ACADEMIC PROGRAM APPROVAL

 

        CHECKLIST

 

This form is a routing document for the approval of new and revised academic programs.  Page 2 will serve as an attachment to the Faculty Senate agenda.  Proposing department should complete form, attach as a cover page and forward to the college dean. Documentation should include copy of curriculum as it is to appear in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog.  Proposals must arrive to the Undergraduate/Graduate Committee by November in order to reach the Faculty Senate by March 1.   Proposals received after this date cannot be implemented the following year nor included in the catalog for that year.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

1.        Proposed change leads to the degree of

 

(  ) Bachelor of Arts                     (  ) Master of Arts                        (  ) Doctor of Philosophy            

 

(  ) Bachelor of Science                (  ) Master of Science                (P ) Other  Bachelor of Science in Nursing and

Master of Science in Nursing

2.   (P ) New major/curriculum        MSN Program for the Registered Nurse

Title to be entered in record of students who select this program

 

       (  ) New minor                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Title to be entered in record of students who select this program

 

       (  ) Change from provisional to permanent status.

 

 

3.   (  ) Revision of existing:         (  ) major                       (  ) minor                                 (  ) concentration

 

Present title                                                                                                                                                                          

 

Records System Program Code                                                                                                                                           

 

(  ) Add/delete required courses/credit hours

 

                (  ) Add concentration                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Title

(  ) Delete concentration                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Title

 

4.  (  ) Deletion of existing/disestablish:                 (  ) major       (  ) minor                 ( ) Other _______________________________

 

                 Title                                                                                                                              Code______________________                                              

 

5.  (  )  Policy Change____________________________________________________________________________________

                                                Title/Department

 

ROUTING AND APPROVALS: (Please do not remove supporting documentation.)

 

Department Chairperson                 Lisa Ann Plowfield                                                                 Date                11-25-2002       

 

Dean of College                       Betty J. Paulanka                                                                  Date                12-5-2002       

 

Chairperson, Senate Com. On UG or GR Studies                                                                              Date                                       

 

Chairperson, Senate Coordinating Com.                                                                  Date                                       

 

Secretary, Faculty Senate                                                                                                      Date                                       

 

Date of Senate Resolution                                                                                                               Date to be Effective            

 

Registrar                                                                  Program Code                                        Date                                       

 

Vice Provost for Academic Programs & Planning                                                                              Date                                       

 

Provost                                                                                                                                   Date                                       

 

Board of Trustee Notification                                                                                                             Date                                       

 


a.  Rationale for creation, revision, or  deletion:

 

Within nursing education, three types of basic education can lead to a licensed registered nurse.  These types are a diploma in nursing usually from a hospital-based school, an associate’s degree in nursing from a community or technical school, and a baccalaureate degree from a 4-year college or university.  The University of Delaware offers a 4-year baccalaureate degree in nursing.  For nurses who are already licensed and practicing but who have either a diploma or associate’s degree in nursing, the University of Delaware offers an RN to BSN program.  This program of study is extremely popular based upon its use of online education.  Nurses who wish to advance within the profession are able to do so after having earned either a baccalaureate or master’s degree in nursing.

      Based upon annual assessments of the RN to BSN students, more than half report that they plan to pursue graduate education.  Some of these nurses have already been accepted into graduate nursing programs pending the completion of their University of Delaware BSN program.  The needs of these students, however, are for a highly flexible program that can be completed along with maintaining their full-time nursing career.  A survey of our RN to BSN students indicated students would prefer to remain at the University of Delaware instead of seeking other university programs. 

A national trend of the past 10-12 years has been to create programs of study into which nurses who are seasoned practitioners can pursue a graduate degree for advanced nursing practice.  More than 120 RN to MSN program options exist across the nation.  Wesley College offers the only program in Delaware and the graduate nursing focus is limited to health promotion.  The program is not offered for distance students.

