HELP 2010-2011 University Catalog Nursing, BSN Print-Friendly Page

Banner Code:  HH-BSN-NURS

Unit: School of Nursing 

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program is accredited by the Virginia State Board of Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The undergraduate nursing program prepares students to deliver superior nursing care and provide leadership in nursing in the increasingly complex and challenging field of modern health care. Graduates are in demand as professional nurses in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community health and other health care agencies. The program emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention, capitalizing on early detection of potential health problems, health maintenance in ambulatory services, and preparation for the managerial responsibilities of nursing.

The School of Nursing offers three pathways to complete the BSN, all of which lead to completion of the objectives of the undergraduate program. The traditional pathway is a two-year curriculum following the completion of general education and prerequisite requirements. An accelerated RN-to-BSN pathway for students holding current registered nurse (RN) licenses can be completed in one year (full-time) following completion of general education and prerequisite requirements. The accelerated, second degree pathway is a 12-month, full-time pathway for students holding a baccalaureate degree outside of nursing. The nursing programs must be completed on a full-time basis.

To be admitted to the BSN program, students must complete a prenursing curriculum during their first two years and be admitted to junior standing (these conditions do not apply to student who are already RNs). Admitted students will enter the program in the fall of their junior year and at that point are considered nursing majors.

Application to the BSN program is a process involving two applications: the George Mason University Undergraduate Application and the BSN Departmental Application. (Currently enrolled Mason students need only apply using the BSN Departmental Application.) Acceptance to the nursing program is contingent upon admission to the university, but admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the nursing program. Application to the BSN major is a competitive admission process. Prospective applicants are responsible to meet all BSN admission requirements at the time of application. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the nursing program—it only allows an application to be considered. Students who are interested in pursuing a major in nursing are encouraged to contact the nursing program for advising prior to applying to the nursing major.

Attendance at the first meeting of all nursing courses (lectures, on-campus laboratories, and agency laboratories) is mandatory.

Writing Intensive Requirement

Mason requires all students to complete at least one 300- or 400-level “writing intensive” course as designated as their department. Students majoring in nursing fulfill this requirement by successfully completing HHS 465.

Academic Grade Standards

After admission to junior-standing and the nursing program, students who earn a grade lower than a C in a required nursing (NURS or HHS) course must repeat the course and must earn a grade of C or higher to continue progression in nursing coursework. This will alter or halt further progression in the nursing program and affect the expected graduation date. Students may repeat only one time a nursing course in which they earned a grade lower than C. Those who fail to earn a C or higher on the second attempt are dismissed from the BSN program. Earning a grade lower than C in a second nursing course results in dismissal from the nursing program.

Dismissal from any one of the nursing pathways constitutes dismissal from the undergraduate (BSN) nursing program in the School of Nursing.

Professional Conduct Policy

All students in the School of Nursing are expected to adhere to the Professional Conduct Policy of the College of Health and Human Services.

Appeal Process

Although faculty members in the nursing program are generally the best judges of a student’s professional performance, there may be times when a student believes a grade is unfair. Students in the School of Nursing wishing to appeal a grade are expected to follow the GMU guidelines for grade appeals, found in the Academic Policies  section of the GMU University Catalog.

NCLEX Readiness Preparation and Testing

Throughout the BSN program, all students, with the exception of RN-to-BSN students, participate in preparation for the NCLEX-RN licensing exam through opportunities provided during nursing courses. These opportunities are included as integrated components of select courses and include practice NCLEX-style exams and content-specific testing. A final cumulative assessment exam is given toward the end of the program to provide the student with guidance about their chance for success on the licensing exam. A final course in critical thinking and test-taking strategies is required in the senior year, and remediation in select content areas may be required as a component of this course.

Special Requirements

Fees and expenses related to the nursing program include: skills laboratory fee, standardized testing and course materials, uniforms, stethoscope, name pin, books, CPR certification, health forms, health insurance, immunizations, and criminal background check fees. The availability of personal transportation to and from clinical agencies is required of all students. For a summary of all current fees and estimated expenses, see the School of Nursing web site.

All BSN students are required to obtain a health clearance and complete the immunizations required by GMU as listed in the Student Health Services section of the GMU catalog. In addition, the BSN program has additional health and immunization requirements to meet the requirements of its clinical agency partners. See the Undergraduate Program, School of Nursing website for the most current information. Students are not allowed into any clinical setting without the completed immunization series as prescribed by GMU or the School of Nursing and may have an offer of admission withdrawn for inability to meet these requirements. The School of Nursing reviews health records and reserves the right to refuse admission or continued enrollment to any student who is unable to comply with these requirements. 

All students must have CPR certification before entering the first clinical nursing course and maintain it through the remainder of the program. The American Heart Association Basic Life Support - Health Care Provider is required. On-line renewal of CPR certification is not accepted. Any cost incurred is the responsibility of the student.

All students must have current health insurance before entering the first clinical nursing course and maintain it through the remainder of the program.

No student or faculty member will be discriminated against or denied admission to the nursing program for the sole reason that the student or faculty member has been exposed to, infected with, or diagnosed with HIV or HBV. All students are expected to practice Universal Precautions with all clients, and failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program. In the event that a student has a clinical experience or practicum exposure to body fluids of a client, procedures and appropriate reports are completed according to institutional and nursing policies. Information related to exposure or infection is confidential, and dissemination of such information is based on the need-to-know criteria that apply in health care situations. HIPAA and FERPA regulations apply. A complete and detailed HIV/HBV policy is available in the CHHS Office of Student Affairs.

RN Requirements

RN-licensed students enrolled in the RN-to-BSN pathway are required to submit a copy of their current license prior to entering the first nursing course. RN-licensed students must maintain current licensure throughout the academic program.