USF 1999-2000 Undergraduate Catalog - Pages 243 - 246

Nursing General Undergraduate Academic Information

Undergraduate Program Objectives

Course Descriptions

UPON GRADUATION, GRADUATES WILL:

1. Use concepts, principles, theories, and models from the natural and social sciences; the arts and humanities; and the art and science of nursing to guide clinical practice.

2. Use critical thinking and clinical judgment as the basis for nursing practice in providing and coordinating care for individuals, families, and communities across the lifespan in health promotion, disease prevention, health restoration and rehabilitation.

3. Demonstrate understanding of the research process by integrating clinical data and research findings into nursing practice.

4. Interact with other health care professionals, clients and consumers as advocate, teacher, collaborator, communicator, manager, and professional leader to plan, provide, and evaluate essential health services for culturally diverse and vulnerable populations.

5. Examine the impact of health care policy on the health care delivery system within a variety of settings.

6. Practice within the ethical/legal parameters of professional nursing.

7. Demonstrate the potential for leadership within the profession and health care delivery system.

8. Demonstrate accountable behavior in the professional nursing role.

Undergraduate Education In Nursing

The undergraduate program in nursing is a limited access upper division major at the University of South Florida. The program has 2 sequences: one for qualified basic students with no previous preparation in nursing and one for qualified registered nurse students who are graduates of an associate degree or diploma program in nursing. Applicants for either sequence must submit applications to both the University and the College of Nursing by the appropriate deadline dates.

Applications for admission to the University may be obtained by contacting the Office of Admissions, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620. Applications for the College of Nursing are available from USF College of Nursing, Office of Student Affairs, MDC Box 22, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33612.

Applicants must complete the University’s Liberal Arts requirements and College of Nursing prerequisites/support courses. These can be completed on the Tampa campus by enrolling in the lower division, or at any community college, university, or college that offers equivalent courses prior to transfer to USF.

Students who enroll at USF in the lower division must meet the requirements for admission to the University and are advised by Academic Support and Achievement. These students must also submit an application for admission to the College of Nursing for the upper division major.

Basic students are admitted once a year in the Fall semester. The deadline for application to the College is January 5 of the year in which the student plans to enroll. Priority will be given to individuals who have completed all prerequisites by the application deadline.

Registered nurse students are admitted to the College each semester. University admission deadlines are utilized for applications from registered nurses. Registered nurse students are admitted to the College contingent upon completion of admission requirements.

Students desiring to transfer from other nursing programs are eligible for admission to the College on a space available basis. To be considered for transfer into the nursing major, applicants must meet University eligibility requirements.

For more specific information contact the College of Nursing, Office of Student Affairs for overall requirements (974-9305).

Overall Requirements

1. Completion of 60 semester hours of college-level work with a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5. Credit received on the basis of CLEP or Advanced Placement examinations or other appropriate procedures may be included to meet some of these requirements.

2. Completion of the University of South Florida Liberal Arts requirements as part of the above for all students. These requirements may be satisfied by the completion of the following courses with the corresponding credit:

   English	6
   Math	6
   Algebra or Finite Math (3)
   Statistics (3)
   Fine Arts	3
   Natural Science	17-19
   Chemistry (4)
   Nutrition (3)
   Microbiology (4)
   Anatomy/Physiology (6-8)
   Social Sciences	9
   Life Cycle (3)
   Psychology (3)
   Sociology (3)
   Historical Perspectives	6
   African, Latin American, Middle Eastern, Asian Perspectives	3

3. Students with a Florida community college A.A. degree (other than in nursing) will be considered to have met all of the USF Liberal Arts requirements but also must meet specific college requirements.

4. Students are required to meet the University requirement for foreign language.

Admission Requirements

In order to be considered for full admission to the college, the applicant must:

1. Submit an application to USF by the appropriate deadline.

2. Submit an application and all supporting materials, including official transcripts, to the College of Nursing by the appropriate deadline.

3. Complete prior to enrollment all state mandated common prerequisites with a grade of "C" or better (for basic baccalaureate students only, completion by application deadline is advised).

4. Maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.5.

5. Complete prior to enrollment all those Liberal Arts courses required for admission to the major (for basic baccalaureate students only, completion by application deadline is advised).

