Nursing

Marymount's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program prepares nurses to be knowledgeable, skilled, and caring health professionals qualified to practice in the contemporary health care environment. Our graduates provide patient-centered quality care utilizing the nursing process and evidence-based practice. Laboratory and clinical experiences are provided to develop competence in the care of patients throughout the life cycle.

Upon successful completion of the undergraduate nursing program, students will be able to

• apply the nursing process to provide quality patient-centered care;
• communicate, collaborate, and negotiate as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team;
• demonstrate knowledge of professional and ethical standards as they apply to nursing practice;
• utilize evidence-based knowledge from nursing and other disciplines in practice;
• demonstrate the application of psychomotor skills for efficient, safe, and effective patient care;
• demonstrate skills in using patient care technologies, information systems, and communication devices that support safe nursing practice;
• delegate and supervise patient care activities to insure the delivery of safe, timely, and effective nursing care;
• participate in population-focused health promotion and disease prevention activities;
• participate in professional activities that support improvement in health care services; and
• develop a plan for continuous professional development and lifelong learning.
• Marymount's Bachelor of Science in nursing, Master of Science in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle, Suite 530, Washington, DC, 20036. The B.S.N. program is also approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Program Tracks

Marymount offers three program tracks which are all built on a solid foundation of the liberal arts:

• a four-year B.S.N. track for first-year and transfer students seeking their first bachelor's degree
• an accelerated second degree B.S.N. for students with a previous bachelor's degree in another field
• a hybrid online R.N.-to-B.S.N. for registered nurses who hold a diploma or associate degree in nursing

Admission Requirements: See individual programs.

Nondegree Admission: Nondegree students may not enroll in courses in the nursing program.

Clinical Requirements: In order to be eligible to attend clinical experiences, nursing students must provide the following to the clinical agency coordinator:

• Provider Attestation: Clinical Fitness and Technical Standards for Academic Progression and Graduation, Provider Guide in Completion of Attestation Form.
• written verification of two-step tuberculin skin test (required annually). If PPD is positive, an initial chest X-ray is required followed by a yearly TB symptom survey
• written verification of the following immunizations: Hepatitis B, MMR, Chicken Pox, Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis, and Influenza. Note: Influenza immunization is an annual requirement.
• written verification of accident and health insurance coverage, submitted to the Student Health Center
• written verification of current CPR certification, provided each semester, from the American Heart Association (BLS for Healthcare Provider)
• criminal background check, which is a federal requirement for all persons working with vulnerable populations
• negative 9-panel (or more) drug screen

Students will not be permitted to attend clinicals until all requirements are met.

Students must attend all course clinical days. Repeated absences will be grounds for course failure.

Students are referred to the Undergraduate Nursing Handbook for the clinical attendance policy.

Clinical Experience Transportation: Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from clinical experiences. The university’s free shuttle service connects the Main Campus, the Ballston Center, and the Ballston-MU Metro station.

Legal Limitations of Licensure: The practice of nursing is regulated by state laws. Questions concerning licensure in a specific state should be directed to that state’s board of nursing. Applicants for nursing licensure in Virginia are required to notify the Virginia Board of Nursing if they have

• been convicted of (or pled nolo contendere to) a violation of any federal or state law;
• been hospitalized or received treatment for chemical dependence during the two years preceding application to complete the licensing examination; or
• a mental or physical condition that could interfere with their ability to practice.

Minimum Grade and Academic Progression Requirements: Nursing students must achieve satisfactory performance each semester and make satisfactory progress toward graduation. Failure to meet the following requirements will result in program dismissal. To maintain satisfactory progress toward degree completion, students must also attend all clinical days as described in the aforementioned "Clinical Requirements."

Nursing students must maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or better, earn a minimum grade of C+ in all nursing courses, and earn a minimum grade of C in the following courses: BIO 161, BIO 161L, BIO 162, BIO 162L, BIO 260, BIO 260L, CHM 125, CHM 125L, MA 132, PSY 110, and SOC 131. A student who fails to achieve the minimum required grade in one natural science or one nursing course may repeat the course; however, progression in the nursing program may be delayed. A student who fails to earn the minimum required grade in a second (or repeated) natural science course or nursing course will be automatically dismissed from the nursing program.

In the B.S.N. program, a nursing course withdrawal is considered equivalent to a nursing course failure if the student has a course grade below 78% at the time of withdrawal.

Satisfactory progress toward graduation is defined as successful regular matriculation unless sufficient requirements have been fulfilled by acceptance of transfer credit. No nursing course may be repeated more than once.

Students should maintain continuous enrollment in nursing courses. If enrollment is interrupted, skill competency testing may be required prior to enrollment in the subsequent nursing course.

Passing scores on nursing comprehensive examinations taken at the end of the program are required for graduation from B.S.N. programs.

Technology Requirement: Traditional and accelerated B.S.N. students are required to have a laptop computer. Recommended specifications are available from Information Technology Services.