2018-19 Catalogs

The baccalaureate nursing program requires the completion of a minimum of 120 credits of study and culminates in a baccalaureate degree (B.S.). Graduates of this program are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Students must fulfill the USM general education requirements by completing any one of the following pathways: the USM Core curriculum, the Russell Scholars Program, or the University Honors Program. Beginning coursework in the baccalaureate curriculum includes English composition, quantitative decision making, natural and behavioral sciences, arts, and humanities.

Nursing content at the upper division is organized to facilitate integration of nursing knowledge and skills and to draw on a foundation of learning from other disciplines. The nursing curriculum provides opportunities for students to develop skills in partnering with various community stakeholders to identify community strengths, resources, and needs. Students have experiences that involve assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care for individuals of all ages: in families, groups of clients, and communities across the health continuum. Inpatient and outpatient settings, community health agencies, public health settings, long-term care facilities, schools, and industries are used for clinical experiences.

Students follow a specific sequence of didactic and clinical courses with a student cohort group.

Because the baccalaureate nursing program includes supervised clinical experiences, the nursing faculty reserves the right to limit enrollments. Admission to the program is highly selective.

There are three different application processes for this program. Prospective students should select the appropriate application process for their current student type.

Process 1: Current High School Student

This application process is intended for students who have not attempted any college credits since graduating from high school or earning a GED/HiSET.

• Application Deadline: February 15 for nursing consideration
  
• Applicant Criteria:
• Applicants must meet the University’s general undergraduate admission requirements, which can be found in the Admissions section of the Undergraduate Catalog.
• In addition to general requirements, applicants must meet the following criteria:
  • SAT scores of ≥ 580 reading and ≥ 570 math, or ACT scores of ≥ 22 math and ≥ 22 English; and
  • High school GPA of 3.0 or above; and
  • Completed high school biology and chemistry with labs, with grades of B or above in those courses.
  • Applicants who do not meet one of the above test score/GPA combinations will be reviewed by the Office of Admissions for possible admission consideration.
• Application Process
  • Apply to USM
  • Select Nursing as the first choice of major on the application.  

For questions about the application process, or to check the status of a completed application, students may contact the Office of Admissions.

Process 2: Current USM Student — with fewer than 32 credit hours

This application process is intended for admitted USM students who can meet Applicant Criteria before they have completed more than 32 college credits. If students wish to pursue this option, they should meet with their Professional Academic Advisor to discuss plans.

• Application Deadline: Students should apply at the end of the semester in which Applicant Criteria are met, after final course grades are posted.
  
• Applicant Criteria:
• Complete at least one semester at the University; and
• Achieve a 3.0 or higher GPA at the University; and
• Achieve math proficiency; and
• Complete one of these sets of science courses with a grade of C or better: CHY 107 Chemistry for Health Sciences or BIO 111/112 Human Anatomy and Physiology I with lab; and
• Complete two of these social sciences with grades of C or better: PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology, SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology, or HRD 200 Multicultural Human Development; and
• Complete College Writing with a grade of C or better.
• If a student does not meet the above criteria before completing 33+ credits, the student still can apply to the School of Nursing. See Option 3 for application instructions.
  
• Application Process
• Students should contact the Professional Academic Advisor to get started. The Professional Academic Advisor will assist students with planning courses to meet criteria for the change of major to nursing. If the applicant criteria are satisfied, the advisor will assist with the change of major process.  

For more information about the change of major process and the nursing program application process, students should contact their Professional Academic Advisor. If students are unsure who their advisor is, they should check their MaineStreet Student Center.

Process 3: Transfer Student

This application process is intended for current USM students who have completed more than 32 credit hours and for students currently enrolled at another higher education institution.

