Nursing, B.S.N.

The Helen S. Breidegam School of Nursing and Public Health offers an educational program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, a generalist professional program that prepares graduates for entry-level positions in nursing practice.

BSN Program options include the following:

• The BSN degree for those students who are entering the four-year program of study for an initial professional degree,
• The RN to BSN degree for those RNs who wish to complete the BSN degree, and
• A sixteen-month second degree option for those who have already earned a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing.

Program Outcomes

The outcomes listed below are congruent with and extensions of Moravian mission. It is expected that the graduate will:

• Synthesize knowledge from the humanities, sciences, and nursing theory as a basis for making decisions in the practice of nursing;
• Provide holistic nursing care that contributes to safe and quality outcomes among individuals, families, and communities;
• Collaborate with other healthcare team members to foster optimal health of individuals, families, and communities;
• Provide culturally sensitive care with diverse populations in local, regional, national, and global settings;
• Plan and implement theory-based and evidence-based nursing interventions in the care of individuals, families, and communities;
• Exhibit civic and leadership behaviors grounded in a social justice framework to guide practice and foster the attainment of health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities; and
• Demonstrate professional accountability and advocacy in making ethical decisions through adherence to professional standards.

Dual major, dual degree

Moravian University offers a four-and-one-half-year double major, double degree program for students who decide to pursue a BSN after matriculating into the institution in a program outside of nursing. These students must meet certain requirements to proceed into the BSN program, but upon successful completion of this double degree program, students will earn a BA or BS in a major other than nursing, and a BSN after 4.5 years of study. In their first three years of full-time study, students will complete a major in a field of their choosing or design their own major, most of their general education requirements, and all of the prerequisites for nursing (see below). In the spring of their junior year, interested students apply for the accelerated nursing program, and, if admitted, continue in an accelerated program of nursing leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Upon conclusion of the accelerated program (which runs for 16 months, beginning in August of the senior year), students are awarded two bachelor’s degrees, one of which is the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and are eligible to sit for the NCLEX licensure exam.

Students complete the following Learning in Common requirements as part of this double degree program: F1 (writing), F2 (quantitative reasoning), F4 (lab science), then 5 of the M or U classes, selected from among M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6 and U1. The F3 (language) requirement is completed as part of the accelerated nursing program, as is the U2 (moral life) requirement.

At the conclusion of the junior year, students must have completed the following in order to be considered for admission into the accelerated nursing program:

• A full major other than nursing
• The Learning in Common requirements listed above
• A minimum of 23 course units, with an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher
• The following science courses, with an average of 2.67 and no grade lower than C-:
• BIOL 103  (no grade lower than C) or BIOL 106 , BIOL 104  or BIOL 107  and BIOL 206  
• CHEM 108  
• Statistics (HLTP 189  or MATH 107  are preferred)
• PSYC 207  

International Clinical Placement

Nursing students have an opportunity to participate in electives with an international clinical placement. Travel usually is scheduled during break periods or at the end of the spring or fall semesters. Faculty may supervise this experience in a variety of international settings, including Central America and Australia. International savings accounts may be established at the University to help students save money for this additional academic expense.

Additional Requirements

Space in the nursing major is limited. In order to enter the nursing program, students must meet the admissions requirements and declare an interest in nursing during the process of applying to the University. Current students who meet the progressions requirements may apply to transfer into the nursing program from another major. Application to transfer to the nursing major requires an interview and is considered only as space is available. Meeting the progression requirements and completing an application does not guarantee admission into the nursing program.

In addition to meeting University admission requirements, all nursing majors will be required to show proof of the following as prerequisites for clinical nursing courses:

• Background clearance on criminal and child-abuse behavior.
• Current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.
• Negative urine drug screen.

Students’ personal health also should be consistent with requirements for a professional nurse, including required immunizations as prescribed in the policy statement in the School of Nursing Student Handbook.

Applicants and students should be aware that Pennsylvania Registered Nurse Law prohibits licensure of individuals convicted of felonies related to controlled substances and may prohibit licensure if there is a conviction for any felonious act. For details, refer to the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing regulations. Prior to enrolling in NURS 212 - Holistic assessment , all nursing students are required to submit to the School of Nursing and Public Health a Federal Criminal Record Check, Pennsylvania Background Check, and a Child Abuse History Clearance. These clearances must be updated periodically and are maintained electronically on file in the School of Nursing and Public Health. Copies will be provided to clinical sites upon request.

Graduation Requirements

In addition to the requirements of the University, students enrolled in the nursing program must complete the following:

• Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better in nursing courses, an overall cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better, and a GPA of 2.67 or better in biology and chemistry courses that are required of the major.
• Satisfactory clinical evaluations in all nursing courses.
• Completion of the prescribed nursing program of study, including the standardized nursing assessment program, NCLEX-RN preparation, and end-of-program survey/exit interview.

Additional Expenses in the Nursing Program

In addition to general matriculation fees-tuition, room and board, books, etc.-for all undergraduates, students in the nursing program incur additional expenses for such things as physical examinations, specialized immunizations, uniforms, malpractice insurance, graduation pin, clinical laboratory fees, and normative-based testing fees. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from clinical practice sites.