Mar 19, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

College of Nursing and Health Sciences


Tammie McCoy, Dean

Mission Statement

The mission of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences is reflected in the mission, philosophies and outcomes of each program. The college provides high quality undergraduate and graduate professional programs in nursing, speech-language pathology, public health education, and kinesiology. Classes are small, emphasizing a personalized learning environment that prepares graduates for competitive professional careers or graduate school. This mission is directly related to the University’s mission to provide high quality undergraduate and graduate education in a variety of liberal arts and professional programs.

Nursing Programs (Associate, Baccalaureate, Masters and Doctoral)

Mission Statement

The mission of the Nursing programs is to provide education that prepares nurses for several levels of practice. Preparation is offered at the associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral levels in a personalized and stimulating environment conducive to strong academic and leadership preparation, community service, achievement of clinical expertise, and life-long learning. As a part of the educational process, students develop an awareness of gender-related issues and multicultural diversity. The mission relates to the Mission of the University by providing professional education for several levels of students with an emphasis on academic and leadership preparation for women and men in a personalized environment. The mission, philosophies, and outcomes of the department and the programs are consonant with the mission and aims of the University and are derived from the faculty’s beliefs about the nature of education and nursing practice. (Information on the Master of Science in Nursing and Doctorate of Nursing Practice Programs may be found in The W Graduate Bulletin). Information on comparison of expenses and fees with other Mississippi Nursing Schools can be found in Nursing Education Opportunities in Mississippi at the web site http://www.mshealthcareers.com/news/nursingopp.htm.

Accreditation

The Associate of Science in Nursing, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the Master of Science in Nursing Programs, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice Progam all hold state accreditation from the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL, 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211; 601-432-6486, http://www.ihl.state.ms.us. The Associate of Science in Nursing Program also is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN, 3343 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326. 404-975-5000, or via the web at http://www.acenursing,org). The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice and post-graduate APRN certificate are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education  (www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Facilities

The general education and nursing courses for the ASN Program, the Generic BSN Program, the MSN Program and DNP Program are taught on the main campus of Mississippi University for Women. Nursing courses for the BSN Advanced Placement Option are taught from the Advanced Education Center on the Tupelo campus. Facilities utilized for undergraduate clinical nursing experiences include institutions and agencies usually within a sixty-five mile radius. Students are not guaranteed an assignment in any one clinical area.

Advanced Placement Options

Licensed Practical Nurses with a current unencumbered Mississippi LPN license and at least one year’s work experience in a clinical setting (1500 hours) within the last two (2) years are eligible for advanced placement in the Associate of Science in Nursing Program. They must have satisfactorily completed the prerequisite courses, first year non-nursing courses, NU 112 - Pharmacology and Drug Therapy in Nursing , NU 144 - Nursing Transition , and NU 145 - Nursing Transition Lab . NU 112 , NU 144 , and NU 145  are offered during the second term of summer school. Upon completion of NU 144  and NU 145  the LPN will have validated 16 hours of credit in nursing and may enter the second year of the Associate of Science in Nursing curriculum. Sixty (60) semester credit hours are required for graduation.

Registered Nurses who are graduates of Associate of Science in Nursing and Diploma Programs with a current unencumbered license are eligible for advanced placement in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program when they have satisfactorily completed all but 12 hours of the prerequisite courses. The professional transition course sequence NU 360 , NU 361 , NU 362 , and NU 363 , is offered in the fall semester. Upon completion of this sequence, the RN will have validated 24 hours of credit in nursing and would then enter the senior year.

Dual Enrollment RN to BSN Option: The BSN Program has begun to offer a Dual Enrollment Option for students enrolled in ADN programs. 

RN to BSN Dual Enrollment Option students will not be admitted to the W’s RN to BSN Advanced Placement Option but will be allowed to take the first semester junior level courses in the specified sequence if they meet the Dual Enrollment Option requirements. Dual Enrollment Option students must meet the RN to BSN Advanced Placement Option admission requirements with regard to prerequisite hours (a minimum of 50 hours completed), 2.5 grade point average (GPA of 3.0 required if ACT is less than 21), and ACT. ONLY the RN Licensure requirement will be waived. Dual Enrollment Option students will not be admitted to The W’s RN to BSN Advanced Placement Option until they have completed their ADN Program, passed the licensure exam, and provide proof of an unemcumbered Registered Nurse license. At that time, they will be considered for admission to The W’s RN to BSN Advanced Placement Option and if admitted will begin the senior level courses.