• Application Deadline: January 15
  • Notification of Application Decisions: Students will be notified by postal mail in early-to-mid April.
• Applicant Criteria:
  • Applicants must meet the University’s general undergraduate admission requirements, which can be found in the Admissions section of the Undergraduate Catalog.
• In addition to general requirements, applicants must meet the following criteria:
  • Hold a minimum overall GPA of 3.0; and
  • Hold a minimum science GPA of 2.67 in science courses for nursing that have been completed at the time of application. These courses include direct equivalents of Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs, Microbiology with lab, Human Nutrition, an introductory Chemistry course, and Pathophysiology.
• Application Process for current USM students with more than 32 credit hours:
  • Notify the Professional Academic Advisor of plans to apply to the Nursing program.
  • Submit the Supplemental Application to Nursing; and
  • Submit the following documents to the mailing address on the Supplemental Application to Nursing form. Applications will not be reviewed until all materials have been received.
    • Nursing essay — the essay prompt is described on the Supplemental Application to Nursing; and
    • Nursing resume — resume requirements are described on the Supplemental Application to Nursing.

If current USM students have questions about the application process, they should contact their Professional Academic Advisor.

• Application Process for students currently enrolled at another higher education institution:
  
  • Apply to USM; and
  • Submit the Supplemental Application to Nursing; and
  • Submit the following documents along with your USM Application:
    • Nursing essay — the essay prompt is described on the Supplemental Application to Nursing; and
    • Nursing resume — resume requirements are described on the Supplemental Application to Nursing.

If students have questions about the application process for transfer students, they should contact the Office of Admissions.

Sample plan of study:

Year 1, Fall Semester
EYE Entry Year Experience course
*College Writing
*BIO 111 Human Anatomy and Physiology I 
*BIO 112 Practical Human Anatomy and Physiology I
MAT 120 Introduction to Statistics 
Total credits: 14.5

Year 1, Spring Semester
*BIO 113 Human Anatomy and Physiology II 
*BIO 114 Practical Human Anatomy and Physiology II 
*CHY 107 Chemistry for Health Sciences
*HRD 200 Multicultural Human Development
*NUR 100 Introduction to Professional Nursing 
*PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology
Total credits: 16.5

Year 2, Fall Semester
*BIO 281 Microbiology for Health Sciences
*BIO 282 Microbiological Laboratory
CON 356 Concepts in Community Health
*SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology
Cultural Interpretation course
Total credits: 14

Year 2, Spring Semester
*BIO 345 Pathophysiology
CON 321 Health-Related Research
*CON 252 Human Nutrition
Creative Expression course
Total credits: 15

Year 3, Fall Semester
*NUR 300 Health Assessment
*NUR 301 Health Assessment Lab
*NUR 302 Pharmacology
*NUR 306 Nursing Arts and Science 
*NUR 307 Fundamentals in Nursing Lab
NUR 330 Mental Health Nursing
NUR 331 Mental Health Nursing  Clinical
Total credits: 16

Year 3, Spring Semester
NUR 313 Intermediate Nursing Skills Lab
NUR 323 Adult/Older Adult Health Nursing
NUR 325 Adult/Older Adult Health Nursing Clinical
NUR 332 Nursing Care of the Older Adult in the Community
NUR 339 Community Nursing Partnerships I Clinical
Thematic Cluster course, Minor course, or Elective course
Total credits: 15

Year 4, Fall Semester
NUR 341 Community Nursing Partnerships II Clinical
NUR 420 Reproductive and Pediatric Nursing Lab
NUR 421 Reproductive and Sexual Health Nursing 
NUR 422 Reproductive and Sexual Health Nursing Clinical
NUR 424 Clinically-Applied Genetics
NUR 427 Child Health Nursing
NUR 428 Child Health Nursing Clinical
Total credits: 14

Year 4, Spring Semester 
NUR 413 Advanced Nursing Skills Lab
NUR 423 Management of the Critically Ill Adult/Older Adult
NUR 425 Management of the Critically Ill Adult/Older Adult Clinical
NUR 470 Leadership, Management, and Ethics 
NUR 480 Practicum/Care Management Seminar and Clinical
NUR 490 Capstone in Nursing
Thematic Cluster course, Minor course, or Elective course
Total credits: 16

120 credits required to graduate

*Must be completed prior to NUR 323/325

The core curriculum requirements in science exploration, ethical inquiry, international, diversity, and sociocultural analysis are met through the Nursing curriculum.

The plan of study is subject to change.