Costs
Nursing students admitted into the upper-division nursing major must assume responsibility for any costs incurred while meeting the clinical agency requirements. Nursing students are expected to provide their own transportation to all site-based experiences. Nursing students also must assume responsibility for the costs of their name pins, uniform(s), lab coats and faculty-approved stethoscopes, as well as any costs incurred to maintain their health (throat cultures, physician/ nurse practitioner visits, etc.) and meeting any clinical agency requirements. Initial costs for book purchases for junior nursing students in the Generic Option can total approximately $1,000. Most textbooks are used throughout the program.

Nursing students need to provide for themselves compatible computer access for electronic communication for coursework and departmental needs.

Scholarships
A number of scholarships are available for nursing majors through the Department of Nursing; a complete listing is maintained in the Nursing Department Offices on both the Rochester and Winona campuses. Students should apply for scholarships one academic year in advance of the academic year when the scholarship is desired (e.g., apply during the 2007-2008 academic year for the 2008-2009 academic year). Scholarships are provided by individual benefactors, affiliating hospitals, and professional and community organizations. Students are encouraged to contact agencies (hospitals, nursing homes, American Legion, VFW, etc.) in their hometowns regarding possible nursing scholarships. Refer to page XX for general information on scholarships, grants and financial aid.

Professional-Related Organizations

Minnesota Nursing Students' Association (MNSA): This is a pre-professional organization with membership at the local, state, and national levels. First-year and sophomore nursing students are welcome and encouraged to join. The Winona campus MNSA office is located in Stark Hall, Room 314. Names of current officers are posted on Nursing Department bulletin boards in Winona and Rochester.

Undergraduate Nursing Clubs: The membership includes all who are in the Generic Option, with separate clubs on the Winona and Rochester campuses. They deal with student-related issues and events. Officers and representatives to Department of Nursing committees are elected yearly, and names are posted on the respective campuses.

Kappa Mu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau: The purpose of this nursing honor society is to recognize superior achievement and development of leadership qualities, foster high professional standards, and encourage creative work. Membership is by invitation and includes nurses in the southeast Minnesota area and students.

Program Assessment

The Department of Nursing requires all students enrolled in the nursing major to participate in the systematic evaluation of program outcomes. This involves completion of surveys, participation in discussion groups, and maintenance of a portfolio. This portfolio includes examples of work showing critical thinking, communication abilities, caring therapeutic nursing interventions and service, and evidence of progression in the professional nursing roles throughout the educational experience.

Honors In Nursing Program

This program is designed to provide eligible students an opportunity to participate in scholarly activity above and beyond the normal course of study provided within the Nursing Department. A student has an opportunity to work closely with the faculty advisor and pursue personal learning goals. Application is made in the spring of the junior year of nursing courses. At that time the student needs a 3.0 GPA overall and 3.5 GPA in nursing courses and enrollment in or completion of the nursing research course. The student must form an Honors Committee of WSU faculty members, one of whom is willing to serve as honors advisor. The student must complete a scholarly project that involves research or clinical focus; the project must be approved by the Honors Committee. In the spring semester of the senior year, the student must complete a written report and present the completed honors project.

Students may register for up to 6 credits (N490 Independent Study in Nursing) over the two-year period if elective credit is desired for working on the honors project. Students who successfully complete the Honors Program will, upon graduation, have their official transcripts stamped with the words, "Graduated With Honors In Nursing"; their graduation status (Honors in Nursing) will be indicated on the graduation program and noted during graduation ceremonies. The specific details and steps in this process are available from the Department of Nursing.

Minimal Standards within the Nursing Major

To satisfy the academic standards of the nursing major, students must:

