School of Nursing Mission Statement

The mission of the School of Nursing is to prepare professional nurses to improve quality of life. The nursing educational experience inspires commitment to personal and professional integrity, social equity, collaborative practice, and community service. It is the belief of the faculty that nursing is a discipline of knowledge and a professional service based on caring, the central concept of nursing.

Troy Heidesch: Director, School of Nursing
Candice Paul-Matthews: Chair, Department of Graduate Studies
Laura Hart: Chair, Department of Undergraduate Studies

Click here for Graduate Nursing information.

Undergraduate Nursing

Degrees and courses offered: Please see a detailed list at the end of this section of majors and courses offered by the School of Nursing. The Brenau University Department of Nursing has full approval from the Georgia Board of Nursing. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master’s degree program in nursing at Brenau is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. http://www.ccneaccreditation.org/

Purpose:  The Bachelor of Science in nursing (B.S.N.) program is designed to prepare students to provide care that is sensitive to the unique health needs of individuals, families and communities. Evidence-based practice, theory and professional values and standards combined with real world clinical experiences form the basis for this challenging undergraduate program. Graduates are expected to collaborate with individuals, families, communities and the healthcare team to promote health and positively impact healthcare systems. Consistent with the University mission, the School of Nursing B.S.N. program fosters intellectual and professional accomplishment, commitment to service, global understanding and personal integrity.

Goal:  The goal of undergraduate nursing education at Brenau University is to prepare nurses who will provide care that is sensitive to the unique health needs of individuals, families and communities and nurses who will collaborate to promote health and positively impact healthcare systems.

Educational Outcomes:  Upon completion of the undergraduate nursing program, the student will be able to:

1. Implement evidence-based strategies for client focused health promotion, risk reduction, disease prevention, restoration of health, and preservation of dignity in death.
2. Communicate and collaborate effectively with clients and inter-professional teams through the use of verbal, nonverbal, written, and emerging technology.
3. Assume accountability for professional standards of legal, ethical, and moral conduct.
4. Integrate the influence of the global community and its impact on health.
5. Apply understanding, sensitivity, and respect for cultural and spiritual diversity to clients.
6. Use nursing values, theory, and research to implement professional roles of the nurse.
7. Exercise clinical reasoning to provide safe, competent nursing care according to professional nursing standards including self-evaluation and lifelong learning.
8. Apply psychosocial, cultural, economic, and political factors for the basis of professional nursing practice.

Note: The “client” (above) is considered individuals, families, communities, and populations.

Admission and Progression Requirements
All applicants should be aware that the state examining board has the right to refuse to grant registered nurse licenses to any individuals regardless of their educational credentials under circumstances of

• Falsification of application for licensure;
• Conviction of a felony or crime of moral turpitude;
• Other moral and legal violations specified in the Georgia law.

Applicants accepted into the program will be required to complete a background check and drug screen prior to starting the program.

Admission to the Nursing Major
To be considered for admission to the nursing major, prospective students must have been admitted to Brenau University by the admissions deadline. Students who fail a nursing program at anther instition are not eligible for admission to the nursing program at Brenau. Submission of a School of Nursing Application by the posted deadline is required to be considered for admission to the nursing major. Admission decisions are made by the School of Nursing Admissions and Progression Committee and are based on the following criteria:

Completion of mandatory prerequisites which are courses that must be completed prior to matriculation in courses within the nursing major. Mandatory prerequisites include

• EH 101 - Written Communication *
    
• EH 102 - Reading and Research Writing *
    
• MS 101 - College Algebra *
    
• PY 101 - Introduction to Psychology *
    
• CY 103 - Principles of Chemistry *
    
• CY 103L - Principles of Chemistry Lab *
    
• HS 200 - Medical Terminology
    
• PY 202 - Survey of Human Growth and Development
    
• MS 205 - Introduction to Statistics *
    (MS 101 - is prereq)
• BY 206 - Microbiology *
    
