Be sure to refer to the Suggested Academic Plan and consult with your adviser regarding the proper sequence of courses.
The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing Second Degree Program, which is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, includes 20 courses completed during four consecutive semesters. The coursework consists of 60 credits over 16 months that prepare students to be critical thinkers in today’s rapidly changing health care world. Students have clinical experiences in diverse health care settings throughout the program. Course curriculum is designed to provide students with the education and experiences they need to successfully enter the profession immediately upon graduation. Lecture courses are balanced with strategic clinical and simulation lab experiences that supplement instruction and encourage higher order critical thinking skills. Courses successfully combine theory, research and practice to ensure evidence-based practice.
Three courses offered the last semester of the program provide students unique preparation to enter the profession. NURS 450B: Professional Role Development III Clinical Capstone is designed to expand the scope of nursing practice of 400 level nursing students. Students’ clinical experiences and simulation activities focus on leadership and management. Clinical experiences are scheduled with nurse preceptors primarily in acute care settings and emphasize the role of the nurse in providing care within a healthcare setting; NURS 480: Preparation for Nursing Licensure Exam is a new course focused exclusively on preparation for the NCLEX-RN exam; and NURS 495: Nursing Study in Specialized Setting is a clinical immersion practicum for in-depth study and practice in a clinical specialty area of choice under a clinical preceptor.
All nursing courses are taught by faculty who are active researchers, scholars, and clinicians. Faculty are all doctoral-prepared or in the process of completing their advanced degree. They have worked in senior nursing leadership roles across the commonwealth and neighboring states. They have worked in hospitals, community health settings, commercial, military, public school, and university settings. Many of them were and continue to be returning adult students. They are passionate about educating the next generation of nurses. Our classroom, lecture, and lab facilities are intentionally designed for the program. Our premier, state-of-the-art simulation lab is continually updated to meet the growing needs of our students and faculty.