Nursing, B.S.N.

The Bachelor of Science In Nursing (BSN) is also known as NURS major. The NURS major includes course work in nursing science, related sciences, and the arts to promote, restore and maintain the health of human beings. The purpose of the baccalaureate nursing program (pre-licensure) is to prepare a professional nurse to be clinicians, critical thinkers, leaders, coordinators and designers of healthcare. This is a traditional undergraduate nursing program which includes 2 semesters of pre-requisites (PNURS) and 6 semesters in NURS courses for a total of 121-123 credit hours. Graduates of the program are generalists with the holistic skills and expertise needed to manage the nursing care of culturally diverse patients in a variety of complex care settings. The BSN major provides the base for graduate education and continuing professional development.

Admission Policy for students transitioning from PNURS to NURS:  

After admittance to John Carroll University through a competitive holistic admission process, the student will be considered a pre-nursing (PNURS) student during their first year. Pre-nursing students are required to adhere to and are expected to understand the following: Upon completion of the prerequisites for NURS courses, the nursing department will review the cumulative GPA of all pre-nursing students. Students must maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 2.8 to be eligible to begin NURS coursework in the nursing program curriculum. The nursing department will communicate with students who do not meet this requirement within one week of submission of final grades. While we strive to accommodate all eligible students, enrollment in NURS courses each fall is based on available space. If capacity becomes an issue, the department will review students' academic performance to determine placement. Students who meet the requirements but are not placed in fall courses will have the opportunity to begin their NURS major coursework in the spring semester.

Grade Policy for students majoring in Nursing: 

1. NURS coursework (including clinical or laboratory) completed at or above 77% is considered satisfactory. NURS courses in the Nursing department define a C+ grade as 77% or above.

2. NURS coursework (including clinical or laboratory) completed below a C+ is considered deficient and will need to be repeated at the next available opportunity. There will be no more than two attempts at any nursing course(including clinical or laboratory) and a maximum of 2 deficient grades in the nursing courses are allowed before a student will be dismissed from the Nursing program.

3. Clinical grades are a pass/fail and the final grade awarded in the course comes from the lecture component upon passing the clinical. 

Program Learning Goals For Nursing: 

John Carroll BSN graduates will receive liberal arts education rooted in Jesuit values:  theology, philosophy, humanities, sciences - and embrace the complexity of clinical decision-making in an age of evidence-based and data-driven care. 

The student will: 

1. Integrate nursing knowledge with a liberal arts educational foundation to care for clients across the human lifespan, including ethical issues that affect the health and health care of all people, with special attention to those challenges that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. 

2. Apply scientific knowledge to reduce risk and limit disease in individuals and communities. 

3. Understand patient care technologies in the healthcare environment. 

4. Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with patients, families, and other healthcare providers in the professional healthcare environment. 

5. Demonstrate nursing leadership skills that exemplify Ignatian spirituality principles.

Required PNURS Courses (prerequisites):

Subtotal: 33 credits

*For the prerequisite courses PS 1000/PS1010, SC 1010, ESC 2229, or PS 2680/ESC 2080, if not all are completed by the beginning of the first semester of nursing courses, ONE of these courses can be taken concurrently with the first semester of nursing courses.

Required Core Courses for Nursing:

Subtotal: 6 credits

Required NURS Courses:

Subtotal: 63

**Includes required clinical component

Optional Concentration in Substance Use Disorder Counseling

Completion of these courses qualifies a student to pursue initial certification as a Certified Dependency Counselor Assistant from the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board (OCDP.ohio.gov). Once certified, student may work under supervision in this area, and may choose to take additional courses at the graduate level to progress to the next level of licensure.