Nursing: Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)

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1 Nursing: Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)

1.1 Faculty

1.2 Program Description

1.3 Major Requirements

1.3.1 Prerequisite Courses

1.3.2 Nursing Courses

1.4 Program Policies

1.5 Accreditation

Faculty

Carrie O’Reilly, RN, MSN, PhD, Program Director; Associate Professor of Practice, Nursing
Nephtalie Perrin, RN, MSN, CNM, Director of the Simulation Laboratory, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Keisha Rollins-Monroe, RN, PhD, Conway Scholar Mentor and Assistant Professor of Nursing
Ellen Gustafson, DPT, Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Physiology
Khafi Muhammad, RN, MSN, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Sheila Spurlock-White, RN, PhD, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Jennifer Wallace, RN, MSN, Assistant Professor of Nursing

Program Description

For students who hold a baccalaureate degree from Trinity or another U.S. regionally accredited institution of higher learning, Trinity offers the opportunity to earn a Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Nursing (B.S.N.).

Upon admission to Trinity, second degree B.S.N. students enter the School of Nursing and Health Professions as nursing candidates. Nursing candidates in the final semester of completing prerequisite nursing courses are eligible to submit an application for formal acceptance into the nursing program. The rigorous academic coursework in the nursing program lays the foundation for a progressive mastery of the knowledge, skills, values, ethics, and abilities required of a professional registered nurse. While taking nursing courses, students have numerous opportunities to experience firsthand the rewards of nursing in closely supervised clinical settings. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply for licensure as a registered nurse. Graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to practice as licensed registered nurses.

Major Requirements

Prerequisite Courses

Trinity honors students’ first baccalaureate degree as having met the core curriculum (or general education) requirements. However, nursing candidates must have successfully completed the courses listed below or their equivalents at Trinity or another U.S. regionally accredited institution of higher learning with a minimum grade of “B-” (2.7) to be considered for formal acceptance into the Nursing Program. Nursing candidates are expected to demonstrate an overall G.P.A. of 3.0 and a science GPA of 2.75. Any biology and chemistry course(s) must include a laboratory component in order to satisfy the prerequisite.

Nursing Candidate Prerequisite Courses (39 credits minimum)

Nursing Courses

Students are required to earn a grade of “C+” (2.3) or better in all nursing courses and must maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.5.

Nursing-Specific (60 credits)

Program Policies

I. Acceptance into the Nursing Program

A. Acceptance Criteria:

Nursing candidates’ formal acceptance into the nursing program requires:

Successful completion of ALL prerequisite courses with a grade of “B-” (2.7) or higher
Overall G.P.A. of at least 3.0
A science GPA of at least 2.75
No more than two repeats in ALL prerequisite courses; of those, only one repeat may be in a science prerequisite course
Satisfactory score on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) with an academic preparedness level of “Proficient” or higher

Second degree BSN students should direct any questions about the process for formal acceptance into the nursing program to the Office of Admission.

B. Application Process for Acceptance:

Students should submit their application early in the semester PRIOR to the semester of their projected acceptance date.
- Nursing Program Deadlines:
  - Fall Semester: February 1
  - Spring Semester: October 1
Students must include in their application scores from the TEAS taken during the 12 months prior to the application deadline. Students may take the TEAS up to three times in a 12 month period. After taking the TEAS, a student may not take it again for 30 days.
Students will be notified by the nursing program of the results of their application when the Admissions Committee for Nursing has completed its review and evaluation of all submitted applications.

Questions regarding the application process, acceptance criteria, or TEAS should be directed to the nursing program office (202.885.9670) or nursingprogram@trinitydc.edu.

II. Health Requirements*

Current physical examination by a health care provider (must be completed annually)
Current immunizations
- TDap (TD booster within 10 years)
- MMR (two vaccines or a positive titer)
- Varicella (Chicken pox) (two vaccines or a positive titer)
- Hepatitis B (series of 3 vaccines given with a 6 month period)
- Polio
- Annual PPD (Tuberculosis skin test given within the last 6 months with follow-up chest X-ray if the skin test result is positive. A new skin TB test must be completed annually once a student is accepted into the nursing program).
- BCG (for those students with a history of Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) injection)
- Influenza (must be completed annually)
Current major medical health insurance

*NOTE: No student will be allowed to participate in clinical experiences until all health requirements have been satisfied.

III. Other Requirements

Satisfactory results of a criminal background check, including all aliases and nationwide sexual offenders index with a set of fingerprints. (The criminal background check is at the students’ expense and must be completed prior to the start of the clinical portion of the nursing program.)
Negative results on a drug screening test. (The drug screening test is at the students’ expense and must be completed prior to the start of the clinical portion of the nursing program.)
American Heart Association BLS/CPR certification for the Health Care Provider.
Clinical agencies may have additional health or safety requirements that students are required to meet prior to receiving access to the clinical placement site

NOTE: No student will be allowed to participate in clinical experiences until all other requirements have been satisfied.

IV. Grades in Major Courses

B.S.N. students must earn a minimum of “C+” as a final course grade in all nursing (NURS and SNHP) courses. A final grade below a C+ will require that the student repeat the course to successfully complete all requirements of the nursing curriculum plan. A final grade below a “C+” may impact a student’s academic progression in the nursing program. Any grade involving a numerical fraction is NOT rounded up at the end of the semester in the final course grade.

A nursing student may fail or withdraw from no more than one nursing course (NURS or SNHP prefix). If a student fails or withdraws from a nursing course, the student may repeat the nursing course only once. Students may repeat no more than one nursing course. Failing or withdrawing from a second nursing course will result in dismissal from the nursing program.

V. Pass/No Pass

The pass/no pass grading option is not accepted in courses to be applied for the major.

VI. Transportation

Students are required to provide their own transportation to and from clinical sites. Clinical placements may be located within a 50 mile radius of the University. Trinity’s free shuttle service connects the Main campus with the Brookland metro station.

Accreditation

Trinity’s B.S.N. program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (C.C.N.E.) and Conditional Accreditation by the District of Columbia Board of Nursing (D.C.B.O.N.).

Last On-Site Evaluation: Spring 2017.

Nursing: Second Degree B.S.N. - NHP