Chair and Associate Professor: Clarke
Associate Professors: Hyde, Sato
Assistant Professors: Arvidson, Colledge, Drake, Hayward, Jacobson, Kaufman, McRoberts, Mitchell, Watkins
Instructors: Branch, Hewett
The undergraduate nursing program at ISU is a four-year professional program which leads to the degree of Bachelor of Science with a major in nursing. The program is accredited by the National League for Nursing and the Idaho Board of Nursing. The aim of the Department of Nursing is to prepare graduates to function as professional nurses wherever there are people who need nursing services. Students are provided an opportunity to learn and to practice nursing in special learning laboratories and in any setting where people need nursing care. After an initial period of orientation, they are prepared to assume leadership responsibility. Graduates are eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN). The undergraduate program serves as a foundation for graduate study.
The Master of Science degree is accredited by the National League for Nursing, and is offered with emphasis in family nursing with nursing service administration family nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, and nursing education as functional roles. (See the Graduate School section for admission and degree requirements.)
The courses listed below reflect a curriculum which is responsive to national trends and the health care needs of Idaho citizens. The focus in this curriculum is on multiple dimensions of client care, including the promotion of health as well as the alleviation of illness.
Admission
Students are admitted to the nursing program at the junior level. Admission to the program is granted only for the fall semester. All materials, including official transcripts of all courses completed at universities other than Idaho State University, and a $25 non-refundable application fee, must be submitted to the Department of Nursing Admissions and Advancement Committee by January 15 to insure consideration for fall enrollment. Applicants will be notified of the results of the review process by March 15.
1. The following criteria must be met for an applicant to be eligible for consideration for admission to the baccalaureate nursing program:
a. minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 at the time of application (end of fall semester prior to application or the most current semester prior to application deadline).
b. maintenance of minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 from the time of application to fall admission.
c. completion of the following prerequisite courses, or equivalents, with a grade of "C" or better and a cumulative grade point average of 2.8 or better for all prerequisite courses (failure to do so will result in loss of admission status): CHEM 107, CHEM 108, PSYC 111, PSYC 225 (or FCS 302), BIOS 101, BIOS 221, BIOS 223, BIOS g301, BIOS g302, SOC 101 or ANTH 100, FCS 239, HCA 110, NURS 220, NURS 261, NURS 330, NURS 340. Admission is competitive based on GPA in these courses. Idaho residents are given one additional point on the admission scale as are members of the federally recognized minority groups.
2. An alternate admission list is established when there are more eligible students than there are available positions. Alternate status is recognized only for the year of the application. Should the student not be admitted, s/he must reapply for the next year in order to be reviewed for admission with the new group of applicants. If positions become available to accommodate additional eligible students, those on the alternate list will be notified.
3. All students reapplying to the nursing program must meet the prevailing admission criteria in order to be eligible for readmission. Reapplication does not guarantee readmission. Reapplicants will be subject to the same scrutiny and consideration as an initial applicant.
Progression
In order for students to progress in the Baccalaureate Nursing Program the following criteria must be met.
1. Minimum of "C" or better in all nursing and required courses of the nursing major. Should a student receive a grade of "D" or "F" in any two nursing or required courses of the nursing major, the student will be dropped from the Nursing Program whether or not these courses have been repeated for higher grades. The student may reapply for admission and would have to compete with other students who may apply at the same time.
2. Should a student receive a grade of "D" or "F" in any three nursing courses (either three different or repeated courses) or required corequisite courses of the nursing major, the student will not be eligible for readmission.
3. A nursing student who is suspended from a clinical practicum for unsafe practice will not be eligible for readmission to the program, unless evidence is submitted that the unsafe behaviors have been corrected.
4. Students will not be allowed to progress to the next level in the nursing program if all required concurrent courses are not completed with a grade of "C" or better.
Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 ("C") will be unable to continue in the nursing sequence until the cumulative average is 2.0 or better.
Students who have a grade less than "C" in a nursing course or required course outside the Department of Nursing and who request to continue, must have their records reviewed by the Admissions and Advancement Committee. The committee will make a recommendation to the Chairperson regarding the student's progression. The student must submit the request in writing on a Department of Nursing petition and in such cases, the student may be called to appear before the committee.
A student who is in academic jeopardy (below a "C" grade in nursing course or below 2.0 GPA) at mid-semester will be notified in writing by the Department of Nursing. Continuation in the program is also contingent upon compliance to ethical and professional standards of conduct as defined by the American Nurses Association code, departmental policy on safe practice in the clinical setting, and academic honesty.
