School of Nursing

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Lindsay Domiano, Department Head

The School of Nursing is composed of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. All programs are approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Southeastern Louisiana University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). The master’s degree program in nursing at Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing (Consortium of McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, and University of Louisiana at Lafayette) is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001,202-887-6791.

Undergraduate Program Goals

1. To prepare professional nurses by providing nursing curriculum incorporating essential elements of baccalaureate nursing education, professional standards of care, research, and evidence-based nursing knowledge, enhanced by support courses in arts, sciences and humanities.
2. To prepare professional nurses as generalist providers and managers of nursing services within diverse healthcare environments, to prevent disease, and to promote and restore the health of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations across the lifespan.
3. To prepare professional nurses to effectively utilize information management and patient care technology, and to communicate and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to achieve delivery of efficient, ethical, safe, high quality client care.
4. To prepare professional nurses as leaders in advocating for change to processes, policies, and regulations to improve healthcare delivery systems and client outcomes, and promote the values and advancement of the nursing profession.

Undergraduate Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the nursing program, graduates will:

1. Provide nursing care by incorporating knowledge from a liberal education in the arts, sciences, and humanities.
2. Demonstrate leadership and management skills in the design and implementation of nursing care.
3. Act as nurse advocates by considering factors related to safety and cost in implementing nursing care and in evaluating the quality and effectiveness of nursing care.
4. Incorporate research and evidence-based findings, current knowledge and competencies in nursing practice.
5. Demonstrate the ability to utilize information management and patient care technology in the delivery of nursing care.
6. Provide nursing care guided by professional nursing practice standards, healthcare policies, applicable statutes and regulations, and safe environmental health practices.
7. Use professional communication and collegiality when collaborating with interdisciplinary health team members.
8. Promote the health of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations by participating in health promotion and disease prevention activities.
9. Incorporate professionalism and ethical principles in the delivery of nursing care.
10. Utilize each phase of the nursing process in the delivery of nursing care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations across the lifespan in diverse healthcare environments.

General Requirements

Additional School or Nursing Graduation Requirements

Students in the School of Nursing must meet the following requirements for graduation in addition to general University requirements listed elsewhere: Earn a degree GPA of 2.5, and a GPA of 2.3 in the major.

Selective Progression and Retention in the School of Nursing

The nursing profession has the responsibility of safeguarding the nursing care of society; therefore, the School of Nursing of Southeastern Louisiana University reserves the right to recruit, admit, and retain only those students who demonstrate evidence of being academically, physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of performing safe acts of nursing in a professional manner.

The School of Nursing will permit only those students who have been formally accepted for progression in the nursing program to register for required courses in nursing.

The number of students selected for progression each semester will vary according to the resources available to the School of Nursing.

