School of NURSING (NURSG)

201 Health and Human Development East
814-863-0245
Fax: 814-865-3779

Paula Milone-Nuzzo, Dean and Professor
201 HHD East, 863-0245
pxm36@psu.edu

Raymonde Brown, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Outreach
209-E HHD East, 863-2235
rab16@psu.edu

Diane Jankura, Undergraduate Adviser
210 HHD East, 863-8185
dle2@psu.edu

Barbra Haberer, Undergraduate Adviser
210 HHD East, 865-2027
bjh227@psu.edu

Home Page: www.hhdev.psu.edu/nurs

Curriculum

University Faculty Senate Approved Curriculum

Recommended Academic Plan(s)

Semester-by-semester academic plans recommend in table form the courses students might schedule each semester as they pursue a particular degree. These tables serve several University purposes and assist multiple constituencies: students, advisers, departments, deans, registrars, admissions officers, and family members. The plans:

• Identify normal academic progress, course offerings, and recommended course sequencing;
• Assist students and advisers in planning academic schedules, registrars and departments in planning course offerings, and registrars and deans in determining when students should change campus;
• Help students to anticipate the academic workload and courses needed to earn a degree, and to schedule appropriate prerequisites;
• Serve as tools to help advisers learn the curriculum.

Semester scheduling recommendations for all baccalaureate majors can also be found in the University Bulletin.

Recommended Academic Plan for Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (NURS at all campuses)

Recommended Academic Plan for Associate Degree in Nursing (2NURS at Altoona, Behrend, Fayette, Mont Alto, Worthington Scranton)

Recommended Academic Plan for RN to BS in Nursing (NURN at Altoona, Behrend, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, World Campus, Worthington Scranton)

Recommended Academic Plan for Second Degree in Nursing (SCND at Altoona)

Degree Audit

NURS Degree Audit

Penn State's School of Nursing prepares professional practitioners in areas of health promotion and maintenance, illness care, and rehabilitation. The nursing major requires a minimum of 120 credits and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Graduates of the nursing program are qualified to take the registered nurse examination for licensure (NCLEX-RN) administered by the State Board of Nursing. The School of Nursing's BS degree is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, (212) 363-5555 and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 463-6930. Nursing as a career offers world-wide opportunities for leadership in health care practice, research, and policy development. No matter what type of work setting RNs choose, they will be helping others. Nursing is a people-oriented profession that encompasses the individual, family, and community. Health care reform is reshaping the nursing profession in new ways and will continue to do so well into the 21st century. The valuable and unique services that nursing has to offer can be advanced through education beginning with the bachelor's degree and continuing with graduate educational preparation. Whether there is an interest in primary care nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nursing education and/or research, a fulfilling career can be obtained with the potential for a full scope of practice and direct decision making.

The national average salary for new registered nurses is $58,600. The highest average salaries are in the Northeast, and the lowest average salaries are in the South and Midwest.

NURSING CAREER POSSIBILITIES

Hospitals
Community Agencies
Rehabilitation Centers
Nursing Homes
Home Health
Industry
Hospice
Schools
Family Planning
Private Homes
Military

The baccalaureate degree in nursing provides excellent preparation for students who plan to pursue a graduate degree in nursing. Following are some of the career opportunities for nurses with graduate degrees.

• Clinical Specialist
• Nurse Practitioner
• Case Manager
• Nurse Midwife
• Nurse Anesthetist
• Nurse Administrator
• Nurse Educator
• Nurse Researcher

ADMISSION (NURS)

Students are admitted directly to the nursing major (NURS). A limited number of spaces are reserved for change of major, transfer, and provisional/non-degree students. Students competing for these spaces will go through a review process in January each year for fall admission. Please refer to the Application for Review form. Students requesting a review must submit this form as indicated by the end of the fall semester.

Prerequisite Courses for Nursing Majors During Freshman Year: Students are required to complete BIOL 129 (GN), and 141 (GN) with a “C” or higher before beginning their sophomore nursing courses.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Requirements for Clinical Study: All nursing majors have clinical experiences in a variety of settings that will require travel to clinical sites. The School of Nursing’s policy is that students assume responsibility for providing their own transportation to and from a clinical site. The use of a car is a necessity.

Additional requirements for clinical courses:

• Pre-entrance and annual health examinations are required while enrolled in clinical nursing courses.
• Hepatitis B immunization is a requirement. Students are encouraged to begin the series of injections early, no later than the beginning of the freshman year. The series of injections takes six months to complete.
• Liability (malpractice) insurance is required while enrolled in clinical nursing courses. A minimum coverage of $1,000,000/$6,000,000 is required. Cost is approximately $30 per year.
• Pennsylvania and out-of-state students are required to complete the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance form. A fee (usually paid with a money order) must be submitted to the state with the form. A criminal background clearance must be obtained using Certified Background.com. Fees apply. Students will not be allowed to attend clinicals if the results of these clearances are not on file in the School of Nursing Records Office.
• Current Cardiopulmonary (CPR) Certification is required while enrolled in clinical nursing courses. Only American Heart Association (Health Care Provider) certification is accepted. A copy of a card indicating completion of CPR training must be kept on file in the Nursing Records Office.
• Uniforms. Students are required to purchase their uniforms through the school’s approved vendor. Fitting dates and order forms are sent to students. The average one-time expense for uniforms is about $225.
• Students will begin their nursing clinicals and course work during the sophomore year and all students will be located at University Park. Clinicals during the junior and senior year take place at University Park and the Hershey Medical Center.
• Students will be assigned a rotation plan by the School of Nursing. Students should not sign any contracts or make housing commitments until they receive their rotation assignment. Students are responsible for meeting all housing contract deadlines.
• Proof of current health insurance is required by some clinical agencies prior to care of patients. Failure to provide proof of health insurance will result in the student’s inability to meet clinical requirements.

