Nursing Education

The vision of the Department of Nursing Education is to prepare caring, competent, culturally-sensitive nurse leaders who are inspired to shape the future of healthcare for a diverse society through excellence in nursing education. In order to achieve this vision, the mission of the Department of Nursing Education is to enhance the health status of the world by educating professional nurses for practice in a rapidly changing healthcare environment as a nurse generalist. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program prepares professional nurses for entry into practice as nurse generalists through traditional or R.N.-B.S.N. tracks. In addition, the department provides continuing education opportunities for professional nurses in this region.
 

Committed to excellence in nursing education, the Department of Nursing Education embraces the University’s five core values: learning, engagement, integrity, accessibility, and community. The University core values are embedded in our beliefs about health, professional nursing, nursing education, and patient, which are integrated throughout the curriculum.
 

The goals of the B.S.N. program are to prepare a graduate who is able to:

1. Integrate a background in the liberal arts with the knowledge, skills, and values of professional nursing in order to affect the health of the patient.
2. Practice professional nursing as a nurse generalist utilizing skills in leadership, quality improvement, and patient safety in order to provide evidenced-based, high quality, patient-centered care.
3. Utilize information management and technology to provide multidimensional patient-centered care.
4. Assume the role of a professional nurse in developing health policy through recognizing, evaluating, and responding to the changing needs of society.
5. Utilize skills in clinical judgment in providing safe, cost-effective, high-quality, multidimensional, evidence-based patient-centered care.
6. Utilize effective interprofessional, intraprofessional, and collaborative communication skills with members of the healthcare team in the delivery of patient-centered care.
7. Value service to the community.
8. Engage in personal self-care and a commitment to lifelong learning.

The B.S.N. program is designed to assist students to achieve program outcomes and attain the knowledge, skills, values, ethical framework, and competencies appropriate for entry-level registered nurse generalists. Three overall program outcomes have been established and include: communication, clinical judgment, and patient-centered care.
 

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

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
One Dupont Circle, NW Suite 530
Washington, DC  20036-1120
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 must 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 in their sophomore year 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. Completion of NURS 310 Lifespan Health Promotion in Nursing ;
3. Cumulative grade point average of 2.7.
4. Must achieve grade C or above in the following courses: BIOL 225 /BIOL 227 ; BIOL 226 /BIOL 228 ; BIOL 302 ;CHEM 120 /CHEM 120L ; CHEM 122 /CHEM 122L ; statistics; and NURS 310 ;
5. Submit a Department of Nursing Education application for admission; and
6. 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. Attend annual nursing assembly as scheduled;
4. Adhere to the policies in the Department of Nursing Education Student Handbook;
5. Undergo a criminal background check and drug screen, according to the procedure specified by the Department of Nursing Education;
6. Complete all course work within three years of admission into the nursing program;
7. Pay a required special fee for standardized testing.
8. Maintain personal health and medical malpractice (liability) insurance each semester;
9. Have iTouch or Smartphone technology and access to a personal computer and printer; and
10. 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 department chair 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. Previous education and experience are evaluated through the use of a professional portfolio. The expected competencies of R.N.-to-B.S.N. graduates are the same as those for graduates of the generic baccalaureate program.

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

The following must be submitted to the department chair one month prior to beginning the first nursing course:

1.  Department of Nursing Education admission application;
2. Official transcript copy on file;
3. Admission interview with advisor;
4. Proof of:
   
   1. current West Virginia R.N. license
   2. American Heart Association Basic Cardiac Life Support for the the Health Care Provider CPR certification
   3. Health data information (including immunizations)
   4. Medical malpractice (liability) insurance
   5. Personal health insurance
   6. Criminal background check
   7. Drug screen 
5. A professional portfolio which includes: 
   1. Current resume
   2. Continuing education/certification
   3. Professional goals for completing the program
   4. Professional activities for the last three years (committees, professional organizations, etc)
   5. Community service in nursing/health-related activities
6. Required GPA of 2.7

Articulation: R.N.s who have graduated from a state-approved and nationally-accredited associate degree nursing program will receive 41 nursing credits. After completing NURS 442 , 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 , NURS 444 , and NURS 445 . Completion of NURS 510  waives the requirement of NURS 310 .

R.N. to B.S.N. Track Requirements
It is expected that RNs will complete most of the required Core Curriculum  courses before applying to the nursing program.  Please see your advisor for assistance in program planning.

R.N.s will be required to take 23 credits of nursing courses to include:

1. NURS 333 Health Assessment 
2. NURS 335 Nursing Informatics 
3. NURS 344 Human Genetics with Ethical Applications 
4. NURS 437 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice 
5. NURS 442 Patient-Centered Care: Population Health 
6. NURS 443 Leadership 
7. 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;
3. Satisfy pre- and corequisite requirements as scheduled.

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.