School of Nursing

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

The primary focus of the second degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is healthcare in diverse settings. The graduate will utilize scientific inquiry, evidence-based practice and nursing leadership concepts.

The curriculum would provide graduates with strong critical thinking skills, leadership and management skills, and the ability to incorporate research findings and information from other disciplines into nursing practice. In addition, graduates would be ready to enter graduate degree programs with majors in administration, education, clinical nurse leadership, and advance practice nursing roles.  

Nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential problems affecting health. The graduate will have the knowledge and skills to implement evidence-based care and manage macro and micro systems of care to provide for the health care needs of the patient, family and community. Professional nursing is the application of this knowledge in a caring and collaborative partnership with the individual, family, or community across the lifespan to maintain, promote or restore health, or to achieve a peaceful death.  

Program Objectives:

• Synthesize knowledge from the biological sciences, social sciences, behavioral sciences, humanities and nursing to provide appropriate culturally sensitive care to individuals, families and communities.
• Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication and collaboration with other professionals.
• Assume accountability for client care outcomes to nursing practice related to disease prevention, health promotion, illness care and restoration of health across the continuum of care.
• Utilize critical thinking skills to evaluate the outcomes of nursing care provided to clients throughout their life span.
• Serve as client advocates by providing health education and in monitoring and promoting access to cost-effective care.
• Acknowledge the need for lifelong learning and create a foundation for advanced study.
• Integrate professional values and ethical, moral and legal aspects of nursing into practice in a variety of settings.

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The following requirements apply to all candidates for the 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 http://www.uhv.edu/catalog/

2. Lower Division:
   
   a.  3 semester hours of statistics (may take psychology statistics or math statistics.
   b.  3 semester hours of nutrition.
   c.  8 semester hours of human anatomy and physiology.
   d.  4 semester hours of Chemistry (may take introductory chemistry or general chemistry
   e.  6 semester hours of Psychology (PSYCH 2301 Introduction to Psychology, and PSYC 2314 Human Growth and Development).
   f. 3 semester hours of Sociology (SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology).
3. Upper Division:  61 semester hours of upper division Nursing courses:

(Synthesis of Nursing Professional Role I, Synthesis of Nursing Professional Role II, Synthesis of 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, and a Special Topics course in Nursing).

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 These requirements are summarized in the following table:

 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. 

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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 catalog. http://www.uhv.edu/catalog/Admissions.asp.  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 June 1st for Fall admission and November 1st for Spring admission to the School of Nursing.  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 2.5 and a gpa of 3.0 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 graduates 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.
7. Applicants to the second degree BSN program must submit a Current CPR Healthcare Provider card.
8. Applicants to the second degree BSN program must pass the Nurse Entrance Test  (N.E.T.)
9. Qualified applicants who have been accepted into the second degree BSN program must meet the following immunization requirements:
   
   a.     Two-step TB skin test
   b.    Tetanus-diphtheria toxoid (Td) within the last 10 years
   c.     Measles/Mumps/Rubella vaccinations(s)
   d.    Varicella vaccination(s)
   e.     Three-injection hepatitis B vaccination series or serologic confirmation of immunity to hepatitis B virus. 

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. 

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Page last updated: Wednesday, November 5, 2008