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Program Objectives

Learning Options

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Course Rotation

Nursing Courses

Curriculum Pattern

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RN To BSN Program

Non-traditional Education
The College of Nursing at Northwestern State University offers an individualized plan for learning to assist registered nurses who want to pursue a Bachelor of Science (BSN) Degree in Nursing. The BSN program has full approval from the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, 17272 Perkins Raod, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810, telephone number 225-755-7500, Fax number 225-755-7564, www.lsbn.state.la.us. The BSN Program was the first program in Louisiana to be accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. The BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530 Washington, DC 20036, phone number: 202-887-6791, Fax 202-887-8476, www.aacn.nche.edu/Accreditation/index.htm.


Program Purpose
The role of the beginning professional nurse continues to encompass three broad areas.

 

1. Provider of direct and indirect care to individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations.

2. Designer, manager, and coordinator of care.

3. Member of a profession.

Program Objectives
To implement the role of the beginning professional nurse which includes providing care for individuals, families, groups, and communities the graduate will be able to:

 

1. Integrate theory from nursing, the arts, humanities, and sciences to provide culturally sensitive care in the global community.

2. Apply the nursing process using critical thinking, communication, assessment, and technical skills.

3.Collaborate with clients and other members of the interdisciplinary health care team for health promotion, risk reduction, disease prevention, disease management, and health restoration.

4. Utilize information and health care technologies in nursing practice.

5. Integrate research findings to promote evidence based nursing practice.

6. Incorporate knowledge of economic, legal, ethical, and political factors influencing health care systems and policy to advocate for recipients of nursing care.

7. Apply principles of leadership to design, manage, coordinate, and evaluate health care delivery.

8. Demonstrate professional nursing standards, values, and accountability.

9. Assume responsibility for professional development and lifelong learning.

Learning Options

 

1. Traditional Classroom Setting: The campus located in Alexandria, Louisiana offers traditional classes during the daytime.

2. Internet: All nursing courses and general education courses required for the degree are offered via the Internet. Attendance on campus is NOT required.

3. Clinical requirements can be completed in the student’s home community via independent projects.  Two courses, Nursing 4191 (Community Health) and Nursing 4291 (Leadership and Management) are considered clinical courses.  Samples of clinical projects may include, but are not limited to, Home Visits, Family Assessments, Global Health Issues Projects, Recruitment and Retention Plans, and Leader Assessments.

4.“Clinical requirements can be completed in the student’s home community. 


Admission Requirements

 

1. Current, unencumbered RN license.

2. Professional CPR Certification.

3. Personal Professional Liability Insurance.


Nursing Courses

Credit in Nursing Courses: Graduates of NLNAC accredited programs will be awarded credit for the following nursing courses:

  Nursing 2170
Nursing 3040
Nursing 3031
Nursing 3041
Nursing 3150
Nursing 3130
Nursing 3131
Nursing 3141
Nursing 3230
Nursing 3231
Nursing 3220
Nursing 3221
Nursing 4130
Nursing 4131
Dosage Calculation
Foundations of Nursing
Skills Lab I
Foundations Practicum
Pharmacology
Adult Health
Skills Lab II
Adult Health Practicum
Child Health
Child Health Practicum
Women's Health
Women's Health Practicum
Psych/Mental Health
Psych/Mental Health Practicum

Graduates of non-NLNAC accredited programs will be required to successfully write comprehensive examinations in order to receive credit for the above nursing courses.

Required Nursing Courses (29 Hours)
Enrollment and successful completion of the following nursing courses is required to obtain the degree:

  Nursing 3110 (3 hours) Concepts of pathophysiology and manifestations of diseases and how the body adapts. Provides a foundation for critical thinking and decision making related to health care. .
Nursing 3140 (2 hours) Concepts of nursing informatics and helathcare information management. The application of these concepts and technologies as they apply to the practice of nursing.
Nursing 3122 (4 hours) Dimensions of Professional Nursing: Professional, socioeconomic, ethical, legal, and legislative issues influencing professional nursing practice.
Nursing 3223 (3 hours) Health Assessment for RNs: Theoretical foundations and clinical skills related to biophysical, psychological, spiritual, sociocultural, and risk assessment of individuals across the life span.
Nursing 3224 (3 hours) Introduction to Nursing Research for Registered Nurses: The research process and its application to evidence based practice are examined.
Nursing 4190 (4 hours) Community Based Nursing: Theoretical basis for the comprehensive nursing care to individuals, families, and communities. Emphasis is on health promotion, risk reduction, disease prevention, and health care management across the life-span in community based settings.
Nursing 4191 (3 hours) Community Based Nursing Practicum: Clinical course with emphasis on providing comprehensive nursing care to individuals, families, groups, and communities. Emphasis is on health promotion, risk reduction, disease prevention, and health care management across the life-span in community based settings.
Nursing 4290 (3 hours) Leadership and Management for Registered Nurses: Theories and principles of leadership and management as applied to the delivery of health care to individuals, families, groups, and communities.
Nursing 4291 (4 hours) Leadership and Management Practicum for Registered Nurses: Application of leadership and management theories and principles to the delivery of health care to individuals, families, groups, and communities.



