Degree Program
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)
Vision, Mission and Curriculum Overview
The baccalaureate program terminal objectives are derived from the School’s mission and core values. The mission of promoting health and well- being for all people, with its emphasis on preparing students to be morally reflective healthcare leaders and scholars, is based in the school’s beliefs in:
- The dignity of human beings
- The growth-affirming role of society
- Health as a dynamic entity
- The complex, caring nature of nursing
- The individualized, lifelong process of education
These beliefs provide the foundation for the traditional BSN program. The belief that baccalaureate nursing education prepares professional nurses who have a broad knowledge of nursing science, the humanities, the biological and social sciences, gives rise to a curriculum in which a broad liberal arts education is balanced with the natural and behavioral sciences, as illustrated in the programs of study.
The terminal objectives of the baccalaureate program provide clear statements of expected results, derived directly from the Georgetown Nursing Model, and reflect the school’s mission and core values.
The objectives are:
- Practice professional nursing within the Jesuit philosophy and the Georgetown University Nursing Practice Model.
- Demonstrate the use of critical thinking in clinical decision making.
- Formulate a personal and professional ethical framework to guide conduct and decision making in professional nursing.
- Evaluate, apply and communicate research findings to improve professional practice.
- Analyze and evaluate leadership and management theories in nursing practice.
- Evaluate the health policy process for the improvement of health care for all.
- Demonstrate a commitment to personal and professional development through continuing education and participation in professional organizations.
- Demonstrate a commitment to humanitarian service as a component of professional nursing in a culturally diverse society.
- Engage in communication and collaboration with members of the health care team.
The basic four-year BSN program is designed for high school graduates who wish to combine core requirements in the arts, sciences and humanities with preparation for a career in professional nursing. The curriculum includes a core of knowledge in the humanities and the behavioral, physical, and biological sciences, as well as the theory and practice of professional nursing. Coursework in bioethics and leadership prepares graduates to take their place in the current and future health care delivery system.
The nursing component of the curriculum provides for development of clinical skills as well as a strong theoretical base. Nursing coursework and clinical practice begin in the first year. The senior clinical experience allows students to request a particular clinical area of interest in which to expand their knowledge and leadership skills.
After completion of the baccalaureate program, graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination for licensure to practice as professional nurses.
The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the District of Columbia Board of Nursing.
The School of Nursing is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Nursing Association, and the Association of University Programs in Health Administration.
Clinical experiences are arranged within the surrounding metropolitan area including the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Students are responsible for their transportation to these clinical sites.
BSN Degree Requirements
University Core Requirements
- Writing: Writing and Culture Seminar and Integrated Writing Course in the Major — 2 courses
- HALC — 1 course
- Engaging Diversity domestic — 1 course; Engaging Diversity global — 1 course
- Philosophy — 2 courses: PHIL 020 and NURS/HEST 254
- Theology — 2 courses
- Natural Science — 1 course (fulfilled within the major courses: HSCI 101/102)
Required Courses for the Major
- ANTH 001 or SOCI 001 — 1 course
- PSYC 001
- Probability and Statistics (MATH 040)
- Free electives, in any discipline, to total 129 total credits
First Year
- First Year Colloquium (HEST-001)
- Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice (NURS-010)
- Human Biology I and II (HSCI-101, 102)
- Biochemistry and Human Functioning (HSCI-111)
- Health Assessment I (NURS-011)
Second Year
- Health Assessment II (NURS-012)
- Nutrition and Disease Prevention (NURS-112/HEST-112)
- Genomics (HSCI 190)
- Pathophysiology (HSCI-202)
- Fundamental Nursing Interventions (NURS-015)
- Human Growth and Development (NURS142/HEST-142)
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NURS-162)
- Pharmacology (NURS-204)
Third Year
- Introduction to Nursing Research (NURS-175)
- Integration Seminar (NURS-177)
- Care of Adults (NURS-181)
- Health Care of Women (NURS-192)
- Microbiology (HSCI-201)
- Care of Children (NURS-182)
- Mental Health Nursing (NURS-191)
- Health Care Delivery Systems (NURS-176)
Fourth Year
- Public Health Nursing (NURS-241)
- Complex Nursing Problems Across Care Cont (NURS-243)
- Intro to Health Care Ethics (HEST-254/NURS-254)
- Care of the Older Adult (NURS-246)
- Vulnerable Populations (NURS-251)
- Transitions to Professional Practice (NURS-252)
- Senior Capstone Clinical (NURS-359)
- Scholarly Project in Nursing (NURS-360)
Minors
Georgetown University Nursing students are eligible to complete a variety of minors in both the SOH and the College. Due to the lockstep nature of the nursing curriculum and limited elective opportunities, students pursuing a minor should meet with their Academic Dean early on to discuss their interest and impact on the BSN degree progression plan.
