Augustana College

Nursing Programs Offered

BSN Programs
MSN Programs
Public Health/Community Nursing - Master's degree
RN Programs
RN to BSN Programs

BSN Program Details

ADMISSION CRITERIA
High school seniors have the opportunity to apply for admission into the nursing program as incoming college freshmen. Early admission is based on the following criteria:
* a composite ACT score of 22 or above, with all subscores of 20 or above
* a high school GPA of 3.5 or above
* satisfactory faculty evaluation of responses to essay questions on the nursing application form
* acceptable references

Students already at Augustana who did not apply to the nursing major as incoming freshmen may apply for early admission. Early admission is based on the following criteria:
* a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
* four (4) prerequisite science courses successfully completed at Augustana

Transfer students with less than 40 credits may apply for early admission, based on the following criteria:
* acceptance to Augustana college
* a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
* three (3) prerequisite science courses successfully completed
* have a plan of study for completing the remaining prerequisite courses at Augustana

Early admission guarantees the student a placement in the junior year clinical nursing courses providing the student:
* completes the required supportive courses for nursing with a grade of C- or higher
* completes a minimum of 51 cumulative semester credit hours
* achieves a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.7
* provides sufficient evidence of those personal qualifications generally considered necessary for success in professional nursing

Students who are not admitted to the nursing major as freshmen, as well as part-time students and transfer students desiring to pursue a nursing major, apply for admission to the nursing program by February 15 of the calendar year in which the student desires to begin clinical courses and after:
* completing six of the required supportive courses for nursing with a grade of C- or higher
* completing a minimum of 51 cumulative semester credit hours
* achieving a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.7
* providing sufficient evidence of those personal qualifications generally considered necessary for success in professional nursing.

All students in the major, where officially admitted to the program or not, are assigned an academic advisor within the nursing department.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES
1. Practices nursing consistent with the foundational values of the discipline and a belief in human wholeness.
a. Clarifies personal and professional values and recognizes their impact on decision-making and professional behavior.
b. Demonstrates personal and professional initiative and accountability.
c. Demonstrates receptivity and openness to differing values and worldviews, honoring the perspective of individuals, families, groups, and communities.
d. Applies moral and ethical reasoning toward understanding and responding to issues in nursing practice.
e. Demonstrates commitment to continued personal and professional growth.

2. Integrates theories, concepts and research from the sciences, humanities and nursing as a foundation for nursing practice.
a. Demonstrates a basic understanding of nursing theory and its influence in guiding nursing practice and research.
b. Applies understanding of health patterns to nursing practice in promoting health and enhancing quality of life for individuals, families, groups, and communities.
c. Uses information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision making.*
d. Incorporates principles of teaching-learning into appropriate health educational interactions.
e. Applies current evidence-based practice into clinical experiences, incorporating patient/family preferences and values for delivery of optimal health care.
f. Demonstrates a basic understanding of research methods and systematic inquiry and their relationship to nursing practice and theory.
g. Integrates concepts of nursing and public health science in addressing health issues of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations.

3. Develops partnerships in addressing the human health concerns of individuals, families, groups and communities.
a. Develops competent communication skills, using a variety of modalities.
b. Develops caring relationships through presence.
c. Demonstrates sensitivity to the diversity and uniqueness of human health experiences across cultures.
d. Engages individuals, families, groups and communities as full partners in identifying and responding to health care needs.
e. Recognizes that human behavior is affected by culture, race, religion, gender, lifestyle, age and environment.
f. Contributes the unique nursing perspective to interprofessional teams to optimize patient outcomes.

4. Demonstrates critical thinking, creativity, and sound clinical judgment in professional practice across settings.
a. Demonstrates initiative.
b. Applies competent psychomotor skills in the delivery of safe, efficient, and compassionate care.
c. Establishes priorities in the provision of care.
d. Uses creativity and aesthetics in addressing health concerns of individuals, families, groups and communities.
e. Responds to changing situations in practice to assure safe, effective care.
f. Evaluates outcomes, modifying care in partnership with individuals, families, groups, and communities.
g. Evaluates the contribution of system factors to the quality and safety of health care.

5. Displays leadership in professional nursing practice to address the health concerns of individuals, families, groups and communities.
a. Incorporates professional nursing standards into nursing practice.
b. Influences nursing and interdisciplinary colleagues through role modeling and mentoring.
c. Advocates for health care that is sensitive to the needs of individuals, families, groups, and communities.
d. Coordinates and manages care, through delegation and supervision.
e. Incorporates consideration of cost, quality, and access issues into nursing practice.
f. Demonstrates basic understanding of the organization and financing of health care delivery systems.
g. Applies appropriate quality and safety indicators in nursing practice.
h. Explains the process and relevance of continuous quality improvement in health care systems.
i. Applies knowledge of social, political, economic, and historical issues to the analysis of societal and professional problems.
j. Displays an understanding of the scope of baccalaureate-level nursing practice and regulatory requirements for professional practice.

MSN Program Details

BACKGROUND
The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) program arises from a national call for a nurse generalist prepared at the Master's level to improve care and quality outcomes at the point of care. Applications are being accepted at Augustana College for students to begin in Summer or Fall, 2008.

DESCRIPTION
The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is prepared for leadership across all settings in which health care is delivered -- providing, managing, and coordinating population-appropriate health care responsive to the health needs of individuals, groups, populations and communities. The CNL assures client-centered care through intra- and interdisciplinary coordination and lateral integration of care. The CNL implements outcome-based practice and quality improvement strategies at the point of care using systems-level interventions, and accountable for improving clinical and cost outcomes for a population or group at the microsystems level. The CNL applies technology for health care delivery and evaluation of nursing outcomes and assists clients with managing an increasingly complex system of care.

CURRICULAR OUTCOMES
The Clinical Nurse Leader graduate will:

1. Provide leadership at the point of care in the provision and management of health care in partnership with individuals, families and communities.

2. Assess individuals, families and populations at risk, and design and implement plans of care delivery.

3. Implement knowledge-based practice and quality improvement strategies to affect improved outcomes at the microsystems level working within a multidisiplinary team.

4. Develop new policies, care practices and professional standards that improve care delivery at the microsystems level.

5. Coordinate health care delivery across the lifespan and across health systems.

AACN* ASSUMPTIONS OF THE CNL
1. Practice is at the microsystem level.
2. Client care outcomes are the measure of quality practice.
3. Practice guidelines are based on evidence.
4. Client-centered practice is intra - and interdisiplinary.
5. Information will maximize self-care and client decision-making.
6. Nursing assessment is the basis for theory and knowledge development.
7. Good fiscal stewardship is a condition of quality care.
8. Social justice is an essential nursing value.
9. Communication technology will faciliate the continuity and comprehensiveness of care.
10. The CNL must assume guardianship for the nursing profession.

* (American Association of Colleges of Nursing Working Paper on the Role of the Clinical Nurse Leader. May 2003, Revised June 2004, p. 5. www. aacn.org)