Nursing
Department Chair: Julie Strelow
Faculty: Jodi Berndt, Carie Braun, Vicky Grove, Georgia Hogenson, Carrie Hoover, Julie Keller Dornbusch, Nicole Lang, Rachelle Larsen, Nichole Laudenbach, Derek Moore, Kathleen Ohman, Mary Pesch, Jennifer Peterson, Julie Strelow, Kelly Wurdelman, and Mary Zelenak
The department of nursing offers a four-year program which leads to a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001, (202)887-6791, and approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.
The comprehensive nursing curriculum is based on the AACN Essentials for Baccalaureate Nursing Education (2008) and prepares the nurse generalist to practice safely and effectively in all health care environments. The curriculum has a strong emphasis on leadership, diversity, evidence-based practice, and the provision of quality and safe nursing care. As an academic major in a practice discipline, nursing students have opportunities to apply principles and concepts from the liberal arts and nursing science to the provision of nursing care for individuals across the lifespan, families and communities.
CSB/SJU offers a range of learning environments suited to development of the professional nurse including classroom, simulation laboratory, and clinical settings. Nursing faculty have high expectations for student professional behavior and continuously strive to develop challenging learning situations, such as with simulated learning, to represent actual care situations.
Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Students who have been convicted of a felony or gross misdemeanor may be ineligible for licensure by the Board of Nursing and early in their course of study should seek clarification of their status.
Students must meet the technical standards for safe nursing practice. For representative examples of the technical standards, see the nursing department webpage.
Students in the nursing major are eligible for membership in Sigma Kappa Phi Chapter, the international honor society of nursing. Student membership in the Kappa Phi chapter is based on superior academic achievement. An active student nursing club encourages student involvement in professional and social activities.
Assessment
Continuous improvement of student learning requires conscientious and consistent, student and faculty participation in assessment and evaluation activities. Periodically, nursing majors’ academic achievement will be assessed using nationally standardized and classroom-based exams, scoring rubrics and performance demonstrations. Some, but not all, assessment activities are also included as part of course grades. Individual data will be given directly to the student; students should seek consultation from their instructor and/or advisor if they have concerns about individual performance. Only group data will be used for department reports.
Acceptance to Major Requirements
Prerequisite Course Requirements: BIOL 101 and 212, PSYC 111, NUTR 125, and CHEM 125
Minimum Grade and/or GPA for required courses: Minimum grade of C in each prerequisite
Minimum Cumulative Prerequisite GPA: 2.75
Other Requirements: For additional requirements, refer to the following website: https://www.csbsju.edu/nursing/student-resources/application-to-the-nursing-major
Major (58 credits)
Please refer to the Nursing Department website for the most current information.
Required Courses
Courses required for acceptance to NRSG program (20 credits): BIOL 101 & 212; CHEM 125; NUTR 125; PSYC 111.
Nursing Courses (58 credits): NRSG 201, 220, 240, 255, 301, 302, 303, 314, 315, 341, 342, 343, 355, 356, 395.
Supporting courses (16 credits): BIOL 325, 326, PSYC 360, and ETHS 390A Healthcare Ethics.
Application to the Major:
Pre-nursing students seeking admission to the major should contact the nursing department as early as possible. Application materials are available on the department webpage and are due May 1 of the first year.
Criteria for final acceptance to the major:
- Complete prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C in each course.
- Obtain a minimum prerequisite-course grade point average of 2.75.
- Submit the Application to the Nursing Major form.
- Obtain a current physical examination and health clearance, including required immunizations and tuberculin testing.
- Provide proof of current American Heart Association CPR for the Healthcare Professional.
- Successfully pass a criminal background study.
- Obtain a negative drug and alcohol screen prior to participation in clinical experience.
Applicants are considered on the basis of academic achievement as evidenced by prerequisite-course GPA. Students with a minimum 2.75 prerequisite course grade point average are eligible to apply but are not guaranteed admission. Entry into the nursing major is competitive and class size is limited.
Retention in the major:
- Retention in the major is contingent upon compliance with academic policies stated in the Academic Catalog, and Department of Nursing Student Handbook; all are available on-line.
- The nursing department retains only those students in the major who demonstrate the academic achievement and professional characteristics needed to function as a registered nurse.
Special Requirements:
- All students admitted to the major are required to have liability insurance through the college and provide their own transportation for clinical experiences. In many cases, this means that the student must have individual access to a vehicle.
- See also Application to the Major on the Nursing department web page.
- Minnesota law requires that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with patients and residents at a health care facility licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health have a criminal background study conducted by the state. An individual who is disqualified from having direct patient contact as a result of the background study, and whose disqualification is not set aside by the Commissioner of Health, will not be permitted to participate in a clinical placement in a Minnesota licensed health care facility. Failure to participate in a clinical placement required by the academic program will result in ineligibility to qualify for a degree in this program.
- A positive urine drug and alcohol screen may result in the inability to complete the clinical requirement of courses and may subsequently affect progression through the nursing major. Failure to participate in a clinical placement required by the academic program will result in ineligibility to qualify for a degree in this program.