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Purpose

The purpose of the baccalaureate in nursing program is to prepare nurse generalists to be providers, designers, leaders, managers, and coordinators of care as well as accountable members of the nursing profession and to pursue graduate level education.

Three options for a BSN degree, as well as a certificate program for Internationally educated nurses and a certificate program for perioperative nursing, are offered by the UNMC College of Nursing.

BSN Options

In the BSN program, the UNMC College of Nursing offers two pre-licensure options and a post-licensure option.

NCLEX – Graduates of either of the two pre-licensure options are eligible to apply to take the NCLEX-RN examination.   

Outcomes and Essentials

Program purpose and outcomes are the same for the Accelerated BSN and RN to BSN programs but those programs proceed on different schedules, with different learning strategies, for different levels of student (bachelor-degreed students for Accelerated BSN program and registered nurses for RN to BSN program).

The semester objectives are keyed to baccalaureate curriculum essentials set forth by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) as shown in the first column.

BSN Program Outcomes for Students Enrolled Beginning Fall 2024

  • Integrate life-long learning strategies to support a spirit of inquiry with an innovative mindset to construct clinical judgment in nursing practice. 
  • Analyze systems within organizations and disseminate recommendations to promote safe and quality health care. 
  •  Integrate ethical evidence-based practice process to improve nursing practice and health care outcomes.
  • Analyze data from technology and information systems to enhance decision-making in health care delivery systems. 
  • Advocate for development, application and change of policy to promote quality, cost-effective, equitable, and inclusive care.
  • Use intra-, para-, and inter-professional communication and collaboration to promote care coordination for safe, quality patient care. 
  • Promote optimal health and prevent injury and disease across the lifespan in complex situations for diverse individuals and populations. 
  • Exhibit professional and ethical behaviors as an individual, leader, and a member of multidisciplinary teams. 
  • Assume accountability for compassionate, competent, holistic, high-quality person-centered nursing across diverse care settings. 
  • Consider determinants of health while advocating for social justice to promote health and well-being for all. 
  • Embody commitment to personal and professional health and well-being.​

Semester Objectives for Students Enrolled Beginning Fall 2024

The grid below shows the objectives progression for the Traditional BSN program spanning 4 semesters (2 years).

AACN Essential Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 3 Semester 4
I. Demonstrate beginning elements of clinical reasoning by incorporating previous and emerging knowledge. Demonstrate emerging, individualized clinical reasoning that reflects a spirit of inquiry and life-long learning. Formulate sound clinical judgment by incorporating previous and emerging information informed by a spirit of inquiry. Integrate life-long learning strategies to support a spirit of inquiry with an innovative mindset to construct clinical judgment in nursing practice. (1) (2) (3)
II. Demonstrate the concepts of safety and quality while considering the recipient of care within a larger health care delivery system. Implement interventions that reflect safe, quality care for individuals and their families in health care delivery systems. Demonstrate the provision, coordination, and evaluation of safe and quality health care with individuals, groups, and populations in diverse settings. Analyze systems within organizations and disseminate recommendations to promote safe and quality health care. (5) (7)
III. Describe the relationship between evidence-based practice and nursing care. Apply evidence- based practice interventions when providing care to individuals and families. Deliver optimal nursing care using evidence-based interventions for individuals, families, and populations. Integrate ethical evidence-based practice process to improve nursing practice and health care outcomes. (1) (2) (3) (4)
IV. Demonstrate knowledge and use of selected technology in health care systems. Use patient care technologies and information systems to promote a safe practice environment. Utilize appropriate information technology tools to assist in the care of individuals and defined populations. Analyze data from technology and information systems to enhance decision-making in health care delivery systems. (5) (7) (8)
V. Recognize the existence and importance of policies in nursing practice. Describe the relationship of regulations and policies in the delivery of equitable, accessible care. Analyze the role of nurses in shaping policies, finance, and regulatory environments in health care. Advocate for development, application and change of policy to promote quality, cost-effective, equitable, and inclusive care. (5) (7)
VI. Apply therapeutic communication skills with individuals throughout health care settings. Express effective communication with health care professionals and teams to meet the needs of individuals and families. Demonstrate professional nurse behaviors that enhance communication and collaboration with stakeholders to achieve optimal health outcomes in individuals and populations. Execute consistent intra- , para- and inter-professional communication and collaboration to promote care coordination for safe, quality patient care. (5) (6) (9)
VII. Demonstrate primary and secondary prevention in promoting optimal health with diverse individuals across the life span. Use primary secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies to promote well-being for individuals and families across the life span. Utilize the elements of nursing process to implement all levels of prevention to promote well-being for individuals and populations. Promote optimal health and prevent injury and disease across the lifespan in complex situations for diverse individuals and populations. (2) (3) (6)
VIII. Describe the roles, functions, and ethical principles of the professional nurse. Contemplate ethical ambiguities in person-centered care and respond with professional behaviors. Demonstrate professional leadership, identity and values, incorporating ethical and regulatory considerations. Exhibit professional and ethical practice as an individual, leader and member of multidisciplinary teams. (9) (10)
IX. Perform safe, compassionate nursing care while demonstrating personal accountability. Implement nursing process in the provision of safe, effective nursing care for individuals and families. Apply nursing process and standards for delivery of holistic care with individuals and populations. Assume accountability for compassionate, competent, holistic, high-quality person-centered nursing across diverse care settings. (2) (3)
X. Identify determinants of health and how they impact individual’s health. Incorporate the determinants of health in planning care for individuals and families. Apply knowledge of the relationship between population and individual data to make informed care decisions. Consider determinants of health while advocating for social justice to promote health and well-being for all. (2) (3)
XI. Identify components of personal well-being and health. Examine barriers and facilitators related to personal well-being. Incorporate resources to improve personal health and well-being. Embody commitment to personal and professional health and well-being. (9) (10)