Graduation
Each senior student must contact the graduation clerk in the fall preceding graduation. The academic record of each will be formally reviewed for completeness of specified course work and university requirements. The Department of Nursing formally reviews the transcripts of senior students for completeness of departmental requirements. Failure to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 will result in non-conference of the degree and the inability of the person to apply for NCLEX-RN and licensure.
Expenses
Students in the Department of Nursing will incur certain expenses, such as the cost of clinical apparel and lab fees, in addition to the student expenses listed by the university. Clinical learning experiences are held in a variety of agencies, so transportation expenses may be incurred.
Financial Assistance
In addition to the financial aid available to all university students, special awards and funds may be available to qualified nursing students. For information about financial assistance, contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office.
Graduate Program
The Department of Nursing offers a graduate program leading to the degree of Master of Science with a major in nursing. See the Graduate Catalog for information. For further information write to the Department of Nursing, ISU Box 8101, Pocatello, Idaho 83209, or phone (208) 236-2720.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
University General Requirements (Specific Goal Courses Required)
MATH 252 Introduction to Statistics 3 cr
BIOS g301 Anatomy and Physiology 4 cr
BIOS g302 Anatomy and Physiology 4 cr
CHEM 107 Essentials of Chemistry 5 cr
OR
CHEM 121 General Chemistry I 5 cr
CHEM 108 Essentials of Organic and
Biochemistry 5 cr
ECON 201 Economic Principles
and Problems 3 cr
OR
ECON 202 Economic Principles
and Problems 3 cr
PSYC 111 Introductory Psychology I 3 cr
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology 3 cr
OR
ANTH 100 General Anthropology 3 cr
See University General Education Requirements for goals not met by
major requirements.
Courses Required for Majors
HCA 110 Introduction to the
Allied Health Professions 2 cr
BIOS 100 Introduction to Biology 1 cr
OR
BIOS 101 General Zoology 3 cr
BIOS 221 Introductory Microbiology 3 cr
BIOS 223 Introductory Microbiology
Laboratory 1 cr
BIOS 305 Introduction to
Pathobiology 3 cr
BIOS 306 Laboratory Exercises in
Pathobiology (optional) 1 cr
FCS 239 Nutrition 3 cr
NTD 340 Therapeutic Nutrition 2 cr
PHAR 316 Essentials of Pharmacology 3 cr
PHAR 317 Drug Therapy 2 cr
PSYC 225 Child Psychology 3 cr
OR
FCS 302 Child Development 3 cr
Required Nursing Courses
NURS 220 Introduction to Professional
Nursing (for generic
students only) 2 cr
NURS 261 Basic Nursing Practicum 1 cr
NURS 305 Physical Assessment
Practicum 1 cr
(required for LPN students;
optional for RN students)
NURS 310 Health Promotion Through
the Life Cycle 1 cr
NURS 312 Mental Health Nursing
Concepts 4 cr
NURS 313 Mental Health Nursing
Practicum 2 cr
NURS 330 Nursing Research 3 cr
NURS 340 Principles of Teaching and
Learning 2 cr
NURS 350 Episodic Nursing I 2 cr
NURS 351 Episodic Nursing
Practicum I 4 cr
NURS 370 Episodic Nursing II 4 cr
NURS 371 Episodic Nursing
Practicum II 4 cr
NURS 405 Socialization into Professional
Nursing (for RN students only) 1 cr
NURS 410 Distributive Nursing 4 cr
NURS 411 Distributive Nursing
Practicum 5 cr
NURS 420 Seminar: Nursing Issues and
Trends 2 cr
NURS 440 Nursing Leadership 4 cr
NURS 441 Nursing Leadership
Practicum 5 cr
Professional Nursing Courses
NURS 220 Introduction to Professional Nursing 2 credits. Social forces affecting professional nursing are analyzed in the context of their impact on health care. Concepts of stress and adaptation are presented as they relate to the health status of clients. F
NURS 261 Basic Nursing Practicum 1 credit lab (3 contact hours). Introduction to basic skills associated with health care. Consists of theoretical foundations with discussion, simulation and application using the nursing process. S
NURS 305 Physical Assessment Practicum 1 credit. Presents in-depth physical assessment skills to licensed nurses for admission to baccalaureate nursing program. PREREQ: LPN OR RN STATUS, PERMISSION OF DEPARTMENT. D
NURS 310 Health Promotion Through the Life Cycle 1 credit. Development of knowledge and skills to effectively utilize the nursing process for the promotion of health and wellness through the life cycle. PREREQ: ADMISSION TO THE NURSING MAJOR. F
NURS 312 Mental Health Nursing Concepts 4 credits. Holistic theoretical perspective of mental health nursing of clients of all ages. PREREQ: NURS 310, NTD 340, PHAR 316. COREQ: NURS 313, PHAR 317. S
