Nursing (Pre-licensure B.S.N. in the College of Arts and Sciences)

Faculty

Stephanie Holaday, Program Director
Maryann Valcourt, Assistant Professor of Nursing

Description

Designed for students just starting their studies in nursing, Trinity’s Pre-Licensure BSN Program combines the academic structure and clinical preparation necessary for a career in nursing. Students focus initially on liberal arts courses that provide a framework for their chosen major in nursing. The rigorous academic coursework in the nursing program then lays the foundation for a progressive mastery of the knowledge, skills, values, ethics, and abilities required of a professional nurse. Toward the end of the program, students will have ample opportunities to experience firsthand the rewards of nursing in numerous, closely supervised clinical settings. The culmination of the program is the successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, after which students are qualified to practice as licensed registered nurses.

Major Requirements

I. CAS GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (67 Credits)

FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS (16 credits)

  • Critical reading (3 credits) CRS 102 CRS: Prof & Career Success in the Health Professions
  • Written communication (3 credits or waive by assessment placement above ENGL 107 College Composition level)
  • Oral communication (3 credits) COM 110 Communication for Academic Success
  • Critical reasoning (3 credits required) NURS 117 Foundations for Professional Nursing Practice /HPNU 117
  • Quantitative reasoning (3 credits or waive by placing into Math 125 or higher) MATH 109 Foundations of Mathematics or higher

KNOWLEDGE AND INQUIRY (34 credits)

  • Social sciences (complete 9 credits in 3 different disciplines)
    o Economics ECON 101 Introduction to Microeconomics
    o Psychology PSYC 101 Introductory Psychology
    o Sociology SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology
    o Political Science
  • Sciences and mathematics (complete 7-8 credits, of which one course must be in laboratory science)
    o Biology BIOL 121 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
    o Chemistry (CHEM 113 Chemistry for the Health Sciences is required)
    o Physics
    o Math MATH 110 Introduction to Statistics
  • History, arts, and humanities (complete 9 credits, one course in each discipline)
    o History
    o Fine Arts
    o English
  • Foreign language (students must demonstrate proficiency equal to one year of coursework; totals 6 credits)
  • General Education Capstone Seminar (taken in second semester of sophomore year, or after earning at least 40 credits) NURS 330 Nursing Theory and Research (totals 3 credits, also satisfies intensive writing requirement DCBON)

VALUES AND BELIEFS (6 credits)

  • Religious Studies and Theology (3 credits)
  • Philosophy (3 credits) PHIL 351 Bioethics for Health Care Professionals

APPLICATIONS: TURNING KNOWLEDGE INTO ACTION (9 credits)

  • Civic knowledge (3 credits) NURS 320 Policy and Politics in Nursing
  • Experiential learning (3 credits) NURS 350 Midlife through Geriatric Nursing
  • Leadership (3 credits) NURS 410 Leadership and Management of Health Care

II. PRE-NURSING COURSES

. BIOL 121 Human Anatomy and Physiology I

A systematic approach to the study of the human body. The first part of this year-long course emphasizes the tissues, the integumentary system, the bones and skeletal tissue, muscles and muscle tissue, and the nervous system. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts discussed during the lecture portion of the class to clinical questions presented throughout the semester. Three hours of laboratory per week. Does not fulfill Biology major requirement. There is an additional laboratory fee.

4 credits

General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area

(4 credits) (this also fulfills General Education Knowledge and Inquiry)
. BIOL 122 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
. BIOL 130 Microbiology for the Health Professions (4 credits)
. CHEM 113 Chemistry for the Health Sciences (4 credits)
. HPNU 200 Nutrition, Diet Therapy, and Health Promotion (3 credits)
. HPNU 210 Pathophysiology (3 credits)
. HPNU 220 Pharmacology (3 credits)

III. NURSING-SPECIFIC DIDACTIC AND CLINICAL COURSES

. NURS 360 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

This theory course focuses on the knowledge, skills, values and meanings necessary for nursing care of and for clients with psychiatric and mental health disorders. Using an integrative approach, course content is based on the biological, psychological, and socio-cultural aspects of behavior disorders.

3 credits

Prerequisite(s): All 100 and 200 level NURS and HPNU courses; NURS 350 & NURS 350C


. NURS 361 Adolescent &Young Adult Nursing
. NURS 462 Complex Nursing
. NURS 461 Pediatric Nursing
. NURS 350 Midlife through Geriatric Nursing (this also fulfills General Education Applications)
. NURS 460 Maternity and Newborn Nursing
. NURS 420 Community and Public Health Nursing

IV. ADDITIONAL NURSING SKILLS-RELATED COURSES

. CRS 102 CRS: Prof & Career Success in the Health Professions

Strengthens the student's critical reading skills through close readings of texts on contemporary health care issues. Students will explore the evolution of the various disciplines in the health professions and models of professional socialization. Current issues and trends influencing the health care delivery system, such as increased use of technology, rising health care costs, and maintaining quality in health care agencies are among the topics of discussion. Students will develop proficiency in the use of select electronic data bases, as well as techniques of professional writing.

