Nursing (NURS)

Program Options: A.S., BA., B.S., M.A., D.N.P

The Department of Nursing at St. Catherine University educates students in associate, baccalaureate and graduate programs to be leaders. The Department of Nursing fosters learning through caring relationships and interdisciplinary collaboration, is committed to the centrality of the liberal arts, and celebrates and reflects the diversity of our society.

As reflected in our mission statement, the Department of Nursing believes educating leaders in nursing involves fundamental commitments that encompass liberal arts, ethics, access, diversity, excellence, and relationships: L-E-A-D-E-R. These fundamental commitments are based upon the principles of Catholic social teaching, contemporary nursing knowledge, and professional and academic standards and culminate in our commitment to students. Students are the reason we exist and the inspiration for our teaching, scholarship, and service as nursing faculty.

The profession of nursing needs leaders who engage with intention, act with justice, and serve with compassion. The Department of Nursing at St. Catherine University educates students who are prepared to lead together in nursing, healthcare, and society now and into the future.

To facilitate your progression from one degree level to the next and to support lifelong learning, the faculty have designed curricula in the associate, baccalaureate and graduate programs around the same six curricular "threads": phenomena of nursing, critical thinking, communication, systems, role, and therapeutic nursing interventions.

The associate and baccalaureate programs are approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing and are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC); 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30326, (404)975-5000, FAX: (404)975-5020, www.nlnac.org.

Upon completion of either the associate or baccalaureate program you are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX-RN) to be a registered nurse (R.N.) and practice nursing in a variety of settings with patients and clients of all ages in need of nursing care.

Associate degree program graduates are eligible to apply to RN baccalaureate programs. Baccalaureate graduates are eligible to apply for public health certification and graduate programs in nursing.

If you are interested in the associate degree program, contact the Admissions Office on the Minneapolis campus at 651-690-7800. If you are interested in the baccalaureate day section, contact the Admissions Office on the St. Paul campus at 651-690-8850. If you are interested in the post-baccalaureate section or weekend section (RNs only), contact Weekend Admissions at 651-690-6542.

ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM

The associate degree program, located on the University's Minneapolis campus, is offered in four semesters. Students enter the day section in the fall semester and the evening/weekend section in winter semester. A mobility section (licensed practical nurse only) curriculum is offered in the evening/weekend format and begins in winter semester, continues through the summer and is completed the following fall semester. While the curricular outcomes are the same for all three sections, the mobility curriculum is built on competencies attained through licensed practical nursing education. Evaluation of curricular outcomes is assessed through several quantitative and qualitative measures.

The curriculum integrates the liberal arts background of the student and the values of a humanistic approach to the practice of professional nursing. Clinical experiences are provided using healthcare centers, long-term care agencies and other facilities. Graduates are prepared to be safe, effective, professional general practitioners, to function as responsible members of the nursing profession and to continue formal education at the baccalaureate level.

ADMISSION TO THE ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM: GENERAL INFORMATION

All nursing candidates must submit the nursing major application materials by the specified deadline in order to be considered for admission.  Candidates can obtain the application materials from the Office of the Registrar. 

Students are selected from a pool of qualified applicants based on the following considerations:

• 1. Students who are currently active pre-nursing students in good academic standing
• 2. Students who have completed the program requirements with the required grade of C or better

ADMISSION TO THE MAJOR:

After admission to the University, you must meet the following requirements to be eligible to submit the application to be considered for admission to the Associate Degree Nursing program.

