Nursing, A.S.N.

The two-year nursing program prepares individuals for nursing careers involving the delivery of direct client care in settings such as hospitals, physician offices, clinics, extended care facilities, and the client’s home. The curriculum includes a balance of nursing and non-nursing courses. Students must obtain a “C” grade or better in all nursing courses to progress in the program. Students must have a combined average in both sections of Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL  210 /BIOL 212 ) and Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory (BIOL 211L /BIOL 213L ) of at least a 2.0 or “C”. Students must have a combined average in Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory of at least 2.0 or a “C” or better in BIOL 107 Microbiology for Health Professionals . If a student makes an “F” in lab, he or she must repeat it, but will be allowed to continue in the nursing program if the average of the lecture and lab components of the course is “C” or better. However, the student must satisfactorily complete the lab course within one year. Students must make at least a “C” in lecture component of all biological science courses. Nursing courses are designed to provide learning opportunities for acquiring the necessary nursing knowledge and skill to practice nursing at the associate degree level. The focus is holistic health promotion and wellness.

Mission Statement

To provide an affordable, quality educational program in a nurturing environment to the graduate nurse with the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for success as a registered professional nurse.

Philosophy

The Bluefield State University AS Nursing department embraces the Bluefield State University’s mission statement by providing an affordable, quality educational program in a nurturing environment. The philosophy of the nursing program is based on the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) project funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Inherent in the QSEN competencies are the NLN core values, integrated concepts and competencies for graduates of Associate Degree programs including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity and spirit of inquiry (NLN, 2010). The four major categories of client need on the NCLEX-RN test plan are also integrated into the curriculum. These include safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity and physiological integrity.

The profession of nursing involves the art and science of caring. It encompasses the provision and promotion of safe, patient-centered care in the community and throughout the lifespan. Nursing care is provided in collaboration with the patient, family and members of the interdisciplinary team while incorporating informatics into contemporary healthcare settings. The nursing process is the organizing framework that integrates the identification of human needs and provides therapeutic interventions based on clinical reasoning, nursing judgement and evidence based practice. The nurse monitors patient outcomes for quality and safety improvements of health care systems.

The goal of the faculty is to reflect QSEN pre-licensure knowledge, skills and attitudes in their teaching, learning activities and ongoing curriculum development. This process assists in the preparation of students for successful entry-level practice of the Associate Degree prepared registered nurse. Additionally, a commitment to life-long learning to expand personal and professional growth is encouraged.

Concepts of the Bluefield State University AS Nursing Program Patient Centered Care

Recognize the patient or designee as the source of control and full partner in providing compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for patient’s preference, values, and needs.

Teamwork and Collaboration

Function effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care.

Evidenced-Based Practice

Integrate best current evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values for delivery of optimal health care.

Quality Improvement

Use data to monitor the outcomes of care processes and use improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care systems.

Safety

Minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.

Informatics

Use information and technology skills are essential for safe patient care.

Human Flourishing

Advocate for patients and families in ways to promote their self-determination, integrity, and ongoing growth as human beings.

Nursing Judgment

Make judgments in practice, substantiated with evidence, that integrate nursing science in the provision of safe, quality care and that promote the health of patients within a family and community context.

Professional Identity

Implement one’s role as a nurse in ways that reflect integrity, responsibility, ethical practices, and an evolving identity as a nurse committed to evidence-based practice, caring, advocacy, and safe quality care for diverse patients within a family and community context.

Spirit of Inquiry

Examine the evidence that underlies clinical nursing practice to challenge the status quo, question underlying assumptions, and offer new insights to improve the quality of care for patients, families, and communities.

Nursing Process

A systematic decision-making method focusing on identifying and treating responses of individuals or groups to actual or potential alterations of health.

Clinical Reasoning

The process by which nurses collect and process information, come to the understanding of a patient’s or group’s problem or situation, plan and implement interventions, evaluate outcomes, and reflect on and learn from the process.

