Catalog - Table of Index

Nursing Major (NSG)

College of Health Sciences
Degree BSN, Nursing
Department Chair Cynthia Mailloux, PhD, RN

Faculty

Cheryl A. Fuller, Associate Professor of Nursing, BS University of Vermont; MS State University of New York; PhD New York University

Brenda Hage, Assistant Professor of Nursing, BSN State Universiity of New York at Albany; MSN College Misericordia

Todd Hastings, Visiting Assistant Professor of Nursing, BA Rutger’s University; MS The Pennsylvania State University; MS Wilkes University

Martha Ann Kokinda, Associate Professor of Nursing, BSNEd College Misericordia; MSN Catholic University of America; MSN College Misericordia; PhD University of Pennsylvania

Cynthia Mailloux, Associate Professor of Nursing, BSN Wilkes University; MSN College Misericordia; PhD The Pennsylvania State University

Vanessa Mayorowski, Visiting Assistant Professor of Nursing, BSN Marywood College; MSN College Misericordia

Brenda Pavill, Associate Professor of Nursing, BS Wilkes College; MS Bloomsburg University; MSN College Misericordia; PhD Marywood University

Donna Ayers Snelson, Associate Professor of Nursing, BSNE Wilkes University; MSN University of Pennsylvania

Jean R. Steelman, Professor of Nursing, BSNE Wilkes College; MSN College Misericordia; PhD New York University

Christina Tomkins, Visiting Assistant Professor of Nursing, BSN, MSN Bloomsburg University

Marion Villano, Assistant Professor of Nursing, BSN, MSN College Misericordia

Annette Weiss, Visiting Assistant

Philosophy
The nursing department supports the mission statement and philosophy of the university. The undergraduate nursing program is based on a complementary relationship between liberal arts and professional studies. The approach to education focuses on critical thinking as well as on the values and attitudes of justice, mercy, service, and hospitality.

Humans are viewed as intellectual, spiritual, and creative beings who are in constant interaction with their environments. Human beings have the potential for self-direction based on their developmental level and are characterized by the capacity for emotion, reasoning, and perceiving. The holistic view of humans takes into account the physical structure, mind, and spirit of the individual, as well as the environment in which each functions. Humans interact on the basis of respect for each other’s worth and dignity.

The environment as experienced by human beings is multidimensional and dynamic. It can be viewed as encompassing biological, physical, psychological, socio-cultural, political, and economic forces. Human beings experience the environment as individuals, families, groups, and communities, which can be described in terms of micro-systems and macro-systems.

Health is a dynamic sense of wellness which results from a process of making choices over time. A particular sense of wellness is perceived by individuals and is influenced by their self-esteem, inner sense of meaning, and desire to achieve their highest potential.

Nursing is an art involved in caring, and a science based on its own theory and research. The nursing process guides nursing practice and involves critical thinking as related to the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains of knowing. Ethical and legal issues have a strong impact on the practice of nursing. Professional nursing is a vital, effective health service to the community. The faculty believe that professional nursing is committed to making quality health care available and accessible to all, thus reflecting the commitment to mercy, justice, and service. Professional nursing exerts an influence on, and is influenced by, several factors that contribute to the complexity of the health care system. These include newly developing patterns of providing services, the roles of other members of the health team, scientific and technological advances, research, and social and economic pressures. Leadership in nursing involves directing and managing client care, as well as collaborating with other health care professionals.

Learning is directed toward the development of values and professional role identification. It is lifelong and involves developmental changes. Learning involves critical thinking, which encompasses analysis and synthesis of knowledge. The faculty believe that learning occurs when the student actively participates in the learning process. Students have the responsibility to achieve their highest potential with the assistance of the faculty who act as facilitators. Teaching, therefore, is a collaborative process in which a student assumes progressive responsibility for personal learning.

