Pre-Licensure

Baccalaureate Nursing Program

The baccalaureate graduate of the UMass Dartmouth Nursing curriculum will meet the following program outcomes:

1. Integrates current and evolving nursing knowledge with a foundation in liberal arts, natural, and social sciences to translate knowledge and apply clinical judgement and ways of knowing to provide innovative professional nursing care.

2. Implements person-centered care, defined as caring, holistic, just, respectful, compassionate, evidence-based and developmentally appropriate care, to improve health outcomes in individuals, families, and populations.

3. Collaborates among traditional and non-traditional partnerships from affected communities, public health, industry, academia, healthcare, local government entities, and others that span the healthcare delivery continuum to initiate caring interventions and evaluate outcomes of public health prevention of populations to improve disease management, equity and population health outcomes.

4. Engages in the generation, synthesis, translation, application, and dissemination of nursing knowledge to improve health and transform health care.

5. Implements established and emerging principles of quality, safety, and improvement science in providing nursing care to minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.

6. Engages in intentional interprofessional partnerships for collaboration with multidisciplinary team members, patients, families, communities, and other stakeholders to optimize care, enhance healthcare experiences, and strengthen outcomes.

7. Implements proactive and responsive actions as emerging leaders within complex systems of health care through the effective coordination of resources to provide safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations.

8. Utilizes communication, data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in technology to inform decision making and compassionate patient care, employing information and communication technologies to deliver safe, high quality, efficient healthcare services in accordance with best practices, professional, and regulatory standards.

9. Demonstrates continuing growth toward a professional nursing identity that exhibits accountability, perspective, and a collaborative disposition, exemplifying behaviors that reflect the characteristics, norms, and values of a professional nurse.

10. Develops personal, professional, leadership, and self-reflection skills in order to foster personal health, resilience, well-being, and lifelong learning that supports the acquisition of nursing expertise, leadership, and a culture of caring.

*AACN Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice https://www.aacnnursing.org/Education-Resources/AACN-Essentials

The undergraduate curricula of both baccalaureate track options emphasize competencies to promote health, guide persons through the health care experience and shape the health environment. These outcome competencies are:

1. Knowledge

2. Leadership/Advocacy

3. Quality

4. Safety

5. Therapeutic Intervention

6. Professional Development

7. Communication

8. Collaboration

9. Caring/Therapeutic Alliance

10. Outcome Evaluation

Academic Policies for the Baccalaureate Program

The minimum passing grade for designated NUR, CHM, MTH and BIO is a C+ (77 or above). All other courses taken require a C (73 or above), this includes university studies courses and electives.
Students may repeat a course only once, only as space is available, and only with the consent of the department chairperson and the student’s advisor. A second failure (grade below C/C+) in the same course will result in dismissal from the Nursing Program.
At the end of each program year, the student must have an overall minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average. At the end of the sophomore year and for subsequent program years, the student must also have a minimum cumulative average of 2.0 in the nursing major. Failure to meet these criteria will result in academic probation following university policy.
After the completion of three semesters, students with a GPA of less than 2.0 in nursing major courses will be placed on academic probation. All students placed on probation must meet with their academic advisors; an individualized program plan will be developed and filed in the Dean’s office. If at the completion of two subsequent semesters students do not have an overall GPA of at least 2.0 in the nursing major, they will be subject to academic disqualification from the nursing major.
The following number of credits must be successfully completed at the end of each program year:

	End of	Credits Completed
	Freshman Year	31
	Sophomore Year	60
	Junior Year	91
	Senior Year	120

