Description
The program is designed to help students become scientifically and humanistically prepared to become professional nurses. The program also provides a foundation for graduate study in nursing. Beginning practitioners are most frequently employed in either hospital or community settings. Hospitals offer challenging opportunities for the baccalaureate graduate as do long-term health care facilities. In the community, nurses are employed by public health departments, health maintenance organizations, community and migrant health centers, outpatient clinics, physician’s offices, voluntary health organizations and hospice care settings. Increasingly, nurses have opportunities to participate in entrepreneurial endeavors as independent health care providers. The armed services also offer excellent career opportunities for graduates.
Licensed RNs with an associate’s degree who wish to pursue their Baccalaureate degree in Nursing should review the RN-to-BSN Fast-Track major. Students that already have a Bachelor’s degree and are interested in earning a nursing degree should review the Nursing Accelerated (Second Degree) BS to BSN.
Admission to the Program
Admission/Progression policies provide an opportunity for a baccalaureate education in nursing to qualified students in each of four groups:
- Students enrolled in SUNY Brockport as a nursing intent or direct entry student
- Transfer students from other colleges and universities. Transfer students wishing to apply to the traditional nursing program must complete a minimum of 15 grade bearing credits (not pass/fail courses) at SUNY Brockport before being eligible to apply to the nursing program. Refer to admission requirements (prospective student letter) on the Traditional BSN website
- Students with bachelor degrees in another field (refer to the Accelerated nursing program guidelines on the Department of Nursing website), and
- Registered nurses (refer to the RN-to-BSN Fast-track Major)
The Department of bachelor’s in science in nursing is limited in the number of students it can accept into its traditional BSN program because of limited available clinical placements. Affiliating agencies require strict faculty-student ratios. Admission criteria are subject to change and extenuating circumstances require departmental review of written requests. Consult the Department of Bachelor’s in Science in Nursing website for current information.
Minimum Criteria for Admission
- Progression into the nursing program is competitive. There is no guarantee of progression into the nursing program even if admitted to SUNY Brockport. There is a separate application for progression into the traditional nursing program and this must be submitted by January 20th of the applicant’s sophomore year. Students must document successful completion of all admission criteria in their application and meet all the requirements as outlined in the nursing department prospective student letter. All applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee early in the spring semester. Students will then be notified whether or not they are accepted to progress into the nursing program.
- A minimum cumulative college grade point average of 3.00 by the end of fall semester of sophomore year is required for consideration to progress into the nursing program. IMPORTANT NOTE: In recent years, a cumulative GPA higher than 3.00 has been necessary to gain admission to the nursing program. Entry is GPA based. Direct Entry students must adhere to the requirements stated in their offer letter and department of bachelor’s in science in nursing prospective student letter.
- A minimum of 54 non-nursing liberal arts credits must be completed prior to the beginning the nursing program in the fall semester.
- Achievement of a “C” or higher in all nursing prerequisites.
- ALL prerequisites must be completed by May of the year the student plans to start the nursing program.
- Each prerequisite required for the traditional BSN nursing program may only be repeated once.
- Consult the Traditional BSN Program of Nursing website for application deadlines and other admission information.
Nursing Intents
Most students who hope to study nursing and who are admitted to SUNY Brockport as freshman (and all transfers) are classified as “nursing intents.” A nursing intent is a student who plans on applying for progression into the nursing program when all admissions criteria are met. Nursing intents receive academic advisement from nursing faculty. However, being a nursing intent does not guarantee progression into the traditional BSN nursing program. It is recommended (not required) that all students who plan on applying to SUNY Brockport as a nursing intent take high school chemistry.
- Students with 25 or more Brockport credits and whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.75, lose their status as nursing intents.
- Students who are admitted to SUNY Brockport as freshmen, but who are not nursing intents, may transfer to the nursing intent major if they achieve a Brockport cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher and meet with a nursing faculty advisor every semester.