• BY 206L - Microbiology Lab *
    
• BY 209 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I *
    
• BY 209L - Human Anatomy & Physiology I Lab *
    
• BY 210 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II *
    
• BY 210L - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab *
    
• PY 309 - Abnormal Psychology
    
• HS 315 - Pathophysiology for the Health Professions
    

Completion of all required non-nursing courses that include Brenau University liberal education courses that the student must take but that are not prerequisites to admission to the junior year. Required non-nursing courses include

• Historical perspective: 3 hours
• Global Awareness: 3 hours
• Civic Engagement: 3 hours
• Speaking: 3 hours
• Fine Arts: 3 hours
• Modern Language
• Literature: 3 hours
• Lifetime Fitness: 1 hour activity coursework (LF/LS/DA prefix)

Minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA. (A student who successfully completes a graduate degree with a 3.0 GPA or better will be admitted based on the graduate GPA.)

Minimum Nursing Science GPA of 2.75 (includes CY 103, BY 206, BY 209, BY 210). This GPA will include grades for ALL attempts at any class.

Minimum composite score of 75% on the HESI entrance exam.

Progression

Students must successfully complete all courses (with a C or better) each semester to progress in the program - while maintaining a minimum cumulative and major 2.50 GPA.

If a student receives an exam grade average less than 77.00 in a single nursing course or overall course grade less than a C (resulting in a course failure) or academically withdraws (W grade) from a nursing course, the student must earn a B when the course is repeated and maintain a 2.5 overall GPA.

If a student earns less than a C in any two nursing courses in any semester or any two semesters, the student will be dismissed from the nursing program and will not be eligible for readmission.

One (1) academic withdrawal (W) is permitted throughout the curriculum. Two academic withdrawals equate to a grade of F (for progression) except in NG 432 & NG 445. They are corequisite courses and academic withdrawal from one requires academic withdrawal from the other. Therefore, academic withdrawal from NG 432 & NG 445 will equate to one academic withdrawal.

In addition to nursing courses, the courses below are included when calculating the major GPA:

• CY 103 - Principles of Chemistry *
     
• BY 206 BY 206 - Microbiology *  
• BY 209 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I *
    
• BY 210 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II *
     

The nursing faculty reserves the right to request the withdrawal of students from the nursing major if their performance, conduct or health makes it inadvisable for them to remain in the nursing program.

Readmission After Dismissal
After dismissal from the nursing program, a student may be readmitted one time. Written requests for readmission must be submitted to the School of Nursing Admission and Progression Committee one semester prior to desired readmission date. Documents submitted must include a Request for Readmission Form, two letters of recommendation, transcripts and other documents deemed necessary by the school. Students attempting to raise their cumulative GPA to 2.75 for readmission must have the courses approved by the Admission and Progression Committee. Readmission after academic dismissal is probationary for one semester. Readmission after other types of dismissals may be probationary at the discretion of the Admission and Progression Committee.

Students with Nursing or other Professional Licenses
Verification of the current nursing or other professional license is required for any student currently licensed as a healthcare provider. A copy of the license will be maintained with the student’s academic record.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certification
C.P.R. Certification for healthcare providers must remain current throughout the clinical nursing sequence. Students failing to maintain current C.P.R. Certification will be dismissed from the nursing program. American Red Cross or American Heart Associate BLS required.

Student Health Policies
Nursing students must have a current physical examination on file in the School of Nursing. This examination may be performed by a nurse practitioner or physician. Forms for this examination will be mailed to each student upon admission into the nursing program and are also available in the School of Nursing office. In addition to the health form, students must provide documentation of the following immunizations:

• PPD or TB spot annually
• 2 MMR vaccines or titer showing immunity
• 3 Hepatitis B vaccines and titer showing immunity
• Tdap within 10 years
• 2 Varicella vaccines or titer showing immunity
• Influenza vaccine annually

Additional information may be required by some clinical facilities.

Students will be dismissed from the program if the health information is not on file by the first day of class each semester.

