This program is designed for the pre-licensure student seeking a baccalaureate degree in nursing in a four year program where successful degree completion affords the student the ability to sit for the RN Licensing Exam (NCLEX).

Licensure

The State Board of Nursing determines who is eligible to take the registered nurse licensure examination (NCLEX-RN). Graduation from the Nursing Program satisfies one of the eligibility requirements. Since eligibility criteria vary, applicants should check with the Board of Nursing in the state in which they plan to take the test to determine the eligibility criteria that need to be met.

Admission to Pre-Nursing Program

Students applying to the University desiring to be nursing majors must meet the admission criteria for the University as well as for the Pre-Nursing Program. Transfer students should contact Undergraduate Admissions for specific information regarding admission criteria for the nursing major.

Successful Completion of the Pre-Nursing Program

Successful completion of the Pre-Nursing Program is required for entry into the nursing major at the end of the freshman year. Successful completion of the Pre-Nursing Program includes all of the following.

1. The Pre-Nursing Advisor must register students for courses, and students must take the core and prerequisite course sequence as determined by the School of Nursing.
2. During the second semester of the freshman year, students must register for the TEAS examination. Students should consult their program advisor for information about how to register for the TEAS examination.
3. Students may only take the TEAS examination twice, and it is strongly recommended that students remediate/review between attempts.
4. Students must score at least 78% or higher, overall on the TEAS examination. Should the candidate take the examination twice, the higher of the two scores will be considered.
5. A student’s grades in both Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II must be a B or higher.
6. A student may repeat Anatomy and Physiology I once and Anatomy and Physiology II once. If a student withdraws from one of these courses, it will be considered as the first attempt at taking the particular course.
7. A student’s overall GPA for the freshman year must be 3.0 or higher.

Generic or Basic BSN Program Requirements for Nursing Major

Degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Nursing Courses
NU-202	Theorical Bases of Professional Nursing	3
NU-204	Nutrition and Health	3
NU-210	Pharmacology for Prof. Nursing Practice	3
NU-215	Medical Dosage Calculations	3
NU-250	Clinical Bases of Professional Nursing	5
NU-304	Pathophysiology	3
NU-308	Health Assessment	3
NU-312	Nursing Care for Adults and Aging I	5
NU-315	Nursing Care for Adults and Aging II	5
NU-325	Nursing Care of Child-Bearing Families	5
NU-360	Computer App in Nursing& Health Care	2
NU-390	Intro to Nursing Research	3
NU-404	Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing	5
NU-414	Nursing Care of Children and Adolescents	5
NU-416	Social Justice Ethics and Health Care (Values)	3
NU-420	Community Health Nursing (WI, Capstone)	4
NU-430	Nursing Care of Adults and Aging III	4
NU-445	Leadership and Trends in Nursing	3
Completion of Summative Examination administered in the last nursing course
Other Required Courses
BI-161	Basic Microbiology	4
BI-161L	Basic Microbiology Lab	0
Total Credits		71

 Special Note on Core Requirements

1	The Core Curriculum Requirements are the same as those for traditional undergraduate day students.

Special Notes on Major Requirements

1	To successfully complete the program, all courses required for the nursing major and for the core, must be taken in the sequence given by the School of Nursing.
2	To enroll in the first nursing course - , NU-202 Theoretical Bases of Professional Nursing - students MUST be admitted to the School of Nursing as a nursing major. Students must have satisfactorily completed all prerequisites courses and have a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a grade of B or higher in BI-171 Anatomy & Physiology I, BI-172 Anatomy and Physiology II. These science courses may be repeated only one time.
3	A grade of 78% or higher must be earned in all nursing courses and specified support courses. Any grade below a 78% is considered a failure in nursing courses. Advancement in the nursing curriculum is dependent upon successful completion of prerequisite and co-requisite nursing courses.
4	No more than one nursing course may be repeated. If the course is repeated and the grade is below 78%, this is considered a failure for the course and the student will be dismissed from the School of Nursing. The clinical portion of any nursing course is graded on a Pass/Fail basis. If the student fails the clinical component, he or she fails the entire course regardless of the grade average in the didactic component, and a grade of C- will be recorded for the course. Following two nursing course failures, the student will be dismissed from the School of Nursing. The student may remain at Saint Peter's University.
5	If a student registers for a nursing course and withdraws from the course at any time, this is considered the student’s first attempt at the course and the student will receive a "W" or Withdraw grade. There is only ONE Withdrawl from a nursing course allowed in the entirety of the program.
6	All nursing courses must be taken in sequence with a satisfactory grade of 78% or higher earned before continuing with the next nursing course.
7	Applicants who have taken the courses Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, and Microbiology more than five years prior to the time the nursing course sequence begins must repeat these required science courses.
8	All students must take the Summative Examination (ATI Comprehensive or similar comprehensive examination), administered in the last clinical nursing course. This examination will additionally factor as 10% of the final grade for the course. Students who do not meet the program benchmark are required to take a retake of the Comprehensive ATI Exam.

