Nursing (BSN Completion Program)
Degree: BSN, Nursing
Nursing Program
The BSN Completion Program is a post-licensure degree program administered by the College of Arts and Sciences. The program’s mission combines the University’s mission with the recommendations contained within the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Along with seven higher-level nursing courses, the program will continue the UMW tradition of liberal arts education by including three liberal arts courses. The program will enhance the writing, critical thinking, and speaking skills of RNs whose focus is the delivery of direct patient care and prepare them for lifelong learning and professional creativity.
Students are mentored by university faculty and nursing leaders in the community to identify and improve the delivery of patient care through the use of nursing research and evidenced-based practice.
The overarching goals of the program is to prepare nurses to be able to:
- Practice nursing within a complex healthcare system and assume the roles of care provider, designer, manager, and coordinator of care.
- Transition to health promotion and disease prevention healthcare provided in the community.
- Continue their nursing education to the graduate level.
The UMW BSN Completion Program Curriculum
The BSN Completion Program’s curriculum is designed for RNs. All applicants are required to have completed either an accredited associate degree program or a diploma program prior to being admitted to the program. All entering students must hold a current, unencumbered RN license which permits them to practice nursing in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The BSN Completion Program teaches RNs professionalism; the importance of inter-professional teams; healthcare policy, finance and regulation; patient-centered care; cultural sensitivity; health promotion and disease prevention; the impact of genetics on health risks; the use of evidenced–based practice, leadership principles and knowledge gained from a liberal education for clinical decision making, patient safety, and quality improvement; the use of technology and informatics in healthcare; life-long learning and practice across the lifespan.
The UMW BSN Completion Program Expected Graduates Outcomes are:
- Examine the concepts of professionalism and fundamental beliefs to nursing, which include the inherent values of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, social justice, and ethics.
- Create intra- and inter-professional partnerships, characterized by teamwork, collaboration, and oral and written communication to deliver high-quality, safe patient care.
- Evaluate healthcare policy and finance and regulatory practices to influence the allocation of health resources in order to reduce health disparities.
- Utilize the nursing process when practicing caring, competent, holistic, and patient-centered nursing care with individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations from diverse backgrounds in a variety of settings across the lifespan.
- Evaluate nursing research to determine best practices and translate current evidence into professional nursing practice.
- Formulate plans of care which promote health and prevent disease for individuals, families, groups, populations, and communities in complex situations.
- Synthesize a liberal arts education, knowledge of nursing science, and critical thinking skills to support inter-professional partnerships which focus on health promotion and disease prevention.
- Compare and contrast leadership knowledge, skills, and attitudes to promote safe, high-quality care with a focus on continued evaluation and improvement within a variety of health care settings.
- Utilize information management knowledge and skills by employing technology and information systems to create safe patient care and enhanced decision-making in a variety of health care settings.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree in nursing at the University of Mary Washington is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
University of Mary Washington and Germanna Community College Nursing Programs Academic Partnership
The University of Mary Washington (UMW) and Germanna Community College (GCC) recognized the need for registered nurses (RNs) to achieve baccalaureate degrees in nursing through an improved education system which promotes seamless academic progression. Therefore the two nursing programs created an Academic Partnership and adopted two plans which lead to a BSN.
BSN Concurrent Enrollment Plan (BSN-CE)
This Agreement is for non-residential UMW students who are interested in earning a pre-licensure Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in nursing from GCC and a post-licensure BSN from UMW. This Agreement permits GCC nursing students to be concurrently enrolled in the BSN Completion Program while completing an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in nursing. When students are accepted into the GCC Nursing Program, they, upon student request, will be granted admission into the BSN Completion Program as Pre-Nursing (3+1) students if they complete a Letter of Intent and have a GPA of 2.5 on a 4-point scale. Concurrently enrolled UMW/GCC nursing students may complete the three liberal arts courses included in the BSN Completion Program during summer sessions. Students may begin taking UMW courses that begin with the NURS prefix after presenting a current and valid unencumbered RN license to practice nursing in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Students will receive 41 credits upon presenting current and valid unencumbered RN license to practice nursing in the Commonwealth of Virginia to the BSN Completion Program office and complete a major declaration form. Both documents are submitted to the Office of the Registrar.
Second Degree
A student who has earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mary Washington and wishes to pursue further undergraduate work may either complete a post-baccalaureate major and have it noted on the permanent record (with the date of completion) or earn a second degree if it is different from the first degree (for example, a subsequent BSN if the first degree was a B.A., for example).
The student must apply for admission to the new degree program through the Office of Admissions and must earn at least 30 additional credits at Mary Washington after completion of the first degree. No more than 14 of these credits can be completed prior to matriculation for the second degree. The most appropriate 90 credits will be selected to count toward the second degree. The student must complete the degree program requirements in the Academic Catalog in effect at the time of matriculation into the second degree.
