Nursing - Traditional 4-Year

Philosophy

Nursing at Norwich University is grounded in the core essentials of baccalaureate education and predicated on the profession’s ideals of compassionate care, respect, integrity, and social justice. Recognizing emerging trends in population health, technology, and cultural diversity and inclusion as inherent components of professional nursing practice, we prepare students for professional nursing roles in a transforming, complex, and dynamic healthcare environment. The faculty members
believe that through participation in direct clinical care and simulated clinical experiences, students will acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for nursing competence in promoting optimal health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

The faculty further believes that teaching and learning evolves, through a seamless progression, in competency-based nursing practice. Graduates become proficient in patient-centered care with an emphasis on quality improvement methods and patient safety. The responsibility of the professional nurse is complex, requiring expertise in leadership, communication and teamwork.

The School of Nursing offers a traditional, accelerated, and RN-BS programs leading to the Bachelor of Science. The traditional four-year and accelerated programs lead to eligibility to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Program Outcomes:

• Apply insights from diverse fields to enhance nursing practice, foster innovation, and use sound clinical judgement. 

• Integrate scientific knowledge into nursing practice, addressing diverse needs and emphasizing person-centered care. 

• Collaborate with diverse stakeholders for the promotion of equitable public health outcomes through prevention and disease management. 

• Demonstrate proficiency in applying and sharing nursing knowledge to improve health outcomes and transform healthcare delivery. 

• Apply quality improvement principles to enhance care, reduce risks, and improve performance. 

• Demonstrate intentional collaboration with all involved parties to optimize care delivery, improve healthcare experiences, and enhance outcomes. 

• Exhibit proactive leadership to navigate healthcare challenges, promote positive outcomes, and deliver safe, high-quality care to diverse populations. 

• Use informatics for date collection, analysis, and safe, high-quality care delivery adhering to regulatory and professional standards. 

• Formulate a professional identity reflecting nursing values, ethics, accountability, collaboration, and standards. 

• Engage in self-care, reflection, lifelong learning, and leadership development for nursing expertise. 

Nursing Outcomes

• Synthesize and apply multidisciplinary knowledge to assess, prioritize, and deliver holistic, innovative care using clinical judgment and therapeutic communication.

• Demonstrate the ability to apply public health concepts, analyze complex health issues, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders to promote equitable health outcomes through disease prevention and management.

• Apply evidence-based nursing knowledge to practice, evaluate interventions in complex care, and contribute to healthcare transformation by sharing best practices to improve patient outcomes.

• Integrate quality improvement principles to analyze processes, apply interventions, and develop strategies that enhance patient care, reduce risks, and improve healthcare performance.

• Demonstrate effective collaboration and communication, evaluate their impact on care delivery and outcomes, and develop strategies to optimize healthcare experiences and improve results.

• Demonstrate leadership by applying foundational concepts, evaluating strategies for complex healthcare challenges, and developing proactive approaches to deliver safe, high-quality care and improve outcomes for diverse populations.

• Integrate informatics to improve data collection, analysis, and care delivery, while ensuring safe, high-quality care that meets regulatory and professional standards.

• Develop a professional identity by integrating nursing values, ethics, accountability, and collaboration into practice, while reflecting on these principles to guide growth and excellence.

• Foster nursing expertise through self-care, reflection, lifelong learning, and leadership development, while evaluating their impact on personal and professional growth in practice.

Program Goals:

• BS Graduates: Educate BSN graduates to deliver safe, evidence-based, patient-centered care, making ethical decisions, and collaborating effectively with diverse teams.  

• MSN Graduates: Prepare MSN graduates with the ability to collaborate, think critically, and make informed decisions in advanced nursing roles.  

• Student Success: Promote student achievement through challenging programs that apply best practices and address diverse learning needs.  

• Lifelong Learning: Inspire continuous education and nursing research.   

• Faculty Contribution: Empower faculty to lead, research, and practice, benefiting the University, community, and the nursing field.  

• Program Development: Create programs that address the changing needs of students, communities, and the healthcare sector. 

Traditional Program

The first year of the Nursing program is dedicated to courses in the Humanities, Sciences, Social Sciences and two foundational Nursing courses. The simulation/clinical experiences begin in the Fall semester of the sophomore year and continue through the remainder of the program. By graduation, students will have practiced in a variety of settings, including hospitals, community/home health agencies, schools and clinics. Well equipped, modern, simulation laboratories provide on-campus learning labs for skill acquisition and health assessment practice. Morning, evening, and weekend hours are utilized for the clinical experience.

Progression Requirements

First Requirement:

• Students must achieve a minimum average grade of 77% on NCLEX-style quizzes and exams in the following courses: NR and NURS Courses: 206, 215, 217, 261, 211, 316, 331, 341, 361, 416, and 421. Failure to achieve the 77% quiz or exam average, exclusive of any other additional graded assignments, will result in a final grade of C or lower and the inability to progress to the next sequential courses.

• Nursing students must earn a minimum grade of C+ in all nursing (NR& NURS) courses including theory and practicum courses.

• A nursing student who does not earn the required minimum grade of C+ in a nursing course may repeat the course only once. A student must receive a grade of C+ or higher in the repeated nursing course to progress in the nursing program. If a student receives a grade less than a C+ when repeating a nursing course, the student will be dismissed from the nursing program. Failure to achieve the minimum required grade of C+ in two nursing courses will result in dismissal from the nursing program.

