Fairmont State University

Nursing Programs Offered

ADN Program Details

Fairmont State University's School of Nursing offers an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing program. This program is two years in length and upon graduation, the student receives the Associate Degree in Nursing and is eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The associate degree nurse is prepared as a technical nurse to care for clients with common health problems in structured settings. The associate degree or nurse practice is defined by the roles of care provider, client teacher, communicator, manager of client care and member within the profession of nursing.

The mission of the Associate Degree of Science Nursing program is to provide quality entry level nursing education to individuals in north central West Virginia and beyond. The program is designed to prepare graduates for a challenging and satisfying career as a nurse. The curriculum includes a balance of nursing and non-nursing courses. Students have the opportunity to apply nursing theory and skills in the campus laboratory and two state-of-the-art simulation laboratories, as well as in clinical settings which may include hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools, clinics, and physician’s offices. Students are expected to provide their own transportation to all clinical experiences, which may include agencies in Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Doddridge, Lewis, and Harrison counties.

Upon completion of the Associate Degree in Nursing Program, the graduate will be able to:

-Initiate client care using critical thinking skills to make reasoned decisions.
-Practice social and professional accountability and responsibility.
-Synthesize knowledge from nursing and the physical, biological, behavioral, and social sciences to implement the nursing process.
-Establish effective therapeutic communication with clients.
-Demonstrate safe and competent therapeutic nursing interventions.
-Coordinate client care functioning in the multiple roles of care provider, teacher, communicator, manager, and member of the profession.

RN to BSN Program Details

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at Fairmont State is designed for Registered Nurses who desire a baccalaureate degree in nursing. This degree program provides career mobility for the associate degree and diploma graduate nurse. The baccalaureate degree is the first professional level of preparation. At this level, the nurse's role is expanded beyond direct client care to encompass the care of families, groups, and communities. In addition, the professional nurse assumes the role of coordinator of care to lead, guide, and direct the delivery of health care based on knowledge gained in support courses as well as nursing literature and research.

The curriculum is individually designed on the basis of the student’s academic background to prepare nurse generalists who possess the professional competence to provide and coordinate care in situations of health promotion, maintenance, and restoration. The program also aims to provide a base for graduate study and to prepare graduates to assume accountability for nursing practice in the roles of clinical generalist, client advocate, leader, manager, research consumer and lifelong learner.

A minimum of 128 approved credit hours is required. This includes 30 upper division nursing credits. The program can be completed in one or two full-time academic years if the lower division requirements have been completed in advance. Students may enroll on a full-time or part-time basis. Nursing courses will be offered in the evening when possible.