Undergraduate education in nursing is built on a strong core of general education requirements and is generic in nature. Included within the undergraduate nursing curriculum are liberal arts and the sciences such as nutrition, anatomy, physiology, and developmental psychology, as well as other pure and behavioral sciences. The undergraduate program prepares nurse generalists who are capable of using nursing research, nursing process, and theories in a variety of settings. Students are prepared for graduate study in nursing.

Undergraduate Nursing Program:

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

1. Incorporate personal, theoretical and empirical knowledge from the sciences, the humanities and nursing across the lifespan to promote wellness;
2. Utilize a micro/macro systems approach to deal with individuals, families, groups and the community;
3. Apply nursing theories in the practice of professional nursing;
4. Utilize the nursing process to promote wellness in a variety of settings;
5. Utilize leadership, management and collaborative skills when interacting with other professionals in delivery of health care;
6. Demonstrate legal and ethical responsibility and accountability in making professional decisions; and
7. Utilize nursing research in the practice of professional nursing.

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 900 with a minimum score of 450 in the math and verbal exams
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 2.75
3. Completion of BIO 211, 212, 227, HP 100, 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 2.5 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).

* Curriculum requirements may vary based on transcript evaluation

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 and 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. RN students must complete the majority of non-nursing courses outlined in this catalog before entering nursing courses.

Normal Sequence of Required Courses

Traditional Undergraduate Nursing Program

First Year

First Semester	Total Credits	15	Second Semester	Total Credits	15
	Science Core	3		Science Core	3
PSY 123	Introduction to Psychology	3		English Core	3
	History/Political Science Core	3		History/Political Science Core	3
	English Core	3	PHL 100	Intro to Philosophy	3
SOC 101	Comparative Sociology	3	FA	Fine Arts Core	3

Sophomore Year

First Semester	Total Credits	16	Second Semester	Total Credits	15
BIO 211	Anatomy and Physiology	4	BIO 212	Anatomy and Physiology	4
BIO 227	Bacteriology	4	NSG 210	Concep. Base of Nursing Prac.	2
PSY 275	Child & Adolescent Psych.	3	MTH 120	Math Reasoning	3
HP 100	Intro. to Health Professions	2	HP 241	Fundamentals of Nutrition	3
	Philosophy Core	3		Fine Arts Core	3

Junior Year

First Semester	Total Credits	16	Second Semester	Total Credits	17
NSG 350	Intermed. Nursing Concepts I	3	NSG 351	Intermed. Nursing Concepts II	3
NSG 355	App. of Inter. Nurs. Conc. I	3	NSG 356	App. of Inter. Nurs. Conc. II	3
NSG 361	Clin. App. Inter. Nurs. Conc. I	3	NSG 362	Clin. App. Inter. Nurs. Conc. II	4
NSG 365	Inter. Strategies & Skills I	1	NSG 366	Inter. Strategies & Skills II	1
MTH 115	Statistics	3		Religion Core	3
	Elective	3		Elective	3

Senior Year

First Semester	Total Credits	17	Second Semester	Total Credits	15
HP(NSG) 410	Intro. Nursing Research	3	NSG 451	Advanced Nursing Concepts II	3
NSG 450	Advanced Nursing Concepts I	3	NSG 456	App. of Adv. Nurs. Conc. II	3
NSG 455	App. of Adv. Nurs. Conc. I	3	NSG 462	Clin. App. of Adv. Nurs. Conc. II	4
NSG 461	Clin. App. of Adv. Nurs. Conc. I	4	NSG 475	Issues in Nursing	2
NSG 466	Adv. Strategies & Skills	1		Elective	3
	Religion Core	3

* May be taken either fall or spring.