NURS 313 Mental Health Nursing Practicum 2 credits. Clinical application of the nursing process utilizing mental health concepts. PREREQ: NURS 310, NTD 340, PHAR 316. COREQ: NURS 312, PHAR 317. S
NURS 330 Nursing Research 3 credits. Nursing research will be critiqued by students utilizing basic concepts research methodology. PREREQ: PERMISSION OF DEPARTMENT. S
NURS 340 Principles of Teaching and Learning 2 credits. Basic principles of teaching and learning as they relate to health care needs of clients. S
NURS 350 Episodic Nursing I 2 credits. Nursing theory and process focusing on nursing care of clients with alterations in health status, wellness and/or restoration of health. PREREQ: ADMISSION TO NURSING MAJOR. COREQ: NURS 310, BIOS 305, PHAR 316. F
NURS 351 Episodic Nursing Practicum I 4 credits. Clinical application of the nursing process focused on the course of disease and/or on the restoration of health. PREREQ: ADMISSION TO NURSING MAJOR. COREQ: NURS 310, NURS 350, BIOS 305, PHAR 316. F
NURS 370 Episodic Nursing II 4 credits. Nursing theory and process focusing on complex alterations in health status and wellness. PREREQ: NURS 310, NURS 350, NURS 351, BIOS 305, PHAR 316. COREQ: NURS 371, NURS 312, NURS 313, PHAR 317. S
NURS 371 Episodic Nursing Practicum II 4 credits. Application of the nursing process to assist clients with illness care and/or restoration of health. PREREQ: NURS 310, NURS 350, NURS 351, BIOS 305, PHAR 316. COREQ: NURS 370, NURS 312, NURS 313, PHAR 317.S
NURS 405 Socialization into Professional Nursing 1 credit. Limited to registered nurses. Linkage course that introduces the philosophy and conceptual framework of the Department of Nursing. Nursing theories are introduced for the guiding of nursing care. D
NURS 410 Distributive Nursing 4 credits. Uses the nursing process to teach health maintenance/disease prevention for clients in the community, homes, birthing centers and maternal-child units in hospitals. PREREQ: ALL JUNIOR LEVEL NURSING COURSES. COREQ: NURS 411. F,S
NURS 411 Distributive Nursing Practicum 5 credits. Application and practice of the nursing process in health care settings that focus on health maintenance and disease prevention. PREREQ: ALL JUNIOR LEVEL NURSING COURSES. COREQ: NURS 410. F, S
NURS g417 Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team 1 credit. Introduction to the principles and techniques of interdisciplinary evaluations and treatment planning for youth with special needs. Disciplines emphasized: Social Work, Psychology, Speech Pathology, Audiology, Nursing, Special Education, Physical Therapy. PREREQ: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR. D
NURS 420 Seminar: Nursing Issues and Trends 2 credits. Current and future trends andissues related to ethics, group process, analytical decision making in nursing care. PREREQ: ALL JUNIOR LEVEL NURSING COURSES. COREQ: NURS 440, NURS 441 OR NURS 410, NURS 411.F
Health ProfessionsNursing/Physical Therapy
NURS 440 Nursing Leadership 4 credits. Presentation of nursing
concepts and contemporary approaches to organizing nursing care for
groups of clients in various health care settings. PREREQ: ECON 201 OR
ECON 202; ALL JUNIOR LEVEL NURSING COURSES. COREQ: NURS 441. F, S, Su
NURS 441 Nursing Leadership Practicum 5 credits. Transition from student to professional role through application of nursing process with groups of clients in health care settings. Rural preceptorship is available. PREREQ: ALL JUNIOR LEVEL NURSING COURSES. COREQ: NURS 440. F, S, Su
NURS 482 Trends in Nursing Care 1-3 credits. Designed to enable nurses and other health care workers to study specific problems and trends; update knowledge and skills; evaluate and explore approaches to the solution of problems or trends. May be repeated to a total of 6 credits. D
NURS g483 Total Health Assessment 4 credits (1 credit lab). Theory and practice in the evaluation of clients to differentiate normal from abnormal manifestations of health. PREREQ: PERMISSION OF DEPARTMENT. D
NURS 491 Independent Study in Nursing Credit variable to 3. Independent study in a specific area of nursing of special interest. PREREQ: PERMISSION OF DEPARTMENT. F,S
NURS g493 Seminar 3 credits. Reading, discussion, and preparation of reports on selected topics. May be repeated up to 6 credits. PREREQ: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR. D
Idaho State University Academic Information
Revised: April 17, 1996
URL http://www.isu.edu/academic-info/prev-isu-cat/ugrad96/health/dn.html