Licensure Requirement: The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing will not issue a license to an applicant who has been convicted of a felony relating to a controlled substance or drug unless: (1) at least 10 years have elapsed from the date of conviction, and (2) the applicant demonstrates to the board that satisfactory rehabilitation has occurred, and (3) the applicant satisfies the qualifications of the Professional Nursing Law (Pennsylvania Professional Nursing Law, Section 6, as amended September 20, 2002).

COURSE SCHEDULING TIPS

Nursing Supporting Courses: Basic baccalaureate students take 3 credits in Nursing electives. These electives are selected from available Nursing courses and are chosen in consultation with the faculty adviser. Please check course schedule for offers. Electives are not offered every semester at each campus location.

Application for Review for the Nursing Major

Nursing Major Application (.pdf file)

Most students are directly admitted to the Nursing major as first-year. However, the School of Nursing has a limited number of openings each year for non-nursing students. A review will take place each January for fall admission on a space-available basis. The application deadline is the end of the prior fall semester. Students will be notified whether they are accepted, rejected or placed on a wait list for entering the Nursing major via their Penn State email account by the end of February.

The limited number of spaces and the large applicant pool make the review process competitive. Requesting review does not guarantee entrance into the Nursing major. Offers go to students with the highest GPAs who have successfully completed either BIOL 129 (GN), or BIOL 141 (GN) and BIOL 142 with a grade of "C" or better and enrolled in or successfully completed the other. For other suggested courses, see the First-Year Handbook.

Students should work closely with an academic adviser in HHD or DUS and be knowledgeable of alternative career options since a limited number of students are offered admission to the Nursing major.

RN TO BS PROGRAM (NURN)

• University Faculty Senate Approved Curriculum
• Recommended Academic Plan (.pdf file)
• NURN Degree Audit (.pdf, 11kb)

Admission to the RN to BS Program (NURN)

Registered nurses interested in applying for admission to the university in the undergraduate program may do so by filing a standard application for admission. This form is available through the Continuing and Distance Education Office or Office of Undergraduate Admissions at locations offering the program.

Registered nurses can enroll in the baccalaureate program in nursing at the following locations: University Park, Altoona, Erie-Behrend, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Worthington-Scranton campuses, Penn State Harrisburg and the World Campus. Each location has a program coordinator responsible for program delivery. Further information about the BS- completion program for registered nurses can be obtained by contacting any of the following individuals at the location of your choice.

RN TO BS Program Coordinators

Altoona (AA)

Suzanne K. Kuhn
Nursing Program Coordinator
3000 Ivyside Drive
Altoona Campus
Altoona, PA 16601
Phone: 814-949-5114
Fax: 814-949-5425
Email: skk6@psu.edu

Erie-Behrend (BD)

Jo Anne Carrick
140 OBS
4701 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563-1000
Phone: 814-898-6493
Email: jam39@psu.edu

Fayette (FE)

Melissa Miner
101EB Everly Classroom Bldg.
Uniontown, PA 15401
Phone: 724-430-4227
Fax: 724-430-4229
E-mail: mbm12@psu.edu

Capital Campus – Harrisburg (CL)

R. Eric Doerfler
Olmstead Building
777 West Harrisburg Pike
Middletown, PA 17057-4898
Phone: 717-948-6513
Email: red1012@psu.edu

Mont Alto (MA)

Carranda Barkdoll
1 Campus Drive
Mont Alto Campus
Mont Alto, PA 17237-9799
Phone: 717-749-6205
E-mail: cmb207@psu.edu

New Kensington (NK)

Dolores O’Hara
0002 Faculty and Administration Bldg.
New Kensington, PA 15068
Phone: 724-334-6728
E-mail: dmo6@psu.edu

Shenango Campus (SV)

Kathy Mastrian
147 Sharon Hall
Shenango Valley
Sharon, PA 16146
Phone: 724-983-2871
E-mail: kgm1@psu.edu

University Park (UP)

Madeline Mattern
School of Nursing
201 HHD East
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-8469
E-mail: mfm107@psu.edu

Worthington-Scranton (WS)

Verna Saleski
120 Ridge View Drive
Dunmore, PA 18512
Phone: 570-963-2646
E-mail: vxs12@psu.edu

World Campus (WD)

Madeline Mattern
School of Nursing
201 HHD East
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-8469
E-mail: mfm107@psu.edu

Second Degree Program

The Second Degree program begins in fall 2009 and is an intensive sixteen-month program open to individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field. Students will complete 120 credits, comprised of 60 credits in general education and prerequisite courses (completed in the first degree program, prior to admission) and 60 credits in second degree program.

The program prepares nurses to provide nursing care in varied settings, which include hospitals, private practice, long-term care, clinics, and other health care and community agencies. Students gain experience in diverse settings, which include trauma centers, rural hospitals, community health agencies, and other health care settings.

Because the program is intensive, it is recommended that students be able to go without outside employment for the duration of the program. At the completion of their course work, graduates will be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and begin new careers in professional nursing.