Nursing (R.N. to B.S.N.)

The mission of the Department of Nursing is to facilitate the education of future professional nurses to be effective clinicians and leaders. As clinicians, graduates are prepared to promote the ability of all persons, families and communities in attaining their highest level of wellness. As leaders, graduates are prepared to use research for evaluating and improving health care approaches and for continued study in nursing.

Philosophy

Nursing, a caring art and science, encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to health and illness.  Nurses use a variety of models to guide people of many cultures toward identifying their own health care and healing needs.  Nurses model self care while supporting people in their own pursuit of health.  People are born with healing capacities with or without perception of these capacities although a cure is not always certain.  The nurse as a health care resource is available to assist people to move toward and maintain health in their human experiences.  The society in which the nurse functions are rapidly changing and is technologically oriented.  Nurses use knowledge gained from client preferences and values, clinical expertise and best research evidence as well as the integral process to guide their practice.  The practice of nursing must be in accordance with established standards of clinical practice and the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics (ANA, 2001) and the Maine Nurse Core Competencies (MPNEP, 2012).

Health, a personally perceived state of wellbeing, is an ever-changing holistic interplay among the physiological, spiritual, psychological, social, cultural, cognitive and emotional dimensions of people.  Faculty believes that reflective practice is continuous one wherein the student develops a unique holistic awareness of self and how one’s self affects others. As people grow and develop, they strive to meet the needs of these interconnected dimensions to achieve a sense of harmony and balance between self and environment.  Clients, as partners in their care, may be individuals, families, groups or communities.  Faculty value the uniqueness, worth, dignity and integrity of all people and believe that each human being is a dynamic holistic system.

The essence of professional nursing education lies in the integration of academic and clinical experience. Faculty are committed to a foundation of study grounded in arts, sciences, and humanities that leads to Interprofessional and nursing education. The acquisition of competency based knowledge, skills and attitudes prepare future nurses to meet the healthcare needs of a diverse population. Faculty believe that student centeredness is the cornerstone to optimal learning and are committed to a supportive, caring and interactive environment that takes into account the diversity of culture and experience that students bring to the learning situation. Learning is a collaborative process whereby students and faculty learn from each other, clients, peers, mentors, preceptors as well as other health care professionals.

The RN to BSN Nursing Program is designed for registered nurses who embrace the opportunity to broaden and enhance current knowledge and skills, acquire knowledge in evidence-based nursing, further their career opportunities and provide the credentials necessary for graduate education. Delivered through both didactic and clinical components, the curriculum includes advanced courses leading to competencies in the areas of nursing theory, research, health assessment, critical thinking, clinical theory and practice, health care of populations, leadership, management, teaching and learning. Nursing course work is offered one or two days during the week depending on completion options. This allows the student to continue practicing as a registered nurse and encourages individuals to apply concepts presented in the classroom to actual clinical practice. The RN to BSN curriculum exposes students to different ways of knowing through interprofessional opportunities, exploration of social sciences, natural sciences and the humanities. Upon completion of the program, the student is awarded the Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree. Graduates of the program are prepared to participate in the health care delivery system in the role of direct care provider to populations, researcher, manager and leader, health teacher to aggregates, change agent and interprofessional collaborator or coordinator.

The nursing program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and is approved by the Maine State Board of Nursing. The ACEN can be contacted at 3343 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite850, Atlanta, GA 30326 1-404-975-5000. www.nlnac.org.

Admission Requirements

1. Meet all University general admission requirements: 
   See University Undergraduate Admissions
2. Graduation from an NLNAC-accredited associate degree or diploma program or the equivalent or advancement from the UNE first two years after successfully passing the national nursing licensure examination.
3. Licensure as a registered nurse in Maine. (copy of license)
4. Minimum GPA of 2.50.

Clinical Placement Requirements

1. Current CPR certification (CPR for Health Professionals).
2. Completion of all of health requirements including the following immunizations and tests: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Attenuated Pertussis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningococcal, Hepatitis B, Varicella, Tuberculin Skin Testing (link to Policy)
3. Other immunizations and tests as required by clinical facilities
4. Professional liability (malpractice) insurance ($1,000,000 - $3,000,000 coverage is required).
5. Maintain current RN License in Maine
6. HIPAA Training Module completion
7. Background check

DEPARTMENT POLICIES

Academic Integrity Policy

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the university community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the dean of the appropriate College and, if upheld, will result at minimum in a failing grade on the assignment and a maximum of dismissal from the University of New England. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
Actions that destroy or alter the work of another student.
Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
Plagiarism: the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one’s own.