A student who earned their first degree from another institution must enter Mary Washington as a transfer student, then complete the requirements of the second degree as defined in the Academic Catalog in effect at the time of matriculation into the second degree.
Transfer Credit
The transfer credit total for the BSN degree cannot exceed 90 semester credits. At least 30 credits must be taken at the University of Mary Washington after admission to the program. The holder of an associate’s degree may receive up to 49 credits, in addition to the 41 credits for R.N. licensure, toward the BSN degree based on transcript evaluation. The holder of a Nursing Diploma may receive additional credits beyond the 41credits based on evaluation of their transcript.
Credit by Examination
The University accepts many of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DANTES Subject Standardized tests as undergraduate transfer credit. Students may earn credit by meeting the minimum required score on selected CLEP or DANTES tests; these credits may be used to fulfill general education, prerequisite requirements or as elective credits; they may not be used to fulfill NURS course requirements. A maximum of 30 credits by examination may be counted toward the degree. Students should consult the BSN Completion Program Office for information on specific CLEP or DANTES exams that are accepted by the University. CLEP tests are administered at local universities. DANTES exams are offered only on military installations.
Academic Resources, Policies, and Regulations for BSN students
BSN completion students have access to all the academic resources outlined in the section Academic Resources and Academic Policies sections of this Catalog.
BSN Degree Requirements
As for other UMW undergraduate programs, 120 credits are required for the degree. In addition, a minimum of 30 credits need to be completed at UMW. A cumulative GPA of 2.00 on all UMW work is required. The BSN degree credits are distributed in the following requirement categories.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
General Education credits transferred from a pre-licensure nursing program (see below) | 30 | |
ENGL 308 | Writing Studies and Healing | 3 |
NURS 310 | The Role of the Professional Nurse | 3 |
NURS 320 | Holistic Health Assessment for the Professional Nurse | 3 |
NURS 410 | Evidence Based Nursing Research | 3 |
NURS 430 | Current Nursing Issues and Trends | 3 |
NURS 440 | Community and Population Health | 3 |
NURS 490 | Practicum | 3 |
NURS 540 | Informatics and Healthcare Technologies | 3 |
PHIL 226 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
Select one of the following: 2 | 3 | |
Race in Global Perspective | ||
Anthropology of Gender | ||
Social Stratification | ||
Social Psychology | ||
Gender and Society | ||
The Family | ||
Medical Sociology | ||
Global Perspectives on Health and Illness | ||
Death and Society | ||
Sociology of the Body | ||
Racial and Ethnic Relations | ||
41 credits: Copy of a current and valid unencumbered license to practice nursing (RN) in the Commonwealth of Virginia. | 41 | |
19 credits: Open Electives (language study is highly recommended) | 19 | |
Total Credits | 120 |
- 1
Prerequisite for NURS 410 Evidence Based Nursing Research and NURS 440 Community and Population Health.
- 2
Students are encouraged to take additional courses from this list to obtain the 120 credit requirement for degree completion.
General Education Requirements
Credits Transferred From a Pre-licensure Nursing Program
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Sciences to include Anatomy and Physiology | 12 | |
English Composition | 6 | |
Social Science | 6 | |
Humanities | 3 | |
Statistics 1 | 3 | |
Total Credits | 30 |
- 1
STAT 180 Introduction to Statistics (or equivalent course) is a prerequisite for NURS 410 Evidence Based Nursing Research and NURS 430 Current Nursing Issues and Trends.
Electives
19 credits: Open Electives (language study is highly recommended)
Total Credits Required for the Degree: 120 credits
Dual Nursing Degrees Plan (1+2+1)
The Dual Nursing Degree Plan (1+2+1) is no longer accepting any new students.
Commonly referred to as the 1 + 2 + 1 BSN Plan, this agreement is designed for students who are interested in earning a pre-licensure Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in nursing from GCC and a post-licensure Bachelor of Science in nursing from UMW if all degree requirements are met. (see Requirements for the BSN Degree section.) Students will be admitted to UMW as Pre-Nursing (1+2+1) students. Students also need to apply to GCC as an Allied Health Certificate student. The following is a general description of each year. If a student needs to repeat a course, or submits an application to the GCC Nursing Program for a later term, the student’s progression will be delayed and the two degrees will not be completed in the “1+2+1” timeframe.
This plan is only available to incoming residential freshman and is limited to eighteen students. The plan does not accept transfer students. Students who are interested in the program complete the freshman student application process. In addition, students declare their intended major as “pre-nursing”. To be considered for the pre-nursing program, students must have earned a “B” or above in high school algebra, biology and chemistry. In addition, students must present SAT or ACT scores which exempt them from the Virginia Community College (VCCS) English and math placement exams. Once all admitting requirements are met, preference is given to students who apply under the Early Decision (binding) or Early Action (non-binding) application processes.
