The four-year nursing pre-licensure program is designed for the undergraduate student with no previous experience in professional nursing. The program emphasis is on transcultural nursing, preparing the graduates of the program to work in a wide variety of settings to provide culturally sensitive care to clients.
Nazareth College is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is registered by the New York State Education Department. Nazareth College offers a broad range of courses in the liberal arts, humanities, nursing, and the sciences to help students achieve educational and professional goals. The program provides students with the breadth of knowledge that characterizes the well-educated professional, so students are prepared to face the needs of a changing society and to obtain leadership positions in the health care field.
All potential nursing students must meet the general college admission requirements. Students should also demonstrate proficiency in mathematics and science. Students in their first two years of study must maintain an overall GPA of 2.75, with a minimum grade of C in all required science and nursing major courses. Students must maintain a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.75 to progress in the nursing major. The College reserves the right to withdraw a student whose level of achievement, clinical practice, health, or professional conduct constitutes a risk to self or others.
The nursing department estimates the specific costs for lab supplies, hospital liability insurance, course-specific testing, uniforms, shoes, and stethoscope for four-year licensure students to be around $1000. Graduates of this program are eligible to take, and must pass, the NCLEX-RN examination to become a Registered Professional Nurse. The program awards a Bachelor of Science degree.
Student Learning Outcomes
In accordance with the mission of the Department of Nursing, the undergraduate program goals, and the nine essentials from the Executive Summary of AACN (2008), the baccalaureate curriculum for both the pre-licensure students and registered nurse students will provide educational opportunities which will enable graduates to:
- describe how arts and sciences apply to the care of individuals and families;
- apply the concepts of evidence-based practice to critical thinking in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care;
- apply effective communication techniques with diverse populations;
- construct culturally competent nursing care for diverse populations;
- use technology and informatics in professional nursing practice;
- use effective communication with members of the interprofessional health care team to promote quality and safe patient care; and
- appraise their ability to meet the following professional nursing values: altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice.