Department of Nursing
Mission Statement
The primary mission of the nursing department is to provide quality, professional undergraduate and graduate nursing education that prepares nursing leaders to influence a changing profession, society, health care system and global health needs.
Purposes
In order to support and accomplish this mission the nursing faculty has identified the following purposes:
- Prepare nursing professionals who provide culturally competent, holistic, evidence-based nursing care to individuals, families, aggregates and communities in a wide variety of settings.
- Promote a community of learning that models professional values and lifelong professional development for both faculty and students.
- Promote service-learning activities that include collaborative, interdisciplinary initiatives and partnerships between nursing education and the practice arena to meet the future health needs of consumers.
- Conduct research and creative scholarship to generate nursing knowledge and disseminate that knowledge though collaboration, publication and presentations.
Career Opportunities and Marketable Skills
- Preparation as a professional nurse leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree.
- Eligibility to take the National Certification and Licensure (NCLEX) exam to become a registered nurse (R.N.).
- Preparation for entry-level positions in a wide range of health care settings.
- Upon completion of the R.N.-B.S.N. program of study, students may be eligible for leadership positions in a wide range of health care settings.
- Preparation for graduate study in nursing.
Co-curricular Activities and Organizations
- JMU Chapter of the Virginia Nursing Student Association
- Pi Mu At-Large Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, International Nursing Honor Society
Accreditation
The JMU nursing program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing.
Program Options
The Department of Nursing offers two program options. The generic B.S.N. program is designed to prepare undergraduates and second degree students to practice at the baccalaureate level of professional nursing. The R.N. to B.S.N. program provides flexible learning opportunities at the baccalaureate level for students who are graduates of community college or diploma schools and are licensed registered nurses (R.N.).
Special Admission and Retention Requirements
Generic B.S.N. Program
Admission to the nursing program is limited and competitive. Each semester 60 students are enrolled in junior level nursing courses. All students, including transfer and second degree students, must complete the supplemental nursing application following admission to the university. Supplemental applications are available on the nursing department Web site.
A completed supplemental nursing application must be received by September 30th to be considered for the following fall semester or by February 15th to be considered for admission to spring semester of the following year. Students not admitted to the fall cohort must reapply by February 15th for consideration for the spring cohort and for consideration each successive semester.
To be considered for admission to the nursing major, students must:
- Have earned a cumulative GPA of at least 2.800 as verified by the academic record
Complete 36 academic credits by the end of the fall semester of the sophomore year (to be considered for the following fall) or by the end of spring semester (to be considered for the following spring). - Complete the following nursing prerequisite courses (or approved equivalents) with a grade of "C-" or higher: CHEM 120, MATH 220 and at least two of the required biology courses (BIO 270, BIO 280 or BIO 290) by the end of the fall semester of the sophomore year (to be considered for the following fall) or by the end of spring semester (to be considered for the following spring).
In order to begin the nursing program, at time of entry to the first full semester, students must:
- Have completed all required nursing prerequisite courses (CHEM 120, MATH 220, GPSYC 160, NUTR 280, BIO 270, BIO 280, BIO 290 and NSG 270).
- Maintain a GPA of at least 2.800 or higher
Admission criteria are available at http://www.nursing.jmu.edu. Students must meet the department's technical standards for nursing practice. Technical standards are basic physical, cognitive and psychosocial skills and abilities that are required for nursing practice. The technical standards are posted on the nursing department Web site.
The nursing curriculum is designed as a full time program. The B.S.N. program director must approve any deviation from the full time enrollment pattern as outlined in the catalog.
Once in the program, students are not required to maintain a minimum GPA. To remain in good standing in the nursing program, the student must earn a grade of "C-" or better in each required nursing course. A grade of "D" or "F" is considered a failure. A student who for the first time receives a grade of less than a "C-" in a nursing course may, with department approval, repeat the course. A student who receives a grade of less than a "C-" in a second nursing course will not be permitted to continue in the program.
Other academic and related policies in effect for students in the nursing program are outlined on the nursing department Web site.