• Status as an active associate degree pre-nursing student taking courses at the University at the time of application to the Nursing major
• Good academic standing with an overall G.P.A of 2.0 (cannot be on Probation)
• Certified Nursing Assistant (C.N.A.): active status on the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry. C.N.A. documentation must be provided at the time of application to major, showing proof that the student is active and in good standing.
• Chemistry - (one year of high school or one semester of college level) completed within the past seven (7) years with a grade of C or better
• Medical Terminology course completed within the past seven (7) years with a grade of C or better.
• General Anatomy & Physiology course completed within the past seven (7) years with a grade of C or better.
• Foundation course work completed with a "C" or better; all students will take the COMPASS test as a pre-nursing student to determine if foundation (FNDN) course work is required.
• Composition course must be in progress or completed with a grade of "C" or better. The course must be successfully completed prior to beginning nursing courses.
• Advanced Anatomy and Physiology course must be in progress or completed within the past seven (7) years with a grade of "C" or better; course must be successfully completed prior to beginning nursing
• General Psychology course must be in progress or completed within the past seven (7) years with a grade of "C" or better. This course must be successfully completed prior to beginning nursing courses.

Major Requirements:

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS - ASSOCIATE DEGREE

Nursing program courses:
NURS 1000 Introduction to the Profession of Nursing
NURS 1200 Health and Nursing Assessment
NURS 2100 Variations in Health Part I
NURS 2200 Variations in Health Part II
NURS 2440 Variations in Health Part III
NURS 2540 Variations in Health Part IV
NURS 2800 Transition to the Professional Role
NURS 2810 Management of Complex & Multiple Patients

Required supporting courses:
BIOL 2400 General Anatomy & Physiology
BIOL 2410 Advanced Anatomy & Physiology
BIOL 2450 Applied Microbiology
ENGL 1100 Composition
PHIL 2000 Ethical Problems in Healthcare
PSYC 1000 General Psychology
PSYC 2020 Lifespan Developmental Psychology

Additional liberal arts and sciences requirements:
ART elective
CIL 1500 or 1400
ENGL literature elective*
SSCS 1000 Power and Social Change
SSCS elective
THEO elective
Demonstration of math competency (or FNDN 0600)

*The Nursing program requires a writing-based literature elective.

ADMISSION TO THE MAJOR: LPN-RN MOBILITY SECTION:

The mobility section is offered for the licensed practical nurse (LPN) who desires to pursue an associate degree in nursing during the evening/weekend class schedule. With advanced placement credit, you can complete the nursing course work in one year. Obtaining the associate degree may take longer than one year depending on the number of liberal arts and science credits you have completed toward graduation before beginning the nursing courses. You must meet the 30 credits-in-residence requirement for graduation.

In order to be admitted to the LPN-RN mobility section, you must meet the following criteria:
1. Graduation from an LPN program
2. Current LPN license
3. Current work experience or a minimum of six months clinical experience in a healthcare setting (or its equivalent) in the past three years
4. Employment reference from a healthcare provider
5. A passing score on the NLN Acceleration Challenge Exams in Nursing Care: Medical-Surgical
6. Evidence of current CPR certification
7. Current immunizations

ADVANCED PLACEMENT
Advanced placement credit in nursing will be awarded by examinations in content (NLN Acceleration Challenge Exams) and testing of skills.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS - MOBILITY SECTION

Nursing program courses (this assumes that advanced placement was awarded for 12 credits of nursing courses):
NURS 1260 Health & Nursing Assessment for Students in Transition
NURS 2250 The Nursing Role & Variations in Health for Students in Transition
NURS 2550 Variations in Health II for Students in Transition
NURS 2800 Transition to the Professional Role
NURS 2810 Management of Complex and Multiple Patients

Required supporting courses:
BIOL 2400 General Anatomy & Physiology
BIOL 2410 Advanced Anatomy & Physiology
BIOL 2450 Applied Microbiology
ENGL 1100 Composition
PHIL 2000 Ethical Problems in Healthcare
PSYC 1000 General Psychology
PSYC 2020 Lifespan Developmental Psychology

Additional liberal arts and sciences requirements:
ART elective
CIL 1500 or 1400
ENGL literature elective*
SSCS 1000 Power and Social Change
SSCS elective
THEO elective
Demonstration of math competency (or FNDN 0600)

*The nursing program requires a writing-based literature elective.

BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM

The upper-division nursing major, located on the St. Paul campus, is offered in four semesters for students in the day section, in four semesters in the weekend/evening section for students who have earned a previous baccalaureate degree, and in three terms for students in Weekend Coll ege (registered nurses only). While the curricular outcomes are the same for all three sections, the three-term weekend curriculum is built on competencies attained through associate degree nursing education. Evaluation of curricular outcomes is assessed through several quantitative and qualitative measures.

The curriculum builds on the liberal arts background of the student and the values of a humanistic approach to the practice of professional nursing. Clinical experiences are provided using healthcare centers, community agencies and other facilities. Graduates are prepared to be safe, effective, professional general practitioners, to function as responsible members of the nursing profession and to continue formal education through advanced study.

ADMISSION TO THE BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM: GENERAL INFORMATION

All nursing candidates students must submit the nursing major application materials by a specified deadline in order to be considered for admission. Candidates should contact the Nursing Department at 651-690-6585 to receive application information.

Students are selected for the nursing major from a pool of qualified applicants based on the following priority considerations:
1. Students who have entered the University as first-semester students.
2. Students who transfer to the University prior to beginning the major (these students will be selected based on a combination of two factors: number of courses taken at the University and cumulative grade point average). Students seeking a first degree and students seeking a post-baccalaureate major/second degree will be considered simultaneously.
3. Students who transfer to the University for the major.

ADMISSION TO THE MAJOR: DAY SECTION OR EVENING/WEEKEND POST-BACCALAUREATE MAJOR SECTION

In order to begin upper-division courses in the nursing major, you must meet the following criteria:
1. Successful completion of prerequisite courses (C or above), with a prerequisite GPA of 2.75. No prerequisite course may be taken S/U. If a prerequisite course grade is C- or lower, this course (or an alternate course approved by the associate dean for nursing programs or baccalaureate program director) must be repeated no more than once. A minimum grade of C must be achieved in the repeated or substituted course. If two or more prerequisite courses are C- or lower, the student is ineligible for the nursing major.
2. An overall GPA of 2.75 (calculated on all courses including failed courses, completed within the past ten years). Students who are ineligible for the nursing major because of their GPA may be reconsidered on an individual basis by petitioning to the Baccalaureate Program Committee on Students.
3. Completion of 64 semester credits.
4. Completion of a baccalaureate degree if pursuing a post-baccalaureate major certificate in the weekend/evening semester format (post-baccalaureate section).

If you are seeking a first degree, the major in nursing can be obtained with either the B.A. or the B.S. degree.

Students possessing a baccalaureate degree have the choice of pursuing either a second degree or post-baccalaureate major certificate in nursing. Both require fulfillment of prerequisite course work with 2.75 GPA, and overall cumulative GPA of 2.75. However, students pursuing a second degree must fulfill all graduation requirements for St. Catherine University in addition to course work required for the nursing major. Students completing a second degree or post-baccalaureate major certificate are eligible to take the state licensure exam and receive public health certification.

Other requirements to be fulfilled prior to entering the nursing major include:
1. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification
2. Certified nursing assistant (CNA) certification
3. Current immunizations

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Day sec tion required courses:
NURS 3100 Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice
NURS 3250 Nursing Theoretical Concepts
NURS 3270 Health Patterns I
NURS 3280 Health Patterns II
NURS 3400 Nursing Care of the Family
NURS 3500 Promotion of Client Health in Acute Care
NURS 4000 Promotion of Health for Complex Clients in Acute Care
NURS 4100 Nursing Care of At-Risk Individuals, Families and Population Groups
NURS 4200 Leadership in Professional Nursing Practice

Evening/weekend required courses (post-baccalaureate section):
NURS 3200 Introduction to Nursing Theory and Practice
NURS 3300 Application of Nursing Theory and Skills
NURS 3600 Nursing Theory and Practice to Promote Health
NURS 3700 The Family as a Client
NURS 4300 Professional Nursing Practice in Complex Client Systems
NURS 4400 Leadership/Management in Population-Based Nursing Practice

