Nursing (BS)

Summary

The Nursing BS is designed to prepare students to sit for licensure by examination as registered nurses (RNs). The degree offers a family-focused curriculum with diverse clinical sites and simulation experiences, preparing students for evidence-based nursing practice with a strong clinical and theoretical background. We focus on students becoming respected and valued members of the healthcare team working with diverse patient populations.

Catalog Year

2024-2025

Degree

Bachelor of Science

Major Credits

78

Total Credits

120

Locations

Mankato

Career Cluster

Health Science

Accreditation

CCNE

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

This program satisfies licensure-to-practice standards for Minnesota and may satisfy standards for other states or US territories.

Licensure/Certification Disclosure

Update Your Major

Program Requirements

Required General Education

An introduction to the general principles and methods to control the growth and transmission of pathogenic microbes and the development of antibiotic resistance in healthcare, food preparation/service, and industrial settings. Lab included.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-03

This course is an introduction to organic chemistry and biological chemistry. The laboratory will reinforce lecture.

Prerequisites: CHEM 106 or high school chemistry

Goal Areas: GE-02, GE-03

Students in this course approach writing as a subject of study by investigating how writing works across a variety of contexts.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-1A

Designed for non-teacher education students, this is a general education course considering human development from a life span perspective.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05

Provides an introduction to the profession of nursing and explores relationship-based care in healthcare. Provides an overview of concepts related to establishing caring and healing environments, developing therapeutic and professional relationships, and the inter-relationship of care for self, team, and patient.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-11

This course is designed to provide a thorough introduction to the broad spectrum of theories and applications that make up the field of psychology

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05

An introduction to statistical concepts and methods that is applicable to all disciplines. Topics include descriptive measures of data, probability and probability distributions, statistical inference, tests of hypotheses, confidence intervals, correlation, linear regression, and analysis of variance. The use of statistical software will be emphasized. Prereq: ACT Math sub-score of 19 or higher, successful completion of MATH 098 or appropriate placement scores (see Placement Information under Statistics) Fall, Spring, Summer GE-4

Prerequisites: Satisfy Placement Table in this section, or MATH 098 with grade of P.

Goal Areas: GE-02, GE-04

Prerequisites to the Major

This course is designed for nursing and allied health sciences majors and will prepare them for advanced coursework in their majors. The course will focus on human anatomy and physiology with emphasis on the structure and function of the systems of the body. Special emphasis will be placed on cell structure and function, tissues, metabolism and major organ systems including the integumentary system, the skeletal system, joints, muscle and muscular system, and nervous system, and special senses. Lab included with dissection.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed for nursing and allied health sciences majors and will prepare them for advanced coursework in their majors. This course will focus on human anatomy and physiology with emphasis on the structure and function of the systems of the body. Special emphasis will be placed on cells, tissues, structure and function of major organ systems including endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems, and development. Lab included with dissection.

Prerequisites: none

The science of six nutrient classes, including digestion through metabolism and excretion, sources, functions, deficiencies and excess symptoms. The course covers the foundational knowledge and application of nutrition knowledge to clinical care, including weight control and common chronic conditions requiring nutrition therapy.

Prerequisites: Select One Course: CHEM 106 or CHEM 111

Focuses on the critical inquiry into the nursing care of family and society in the context of diverse cultures. Explores concepts related to family and society as clients, the health experience, and nursing strategies to foster family and societal care.

Prerequisites: ENG 101, NURS 286

A holistic perspective of pathophysiologic processes and their impact on body systems and overall human functioning. Focuses on the risk factors, pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of physiologic disease processes in humans. Students must have a minimum grade of a C in BIOL 201 and BIOL 202 in order to enroll in NURS 282.

Prerequisites: BIOL 201 and BIOL 202 OR BIOL 220 and BIOL 330

Major Common Core

Introduces concepts fundamental to professional nursing: roles of professional nurse and inter-professional team members, regulatory guidelines, standards of practice, health care organizations and economics. The nursing process with care planning and concept maps will be presented. Theoretical perspectives on professional nursing and the concept of persons, health and environment are introduced.