6. Complete all courses required for admission with not more than two (2) repeated courses and not more than one (1) repeat of any given course.

7. Complete the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) or equivalent and the writing and computation course requirements of 6A-10.30 (Gordon Rule).

8. Complete an approved cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BCLS) course prior to enrollment.

9. Provide evidence of current licensure in Florida if enrolling in the program as a registered nurse.

Conditional Admission Policy for Registered Nurses

RN students may be admitted conditionally to the College of Nursing. Students may enroll in the appropriate sequence of the following selected courses while completing these requirements. Nursing courses for the RN Sequence are listed below are in the preferred sequence for enrollment:

NUR 3113 Culture of Nursing
NUR 3114 Introduction to Clinical Judgement
NUR 3064C Health Assessment Across the Life Span
NUR 4766 Critical Care
NUR 4765C Rehabilitation Across the Life Span
NUR 3145 Pharmacology in Nursing Practice
NUR 3829 Ethical/Legal Aspects in Nursing and Health Care
NUR 4041 Culture in Nursing Practice
NUR 4165 Nursing Inquiry
NUR 4XXX Electives

The following courses are restricted to fully admitted students: NUR 4636, NUR 4636L, NUR 4838, and NUR 4948L.

In addition to the requirements listed, a minimum of at least 6 credits in upper division electives or exit requirements as determined by academic advisor and at least four (4) credits in nursing electives (NUR 4935, Selected Topics in Nursing and/or NUR 4905C, Independent Study in Nursing can be used in addition to regularly approved electives) are required for graduation. Planning with an academic advisor prior to enrollment in upper-level electives is strongly recommended.

Specific Course Requirements

The College of Nursing requires certain courses within the Liberal Arts requirements for the natural, social and behavioral sciences, and mathematics. These requirements are outlined below. Suggested courses are also included. The student must: 1) earn a grade of "C" or better in each state mandated common prerequisite course, 2) repeat no course more than once, 3) repeat no more than two (2) courses. Courses taken at another institution will be evaluated individually on the basis of content. Students in Florida community colleges can obtain information about equivalent courses from their counselors or by contacting the College of Nursing Office of Student Affairs (813-974-9305).

Specific Course Requirements

1. Mathematics/Quantitative Methods: completion of at least one course in mathematics that meets the Gordon Rule requirement and one course in statistics.

   1. Mathematics - one course in college level algebra or finite math must be completed. CLEP subject exams are acceptable.

   2. Statistics - one course in statistics must be completed with a grade of "C" or better. STA 2122 or any STA course

2. Natural Sciences: minimum of 16 semester credits (including anatomy, physiology, and microbiology). Each course taken toward meeting this requirement must have been completed with a grade of "C" or better. At least one course must include a laboratory or have a corequisite laboratory course.

   1. Chemistry - 4 semester credits. Courses should include content in 1) principles of chemistry, 2) structure of matter, 3) atomic and molecular structure, 4) states of matter, 5) chemical formulas and nomenclature, 6) solutions, 7) chemical kinetics and equilibrium, 8) theory and practice of quantitative analysis, 9) organic chemistry. *CHM 2030 (4 credits) or CHM 2045, 2045L can be met with CLEP. *Chemistry sequence for non-science ma]ors.

   2. Microbiology - one course. MCB 3030C. The Regents examination in microbiology is acceptable for registered nurse students only.

   3. Anatomy and Physiology - 6 semester hours. The Regents examination in anatomy and physiology is acceptable for registered nurse students only.

   4. Nutrition - one course. College of Nursing Challenge Examination or University of Florida correspondence course are acceptable. HUN 2201.

3. Social Sciences: Each course taken toward meeting this requirement must have been completed with a "C" or better.

   1. Psychology and Sociology - one introductory course in each area. CLEP is acceptable.

   2. Human Growth and Development (Life Span) - Must include birth through aging process to death. HUS 4020, DEP 4005 or DEP 3103 and GEY 3000.

CLEP Examinations

In accordance with University policies, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) general and subject examinations may be taken in several areas and according to the University or community college policies related to CLEP. The CLEP general examinations apply toward the distribution requirements at USF, and successful performance results in credit for any or all of the required areas. In addition, credit may be earned for a number of College of Nursing support courses, including: English Composition ENC 1101, 1102; General Chemistry CHM 2030 or CHM 2045, 2045L. Additional information may be obtained from the Office of Evaluation and Testing, University of South Florida, (974-2741, SVC 2054).