• Students must pass both the theory and clinical components of linked nursing courses to progress in the nursing program. If the student does not achieve the minimum required grade of C+ in one component, the student must retake both components for progression in the program.

• Each grade in a linked course will be recorded individually as achieved. If a student does not achieve the minimum required grade of C+ in both components of a linked course, this is considered two nursing course failures and the student will be dismissed from the nursing program.
  ** Linked nursing courses: NR and NURS: 215/ 215L; 316/ 316L; 331/331L; 341/341L; 416/416L; 421/ 421L; and 431/431L. Example: If a student achieves a grade of C in the theory component of a linked course and a grade of B in the clinical component, each grade will be recorded, however, both components must be repeated to progress.
  

Second Requirement:

• Nursing students must earn a minimum grade of C+ in all non-nursing courses: PY110, PY220, SO 101, BI 215, BI 216, BI 220, HHPR 200, MA 232, Math 100 level or higher.

• Nursing and science courses must be taken in the order presented on the curriculum map in the appropriate catalog. Deviation requires approval from the School of Nursing. Students who earn below a C+ in science or math courses may choose to repeat a course at an institution other than Norwich. The student must have the course approved by the advisor in advance. When the transfer transcript arrives, the new grade will be used only for progression purposes.

• Failure to achieve a grade of C+ on the second attempt of PY110, PY220, SO101, BI 215, BI 216, BI 220, HHPR 200 or Math 100 level or higher will result in dismissal from the program. These requirements apply to non-nursing major students seeking a transfer to the nursing program.

• The C+ minimum requirement for math and science courses is effective for students admitted to the nursing program for the University catalog year 2016-17 and thereafter.

​Dismissal from School of Nursing

Criteria for dismissal from NUSON:

• Failure to receive the required minimum of C+ in two nursing courses during enrollment in the nursing program.

• Failure to achieve a minimum grade of C+ in any repeated nursing course.

• Withdrawal from the same Nursing course two times.

• Failure to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0.

• Unsafe laboratory/clinical practice as determined by NUSON.

• Violation of Professional Behavior Expectations.

• Violation of the ANA Code of Ethics and/or ANA Standards of Practice.

• Failure to achieve a C+ on the second attempt of PY110, PY220, SO 201, BI 215, BI 216, BI 220, MA 232, or Math 100 level or higher.

• A student who has not been active in nursing major courses for one semester without prior approval of advisor and Director of Nursing.

Dismissal from the nursing program DOES NOT mean the student is dismissed from Norwich University. Upon dismissal from the nursing program, the student will receive a letter from the Director stating the reason for the dismissal. After receipt of the letter, if the student wishes to remain at Norwich they must meet with their advisor and select a new major.

If a student wishes to challenge a progression issue or dismissal, they should follow the NU grievance procedure outlined in the catalog.

Clinical Warning/Suspension

When a student has acted or performed in an unsafe or inappropriate manner, at the discretion and judgment of the clinical instructor, they will be removed from the clinical setting. These situations include, but are not limited to, evidence of recent alcohol or substance use that could impair judgment, patient or agency request, inadequate preparation for assignment, inability to demonstrate technical competence in a skill (previously certified in the laboratory setting), inappropriate dress, illness that may be considered contagious or could impair student’s judgment, client endangerment, or violation of the ANA Nurses Code of Ethics.

See the School of Nursing B.S. in Nursing Student Handbook for further information.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Norwich University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, (202)-887-6791. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing is and approved by the Vermont State Board of Nursing, Office of Professional Regulations, 89 Main Street 3rd Floor, Montpelier, VT 05520-2482, (802) 828-2396.

Traditional Program Admission standards

In addition to the university General Admission Requirements, nursing applicants must:

• Complete 4 years of high school (HS) math including a minimum of two of the following: Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry or Pre-calculus or Calculus.

• Complete 3 years of HS science including Biology and Chemistry

• College-level GPA must be at a minimum of 3.0

• An applicant transferring from another nursing program must submit a letter of reference from the Chairperson/Dean of the transferring school prior to acceptance.  

• Background screening is a requirement for admission and condition of both acceptance and progression in nursing

• Students must also submit to an intermittent background screening as required by clinical agencies. A criminal record deemed to be of consequence or the habitual intemperate use or addiction to habit-forming substances precludes enrollment in the Program.

Pre-Nursing Major Pathway

A student not meeting the General Admission Requirements into the Nursing major, may declare the Pre-Nursing major. A Pre-Nursing major must meet the following criteria before acceptance into the Nursing major and prior to enrolling into 200-level, or higher Nursing courses. Once the following is completed, a Pre-Nursing major not meeting the Nursing major after 1 year (fall, spring, summer) admission requirements will be classified as undecided while they determine a suitable program of study.

• Complete at a grade of C+ or higher: NR103, BI 215, BI 216, MA 101, MA 232 (MATH232), PY110, PY220, SO 101, and HHPR 200.

• Cumulative Norwich GPA 3.0.

• Cumulative non-Norwich GPA 3.0, if applicable.

• In addition, once the above is met,

  • A Background screening is required as a condition of both acceptance and progression in nursing.

  • Submit to an intermittent background screening as required by clinical agencies. A criminal record deemed to be of consequence or the habitual intemperate use or addiction to habit-forming substances precludes enrollment in the Nursing Program.