School of Nursing

Telephone: (302) 831-1253
https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/chs/departments/son/
Faculty Listing: https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/chs/departments/son/faculty/
e-mail: ud-nursing@udel.edu

The School of Nursing offers a traditional baccalaureate degree program in nursing and an accelerated degree program for those who already hold a baccalaureate degree in another field. There is also a baccalaureate degree program for registered nurses with associate degrees or diplomas. Returning nurses may complete the majority of their course work at home or in the worksite in a distance-learning format. The programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Policies

The School of Nursing has established the following academic policies for academic progression. These policies apply to all students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program. Information and policies are subject to change. Students are responsible for reviewing the Undergraduate Student Handbook at the beginning of each academic year for any changes. Failure to follow established policies may result in delayed curricular progression of at least one year or more.

Most nursing courses have prerequisites. Students who have not met the prerequisites will not be permitted to progress in the program. All courses in the freshman and sophomore years (excluding University of Breadth Requirements and Free Electives) must be successfully completed prior to entry into junior level nursing courses. Junior level nursing courses must be completed prior to entry into senior level nursing courses.

Any required non-nursing course in which a student earns a failing grade must be retaken, except for BISC 205  , KAAP 220  , and KAAP 221  , which must be retaken if a student receives a final grade below a C-.

Nursing majors must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to progress in the nursing program. Students with a cumulative GPA below 2.0 will not be able to take nursing courses until their GPA reaches 2.0 or higher.

A student who earns a grade lower than C- in a nursing course must repeat the course and achieve a grade of at least C- before enrolling in a more advanced nursing course. The original grade remains on the transcript. Nursing course failure will most likely result in a delay in curricular progression of one year or more because courses may only be offered one time per year. Students may enroll in the next available course only if it is within their same program (Traditional versus Accelerated BSN program).

Students must submit a formal appeal to the Student Affairs Committee (SAC) to take a nursing course not in their program. For example, Traditional BSN students must seek special permission to take an Accelerated BSN course, and vice versa.

Students are not permitted to repeat any nursing course more than once. Students who earn a grade lower than C- in more than one course will not be permitted to continue in the program. Students should meet regularly with their advisor to ensure that all requirements are being met.

Students who earn a grade lower than C- in two or more of the following: any nursing course, KAAP 220 Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology I  , or KAAP 221 Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology II  , will not be permitted to continue in the nursing major.

Required courses, including University Breadth Requirements, must be taken for a letter grade.

Required- Six credits of free electives may be taken on a pass/fail basis.

College preparatory courses, such as MATH 010  , ENGL 011  , or any zero level course, may NOT be applied toward BSN degree requirements.

A pre-licensure student who is absent from required nursing course work for more than fifteen consecutive months must appeal to the SAC for approval of a revised plan of study that may include repeating nursing courses. This grace period begins at the end of the student’s last enrollment.

Students are required to meet all immunization, safety, criminal background checks, drug screenings, and CPR requirements prior to field experiences, clinical coursework, and direct patient care. Additional requirements for clinical education may be required by the healthcare agency to which a student is assigned. Students are expected to provide their own transportation to all required clinical experiences and are encouraged to carpool.

Essential Functions

Individuals with disabilities are welcome in the field of nursing. However, the student must be able to perform certain essential functions throughout the program of learning. These physical, cognitive, psychomotor, affective, and social abilities are necessary for the provision of safe and effective nursing care. Progression and graduation are contingent upon one’s ability to demonstrate the essential functions delineated for the nursing programs. Affiliated clinical agencies may identify additional essential functions. The nursing program reserves the right to amend the essential functions as deemed necessary.

Students who are otherwise qualified and have a documented disability that will require accommodation to perform these functions, must contact the Office of Disability Support Services. It is the student’s responsibility to register with the DSS office, provide documentation for the disability, and request reasonable accommodation(s) that will enable them to continue as a student nurse. Of course, accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and the University of Delaware will determine if the suggestions are reasonable or if there are other possible accommodations. While the University of Delaware is committed to providing accommodations, those accommodations may not guarantee success in the clinical or employment setting. In addition, the School of Nursing is unlikely to conclude that a surrogate for a nursing student can be considered a reasonable accommodation to perform any of the essential functions listed in this policy.