Regents and College of Nursing Examinations

Successful completion of the following examination(s) can be used to fulfill course requirements as designated below:

1. College of Nursing - Nutrition Challenge Examinations: a total of 3 semester credits can be earned by any undergraduate student to meet the course requirement in nutrition. Information about the College examination in nutrition may be obtained by contacting the College of Nursing Office of Student Affairs, University of South Florida.

2. Registered nurses who are graduates of diploma programs may receive up to 26 semester general elective lower level credits through successful completion of the Regents examinations in nursing. These credits do not apply toward meeting the University requirement of 40 upper level credits, or toward meeting the requirements of the upper level nursing major. The credits earned by passing the Regents examinations in nursing apply only to the B.S. degree with a major in nursing offered by the College of Nursing.

3. Registered nurses who are graduates of Florida associate degree programs will receive up to 26 semester lower level credits for their previous nursing education. Graduates of other associate degree nursing programs may receive up to 26 credits after individual evaluation of their transcripts.

4. Registered nurse students may earn up to 6 semester credits and fulfill the college's requirement in anatomy and physiology through successful completion of the Regents examination in anatomy and physiology, and up to 3 credits in microbiology through successful completion of the Regents examination in microbiology. Regents examination information maybe obtained from the Office of Student Affairs, College of Nursing.

Degree Requirements

Students will be certified for the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing upon completion of 124 semester hours composed of Liberal Arts requirements, science support courses (natural, social/behavioral), required nursing courses, and upper level electives or exit requirements.

A minimum grade of "C" or better must be attained in each course in the major and cumulative grade point ratio of 2.0 or better must be maintained throughout the program. At least 40 semester hours must be upper level work (courses numbered 3000 or above).

Nursing Courses - Basic Baccalaureate Sequence

Basic Baccalaureate students meet the following courses in the five semester sequence:

Junior Year (2 semesters)

NUR 3113 Culture of Nursing (2)
NUR 3114 Introduction to Clinical Judgement (3)
NUR 3114L Introduction to Clinical Practice (2)
NUR 3064C Health Assessment Across the Life Span (3)
NUR 3829 Ethical Legal Aspects in Nursing & Health Care(3)
NUR 3145 Pharmacology in Nursing Practice (2)
NUR 3215 Adult Health I (3)
NUR 3215L Clinical Practice in Adult Health II (3)
NUR 3284C Gerontological Nursing (2)

Senior Year (3 semesters)

NUR 4216 Adult Health II (3)
NUR 4216L Clinical Practice in Adult Health II (3)
NUR 4165 Nursing Inquiry (2)
NUR 4041 Culture in Nursing Practice (2)
NUR 4616 Family Health (4)
NUR 4616L Clinical Practice in Family Health (3)
NUR 4636 Community Health (2)
NUR 4636L Clinical Practice in Community Health (2)
NUR 4765C Rehabilitation Across the Life Span (2)
NUR 4838 Leadership/Management (3)
NUR 4525 Psychiatric/Mental Health (2)
NUR 4525L Clinical Practice in Psychiatric/Mental Health (1)
NUR 4766 Critical Care (2)
NUR 4948L Preceptorship (3)

In addition to the requirements listed above, a minimum of 6 credits in upper division electives or exit requirements as determined by academic advisor and 4 credits in nursing electives will be required for graduation. Planning with an academic advisor prior to enrollment in upper-level electives is strongly recommended.

Nursing Courses - Registered Nurse Sequence

Registered nurse students will take selected courses within the basic baccalaureate sequence. For example:

NUR 4636 Community Health (2)
NUR 4636L Clinical Practice in Community Health (2)
NUR 4165 Nursing Inquiry (2)
NUR 4838 Leadership/Management (3)

A statewide AS to BS articulation agreement is under consideration. Registered nurse students should contact the Office of Student Affairs for advisement prior to enrollment.

Prerequisites (State Mandated Common Prerequisites)

Please send questions or comments to:
Karen M. Hall - webCat@ugs.usf.edu
Effective Date: Semester I, 1999