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Nursing

Approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120, (202) 887-6791.

FACULTY Associate Professors Armmer, Brubaker (chair) Cluskey, Erickson, Flannigan, Schwend (associate chair); Assistant Professors Adelman-Mullally, Borton, Boyer, Cenek, Clark, Cornell, Daniels, Grugan, Hamilton, Jackson, Pierce, Steinwedel, Wallenfang, Welker; Instructors Downs, McDonald, Reed.

The Department of Nursing offers an undergraduate curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Graduates of the program are eligible for licensure as a registered nurse (R.N.) upon successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). The department also offers an accelerated BSN program.

The purpose of the program is to prepare graduates for the beginning practice of professional nursing in a variety of settings. To achieve this purpose, a four-year educational program is provided which includes foundation, elective, and supporting courses in the humanities, the social sciences, the sciences, mathematics, and the theory and practice of nursing. The faculty believes that nursing education is a dynamic interactive process. Baccalaureate nursing education prepares students to integrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to enter practice as generalists. Baccalaureate educated nurses are prepared to translate, integrate, and apply knowledge to improve patient outcomes and foster a culture of safety.

The objectives of the curriculum are to prepare graduates for

  1. professional growth and advancement through acquired knowledge and experience; 
  2. graduate study in a major field of concentration in nursing; and 
  3. continuous personal growth and development.

The faculty of the Department of Nursing reserves the right to revise policies and course requirements based upon changes in accreditation, licensure, and nursing practice.

Admission

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the University and of the Department of Nursing. 

Instruction and Requirements

Instruction is provided in classrooms and laboratories on the campus and in a variety of health care agencies in the community. Clinical experiences (practicum) are planned and supervised by Department of Nursing faculty members.

In addition to the fees and expenses listed in the University catalog, students majoring in nursing are financially responsible for the purchase and maintenance of uniforms, for certain practicum and laboratory supplies and materials, and for transportation between the campus and the community agencies where clinical experiences are provided.

Prior to enrollment in the first nursing course that includes a practicum, each student must show proof of

  1. Liability insurance.
  2. Immunity to rubeola (measles) by one of the following:
    • a rubeola (measles) immunization received in 1980 or later, or
    • written verification from a physician of having had the disease, or
    • a birth date prior to 1957.
  3. Immunity to rubella (German measles) by one of the following:
    • written verification of having had the immunization, or
    • written verification of rubella titer.
  4. Immunity to hepatitis B virus.
  5. Tuberculin test.
  6. Proof of a T-dap booster within 10 years.
  7. Fingerprint scanned criminal background check.
  8. Drug screen.
  9. Proof of current CPR (health care provider or professional rescuer).
    This requirement must be current for the entire academic year of enrollment in practicum courses: NUR 203, 207, 307, 309, 315, 317, 403, 409, 411, 413 and 417.
  • Students must maintain a 2.50 cumulative grade point average in order to remain in the nursing program.
  • Students must earn a grade of C or better in every required nursing course. Students must earn a grade of C or better in BIO 111, 202, 230, 231, 232, and 233; CHM 100, 162; PSY 101.
  • Transfer students are evaluated for admission on an individual basis. A fifteen-year limitation on transfer credit will be imposed on courses in chemistry, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and nutrition.
  • Licensed registered nurses (RNs) must meet the admission requirements of the University and of the Department of Nursing. RN applicants must submit a transcript from an approved school of nursing and verification of current Illinois licensure.
  • Registered nurses (RNs) may earn up to 31 semester hours of credit for prior learning. Following completion of NUR 300, 303, and 310 with a minimum grade of ”C” the RN student may enroll in required nursing courses NUR 403, 404, 413, 418, and 640.
  • The RN student will meet University requirements for Bradley Core Curriculum, basic skills, junior/senior hours, and residency credit in order to graduate. The RN student will meet nursing department requirements for natural and social science courses, statistics, and nine hours of nursing electives. Sixty-six semester hours may be transferred from a community college.
  • Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) may earn up to 11 semester hours of credit for prior learning. Following completion of NUR 300 and 310 with a minimum grade of “C”, the LPN student may enroll in required junior nursing courses. 