 HIPAA Compliance

Prior to attending any clinical experience, it is mandatory that each nursing student document yearly completion of the UNE training program explaining their legal responsibilities under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Under this regulation, nursing students are permitted to have access to Protected Health Information (PHI) only when observing and performing direct client/patient care as a part of their training, and must follow approved HIPAA policies on usage of PHI. More detailed information is available in the UNE Department of Nursing Student Handbook, and will also be provided by the UNE HIPAA training program. Students requiring further clarification are referred to the faculty of this course. Students must comply with requirements and expectations for appropriate storage and transmittal of client information. No PHI can leave a covered entity site unless it is de-identified. All HIPAA violations will be reported to the UNE HIPAA Compliance Officer. 

Office for Students with Disabilities

The University of New England will make reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Students need to register with Disability Services and inform their instructors of any academic accommodations. Timely accommodations are dependent on early registration with Disability Services. This office is located in Stella Maris 131 on the Biddeford Campus and on the Lower Level of Ginn Hall on the Portland Campus.

WCHP Course & Instructor Evaluation Policy

Course and instructor evaluations are one of the most important tools that we have for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to course instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from everyone, so course evaluations are a required element of every course. Students who complete all their evaluations on time will have access to their grades as soon as they are available. For those students who do not complete their evaluations, grades will be masked for approximately two weeks.

DEPARTMENT OF NURSING ACADEMIC AND PROGRESSION STANDARDS

Students accepted to the WCHP at the University of New England are subject to two sets of academic guidelines, one to meet minimum qualifications for ongoing enrollment at the University of New England and the other to meet specific program requirements.Freshman and Sophomore Years

Freshman and Sophomore Years (Semesters 1 through 4)

In keeping with the minimum guidelines of the University of New England, all students must achieve a minimum cumulative semester-end grade point average as follows to meet University requirements:

• Failure to maintain the minimum GPA requirements will result in academic probation as described in the catalog of the University of New England
• Students must also achieve a minimum grade of “C” in the following courses: MAT 120, CHE 110, BIO 104, BIO 208, BIO 209, BIO 309, IHS 220 and NSG 202. Failure to achieve a “C” will result in program-level probation and may affect academic progression and delay graduation.
• Failure to earn a “C” or above in any of the above courses requires the student to repeat the course.
• Failure to achieve a “C” or above a second time the course is taken will result in dismissal from the major.
• A student may enroll in any of the courses listed above a maximum of two times. Enrollment consists of achieving a WP or WF or a letter grade. Receiving a W from a course is not considered being officially enrolled. 

Junior & Senior Years (Semesters 5 through 8)

• Students must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.50
• Students must comply with requirements for attendance and professionalism.
• Student must comply with policies stated in UNE and Nursing Student Handbooks.
• Students must obtain a minimum examination final average of 77 (C+) in all 300 and 400 level nursing courses in order to continue to progress through the program.
• Students must obtain a C or better in all required science and mathematics courses.
• Students must obtain a minimum final course average of 77 (C+) in all 300 and 400 level nursing courses in order to continue to progress through the program.
• Students must meet the competencies for satisfactory completion of the clinical component of each nursing course. An unsatisfactory grade (U) in clinical, regardless of the grade in the theoretical component of the course, will result in a course grade no higher than C. In addition, a student cannot progress to the next clinical nursing course.
• Students must perform in the clinical area in a manner that is deemed safe by the faculty.
• If student’s exam average is 77 (C+) or greater, his/her final grade will be determined by the calculation as stated in the syllabus for the course. If student’s exam average is less than 77 (C+), the final grade will be determined by the calculation as stated in the syllabus for the course, but not to exceed a C regardless of the earned average.
• Failure to obtain a minimum grade of 77 (C+) in any 300 or 400 level nursing course would necessitate that the student repeat the course to achieve the minimum grade. A student may enroll in a nursing course twice. To promote retention of previous learning, and to maximize the likelihood of success in the course to be repeated, students who must repeat a nursing course are strongly encouraged to register to audit the nursing course immediately preceding the course to be retaken. 
• Failure to obtain a minimum grade of C in any required science or math course as described above would necessitate that the student repeat that course until a C is obtained as a final grade.