Procedures for Advanced Placement Options

  1. Students must complete all requirements for admission to the University and be accepted into the Associate of Science/Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs.
  2. Students seeking advanced placement in the Associate of Science in Nursing Program must complete the prerequisite and first year non-nursing courses.
  3. Students seeking advanced placement in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program may enter after completing 50 hours of BSN prerequisite core course work.
  4. Students seeking advanced placement in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing RN to BSN Dual Enrollment Program may enter after completing 50 hours of BSN prerequisite core course work and completing one semester of ADN coursework and receiving a letter of support from the ADN Program Director.

Transfer of Credit

Equivalent courses that students have taken at an accredited two or four year college will usually be accepted for credit. For students entering the Associate of Science and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, D grades may be accepted by the University for transfer credit, but are not accepted as passing grades in the Department of Nursing due to state accreditation standards for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program and program requirements for the Associate of Science in Nursing Program. Science courses older than six years will not be accepted unless the applicant can provide information regarding utilization of knowledge in an on the job situation. This will be evaluated on an individual basis. Nursing courses are evaluated on an individual basis. Students transferring from another School of Nursing must provide a letter verifying eligibility for readmission to the nursing program from which they are transferring. If a transfer student has failed a nursing course in another nursing program that will count as the student’s first failure in terms of eligibility for readmission to the nursing program.

General Requirements/Responsibilities:

The following apply to all undergraduate nursing programs at MUW.

Attendance

Refer to student handbook and individual course instructor.

Health

All students in clinical nursing courses are required to:

  • provide documentation of having an annual health examination
  • provide documentation of having had two MMRs (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) or proof of serological immunities
  • provide documentation of QuantiFERON TB Gold negative results
  • provide documentation of having a tdap plus TT within the last 10 years unless tdap was within 10 years
  • provide documentation of having had varicella immunity titer or series (2) of immunizations
  • provide documentation of having taken the Hepatitis B Vaccine series (3)
  • present a clear finding (negative results) on the drug/alcohol screen
  • present a clear criminal background check letter
  • provide documentation of an annual influenza vaccine

All students admitted to the Department of Nursing are subject to the Department of Nursing Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy and to any clinical agencies’ drug policy.

Insurance

All students in clinical nursing courses must provide proof of automobile, major medical, and malpractice insurance.

Transportation

Students are responsible for providing and paying for their own transportation for clinical and field experiences.

Other

All students in clinical nursing courses must have current American Heart CPR certification, and instruction in OSHA requirements related to universal precautions and HIPAA guidelines. All students are required to have a criminal background check in accordance with Mississippi Statue 43-11-13 regarding health care workers. If a student has any felonies or disqualifying events, he/she will be subject to exclusion from the Department of Nursing. All applicants submit to a criminal background check by the MUW Police Department and a drug/alcohol screen prior to entering or returning to the program. Failure by an applicant to indicate suitability on the background check or to present a clear finding (negative results) on the drug/alcohol screen will result in prohibition from entering (exclusion from) the nursing program.

After admission to the nursing program, students must report any arrests or disqualifying events that occur after their initial criminal background check.  The student must report such events to the appropriate nursing department chair (ASN, BSN, MSN and DNP).  Failure to report is grounds for dismissal from the nursing program.

In order to successfully complete the nursing program, all nursing students must be able to successfully demonstrate the knowledge and skills required of a nursing student as described in the Knowledge and Skills Required of a Nursing Student which is listed under “Admission Plans-Nursing Programs” in this Undergraduate Bulletin. If a student is not able to meet these standards, he/she may initiate a meeting with the Student Success Center for review of his/her case to see if reasonable accommodations are possible as per the normal university procedures. If reasonable accommodations are made and the student continues to be unable to meet one or more of the standards, the student will not be able to successfully complete the requirements of the program.

Courses