Total required credits for graduation 126 credits

Normal Sequence for Non-Traditional Students
Accelerated Registered Nurse Option: Expressway RN to BSN*
The accelerated Expressway RN to BSN Program is designed for highly motivated registered nurses who want to earn their degree in a timely manner. Credits are earned through transfer, advanced placement, and matriculation. Advanced placement credits (32 credits) for course work completed in a stateapproved, nationally accredited associate’s degree or diploma nursing program are awarded following successful completion of designated courses in the RN curriculum. After a transcript evaluation has been completed, the RN student completes the necessary individually determined core and cognate credits along with 19 credits of course work in the professional nursing major. This course work includes one clinical practice course in community health, which uses a flexible adult learning model for scheduling. As adult learners, RN students also have the opportunity to earn credit by CLEP subject exams and Prior Learning Assessment. Under ordinary circumstances, graduates of associate degree programs are not required to complete more than 66 total credits in core, cognate, and major requirements at Misericordia University. RN students who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field are exempt from core requirements.

In addition to meeting the admission requirements for RN students, articulation status and the awarding of advanced placement credits is determined by the following:

1. Graduates from NLN accredited associate's degree or diploma nursing programs within three years of the application date are eligible for direct articulation and will be awarded 32 advanced-placement credits for their prior nursing course work.
2. Graduates from NLN accredited associate's degree or diploma nursing programs within four to ten years of the application date must provide official written documentation of completion of a minimum of 1,000 hours or more clinical practice during the three years prior to the application date to be eligible for direct articulation and the awarding of 32 advanced- placement credits for their prior nursing course work.
3. Applicants who have graduated more than ten years prior to the application date must provide a resume detailing clinical experience, along with official written documentation of completion of a minimum of 1,000 hours or more clinical practice during the three years prior to the application date. These candidates may be required to complete a full portfolio or validation testing prior to being eligible for articulation and the awarding of 32 advanced-placement credits prior nursing course work.
4. Applicants who have not graduated from an NLN accredited nursing program must successfully complete validation testing before prior learning credits are awarded

For more information, prospective students should contact the Expressway Office at Misericordia University at (570) 674-3022.

*An RN-MSN option is available for those registered nurses who do not hold a BSN degree and who wish to pursue graduate education see Graduate Nursing Programs.

Core Requirements (number of credits vary)

Required Cognates Courses		6 credits
HP 241	Normal Nutrition	3 credits
MTH 115	Basic Statistics	3 credits
Required Professional Nursing Courses		19 credits
NSG 397	Professional Nursing Concepts I	2 credits
NSG 398	Health Assessment Across the Lifespan	3 credits
(HP)NSG 410	Introduction to Nursing Research	3 credits
NSG 460	Professional Nursing Concepts II	4 credits
NSG 465	Application of Professional Nursing Concepts	4 credits
NSG 555	Legal, Ethical, and Public Policy Issues in Health Care	3 credits

Elective Credits (number of credits vary)

Second Degree Option and Adult Learner Option
The second degree option is designed for individuals who have completed a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. The adult learner option is designed for those individuals who have completed extensive collegelevel coursework and/or a non-nursing associate’s degree.

Second Degree Option:
Individuals entering the second degree option do not need to meet the core curriculum requirements of the University. The total number of credits required for graduation (126 credits) includes transferred core, nursing prerequisite courses (23 credits) and credits required in the Nursing major (49 credits). In addition, 6 graduate credits can be earned while completing the BSN degree. The majority of the prerequisite courses must be completed prior to starting the nursing courses in the full-time program and all the prerequisites must be completed prior to starting the part-time evening option.

Adult Learner Option
Those completing the adult learner option may have to complete all university core courses. The total number of credits required for graduation (126 credits) includes core, prerequisites (23 credits) and credits required in the nursing major (49 credits). The majority of the prerequisite courses must be completed prior to starting the nursing courses in the full-time program and all the prerequisites must be completed prior to starting the part-time evening option. Students with a related field associate degree 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.

Both the second degree and the adult learner options are available in the full-time day and the part-time accelerated evening (PTAENP) formats.

