Faculty:

• Andrea Berry, MSN, RN
• Diane Kondas, DNP, RN, CRNP, Program Director
• Tara Phillips, MSN, RN
• Carrie Slagle, MSN/ED, RN

 

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program is a major that prepares college students for a career as a professional registered nurse. Nurse professionals are members of interdisciplinary teams in hospitals, clinics, and community settings, and work with people of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and lifestyles to improve individual, community, and global population health. Upon completion of the degree, students will be eligible to take the national licensure examination (NCLEX) to become a registered nurse. 

The curriculum has been established incorporating the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (the Essentials), the American Nurses Association (ANA) Standards of Practice, and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) Competencies.

The coursework will include clinical experiences. Clinical experiences are designed to help the graduates achieve the Essentials, develop proficient psychomotor skills and communication strategies required of a nurse, and to prepare students to care for a variety of patients across the lifespan and continuum of health care. Clinical experiences will advance from basic, fundamental skills to increasingly complex clinical learning opportunities. Students will experience a preceptorship type of clinical experience in their senior year that will allow them the opportunity to develop increasing autonomy and assume an assignment that is more realistic of the workload of a novice nurse.

Daniel J. Wukich School of Nursing Mission & Philosophy:

The Daniel J. Wukich School of Nursing is grounded in the Catholic tradition and the values of Elizabeth Ann Seton.  Our purpose is to prepare safe, competent professional nurses guided by ethics, critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and practice standards.  Our graduates will work to transform the quality of healthcare in the world and demonstrate respect and compassion for every person.

 

Learning Objectives: Nursing 

1. Synthesize theories and concepts from the liberal arts, science, and nursing as a foundation for professional nursing practice within the context of a diverse global population.
2. Demonstrate clinical judgment and psychomotor skills necessary to assume a leadership role in providing safe, high quality health care.
3. Engage in the delivery of quality care that promotes health and human flourishing and addresses health disparities in vulnerable populations, locally and globally.
4. Incorporate information technology into the delivery of nursing care. 
5. Describe how economic trends, policies, and practices impact healthcare delivery.
6. Communicate and collaborate as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team to effectively implement evidence-based and holistic family centered care.
7. Practice patient-centered nursing care reflecting standards of autonomy, human dignity, ethical decision making, integrity, social justice, and respect.
8. Evaluate research findings and adapt nursing care based on best evidence, sound clinical judgment, and interprofessional perspectives.
9. Participate in the quality improvement process to improve the safety and quality of nursing care.

Requirements for Progression in the Nursing Major

For retention in the major, students must minimally earn a B- in all nursing courses (NU). Additionally, students must make required progress in the course of study and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. First-year students (Freshman) will not be placed on nursing probation during their first academic year at the University unless their cumulative grade point average drops below a 2.0, but will receive a warning email if their cumulative GPA falls below 3.0. Beginning with enrollment in SNU201, if the student’s GPA falls below 3.0, he/she will be placed on nursing academic probation. If the student’s GPA remains below 3.0 for a second semester, the student may be dismissed from the nursing major. Probation may be extended one semester if necessary to allow for a student to repeat a required course for the first time, and after review of overall academic progress by the nursing program director. 

Per University policy, all courses must be successfully completed within three (3) attempts. If students are unable to complete any nursing course within three (3) attempts this may be grounds for dismissal from the program. 

All candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing must complete the Liberal Arts Curriculum requirements, the capstone assessment requirement, and the required courses for the major. Additionally, nursing students must register for NU 110 NCLEX Preparation (0 credits) every Spring and Fall starting with the Spring Semester of Freshman year through the Spring semester of Senior year.

BSN Admission Requirements

In addition to the University’s general requirements for admission, the School of Nursing has its own entrance requirements and process, as described below. Applicants must have:

• a minimum high school GPA of 3.4
• a grade point average of 3.2 or higher in high school science courses
• If a student does not meet both minimum GPA requirements, students should complete one of the following options to be considered for admission. Nursing Program faculty will assess each application on an individual basis.
  1. Submit standardized test scores
     • Minimum ACT of 21 or
     • Minimum SAT of 1060
  2. Submit both of the following test-optional items
     • 1 letter of recommendation from a science teacher or instructor
     • Nursing essay based on the following:
       • What has influenced your interest in nursing? Describe how your personal strengths, experiences, and aptitude will contribute to your success in nursing school and career in nursing (community service, leadership experience, healthcare experience).

In addition, the high school academic course of study should include completion of the following courses:

• 2 years of science with laboratory
• 2 years of mathematics (should include algebra)

Transfer Students:

School of Nursing faculty will assess each transfer application on an individual basis. Current Seton Hill University students seeking a change of major to nursing are considered transfer students.

• Applicants seeking to transfer into the nursing program must have an overall college GPA of 3.0 and a minimum college GPA of 3.0 in science courses (applicants must show evidence of strength in science and math courses).
• There must be space available in the admission class.

Transfer students must provide the Program Director and Registrar with official transcripts of previous college work and high school transcripts, in addition to the other application materials. A Seton Hill student who meets admissions criteria shall have priority over students from other Universities.

Seton Hill courses SCH 115, SCH 116, SCH 202, SCH 203 (Biochemical Principles Lab), SNT 160, SHL 214, SHL 215, SHL 216, SHL 217, SBL 218, and SBL 219 or equivalent courses from another institution must be taken within 10 years of admittance to the nursing program. If not, the courses must be retaken.

Transfer of Nursing Coursework

The Nursing Program will consider accepting nursing courses transferred from another nursing accredited university after a review for content equivalency including expected learning outcomes, concepts/topics and nursing standards with Seton Hill University nursing courses. The nursing course to be transferred into Seton Hill’s Nursing Program will be evaluated for transfer credit on an individual basis. A grade of “B” or better is required for an accepted transferred nursing course. A nursing course will not be accepted for transfer if it was completed three or more years from the date of enrollment in the nursing program. Nursing students may be asked to provide the Nursing Program Director with a copy of the previous nursing course syllabus. At least 50% of the credits required for the nursing major must be taken at Seton Hill. Transfer of coursework must follow the Transfer of Coursework policy found in the Seton Hill University Academic Catalog.

Students wishing to transfer non-nursing courses must follow the Transfer of Coursework policy found in the Seton Hill University Academic Catalog.