Department of Nursing
Mission Statement
The primary mission of the Department of Nursing 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 approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing. The baccalaureate and master's programs at James Madison University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 887-6791.
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 students, must complete the B.S.N. Admission Application following admission to the university. B.S.N. Admission Applications are available on the nursing department website at http://www.nursing.jmu.edu.
A completed B.S.N. Admission Application must be received by December 1 to be considered for the following fall semester and by July 1 to be considered for admission to spring semester of the following year. Students not admitted to the program must reapply to be considered in the applicant pool for the following admission cycle.
To be considered for admission to the nursing major, students must:
- Be currently enrolled as a JMU student as a declared Nursing major
- Have earned a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 as verified by the academic record (Admission is competitive, based on cumulative GPA and nursing pre-requisite course grades and limited to a set number of qualified students).
- Have completed and/or enrolled in 36 academic credits at the time of application
- 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, and BIO 290).
- Maintain a GPA of at least 3.00 or higher.
- Meet the department's technical standards
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 website.
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 fully admitted to the program, the student must earn a grade of "C-" or better in each required nursing course to remain in good standing in the nursing program. 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 department website.
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 to 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 website).
- 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 department website 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 | 64 |
| Other supportive courses | 11 |
| Electives | 4-8 |
| 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
| Prerequisites | Credit Hours |
| GPSYC 160. Life Span Human Development 2 | 3 |
| CHEM 120. Concepts of Chemistry 1 | 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 |
| 24 | |
1 Contained in General Education Cluster Three.
2 Contained in General Education Cluster Five.
| Required Courses | Credit Hours |
| NSG 350. Foundations of Nursing | 3 |
| NSG 351. Health Assessment | 3 |
| NSG 352. Clinical Applications and Reasoning in Nursing Care I | 4 |
| NSG 352L. Clinical Applications and Reasoning in Nursing Care I Clinical | 2 |
| NSG 353. Pharmacology | 3 |
| NSG 354. The Art and Science of Nursing | 2 |
| NSG 355. Women's Health | 3 |
| NSG 355L. Women's Health Clinical | 1 |
| NSG 356. Clinical Applications and Reasoning in Nursing Care II | 4 |
| NSG 356L. Clinical Applications and Reasoning in Nursing Care II Clinical | 2 |
| NSG 357. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing | 3 |
| NSG 357L. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Clinical | 1 |
| NSG 450. Nursing Research | 3 |
| NSG 451. Child Health Care | 3 |
| NSG 451L. Child Health Care Clinical | 2 |
| NSG 452. Clinical Applications and Reasoning in Nursing Care III | 4 |
| NSG 453. Population-Centered Care in the Community | 2 |
| NSG 453L. Population-Centered Care in the Community Clinical | 2 |
| NSG 454. Transition to Practice | 3 |
| NSG 454L. Transition to Practice Clinical | 2 |
| NSG 455. Nursing Informatics | 2 |
| NSG 456. Capstone | 5 |
| Nursing Electives | 2 |
| 62 | |
1 The nursing electives may be taken any semester or summer session when a nursing elective is offered. A total of two credits of nursing electives are required prior to graduation.
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.
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 website.
Junior/Senior Year
| First Semester | Credit Hours |
| NSG 350. Foundations of Nursing | 3 |
| NSG 351. Health Assessment | 3 |
| NSG 352. Clinical Applications & Reasoning in Nursing Care I | 4 |
| NSG 352L. Clinical Applications & Reasoning in Nursing Care I Clinical | 2 |
| NSG 353. Pharmacology | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Second Semester | Credit Hours |
| NSG 354. The Art & Science of Nursing | 2 |
| NSG 355. Women's Health | 3 |
| NSG 355L. Women's Health Clinical | 1 |
| NSG 356. Clinical Applications & Reasoning in Nursing Care II | 4 |
| NSG 356L. Clinical Applications & Reasoning in Nursing Care II Clinical | 2 |
| NSG 357. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing | 3 |
| NSG 357L. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Clinical | 1 |
| 16 | |
| Third Semester | Credit Hours |
| NSG 450. Nursing Research | 3 |
| NSG 451. Child Health | 3 |
| NSG 451L. Child Health Clinical | 2 |
| NSG 452. Clinical Applications & Reasoning in Nursing Care III | 4 |
| NSG 453. Population-Centered Care in the Community | 2 |
| NSG 453L. Population-Centered Care in the Community Clinical | 2 |
| 16 | |
| Fourth Semester | Credit Hours |
| NSG 454. Transition to Practice | 3 |
| NSG 454L. Transition to Practice Clinical | 2 |
| NSG 455. Informatics | 2 |
| NSG 456. Capstone | 5 |
| 12 | |
R.N. to B.S.N. Degree Requirements
| Required courses | Credit Hours |
| General Education courses 1 | 13 |
| Nursing courses | 30 |
| Portfolio Credit given for R.N. 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 website.
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 testing, transportation, uniforms, assessment equipment, laboratory fees, organizational membership fees and professional conference attendance expenses.
