Course Catalogs

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2023-2024 Course Catalog
Catalog
2023-2024

Major:

Nursing Traditional (B.S.N.)

The Nebraska Wesleyan University Traditional BSN program offers a traditional 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree combining clinical and foundational knowledge including liberal arts courses to receive a more comprehensive education.

Students will gain hands on experience with over 800 clinical hours completed upon graduation from the program. Students will further develop critical thinking, decision-making and communication skills through clinical and preceptorship experiences. Students will also train in a fully equipped skills lab. Access to a simulation lab will be included in the clinical coursework.

This program has small class sizes with experienced faculty in all specialty areas of nursing. A prep course is built into the curriculum to help students succeed on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

The program application process opens November 1 and closes February 1.

Students will first complete prerequisite coursework totaling 34-36 credits before admission to the program. Some nursing courses are in 8 week formats. (See prerequisite course list below.)

Standard Admission

Admission to the NWU's Traditional BSN program is a competitive, holistic process and is based upon prerequisite GPA, overall college GPA, entrance exam, essay, and professional references. It is a selective process that admits a limited number of students per year. Students must meet these requirements to be admitted:

  • Completion of prerequisite courses with grade of “C” or better.
  • Satisfactory performance on Nursing Admission Exam (taken at NWU prior to admission).
  • Cumulative college GPA of 3.0 or higher in all college courses completed at the time of application.
  • CPR certification for Healthcare Providers from an approved provider (American Red Cross, American Hearth Association, National Safety Council, or Pro CPR).
  • Successful completion of a Certified Nurse Aid course and student is listed on the state registry.
  • Submission of 2 professional references.
  • Successful completion of background check, drug screen, immunization tracker, and essential functions form (Castlebranch).

Admission process is subject to change and/or revision by nursing faculty.

Direct Entry Admission as a High School Student

Direct Entry Admission is available to applicants of the Traditional BSN program whose high school GPA is 3.50 or higher. Up to 75% of each cohort can be admitted via Direct Entry Admission. Students in Direct Entry Admission program must meet these criteria to maintain their Direct Entry Admission status:

  • Maintain a college GPA of 3.0 or higher in all completed college coursework.
  • Pass all prerequisite coursework on first attempt.
  • CPR certification for Healthcare Providers from an approved provider (American Red Cross, American Hearth Association, National Safety Council, or Pro CPR).
  • Successful completion of a Certified Nurse Aid course and student is listed on the state registry.
  • Successful completion of background check, drug screen, immunization tracker, and essential functions form (Castlebranch).

Direct Entry Admission as a Transfer Student

  • Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher in all completed college coursework.
  • Pass all prerequisite coursework on first attempt.
  • No Pass/Fail courses in sciences (except labs graded P/F only).
  • No grade below C (2.0) in any college course.
  • CPR certification for Healthcare Providers from an approved provider (American Red Cross, American Hearth Association, National Safety Council, or Pro CPR).
  • Successful completion of a Certified Nurse Aid course and student is listed on the state registry.
  • Submission of 2 professional references.
  • Successful completion of background check, drug screen, immunization tracker, and essential functions form (Castlebranch).

Direct Entry Admission with completed Bachelor's or Graduate Degree

  • Graduated with cumulative college GPA of 3.5 or higher.
  • Prerequisite courses completed with a grade of C (2.0) or higher.
  • CPR certification for Healthcare Providers from an approved provider (American Red Cross, American Hearth Association, National Safety Council, or Pro CPR).
  • Successful completion of a Certified Nurse Aid course and student is listed on the state registry.
  • Submission of 2 professional references.
  • Successful completion of background check, drug screen, immunization tracker, and essential functions form (Castlebranch).

Students who are unable to maintain Direct Entry Admission status are encouraged to apply to the nursing program using the Standard Admission process outlined above.

Maintenance of Good Standing in Nursing Program

  1. Student must earn a C+ or better in all nursing courses (subject NURS) to continue in the nursing program.
    1. The student must maintain a cumulative average on exams of 78% in all nursing courses (subject NURS) in order to progress in the program. The weighted average of all examinations will be calculated before other coursework. If the average of exam grades is less than 78%, the exam average becomes the course final grade. If the exam average is greater than or equal to 78%, then other coursework scores will be added and the resulting average must be 78% or greater in order to pass the course.
    2. For courses in which theory and clinical are combined, clinical laboratory performance is rated on a Pass/Fail basis. A rating of "Fail" in clinical laboratory performance results in a F grade in the course. If the clinical laboratory performance is "Pass," the grade awarded for the course will be based upon the theory grade (see #1 above).
  2. Students will be dismissed from the nursing program if a final course grade of less than 78% (C+) is earned more than once in any combination of nursing courses required for the nursing major (subject NURS).
  3. NWU Student Code of Conduct violations may result in program dismissal.

 

Departments/Programs:

Nursing Traditional BSN (75 hours)
Prerequisite Courses
(Required to be taken before admission to program. Grade C or higher required in all prerequisite courses)
34 hours
IDS 1010 Archway Seminar4 hours
SOC 1110 Introduction to Sociology4 hours
BIO 1080 Microbiology*3 hours
BIO 1090 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology I* and
BIO 1090L Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory*
4 hours
BIO 1100 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology II* and
BIO 1100L Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab*
4 hours
CHEM 1110 Chemical Principles I *3 hours
ENG 1010FYW Writing and Language or other approved first-year writing course2, 3, or 4 hours
One college-level mathematics course2-5 hours
NURS 1910 Medical Terminology*1 hour
PSYCH 1010FYW Introduction to Psychological Science4 hours
*Courses must be completed by May 10th of application year. 
Required Nursing Courses**63 hours
NURS 2000 Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice and NURS 2000L3 hours
NURS 2100 Pharmacology I and NURS 2100L2 hours
NURS 2110 Pharmacology II2 hours
NURS 2180 Health Assessment for Traditional BSN Students and NURS 2180L3 hours
NURS 2200 Medical-Surgical I and NURS 2200C4 hours
NURS 2350 Medical Surgical II and NURS 2350C7 hours
NURS 2700 Mental Health and NURS 2700C3 hours
NURS 2710 Pathophysiology for Traditional BSN Students4 hours
NURS 3040 Global Health3 hours
NURS 3050 Leadership and Issues in Professional Nursing Practice3 hours
NURS 3310 Nursing Theories and Contemporary Nursing Practice3 hours
NURS 3340 Health Care Ethics3 hours
NURS 3360 Introduction to Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice4 hours
NURS 3400 Nursing of Women and Childbearing Family and NURS 3400C3 hours
NURS 3500 Nursing of Children and NURS 3500C3 hours
NURS 4300 Medical/Surgical III and NURS 4300C6 hours
NURS 4450 Community Health Nursing for Traditional BSN Students and NURS 4450C5 hours
NURS 4800 National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) Preparation2 hours
Capstone**3 hours
NURS 4970 Internship3 hours
Supporting Courses9 hours
PSYCH 2350 Lifespan Development4 hours
MATH 1300 Statistics3 hours
HHP 2500 Basic Human Nutrition2 hours


 **Grade of "C+" or better required for all Nursing courses.