Prerequisites: none

Focuses on nursing management of alterations in physiologic integrity across the lifespan that includes health promotion and prevention as well as early detection of alterations in physiological integrity. This course will assist students in the application of theory, use of the nursing process, and identification of clinical implications of US and global health issues.

Prerequisites: none

Focuses on the basic drug classification, concepts and principles of pharmacology with application of drug therapy. Implications relative to the utilization of drug therapy are examined. Dosage calculations are evaluated for safe use in practice and competency.

Prerequisites: none

Focuses on assessment of the healthy family and the relationship of health assessment to prevention and early detection of disease, incorporating the processes of interviewing, history-taking, and physical assessment. A laboratory component integrating nursing skills and procedures is included.

Prerequisites: none

Focuses on development of nursing knowledge and management through use of simulated patient encounters. Students will explore concepts related to family and society to develop nursing strategies to foster family and societal care.

Prerequisites: none

Introduces the value of scientific inquiry, use of scholarly evidence, and significance of critical thinking/development of clinical reasoning. Examines theoretical frameworks pertaining to scientific inquiry and development of nursing knowledge through research and evidence-based practice.

Prerequisites: NURS 310, NURS 311, NURS 312, NURS 313, NURS 317

Focuses on nursing management of alterations in physiological integrity and meeting needs of patients with commonly occurring acute or chronic health disorders and/or injury. This course is designed to assist students in the theoretical and practical application of the nursing process to meet the healthcare needs of clients with acute or complex needs.

Prerequisites: NURS 310, NURS 311, NURS 312, NURS 313, NURS 317

Focuses on mental health and psychosocial concepts and the responsibility of nursing in promoting and maintaining psychosocial integrity of individuals. Application of therapeutic communication and caring relationships through evidenced based nursing actions and treatment of common clinical conditions.

Prerequisites: NURS 310, NURS 311, NURS 312, NURS 313, NURS 317

Focuses on the critical inquiry of the physiological and psychosocial changes occurring within families during the childbearing period. Incorporates inclusive family support strategies and parental involvement. Includes didactic and experiential learning designed to promote family-focused nursing care and improve family health outcomes.

Prerequisites: NURS 310, NURS 311, NURS 312, NURS 313, NURS 317

Focuses on developing clinical judgment, decision-making, and psychosocial understanding of changes experienced by families using simulated patient encounters. Students will treat the patient and family as a unit of care.

Prerequisites: NURS 310, NURS 311, NURS 312, NURS 313, NURS 317

Focuses on identification, implementation, and evaluation of patient/family quality and safety measures. Includes quality movement history and evolution, current quality of care issues, research and innovations, intervention strategies, and instruments; with an analysis of health care quality management system models.

Prerequisites: NURS 350W, NURS 351, NURS 353, NURS 356, NURS 357

Focuses on nursing management of alterations in physiological integrity including patients with commonly occurring complex, multi-system health disorders. This course is designed to assist students in the theoretical and practical application of the nursing process to meet the healthcare needs of patients with chronicity of disease and rehabilitation needs.

Prerequisites: NURS 350W, NURS 351, NURS 353, NURS 356, NURS 357

Focuses on health promotion, disease prevention, determinants of health, community and systems-levels interventions, and fundamental issues of health equity. Students apply public health science, epidemiology, systems-level thinking, and policy development to support population focused nursing care.

Prerequisites: NURS 350W, NURS 351, NURS 353, NURS 356, NURS 357

Focuses on the critical inquiry of families¿ health and illness experiences. Examines family reserves, coping and resiliency across the lifespan and among vulnerable populations. Promotes family centered nursing care during transitions within child, adolescent, adult and older adult family transitions.