Prerequisite Courses (23 credits) - Second Degree and Adult Learner students take the following prior to starting The Nursing 350 courses:

BIO 227 Bacteriology 4

BIO 211 Anatomy and Physiology 4

BIO 212 Anatomy and Physiology 4

HP 241* Fundamentals of Nutrition 3

PSY 275 Child & Adolescent Psychology 3

HP 100** Intro. to Health Professions 2

MTH 115*** Basic Statistics 3

*HP 241 - Fundamentals of Nutrition is a co-requisite in the Part-time Evening Accelerated Program (PTAENP)
** HP 100 is a co-requisite in full-time option only
*** MTH 115 may be taken as a co-requisite in the full-time option only

Full-time Day Option

Sequence of Required Courses

Junior Year

First Semester	Total Credits	14	Second Semester	Total Credits	14
NSG 210	Concep. Base of Nurs. Prac.	2	NSG 351	Intermediate Nursing Concept II	3
NSG 350	Intermediate Nursing Conc. I	3	NSG 356	App. of Inter. Nursing Concepts II	3
NSG 355	App. of Inter. Nurs. Concep. I	3	NSG 362	Clin. App. of Inter. Nurs. Conc. II	4
NSG 361	Clin. App. Inter. Nurs. Conc. I	3	NSG 366	Inter. Strategies and Skills II	1
NSG 365	Inter. Strategies and Skills I	1	MTH 115	Statistics	3
HP 100	Intro to Health Professions	2

Senior Year

First Semester	Total Credits	14	Second Semester	Total Credits	12
HP(NSG) 410	Intro Nursing Research	3	NSG 451	Adv. Nursing Concepts II	3
NSG 450	Adv. Nurs. Concepts I	3	NSG 456	App. of Adv. Nurs. Concep. II	3
NSG 455	App. of Adv. Nurs. Concep. I	3	NSG 462	Clin. App. Adv. Nurs. Conc. II	4
NSG 461	Clin. App. Adv. Nurs. Conc. I	4	NSG 475	Issues in Nursing	2
NSG 466	Adv. Strategies and Skills I	1

Part-time Accelerated Evening Nursing Program (PTAENP)

All classes are held on Monday and Thursday evenings. Classes start at 5 p.m. Other days may need to be scheduled depending on clinical availability. All students are admitted into a cohort which commences study in May of each year.

Sequence of Required Courses

Summer 1

Session 1			Session 2
NSG 210	Concep. Base of Nurs. Prac	2	NSG 350	Intermed Nurs Conc I	3
HP 241	Fundamentals of Nutrition	3	NSG 355	Appl Intermed Nurs Conc I	3

Fall 1

Monday			Thursday
HP(NSG) 410*	Nursing Research	3	NSG 361	Clin. App. Inter. Nurs. Conc	1.5
NSG 365/366	Intermed Strat & Skills	2

Spring 1

Session 1			Session 2
NSG 351	Intermed Nurs Conc II	3	NSG 361	Clin. App. Inter. Nurs. Conc I	1.5
NSG 356	App Intermed Nurs Conc II	3

Summer 2

Session 1			Session 2
NSG 362	Clin App Intermed Conc II	0	NSG 362	Clin App Intermed Conc II	4

Fall 2

Monday			Thursday
NSG 450	Adv. Nurs Conc I	3	NSG 475	Issues in Nursing	2
NSG 455	Appl. Adv. Nurs conc I	3	NSG 466	Adv Strategies and Skills II	1

Spring 2

Session 1			Session 2
NSG 461	Clin. App. Adv. Nurs Conc. II	2	NSG 461	Clin. App. Adv. Nurs. Conc. II	2

Summer 3

Session 1			Session 2
NSG 451	Adv. Nursing Conc II	3	NSG 462	Clin App. Adv Nsg Conc II	4
NSG 456	Appl Adv Nurs Conc II	3

Second degree students in good standing may earn graduate credits while completing the undergraduate program with permission of their advisor. Students may register to take any two of the following graduate courses after successful completion of the indicated prerequisite course work:

1. NSG 512; prerequisite NSG 210 and successful completion of at least one undergraduate clinical course
2. NSG 517; prerequisite NSG 410
3. NSG 555; prerequisite NSG 475

Note: Taking graduate coursework may require students to attend classes at times other than proposed in the part-time schedule.

Nursing Course Descriptions (NSG)