The essential functions delineated below are necessary for nursing program progression and graduation and for the provision of safe and effective nursing care. The essential functions include but are not limited to:

1. Sufficient visual acuity, such as is needed in the accurate preparation and administration of medications, and for the observation necessary for client assessment and care.
2. Sufficient auditory perception to receive verbal communication from clients and members of the health team and to assess health needs of people through the use of devices such as stethoscopes and to hear alarms found in intravenous infusion pumps, cardiac monitors, fire alarms, etc.
3. Sufficient tactile ability to perform physical assessment of clients and carry out related therapeutic interventions, e.g. catheter insertion and injections.
4. Sufficient gross and fine motor coordination to respond promptly and to implement the skills required in meeting client health care needs safely. These include, but are not limited to, manipulation of equipment and performance of CPR.
5. Sufficient physical ability to walk or stand for extended periods of time, push/pull medical equipment, transfer clients to and from units, move quickly during emergency situations, move from room to room, and maneuver in small spaces.
6. Sufficient speaking ability to communicate with clients and the health care team.
7. Sufficient psychological stability to consistently and dependably engage in the process of critical thinking in order to formulate and implement safe and ethical nursing decisions in a variety of health care settings.
8. Sufficient interpersonal skills to interact appropriately with patients, families, and other members of the health care team.

• Visual: Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care - observe patient responses, read medication labels, and measure drainage.*
• Hearing: Auditory ability sufficient for monitoring and assessing health needs - hear monitor alarm, emergency signals, auscultatory sounds, and cries for help.*
• Tactile: Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and intervention - perform palpation, functions of physical examination, and/or those related to therapeutic intervention (such as insertion of a catheter).*
• Motor skills: Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient for providing safe, effective nursing care in a timely manner - calibrate and use equipment, position patients appropriately.*
• Mobility: Physical abilities sufficient for movement from room to room and in small spaces, as well as for lifting and transferring patients - move around in patient’s room, work spaces and treatment areas, and administer cardiopulmonary procedures*
• Communication: Communication abilities sufficient for verbal and written interaction with others - explain treatment procedures, initiate health teaching, and document and interpret nursing actions and patient responses.*
• Critical thinking: Critical-thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment in a timely manner - identify cause/effect relationships in clinical situations, develop and implement nursing care plans (includes measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis).*
• Interpersonal: Interpersonal abilities sufficient for interaction with individuals, families and groups from various social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds - establish rapport with patients and colleagues, and maintain appropriate affect levels.*

*If the student is otherwise qualified and has a documented disability that will require accommodations to perform these functions, the student must contact the Office of Disability Support Services to discuss reasonable accommodations. It is the student’s responsibility to register with the DSS office, provide documentation for the disability and request reasonable accommodations.

Health Conditions

Individuals with certain health conditions (including, but not limited to HIV infection, Hepatitis B infection, immunosuppression, seizure disorder, etc.) may require accommodations in order to safely practice in some health care settings. Those students whose health condition may pose a risk to themselves or others (including in the clinical setting) have an obligation to report this condition to the University. Further, those students requiring accommodations must contact the University’s Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) to discuss reasonable accommodations. It is the student’s responsibility to register with the DSS office, provide documentation for the disability, and request reasonable accommodations.

State Board Standards

Most State Boards of Nursing state that grounds for denial of a license to practice as a registered nurse include, but are not limited to, conviction of a felony or certain other criminal offenses, chemical dependency, mental incompetence, and other reasons authorized by law or regulations.

Licensure

Graduates are eligible for registered nurse licensure in any state upon satisfactory completion of the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). If the examination is passed and licensure granted in one state, application may be made to other states for licensure by endorsement.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Traditional (BSN) Program:

The Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is designed to develop the knowledge, understanding, and skills essential for the practice of professional nursing and to provide the basis for graduate education. The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The first year of the program includes foundation courses in the natural, social and behavioral sciences, and liberal arts, as well as introductory nursing coursework. Nursing content and course work increases in each subsequent year with clinical practica experiences beginning in sophomore year. Clinical practica sites used by the School of Nursing include healthcare agencies mainly in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

During clinical practica rotations, students are provided experiences in a variety of healthcare settings. These include the major hospitals in New Castle County as well as regional community hospitals, a variety of extended care facilities, independent living facilities, and various community-based providers who offer a range of services across the lifespan. Students also learn in a state-of-the-art simulation laboratory. Students graduate as nurse generalists with experiences in pediatric, women’s health, psychiatric mental health, medical-surgical, community, and public health nursing.