- Students who transfer into SUNY Brockport with the hopes of becoming a nursing intent, must have a transfer GPA of 3.0 or higher to be accepted into SUNY Brockport as a transfer nursing intent student.
- Transfer students admitted to SUNY Brockport under a different major with a transfer GPA less than 3.0 may not change their major to nursing intent.
- All nursing intents are required to meet with a nursing advisor each semester.
Nursing Direct Entry
High school students who apply to SUNY Brockport with the Nursing Intent major, may be evaluated as Nursing Direct Entry by the Undergraduate Admissions Office based on high school GPA, college entrance examinations and Regent’s examinations scores. To be eligible for direct entry must have 2 semesters of both high school chemistry and 2 semesters of Living Environment, as well as four years of math and science.
To begin the nursing program as a Nursing Direct Entry, this student must:
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 in order to keep their Direct Admit status in the nursing program.
- Submit a completed application for admission to the nursing program by January 20th of the year you are eligible to apply.
- Must meet with nursing faculty at least once each semester prior to applying to the program.
Program Requirements
Students in the nursing major pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, and must complete its requirements.
Students must achieve and maintain an exam average of 75 and overall course grade of 75 in each nursing course for continued progression through the nursing program and to qualify for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
Students are also responsible for meeting the General Education requirements of the College. All degree requirements must be completed within five years after beginning the clinical component of the major.
General Education Requirements (25 credits)
Prerequisites (31 credits)
Required Prerequisite Courses
- BIO 321 Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIO 322 Anatomy and Physiology II
- BIO 323 Microbiology
- CHM 260
- HLS 311 Nutrition
- An introductory statistics course:
- MTH 243*
- SOC 200*
- ECN 204*
- PSH 202*
- PBH 488*
- SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology*
- PSH 110 Introduction to Psychology*
- PRO 204 Development Assessment or PSH 385 Lives Across Cultures
- HCS 230 Medical Terminology for the Health Professional
Transfer students should note that substitute courses for PRO 204 must cover the entire lifespan from birth to death.
Major Department Requirements (60 credits)
Core Courses
- NUR 321 Introduction to Pharmacology
- NUR 328 Math for Safe Medication Administration
- NUR 342 Foundations for Professional Practice for Nursing
- NUR 343 Foundations for Professional Practice for Nursing Clinical
- NUR 344 Health Assessment
- NUR 345 Health Assessment Laboratory
- NUR 346 Medical Surgical Nursing 1
- NUR 347 Medical Surgical Nursing 1 Clinical
- NUR 348 Childbearing Family and Women’s Health
- NUR 349 Childbearing Family and Women’s Health Clinical
- NUR 350 Medical Surgical Nursing II
- NUR 351 Medical Surgical Nursing II Clinical
- NUR 360 Nursing Care of the Older Adult
- NUR 440 Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing
- NUR 441 Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Clinical
- NUR 442 Critical Care Nursing
- NUR 443 Critical Care Nursing Clinical
- NUR 444 Community Health Nursing
- NUR 445 Community Health Nursing Clinical
- NUR 446 Pediatric Nursing
- NUR 447 Pediatric Nursing Clinical
- NUR 478 Problem Solving in Nursing I
- NUR 479 Problem Solving in Nursing II
- NUR 495 Senior Nursing Seminar
- PRO 310 Research: Process and Critique
- PRO 451 Issues in Leadership and Management*
*denotes courses that meet both major and general education requirements
Additional Prerequisites (0-4 credits)
Electives (3-7 credits)
Total Credits (120 credits)
Additional Degree Requirements
- Achievement of C or better in each prerequisite course
- GPA of at least 3.0 to apply to the progress into the nursing program
- All prerequisites must be completed by the end of May of the year that the student will start the program.