Progression Procedures and Policy

1. Students are required to submit an Application for Progression in the School of Nursing and must be accepted before enrolling in nursing courses.
2. The Application for Progression must be on file in the office of the Department Head, Hammond Campus, by February 1 in the Spring Semester to enroll in the Fall Semester, and by September 1 in the Fall Semester to enroll in the Spring Semester.
3. All applicants for progression will be processed by the School of Nursing Progression and Retention Committee.
4. All students in the School of Nursing must be formally accepted before enrolling in any required nursing courses.
5. Selection for admission is based on criteria established by the Progression and Retention Committee of the School of Nursing. Students are evaluated on criteria in place on the application deadline date. Students who meet the following criteria will be considered for progression:
   1. Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in degree prerequisite courses.
   2. A student must complete the sequence of the required BIOL 1510 , BIOL 1520 , BIOL 2500 , BIOL 2520 , BIOL 2510 , and BIOL 2530  courses with a “C” or better, within 6 regular semesters, to be eligible to apply to the clinical coursework of the School of Nursing. Students will not be considered eligible for progression to apply for nursing clinical coursework if completion of these biology/zoology courses exceeds 6 regular semesters.
   3. Grades of “C” or better in all prerequisite courses.
   4. Current enrollment at Southeastern in all remaining prerequisite courses with documentation on file in the School of Nursing.
   5. Evidence of health compatible with curriculum requirements.
6. A history and physical examination will be required prior to taking the first clinical course. Enrollment in NURS 3140 , NLAB 3150 , NURS 3320 , and NLAB 3340  requires a student history and physical examination using forms furnished by the School of Nursing. The examination report must be submitted four weeks prior to the semester the student enters the course. The School of Nursing reserves the right to investigate situations which may affect the student’s ability to function. In addition, a physician’s release may be required.
7. Students who have health conditions that may prevent their meeting the objectives of the program or a course in the program or that may cause potential injury to that student or to the clients for whom he/she cares, will be required to have a personal interview with the Department Head or dean or with an appropriate School of Nursing Committee.
8. Drug testing will be required.
9. At the time of acceptance into the first semester of nursing courses, all students will be required to have a state and federal background check at their expense. As a current requirement of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, students will be required to have a second criminal background check completed at the time of graduation and application for licensure.
10. Students who have had a license to practice nursing or to practice as another healthcare provider denied, revoked, suspended, or otherwise restricted, and students who have been arrested or convicted of a crime or offense or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a criminal charge regardless of final disposition of the criminal proceeding, including, but not limited to expungement or non-adjudication, shall petition the School of Nursing and the Louisiana State Board of Nursing for review and action regarding their right to practice as students of nursing in Louisiana prior to entry into the first nursing laboratory course. Students must immediately report to the School of Nursing Department Head any change in their status after being admitted with regard to the above statement.
11. Students enrolled in clinical nursing courses are further required to submit evidence every two years of certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (American Heart Association Health Care Provider Course). Any student not complying will be withdrawn from nursing laboratory courses.
12. Students who are transferring from another nursing degree program must submit a letter of good standing from the dean/director of all previously attended programs. Students not in good standing may appeal to progress by submitting a letter explaining the circumstances of failing to graduate from another nursing program, reasons for wanting to transfer to Southeastern’s nursing program, and reasons why the student believes he/she will be successful if admitted to the program. Appropriate documentation to support the appeal should accompany the request for consideration.

Retention Procedures and Policy

1. After acceptance, students must maintain a degree GPA of 2.5 or better, a degree GPA 2.3 in the major, and achieve a “C” or better in each required nursing course to meet graduation requirements.
2. Students will be permitted to enroll in any nursing courses only twice.
3. Students will be permitted to repeat only two nursing courses.
4. A student who is in violation of progression in the School of Nursing may be granted Amnesty after 4 years. The student will be required to submit a new application to progress to nursing course work to the School of Nursing. The application will be processed based on the cumulative GPA on degree prerequisites in the same manner as all new applications. If cumulative GPA meets selection criteria, the student will be allowed to be admitted to progress as a new student. The student will be required to enroll in all nursing courses and earn a “C” or better to progress.

Equipment and Supplies

Students are responsible for providing the following equipment and supplies:

• Bandage scissors
• Uniforms: 2
• White shoes and socks or stockings
• White laboratory coat: 1
• Name pin
• Watch with sweep second hand
• Penlight
• Stethoscope
• Safety glasses/goggles

Fees

Once nursing students progress to the clinical component of the degree, a Professional Degree fee will be assessed each semester.

The Louisiana State Board of Nursing1 may also assess various fees.

In addition to the regular University fees listed in the General Catalog, nursing students, prior to or upon program completion, must assume cost for the following:

• Louisiana State Board of Nursing Licensure fee
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing Examination fee

¹All fees to the Board of Nursing are subject to change as they are determined by the Board.

Class/Clinical Laboratory Experiences

Students will have clinical nursing experiences in selected health agencies located in the Southeast region of Louisiana. Students may have course work on both the Hammond Campus and Baton Rouge Center. Students are responsible for own transportation to and from all agencies.

Degrees

Upon successful completion of the prescribed course of study in the School of Nursing, the student will be granted the academic degree of Bachelor of Science and will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for licensure to practice in the state as a registered nurse. The School of Nursing hereby disclaims any warranty that the program completed by a student will guarantee that the student will pass any specific examinations for any course, degree, or occupational license.

