Nursing

Director: Dr. P. Lea Monahan
Office: Waggoner Hall 347
Telephone: 309/298-2569 Fax: 309/298-2270
E-mail: PL-Monahan@wiu.edu
Website:www.wiu.edu/nursing

Faculty: Monahan, Nash.

The Nursing Program at Western Illinois University is obligated to educating future professional nurses who are clinically competent using evidenced based practice as the norm, capable of critical thinking using information and information technology to design and redesign care and care systems, and who are ethically and legally accountable for their actions. The RN-BSN completion program builds on knowledge from past nursing programs, e.g., associate’s degree or diploma in nursing, to assist the student to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing will:

  1. 1As a provider of care, use the nursing process to provide ethical, evidence-based, culturally competent care that incorporates the bio-psycho-social aspects of health.
  2. As a leader of care, facilitate leadership through collaboration and advocacy to design and coordinate safe, cost effective quality care for individuals, families, and groups.
  3. As a member of the profession, enact professional behaviors that communicate respect for their own and others’ values, commitment to lifelong learning, and promotion of social justice.

Acceptance into the Nursing major involves three stages.  The first stage involves admission to the University.  Upon admission to the University, a letter of intent to study nursing is filed with the Nursing Program Director. Prospective RN-BSN completion students can also indicate pre-BSN on the admission form. The third stage involves formal application to the Nursing major.

Admission

Admission to Western Illinois University

Prospective nursing students must apply for and be granted regular admission to the University. Students should indicate they want to enroll in the pre-BSN program.

Admission to the Pre-BSN Program

Students who wish to enter the pre-BSN program must make an appointment with the Nursing adviser to develop a plan for completing general education requirements and nursing support courses. All general education courses and nursing support courses must be satisfactorily completed by July 1 for fall semester admission into the Nursing major. Exceptions will be considered. Students should contact the Nursing Program Director to request an exception.

A total of 60 s.h. will transfer to WIU from an associate’s degree or diploma. Students must demonstrate a minimum cumulative grade of C (2.0 on a scale of 4.0) on all post-secondary work.

Admission to the Nursing Major (RN-BSN Completion Program)

Students who wish to apply for admission to the Nursing major as an RN-BSN completion nursing student must:

  1. Have a completed application on file with the Nursing Program Director no later than July 1 for admission for the next fall semester. Students will be considered pre-BSN until all the Nursing major admission requirements are met or permission is granted by the Director.
  2. Submit a current copy of the Illinois license to practice nursing as a Registered Professional Nurse.
  3. Have a minimum cumulative grade of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) for all post-secondary coursework. The following nursing support courses (or comparable courses) must have a grade of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better.
    1. All nursing courses taken for the associate degree or diploma in nursing.
    2. Eng 180, Eng 280, Comm 241, Psy 100, and Soc 100.
    3. Nursing support courses equivalent to:
      Zool 230 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
      Zool 231 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
      Chem 101 General Chemistry I
      Chem 102 General Chemistry II
      FSC 109 Introduction to Nutrition
      FCS 121 Introduction to Life Span Development
      Micro 200 Introduction to Microbiology
      Stat 171 General Elementary Statistics
      Note: Only one of these courses may be repeated if a grade of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) was not achieved. A student may repeat one course one time. Admission will be denied to any student who received a second grade of less than C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale).
  4. Submit all official transcripts with the application for admission. Failure to submit all post-secondary transcripts will result in a denial of admission.
  5. Secure letters of reference from two professional references: one academic (i.e., instructor or professor) and one clinical (i.e., supervisor).
  6. Provide documentation to Beu Health Center that all health requirements have been met by August 1 before fall semester admission. (Students are responsible for all costs incurred for admission as well as ongoing health requirements.) See form for a complete list of requirements.
    Employer Verification for Currently Employed Individuals: Many of the clinical requirements necessary for enrollment in the Nursing Program also may have been required and documented by a current employer. To expedite verification of these requirements, the Nursing Program has developed a form that can be provided to an employer and completed by the employee or occupational health office at the place of employment. The form will be available at the Nursing Program Overview session. Random verifications will be performed, and falsification of information will result in dismissal from the Nursing Program. If an agency does not maintain records, an individual may obtain the required immunizations, titers, and TB test through a health care provider, public health department, or Beu Health Center.
  7. Provide documentation to the Nursing Program Director that all safety requirements have been met by August 1 before fall semester. (Students are responsible for all costs incurred for admission as well as ongoing safety requirements.) See form for a complete list of requirements.
    1. Current CPR for Basic Life Support for the Professional provider.
    2. HIPAA, blood borne pathogens/standard precautions (document from employer).
    3. Malpractice insurance.
    4. Criminal background check. All applicants are required to submit a criminal background check. Details will be given to the student upon admission to the program.
    5. Drug screen (random drug screen every semester). All applicants are required to be drug tested on admission with random drug screen thereafter. Applicants with a felony conviction or a positive drug screen may be denied entry into the clinical facility for clinical practice. If a student is denied entry into a clinical facility due to a felony conviction or positive drug screen, the student must withdraw from the program.