Sigma Theta Tau
The BSN Program offers an opportunity for membership in Sigma Theta Tau, the International Nursing Honor Society. Sigma Theta Tau honors practitioners and students of nursing who exemplify outstanding qualities of leadership, scholarship, and service to the profession of nursing. Tau Chapter was founded at the Georgetown University School of Nursing in 1960.
National Students Nurses Association
The National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) mentors the professional role development of future registered nurses and facilitates development of standards, ethics and competencies that students will need as responsible and accountable leaders and members of the nursing profession. This mission is accomplished by chapter-led and nationwide programs that provide educational resources, leadership opportunities, and career guidance (http://www.nsna.org (new window)). All undergraduate nursing students at Georgetown are eligible to join. Members are expected to adhere to the NSNA Code of Academic and Clinical Conduct.
Student Professional Responsibility
Students are responsible for reviewing, understanding and abiding by the regulations, procedures and requirements as described in all official publications of Georgetown University and of the School of Nursing. These are found specifically in the Undergraduate Bulletin as well as the Current Students Resources section of the SON website. In addition, students are required to adhere to regulations and guidelines from Health Care Settings (in use as clinical sites), Professional Licensing Boards, Federal, State and Local Health Care Authorities and Professional Nursing Organizations.
Clinical Clearances
All student nurses are expected to meet and maintain certain health requirements. All of the clinical clearance requirements can be found in the BSN Handbook. Failure to meet any of the requirements will jeopardize the ability to attend clinical courses.
Comprehensive Assessment and NCLEX-RN Pretesting
All nursing students are required to participate in the Comprehensive Assessment and Review Program (CARP) provided through the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI). The program involves tutorials and content resources/review modules for independent study, testing practice, proctored examinations of nursing knowledge specific to core nursing courses and a comprehensive diagnostic predictor examination that is administered in the semester prior to graduation. The test examinations evaluate specific knowledge mastery as students progress in the program and determine readiness to obtain licensure as a registered nurse. The testing is administered in a computerized format. Feedback about the test results is provided to the students as part of the overall program.
In order to receive authorization from the department chair to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination, a student must earn a score on the ATI comprehensive predictor examination that equates to a 95% or higher probability of passing the NCLEX-RN. To facilitate achieving this requirement, students identified to be at risk will be invited to participate in the department’s knowledge mastery program.
It is strongly recommended that the NCLEX-RN Licensing Examination be completed within six months of graduation. Students who choose to take the exam after six months from the time of graduation must submit documentation of the recent completion of an NCLEX-RN review course to the department chair before receiving authorization to sit for the NCLEX-RN. The student must sit for the exam within ninety days after the authorization is given.
For further elaboration of the above information, please refer to the BSN Handbook.
Curriculum Overview
Minor in Public Health
This minor approaches health from an interdisciplinary perspective to promote the health and well being of all individuals. The minor will draw from the existing expertise of faculty in human science, nursing, international health, and health systems administration. The objectives of this minor support the efforts of the Institute of Medicine, the Association of American Colleges and Universities, and Healthy People 2030 to educate undergraduates on public health issues. The minor provides a core of knowledge that will prepare the student for further study and scholarship in the field.
The public health minor will require students to successfully complete 18 credits of coursework. Please note that courses required by a major as part of the course of study may not be used toward the minor. Students interested in pursuing the minor should first contact SOH Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Sarah Shohet. Students must declare the minor with their Academic Dean.
Requirements for the Minor
- Population Health Concepts and Contemporary Issues (HEST-195), 3 credits
- Epidemiological Approaches to Population Health (GLOH-177), 3 credits or Introduction to Epidemiology (HESY-184), 3 credits
- Population Health Capstone (HEST-460), 3 credits
- Three additional electives are required
The culmination of the minor is the Population Health Capstone (HEST-460), 3 credits. To provide students with an opportunity to integrate diverse experiences and knowledge about public health, this final capstone seminar will serve as a forum for students to learn from one another and will expose students to the work of selected organizations in the Washington metropolitan area concerned with public health. Students will attend a weekly seminar and will complete an experiential learning project component.