Students majoring in nursing will pursue the following recommended curriculum:

1 Registered nurses may receive credit for prior learning for these courses.
2 Licensed practical nurses may receive credit by for prior learning for these courses. 

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Requirements

Freshman Year

First Semester

  • COM 103 Oral Comm. Process - 3 hrs.
  • PSY 101 Principles of Psychology - 3 hrs.
  • CHM 100 Fund. of Gen. Chemistry. - 3 hrs.
  • CHM 101 Fund. of Gen. Chemistry Laboratory - 1 hr.
  • BIO 111 Cell Biology - 3 hrs.
  • MTH 111 Elementary Statistics - 3 hrs.

16 hours

Second Semester

  • ENG 101 Composition - 3 hrs.
  • CHM 162 Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry - 4 hrs.
  • 1,2 BIO 202 Microbiology and Immunology - 4 hrs.
  • SOC 100 Sociological Perspective - 3 hrs.
  • Elective or BCC course - 2 hrs.

16 hours

Sophomore Year

First Semester

  • 1,2 BIO 230 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (Lecture) - 3 hrs.
  • 1,2 BIO 231 Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I - 1 hrs.
  • 1,2 NUR 200 Fundamentals of Nursing (T) - 4 hrs.
  • 1,2 NUR 203 Fundamentals of Nursing (P) - 2 hrs.
  • 1,2 FCS 301 Nutrition for Today - 3 hrs.
  • Elective or BCC course – 3 hrs.

16 hours

Second Semester

  • 1,2 BIO 232 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (Lecture) - 3 hrs.
  • 1,2 BIO 233 Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory II - 1 hr.
  • 1,2 NUR 204 Intro. to Health Assessment - 2 hrs.
  • 1,2 NUR 206 Adult Health I: Intro. to Medical-Surgical Nursing (T) - 3 hrs.
  • 1,2 NUR 207 Adult Health I: Intro. to Medical-Surgical Nursing (P) - 2 hrs.
  • PSY 303 Lifespan Developmental Psychology - 3 hrs.

14 hours

Junior Year

First Semester

  • 1 NUR 306 Maternal/Newborn Nursing (T) - 3 hrs.
  • 1 NUR 307 Maternal/Newborn Nursing (P) - 2 hrs.
  • 1 NUR 308 Nursing of Children (T) - 3 hrs.
  • 1 NUR 309 Nursing of Children (P) - 2 hrs.
  • NUR 318 Pharmacology & Nursing Implications - 2 hrs. (may be taken either fall or spring semester)
  • PSY 311 Principles of Abnormal Psychology - 3 hrs.

15 hours

Second Semester

  • NUR 303 Research in Nursing - 3 hrs. (may be taken either fall or spring semester)
  • 1 NUR 314 Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (T) - 2 hrs.
  • 1 NUR 315 Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (P) - 2 hrs.
  • 1 NUR 316 Adult Health II: Medical-Surgical Nursing (T) - 4 hrs.
  • 1 NUR 317 Adult Health II: Medical-Surgical Nursing (P) - 2 hrs.
  • Elective or BCC course - 3 hrs.

16 hours

Senior Year

First Semester

  • NUR 403 Community Health Practicum (P) – 2.5 hrs. (taken either fall or spring semester when enrolled in NUR 404)
  • NUR 404 Community Health Nursing (T) - 2 hrs. (may be taken either fall or spring semester)
  • NUR 408 Adult Health III: Medical-Surgical Nursing (T) - 3 hrs.
  • NUR 409 Senior Practicum I (P) – 2.5 hrs.
  • NUR 411 Senior Practicum Med Surg (P) – 2.5 hrs. (taken if not enrolled in NUR 403 & 404)
  • ENG Composition (ENG 300, 301, 304, 305, or 306) - 3 hrs.
  • Elective or BCC course - 3 hrs.