DISMISSAL FROM THE NURSING PROGRAM AT THE 100 AND 200 COURSE LEVEL 

A student may be dismissed from the nursing program for any of the following reasons:

• Violations of the academic integrity policies
• Violation of the American Nurses Association “Code for Nurses” guidelines for ethical practice, or the National Student Nurses’ Association “Code of Academic and Clinical conduct.”
• Failure to maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in the WCHP Core Courses
• Failure to achieve a grade of C or higher in a 200 level nursing course after a prior failure to achieve a satisfactory grade in the same course.
• Failure to achieve a grade of C or higher in a required science or math course after a prior failure to achieve a satisfactory grade in the same course.
• A documented pattern of unprofessional behavior

DISMISSAL FROM THE NURSING PROGRAM AT THE 300 AND 400 COURSE LEVEL

A student may be dismissed from the nursing program for any of the following reasons:

• Violations of the academic integrity policies
• Violation of the American Nurses Association “Code for Nurses” guidelines for ethical practice, or the National Student Nurses’ Association “Code of Academic and Clinical conduct.”
• Failure to maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 2.50
• Failure to achieve a grade of C+ or higher in a 300 or 400 level nursing course after a prior failure to achieve a satisfactory grade in the same course.
• Failure to achieve a grade of C or higher in a required science or math course after a prior failure to achieve a satisfactory grade in the same course.
• A documented pattern of unprofessional behavior.
• Unsafe practice in the clinical area, as defined by the competency evaluation tool included in each course syllabus.

Students dismissed from the nursing program related to academic deficiencies (low GPA or second failure of a nursing course) may petition the nursing faculty for readmission if they wish to reenter the program. Matters of personal concern to the student will be considered at this time. Faculty will make a recommendation to the Director of the Nursing Department regarding readmission to the nursing program.

Students dismissed from the program may initiate an appeal process as documented in the UNE student manual. Students wishing to appeal an issue should refer to the UNE Student Handbook “Academic and Disciplinary Appeals Policy”.

TECHNICAL STANDARDS

Technical standards are all of the nonacademic functional abilities essential for the delivery of safe, effective nursing care. These basic abilities make up the core components of nursing practice, and there is a high probability that untoward consequences may result for clients cared for by nurses who fail to demonstrate these abilities. In compliance with state and federal laws, nursing education programs must attend to these essential functional abilities in the teaching and evaluation of students preparing for the practice of nursing.

This statement of technical standards identifies the functional abilities deemed by the Nursing Faculty at the University of New England to be essential to the practice of nursing, and as such are reflected in satisfactory progression through the nursing program and in the performance-based outcomes which are the basis for teaching and evaluating all nursing student.

Nursing Program Technical Standards

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be able to: 

1. Integrate the knowledge and science of nursing with the natural/behavioral sciences, the humanities and interprofessional education to provide holistic care for individuals, families, groups, communities or populations. 
2. Demonstrate the capacity to practice nursing using an evidence-based and theoretically guided framework. 
3. Model professional values as a nurse which reflect the integration of ethical and moral principles, social advocacy and legal standards in delivering quality care to all people. 
4. Utilize data from diverse sources with knowledge and skill in informatics and patient care technology to promote safety and optimal outcomes of care. 
5. Distinguish the components of nursing leadership and management as applied to healthcare organizations and healthy work environments. 
6. Model principles of self care while supporting the health and well being of diverse individuals, families, groups, communities or populations. 
7. Demonstrate basic knowledge of the issues concerning health care delivery to diverse individuals, families, groups, communities or populations. 

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.

Lab Fees

Laboratory fees are assessed in individual courses that incorporate the skills laboratory, the human patient simulator laboratory, standardized testing and clinical placement.

Transportation

Nursing students are responsible for their own transportation to clinical experiences throughout the program.

Pinning Ceremony

Graduation expenses include a departmental pinning ceremony in May. These expenses vary each year. Students may inquire in the nursing office for an estimate of current costs.

Financial Aid
Detailed information and applications are available on request from the Financial Aid Office on the Biddeford Campus. Call 207-602-2342 or visit the Financial Aid website.

A total of 123 hours of credit with a 2.5 GPA or above is required for the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree.

See Academic Policy and Regulations also.