1. Achieve a grade of "C" or above in each required nursing course. Grades less than "C" constitute a failure in the nursing major. Students must adhere to the University standards for retention and scholarship.
2. Maintain a level of health that does not interfere with the student's ability to function adequately and safely in the nursing major. The student is expected to seek appropriate professional assistance as needed. The faculty may recommend the need for assistance, a leave of absence and/or withdrawal from the program.
3. Follow the ethical responsibilities as outlined in the Handbook for Undergraduate Nursing Students.
4. Complete the forms for the background studies conducted by the licensing division of the Department of Human Services on behalf of the Department of Health. Under the 1995 amendments to the Vulnerable Adults Act, individuals who provide direct contact service to patients or residents in select health facilities must undergo a background check. Currently no fees are charged.
   • "Minnesota law requires that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with patients and residents at a health care facility licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health have a background study conducted by the state. An individual who is disqualified from having direct patient contact as a result of the background study, and whose disqualification is not set aside by the Commissioner of Health, will not be permitted to participate in a clinical placement in a Minnesota licensed health care facility. Failure to participate in a clinical placement required by the academic program could result in ineligibility to qualify for a degree in this program."
5. Meet clinical agency requirements when enrolled in courses with site-based experiences: yearly Mantoux skin tests; diphtheria-tetanus immunity; measles, mumps and rubella immunity; polio immunity; Hepatitis B vaccination; chicken pox immunity/titer; medical/hospital insurance coverage; a physical examination (within the past 10 years); health care provider CPR certification; and professional liability insurance.

Professional Retention and Progression Policies

1. No nursing course may be repeated more than once due to withdrawal or grade less than "C." (A grade of "D" or less is considered to be a failing grade.) No theory exams can be retaken. Students who fail or withdraw from a course (theory and/or clinical) will be able to continue part-time in the nursing major if they have satisfied progression policies and as space allows.
2. Students will not be allowed to continue in the nursing major if they have failed or withdrawn for academic reasons from the same nursing course more than once or from two different nursing courses over more than one semester.
3. A student may be dismissed from a course for breach of ethical responsibilities. See the Handbook for Undergraduate Nursing Students or contact the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for information regarding University expectations and policies. A student dismissed for such a violation will not be allowed to continue in any clinical nursing course that semester, will be dropped from the nursing major at the end of the semester, and will be not readmitted to the major.
4. A student may be dismissed from a nursing course for breach of clinical safe practice guidelines as described in the course syllabus.
5. Students who once were admitted to the nursing major, completed at least one nursing course, but currently are not enrolled in the nursing major have one year from the date of withdrawal/failure to file a progression plan approved by the nursing advisor (for Generic Option students) or the RN Coordinator (for RN Option students). After one year, the student must reapply for admission to the nursing major.
6. All students are assigned to a clinical site-based experience sequence. If a student varies from the assigned plan, space in clinical courses cannot be assured.
7. All part-time students must file a written progression plan that has been approved by the nursing advisor or the RN Option Coordinator (for RN Option students).
8. Students who change from full-time to part-time status in the nursing major for academic or personal reasons must file a progression plan developed with the assistance of their academic advisor and must obtain plan approval from the department chairperson or designated faculty member (for Generic Option students) or the RN Coordinator (for RN Option students). This plan is based on space availability in clinical courses and completion of prerequisites for courses.
9. The grade of "Incomplete" (I) may be granted at the discretion of the course instructor in special cases where, for reasons beyond the student's control, some course assignments were not finished but the student was passing all other aspects (refer to page XX). For courses that are prerequisite to subsequent nursing courses, the "Incomplete" must be resolved by the second week of the new semester.

Credit by Examination

A student may receive credit by examination and/or demonstration of competence for courses or parts of courses in the Generic and RN Options. Faculty permission is needed for some course challenges.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation requirements include completion of WSU University Studies Program requirements or their equivalent for transfer students as well as all nursing major course requirements. A total of 128 semester credits is needed to graduate with a baccalaureate degree from WSU; at least 64 of these semester credits must be from a four-year college. For the RN Option nursing major, the 64 credits from a four-year college include 30 credits in nursing, 3 credits in statistics, 5 upper-division elective credits (2 credits of these in nursing), plus 26 credits.

A formal application for graduation must be made no later than one semester before the expected graduation semester.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal from a nursing course and/or the University must be completed according to WSU guidelines.

OBTAINING LICENSURE AS A REGISTERED NURSE

After graduation, Generic Option nursing graduates must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) in order to obtain a Registered Nurse (RN) license. Students may apply for licensure and take the NCLEX-RN in the state of their choice. Contact information for all state boards of nursing can be obtained from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing at http://www.ncsbn.org/.

Last Modified: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 14:59