R.N. to B.S.N. Program
The R.N. to B.S.N. program provides flexible, partially online learning opportunities for students who are graduates of community college or diploma schools and are licensed registered nurses (R.N.). Classes are offered once a week and partially online to allow students to maintain employment while completing the B.S.N. degree. The program provides a foundation for professional practice and will equip students for further opportunities afforded through graduate study and advance practice.
JMU will award nurses up to 37 portfolio credits for their prior learning and work experience, as well as 40 transfer credits toward the General Education requirements for a B.S.N. Thirteen additional general education credits will be required but may be taken concurrently at a local community college and transferred into JMU for credit. Students will complete an additional 30 credits in the R.N. to B.S.N. program in one full-time calendar year or two part-time years, thus completing a total of 120 semester hours at the baccalaureate degree. Following completion of the prerequisite requirements at JMU or the Virginia Community College System equivalents, nurses can apply for admission to the R.N. to B.S.N. program. Additional program eligibility criteria include:
- Associate Degree or Diploma in Nursing from a state accredited program.
- Completion of the General Education courses required for the Bachelor of Science. May be taken concurrently with nursing course work but must be completed prior to graduation.
- Transcripts reflecting a cumulative GPA on all college work attempted of 2.5 or better on a 4-point scale.
- TOEFL scores greater than 570 for international applicants.
- Completion of all prerequisite courses with a grade of "C-" or better.
- Current unrestricted R.N. license in any state, Washington, D.C., or a U.S. possession or territory or an equivalent credential in another country.
- Employment as an R.N. for a minimum of six months and/or plans to practice concurrently with course work.
- Graduates of foreign nursing schools, who are licensed outside of the United States, are required to pass the Qualifying Exam of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) prior to application and include the exam report with their application materials.
- Ability to meet the department's technical standards for nursing practice (posted on the nursing department Web site).
- Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with the R.N. to B.S.N. coordinator to review transcripts and provide academic advising prior to applying.
Admission to the program is contingent on admission to the university. A supplemental application to the program is available on the nursing department Web site under the R.N to B.S.N program tab.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Generic B.S.N. Degree Requirements
| Required courses | Credit Hours |
| General Education courses 1 | 41 |
| Nursing courses | 61 |
| Other supportive courses | 14 |
| Electives | 5-8 |
| 120 | |
1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
General Education and Nursing Prerequisite Requirements
The following are course prerequisites required for the Nursing major. Courses must be completed with "C-" or higher.
| Required Prerequisites | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 120. Concepts of Chemistry 1,2 | 3 |
| MATH 220. Elementary Statistics 1 | 3 |
| BIO 290. Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIO 270. Physiology 1 | 4 |
| BIO 280. Allied Health Microbiology | 4 |
| NUTR 280. Nutrition for Wellness | 3 |
| GPSYC 160. Life Span Human Development 3 | 3 |
| NSG 270. Nursing Practicum: Nursing Fundamentals | 3 |
1 Contained in General Education Cluster Three.
2 Must be taken prior to or concurrent with BIO 270.
3 Contained in General Education Cluster Five.
Students can seek fall or spring admission to the program. Students must complete 36 credit hours before they will be considered for admission to the program.
All students must take the sophomore level nursing course NSG 270, Nursing Practicum: Nursing Fundamentals, prior to entry into the nursing program.
Cluster One normally is completed during the first year. General Education courses in clusters one, two, four and five can be scheduled flexibly as desired by the student across the first and second years.
Most students can complete general education and prerequisite courses in four semesters, but some students find it necessary to enroll in summer school or an additional year to complete the work satisfactorily.