Additional Information About Finances
There are some additional expenses for nursing students that are not covered by tuition or fees previously identified. A summary of these expenses follows:

1. Purchase of uniforms, shoes, lab coat and watch with second hand. Students will be given information about uniform requirements at the beginning of the first semester in the nursing major.
2. Purchase of professional liability insurance (one time fee of approximately $300). This insurance is provided through the School of Nursing.
3. Textbooks can be rather expensive; however, many of the books are also used in subsequent nursing courses.
4. Laboratory and testing fees are approximately $700 per year.
5. Background checks and drug screens required for clinical and school admission.
6. Travel expenses during clinical laboratory experiences vary from semester to semester based on mileage to and from particular agencies and parking fees.

Brenau Association of Nursing Students (BANS) is the professional nursing organization for pre-nursing and nursing majors at Brenau. Students who join BANS are eligible for membership in the state and national nursing student associations.

Sigma Theta Tau is the honor society for nursing. Nu Gamma Chapter at Brenau University inducts members annually. To be eligible for membership, students must be in the last half of their nursing program, have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, be in the top 35% of their graduating class and demonstrate academic integrity. Members of Sigma Theta Tau are recognized at graduation.

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Graduate Nursing

The school of nursing graduate programs and courses are listed at the bottom of this section.

Purpose  The graduate program of the School of Nursing fulfills the mission of the school and Brenau University by preparing nurses to achieve professional specialization. The graduate program seeks to prepare nurses who will assume influential roles in advanced clinical practice, education or leadership/management and who will have a lasting and positive impact on the health of individuals, families and communities.

Goal  The Graduate Program of the School of Nursing fulfills the mission of the school and Brenau University by preparing nurses to improve quality of life through achieving professional specialization based on caring. The graduate program seeks to prepare nurses who will assume influential roles in advanced clinical practice, education or leadership/management and who will have a lasting and positive impact on health of individuals, families, communities, and populations.

The Mission of the D.N.P. is to prepare advanced practice nurses to improve the quality of healthcare by demonstrating a leadership role. The educational experience will inspire extraordinary intellectual accomplishments through scientific inquiry, research, and practice change in healthcare systems.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master’s degree program in nursing at Brenau is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. http://www.ccneaccreditation.org/

Master’s Program (M.S.N.)

Admission Requirements: In addition to the general requirements for admissions stated in the Graduate Admissions section of this Catalog, admission decisions to the graduate nursing program will be based on a composite of the following:

1. Evidence of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited nursing program.
2. Minimum Cumulative and nursing GPA of 3.0.
3. Submission of GRE scores taken within the last five years.
4. Current Georgia License as a registered nurse.
5. Undergraduate courses in physical assessment and research methods.
6. Two references addressing clinical and academic ability.
7. Minimum of one year of full-time work experience in nursing within the past five years.
8. An interview may be requested by the admissions committee.

Applications are evaluated based on all of the admission requirements. Brenau may consider an applicant who does not meet [all] stated requirements, but who, in the opinion of the appropriate department, may be a good candidate for admission to the University. In such cases an applicant’s credentials will be reviewed by the graduate admissions committee (based on departmental referral) to determine if the applicant is qualified for admission.

Educational Outcomes  Upon completion of the MSN in Nursing, the student will be able to

1. Demonstrate role competency in a chosen specialty.
2. Demonstrate scholarly communication.
3. Apply evidence-based decision making.

R.N. - M.S.N. program

Purpose: The RN-MSN program provides interested students with the option to obtain an MSN from Brenau University in a seamless, one-entry program.

Goal: Brenau University’s Registered Nurse to Master of Science in nursing (RN to MSN) program prepares students for the complexities of healthcare in the 21st century by weaving theory, research, advanced specialization courses and real world experiences into unique and challenging degree programs. RN-MSN majors have a choice of three graduate concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, and Nurse Leader/Manager. The university offers the RN-MSN program in both a standard and accelerated format.