Prerequisites: NURS 350W, NURS 351, NURS 353, NURS 356, NURS 357

Focuses on application of clinical judgment, evidence-based practice, and family-focused care through use of simulated patient encounters. Students will incorporate knowledge of the social determinants of health as they work with health care teams.

Prerequisites: NURS 350W, NURS 351, NURS 353, NURS 356, NURS 357

Focuses on the critical inquiry of the physiological and psychosocial changes occurring with families during the childrearing period. Includes didactic and experiential learning designed to promote family-focused nursing care of children and adolescents (ages 0-18) to help improve family health outcomes.

Prerequisites: NURS 350W, NURS 351, NURS 353, NURS 356, NURS 357

Focuses on nursing leadership and management skills, organizational structure, care processes; health policy and regulatory processes, quality improvement; and patient/family and consumer advocacy.

Prerequisites: NURS 410, NURS 411, NURS 413, NURS 416, NURS 417, NURS 426

Focuses on nursing management of complex or critical multi-system alterations in physiologic integrity. This course is designed to assist students in the theoretical and practical application of the nursing process to meet the healthcare needs of patients with complex, multi-system disorder and critical care needs.

Prerequisites: NURS 410, NURS 411, NURS 413, NURS 416, NURS 417, NURS 426

Focuses on the critical inquiry of family, societal, and global health. Expands health understandings and ethical care in addressing emerging global health crises throughout the lifespan.

Prerequisites: NURS 410, NURS 411, NURS 413, NURS 416, NURS 417, NURS 426

Focuses on knowledge synthesis and management of patients and families with multi-system alternations in physiologic integrity through use of simulated patient encounters. Students will collaborate with interprofessional teams when providing care and evaluating patients from diverse backgrounds.

Prerequisites: NURS 410, NURS 411, NURS 413, NURS 416, NURS 417, NURS 426

Focuses on experiential learning that integrates nursing science in preparing graduates for baccalaureate-generalist nursing practice. Family nursing science is evident in the coordination and provision of care.

Prerequisites: NURS 450, NURS 451

4-Year Plan

The 4-Year Plan is a model for completing your degree in a timely manner. Your individual 4-Year plan may change based on a number of variables including transfer courses and the semester/year you start your major. Carefully work with your academic advisors to devise your own unique plan.
* Please meet with your advisor on appropriate course selection to meet your educational and degree goals.

First Year

Fall - 15 Credits

Students in this course approach writing as a subject of study by investigating how writing works across a variety of contexts.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-1A

This course is designed to provide a thorough introduction to the broad spectrum of theories and applications that make up the field of psychology

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05

This course is designed for nursing and allied health sciences majors and will prepare them for advanced coursework in their majors. The course will focus on human anatomy and physiology with emphasis on the structure and function of the systems of the body. Special emphasis will be placed on cell structure and function, tissues, metabolism and major organ systems including the integumentary system, the skeletal system, joints, muscle and muscular system, and nervous system, and special senses. Lab included with dissection.

Prerequisites: none

Spring - 14 Credits

An introduction to statistical concepts and methods that is applicable to all disciplines. Topics include descriptive measures of data, probability and probability distributions, statistical inference, tests of hypotheses, confidence intervals, correlation, linear regression, and analysis of variance. The use of statistical software will be emphasized. Prereq: ACT Math sub-score of 19 or higher, successful completion of MATH 098 or appropriate placement scores (see Placement Information under Statistics) Fall, Spring, Summer GE-4

Prerequisites: Satisfy Placement Table in this section, or MATH 098 with grade of P.

Goal Areas: GE-02, GE-04

This course is designed for nursing and allied health sciences majors and will prepare them for advanced coursework in their majors. This course will focus on human anatomy and physiology with emphasis on the structure and function of the systems of the body. Special emphasis will be placed on cells, tissues, structure and function of major organ systems including endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems, and development. Lab included with dissection.