      The Department of Nursing proposes to offer an RN to MSN program of study in a distance format so that nurses from the region as well as across the nation may have access to advancing their graduate education.  The program requires no additional course development.  All courses are already present within the RN to BSN or traditional MSN programs currently offered by the Department of Nursing. 

      This program will increase the ease of completing graduate work and eliminate areas of content overlap between the BSN and MSN programs.  In addition, the RN to MSN program will allow nurses to increase their expertise and offer more advanced practice skills to the clients in their community.  This type of education will help prepare nurses to meet the Nation’s health needs during a period of intense shortage of nursing manpower.

 

b.  Summary of program:

 

The RN to MSN program of study offers clinical nurse specialist education.  Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) are advanced practice nurses who function at a higher level with complex nursing care than the baccalaureate prepared nurse.  The traditional BSN degree can be completed with 120 course credits; the traditional MSN program is completed in 34 credits for CNS.  The RN to MSN program will admit licensed registered nurses into a course of study that can be completed with 134 credits. This program will decrease the overall time to complete individual degree requirements for a single baccalaureate degree and master’s degree.  The degrees of BSN and MSN will be awarded concurrently.

Students will state early their intent to pursue the RN to MSN option and apply for admission to this program.  Once a student selects the RN to MSN option, all policies related to the current MSN program of study within the Department of Nursing will be used for student admission, progression, and completion.  (See graduate nursing handbook.)  In addition to the standard policies within the Department of Nursing, students in the RN to MSN program of study may decide to complete only the BSN program.  For students who are unable to achieve and maintain the required grade point average, these students would be moved into the RN to BSN program.  In doing so, course substitutions for the already completed coursework will be made.  Students, however, are not eligible to return to the RN to MSN program of study after they have changed their program or have received their BSN degree.  (These students, however, would be able to enroll in the Department of Nursing’s MSN program as a traditional student.)

 


 

AUTHORIZED DEGREE TITLES

Please check the appropriate degree:

 

(   )          Bachelor of Applied Science

(   )          Bachelor of Arts

(   )          Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies

(   )          Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

(   )          Bachelor of Chemical Engineering

(   )          Bachelor of Civil Engineering

(   )          Bachelor of Computer Engineering

(   )          Bachelor of Electrical Engineering

(   )          Bachelor of Environmental Engineering

(   )          Bachelor of Fine Arts

(   )          Bachelor of Liberal Studies

(   )          Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering

(   )          Bachelor of Music

(   )          Bachelor of Science

(   )          Bachelor of Science in Accounting

(   )          Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

(   )          Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

(   )          Bachelor of Science in Education

(P  )        Bachelor of Science in Nursing

(   )          Master  of Applied Sciences

(   )          Master of Arts

(   )          Master of Arts in Liberal Studies

(   )          Master of Business Administration

(   )          Master of Chemical Engineering

(   )          Master of Civil Engineering

(   )          Master of Education

(   )          Master of Electrical Engineering

(   )          Master of Environmental and Energy Policy

(   )          Master of Fine Arts

(   )          Master of Instruction

(   )          Master of Marine Policy

(   )          Master of Materials Science and Engineering

(   )          Master of Mechanical Engineering

(   )          Master of Music

(   )          Master of Physical Therapy

(   )          Master of Public Administration

(   )          Master of Science

(P  )        Master of Science  in Nursing

(   )          Doctor of Education

(   )          Doctor of Philosophy

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

This document will be retained permanently in the Faculty Senate Office.

 

Revised 04/23/01

 

 

 

 


C.      Supporting Information

 

Overlapping content areas of RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs of study:

 

NURS 345:  Conceptual Foundations of Nursing Practice

NURS 804: Advanced Practice Roles

NURS 312:  Pathophysiology

NURS 821:  Advanced Pathophysiology

NURS 350:  Wellness/Health Assessment

NURS 820:  Health Assessment

NURS 362:  Research Concepts in Health Care

NURS 810:  Introduction to Nursing Research

NURS 443:  BRN Role Practicum (Clinical Course)

First CNS Clinical Course

STAT 200: Basic Statistical Practice

EDUC 665: Elementary Statistics

 

 

 

Impact Upon Non-Nursing Units

Three non-nursing courses are affected by this program.  EDUC 665: Elementary Statistics has already been offered in a distance format for the Health Services Administration graduate course of study; plans continue to offer this course via distance in the immediate future.  EDUC 813 & PSYC 829 support the Psychiatric CNS program.  These course offerings have been negotiated with the respective departments for support of this relatively new specialty track. 