Accepted and paid pre-nursing students will be advised by the BSN Completion Program office starting in May of the student’s senior year in High School. Pre-nursing student will be guided through the process of applying and registering at GCC’s as a Pre-BSN student to complete the required nursing pre-requisite courses during their first year. In addition, students will be enrolled at UMW as pre-nursing students to complete liberal arts coursework.
The following is a general description of each year.
Year 1
During the freshman year students will complete required nursing prerequisite courses at UMW and GCC as needed. Students must earn a “C” or above in all courses taken to be transferable to UMW between the two schools. Students must provide their own transportation to GCC throughout the program to include prerequisite courses, nursing courses, nursing labs and clinical assignments; therefore students will be allowed to have a car on campus as a freshman student. Students will apply for a second admission to the GCC Nursing Program. GCC Nursing Program application deadline is April 1. Students must meet all published procedures and deadlines for application to the GCC Nursing Program. Pre-licensure nursing programs are competitive and there is NO guaranteed acceptance to the GCC Nursing Program. Nursing is a caring profession. GCC and UMW reserve the right to deny or revoke admission to the GCC Nursing Program and/or the BSN Completion Program to students who have been suspended or dismissed from any institution of higher education or convicted of a felony, use of illegal substances, or on charges related to physical abuse towards others.
Years 2 & 3
Students who are admitted to the GCC Nursing Program will attend GCC’s Nursing Program and earn an A.A.S. degree in nursing. Students will be concurrently enrolled in UMW and complete the three liberal art courses which are part of the BSN Completion Program.
Year 4
Students will return to UMW to finish the BSN Completion Program. Students begin taking UMW courses with the NURS prefix after they present a current and valid unencumbered license to practice nursing (RN) in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Students submit a copy of their licensure to the BSN Completion Program office and complete a major declaration form. Both documents are submitted to the Office of the Registrar and each licensed student will receive 41 credits for the NSG courses taken at GCC. NUR courses from GCC do not transfer in individually. Students have 2 years, following graduation with an A.A.S. degree in nursing, to complete the remaining BSN requirements.
UMW 1+2+1 BSN Plan Degree Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
RN License | ||
GCC NSG courses do not transfer into UMW. Students will earn 41 credits when they present their RN license following graduation from GCC. | 41 | |
GCC NSG Prerequisite & General Education Courses | 30 | |
Transferred from GCC to UMW 1 | ||
Trasferred from UMU to GCC 2 | ||
Introduction to Statistics (or equivalent) | ||
Electives | ||
Elective 1 | 3 | |
Elective 2 | 3 | |
Elective 3 | 1 | |
Elective 4 | 3 | |
Elective 5 | 3 | |
PSYC 100 | General Psychology (or equivalent) | 3 |
SOCG 105 | The Social World (or equivalent) | 3 |
UMW BSN Completion Program | ||
ENGL 308 | Writing Studies and Healing | 3 |
PHIL 226 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
SOCG 355 | Death and Society (or equivalent) | 3 |
NURS 310 | The Role of the Professional Nurse | 3 |
NURS 320 | Holistic Health Assessment for the Professional Nurse | 3 |
NURS 410 | Evidence Based Nursing Research | 3 |
NURS 430 | Current Nursing Issues and Trends | 3 |
NURS 440 | Community and Population Health | 3 |
NURS 490 | Practicum | 3 |
NURS 540 | Informatics and Healthcare Technologies | 3 |
Total Credits | 120 |
- 1
GCC: BIO 141(4); BIO 142(4); BIO 150(4). (SDV 100 is not transferable to UMW.)
- 2
FSEM 100 First-Year Seminar; ENGL 202 Writing Seminar; Humanities elective (3); HSCI 120 Medical Terminology for Health Professionals, PSYC 120 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
- 3
STAT 180 Introduction to Statistics or equivalent is a prerequisite for NURS 410 Evidence Based Nursing Research and NURS 430 Current Nursing Issues and Trends.
General Education Requirements
Credits Transferred From a Pre-licensure Nursing Program
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Sciences to include Anatomy and Physiology | 12 | |
English Composition | 6 | |
Social Science | 6 | |
Humanities | 3 | |
Statistics 1 | 3 | |
Total Credits | 30 |
- 1
STAT 180 Introduction to Statistics or equivalent is a prerequisite for NURS 410 Evidence Based Nursing Research and NURS 430 Current Nursing Issues and Trends.
Electives
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Electives | ||
Elective 1 | 3 | |
Elective 2 | 3 | |
Elective 3 | 1 | |
Elective 4 | 3 | |
Elective 5 | 3 | |
Prerequisites | ||
PSYC 100 | General Psychology (or equivalent) | 3 |
SOCG 105 | The Social World (or equivalent) | 3 |
Total Credits | 19 |
Total Credits Required for the Degree: 120 credits