Major Requirements
Additional information regarding the nursing curriculum can be found on the nursing department Web site.
| Sophomore Year | Credit Hours |
| NSG 270. Nursing Practicum: Nursing Fundamentals | 3 |
| 3 | |
Junior/Senior Year
| First Semester | Credit Hours |
| NSG 330. The Professional Nurse | 2 |
| NSG 331. Adult Health I | 6 |
| NSG 332. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing | 3 |
| NSG 333. Health Assessment | 3 |
| NSG 370. NSG Practicum: Gerontology | 1 |
| 15 | |
| Second Semester | Credit Hours |
| NSG 340. The Nurse Researcher | 3 |
| NSG 341. Nursing Care of Children and Their Families | 3 |
| NSG 380. Advanced Skills Lab | 2 |
| NSG 381. NSG Practicum: Acute Adult Health | 3 |
| NSG 382. NSG Practicum: Nursing Care of Children and Their Families | 2 |
| NSG 383. NSG Practicum: Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing | 1 |
| 14 | |
| Third Semester | Credit Hours |
| NSG 430. The Nurse Leader | 2 |
| NSG 431. Adult Health II | 6 |
| NSG 432. Women's Health | 3 |
| NSG 433. Community Health: Health Assessment of Vulnerable Populations in the Community | 2 |
| NSG 470. NSG Practicum: Community as Client | 2 |
| 15 | |
| Fourth Semester | Credit Hours |
| NSG 440. Transition to Practice | 3 |
| NSG 480. NSG Practicum: Capstone | 6 |
| NSG 481. NSG Practicum: Acute Adult Health II | 1 |
| NSG 482. NSG Practicum: Home Health Case Management | 1 |
| NSG 483. NSG Practicum: Women's Health | 1 |
| Nursing electives | 2 |
| 14 | |
1 The nursing electives may be taken any semester or summer session when a nursing elective is offered. A total of 2 credits of nursing electives are required prior to graduation.
R.N. to B.S.N. Degree Requirements
| Required courses | Credit Hours |
| General Education courses 1 | 13 |
| Nursing courses | 30 |
| Portfolio Credit given for RN qualifications (up to) | 37 |
| Credit for Associate Degree as prerequisites | 40 |
| 120 | |
1 General Education (at JMU or as VCCS equivalents) and nursing prerequisite requirements.
The following are course prerequisites or corequisites required for the nursing major. Courses must be completed with "C-" or higher
| Required Corequisites | Credit Hours |
| BIO 290. Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BIO 270. Physiology | 4 |
| BIO 280. Allied Health Microbiology | 4 |
| or CHEM 120. Concepts of Chemistry | |
| General Education: Cluster 2, Arts and Humanities | 9 |
| General Education: Cluster 4, The American Experience | 4 |
| 25 | |
Major Requirements
Additional information regarding the nursing curriculum can be found on the nursing department Web site.
Full-Time Sequence of Classes
First Year
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours |
| NSG 325. Concepts in Aging | 3 |
| NSG 333. Health Assessment | 3 |
| NSG 462. Issues in Contemporary Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NSG 463. Professional Role Transition | 3 |
| 12 | |
| Spring Semester | Credit Hours |
| NSG 460. Informatics | 2 |
| NSG 461. Pathophysiology | 4 |
| NSG 464. Introduction to Nursing Research | 3 |
| NSG 471. Leadership and Management in Healthcare | 4 |
| 13 | |
| Summer Session | Credit hours |
| NSG 466. Community Health Practicum | 1 |
| NSG 469. Caring for the Public's Health: Community Health Nursing | 4 |
| 5 | |
Part-Time Sequence of Classes
First Year
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours |
| NSG 433. Health Assessment | 3 |
| NSG 462. Issues in Contemporary Nursing Practice | 3 |
| 6 | |
| Spring Semester | Credit Hours |
| NSG 461. Pathophysiology | 4 |
| NSG 464. Introduction to Research | 3 |
| 7 | |
| Summer Session | Credit Hours |
| NSG 466. Community Health Practicum | 1 |
| NSG 469. Caring for the Public's Health: Community Health Nursing | 4 |
| 5 | |
Second Year
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours |
| NSG 325. Concepts in Aging 1 | 3 |
| NSG 463. Professional Role Transition | 3 |
| 6 | |
| Spring Semester | Credit Hours |
| NSG 460. Healthcare Informatics | 2 |
| NSG 471. Leadership and Management in Healthcare | 4 |
| 6 | |
Special Expenses
Additional expenses for nursing students include transportation, uniforms, assessment equipment, laboratory fees, organizational membership fees and professional conference attendance expenses.