- Achievement of a grade of 75 or better in all nursing courses is required for continued progress through the nursing program
- Completion of all university-wide degree requirements
Health Standards
Because of the special demands of the nursing program and the need to protect patients and students, junior students in the nursing program are required to have a physical examination and prescribed lab tests prior to the start of the school year. A current, complete health form including the prescribed lab tests must be on file in the Department of Bachelor’s in Science in Nursing by the date specified in the admission letter in order for the student to participate in clinical learning experiences. Nursing students are required to discuss with their nursing faculty advisors any health factors that may affect their capacity to perform as professional nurses. NOTE: New York State Department of Health and individual health care agencies also require additional protective measures prior to caring for patients. Presently, health care agencies require a positive rubella titer or evidence of immunization, influenza vaccination, varicella immunization or positive titer, Hepatitis B vaccination or its declination, and annual screening for tuberculosis. Required health screening and required immunizations may change and students will need to adhere to those changes. Senior nursing students are required to provide an annual health update and screening consistent with current guidelines beginning of their senior year. An annual Flu vaccine is also required by the health care institutions and must be obtained before October 31 of each fall semester. Students will be required to complete American Heart Association (AHA) CPR BLS for Healthcare Providers.
Transportation
The majority of the clinical facilities are located in Rochester, 16 miles east of the SUNY Brockport campus. Transportation to and from clinical sites is the student’s responsibility. Students entering senior year must have a valid NYS driver’s license and have access to their own car. It is not possible for students to share rides with other nursing students to all clinical sites.
Uniforms
Uniforms must be purchased before the beginning of the junior year. Students accepted into the program are advised concerning arrangements for fittings and costs.
Student Learning Outcomes
The Student Learning Outcomes associated with the BSN program are consistent with the AACN/QSEN competencies and are as follows:
Program Learning Outcome 1: (AACN Domain: Knowledge for Nursing Practice)
Integrate theories and concepts from nursing, liberal arts, and natural and social sciences to enhance ones understanding of professional nursing, and to develop clinical judgement across varying practice care settings.
Program Learning Outcome 2: (AACN Domain: Person-Centered Care)
Engage in a holistic view with individuals across the lifespan within the context of their values, preferences, and well-being, viewing patients and families as full partners in their care coordination.
Program Learning Outcome 3: (AACN Domain: Population Health)
Participate in the provision of health care through advocacy and collaboration with the interdisciplinary team and stakeholders, to promote a diverse society, to enhance health equity, and to address healthcare delivery needs.
Program Learning Outcome 4: (AACN Domain: Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline)
Evaluate how evidence-based care allows for enhancement of informing science, advancing clinical practice, and impacting best practices, for the delivery of optimal health care across diverse populations.
Program Learning Outcome 5: (AACN Domain: Quality and Safety)
Implement processes, skills and clinical judgement necessary to empower the professional nurse to promote awareness of quality and safety, risk mitigation and a just culture.
Program Learning Outcome 6: (AACN Domain: Interprofessional Partnership)
Collaborate with individuals, families, communities, populations, and interdisciplinary team members, fostering leadership, open communication, mutual learning, and shared decision making for enhanced healthcare outcomes.
Program Learning Outcome 7: (AACN Domain: Systems-Based Practice)
Examine cost-effective, innovative, and evidence-based care for the delivery of equitable services across health care systems.
Program Learning Outcome 8: (AACN Domain: Informatics and Healthcare Technologies)
Critique the benefits and challenges of using information and communication technologies to gather data, generate knowledge, deliver safe nursing care, and support documentation, in accordance with ethical, legal, professional, and workplace policies.
Program Learning Outcome 9: (AACN Domain: Professionalism)
Reflect attitudes and beliefs around one’s nurse identity that exemplifies professional nursing, assertiveness, moral courage, mentorship, and compassion, while acknowledging nursing history and the ANA Code of ethics.
Program Learning Outcome 10: (AACN Domain: Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development)
Formulate a professional philosophy that reflects leadership, advocacy, social justice, personal and professional resilience, accountability, responsibility, and ethical decision making, and a commitment to continuous self-reflection, improvement, and learning.