Standard RN to MSN Degree Track:

The standard RN to MSN degree program is a three or four year program depending on choice of graduate concentration. The first year is devoted to undergraduate studies with students completing all RN-BSN coursework. After completion of all RN to BSN level courses students matriculate into a chosen graduate concentration. The RN-BSN courses are taught in the online format, and the graduate courses in a hybrid format with a blend of on ground and online coursework.

Students earn a M.S.N. degree in the standard track.

Progression Criteria: The progression criteria are the same as those for both the BSN and MSN programs.

Admission Requirements Standard RN-MSN Track:

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Current license as a Registered Nurse
• Two letters of reference addressing clinical and academic ability
• Completion of all core requirements for the BSN
• Interview upon request of the School of Nursing Admissions Committee

Educational Outcomes: Students achieve the BSN outcomes and the graduate outcomes

Accelerated RN to MSN Degree Track:

The accelerated RN to MSN program is a two year and one semester or three year and one semester program depending on choice of graduate concentration. The first semester of classes is devoted to undergraduate study. Following completion of NG 301R Conceptual Basis of Professional Nursing Practice and NG 408R Conceptual Basis of Advanced Practice Nursing, students matriculate into a chosen graduate concentration. Subsequent years of the program are focused on graduate coursework in a hybrid format with a blend of on ground and online coursework.

Students earn a M.S.N. degree in the accelerated track.

Progression Criteria: The progression criteria are the same as those for the MSN program.

Admission Requirements Accelerated RN-MSN Program:

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5
• Current license as a registered nurse
• Two letters of reference addressing clinical and academic ability
• Completion of all core requirements for the BSN as well as liberal education requirements
• Interview upon request of the School of Nursing Admission Committee

Nursing (M.S.N.) Entry Level

The Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELMSN) Program is a 75-credit (5 semesters over 20 months) program designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a different discipline and want to quickly dive into the healthcare field. Students will receive an advanced foundation of knowledge and skills, so they can provide compassionate, evidence-based care to patients. Upon completion of this program, students will:

• Leave as an entry-level nurse ready to serve in a variety of health care settings
• Practice care in advanced simulation labs
• Gain clinical experience with Brenau’s network of healthcare partners
• Graduate with a master’s instead of a second bachelor’s degree
• Receive one-on-one instruction from professors with field experience

Admissions GPA Requirements:

• 3.0 minimum GPA from all college transcripts
• 3.0 minimum science GPA earned in the last 15 years
• Minimum score of 75 on HESI Nursing Admissions Test

Admissions Prerequisite Requirements:

• BY 206 - Microbiology *
    
• BY 209 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I *
    
• BY 210 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II *
    
• CY 103 - Principles of Chemistry *
     
• MS 205 - Introduction to Statistics *
    
• PY 202 - Survey of Human Growth and Development
     

Additional Admissions Requirements

In addition to the general admissions requirements for all graduate programs, the following will also be required:

• Criminal background check
• Drug screening test

Doctoral Program (D.N.P.)

The Mission of the D.N.P. is to prepare advanced practice nurses to improve the quality of healthcare by demonstrating a leadership role. The educational experience will inspire extraordinary intellectual accomplishments through scientific inquiry, research, and practice change in healthcare systems.

The admission requirements for D.N.P. students are the same as those established for all graduate students at Brenau University. In addition, students have the following requirements in order to obtain admission into the D.N.P. program:

1. Hold an M.S.N. from an accredited institution. Applicants with a Bachelor’s of Nursing (BSN) and a non-nursing master’s degree such as an M.B.A., M.H.A., M.Ed., or related field may be admitted on a case-by-case basis.
2. Demonstrate 3.0 GPA on all attempted college work.
3. Have 12 months experience as an advanced practice nurse in direct care or in a leadership/management role. Those with experience in related fields may be admitted on a case-by-case basis.
4. Submit transcripts for all college level work.
5. Submit 3 references attesting to the academic and clinical performance abilities.
6. Hold a current nursing license in the state of practice.
7. Demonstrate evidence of a course in statistics.
8. Complete an applicant interview.

