Academics: Majors
Nursing
The health care field in general and the nursing profession in particular are undergoing rapid transition. Nurses today are often called upon to be generalists, and as such must be able to offer care to clients across the lifespan. Today's nurses serve as case managers, lead patient care teams, provide and coordinate care, and are moving into key supervisory and management positions. As a direct result of this increased responsibility, hospitals, visiting nurse services, and other health care settings prefer or even require nurses to have a bachelor's degree in nursing. Cleveland State University's answers this need by providing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program that is community-based and equips students with the necessary skills to perform their new role in today's reordered and restructured health care system or to pursue graduate education in nursing or another field. Three program options are available: a traditional four-year or basic BSN program; an RN to BSN track for practicing Registered Nurses; and an accelerated track for students who already hold a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field, have completed prerequisite courses, and can attend school full-time.
The curriculum provides a strong theoretical and clinical foundation for practice and is comprised of three components: general education classes from the liberal arts and sciences that are required for a baccalaureate degree and provide a foundation of knowledge from the natural and behavioral sciences and humanities; prerequisite classes that provide preparation for the nursing major; and upper division nursing classes that foster the development of self-direction, creativity, critical thinking, and discriminative judgment. Clinical experience is provided in a variety of settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care facilities, and community health agencies in the greater Cleveland area. As the capstone course offering, the role practicum offers students an opportunity to integrate program concepts in an interest area of their choice during the final semester of their senior year.
Cleveland State University's BSN program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing. For 2005, the School of Nursing reports a 90.48% passage rate on the NCLEX-RN licensing exam required for practice. This compares most favorably with the 2005 national passage rate of 87.88%.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
The current demand for nurses is high and expected to continue to grow. Opportunities exist in all health care settings. Graduates of the BSN program are prepared for entry-level positions in nursing and to assume a wide variety of roles in areas such as acute and chronic care, public health, nursing leadership and management, and community care. They are specifically trained to function as generalists and are equipped to use a preventive health framework to provide primary, secondary, and tertiary care to individuals, families, groups and communities. In addition, graduates are prepared for entrance into graduate programs in Clinical Nurse Leadership, Population Health, Forensic Nursing, and Advanced Practice roles.
PROGRAM
Full acceptance to the program minimally requires completion of all prerequisite coursework with a grade of C or better, a prerequisite grade point average of 2.75, and a cumulative grade point average of 2.5. Successful completion of the NLN Preadmission Exam is also required. Once admitted, continued enrollment requires that students achieve a grade of C or better in each nursing and support course, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5, and maintain a nursing grade point average of 2.5 each semester.
Students in the Basic and RN to BSN tracks may complete their programs through full-time or part-time study. Courses in the RN to BSN track are scheduled to meet one day per week each semester and are available at CSU's downtown campus, Lakeland Community College, and MetroHealth Medical Center. The Accelerated BSN program may not be completed as a part-time student and is offered in conjunction with The Cleveland Clinic.
RECOMMENCED SEQUENCES FOR NURSING MAJOR
(Basic, RN to BSN, and Accelerated Programs)
RECOMMENCED SEQUENCE FOR BASIC BSN PROGRAM
Students are required to complete 135 semester hours of course work that includes university, prerequisite and major field requirements. Adhering to the recommended sequence outlined below provides a balanced workload and ensures that students will have the proper prerequisites and knowledge to benefit from these courses.
First Semester (20 credits) Second Semester (21 credits) Third Semester (17-18 credits) Fourth Semester (14-16 credits) Fifth Semester (15-16 credits) Sixth Semester (15-16 credits) Seventh Semester (16-18 credits) Eighth Semester (12-13 credits) |
Credits Credits Credits Credits Credits Credits Credits Credits |
*Course may be used to meet university requirements in more than one area.
RECOMMENCED SEQUENCE FOR RN TO BSN PROGRAM
General education and nursing prerequisite course work will vary depending on transfer credit.
First Semester (4 credits) Second Semester (6 credits) Third Semester (6 credits) Fourth Semester (7 credits) |
Credits Credits Credits Credits |
RECOMMENCED SEQUENCE FOR ACCELERATED BSN PROGRAM
Additional course work may be needed depending on requirements for initial baccalaureate degree.
First Semester (16 credits) Second Semester (19 credits) Third Semester (15 credits) Fourth Semester (19 credits) |
Credits Credits Credits Credits |
For more information, contact:
School of Nursing
Cleveland State University
2121 Euclid Avenue, RT 915
Cleveland, OH 44115-2214
Phone: 216.687.3598
cehs.csuohio.edu/departments/nursing/
For official requirements for a degree in this major, see the Undergraduate Catalog for the academic year in which you were admitted to the University.
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