Nursing - BS

BS Degree - Code #0291

Alfred State College now offers a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BS–N), an upper-division completion program which enhances students' knowledge and skills foundation to function more autonomously and interdependently in diverse, complex, and dynamic health care environments. Moreover, the program will enhance students' potential to expand their responsibilities in practice to be designers, coordinators, and managers of care. Lastly, the program will serve as a solid academic foundation for advanced study in nursing at the graduate level.

The graduate will be prepared to assume a leadership role in the health care delivery system using gained experience, research, and technology for evidence-based decision making. The baccalaureate graduate will be able to deliver, design, and coordinate care for a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds to improve client outcomes.

Applicants must have completed an accredited or state-approved associate degree or diploma program in nursing and be a qualified registered professional nurse (RN). Those who have not yet passed the NCLEX–RN must obtain their RN license to progress into the second semester BS–N courses.

The core foundational nursing courses are arranged to increase the student's knowledge base and skill level for the expanded role as a baccalaureate-prepared practitioner. The program is designed to prepare a generalist, thus, contains no specialization concentrations. A professional capstone course (NURS 8013) is required as a culminating educational experience of the BS–N program.

All of the BS–N nursing courses are offered in a primarily on-line format. Students are invited to two in-residence classes per semester. This format allows for flexibility within a structured on-line learning environment and fosters face-to-face relationships between and among the instructor and learners.

Two required BS–N courses have clinical components to further advance the student's knowledge base and skills level. Health assessment and promotion across the lifespan (NURS 6413) has a one-credit clinical laboratory component that may be virtual, self-directed, or campus-based. Population focused care in the community (NURS 7004) allows the student an opportunity to address clients with special needs or vulnerable populations in the community through a structured, precepted clinical experience.

Content and curricular aspects relating to rural nursing will be explored to gain an understanding of emerging issues and develop graduates who are effective in autonomous roles. The population focused care in the community course requires a guided preceptor clinical component which will be overseen and evaluated by the course instructor.

A computer with Internet access and Microsoft Word is required for the nursing program.

PROGRAM STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Synthesize theory and concepts from nursing, the liberal education domain and other professions into nursing practice.
2. Apply leadership principles to design, manage, and coordinate nursing care within the healthcare environment.
3. Apply principles of critical reflection, inquiry, and evidence-based practice to nursing.
4. Apply knowledge and skills of information management and technology in nursing practice.
5. Assess protective and predictive indicators that may influence the well-being of individuals, families, and groups in healthcare settings with attention to rural issues.
6. Create a plan to foster integrity, autonomy, tolerance, dignity, respect, altruism, and social justice.
7. Demonstrate positive inter-and-intra professional communication and collaboration skills.
8. Create a philosophy of nursing.
9. Model values of the profession.
10. Appraise issues related to health promotion, restoration, maintenance, and end of life.
11. Info Management (computer & research skills appropriate to degree level and type)
12. Written & Oral Communication (appropriate to degree level and type)
13. Critical Thinking (problem solving, reasoning skills appropriate to degree level and type)

FEATURES & FACILITIES

• Provide upper-level knowledge and skills needed to care for clients and populations in a variety of settings
• Predominantly virtually based with individualized face-to-face contact with faculty
• Laboratory experience access to high fidelity simulation

OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Leadership, management, research, education, and practice opportunities in a variety of settings, including hospitals, ambulatory setting, clinics, schools, long-term care facilities, industry, and health insurance providers.

EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS

The BS-N program was established August 2010; therefore, no employment survey details have been collected.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Admission to the BS-Nursing program requires graduation from an approved associate degree nursing or certified diploma program and plans to secure licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse by completion of the first semester in the program. The minimum GPA requirement for admission is 2.00. The applicant's associate degree course work will include at least 30 credits of nursing, eight credits of anatomy and physiology, a lab course in microbiology, and course work in communication, literature, psychology, and sociology. The applicant's diploma course work will include at least 30 credits of nursing, eight credits of anatomy and physiology, a lab course in microbiology, and will follow the voluntary transfer NY State model program. Students may take nine nursing upper level credits prior to matriculating in the BS program.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Students must have an active, unencumbered state license to progress into the second semester of BS-N courses.

ACCREDITATION/CERTIFICATION

Alfred State is accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education [3624 Market Street, 2nd Floor West, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (267) 284-5000]. The BS-N program is registered by NYS Education Department. The Alfred State Nursing Department is working with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) to secure accreditation for the BS-N program.