Undergraduate Nursing Program

Outcomes

All graduates of the undergraduate nursing program will be able to:

1. Incorporate science, theoretical and empirical knowledge from the liberal arts, basic sciences, and nursing to promote health, risk reduction, disease prevention, and, illness and disease management for the welfare of others.

2. Utilize an evidence based approach in the delivery of health care to individuals, families, groups, and communities within the global society.

3. Use critical thinking skills and the nursing process to design, provide, manage, and coordinate nursing care.

4. Participate with patients and interdisciplinary team members to improve quality patient care.

5. Incorporate knowledge of leadership management principles in professional role development.

6. Provide safe, humanistic nursing care to patients in a variety of settings by demonstrating respect for patient rights, professionalism, and ethical decision-making.

7. Demonstrate information literacy and utilization of healthcare technologies used to support the delivery of health care.

Policies

Policies specific to the nursing major are published in the undergraduate nursing student policy handbook. Each student is required to review the handbook online each academic year and submit the completed acceptance form to the nursing department secretary no later than the third week of the fall semester.

Selection, Advancement, and Graduation Criteria

Admission into Nursing

Students admitted to nursing in the traditional nursing undergraduate program (first year) must meet the general admission requirements of Misericordia University in addition to program-specific requirements specified below. Full-time transfer students must meet admission requirements as specified in the transfer student section of this catalog. Non-traditional applicants, such as second degree students and registered nurse students, must meet specific requirements as outlined below and in the appropriate nursing student policy handbooks. All non-nursing transfer credits will be evaluated by the registrar and the nursing department chair (or designee) to determine equivalencies.

Admission into undergraduate nursing requires:

1. SAT scores of 960 with a minimum score of 450 in the math and verbal exams. Students who are applying for admission into the nursing major (both first time and transfer student admission) and who have either not taken the SAT examination or not achieved the admission SAT requirements published in the Misericordia University catalog, will be required to schedule and complete the NLN Nursing Entrance Examination. A proficiency score of 80% or higher on the NLN Nursing Entrance Examination is required in order to be considered for admission into the major.
2. High school average of 80 or higher
3. B or above in science and mathematics courses
4. Completion of one year of chemistry, biology, and mathematics (including one semester of algebra).

Admission into the second degree nursing program requires:

1. Completed bachelor's degree
2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0
3. Completion of BIO 211, 212, 227, PSY 275, HP 241 for full-time option only; in special circumstances, one or more of these courses can be completed as junior co-requisites with permission of the department chairperson.

Admission for RN students (those holding an RN license) include:

1. Graduation from an approved associate's degree or diploma nursing program; students are required to submit transcripts of all prior college-level course work and a copy of the RN license
2. Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 for all prior college-level course work
3. Official written verification of a minimum of 1,000 hours of clinical practice in the past three years (waived for graduates of basic nursing programs in the three years prior to application).

Note: Curriculum requirements may vary based on transcript evaluation.

To be compliant with our clinical agencies, during clinical semesters all students will be required to complete a FBI clearance, PA criminal background check, child abuse clearance, and 10 panel drug screening. If any report indicates a relevant criminal background check, the student will be prohibited from entrance into the nursing program. If a student incurs a relevant background check while enrolled, the student will be immediately dismissed from the nursing program.

State Board Requirements

The nursing department, in accordance with the State Board of Nurse Examiners, advises all nursing students that felonious acts prohibit licensure in Pennsylvania as of January 1, 1997. The following is taken from the law.

The Board shall not issue a license or certificate to an applicant who has been:

1. Convicted* of a felonious act prohibited by the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L. 233, No. 64), known as "The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act", or
2. Convicted* of a felony relating to a controlled substance in a court of law of the United States and any other state, territory or country unless:
   1. At least ten years have elapsed from the date of the conviction;
   2. The applicant satisfactorily demonstrates to the Board significant progress in personal rehabilitation since the conviction such that licensure should not create a substantial risk of harm to the health and safety of patients or the public or a substantial risk of further criminal violations, and
   3. The applicant otherwise satisfies the qualifications contained in this act.

A person convicted of any felonious act may be prohibited from licensure by the Board of Nursing at any time.

* Convicted includes a judgment, an admission of guilt, or a plea of no lo contendere.

Special Expenses

In addition to tuition and fees, expenses for the major includes CPR certification and recertification, malpractice liability insurance, uniforms, NCLEX examination fee, developmental testing fees, annual health examination and immunization fees, clinical lab supply kit, membership in the National Student Nurses Association, and field trip expenses.

Transfer Students

All non-nursing transfer college credits will be evaluated by the registrar and the nursing department to determine equivalencies. Related field AAS degree-holders will be required to complete either by direct transfer and/or completion of coursework at Misericordia University, at least one course in all core curriculum areas prior to graduation. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to transfer into the nursing program.