School of Nursing

Vision Statement
We will be a nationally respected community of nurse leaders where passion, purpose, and experience unite to inspire health in individuals, families, communities, and populations.

Mission Statement
Shepherd University’s School of Nursing’s mission is to enhance the health status of the world by educating professional nurses for practice in a rapidly changing health care environment. We are dedicated to the university core values of learning, engagement, integrity, accessibility, and community.

Program Goals
The goals of the BSN program are to prepare a graduate who is able to:

1.  Integrate a background of liberal arts with the knowledge, skills, and values of professional nursing in order to affect the health of the patient.

2.  Practice professional nursing utilizing skills in communication, clinical judgment, patient-centered care and professionalism.

3.  Engage in teamwork with members of the intra- and inter-professional health care team promoting safe, quality, cost-effective, patient-centered care.

4.  Engage in self-care, service, lifelong learning, and continued scholarship.

Accreditation
West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses
101 Dee Drive
Charleston, WV 25311
304-558-3596

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Shepherd University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

Admission to the B.S.N. Program

The generic student seeking enrollment in the B.S.N. degree program must meet the requirements for admission to Shepherd University, as stated in the University Catalog. Freshman and sophomore students will be designated as pre-nursing students and will be advised by nursing faculty. The B.S.N. program is a limited enrollment program (see section titled Admission to Limited Enrollment Programs).

Students become candidates for admission into the nursing program upon meeting the following criteria:

1. Eligible to complete the 59 lower-division course hours as identified in the pre-nursing curriculum prior to matriculation.
2. Cumulative grade point average of 2.7.
3. Must achieve grade C or above in the following courses: BIOL 225 /BIOL 227 ; BIOL 226 /BIOL 228 ; BIOL 302 ; CHEM 125 /CHEM 125L ; mathematics and statistics; NURS 320 ; NUTR 318  ; PSYC 101 ; and SOCI 203 .
4. Submit a School of Nursing application for admission; and
5. Meet with academic advisor by March 1 for intended enrollment in the fall semester or October 1 for intended enrollment in the spring semester.

Special Requirements of Nursing Major

1. Submission of completed health data requirement prior to July 1 following acceptance into the program for fall semester and December 1 following acceptance into the program for the spring semester;
2. Submission of yearly PPD results (or chest x-ray, if appropriate) and evidence of American Heart Association Basic Cardiac Life Support for Healthcare Professionals CPR certification prior to July 1 of each year if admitted in the fall and December 1 if admitted in the spring;
3. Adhere to the policies in the School of Nursing Student Handbook;
4. Undergo a criminal background check and drug screen, according to the procedure specified by the School of Nursing;
5. Complete all course work within three years of admission into the nursing program;
6. Pay a required special fee for standardized testing.
7. Maintain personal health and medical malpractice (liability) insurance each semester;
8. Have iTouch or Smartphone technology and access to a personal computer and printer; and
9. Meet the core performance standards of the nursing program.

Graduation
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply for the National Council of Licensure Exam (NCLEX) Registered Nurse (R.N.) exam.
 

Eligibility for Licensure
The nursing law of West Virginia addresses criteria for application for licensure. The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses has the power to deny opportunity to procure licenses through testing if the applicant has willfully committed a felony under the laws of West Virginia. Any student entering the nursing program who has committed any illegal offenses (felony or misdemeanor) is encouraged to discuss these matters with the school director for clarification prior to admission. Details are requested when the graduate makes application for licensure.

R.N.-to-B.S.N. Track

The R.N.-to-B.S.N. track is designed to expand the registered nurse’s education. This program provides flexibility with a wide continuum of education and experience, based upon advisement and development of an individual growth plan.The expected competencies of R.N.-to-B.S.N. graduates are the same as those for graduates of the pre-licensure baccalaureate program.

R.N.-to-B.S.N. Admission Process

The following must be completed/submitted one month prior to beginning the first nursing course:

1. Official transcripts of all college work on file;
2. Pre-admission review with RN-to-BSN Coordinator;
3. Evidence of:
   1. current unencumbered West Virginia or valid multi-state R.N. license
   2. American Heart Association Basic Cardiac Life Support for the BLS Provider CPR certification
   3. Health data information (including immunizations)
   4. Medical malpractice (liability) insurance
   5. Personal health insurance
   6. Criminal background check (Fingerprints submitted and background check process initiated)
   7. Drug screen (Screen paid for thorugh Castle Branch. Student will be instructed to report for drug screening by SON)
4. Required cumulative GPA of 2.7 for all college work.

Articulation: R.N.s who have graduated from a state-approved and nationally-accredited associate degree nursing program will receive 38 nursing credits. Upon registering for their final semester, students may be given credit for NURS 330 , NURS 331 , NURS 332 , NURS 334 , NURS 340 , NURS 341 , NURS 342 , NURS 430 , NURS 431 , NURS 432 , NURS 438 , and NURS 445 .

R.N. to B.S.N. Track Requirements
It is expected that RNs will complete all of the Core Curriculum   and School of Nursing required pre-nursing courses before applying to the nursing program. 

The pre-nursing curriculum includes all of the university core curriculum, and the following courses required by the School of Nursing:

1. Anatomy and Physiology I and II
2. Microbiology (with lab)
3. Nutrition
4. Introduction to Psychology
5. General Sociology
6. A college level statistics course
7. A 4cr chemistry courses (with lab) equivalent to at least General Chemistry I.

The RN-to-BSN Coordinator will assist interested applicants in planning and executing the core curriculum and other pre-nursing courses, which may be completed at Shepherd University or any other accredited institution of higher education.

RNs will be required to take 30 credits of nursing courses to include:

1. NURS 320 Bioethics  
2. NURS 333 Health Assessment  
3. NURS 335 Nursing Informatics  
4. NURS 345 Genetics and Genomics in Nursing  
5. NURS 442 Patient-Centered Care: Population Health  
6. NURS 443 Leadership  
7. NURS 444 Capstone Immersion Experience  
8. NURS 447 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice  
9. NURS 510 Health Care Delivery Systems: Political, Social, and Economic Influences  

Progression
In order to progress and to graduate, the student enrolled in the B.S.N. program must:

1. Earn a minimum of C in each nursing course;
2. Maintain a minimum of 2.0 cumulative grade point average;

Ratio Clock to Credit Hour
The ratio of theory clock to credit hour is 1:1. A 2:1 ratio of clinical clock hours to credit hours in maintained. A clock hour equals 50 minutes.