Nursing: RN Program BSN

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Nursing: RN Program BSN

Why Choose Nursing?

Nursing is the largest health care profession with workforce shortages anticipated for the next two decades. Earnings are above average, particularly for advanced practice nurses who have additional education and certifications. Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Ferris are eligible to write the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) to become a registered nurse.

Registered Nurses (RNs) with the BSN degree are preferentially hired in a variety of health care settings because they are prepared to provide nursing care for a wide variety of patient

populations. The Registered Nursing BSN program at Ferris prepares nurses to promote health, prevent disease and to help patients cope with a variety of health problems. RNs with a BSN degree can anticipate opportunities in hospital nursing with positions to include medical, surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatric, emergency or intensive care units. RNs can also work in a variety ambulatory care settings such as clinics, emergency medical centers, surgicenters and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) or in long-term care settings caring for the elderly. In addition, BSN prepared RNs can also expand their clinical practice to community settings such as Public Health, home care, hospice or school nursing. BSN prepared RNs are also educated to assume entry level management positions in the health care system.

Students in the Ferris Nursing program engage in a learner-centered approach to the study of nursing theory and skills in the classroom, online and state of the art nursing skills laboratories while also having the opportunity to practice direct patient care in hospital and community settings under the guidance of clinically expert faculty. The nursing program at Ferris is a six semester professional sequence that follows the equivalent of one year of pre-requisite coursework and is intended for traditional students who have not earned a college degree.

Graduates are eligible to write the licensure exam to become a Registered Nurse. In addition, graduates of the BSN program can continue their education in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at Ferris or at another University setting.

Career Opportunities

Due to the current and projected nursing shortage, faster than average growth is expected through the year 2020 and beyond. This increased need is based on industry growth and the projected replacement of existing practicing nurses.

Average full-time RNs earn $22 - $45 per hour nationally. The median annual salary for a full time staff RN in 2014 was $57,000. Advanced practice nurses with education beyond the BSN can earn salaries ranging from $90,000 to $100,000 per year, depending on the specialty and location of employment.

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Admission Requirements

Students must be admitted to the University. To be qualified to enter the professional sequence of the program, a student must have at least a 2.7 cumulative GPA with a minimum grade of B- in the following courses or their equivalent: MATH 115 or MATH 117, BIOL 108, BIOL 205 &

CHEM 114. Students must also complete the following courses or their equivalent with a grade of C or higher: ENGL 150, COMM 105 or COMM 221 or COMM 121, COHP 100, COHP 101, and COHP 102. Students must also complete one course in each of the categories of Social

Awareness and Cultural Enrichment before entering the professional sequence of the program.

To assure all students of quality education in the classroom, laboratory and clinical instructional practice, enrollment is limited based on guidelines set forth by the MI State Board of Nursing.

Students who have met or will meet the program's qualification criteria by the end of the Spring semester are required to apply to the program's professional sequence between March 15 and March 30 of the year prior to the academic year they wish to start the program in the Fall (August) or Spring (January) semester in the order they qualify.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation requires a minimum of 2.0 GPA overall. Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all major (NURS) and core courses and meet all the general education requirements as

outlined in the General Education website.

If a student interrupts progression in the professional sequence of the program, re-entry cannot be guaranteed due to space limitations in laboratory and clinical placement sites.

More Information

College of Health Professions Ferris State University

200 Ferris Drive Big Rapids, MI 49307 231-591-2270

[email protected]

This program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN.) http://acenursing.org

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing publishes a variety of nursing and nursing education materials, including a list of nursing programs and information on student financial aid. For a complete list of ACEN publications, please direct your request to:

Communications Department

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850

Atlanta, GA 30326 Phone: 404-975-5000

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FAX: 404-975-5020 www.acenursing.org

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Required Courses Credit Hours

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BIOL 108 Medical Microbiology 3 BIOL 205 Human Anatomy-Physiology 5 CHEM 114 Intro to General Chemistry 4 COHP 100 Orientation to Medical Vocabul 1 COHP 101 The U.S. Health Care System 3 COHP 102 Safety Issues in Health Care 1 COHP 350 Statistics in Health Care 3 COHP 450 Evidence-based Health Care 3

COMM 105 Interpersonal Communication 3

COMM 121 Fundamentals-Public Speaking 3

COMM 221 Small Group Decision Making 3

ENGL 150 English 1 3

ENGL 250 English 2 3

ENGL 321 Advanced Composition 3

Social Awareness Elective

9 Cultural Enrichment Elective

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NURS 240 Concepts Prof Nursing 4

NURS 241 Technical Skills Lab 2

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NURS 242 Health Assessment Lab 1

NURS 243 Clinical Foundations 1 2

NURS 250 Health Promotion in Nursing 4

NURS 251 Pharmacology in Nursing 3

NURS 252 Clinical Foundations 2 2

NURS 253 Clinical Integrat Foundation 1 NURS 300 Pathophysiology Nurs Practice 3

NURS 340 Community Nursing 3

NURS 341 Nursing Theory 1 4

NURS 342 Clinical Nursing 2 4

NURS 343 Clinical Integration 1

NURS 353 Clinical Integration 2 1

NURS 440 Leadership in Nursing 3

NURS 443 Clinical Integration 3 1

NURS 450 Nursing Capstone 3

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NURS 453 Clinical Integration 4 1 Total Program Credits Required:

122

Note: A grade of B- or better is required in all BIOL, CHEM and MATH courses. A grade of C or better is required in all CCHS, ENGL, COMM and NURS courses.