16 hours

Second Semester

  • NUR 410 Adult Health IV: Nursing Care of the Patient with Multi-System Challenges (T) - 3 hrs.
  • NUR 413 Leadership Practicum (P) – 2.5 hrs
  • NUR 414 Senior Seminar - 1 hr.
  • NUR 417 Senior Practicum II (P) – 2.5 hrs. (taken if not enrolled in NUR 403 & 404)
  • NUR 418 Nursing Leadership (T) - 1 hr.
  • Elective or BCC course - 5 hrs.

15 hours 

Accelerated BSN

Bradley's Department of Nursing offers an accelerated undergraduate curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) for students who have already completed a bachelor's degree in another discipline. The full-time, 15-month program begins each May and runs through the next August. 

The 15-month program is designed to provide an intensive nursing preparation for students who hold a bachelor's degree in another discipline but would like to pursue a career in nursing. At Bradley, the study of nursing blends theory and practice to prepare graduates to successfully complete the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's NCLEX-RN examination to become a registered nurse. The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates of the program will be prepared for the beginning practice of professional nursing in a variety of settings.

Candidates for the program must hold a Bachelor's degree in a discipline other than nursing, have a minimum of a 2.75 grade point average (GPA) for the last 60 hours of college coursework, and have completed all prerequisite courses listed below prior to the start of the program in May. Transfer students enrolled in a second baccalaureate program will be automatically granted credit for all Bradley Core Curriculum requirements upon verification that their first baccalaureate was completed at a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

Prerequisites

  • Anatomy and Physiology (with lab)
  • Fundamentals of Chemistry (with lab)
  • Microbiology
  • Pathophysiology
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Nutrition
  • Introduction to Sociology
  • Statistics

Cohorts of students will begin the program in May Interim of each year and will move through the program following the suggested program timeline. 

Summer 

May Interim

  • NUR 204 Health Assessment - 2 hrs.

 2 hours

Summer Session 1

  • NUR 200 Fundamentals of Nursing - 4 hrs.
  • NUR 203 Fundamentals of Nursing Practicum - 2 hrs.

6 hours

Summer Session 2

  • NUR 206 Adult Health I - 3 hrs.
  • NUR 207 Adult Health I Practicum - 2 hrs.

5 hours

Fall

  • NUR 303 Nursing Research - 3 hrs. 
  • NUR 306 Maternal-Newborn Nursing - 3 hrs.
  • NUR 307 Maternal-Newborn Nursing Practicum - 2 hrs.
  • NUR 308 Nursing Care of Children - 3 hrs.
  • NUR 309 Nursing Care of Children Practicum - 2 hrs.
  • NUR 318 Pharmacology and Nursing Implications (online) - 2 hrs.
  • 15 hours

Spring

  • NUR 314 Psych/Mental Health Nursing - 2 hrs.
  • NUR 315 Psych/Mental Health Nursing Practicum – 2 hrs.
  • NUR 316 Adult Health II - 4 hrs.
  • NUR 317 Adult Health II Practicum - 2 hrs.
  • NUR 404 Community Health Nursing - 2 hrs.
  • NUR 418 Nursing Leadership - 1 hr.

13 hours

Summer 

May Interim

  • NUR 403 Community Health Practicum (P) – 2.5 hrs.
  • NUR 414 Senior Seminar - 1 hr.

3.5 hours

Summer Session 1

  • NUR 408 Adult Health III - 3 hrs.
  • NUR 409 Senior Practicum I - 2.5 hrs.

5.5 hours

Summer Session 2

  • NUR 410 Adult Health IV - 3 hrs.
  • NUR 413 Leadership Practicum (P) – 2.5 hrs
  • NUR 417 Senior Practicum II - 2.5 hrs.

8 hours

The BSN degree is awarded in August and graduates are eligible to write the NCLEX-RN licensure exam in September.

This is the official catalog for the 2016-2017 academic year. This catalog serves as a contract between a student and Bradley University. Should changes in a program of study become necessary prior to the next academic year every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes via the Dean of the College or Chair of the Department concerned, the Registrar's Office, u.Achieve degree audit system, and the Schedule of Classes. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the current program and graduation requirements for particular degree programs.