Prerequisites: none

Second Year

Fall - 17 Credits

This course is an introduction to organic chemistry and biological chemistry. The laboratory will reinforce lecture.

Prerequisites: CHEM 106 or high school chemistry

Goal Areas: GE-02, GE-03

Designed for non-teacher education students, this is a general education course considering human development from a life span perspective.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05

Provides an introduction to the profession of nursing and explores relationship-based care in healthcare. Provides an overview of concepts related to establishing caring and healing environments, developing therapeutic and professional relationships, and the inter-relationship of care for self, team, and patient.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-11

Spring - 13 Credits

Focuses on the critical inquiry into the nursing care of family and society in the context of diverse cultures. Explores concepts related to family and society as clients, the health experience, and nursing strategies to foster family and societal care.

Prerequisites: ENG 101, NURS 286

The science of six nutrient classes, including digestion through metabolism and excretion, sources, functions, deficiencies and excess symptoms. The course covers the foundational knowledge and application of nutrition knowledge to clinical care, including weight control and common chronic conditions requiring nutrition therapy.

Prerequisites: Select One Course: CHEM 106 or CHEM 111

An introduction to the general principles and methods to control the growth and transmission of pathogenic microbes and the development of antibiotic resistance in healthcare, food preparation/service, and industrial settings. Lab included.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-03

A holistic perspective of pathophysiologic processes and their impact on body systems and overall human functioning. Focuses on the risk factors, pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of physiologic disease processes in humans. Students must have a minimum grade of a C in BIOL 201 and BIOL 202 in order to enroll in NURS 282.

Prerequisites: BIOL 201 and BIOL 202 OR BIOL 220 and BIOL 330

Third Year

Fall - 15 Credits

Introduces concepts fundamental to professional nursing: roles of professional nurse and inter-professional team members, regulatory guidelines, standards of practice, health care organizations and economics. The nursing process with care planning and concept maps will be presented. Theoretical perspectives on professional nursing and the concept of persons, health and environment are introduced.

Prerequisites: none

Focuses on nursing management of alterations in physiologic integrity across the lifespan that includes health promotion and prevention as well as early detection of alterations in physiological integrity. This course will assist students in the application of theory, use of the nursing process, and identification of clinical implications of US and global health issues.

Prerequisites: none

Focuses on the basic drug classification, concepts and principles of pharmacology with application of drug therapy. Implications relative to the utilization of drug therapy are examined. Dosage calculations are evaluated for safe use in practice and competency.

Prerequisites: none

Focuses on assessment of the healthy family and the relationship of health assessment to prevention and early detection of disease, incorporating the processes of interviewing, history-taking, and physical assessment. A laboratory component integrating nursing skills and procedures is included.

Prerequisites: none

Focuses on development of nursing knowledge and management through use of simulated patient encounters. Students will explore concepts related to family and society to develop nursing strategies to foster family and societal care.

Prerequisites: none

Spring - 16 Credits

Introduces the value of scientific inquiry, use of scholarly evidence, and significance of critical thinking/development of clinical reasoning. Examines theoretical frameworks pertaining to scientific inquiry and development of nursing knowledge through research and evidence-based practice.

Prerequisites: NURS 310, NURS 311, NURS 312, NURS 313, NURS 317

Focuses on nursing management of alterations in physiological integrity and meeting needs of patients with commonly occurring acute or chronic health disorders and/or injury. This course is designed to assist students in the theoretical and practical application of the nursing process to meet the healthcare needs of clients with acute or complex needs.

Prerequisites: NURS 310, NURS 311, NURS 312, NURS 313, NURS 317

Focuses on mental health and psychosocial concepts and the responsibility of nursing in promoting and maintaining psychosocial integrity of individuals. Application of therapeutic communication and caring relationships through evidenced based nursing actions and treatment of common clinical conditions.

