Nursing Department

2010 Updates

Table of contents

Nursing Department

Professors: Sharon Bowling*, Cheryl Giefer*, Barbara R. McClaskey*, Mary Carol Pomatto*,**, Chairperson

Associate Professors: Janie Schiefelbein*, Susan Seglie*

Instructors: Linda Bitner*, Judith Coltharp, Deborah Fischer, Kristi Frisbee, Jennifer Harris, Michele Hart, Karen Johnson, Sandra McChristy, Karen Tompkins-Dobbs, Annette VanAnne, Mary Susan Wachter

* Graduate Faculty
**University Professor

Room: 101 McPherson
Telephone: 620-235-4431
Fax: 620-235-4449
web site: http://www.pittstate.edu/department/nursing/
email: nurs@pittstate.edu

Description of Courses

Undergraduate

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree with a Major in Nursing

Graduate

• Master of Science in Nursing Degree with a Major in Nursing

Baccalaureate Degree

The Department of Nursing offers a program leading to the degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a major in nursing, in two tracks, the Pre-RN Licensure Track and the RN to BSN Track.

The curriculum prepares students for professional nursing in acute care agencies and in community health settings.

Pre-RN Licensure Track

Graduates are eligible to write the NCLEX-RN examination in any state. After initial licensure, the nurse may be licensed by endorsement in other states.

The program in nursing is approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120, 202-887-6791.

Students seeking the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree must meet all requirements for baccalaureate degrees from this institution including general education. Department requirements for the degree include prescribed background courses and a 63-71 hour major in nursing.

Students are admitted to the upper division clinical nursing courses following satisfactory completion of 62-66 semester hours including the following required background courses:

Additional requirements include submission of Department of Nursing Health Form, documentation of immunizations, three professional references, transcripts, application form, application fee, and consent and fees for a state and national background check, and SRS Child Abuse background check. Applicants with a criminal history and/or arrests for which action is still pending will be evaluated on an individual basis, with no guarantee of admission. A student who is born outside of the United States is required to submit proof that he or she has taken and passed the TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language-Internet Based Test).  Minimum scores for the TOEFL iBT are as follows:  Writing-20; Speaking-20; Reading-19; Listening-20, for a total of 79.  Each area must meet the minimum requirement.

Class sizes in clinical nursing courses are restricted; therefore, admission to the Department of Nursing is competitive. All pre-nursing students must file an application with the Department of Nursing for admission to upper division nursing courses. The application should be submitted by December 15 prior to the intended fall enrollment in the nursing program. Qualified late applicants will be accepted if spaces are available.

Supervised experience in health agencies is an integral part of every clinical nursing course. The clinical assignments are in a variety of settings off-campus. Students are responsible for their own transportation, current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and current certification as a state certified nurse aide (CNA), and liability insurance. Students can expect to spend 12-18 hours per week in the clinical areas in addition to class time. If the ACT exam has been taken, results must be provided. All students will participate in a standardized testing program. Testing costs are the responsibility of the student.

It is recommended that all clinical nursing majors have health insurance.

A grade below "C" represents work of insufficient quality, not adequate to pursue subsequent courses. For this reason, a student making a "D" or "F" grade in a required course will not be permitted to continue in the nursing major or to graduate. (No credit is allowed toward graduation for D's or F's in nursing courses.)

Unprofessional and/or unethical behavior is considered grounds for immediate dismissal from the nursing program.

Time Limit to Complete Degree

Nursing credits toward the upper division major in nursing at Pittsburg State University which have been earned more than ten years prior to the time the candidate receives the degree cannot be counted to meet requirements for the degree unless validated by repeating coursework or by special examination.

RN to BSN Track

   The Department of Nursing offers licensed Registered Nurses the opportunity to achieve the baccalaureate degree in an accelerated time frame.  RN-BSN students who have completed all university general education and additional required nursing prerequisite courses for the nursing major can complete the upper division nursing courses in one year of full-time study.  Completion of the RN-BSN courses in one year is NOT recommended for the registered nurse who is working full-time.  Part-time study is an option for nurses who desire to complete the nursing courses over several years.

   The RN-BSN courses are designed for the RN student whose long term career goals may extend beyond the bachelor’s degree.  Upon completion of the courses, students will have completed 4-7 credit hours required in the Master of Science in Nursing degree program at Pittsburg State University.

   All RN-BSN courses are offered as hybrids (on-campus and on-line attendance required) or on-line.  RN students do have the option of enrolling in on-campus only classes.  NURS 304 Transition into Baccalaureate Nursing Practice, a hybrid course, meets on-campus two times during the fall semester.  As part of this course students orient to the PSU on-line ANGEL platform, the nursing department and the university, obtain photo ID’s and parking permits, and network with faculty and other students.