            No new courses are being developed for this program.  The RN to MSN program is strictly a re-configuration of already existing courses.

 


Course Requirements & Sequencing

 

Current RN to BSN Curriculum1

Credits
 

Proposed RN to MSN Curriculum

Credits

Past nursing education and practice

30

 

Past nursing education and practice

30

Non-nursing prerequisites

60

 

Non-nursing prerequisites2

60

NURS 335

1

 

NURS 335

1

NURS 345

3

 

NURS 804

3

NURS 312

4

 

NURS 4353

3

NURS 350

3

 

NURS 4423

3

NURS 362

3

 

NURS 8214

3

 

 

 

Formal Matriculation into MSN Program

(5 years to complete graduate degree)

 

 

 

 

 

NURS 435

3

 

EDUC 665

3

NURS 442

3

 

NURS 411

3

NURS 411

6

 

NURS 820

3

NURS 443

3

 

First CNS Clinical Course

(NURS 831, 840, 845, 850, 854 or 871)

3

NURS 450

1

 

NURS 810

4

RN to BSN Program of study completed.

Total Credits =

 

 

120

 

 

For students wanting to exit with only BSN – Add NURS 450 (1 credit synthesis course).  BSN requirements completed.        (Total Credits =120 )

 

 

 

Second CNS Clinical (NURS 832, 841, 846, 851, 856 or 872)

3

 

 

 

NURS 4115

3

 

 

 

NURS 860 (Third CNS Clinical)

2

 

 

 

NURS 886 (Fourth CNS Clinical Course)

4

 

 

 

NURS 887 or Scholarly Project

3

 

 

 

RN to MSN Completed

Total Credits =

 

134

 

1 The RN to BSN program is currently under revision and awaits final approval; the course numbers used within

        this proposal reflect the program revisions.

2 In place of STAT 200, students may take another 3 credit course.

3 These courses will be completed without having the prerequisite 300 level courses.

4 If in Psychiatric CNS concentration, NURS 821 is replaced with either EDUC 813:  Childhood

        Psychopathology or PSYC 829: Advanced Psychopathology.  (Specific requirement depends upon focus on

        childhood vs. adult mental health nursing.)

5 Students may choose to take NURS 822: Advanced Pharmacology as their second NURS 411 if they plan on

        becoming licensed as an “Advanced Practice Nurse”.

 

 


Key to Course Numbers

 

NURS  312                Pathophysiology

NURS  335          BRN Orientation

NURS  345                Conceptual Foundations for Nursing Practice

NURS  350                Wellness/Health Assessment         

NURS  362                Research Concepts in Health Care

NURS  411          Topics in Health Care Delivery (Nursing Elective)

NURS  435                Leadership & Management in Health Organizations

NURS  442                Community Health Nursing

NURS  443          BRN Role Practicum

NURS  450                Synthesis of Professional Nursing Practice

 

NURS  804                Advanced Nursing Roles

NURS  810          Nursing Science: Theory & Research

NURS  820                Advanced Health Assessment

NURS  821                Advanced Pathophysiology

NURS  822                Advanced Pharmacology

NURS  831                Comprehensive Assessment of Older Persons

NURS  832          Health Promotion, Disease Prevention & Disease Management for Older Persons