(cross-referenced with HPNU 110 Professional and Career Success in the Health Professions : this also fulfills General Education Foundational Skills Critical Reading. CRS 102 CRS: Prof & Career Success in the Health Professions serves as the first pre-nursing course)
. NURS 117 Foundations for Professional Nursing Practice (cross-referenced with HPNU 117: this also fulfills General Education Foundational Skills Critical Reasoning)
. NURS 217
. NURS 230
. NURS 320 Policy and Politics in Nursing (this also fulfills General Education Applications)
. NURS 330 Nursing Theory and Research (this also fulfills General Education Capstone Seminar)
. NURS 410 Leadership and Management of Health Care (this also fulfills General Education Applications)
. NURS 417
. NURS 401 Clinical Preceptorship
. NURS 491
. NURS 499

V. DC BOARD OF NURSING-REQUIRED UPPER-LEVEL GENERAL EDUCATION ELECTIVES
(6 credits) (these credits are fulfilled by taking General Education Requirements in Knowledge and Inquiry as well as by fulfilling the Foreign Language requirement.)

Program Policies

I. Acceptance into the CAS Pre-Licensure BSN Nursing Program

A. Acceptance Criteria:

Formal acceptance requires:

  1. Successful completion of ALL CAS General Education and Pre-Nursing courses with a grade of "C" or higher.
  2. Overall GPA of at least 2.5
  3. Satisfactory score on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) test

Pre-licensure BSN students should direct any questions about the process for formal acceptance into the Nursing Program to their undergraduate advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences.

B. Application Process for Acceptance:

1. Students should apply early in the semester PRIOR to the semester of their projected acceptance date.

2. Students should take the TEAS test during the same semester that they make acceptance for application. Students may take the TEAS test up to three times.

3. Students will be notified by the Nursing Program Director of the results of their application when all criteria for considering the application have been received and evaluated.

Questions regarding the application process, acceptance criteria, or TEAS test should be directed to the Nursing Program Office (202.885.9670) or to the student's undergraduate advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences.

II. Health Requirements*

  • Current physical examination
  • Current immunizations
    • DPT (every 10 years)
    • MMR
    • Varicella
    • Hepatitis (3 doses)
    • PPD (annual)
    • Tetanus
    • Influenza (annual recommended)
    • Current major medical health insurance

NOTE: No student will be allowed to participate in clinical experiences unless and until these health requirements have been satisfied.

III. Other Requirements

  • Proof of professional liability/malpractice insurance
  • Satisfactor result of a criminal background check - including all aliases and nationwide sexual offenders index with a set of fingerprints
  • CPR certification as a Health Care Provider
  • Proof of OSHA training

NOTE: No student will be allowed to participate in clinical experiences unless and until these other requirements have been satisfied.

IV. Transfer Policy

Students transferring to Trinity in or after Fall 2002 from another appropriately accredited institution of higher learning for a bachelor’s degree must earn a minimum of 45 of their final 60 credits through course work at Trinity, excluding credits for experiential learning. Therefore, students may transfer up to 83 credits to fulfill the pre-licensure BSN degree requirements of 128 credits.

V. Grades in Major Courses

Students are required to earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or better in all courses counted to fulfill requirements for the major: for a list of these courses, please consult the Director of the Nursing Program.

VI. Pass/No Pass

The pass/no pass grading option is not accepted in courses to be applied for the major.

VII. Transportation

Students are required to provide their own transportation to and from clinical sites. Trinity’s free shuttle service connects the Main campus with the Brookland metro station.

Course Descriptions

NOTE: Students must be formally accepted into the CAS Pre-Licensure Nursing Program before taking any course designated as a NURS course.

BIOL 121 Human Anatomy and Physiology I

A systematic approach to the study of the human body. The first part of this year-long course emphasizes the tissues, the integumentary system, the bones and skeletal tissue, muscles and muscle tissue, and the nervous system. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts discussed during the lecture portion of the class to clinical questions presented throughout the semester. Three hours of laboratory per week. Does not fulfill Biology major requirement. There is an additional laboratory fee.

4 credits

General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area


BIOL 122 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BIOL 130 Microbiology for the Health Professions
BIOL 242 Human Genetics
CHEM 113 Chemistry for the Health Sciences
CRS 102 CRS: Prof & Career Success in the Health Professions
HPNU 200 Nutrition, Diet Therapy, and Health Promotion
HPNU 210 Pathophysiology
HPNU 220 Pharmacology
NURS 117 Foundations for Professional Nursing Practice
NURS 217
NURS 230
NURS 320 Policy and Politics in Nursing
NURS 330 Nursing Theory and Research
NURS 401 Clinical Preceptorship
NURS 410 Leadership and Management of Health Care
NURS 417
NURS 430 Emergency Preparation and Disaster Management
NURS 460 Maternity and Newborn Nursing
NURS 461 Pediatric Nursing
NURS 462 Complex Nursing
NURS 491

Trinity reserves the right to change, without prior notice, any policy or procedure, tuition or fee, curricular requirements, or any other information found on this web site or in its printed materials.

Questions may be directed to Virginia Broaddus, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at BroaddusV@trinitydc.edu