BSN Curriculum Pattern

Pre-Nursing Component

First Semester CR. HRS.   Second Semester CR. HRS.
Chemistry 1070 (Intro Chemistry)
English 1010 (Comp & Rhet I)
Orientation 1010 (Orientation)
Psyc 1010 (General Psychology)
Math*
Biol 2220-2221 (Human Anatomy/Lab)
3
3
1
3
3
4
  Chemistry 1080,1091 (Intro Bioc/Lab)
English 1020 (Comp & Rhet II)
Communications 1010 (FundofComm.)
Math*
Biol 2230-2231 (Human Phys/Lab)
4
3
3
3
4
Total Hours 17 hrs   Total Hours 17hrs

 

Third Semester CR. HRS.
Humanities**
Biol 2060-2061 (Intro to Mbio/Lab)
Health Ed***
Humanities****
Nutr 1030  (Nutrition)
Psyc 2050  (Developmental Psyc)
3
4
2
3
3
3
Total Hours 18 hrs

 

Professional Component

First Semester CR. HRS.   Second Semester CR. HRS.
Nurb 3110 (Cpts of Path & Manif Disea)
Nurb 3140 (Informatics for RN'st)
Nurb 3122 (Dimensions of Prof Nsg)
Nurb 3224 (Intro to Nsg Research)
Psyc 4400  (Statistics)
3
2
4
3
3
  Nurb 3223 (Health Assmt for RNs)
Nurb 4190/91
FA 1040
Elective
3
7
3
3
Total Hours 15 hrs   Total Hours 16 hrs

 

Third Semester CR. HRS.
Nurb 4290/91
Social /Behavioral Sciences*****
7
3
Total Hours 10 hrs

 

Overall Distribution CR. HRS.
### Nursing Hours
Non Nursing hours

58
64

     
Total Credit Hours 122      
 

* Selected from Math 1020-1060, 1020-1090, 1020-2010, 2100-2110
** Selected from History 1010, 1020, 2010, or 2020
 
*** RN Students will receive credit for Health Education 1010 with a current CPR card and current unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse.
**** Selected from English 2050, 2060, 2070, or 2080
*****Selected from Anthropology  2020; Economics 2000, or 2010; Geography 2020;  Political Science 2010,  2020;Psych 2450
### Of the 58 nursing credits, 29 credits will be awarded for Nurb 2170, 3031, 3150, 3131, 3230, 3220, 3040, 3041, 3130, 3141, 3231, 3221, 4130, 4131 after successful completion of Nurb 4190/4191.


RN TO BSN Required General Education Courses*
  3 hrs English 1010 - Composition & Rhetoric I
3 hrs English 1020 - Composition & Rhetoric II
3 hrs Humanities**
6 hrs Math
1 hr Orientation 1010 - Orientation
3 hrs Psychology 1010 - General Psychology
3 hrs Psychology 2050 - Developmental Psychology
3 hrs Psychology 4400 - Statistics
3 hrs Humanities*****
2 hrs Health 1010 - First Aid
3 hrs Nutrition 1030 - Human Nutrition
3 hrs Fine Arts 1040 - Exploring the Arts
3 hrs Social/Behavioral Sciences - Anthropology, Economics, History, Geography, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Social Studies
3 hrs Communications 1010 - Fundamentals of Speech
3 hrs Chemistry 1070 - Introduction to Chemistry
3 hrs Chemistry 1080 - Introduction to Biochemistry
1 hr    Chemistry 1091 - Introduction to Biochemistry Lab
3 hrs  Biology 2060 - Introduction to Microbiology
1 hr    Biology 2061 - Introduction to Microbiology Lab
3 hrs  Biology 2220 - Human Anatomy
1 hr    Biology 2221 - Human Anatomy Lab
3 hrs  Biology 2230 - Human Physiology
1 hr    Biology 2231 - Human Physiology Lab
3 hrs  Elective
64 Hours Total

*Transfer credits from other Universities are awarded on an individual basis.


Contact:

For Appointments and Additional Information

Billie Bitowski; APRN
RN-BSN Coordinator
Non-Traditional Studies in Nursing
1800 Line Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71101
bitowskib@nsula.edu
(318) 677-3100
(800) 454-9567
Carolyn Hartt, MSN
RN to BSN Coordinator
NSU Rapides Medical Campus
211 Fourth Street
Alexandria, LA  71301
harttc@nsula.edu
(318) 449-7991

Faculty Members
Shreveport/Internet Campus
Billie Bitowski bitowskib@nsula.edu
Tanya Parker parkert@nsula.edu
Alexandria Campus
Carolyn Hartt hartt@nsula.edu
Ann Deshotels deshotelsa@nsula.edu

 

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