NURS  840                Cardiopulmonary Nursing I

NURS  841                Cardiopulmonary Nursing II

NURS  845                Oncology/Immune Deficiency Nursing I

NURS  846                Oncology/Immune Deficiency Nursing II

NURS  850          Nursing of Women & Newborns I

NURS  851          Nursing of Women & Newborns II

NURS  854          Nursing of Children I

NURS  855          Nursing of Children II

NURS  860          Clinical Nurse Specialist Advanced Clinical Practice

NURS  871                Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I

NURS  872                Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II

NURS  886          Clinical Nurse Specialist Role Integration

NURS  887          Nursing Science: Research Application

 

Non-Nursing

EDUC  665                Elementary Statistics

EDUC  813                Childhood Psychopathology

PSYC  829                Advanced Psychopathology

 

 




Text for Undergraduate Catalog

 

The following text is to be added at end of BRN contact information –

 

For RN to MSN program, please see graduate nursing programs.

 

 

 

Text for Graduate Catalog  (insert on page 270 as indicated)

 

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING FOR THE REGISTERED NURSE (M.S.N.)

The Department of Nursing offers a separate program to allow registered nurses an opportunity to earn a Master of Science in Nursing concurrently with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  The number of credits for both degrees is 134.  Licensed registered nurses who are graduates of associate degree or diploma programs may apply for admission to this program. 

 

Students are admitted to the Baccalaureate Program for the Registered Nurse (BRN) program.  Before enrollment in any nursing courses, students must meet the following criteria:

-          Successful completion of RN licensure exam (30 credits nursing knowledge awarded)

-          Completion of 60 pre-requisite non-nursing credits (See BRN program information, attached.)

-          GPA of 3.0 or higher for non-nursing prerequisite courses

 

After completing the first 13 credits of the program and maintaining a GPA of 3.0, students formally matriculate into the MSN program.  Students may decide to exit the RN to MSN program and pursue only the BSN.  These students complete 120 program credits.  After completing the BSN, re-entry into the RN to MSN program is not allowed.  Students who exit with a BSN degree are eligible to pursue the traditional MSN degree.

 

DEGREE: BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING and MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

MAJOR:  NURSING

 

Curriculum                                                                                                                                    Credits

UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS

ENGL 110    Critical Reading and Writing (minimum grade C-)....………………………. 3 

Three credits in an approved course or courses stressing......................…………………… 3

      multicultural, ethnic, and/or gender-related content. 

 

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS 

24 credits, to include a minimum of one course in each of the.............………………….. 24 

      following five categories: (1) biology, (2) microbiology, (3) chem.-

      istry, (4) anatomy and physiology, and (5) nutrition. 

 

English course (second English composition course)...........................…………………….3 

Literature course...............................................................................……………………….                                3 

Philosophy course.............................................................................……………………….                                3 

 

Psychology course..............................................................................………………………3 

Sociology course..............................................................................………………………..                                3 

Lifespan development course................................................................…………………….3 

 

Restricted elective chosen from the following.......................................……………………                                3 

       Art, Art History, History, Philosophy, Music, Theatre, Comparative Liter-

       ature, Black American Studies, Economics, Political Science, Women’s

       Studies, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Linguistics, and English. 

 

 

 


Core Courses for All Specialties

NURS  335                BRN Orientation                                                                                                            1

NURS  411                Topics in Health Care Delivery (Nursing Elective)                                 6

NURS  435                Leadership & Management in Health Organizations                                       3

NURS  442          Community Health Nursing                                3

NURS  804                Advanced Nursing Roles                                                                                 3

NURS  810                Nursing Science: Theory & Research                                                           4

NURS  820                Advanced Health Assessment                                                                          3

NURS  821                Advanced Pathophysiology*                                                                              3

* (PSYC 829 Advanced Psychopathology or EDUC 813 Childhood

Psychopathology required for Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist program.)