   The NURS 723 Client/Family Health: Theory, Assessment, and Promotion and NURS 724 Client/Family Health: Theory, Assessment, and Promotion Practicum, hybrid courses, meet during the fall semester or summer semester one evening a week for the on-campus portion of the courses.  These are the last nursing courses taken before graduation.  It is required that students complete all RN to BSN courses before taking NURS 723 Client/Family Health: Theory, Assessment, and Promotion and NURS 724 Client/Family Health: Theory, Assessment, and Promotion Practicum.  A nursing elective course is required for the BSN degree.  Many RN’s choose to take the NURS 712 Issues and Roles in Advanced Nursing Practice course for their upper division nursing elective.  This course meets in the fall and meets a requirement for the MSN degree.

   Clinical requirements for the RN-BSN student are met through validation of current nursing practice as a registered nurse and through completion of integrated assignments and activities which meet the clinical objectives for the BSN degree.

   It is strongly recommended that students desiring to proceed into the MSN program enroll, audit or engage in an in-depth self study review of Pathophysiology and Pharmacology before enrolling in the NURS 809 Advanced Pathophysiology or the NURS 818 Advanced Pharmacology courses in the MSN program.

Nursing Articulation in Kansas

   The PSU Nursing Program participates in the Kansas Statewide Articulation Plan to promote educational mobility for nurses.  As a participant of this program, Registered Nurses (RN’s) must validate learning in order to receive credit for BSN courses:

NURS 300  Foundations of Nursing Practice
NURS 302  Techniques for Nursing
NURS 390  Pathophysiologic Bases of Nursing
NURS 410  Nursing the Adult Medical Surgical Client
NURS 440  Pharmacology in Nursing I
NURS 441  Pharmacology in Nursing II
NURS 452  Nursing the Childbearing Family
NURS 462  Nursing the Child and Family
NURS 457 Nursing the Child and the Childbearing Family Practicum
NURS 470  Nursing the Psychiatric/Mental Health Client
NURS 599  Internship in Nursing Practice

    Validation (36 hours) is accomplished by:

1. Achieving a passing score on he National Council’s Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), as evidenced by a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse.
2. Validation letter of a minimum of three months current nursing practice.
3. Successful completion of NURS 304 Transitions into Baccalaureate Nursing Practice with a “C” or above.
4. Successful completion of NURS 723 Client/Family Health: Theory, Assessment, and Promotion and NURS 724 Client/Family Health: Theory, Assessment, and Promotion Practicum with a “C” or above.

    In addition to 1-4, for nursing credits more than ten years old, validation can occur by verifying 1,000 hours of nursing experience in the last three years.

PSU Policy Pertaining to the Last Thirty Hours

   A maximum of six semester hours of credit completed at another college or university may be applied on the last 30 hours prior to graduation.

   Students seeking admission to the RN to BSN courses must make application for admission to the Department of Nursing and make application for admission to the University.  The application packet may be obtained from the Department of Nursing or be printed from nursing’s website.  The application, with submitted fees, is applicable for only one academic year.  If a student is considered to be an International Student, please contact the Admissions Office for applications and fee amounts.

   RN to BSN students considering admission to the nursing program should send all official transcripts to the PSU Registrar for evaluation of previously earned credit.  Following completion of the transcript evaluation, RN to BSN students should make an appointment for advisement for determination of a program plan of study with a member of the nursing department faculty.

   RN to BSN applications are accepted year round.  For timely processing, applications are desired by the following dates: Fall Admission – July 15th; Spring Admission – November 15th; Summer Admission – April 15th.

   Completed applications must include the following:

   Applicants are required to purchase a background check through CertifiedBackground.com.  This is a National Background Check in your current state of residence.  Also required is a signed consent for background check form for the nursing department, SRS Child Abuse check form, and if NOT a resident of Kansas completion of a KBI background check form.  The application packet specifies fee amounts to be remitted.  Applicants with a criminal history (includes misdemeanors and felonies) and/or arrests for which action is still pending will be evaluated on an individual basis, with no guarantee of admission.  There are specific requirements for reporting criminal history on the application for admission.  Three satisfactory professional references from academic advisors, employers or teachers (references from friends, relatives and ministers are not acceptable references).  Proof of current RN licensure, documentation of current immunization status, current CPR certification, documentation of a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or better on a 4.00 scale (all transcripts on file with the university).  Payment of all fees (application and fees are applicable for only one academic year).

   A student who is born outside of the United States is required to submit proof that he or she has taken and passed the TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language-Internet Based Test).  Minimum scores for the TOEFL iBT are as follows: Writing-20, Speaking-20; Reading-19; Listening-20, for a total of 79.  Each area must meet the minimum requirement.  All students will participate in the standardized testing program that includes a critical thinking pre test and post test.  Testing costs are the responsibility of the student.

   A grade of “C” or above is required in all of the following courses and their laboratories: Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, College Algebra or College Algebra with Review, General Psychology, Developmental Psychology or Lifespan Human Development, General Microbiology, Nutrition or Nutrition and Health and Introduction to Sociology.  Any requests for exception must be accompanied by a written explanation to assist the admission committee in arriving at a fair decision. 

Time Limit to Complete Degree

   Nursing credits earned toward the upper division major in nursing at PSU which have been earned more than ten years prior to the time the candidate receives the degree cannot be counted to meet requirements for the degree unless validated by repeating coursework or by special examination.

Upper Division Courses

RN to BSN courses are typically offered according to the following designated semesters.