Nursing students are encouraged to participate in the Student Nurses Organization, Multicultural Student Nurses Organization, and/or Men in Nursing. Students who have earned recognition for superior academic achievement may be invited for membership in the Beta Xi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing. Qualified students may participate in the University’s Honors, Undergraduate Research, and the Degree with Distinction programs. Research opportunities are available to all undergraduates.

Accelerated BSN Program:

The Accelerated BSN Program is a course of study leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is designed for individuals who have a previously earned degree in another field and would like to pursue a career in nursing. Students in this program must complete all of the non-nursing requirements by transfer credit from their first degree, completion of coursework at the University of Delaware or by transfer of pre-approved equivalent courses from other accredited institutions. The 17-month program begins each winter session, followed by spring, summer, fall, winter, and concludes at the end of the second spring semester. All prerequisite courses must be completed successfully prior to the first nursing course.

Eligibility for this program includes the following:

1. An earned baccalaureate degree.
2. GPA of 3.00 or greater
3. Completion of all non-nursing courses prior to starting the nursing program.

For more information about the Accelerated BSN Program, please contact the School of Nursing via email accelnursing@udel.edu or 302-831-1253. A sample curriculum plan may be viewed on the Accelerated BSN Program website. Students who may need financial assistance in pursuing a second degree should contact Student Financial Services at 302-831-2126.

Baccalaureate Program for the Registered Nurse

The School of Nursing offers a separate program to allow registered nurses to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The Baccalaureate for the Registered Nurse major is a program designed to build on basic nursing knowledge, enhancing nursing practice in an increasingly complex society. This major is offered in a distance learning format to maximize educational opportunities for registered nurses. Licensed registered nurses who are graduates of associate degree or diploma programs may apply for admission to this program. 

Admission Requirements

A registered nurse who is a graduate of an associate degree or diploma nursing program may apply for admission to the Baccalaureate for the Registered Nurse Major. To submit and complete the application materials, the applicant should access the application online at https://apply.udel.edu/apply/.

Applicants must:

• complete the online application.
• submit official transcripts verifying college credits previously earned including degree conferral date. A student who is transferring credit from other institutions must have a 2.5 GPA in all previous college work. The University accepts credits only from those institutions that are fully accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association. This determination is made only at the time of formal application to the University.
• submit a copy of current U.S. registered nurse license.
• provide documentation of equivalent to a US RN license for international students and meet the University of Delaware’s  minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) requirement of 79.

Criteria for Enrollment in Baccalaureate for the Registered Nurse Courses

The RN-BSN major requires 120 credits for graduation. Before enrollment in any nursing courses, students must meet the following criteria:

• Official admission to the RN-BSN major
• Completion of all science credits required for the degree and non-nursing requirements prior to enrollment in nursing courses.
• Submission and approval of a current U.S. RN license

NOTE: The application process must be completed before enrollment in the student’s first nursing course.

Policies

In order to meet degree requirements, nursing majors must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to progress in the nursing program. A student who earns a grade lower than C- in a course must repeat the course and achieve a grade of at least C- before enrolling in a more advanced nursing course.

Students are not permitted to repeat any nursing course more than once. Students who earn a grade lower than C- in more than one course will not be permitted to continue in the program. Students should have regular contact with their advisor to ensure that all requirements are being met.

Students, if needed, must take free elective courses to meet the minimum 120 credits required for the degree.

Students are required to meet all immunization, safety, criminal background checks, drug screenings, and CPR requirements prior to clinical coursework and direct patient care. Additional requirements for clinical education may be required by the healthcare agency to which a student is assigned. A minimum of 84 hours of clinical time and submission of a portfolio are required to complete NURS 443 BRN Role Practicum  (4cr). Students are expected to provide their own transportation to all required clinical experiences.

Academic Progression

The program is designed to facilitate timely progression for nurses who are continuing their education while employed full or part-time. Upon enrollment in the first nursing course, the program must be completed within a five-year period.

If a student does not plan to take classes each semester, the student must submit a formal leave of absence for each semester. Please see Leave of Absence policy link below.

https://www1.udel.edu/registrar/policies-procedures/withdr-la-timeoff.html

Programs

• Baccalaureate for the Registered Nurse (BSN)
• Nursing - Accelerated Degree Program (BSN)
• Nursing - Traditional Program (BSN)

• Nursing Honors (HBSN)