A student who earns less than the required grade (C+/77% in nursing, math, sciences and/or C/73 in all other required courses) in 9 credits of required courses, regardless of repeating, will be dismissed from the Nursing Program.
Students have a right to appeal course grades. Refer to the grade appeal policy in the academic regulations section of the catalog. https://www.umassd.edu/acadvising/grades/ This process is handled at the University level.
Students are required to use personal laptop devices that meet the nursing program Computer Specifications. See https://www.umassd.edu/nursing/computer-requirements/
Courses in the program plan are listed in the sequence in which they should be completed. All Level I courses must be completed before progressing to Level 2 courses; Level 2 courses must be completed before Level 3 courses; Level 4 courses (spring semester senior year) cannot be taken until Level 3 courses are completed. Exceptions to this progression policy are limited and must be recommended by the academic advisor and approved by the Department Chair and the Dean.
Selection of students eligible for progression may be limited by the availability of faculty and/or clinical placements. In the event that the number of eligible students exceeds available resources, students will be selected on the basis of academic standing.
Students in the baccalaureate pre-licensure and ABS program tracks must purchase the approved uniforms and nametag to be worn in all clinical rotations.
Students are responsible for their own transportation to clinical agencies.
Per our clinical agencies, students are responsible for having appropriate health records including up to date immunizations during the summer preceding each academic year in which they enroll in clinical courses. Students bear the costs of any titers needed to verify immunizations or other medical conditions. All records must be processed per Nursing Program instructions. Students are responsible for all costs associated with the requirements and responsible for meeting all deadlines.
Per our clinical agencies, students must undergo background checks before entering clinical courses. The Nursing Program will provide instructions for the process. Students are responsible for all costs associated with requirements and for meeting all deadlines.
Per our clinical agencies, students must comply with requirements for drug screening (currently a 10-panel urine test) before the start of the first clinical experience and as specified by individual clinical agencies. The Nursing Program will provide instructions for the process. Students are responsible for all costs associated with requirements and for meeting all deadlines.
Per our clinical agencies, students are required to be certified in Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers (CPR and AED) by the American Heart Association prior to the beginning of each academic academic year in which they enroll in a clinical course.
Additional requirements may be identified by our clinical agencies. Students are responsible for all expenses associated with requirements and for meeting all deadlines.
Any exceptions to the above academic policies will be considered by the Dean only on recommendation of the student’s academic advisor.
The faculty reserve the right to change a student’s selection of clinical site in order to consolidate sections or maintain State Board and/or the health care agency’s regulations around student to instructor ratios.

Course of Study: Pre-licensure Baccalaureate Nursing Track

Studies in the sciences and liberal arts provide for the concepts encountered in the study of nursing. Students are introduced to core nursing concepts, values, and beliefs in the first year.

In the second year, students are taught to interact effectively with individuals and begin building the foundations for advanced study. Students acquire the skills in observation and communication necessary to assess an individual’s needs, set measurable and realistic goals of nursing care, and utilize evidence-based interventions to maximize health.

The third year emphasizes the transfer and application of knowledge in varied clinical situations. Students develop skills in caring for acutely ill adults, childbearing and childrearing families in the hospital and community, and populations at risk in communities. The family as a unit of care, as well as populations at risk in communities, become the foci for the nursing process. Students are able to enroll in international community health nursing experiences at their own cost.

In the senior year, students learn to collaborate with members of the healthcare team, advocate for the needs of patients, and intervene to shape the healthcare environment. Students refine skills to manage the complex health needs of individuals, groups, and populations. The emphasis is on the analysis and synthesis of knowledge to maximize health. The use of a capstone experience facilitates this process.

Program Plan

The pre-licensure nursing track is a full-time program that is eight semesters long and leads to the Bachelor of Science degree. Students who elect a semester-long study abroad outside of the nursing study abroad program and travel during the regular academic year, will need to discuss a five-year option with their Academic Advisor and the Dean. Study abroad in fall sophomore year (in the nursing designated study abroad program) or during the winter and summer sessions can fit into the four-year plan.

In addition to the requirements in the major, students will be required to complete the University Studies Requirements. For more information: http://www.umassd.edu/generaleducation/universitystudies/universitystudiescurriculum/.

BS-MS Fast Track

Senior nursing students may enroll in up to nine (9) credits of graduate level nursing courses. Students may choose from the following courses (pre-requisites must still be met) - NUR 500, 511, 520, 547, 605.

The following conditions must be met prior to enrolling in these courses:

All 300 level nursing courses are completed,
Maintain a 3.3 GPA in all nursing courses,
Recommendation of their faculty advisor,
Approval of Master’s program director.

These nine (9) graduate credits fulfill both undergraduate elective, bachelor’s degree requirements, and graduate degree requirements. Students must get a grade of B or better for the course to count for graduate credit. In addition, students must apply for admission in spring for matriculation into the consecutive summer. Tuition rates for these graduate classes will be directed by University Extension.