Degree Requirements for the

Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)

The objective of the Second Degree BSN program is to produce graduates for professional nursing practice who can draw upon knowledge from the biological sciences, social sciences, humanities and nursing to critically analyze human responses to actual and potential health problems and provide appropriate nursing interventions. The Second Degree bachelors program is a twelve-month intensive full-time program for people holding bachelors or masters degrees in other fields who want to become registered nurses (RNs). This program is designed to facilitate a career change for the more mature and experienced student.

The following requirements apply to all candidates for the Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

1.  Students must satisfy all university requirements for a bachelor’s degree as found in the section UNIVERSITY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS of this catalog.
2.  Lower Division:
   1.  3 semester hours of statistics (may take psychology statistics or math statistics.
   2.  3 semester hours of nutrition.
   3.  8 semester hours of human anatomy and physiology.
   4.  4 semester hours of Chemistry (may take introductory chemistry or general  chemistry
   5.  6 semester hours of Psychology (PSYC 2301 Introduction to Psychology, and PSYC 2314 Human Growth and Development).
   6.  3 semester hours of Sociology (SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology).

    

   Upper Division:  61 semester hours of Nursing core; (Nursing Professional Role I, Nursing Professional Role II, Nursing Professional Role III, Pharmacology for Collaborative Nursing Practice, Reading and Interpreting Scientific Literature, Introduction to Evidence-Based Nursing Practice, Nursing Process for Symptom Management, Nursing Process for Collaborative Practice I, Nursing Process for Collaborative Practice II, Clinical Nursing Practice I, Clinical Nursing Practice II, Clinical Nursing Practice III, Nursing Research).

   These requirements are summarized in the following table:

   Lower-Level Prerequisite Courses	Semester Hours
   ENGL 1301/ENGL 1302 English Composition	6
   HIST 1301/HIST 1302 U. S. History	6
   GOVT 2301/2306 and GOVT 2302/2305 Political Science (Federal and State)	6
   Literature (any sophomore level Literature course)	3
   Speech  (may take any Speech course including Interpersonal Comm.)	3
   COSC 1301 or equivalent Computer Literacy course	3
   PSYC 2301 Introduction to Psychology	3
   PSYC 2314 Human Growth and Development	3
   SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology (	3
   Visual/Performing Arts (may select from Art, Drama, or Music)	3
   PSYC 2317 or MATH 1342 - Statistics	3
   BIOL 1322 Nutrition	3
   Chemistry (May take Introductory Chem. or General Chemistry)	4
   BIOL 2401 and BIOL 2402 Human Anatomy and Physiology	8
   BIOL 2420 Microbiology	4
   Total Prerequisite Courses	61
   Upper-Level Degree Requirements	Semester Hours
   NUR 3230 Nursing Professional Role I	2
   NUR 3331 Nursing Professional Role II	3
   NUR 3332 Nursing Professional Role III	3
   NUR 3247 Pharmacology for Collaborative Nursing Practice	2
   NUR 3337 Reading and Interpreting Scientific Literature	3
   NUR 3440 Introduction to Evidence-Based Nursing Practice	4
   NUR 3631 Nursing Process for Symptom Management	6
   NUR 3736 Nursing Process for Collaborative Practice I	7
   NUR 3637 Nursing Process for Collaborative Practice II	6
   NUR 3633 Clinical Nursing Practice I	6
   NUR 3734 Clinical Nursing Practice II	7
   NUR 3635 Clinical Nursing Practice III	6
   NUR 4300 Special Topics (elective)	3
   NUR 4314 Nursing Research	3
   Total Upper-Level Degree Requirements	61
   Total Degree Requirements:	122

   Second Degree BSN students are expected to:

   1.  Be familiar with the mission of this program and to comply with the expectations of them outlined in this catalog, new student orientation, and student handbook.
   2.  Maintain high standards of academic honesty and ethical behavior as outlined in course syllabi.
   3.  Ensure that degree plan requirements are understood and contact advisor promptly to resolve any questions regarding enrollment.  
   4.  Ensure contact information such as address and e-mail address is kept current in their Peoplesoft self service account.
   5.  Comply with registration deadlines, financial aid deadlines, and tuition and fees deadlines.
   6.  Apply for graduation by the published deadline for the semester in which they will complete degree requirements.
   7.  Visit the school’s web page (www.uhv.edu/nursing) regularly for important updates and to obtain information on course textbooks.  

    

   Requirements for Undergraduate Admission

   Applicants to the Second Degree BSN program must meet all requirements for undergraduate admission as outlined in the ADMISSIONS section of this catalog.  In order to be considered for admission a student must send the following credentials to the Office of Admissions and Records:

   Prospective students are urged to apply as early as possible in order to allow adequate time for record processing and counseling.  

   It is the responsibility of the applicant to furnish all necessary documentation to the Admissions and Records office by November 1st for Spring admission. Late applicants are considered if spaces are still available.

   1.  Applicants must complete an application for undergraduate admission.
   2.  Applicants must submit official transcript(s) from EACH college or university attended, sent directly from each institution to UH-Victoria. (For timely and accurate processing, students should ensure that all official documents have been submitted prior to registration.)
   3.  Applicants to the second degree BSN program must have graduated from an accredited baccalaureate degree  program.
   4.  Applicants to the second degree BSN program must have a cumulative gpa of at least 2.50 and a gpa of 3.00 in natural and behavioral sciences is expected.  (Science courses taken more than five years ago will be evaluated on an individual basis and may have to be repeated)
   5.  Applicants to the second degree BSN program must have completed all prerequisite course work prior to enrolling in the program.
   6.  Applicants to the second degree BSN program must pass a criminal background check.  Program applicants are required to submit a set of fingerprints to the Board of Nurse Examiners for FBI criminal background check as part of the Texas licensure application process upon request.
   7.  Applicants to the second degree BSN program must submit a current CPR healthcare provider or professional health care provider course completion card or certificate.
   8.  Qualified applicants who have been accepted into the second degree BSN program must meet the following immunization requirements:
      1.  Two-step TB skin test
      2.  Tetanus-diptheria toxoid (Td) within the last 10 years
      3.  Measles/Mumps/Rubella vaccinations(s)
      4.  Varicella vaccination(s)
      5.  Three-injection hepatitis B vaccination series or serologic confirmation of immunity to hepatitis B virus.  
   9.  Applicants to the second degree BSN program must take the Nurse Entrance Test  (N.E.T.)
   10.  The requirements of the second degree BSN program are divided into two broad areas: a) direct-care nursing skills and basic leadership/management. Upon successful completion of the program the graduate is to apply to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).  Satisfactory achievement on the examination will qualify the graduate for licensure as a Registered Nurse.  

   Transfer of Undergraduate Credit

   The college from which credit is to be transferred must be accredited by one of the six recognized regional accrediting associations. The dean of the school of the student's plan, with the advice and consent of the academic advisor of the student’s plan, will make the decision concerning the application of transfer credit to the degree program.