EDUC 665                Elementary Statistics                                                                                           3

NURS  860                Clinical Nurse Specialist Advanced Clinical Practice                                    2

NURS  886                Clinical Nurse Specialist Role Integration                                                   4

 

Three credits from among the following:                                                  3

NURS 868                Scholarly Project

NURS 869                Master’s Thesis

NURS 887                Nursing Science:  Research Application

 

Six credits from among the following CNS specialty

courses are required  for each specialty.                                                        6

Gerontology

NURS  831                Comprehensive Assessment of Older Persons                       3

NURS  832                Health Promotion, Disease Prevention &

Disease Management for Older Persons                                 3

 

Cardiopulmonary

NURS  840                Cardiopulmonary Nursing I                                                               3

NURS  841                Cardiopulmonary Nursing II                                                             3

 

Oncology/Immune Deficiency

NURS  845                Oncology/Immune Deficiency Nursing I                                               3

NURS  846                Oncology/Immune Deficiency Nursing II                                              3

 

Perinatal/Women’s Health Nursing

NURS  850                Nursing of Women & Newborns I                                                           3

NURS  851                Nursing of Women & Newborns II                                                          3

 

Nursing of Children

NURS  854                Nursing of Children I                                                                          3

NURS  855                Nursing of Children II                                                                         3

 

Psychiatric Nursing

NURS  871                Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I                                               3

NURS  872                Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II                                              3

 

 

ELECTIVES 

After required courses are completed, sufficient elective credits must be taken to meet

the minimum credits required for the degree.  [As configured, a total of 12 elective credits

are need to complete the total credits for the RN to MSN program.]

 

 

 

Total Credits Required                         134

 


BRN CREDIT ALLOCATION

 

 

Validation of Basic Nursing Knowledge:            30 credits

 

Non-Nursing Requirements:                                    60 credits

 

Upper Division Nursing Courses:                        30 credits

 

                                                                                    TOTAL         120 credits

 

 

Non-Nursing Requirements (60 credits)

 

            English Composition                 6 credits (to include  ENGL 110)

 

            Psychology                               3 credits

 

            Sociology                                 3 credits

 

            Statistics                                   3 credits

 

            Lifespan Development            3 credits

 

            Restricted Elective                    3 credits

                  Chosen from the following:

ART, ARTH, HIST, PHIL, MUSC, THEA,                                                                               CMLT, BAMS, ECON, POSC, WOMS, FLLT,                                                                                                     LING, ENGL

 

Sciences            24 credits to include a minimum of one course in each of the following categories:

Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry,                 Anatomy/Physiology, Nutrition

 

            Free Electives                                   15 credits

 

 

Multicultural Course Requirement

 

Within his/her course of study, each student must satisfy the University multicultural requirement through an approved course stressing multicultural, ethnic or gender related content.  This may be fulfilled through a required or elective course.  Students should consult with their advisor to be sure this requirement is met.

 

 

Brncurr/newcurrcreditalloc 4-9-02


BACCALAUREATE FOR THE REGISTERED NURSE MAJOR

 

The University of Delaware College of Health and Nursing Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) after completion of 120 credits of prescribed courses.  The Baccalaureate for the Registered Nurse (BRN) major is an innovative program designed to build on basic nursing knowledge, enhancing nursing practice in an increasingly complex society.  The BRN major is offered in a distance learning format to maximize educational opportunities for registered nurses.

Admission Requirements

A registered nurse who is a graduate of an associate degree or diploma nursing program may apply for admission to the College of Health and Nursing Sciences, Baccalaureate for the Registered Nurse Major.  The applicant should request a distance learning application form or access the application online at http://www.udel.edu/dsp/BRN and submit the form with fee to the Division of Special Programs. 

 

Materials requested are:

 

Criteria for Enrollment in Baccalaureate for the Registered Nurse (BRN) courses:

The BRN major is concentrated at the junior and senior levels and requires 120 credits for graduation.  Before enrollment in any nursing courses, students must meet the following criteria:

 

 

Submission and approval of:

 

·     Current RN license

 

Academic Progression

The program is designed to facilitate timely progression for nurses who are continuing their education while employed full or part-time.  There is no time limit for completion of prerequisite courses; however upon enrollment in the first nursing course, the program must be completed within a five-year period.  It is possible to complete the required nursing courses in a 12-month period.

 

Brncurr/admission requirements 3-27-02