Prerequisites: NURS 310, NURS 311, NURS 312, NURS 313, NURS 317

Focuses on the critical inquiry of the physiological and psychosocial changes occurring within families during the childbearing period. Incorporates inclusive family support strategies and parental involvement. Includes didactic and experiential learning designed to promote family-focused nursing care and improve family health outcomes.

Prerequisites: NURS 310, NURS 311, NURS 312, NURS 313, NURS 317

Focuses on developing clinical judgment, decision-making, and psychosocial understanding of changes experienced by families using simulated patient encounters. Students will treat the patient and family as a unit of care.

Prerequisites: NURS 310, NURS 311, NURS 312, NURS 313, NURS 317

Fourth Year

Fall - 17 Credits

Focuses on identification, implementation, and evaluation of patient/family quality and safety measures. Includes quality movement history and evolution, current quality of care issues, research and innovations, intervention strategies, and instruments; with an analysis of health care quality management system models.

Prerequisites: NURS 350W, NURS 351, NURS 353, NURS 356, NURS 357

Focuses on nursing management of alterations in physiological integrity including patients with commonly occurring complex, multi-system health disorders. This course is designed to assist students in the theoretical and practical application of the nursing process to meet the healthcare needs of patients with chronicity of disease and rehabilitation needs.

Prerequisites: NURS 350W, NURS 351, NURS 353, NURS 356, NURS 357

Focuses on health promotion, disease prevention, determinants of health, community and systems-levels interventions, and fundamental issues of health equity. Students apply public health science, epidemiology, systems-level thinking, and policy development to support population focused nursing care.

Prerequisites: NURS 350W, NURS 351, NURS 353, NURS 356, NURS 357

Focuses on the critical inquiry of families¿ health and illness experiences. Examines family reserves, coping and resiliency across the lifespan and among vulnerable populations. Promotes family centered nursing care during transitions within child, adolescent, adult and older adult family transitions.

Prerequisites: NURS 350W, NURS 351, NURS 353, NURS 356, NURS 357

Focuses on application of clinical judgment, evidence-based practice, and family-focused care through use of simulated patient encounters. Students will incorporate knowledge of the social determinants of health as they work with health care teams.

Prerequisites: NURS 350W, NURS 351, NURS 353, NURS 356, NURS 357

Focuses on the critical inquiry of the physiological and psychosocial changes occurring with families during the childrearing period. Includes didactic and experiential learning designed to promote family-focused nursing care of children and adolescents (ages 0-18) to help improve family health outcomes.

Prerequisites: NURS 350W, NURS 351, NURS 353, NURS 356, NURS 357

Spring - 13 Credits

Focuses on nursing leadership and management skills, organizational structure, care processes; health policy and regulatory processes, quality improvement; and patient/family and consumer advocacy.

Prerequisites: NURS 410, NURS 411, NURS 413, NURS 416, NURS 417, NURS 426

Focuses on nursing management of complex or critical multi-system alterations in physiologic integrity. This course is designed to assist students in the theoretical and practical application of the nursing process to meet the healthcare needs of patients with complex, multi-system disorder and critical care needs.

Prerequisites: NURS 410, NURS 411, NURS 413, NURS 416, NURS 417, NURS 426

Focuses on the critical inquiry of family, societal, and global health. Expands health understandings and ethical care in addressing emerging global health crises throughout the lifespan.

Prerequisites: NURS 410, NURS 411, NURS 413, NURS 416, NURS 417, NURS 426

Focuses on knowledge synthesis and management of patients and families with multi-system alternations in physiologic integrity through use of simulated patient encounters. Students will collaborate with interprofessional teams when providing care and evaluating patients from diverse backgrounds.

Prerequisites: NURS 410, NURS 411, NURS 413, NURS 416, NURS 417, NURS 426

Focuses on experiential learning that integrates nursing science in preparing graduates for baccalaureate-generalist nursing practice. Family nursing science is evident in the coordination and provision of care.