Achievement Examinations

All students enrolled in the School of Nursing are required to take standardized achievement examinations in areas of Nursing selected by the faculty at appropriate times in the curriculum.

Baccalaureate Program in Nursing for Students with Prior Bachelor’s Degree

The School of Nursing offers an accelerated option for students with a prior bachelor’s degree. Students may receive credit for prerequisite course requirements using prior degree credits. Students are usually admitted in a spring or summer semester. Program length is approximately 18 months.

Baccalaureate Program in Nursing for Registered Nurses

Registered Nurses (R.N.), in Louisiana, with an associate degree or diploma, are eligible for admission to the baccalaureate degree in the Nursing program at Southeastern. Registered nurses seeking a Bachelor of Science in Nursing should follow the admission procedures specified elsewhere in this catalog to be granted acceptance into the School of Nursing. An admission application must be on file in the office of the Department Head, Hammond campus by January 1 to enroll in the spring semester or by August 1st to enroll in the fall semester. In addition, the following information applies:

R.N. students may receive credit through validation for nursing knowledge gained in their prior program or work experience. R.N. students may receive a 15 hour “block credit” based on prior learning and work experience as a R.N. to meet the prerequisite requirement to enter the R.N. to Bachelor of Science degree program. The 15 hour “block credit” for prerequisites may be granted for the following courses: CHEM 1070 , NUTR 2510 , LS 1020 , MATH 1610 , BIOL 2240 , BIOL 2520 , BIOL 2530 , and BIOL 1520  OR BIOL 1550 .

R.N. students must complete 31 nursing credit hours to meet the requirements for a baccalaureate degree. Twenty-two of those hours are earned through completion of the following required nursing courses: NURS 3040 , NURS 3190 , NURS 3310 , NURS 3320 , NURS 3330 , NURS 3780 , NURS 4790 , NURS 4820 , NURS 4870 , and NLAB 4880 . The remaining nine credit hours may be chosen by the R.N. with assistance from the faculty advisor.

A maximum of 30 hours may be awarded by transfer credit or transfer “block credit.” The criteria for awarding 30 nursing credit hours for each option follows:

*30 Nursing Credit Hours by Direct Transfer

Thirty credit hours awarded by direct transfer of academic nursing course credit.

30 credit hours awarded by direct transfer of academic nursing course credit. Criteria for awarding direct transfer credit are as follows:

• Graduate of regionally accredited institution.
• Graduate of a program accredited by ACEN (formerly NLNAC) or NLN CNEA.
• Registered to practice nursing in Louisiana and in good standing with LSBN.
• One or more years of current nursing practice experience as determined by the Department Head.

*30 Credit Hours by “Block Credit”

Awarded by meeting one of the following two items:

• Associate Degree Nurses: An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from a US institution that is both regionally accredited and accredited by ACEN (formerly NLNAC) OR NLN CNEA, with a GPA of 2.5 or higher in all coursework related to the ADN and any non-nursing courses that transfer into the Program.
• Diploma Nurses: Completion of a diploma program in nursing which is accredited by ACEN (formerly NLNAC) OR NLN CNEA from a regionally accredited US institution.

Note: Individuals with an ADN or diploma from institutions that are not ACEN or CNEA accredited are not eligible for enrollment in the RN to BSN Program.

Baccalaureate Program in Nursing for Licensed Practical Nurses

To expedite the progression of the Licensed Practical Nurse within the curriculum, the Licensed Practical Nurse will be afforded the opportunity to challenge 11 hours of nursing courses either through proficiency examination and/or competency appraisal.

Criteria for awarding credit are as follows:

• Registered to practice nursing in Louisiana and in good standing with LSBPN.
• Graduate of approved LPN program.
• One or more years of current nursing practice.

Honors Diploma in the Discipline

For information on earning Sophomore Honors Distinction, Senior Honors Distinction, or the Honors Diploma, please consult The University Honors Program section of this catalog, the Director of the Honors Program, and/or your Department Head.

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