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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

BSN Program Outcomes

  • 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.

Please note:

  • 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.

Semester Objectives

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.