Nursing

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Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Majors

Nursing Major (B.S.N.)
Nursing Major (Five-Semester Second Degree B.S.N.)
Nursing Major (Accelerated Second Degree B.S.N.)
Nursing Major (Veterans B.S.N.)
Nursing Major (Veterans Second Degree B.S.N)
Nursing Major (Veterans Accelerated 2nd Degree B.S.N)

Students enrolled in the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program in the Ida Moffett School of Nursing are prepared to use knowledge, critical thinking skills, and practice skills learned from both nursing and liberal arts to provide professional nursing care in a variety of clinical settings. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Our graduates consistently achieve pass rates above state and national averages on the NCLEX-RN and experience excellent employment rates.

In addition to the traditional B.S.N. program, individuals who already hold a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing may pursue a B.S.N. through the accelerated second degree program, or the five-semester second degree program. Students may apply to the school of nursing immediately upon admission to Samford University.

For students who are military veterans, there is now a bachelor of science in nursing degree available in the same three pathways: traditional nursing, second degree nursing, and accelerated second degree nursing.

Admission Policies

Admission to the Ida Moffett School of Nursing is competitive. To be considered for admission all prospective undergraduate students who desire to enter the Ida Moffett School of Nursing (IMSON) must submit an application for admission to Samford University AND submit the nursing application form.

Freshman applicants must meet the following academic requirements:

A minimum composite score of 21 on the ACT or 1000 on the SAT.
High school graduates must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above, have completed four units of English, two units of math, and two units of lab sciences with a grade of C (2.0) or better in the lab sciences. Transfer students with less than 24 semester credits or 36 quarter credits in total at other institutions must meet the requirements of entering freshmen.

Transfer students with 24 credits or more must meet the following admission requirements:

Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above in all coursework taken to be admitted.
Have a minimum science GPA of 2.30 on a 4.00 scale in all required science courses (anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology); or to be considered for conditional admission have a 2.3 on two of the four required courses (anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology). Additionally, the 2.30 or higher GPA must be maintained for the remaining two science courses in order to be removed from conditional admission.
Have completed all required science courses within the last five years. All grades earned in the required science courses within the last five years will be used to calculate the science GPA.
Have repeated no more than two of the required science courses one time each.
Have a C (2.0) or better on a 4.0 scale on all required science courses.
Applicants who have previously attended schools of nursing must submit a letter of good standing from the dean or program director of all nursing schools attended. The letter must include a statement regarding the individual’s eligibility to continue and/or to be readmitted to the nursing program for which the administrator is responsible. An applicant who did not earn a passing grade in a nursing course (C or better) from another institution will not be considered for admission.

Five-semester second degree students must meet the following admission requirements:

Hold a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in another discipline/field from a regionally accredited institution at the time the degree was awarded.
Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70 on a 4.00 scale in courses required for prior bachelor degree(s).
Have a minimum science GPA of 2.30 on a 4.00 scale in all required science courses (anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology); or to be considered for conditional admission have a 2.3 on two of the four required courses (anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology). Additionally, the 2.30 or higher GPA must be maintained for the remaining two science courses in order to be removed from conditional admission.
Have completed all required science courses within the last five years. All grades earned in the required science courses within the last five years will be used to calculate the science GPA.
Have repeated no more than two of the required science courses one time each.
Have a C (2.0) or better on a 4.0 scale on all required science courses.
Applicants who have previously attended schools of nursing must submit a letter of good standing from the dean or program director of all nursing schools attended. The letter must include a statement regarding the individual’s eligibility to continue and/or to be readmitted to the nursing program for which the administrator is responsible. An applicant who did not earn a passing grade in a nursing course (C or better) from another institution will not be considered for admission.

Accelerated second degree students must meet the following admission requirements:

Hold a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in another discipline/field from a regionally accredited institution at the time the degree was awarded.
Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70 on a 4.00 scale on in courses required for prior bachelor degree(s).
Submit three letters of recommendation speaking to the applicant’s ability to successfully complete a rigorous academic load. References will not be accepted from relatives.
Complete a video or virtual interview.
Have a minimum science GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale in all required science courses (anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology) at the time of enrollment.
Have completed all required science courses within the last ten years. All grades earned in the required science courses within the last ten years will be used to calculate the science GPA.
Have repeated no more than two of the required science courses one time each.
Have a C (2.0) or better on a 4.0 scale on all required science courses.
Applicants who have previously attended schools of nursing must submit a letter of good standing from the dean or program director of all nursing schools attended. The letter must include a statement regarding the individual’s eligibility to continue and/or to be readmitted to the nursing program for which the administrator is responsible. An applicant who did not earn a passing grade in a nursing course (C or better) from another institution will not be considered for admission.

Veterans B.S.N. students must meet the following admission requirements:

Apply as an undergraduate transfer and request a military transcript.
Have completed all required science courses within the last ten years.
Complete a video or virtual interview.
No ACT or SAT scores required.
If applying for the accelerated or second degree pathway, a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing from a regionally accredited institution is also required.
International applicants or American citizens who learned English as a second language must score at least 550 (paper), 213 (computer), or 80 (Internet) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
College credit may be awarded for prior learning experience after an individualized evaluation of any of the following:
a. Academic transcripts
b. Joint service transcript
c. College of the Air Force transcript
d. CLEP exam scores

All applicants must be recommended by the School of Nursing Undergraduate Admission/Progression Committee. The committee reviews all completed admission folders and makes recommendations to the associate dean regarding applicant’s admission to the School of Nursing.