BSN Program Outcomes for Students Enrolled Before Fall 2024

  • Integrate life-long learning strategies to support critical thinking in nursing practice.
  • Analyze systems within organizations and disseminate recommendations to promote safe quality health care
  • Utilize evidence-based practice process to improve nursing practice and health care outcomes
  • Use technology and information systems to enhance decision-making in health care delivery systems.
  • Practice with regard for shaping healthcare, finance and regulatory policies to influence allocations of healthcare resources.
  • Use intra- and inter-professional communication and collaboration to promote care coordination for safe quality patient care.
  • Apply levels of prevention to promote well-being and prevent disease in complex situations for individuals and groups.
  • Exhibit professional behaviors as a member of multidisciplinary teams.
  • Practice caring, competent, holistic, high-quality patient-centered nursing in complex situations.

Semester Objectives for Students Enrolled Before Fall 2024

The grid below shows the objectives progression for the Traditional BSN program spanning 4 semesters (2 years).

AACN Essential Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 3 Semester 4
I. Liberal Education for Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice Incorporate knowledge from prerequisite social and physical sciences, and the arts to promote health of individuals across the life course. Relate knowledge from prerequisite courses in critical thinking and collaborative decision making with patients. Apply prerequisite knowledge to support decision-making and critical thinking in the care of individuals and groups. Integrate life-long learning strategies to support critical thinking in nursing practice.
II. Basic Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Care and Patient Safety Use beginning nursing leadership concepts in the provision of safe quality health care. Practice leadership during provision and coordination of safe, quality health care. Demonstrate professional leadership in the provision, coordination, and evaluation of safe and quality health care in a variety of systems. Analyze systems within organizations and disseminate recommendations to promote safe quality health care.
III. Scholarship for Evidence Based Practice Examine process of evidence-based practice as applied in nursing. Apply practice evidence, curricular concepts, and patient preferences/values when providing care. Integrate best practice evidence for delivery of optimal health care. Utilize evidence-based practice process to improve nursing practice and health care outcomes.
IV. Information Management and Application of Patient Care Technologies Acquire knowledge of patient care technology and health care information systems. Use patient care technologies and information systems to promote a safe practice environment. Apply information technology to individuals and groups in planning to meet health care needs. Use technology and information systems to enhance decision-making in health care delivery systems.
V. Health Care Policy, Finance, and Regulatory Environments Portray attributes of the nursing profession and describe associated regulations. Provide care that is economically efficient and follows established policies/regulations. Analyze role of nurses shaping policies, finance, and regulatory environments in health care. Practice with regard for shaping healthcare, finance and regulatory policies to influence allocations of healthcare resources.
VI. Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration for Improving Patient Health Outcomes Recognize therapeutic communication skills used by professional nurses. Communicate effectively with other health professionals to meet the health care needs of individuals and families. Demonstrate professional nurse roles that enhance communication and collaboration with other professionals to achieve health outcomes. Use intra- and inter-professional communication and collaboration to promote care coordination for safe quality patient care.
VII. Clinical Prevention and Population Health Demonstrate an understanding of primary and secondary prevention in promoting optimal health across life course Use primary secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies to promote well-being for individuals and families. Implement primary, secondary and tertiary prevention strategies to promote well-being for individuals and groups. Apply levels of prevention to promote well-being and prevent disease in complex situations for individuals and groups.
VIII. Professionalism and Professional Values Identify the roles, functions, and values of the professional nurse. Demonstrate the attributes of the professional nurse. Demonstrate professional leadership, identity and values, incorporating ethical and legal frameworks. Exhibit professional behaviors as a member of multidisciplinary teams.
IX. Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice Perform nursing care safely and with compassion and commitment. Plan and provide safe, effective nursing care for individuals and families. Apply nursing practice standards for delivery of comprehensive care to individuals and groups. Practice caring, competent, holistic, high-quality patient-centered nursing in complex situations.