Program Length

The BSN (generic) program can be completed in four years (or eight semesters) of full-time study. Students must complete the program within six consecutive calendar years. Required science courses must be repeated once they are five years or older.

Clinical Requirements

All clinical requirements must be satisfactorily completed before students will be allowed into any clinical setting. At present, they include the following but are subject to change depending on regulations mandated by the clinical agencies and/or their accrediting bodies.

Immunizations/Vaccinations and Titers

1. All incoming nursing students need to have completed a series of immunizations/vaccinations. Students will be required to have titers drawn to validate the vaccines received and show proof of immunity in numerical values.

Should any student's titer show lack of immunity, the student is required to receive the specific vaccination for the corresponding low or negative titer result and re-test titer value's/immunity four weeks or more post vaccine administration.

Required Titers

• Hepatitis B series of 3 shots for low or negative titers 1 month apart between the first & second, and five months apart between the second and the third.
• Varicella (chicken pox): 2 shots for low or negative titers 1 month apart.
• MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella): 2 shots for low or negative titers 1 month apart.
• Polio titers are required if there is no proof of vaccination.
• Tdap vaccine is required within the past five years. There is no titer requirement for this vaccine.
• 2-Step TB Mantoux skin test within the past six months; if TB test is positive a Chest X-Ray is required indicating tuberculosis clearance. Note: the 2-Step Mantoux test for TB should be done first prior to initiating an MMR vaccination. 

2. Health Examination - All nursing students must submit a completed copy of the BSN Health Profile. Applicants to the nursing major must be aware that health clearance will be required prior to the start of every clinical nursing course. Health Profiles are valid for one year. The Health Profile form is available in the School of Nursing Office.

3. Liability Insurance - All students enrolled in clinical nursing courses must also provide evidence of liability insurance. Application forms and information can be obtained from the School of Nursing. Students are responsible for the cost.

4. CPR Certification - All students enrolled in clinical nursing courses must provide evidence of American Heart Association CPR Certification for infant, child and adult, and BLS for Health Care Providers. Students are responsible for the cost.

5. Criminal Background Checks & Drug Screening through verified Credentials Scholar - Clinical agencies mandate criminal history background checks and drug testing for all individuals engaged in patient care and all students must undergo these checks. These checks are conducted by a consumer reporting agency and the information is sent to the University and to clinical agencies. Agency personnel will evaluate the information they receive and, in their sole discretion, make the final determination as to each student’s ability to continue to engage in patient care in their agency. If a student is denied clinical placement by any clinical agency due to criminal history information or a positive result on the drug testing that student will be dismissed from the program. 

6. Clinical Experiences - Clinical experiences may be scheduled during days, evening, and weekends. Students need to be prepared to travel out of the Jersey City area for clinical experiences. Students are required to attend as assigned. Clinical experiences also occur in a variety of settings that require students to travel within and beyond the campus area. Students are expected to adjust personal, family and work schedules to meet clinical assignments.

Clinical Attire and Transportation

All students must adhere to the uniform and equipment policies for all nursing clinical agencies. Students must purchase and wear the official Saint Peter’s University Nursing Students’ Uniform from the approved vendor. Information can be obtained from the Director of the BSN Program. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from clinical sites.

 

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