Transfer Credit and Placement

Credit through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is available. Contact the Office of the Registrar for information.
A student wishing to transfer to the School of Nursing from another division within Samford University must apply to the Ida Moffett School of Nursing through Slate.
A student who has attended another school of nursing must submit a letter of good standing from the dean or department chair of the program attended.
The student who voluntarily withdraws from the School of Nursing and remains out for 12 months or longer must apply for readmission. The student who left in good standing may be readmitted but must meet all current criteria for admission and adhere to current performance standards, progression policies, and graduation requirements. Re-admission is contingent upon seat and clinical space availability.

Progression Policies

In order to progress in the undergraduate program in the School of Nursing, the student must:

Have a completed College of Health Sciences health form (with all required immunizations) updated annually and on file.
Submit negative results on drug screen and background check.
Have a signed Confidentiality Statement on file.
Make a grade of C (2.0) or better in each required course in the School of Nursing curriculum. Note: A grade of D or F constitutes failure in any required course. The nursing school accepts a C- in any required general education course in the nursing curriculum with the exception of the required science courses.
Achieve a grade of C or better in all required science courses (anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and chemistry), and can repeat no more than two of the required science courses one time each.
Complete all required science courses (anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and chemistry) with a minimum science GPA of 2.30 on a 4.00 scale prior to enrolling in any NURS course. All attempts will be calculated.
Satisfy all prerequisites as prescribed in this catalog.
Adhere to the following limitation: Students are allowed to enroll in the same nursing course a maximum of two times.
The course repeat policy published in the Samford University Catalog will be followed.

Any student who fails to meet progression standards may continue as a Samford student, but will be terminated from the School of Nursing.

Policies Regarding Course Failures

A traditional or five-semester second degree student who fails one nursing course in which a grade of D or F was received may repeat the course the following semester, if space is available. If the student fails a clinical nursing course the student may not enroll in another clinical nursing course until the failed course is successfully completed.

An accelerated second degree program (ASDP) student who fails one nursing course may not progress in the accelerated second degree program until the failed course is successfully completed. Transfer to the non-accelerated BSN program is not an option.

Any student who fails two nursing courses with grades of D or F will be terminated from the School of Nursing and is eligible to be considered for readmission.

An ASDP student who fails two courses is not eligible to apply for consideration for readmission to the ASDP. If the student wishes to be considered for readmission to the IMSON, he/she may apply to the associate dean of the undergraduate nursing program for consideration for readmission to the non-accelerated BSN program.

Any student desiring readmission, who has been terminated from the School of Nursing due to failure and is eligible to be considered for readmission, is responsible for submitting a formal, written letter (no email) to the associate dean of the undergraduate program asking to be considered for readmission. Students seeking readmission must meet current admission criteria and readmission is contingent upon approval from the Undergraduate Admission/Progression Committee, the associate dean, and space availability.

After readmission due to academic failure, one failure in a required nursing course results in permanent termination from the School of Nursing. Termination from the School of Nursing does not change the status of the student’s admission or progression at Samford University.

Any student who fails three or more nursing courses or who fails the same nursing course twice with grades of D or F will be permanently terminated from the School of Nursing and is not eligible to be considered for readmission.

All students must adhere to the Code of Ethical/Professional Conduct as specified in this catalog, School of Nursing section.

The student with an incomplete (INC) in any nursing course may not progress in the nursing curriculum until the incomplete is removed. All prerequisites must be satisfied as prescribed in this catalog.

General Education: University Core Curriculum and Distribution Requirements

General Education Distribution Requirements are noted in the individual degree tables. In those cases where a requirement is not specified, see General Education Overview in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

BSN Program Outcomes

Graduates with a B.S.N. from Ida Moffett School of Nursing will be prepared to:

Synthesize and apply knowledge gained from a liberal education and nursing to deliver safe, compassionate, and therapeutic nursing care.
Apply principles of leadership, management, and quality improvement to positively impact healthcare outcomes.
Integrate reliable evidence from multiple sources to inform practice, make clinical judgments and positively impact patient outcomes.
Demonstrate knowledge and skills to use information management and patient care technologies to enhance safe nursing practice.
Demonstrate an understanding of the significance of financial and regulatory agencies on quality patient care outcomes and nursing practice.
Demonstrate effective communication and collaboration within an interprofessional team to deliver care that is patient-centered and evidence-based.
Apply health promotion and disease prevention strategies to assist individuals, population groups, and communities in maintaining and/or improving an optimal level of wellness across the lifespan.
Demonstrate professional standards and accountability in working with other health professionals, patients, and communities.
Design, implement and coordinate patient centered, evidence-based nursing care across the life span in a variety of health care settings.

General Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Completion of overall general University graduation requirements for the bachelor’s degree.
Completion of the required curriculum of 128 credits.
Maintenance of a cumulative Samford GPA of 2.00.
Transfer students must follow the University policy for resident credit as outlined in this catalog.
Transfer students must complete a minimum of 50 nursing credits.
Nursing students may pursue a minor in a field other than nursing. It is not required that nursing students complete a minor, and there is no limitation on the selected minor. Non-nursing students may not pursue a minor in nursing.

General Education: University Core Curriculum and Distribution Requirements

Programs

Major

Courses

Nursing - Undergraduate

Nursing - Undergraduate - Electives

Nursing - Undergraduate - Accelerated Degree