Nursing as an art and science is based on scientific, aesthetic, and ethical knowledge. The professional nurse diagnoses and treats human responses to illness, helps restore wellness, promotes health, and brings comfort to the dying patient. Caring, commitment, critical thinking, and practice competence are characteristics of the USI nurse.
Graduates of the USI nursing program are employed in hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, clinics, research facilities, and numerous other community settings. Clinical specialty areas include medical, surgical, maternal-child, and psychiatric nursing. Additional education and experience provide career opportunities in teaching, research, management, and independent practice.
The undergraduate nursing program is designed to prepare the professional nurse as a generalist to plan, implement, and evaluate healthcare for individuals, families, and groups in institutional and community settings.
Completion of the undergraduate program provides the foundation for professional practice and graduate study in nursing. Students completing and meeting the requirements for graduation from the nursing program will be eligible to sit for the registered nurse licensure exam.
In addition to classroom instruction and simulated learning activities, clinical learning occurs in local hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, clinics, and a number of other agencies. Students gain experience with patients in medical, surgical, psychiatric, maternity, pediatric, gerontology, oncology, operating room, critical care, emergency room, post-anesthesia, and community settings. Clinical practice prepares students for employment in these areas following graduation.
The nursing program is accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing and by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, Suite 530, Washington D. C. 20036, 202/887-6791.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the USI baccalaureate nursing program requires admission to the University and a separate application to the nursing program. Admission is competitive and limited by the availability of instructional resources and clinical learning sites.
Students must have a minimum grade of C or better in BIOL 121 , BIOL 122 , BIOL 272 , CHEM 141 , NUTR 376 , ENG 101 , ENG 201 , CMST 101 or CMST 107 , PSY 201 , and SOC 121 (or C-2 category course) to be admitted/enrolled in nursing program courses. Students earning less than a C grade in two sciences and/or nutrition courses will not be eligible to be admitted or enrolled in nursing courses.
All students selected for admission to the nursing program also must meet clinical agency requirements, present evidence of satisfactory health status, be eligible for RN licensure, and capable of fulfilling clinical practice requirements. Admission to the nursing program is based on academic qualifications and is contingent upon a satisfactory criminal record check and drug screening. The number of students admitted to the nursing program is limited by the availability of instructional resources and clinical learning sites.
Non-native speakers of English must provide an official report confirming a TOEFL score of 525 (paper test) or 71 (Internet based), or APIEL score of 3, or IELTS score of 6.
Early admission, standard admission, and second degree admission are available for prospective nursing students.
Early Admission
Early admission to the undergraduate nursing program may occur prior to entrance to the University for high school students with outstanding high school achievement and high SAT/ACT scores. Maintenance of an early admission status is contingent on meeting the requirements listed.
To qualify for early admission, students must have both a high school GPA of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale and standardized exam score which is a combined math and reading SAT of 1200 with at least 550 in each area, or an ACT of 26.
Standard Admission
A review of the admission application occurs after completion of 33 hours of required courses (see the course sequence for the specific courses which are considered). Students admitted to the nursing program begin coursework in the following spring semester.
To be considered for admission to the nursing program, students must have completed the 33 college credit hours identified for the first-year courses (or their equivalent) in the nursing curriculum. Admission to the program is competitive and the selection of applicants is based upon the following criteria: GPA in required courses and recommended standardized exam score which is a combined reading and math SAT of 1000 with at least 450 in each area or an ACT of 21. For students who have been out of high school three years or more, a pre-admission standardized nursing exam may be substituted for the SAT or ACT.
In the event that applicants have equivalent qualifications, the written essay and participation in community activities will be considered.
Second Degree Admission
The second degree option is offered to potential students who have already completed a baccalaureate in another field. Admission to the BSN program as a second degree student is competitive and the selection of applicants is based on the following criteria: GPA in required courses and standardized exam score.
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