This program is highly competitive. Meeting or exceeding the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

Retention

  1. All students who are admitted to the Nursing Program must attend a mandatory orientation session to be held the week before classes begin. This is an all day session. Failure to attend orientation will result in the student being dropped and the student will have to reapply the following spring..
  2. A student must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) in all nursing and support courses. If a student fails to earn a minimum grade of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) in any nursing course or support course, the student may repeat the course one time. If a student earns less than a C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) in more than one support course and one nursing course, the student will be dismissed from the Nursing Program.
  3. Each student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale to remain in the Nursing Program. Students with less than a 2.75 GPA will be dismissed from the Nursing Program. A student who has been dismissed from the program may appeal to the Nursing Program Committee for Admission, Progression, and Retention for readmission to the program. If the committee grants readmission, the student will develop a plan for remediation and continued success with the nursing academic advisor subject to approval by the Committee for Admission, Progression, and Retention.
  4. To register for nursing courses, students are required to have an up to date health form on file with Beu Health Center and an up to date safety requirement form with the Nursing Program Director. Students will not be allowed in the clinical courses without having met up to date health and safety requirements.

Course Descriptions

NURSING (Nurs)

300 Foundations of ProfessionalNursing. (3 s.h) The roles of a professional nurse as a primary care provider, health researcher, and patient educator are reviewed across a variety of health care systems. Prerequisites: Licensure as a Registered Nurse and permission of program director.

301 Systems of Care in Professional Nursing. (3 s.h.) This course examines the development and current directions of the U.S. health care system as it relates to professional nursing. It explores the contexts of political, social, financial, and geographic differences as they pertain to the nursing profession. Prerequisites: Nurs 300 and permission of program director.

302 Health Assessment. (3 s.h.) This course presents the basic elements of health assessment of all body systems as well as recording a patient’s medical history. Physical and psychosocial assessment will be practiced. A clinical/laboratory component course. Prerequisites: Admission to the BSN program or permission of program director.

303 Pathophysiology and Psychopathology. (3 s.h.) Disease processes are discussed within the context of underlying pathology, clinical presentation and manifestation, and treatment alternatives. Diagnostic techniques, common therapies, nursing interventions, and review of body systems are included. Both physical and psychological manifestations of disease are discussed. Prerequisites: Admission to the BSN program.

304 Socialization into Professional Nursing Practice. (3 s.h.) This course explores the role of professional organizations, including specialty organizations in the ongoing development of professional nurses, and life-long learning as a component of the nursing profession. Prerequisites: Admission to the BSN program and permission of program director.

405 Nursing and the Community. (6 s.h.) This course focuses on understanding and practicing public health and community health nursing, including epidemiology, client system, health behavior, health accommodation, stress and adaptation, and levels of prevention, immunizations, home care, clinics, and community agencies. A clinical component course. Prerequisites: Nurs 303, CH 211, Stat 171, and permission of program director.

407 Management in Nursing. (6 s.h.) Reviews theories of leadership and management in the practice of professional nursing. Management of caseloads of patients, professional and support personnel, and specific nursing interventions will be practiced. A clinical component course. Prerequisites: Nurs 302, Stat 171, and permission of program director.

408 Nursing Research. (3 s.h.) An examination of research methods as they pertain to nursing including the role of theory, modes of inquiry, research models, and ethical issues. Applying research in the development of patient care plans. Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) course. Prerequisites: Nurs 304, Stat 171, Eng 280, and permission of program director.

409 Professional Seminar. (3 s.h.) This capstone experience course explores the role of baccalaureate preparation for contemporary nursing practice, focusing on the influences of professional organizations, institutional support, and personal change. A professional portfolio will be developed. Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) course. Prerequisites: Nurs 304, 405, 407; and Eng 280.

430 Geriatric Nursing. (3 s.h.) This course covers issues of health policy, financial and psychosocial support for young elders, functionally able elders, and frail elders. Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of common health problems of the elderly will be addressed. A clinical component course. Prerequisites: Nurs 302, 303, 304; and permission of program director.

431 Rural Nursing. (3 s.h.) An examination of rural nursing, focusing on need, delivery, access, availability, acceptability, and types of health care in rural areas. A clinical component course. Prerequisites: Nurs 304 and permission of program director.

432 Nursing Informatics. (3 s.h.) This course examines the manner in which information, data, facts, and figures are developed, utilized, and analyzed for patient improvement. Prerequisites: Stat 171, admission to the BSN program, and permission of program director.

433 Community Mental Health Nursing. (3 s.h.) Explores population-specific mental health issues including access, treatment modalities, and follow-up, and drug and alcohol abuse in the context of community health nursing. A clinical component course. Prerequisites: Nurs 304, CH 211, and permission of program director.

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