Nursing (B.S.N.)

The RN to BSN Program prepares the registered nurse to be a holistic practitioner who provides comforting and inclusive care for all people, rooted in scientific evidence, where the student is responsible for their intellectual development, personal growth, and well-being while cultivating a sense of purpose that inspires commitment to lifelong learning and service. Graduates of the BSN program are expected to perform according Scope and Standards for Practice (ANA, 2015); Code for Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (ANA, 2015); The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (AACN, 2008); Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN, 2007); AACN (2012) white paper, “Expectations for Practice Experiences in the RN to Baccalaureate Curriculum”; and Core Competencies in the Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Competencies.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to

Knowledge for Nursing Practice: Translate and assimilate knowledge borrowed from other disciplines, to form a strong liberal arts curriculum cultivating advanced clinical judgment and innovation in nursing practice [AACN Essentials D1; Concept CJ; AACN White Paper; ANA Code of Ethics 1-9; ANA Scope & Standards 1-5B; Core Competencies IPE 1-4; QSEN PCC, Teamwork, EBP, QI, Safety, & Informatics].
Culturally Compassionate Practice: Nurture caring and interprofessional partnerships with patients and families, and the global community that delivers holistic, compassionate, person-centered care that is safe, equitable and respects cultural fluidity [AACN Essentials D2; Concepts DEI & CC; AACN White Paper; ANA Code of Ethics 1-9; ANA Scope & Standards 1-5B; Core Competencies IPE 1-4; QSEN PCC, Teamwork, EBP, QI, Safety, & Informatics].
Population Health: Promote optimal patient, family, and community outcomes through advocacy, by managing disease, healthy lifestyle choices, and minimizing the impact of social conditions across the healthcare delivery continuum [AACN Essential D3; Concepts SDH& DEI; ANA Code of Ethics 1-9; ANA Scope & Standards 1-5B; Core Competencies IPE 1-4; QSEN PCC, Teamwork, EBP, QI, Safety, & Informatics].
Scholarship: Collects best evidence, analyzes, interprets and disseminates data using the nursing process to promote optimal health of individuals, families, and global communities [AACN Essentials D4; Concept EBP; AACN White Paper; ANA Code of Ethics 1-9; ANA Scope & Standards 1-5B; Core Competencies IPE 1-4; QSEN PCC, Teamwork, EBP, QI, Safety, & Informatics].
Quality & Safety: Integrates best practice metrics in safety science using a systems-based approach to inform nursing practice and to solve complex healthcare challenges [AACN Essentials D5 & D7; Concept EBP; AACN White Paper; ANA Code of Ethics 1-9; ANA Scope & Standards 1-5B; Core Competencies IPE 1-4; QSEN PCC, Teamwork, EBP, QI, Safety, & Informatics].
Communication & Interprofessional Relationships: Maintain and support an open line of respectful communication among interprofessional teams to create a culture of safety that promotes optimal care and outcomes for patients, families, communities [AACN Essentials D6; Concepts C & CC; AACN White Paper; ANA Code of Ethics 1-9; ANA Scope & Standards 1-5B; Core Competencies IPE 1-4; QSEN PCC, Teamwork, EBP, QI, Safety, & Informatics].
Informatics & Technology: Integrates and analyzes disparate data to support clinical decision-making and planning to improve care, optimize outcomes, and to reduce healthcare costs [AACN Essentials D8; Concepts EBP & C; [AACN White Paper; ANA Code of Ethics 1-9; ANA Scope & Standards 1-5B; Core Competencies IPE 1-4; QSEN PCC, Teamwork, EBP, QI, Safety, & Informatics].
Personal & Professional Development: Pursue a sense of purpose that inspires a commitment to lifelong learning and meaningful work that inspires personal and professional growth, sound health, resilience, and well-being [AACN Essential D9; Concept CJ; AACN White Paper; ANA Code of Ethics 1-9; ANA Scope & Standards 1-5B; Core Competencies IPE 1-4; QSEN PCC, Teamwork, EBP, QI, Safety, & Informatics].
Growth & Professionalism: Cultivate a professional identity founded upon high ethical and moral standards, and accountability, that promote the discipline of nursing and the obligations of the profession [AACN Essentials D10; Concept CJ; AACN White Paper; ANA Code of Ethics 1-9; ANA Scope & Standards 1-5B; Core Competencies IPE 1-4; QSEN PCC, Teamwork, EBP, QI, Safety, & Informatics].
Leadership: Develop as an emerging leader by using effective communication, sound leadership strategies, and employs data as a strategic asset to achieve optimal health for patients, families, and across the community and the globe [AACN Essentials D10; Concepts C & HP; AACN White Paper; ANA Code of Ethics 1-9; ANA Scope & Standards 1-5B; Core Competencies IPE 1-4; QSEN PCC, Teamwork, EBP, QI, Safety, & Informatics].

Note:

Admissions information specific to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program (B.S.N.) can be found in the Admissions to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies of the online catalog.

Course Requirements:

Choose One elective:

Note:

Repetition of Nursing Courses

A student may repeat a nursing course once for a satisfactory final grade (“C” or better).

A maximum of two different nursing courses may be repeated due to an unsatisfactory grade (“D” or less) or withdrawal. Students who are unable to meet this expectation may not continue in the Nursing curriculum sequence. Readmission to nursing courses in the Online RN to BSN Track will be considered on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed.

A student who demonstrates unsafe behavior (directly endangering the physiological and/or psychosocial well-being of a client) during a clinical practice experience, and on the basis of this receives an unsatisfactory final grade (less than a “C” grade), will not be permitted to repeat that course or continue in the Nursing curriculum sequence.

Clinical Site Placement

Students are placed at three clinical site locations (clinical placements) at the beginning of each subterm. Students may decline Etown placements for their own preferred site, for example, their place of work. The clinical instructor works with students to identify a qualified preceptor clinical site and thus approves the clinical location. If a qualified preceptor is unavailable, the lead course facility will place the student with an approved preceptor.

The student may view clinical placements and assigned preceptors three weeks prior to course start date. Students are given the first week of the course to complete this process. The identified preceptor agrees to spend a specific number of hours in the clinical setting with the student. The student is responsible for obtaining their own transportation to and from all clinical sites.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate program in nursing at Elizabethtown College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).