 Program Expected Learning Outcomes  Upon completion of the D.N.P. program students will demonstrate proficiency in the Essentials outlined by the AACN. Specifically students will be able to

1. Utilize scientific inquiry to produce improved practice outcomes.
2. Demonstrate leadership in advanced nursing practice.
3. Produce advanced practice nursing scholarship through application of research.

 Advancement to Candidacy

When a student is accepted into the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program at Brenau University, s/he is not yet a candidate for the doctoral degree. To become a candidate, a student must complete certain academic requirements to achieve the milestone of becoming a candidate for this degree. Advancement-to-candidacy signifies that the student has completed required coursework and other requirements and is ready to move forward to the project phase for the degree. University policy requires students to advance to candidacy at least one semester before beginning the DNP project coursework.

A student is admitted to candidacy for the DNP upon successfully demonstrating scholarship at the doctoral level, and upon completing required preparatory work and demonstrating readiness to proceed to the scholarly project phase. A student is eligible for candidacy following completion of 18 semester hours of doctoral level coursework including successful completion of HS 901 Biostatistics, HS 905 Epidemiology, and NG 905 Methods. Additionally, a student must provide evidence of certification as an advanced practice nurse or a nurse manager/executive and have acquired a research project site to complete their scholarly project.

Procedure

• The semester prior to seeking candidacy, a student completes the Advancement to Candidacy Application and submits the completed application along with an unofficial transcript to the Chair of the Department of Graduate Studies.
• The Chair and DNP Coordinator review the application and transcript for completeness and accuracy and make a recommendation to the Director of the School of Nursing regarding nomination of the student for candidacy.
• The Director of the School of Nursing nominates students for candidacy based on the application and recommendation(s) of the Chair and DNP Coordinator.
• The application and nomination are then sent to the Dean of the Ivester College of Health Sciences/Dean of the Sydney O. Smith Graduate School for final review and approval.
• Upon approval, the graduate dean sends a letter to the applicant informing her/him of advancement to candidacy. A copy of the letter is sent to the Registrar for uploading into the electronic data base and a copy is placed in the student’s file in the School of Nursing.
• Upon receipt of the letter, the student may then enroll in the project-specific courses, appoint a chair and committee to provide oversight for the scholarly project, and complete the requirements for the DNP degree.

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Programs

• Nursing (B.S.N.)

• Family Nurse Practitioner (M.S.N.)
• Nursing (M.S.N.) - entry level

• Advanced Practice Nursing (D.N.P.)
• Leadership and Management (D.N.P.)

• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Post Master’s Certificate
• Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate, Post Master’s