Student Learning Outcomes

The Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) are derived from the program’s philosophy and the organizing framework. The philosophy of the nursing program is based on the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) project funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Inherent in the QSEN competencies are the NLN core values, integrated concepts and competencies for graduates of Associate Degree programs including human flourishing, nursing judgment, professional identity and spirit of inquiry (NLN, 2010). The four major categories of client needs on the NCLEX-RN test plan are also integrated into the curriculum. These include safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity and physiological integrity.

At the completion of the Associate Degree Nursing Program, the graduate will be prepared to:

1. Utilize evidenced based nursing interventions to assist the individual, family, and community in health promotion and physiological and psychosocial adaptation across the lifespan by utilizing the nursing process.
2. Support a caring environment that respects the diversity of the individual, family, and community’s values, customs, spiritual beliefs and culture.
3. Collaborates and communicates effectively within nursing and multidisciplinary teams to achieve safe and quality client care in diverse environments.
4. Manage patient care technology and utilize information management systems while delivering nursing care across the lifespan.
5. Utilize the principles of quality improvement to monitor psychological and psychosocial outcomes of client care.

Revised 3/01, 11/04, 3/09, 8/14, 11/14/10/18

Eligibility Requirements

Meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the Associate of Science in Nursing program.

Eligibility requirements for admission to the associate degree-nursing program include:

1. Meet general admission requirements.
2. An ACT math main score of 19, better, or eligibility to enter Math 101 by the fall semester of entrance year into the program.
3. An overall high school grade point average of 2.8 or better on a 4.0 scale, or a score of 45 on each of the GED exams.
4.  
   1. Have completed with a “C” or better one unit of high school algebra, one unit of high school biology and one unit of high school chemistry (ACT/SAT equivalent score of 19 in mathematics will substitute for the algebra course).
      Or
   2. Be enrolled at Bluefield State University or another accredited institution of higher learning prior to application, having completed a minimum of 12 credit hours** and achieving a 2.8 or better grade point average. A “C” grade or better is required in each of the following: one mathematics course, one biology course and one introductory chemistry course. (Also required for college students are copies of their high school transcripts and ACT/SAT scores).
      ** Developmental education courses will not be considered.
5. Complete the ATI TEAS Admission test with a proficient or higher overall score. Completion of ATI TEAS does not meet all requirements for admissions to the program. ATI TEAS can be taken September 1 - January 31 each year. ATI TEAS can be taken twice. Score on the ATI TEAS are valid for two academic years.
6. Completion of Health 100, with a “C” or better, prior to admission to the program is highly recommended.
7. Applicants exceeding these academic standards and course requirements will be given first priority.

The Associate Degree Nursing program is approved by the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850 Atlanta, GA, 30326, telephone (404) 975-5000).

Upon successful completion of the associate degree program in nursing, the graduate is eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Exam - RN (NCLEX-RN). Successful completion of this examination allows the graduate to apply for licensure as a registered nurse.

Transfer Students

It is the policy of the Bluefield State University Department of Nursing that students transferring from nursing programs at other accredited institutions of higher education must, at a minimum, complete nineteen (19) credit hours of nursing courses at Bluefield State University. The nursing faculty regards the acquisition of clinical skills, as well as the ability to utilize and implement nursing process, as essential parts of the nursing student’s education. It is believed that these standards may be met in this way.

Applicants who wish to transfer from nursing programs at other accredited institutions of higher education must meet the requirements for admission into Bluefield State University’s nursing program. Students seeking transfer will be required to submit official transcripts, course descriptions and course syllabi for any nursing courses being considered for credit in the nursing program. Only nursing courses completed with a grade of “C” or better and completed within the last year will be considered. Transfer students will be evaluated on an individual basis and must satisfactorily complete the lab competency examinations. Students desiring transfer should contact the Director of Associate Degree Nursing in the School of Nursing and Allied Health.