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The Major
The College of Nursing offers an undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. This program is approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing, and is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), a national nursing education accrediting body. Completion of requirements qualifies the graduate to take the National Council Licensing Examination in Nursing for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®), a prerequisite to working as a registered nurse. The undergraduate program provides the knowledge and skills fundamental to professional nursing. Students emerge from this community-based program prepared for graduate study and able to: develop and sustain therapeutic and collaborative relationships that enhance health and healing; use assessment, communication, and technical skills to design, manage, and coordinate nursing care of clients in the context of environment; use critical thinking in creative problem solving and decision making to provide competent nursing care to clients in the context of resources, current technologies, and outcome-based practice models; provide culturally competent nursing care to clients with diverse backgrounds; provide safe, competent nursing care to clients to promote, maintain, and restore health and prevent illness within the context of environment; design, manage, and coordinate nursing care of clients in collaboration with the interdisciplinary healthcare team using knowledge of healthcare systems and policy and global healthcare concerns; advocate for client, nurse, and profession incorporating ethical theory and professional values of altruism, human dignity, integrity, and social justice; and assume the role of the professional nurse, valuing lifelong learning, continued professional growth, and commitment to excellence. The Nursing major builds on General Education requirements and courses that provide the foundation for an approach to nursing science that is humanistic and scientific. Self-paced modules, lectures, seminars, clinical simulation in the laboratory setting, and clinical practica are used. Community agencies such as senior citizen centers, schools, ambulatory care centers, community hospitals, and medical centers are used for clinical practice. The faculty assist students in exploring new areas and in laying the foundation for a critical-thinking and problem-solving approach to nursing practice and research. Students are expected to assume increasing responsibility for their own education by investing in the learning options that best serve their individual abilities, needs, and interests. Under faculty guidance, students provide nursing care to clients of all ages and develop skills in critical thinking, leadership, and research utilization. Students are required to consult with their assigned academic adviser about the content and sequence of their work each semester and throughout their program and to adhere to the School's educational policies, as presented in the Undergraduate Student Handbook. Nursing students should follow the required course of studies in consultation with their advisers. For students completing clinical instruction in the state of Massachusetts, Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) checks are required and will be completed by the university on all students once they are admitted to the program. Out-of-state students must show evidence that regulations of their state licensure have been met. Progression and clinical placements in the Nursing program may be contingent upon a satisfactory CORI investigation or completion of state requirements. In addition to graduation, the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing requires that graduates sitting for the NCLEX-RN® licensure exam meet standards of "good moral character". For further information, visit their website at www.mass.gov/dpl/boards/rn for "Rules and Regulations: Determination of Good Moral Character." Admission Requirements Off-campus transfer applicants to the College of Nursing will be reviewed by the university's Undergraduate Admissions Office and may be considered on a case-by-case basis once qualified on-campus applicants have been accepted. Undergraduate Curriculum The major builds upon General Education requirements and courses in the humanities and sciences, which provide the foundation for a humanistic and scientific approach to nursing practice. Lectures, case studies, group projects, seminars, clinical practice, simulated laboratory, independent study, multimedia instruction, Web-enhanced courses, and self-paced modules are all used to present the subject matter of nursing. Clinical practice is arranged under faculty direction with the cooperation of a number of community agencies and health care facilities including senior citizen centers, schools, occupational settings, ambulatory care centers, community hospitals, and tertiary care medical centers. Students are required to take assessment exams throughout their junior and senior years. Nursing undergoes dynamic changes because of rapid advances in scientific technology, new trends in delivery of health care, and greater public awareness of health needs. Departmental requirements are subject to change. A. Plan of Study (subject to change) First Two Years: B. Final Two Years: Required Nursing Courses C. Honors and Other Courses Curriculum for the Accelerated Track This challenging, full-time program requires four to five days per week in classes or in clinical rotations. Significant time for study is required. The program builds on the students’ previous education and prerequisites that provide the foundation for an approach to nursing that is both humanistic and scientific. To meet diverse students’ learning needs, a variety of instructional approaches are used in the classroom, including lectures, case studies, group projects, seminars, simulated laboratory, independent study, multi-media presentations, web-enhanced courses, and self-paced modules. Clinical practice opportunities are offered in acute health care facilities, senior citizen centers, schools, ambulatory care centers, and community hospitals, as well as in clients’ homes. Clinical sites range from Boston to the Berkshires and from Connecticut to Vermont and New Hampshire, and vary each semester according to the availability of both facilities and faculty. Six prerequisites are required prior to starting the accelerated track. The overall GPA in the seven prerequisite courses must be a B or better (3.00) A. Prerequisite Subjects B. Plan of Study (subject to change) This 17 month full-time program starts with a summer session in August, and includes an additional summer semester, from June to mid-August. At least two days per week are devoted to clinical experience in each semester, and these can occur on weekends and on day, evening, and night shifts. The final semester includes an internship. Given the scheduling variability, outside employment is not recommended. Semester I (Summer) Semester II (Fall) Semester IV (Summer) Semester V (Fall) Curriculum for Students with R.N. Clinical practice is arranged under faculty direction with the cooperation of community agencies and health care facilities including senior citizen centers, schools, ambulatory care centers, community hospitals, and medical centers. The faculty assists students in exploring new areas and laying the foundation for a problem-solving approach to nursing practice and research. Students are expected to assume increasing responsibility for their own education by choosing the learning options that best serve their individual abilities, needs, and interests. Under faculty guidance, students provide nursing care to clients of all ages and develop skills in critical thinking, leadership, and research utilization. In order to receive a University of Massachusetts Amherst Bachelor of Science degree, a total of 120 credits must be successfully completed. Sixty non-nursing credits must be completed before beginning the online Nursing program; 30 credits are earned in the Nursing program; 30 program credits are awarded for RN licensure. A. Prerequisites B. Plan of Study Semester I (Summer) Semester II (Fall) Semester III (Wintersession) Semester IV (Spring) Academic Regulations of the College All Nursing courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher for graduation in the Nursing major. Students who do not progress satisfactorily through the nursing curriculum in the regular sequence or who take a leave of absence are not guaranteed that the curriculum and courses from which they departed will be in place upon their return. They will be expected to complete the curriculum of their new graduation date. Nursing courses may be repeated only once. If an unacceptable grade is received in a clinical course, the student is on probation from the School of Nursing. The student must petition in writing to the Academic Standards Committee to be allowed to repeat the clinical course. If the student is denied a repeat of the clinical course, the student is considered dismissed from the College of Nursing. If a repeat is recommended by the committee, enrollment in a clinical course is on a space-available basis. |
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