prerequisite: Transition to Professional Nursing practice, Nursing Research; ideally, Nursing Leadership is the last course. [3 credits]; 6 weeks