Major in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Nursing is both an art and a science. Nursing is a therapeutic helping relationship devoted to promoting, restoring, and maintaining the health of individuals, families, groups and communities. The mission of the School of Nursing is to provide professional education for human services using a curriculum, which is socially relevant and reflects the diverse needs of the community. Five themes serve to provide recurrent foci throughout the program: caring, health, learning, commitment to human dignity, and nursing.

The nursing faculty is committed to a collaborative learning environment for students. The nursing faculty seeks to accommodate the learning needs and professional aspirations of students with varied educational backgrounds. Aurora University offers a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, which may be taken full or part-time. Following admission to the University, applicants are reviewed for acceptance to the School of Nursing. Successful achievement in standardized math and reading tests are required for acceptance to the School of Nursing. The minimum grade point average (GPA) for admission and progression is 2.50/4.0 scale. Applicants will be expected to maintain a successful academic profile in order to progress into nursing courses at the junior level.

An RN to BSN completion track is available to registered nurses with the associate's degree or diploma in nursing. Coursework is designed to build on prior learning and provides some opportunities for accelerated, individualized study. Current Illinois licensure is required for admission. Registered nurses completing a bachelor's degree in nursing earn 30 semester hours through the Illinois Articulation Initiative or for successful completion of NLN Mobility Profile II examinations in Maternal and Child Nursing, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, and Adult Nursing. Registered nurses must have one year of full-time work experience as an RN within the past five years.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Graduates of this NLNAC and CCNE accredited program are prepared to enter the profession of nursing as contributing members of the discipline to promote, maintain, and restore the health of clients. Graduates are prepared for practice in a variety of care settings, participation in a wide range of health promotion and teaching activities, and advancement to graduate study in nursing.

Graduates will be able to:

• Integrate knowledge from the arts and sciences to understand oneself and one's relationship with individuals, groups, and communities.
• Appreciate the nature of and influence of beliefs, cultures, and values on health-related human behavior.
• Demonstrate proficiency in written and oral communication, and the utilization of information technology systems.
• Articulate a personal philosophy of professional nursing practice grounded in ethical values and respect for the uniqueness of the individual.
• Embody the caring role of therapeutic responsiveness to promote, maintain and restore health.
• Evaluate quantitative and qualitative data within a relevant theoretical framework to promote, maintain and restore health.
• Think and reason analytically within the framework of creative inquiry and situational context.
• Deliver safe and effective nursing interventions in a variety of settings.
• Accept responsibility for lifelong learning, global citizenship, and service in the nursing profession.
• Qualify to take the NCLEX-RN examination.

NOTE: Additional information about the program and policies are contained in the current Aurora University Baccalaureate Nursing Student Handbook.

BSN Core Courses: 33 semester hours
BIO121 Biology I: Cells
BIO266 Anatomy and Physiology I
BIO267 Anatomy and Physiology II
BIO328 Microbiology
BIO350 Pathophysiology
CHM120 Principles of General Chemistry
MTH110 Algebra
PSY335 Child and Adolescent Development
PSY336 Adult Development and Aging
SBS/ECN232 General Statistics

NOTE: BSN core requirements may also be applied to meet general degree requirements for graduation. Consult an academic advisor for further information.

Nursing Requirements: 63 semester hours
NUR300 Professional Nursing
NUR310 Principles of Nursing I
NUR311 Principles of Nursing II
NUR316 Pharmacological Concepts
NUR327 Health Assessment, Education and Promotion
NUR380 Nursing Care of Persons with Acute Health Problems
NUR405 Nursing Research
NUR440 Nursing of Populations at Risk
NUR460 Leadership and Management
NUR470 Nursing of Families at Risk
NUR475 Clinical Decision Making
NUR480 Nursing Care of Persons with Complex Health Problems

Nursing Requirements for Registered Nurse Students: 63 semester hours
RN completion students must take the listed nursing requirements and the NLN Mobility Profile II exams. Thirty semester hours of credit is awarded based upon the ACT PEP or NLN Mobility Profile II exams in Maternal/Child Nursing, Psychiatric/Mental Nursing, and Adult Nursing with a score of 45 or higher. Exams must be completed prior to enrollment in NUR441. Testing information is available from the School of Nursing.
NUR303 Dimensions of Professional Practice
NUR309 Transcultural Nursing
NUR327 Health Assessment, Education and Promotion
NUR406 Nursing Research
NUR441 Nursing of Populations at Risk
NUR461 Leadership and Management
NUR476 Ethical Decision Making