Courses

• HS 103 - Introduction to the Nursing Profession
• NG 300 - Directed Independent Study
• NG 301R - Conceptual Basis of Professional Nursing-RN Bridge
• NG 304 - Comprehensive Health Assessment
• NG 304L - Comprehensive Health Assessment Lab
• NG 306 - Adult Health Nursing
• NG 306C - Adult Health Nursing Clinical
• NG 308 - Behavioral Health Nursing
• NG 308C - Behavioral Health Nursing Clinical
• NG 309 - Evidence Based Practice
• NG 309W - Evidenced Based Practice
• NG 312 - Nursing Care of the Older Adult
• NG 315 - Professional Nursing at Brenau
• NG 316 - Basic Nursing Concepts
• NG 318 - Introduction to Nursing
• NG 324 - Health Assessment of the Adult
• NG 324L - Health Assessment of the Adult Lab
• NG 325 - Professional Nursing for Diverse Populations
• NG 345 - Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice
• NG 345L - Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice Lab
• NG 360 - Pharmacology
• NG 365 - Patho-pharmacology I
• NG 375 - Patho-pharmacology II
• NG 399 - CHOA Pediatric Elective Program
• NG 400 - Directed Independent Study
• NG 404 - Maternity and Women’s Health Nursing
• NG 404C - Maternity and Women’s Health Nursing Clinical
• NG 405 - Leadership and Policy Professional Practice Nursing
• NG 406 - Child and Adolescent Health Nursing
• NG 406C - Child and Adolescent Health Nursing Clinical
• NG 407 - Community Based Nursing Practice
• NG 407C - Community Based Nursing Practice Clinical
• NG 408R - Conceptual Basis of Advanced Practice Nursing
• NG 409 - Advanced Nursing Concepts
• NG 432 - High Acuity Nursing
• NG 432L - High Acuity Nursing Lab
• NG 445 - Transition into Professional Nursing Practice: Capstone
• NG 445C - Transition into Professional Nursing Practice: Capstone Clinical
• NG 504 - Graduate Comprehensive Health Assessment
• NG 504L - Graduate Conversation and Composition Lab
• NG 506 - Advanced Adult Health Nursing
• NG 506C - Advanced Adult Health Nursing Clinical
• NG 508 - Advanced Behavioral Health Nursing
• NG 508C - Advanced Behavioral Health Nursing Clinical
• NG 512 - Advanced Nursing Care of the Older Adult
• NG 515 - Advanced Professional Nursing at Brenau
• NG 516 - Basic Nursing Concepts for Graduate Students
• NG 525 - Advanced Professional Nursing for Diverse Populations
• NG 545 - Advanced Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice
• NG 545L - Advanced Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice Lab
• NG 565 - Advanced Pathopharmacology I
• NG 575 - Advanced PathoPharmacology II
• NG 604 - Advanced Maternity and Women’s Health Nursing
• NG 604C - Advanced Maternity and Women’s Health Nursing Clinical
• NG 606 - Advanced Child and Adolescent Health Nursing
• NG 606C - Advanced Child and Adolescent Health Nursing Clinical
• NG 609 - Advance Nursing Concepts for Graduate Students
• NG 701 - Theoretical Foundations
• NG 707 - Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
• NG 711 - Advanced Clinical Pharmacology
• NG 723 - Special Topics
• NG 731 - Advanced Nursing Research
• NG 732 - Advanced High Acuity Nursing
• NG 732L - Advanced High Acuity Nursing Lab
• NG 734 - Research Utilization Project
• NG 737 - Thesis I
• NG 738 - Thesis II
• NG 739 - Professional Seminar: NCLEX Preparation
• NG 740 - Clinical Practicum I
• NG 742 - Population Health for Advanced Practice Nursing
• NG 743 - Clinical Practicum - Skills & Advanced Role I
• NG 744 - Health Care of the Adult
• NG 745 - Health Care of the Older Adult
• NG 746 - Clinical Practicum of the Adult
• NG 747 - Health Care of Women
• NG 748 - Health Care of Children
• NG 749 - Clinical Practicum in Women and Children
• NG 750 - Learning Theory and Teaching Method
• NG 751 - Curriculum Theory and Design
• NG 752 - Educational Technology
• NG 753 - Evaluation of Teaching and Learning
• NG 755 - Teaching Nursing Across the Lifespan
• NG 760 - Principles and Practice of Nursing Leadership and Management I
• NG 761 - Principles and Practice of Nursing Leadership and Management II
• NG 762 - Evidence Based Practice I
• NG 763 - Evidence Based Practice II
• NG 764 - Nursing Leadership and Management Practicum
• NG 780 - Clinical Capstone
• NG 781 - Professional Seminar-Family Nurse Practitioner
• NG 782 - Clinical Practicum-Family Nurse Practitioner
• NG 789 - Professional Seminar: Certification
• NG 901 - Bioethics in Advance Practice Nursing
• NG 902 - Genomics and Population Health
• NG 903 - Healthcare Financing and Economics
• NG 904 - Strategic Management and Leadership
• NG 905 - Methods for Evidence-Based Practice
• NG 906 - Project Identification
• NG 907 - Healthcare Systems, Policy and Law
• NG 908 - Project Development
• NG 909 - Informatics for Healthcare
• NG 910A - Project Implementation