University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Nursing Programs Offered

Accelerated BSN Programs
BSN Programs
DNP Programs (Doctor of Nursing Practice)
RN Programs
RN to BSN Programs

RN to BSN Program Details

After completing the BSN program, the graduate will be able to:

-Function in the beginning role of a baccalaureate generalist nurse in settings that cross all populations and environments
-Be proficient in the core nursing competencies of clinical/critical reasoning, patient safety, and quality improvement principles
-Maintain interprofessional collaboration and communication to improve healthcare outcomes
-Master the required core knowledge for baccalaureate generalist nursing practice
-Demonstrate professionalism and its values (including altruism, autonomy, human dignity, social justice, and integrity) as a baccalaureate generalist nurse

Multiple entry levels facilitate the educational upward mobility of RN's. All students seeking advanced standing will be required to meet the same prerequisites and terminal objectives of the college as traditional students. Advanced placement credit may be obtained by transfer credit or challenge credit. Those seeking advanced placement in the baccalaureate program must meet the following requirements:

-Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
-RN's within 3 years of graduation may apply for entry to the program without clinical practice experience.
-RN's 3 years post graduation must have clinical practice experiences of at least 1,000 hours within the past 3 years or completion of an approved RN Refresher course
-At least one letter of support documenting at least 1,000 hours of clinical practice experiences
-Advanced placement students must have an active RN license
-Request information related to the "Colorado Articulation" to answer additional questions for Registered Nurses seeking advanced placement
-Applicants must provide a copy of their RN license to Admissions and Records to be admitted to the RN to BSN program

BSN Program Details

After completing the BSN program, the graduate will be able to:

-Function in the beginning role of a baccalaureate generalist nurse in settings that cross all populations and environments
-Be proficient in the core nursing competencies of clinical/critical reasoning, patient safety, and quality improvement principles
-Maintain interprofessional collaboration and communication to improve healthcare outcomes
-Master the required core knowledge for baccalaureate generalist nursing practice
-Demonstrate professionalism and its values (including altruism, autonomy, human dignity, social justice, and integrity) as a baccalaureate generalist nurse

MSN Program Details

Upon completion of the MSN program, the graduate will be able to:

-Apply theories and scientific evidence to provide holistic care to the individual
-Provide leadership within clinical and organizational settings to provide high quality, safe, patient care
-Apply clinical reasoning to promote health and prevent disease for the individual, family, and community
-Critically appraise and apply current evidence in a clinical setting to ensure quality patient outcomes
-Use technology in the clinical setting to enhance safe and effective patient care
-Evaluate emerging trends, policy issues, and programmatic problems to improve health care delivery
-Use therapeutic, patient-centered, communication in the delivery of health care
-Collaborate in inter/intra-professional care teams
-Provide patient-centered, culturally competent healthcare to diverse patient populations
-Use an ethical framework for clinical practice and clinical expertise to care for patients

REQUIREMENTS FOR MSN DEGREE

-Completion of a minimum of 38-46 credits at the graduate level
-A grade of "B" in all required nursing courses
-Successful completion of a Comprehensive Exam
-Completion of degree requirements within six years

MSN ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

-Completion of an accredited baccalaureate degree in nursing program including prerequisite undergraduate courses:
-Introduction to Statistics
-Nursing Research
-Health Assessment

-Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 for all undergraduate course work
-Curriculum Vitae
-Current unrestricted Registered Nurse license from the state where you practice during practicum rotations
-Passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if your native language is not English

Accelerated BSN Program Details

After completing the BSN program, the graduate will be able to:

-Function in the beginning role of a baccalaureate generalist nurse in settings that cross all populations and environments
-Be proficient in the core nursing competencies of clinical/critical reasoning, patient safety, and quality improvement principles
-Maintain interprofessional collaboration and communication to improve healthcare outcomes
-Master the required core knowledge for baccalaureate generalist nursing practice
-Demonstrate professionalism and its values (including altruism, autonomy, human dignity, social justice, and integrity) as a baccalaureate generalist nurse

This 16 month nursing program is designed for individuals who hold a Bachelor's degree in another field and wish to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN). All required general education courses and the baccalaureate degree MUST be completed prior to application to the program.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Details

The Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) represents the highest level of preparation in nursing practice based on nursing science and prepares leaders for nursing practice. This program builds upon the base of a Master’s Degree in Nursing Preparation in Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Clinical Nurse Specialty (CNS) programs and excellence of practice based on validations by standard sets of competencies in national certification processes and specialty credentials. The Beth-El College at UCCS program is based upon the essential concepts of the DNP curriculum as approved by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in September 2005, and the accrediting body for DNP programs, the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Upon completion of the DNP program, the graduate will be able to:

-Function in an advanced practice role at the highest level of professional practice to provide healthcare for specific vulnerable, at risk and/or rural populations and to participate in interprofessional teams to provide and improve population based health care.
-Demonstrate expertise in DNP advanced practice guided by Programmatic Essentials of the DNP. Be expert in the core competencies of the DNP program including critical thinking, communication, ethical/legal/political skills and clinical expertise to care for diverse populationswithin the healthcare system. Participate and apply clinical scholarship and analytic methods of EBP in health care settings
-Demonstrate expert leadership within clinical and organizational settings to identify emerging trends, policy, and/or programmatic efforts to address clinical issues. Develop skills to assume leadership role for intra-professional and inter-professional collaboration and communication to improve patient and population based health outcomes. Includes Provider of Care, Designer/ Manager/ Coordinator of Care and Leader within the healthcare system.
-Demonstrate professionalism and its values (including altruism, autonomy, human dignity, social justice, and integrity) as a doctorally prepared advance practice nurse.