Prerequisite courses to be completed before beginning courses in the major include:
PSYC 1001 General Psychology with Lab
PSYC 2025 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
SOCI 1000 Principles and Concepts of Sociology, or SOCI 2300 Sociology of Health and Medicine, or SOCI 3250 Cultural Anthropology, or ECON 1120 Economics of Social Issues
CHEM 1010 General Chemistry for Health Sciences, or CHEM 1110 and 1120, General Chemistry I and II
BIOL 2510, 2520 Human Anatomy and Human Physiology
BIOL 2200 Introduction to Microbiology 
MATH 1080 Statistical Analysis, or PSYC 2050 Statistical Methods in Psychology, or ECON 2200 Statistical Analysis for the Social Sciences, or ECON 2250 Statistical Analysis for Decision Making
FSNU 3000 Nutrition (may be taken with the first semester of the nursing major)

Supporting course:
PHIL 3400 Biomedical Ethics or THEO 2200 Christian Ethics (fulfills one philosophy or theology requirement, and must be completed prior to graduation)


ADMISSION TO THE MAJOR: WEEKEND COLLEGE SECTION

In order to begin upper-division courses in the nursing major, you must meet the following criteria:
1. Minimum grade of C in all nursing courses.
2. Cumulative GPA of 2.5 (calculated on all courses, including failed courses, completed within the past 10 years). Students ineligible for the nursing major because of GPA or nursing course grades may be reconsidered on an individual basis by petitioning to the Baccalaureate Program Committee on Students.
3. Completion of 100 semester credits with no more than eight credits of core liberal arts or elective credits remaining.
4. Previous work experience as a registered nurse (RN) or be currently employed as an RN

The major in nursing can be obtained with either a B.A. or B.S. degree. Students who already have an associate degree in nursing and a baccalaureate degree in another major may pursue either a second degree or post-baccalaureate major certificate in nursing. (The second-degree option is not available to graduates of St. Catherine University.) Post-baccalaureate major certificate students need to satisfy major requirements only, including the supporting courses. Second-degree students must meet all graduation requirements for St. Catherine University, in addition to course work and supporting course work required for the nursing major. Courses completed at other regionally accredited institutions may often be accepted as meeting degree requirements.

Other requirements to be fulfilled prior to entering the nursing major include:
1. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification
2. Registered Nurse (R.N.) licensure in Minnesota
3. Current immunizations

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Required courses:
NURS 3900* Professional Nursing: Theories, Concepts and Practices
NURS 4150* Community Health Nursing for Complex Families
NURS 4200* Leadership in Professional Nursing Practice
*Indicate s a course with a practicum requirement. These courses are offered on weekends with practicum requiring additional weekday time.

Supporting courses:
PHIL 3400 Biomedical Ethics or THEO 2200 Christian Ethics (fulfills one philosophy or theology requirement, and must be completed prior to graduation)
MATH 1080 Statistical Analysis, or PSYC 2050 Statistical Methods in Psychology, or ECON 2200 Statistical Analysis for the Social Sciences, or ECON 2250 Statistical Analysis for Decision Making (fulfills Math liberal arts requirement and must be completed prior to graduation)

Nursing majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors in course assignments throughout the baccalaureate curriculum, rather than in a single course. You complete the Liberal Arts and Science Core Writing Requirement with three other writing-intensive courses (CORE 1000 and CORE 3990 and any other writing-intensive course in another department).

SCHOOL NURSING CERTIFICATION
In addition to the prerequisite, supporting and major course work, the following courses are strongly recommended: EDUC 2070 Teachers as Leaders for a Changing Society, and a first aid course.

PUBLIC HEALTH CERTIFICATION
Coordinate with Nursing Department.