Nursing

The Nursing Program at Muskingum University combines the best of Muskingum's liberal arts and sciences with a structured nursing curriculum to build a comprehensive Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) experience.

Muskingum University's Nursing Program offers three tracks to the B.S.N. degree: a traditional, pre-licensure B.S.N. track, an accelerated, A.B.S.N. track, and a post-licensure track for Registered Nurses (R.N.). The traditional pre-licensure B.S.N. track, outlined below, is designed for students coming from high school or transferring from other colleges or universities. Successful completion of the program prepares students to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) leading to R.N. license. The second track is the pre-licensure accelerated B.S.N. intended for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree or higher in another discipline (something other than nursing). Learn more about Muskingum’s A.B.S.N track. The third track is a post-licensure R.N. to B.S.N., designed for R.N.'s who wish to obtain a B.S.N. degree. Learn more about Muskingum's R.N. to B.S.N. track.

The baccalaureate degree in nursing at Muskingum University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

All students enrolled in nursing will be held to the policies and procedures contained in the Nursing Department Student Handbook as well as all related handbooks, including the Muskingum University Student Handbook. For a complete listing of Nursing requirements, policies and procedures please refer to the Nursing Department Student Handbook.

Mission

The Department of Nursing reflects the mission of Muskingum University by providing quality nursing education which fosters critical thinking, positive action, ethical sensitivity and spiritual growth within the context of a caring community. Liberally educated nursing graduates are able to integrate knowledge, skills and values from the arts and sciences to provide safe quality nursing care, to act as advocates for families, groups and communities and to manage twenty-first century changes in the health care system.

Program Learning Goals

The program objectives come from the philosophy statement for nursing and its key concept definitions which are located in the Nursing Department Student Handbook. Students who successfully complete the B.S.N. Nursing Program will have satisfied the program objectives identified below. Students will be able to:

• Analyze the nature of the human using concepts and theories through the study of the arts, sciences, humanities and nursing to provide professional nursing care.
• Integrate caring and cultural competence through the practice of professional nursing.
• Use critical thinking to make independent judgments in applying the nursing process in the delivery of safe, quality nursing care to individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities and global populations.
• Use evidence-based nursing and health-related research findings in professional nursing practice.
• Analyze effective leadership and management strategies used in rapidly changing complex healthcare delivery systems.
• Use oral and written communication and information technology to communicate effectively.
• Analyze local, national and global factors involving social, ethical, political, legal, cultural, environmental and educational issues that influence healthcare, health policies and the advancement of the nursing profession.
• Provide holistic professional nursing care across the life-span to promote health in a variety of healthcare settings.
• Collaborate with other healthcare professionals in a variety of settings to promote cost-effective healthcare.
• Accept responsibility and accountability for personal and professional growth and development, and value the commitment to lifelong learning.

Admission to the Traditional Pre-Licensure B.S.N. Program

Students who apply to Muskingum University from high school and indicate they want to be considered for nursing on page one of the application (apply online now) will be reviewed first for admission to the University. Once that admission decision is made the Office of Admission in collaboration with the Nursing Department will review the candidate for the nursing major.

Admission to the Muskingum University Nursing Program involves review of the applicant's academic credentials. Applicants who meet the following high school academic criteria, an ACT composite score of 21 or better (1060 SATV = M), and a high school GPA of 3.2 or higher will be admitted as freshmen into the nursing program. The successful candidate will receive an admission letter from the University, and a second admission letter to the nursing program. Freshman nursing students who are planning to progress to the sophomore level of nursing must complete a progression application prior to the end of their freshman spring semester, and meet the progression criteria as stated below. Freshmen nursing students who meet the criteria will progress to the sophomore level of nursing.

Progression criteria to the sophomore level of nursing requires:

• Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale (all college, university or technical college grades combined).
• Completion of the following courses with a grade of "C" or higher:
  • Chemistry 108 — General, Organic and Biological Chemistry
  • Biology 121 — Anatomy and Physiology I
  • Biology 122 — Anatomy and Physiology II
  • English 121 — English Composition
  • Psychology 101 — Introduction to Psychology
  • Psychology 208 — Lifespan Development
  • Nursing 125 — Foundations in Professional Practice I (this course may be taken concurrently with Nursing 226 and Nursing 227 for transfer and change of major students entering as sophomores.)
  • Nursing 126 - Foundations in Professional Practice II (this course may be taken concurrently with Nursing 230 and Nursing 251 for transfer and change of major students entering as sophomores.)

Nursing Program applicants who do not meet the stated academic criteria for admission to nursing (ACT 21 or higher, and high school GPA 3.2 or above) may be considered for admission as a pre-nursing student based on the ACT score and high school GPA. Students who are admitted as freshmen pre-nursing students are not officially admitted to the Nursing Program until they have successfully achieved the progression criteria listed above, and have completed an official application for admission to nursing at the end of their freshman year.

Freshman nursing students who meet the progression criteria will have guaranteed placement in the sophomore nursing curriculum. Pre-nursing students who meet the progression criteria will be selected for admission to nursing based on their academic performance in the freshman nursing pre-requisite courses listed above and program capacity.

For additional information about applying to our Nursing Program, contact our Office of Admission at 740-826-8137 or adminfo@muskingum.edu.

Nursing Program Contact:

Terri Tilley
Administrative Assistant

• Boyd Science Center room 221
• Phone: 740-826-6160
• Fax: 740-826-6161
• Email: ttilley@muskingum.edu