Prerequisites: NURS 450, NURS 451

Policies

Admission to Major

Application for admission is a separate process and in addition to being admitted to the University. Requirements for application are:

  • A minimum total cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Minimum grade of "C" in all required core prerequisites.
  • All core science prerequisite courses (BIOL 201, BIOL 202 and CHEM 111) must be completed within 5 years of the program application deadline. Students with science credits older than five years will need to retake the applicable coursework. An appeal is not needed if courses are retaken due to 5-year-limit.
  • All core prerequisites may only be repeated one time each (two overall attempts), regardless of letter grade. The School of Nursing will use the average grade from the two attempts to calculate the core prerequisite GPA for admission. A withdraw from a core prerequisite will be considered one attempt, and a (-0.33) quality point deduction will be assigned to determine the average grade. Refer to the pre-nursing student handbook for examples.

The application process requires the completion of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam and an interview. The applicant pool is then rank ordered according to a prenursing GPA figured using grades earned in the six core prerequisites: Foundations of Writing & Rhetoric, Anatomy & Physiology I and II, Chemistry of Life Processes II, Elementary Statistics, and Human Development; the total TEAS exam score, and the total interview score.

Prior to program admission, the following support prerequisites must be complete with a minimum "C" grade: Principles of Microbiology, Pathophysiology for Healthcare Professionals, Relationship-Based Care, Nutrition for Healthcare Professionals, Introduction to Psychological Science, and Family & Societal Inquiry for Healthcare Professionals.

Nursing Assistant Admission Requirement. Students admitted to the Pre-Licensure Nursing Program must be certified as nursing assistants and listed on a Nursing Assistant Registry in the United States.

English Language Proficiency. Applicants to the Pre-Licensure Nursing Program from non-English speaking countries must demonstrate minimum English proficiency requirements in one of the following ways:

  • TOEFL iBT minimum score of 84 with a minimum speaking score of 26
  • TOEFL PBT minimum score of 560
  • IELTS overall score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 on all modules

GPA Policy. A grade of "C" or better must be achieved in all prerequisite and major courses. Nursing courses are sequentially arranged and progression is based on successful completion of the prerequisite nursing course(s).

Progression. Nursing courses in each semester of the program are prerequiste courses for the following semester (see Four-year Academic Plan of Study). Students must successfully pass or receive a minimum grade of a "C", all the courses listed in a semester before progressing into the next semesters' courses.

Once provisionally or fully admitted to the School of Nursing, the student must:

  • Achieve at least a "C" or "Pass" in each required nursing course.
  • Achieve at least a "C" in required related courses.
  • Maintain a minimum of a "C" average in all courses for the semester.

A grade of "C-", "D+/-", "F", "No Pass", "No Credits", and/or "Withdraws" from a nursing course or required related course(s) while enrolled in the nursing major, will receive a "no credit" and is considered an unsuccessful attempt at the course. A student who is unsuccessful in two (2) courses (any combination of these in nursing, or the required related courses) will not be allowed to continue in the nursing program.

Clinical Experiences. The School of Nursing utilizes a variety of healthcare agencies for students' clinical experiences including the Twin Cities, Rochester, and southern Minnesota. All clinical experiences are planned and conducted by the School of Nursing faculty. The student is responsible for travel to clinical agencies and for housing arrangements when necessary. Criminal background studies must be completed each year prior to beginning clinical courses.

Standardized Exams. All students enrolled in the School of Nursing will be required to take standardized achievement examinations at periodic intervals during their program. Exam results are used for student self-evaluation as well as program evaluation of learning outcomes.

Health. All nursing students are required to maintain yearly health examinations and immunizations. Students will be advised of these requirements and must assume responsibility for meeting the health requirement before starting clinical experiences.

Expenses. Each student is responsible for costs related to travel for nursing course experiences, student uniforms, health examinations, background study, immunizations and Tuberculin Skin Test, health insurance, malpractice insurance coverage, and CPR certification. In the case of accidental exposure to blood and body fluids, students are responsible for testing and follow-up care costs.