HELP [ARCHIVED CATALOG] Nursing (B.S.) Print-Friendly Page

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The Baccalaureate Degree Program for Registered Nurses is designed to serve working adults who are already Registered Nurses or are eligible candidates for the national examination for licensure as Registered Professional  Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The program builds on the registered nurses’ knowledge and experience, broadens their horizons in collaborative and contemporary nursing practice and advances their career opportunities. The program is self-paced, flexible and designed to provide students with the opportunity to complete their degree while working. Registered nurses work closely with a nursing advisor to plan the program of study. 

The Mission Statement of the Department of Nursing is to provide and promote baccalaureate, graduate, and doctoral nursing education in an environment which emphasizes the development of individuals as professional nurses with a vision of their own power, and a clear sense of self and their professional role. The department endeavors to prepare graduates who are critical thinkers, who utilize, transmit, and develop new knowledge through  systematic models of scholarly inquiry, and who demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning. Preparation for excellence in nursing practice is achieved through the integration of arts and sciences, humanistic concern for the health and well-being of others, and an awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity in a pluralistic society. The Sage Colleges strives to prepare graduates who are assertive and practice client advocates, enabling clients to maximize their own potential. The global and technological context in which the nursing profession continues to evolve is emphasized, with the expectation that our graduates will assume leadership roles as professionals, and  citizens in organizations to influence health care delivery, nursing education, and the welfare of society.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate and master’s degree programs in nursing at The Sage Colleges are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036, (202)  887-6791, and New York State Education Department.

The Nursing Program is a member agency of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the National League for Nursing and the Council of Deans of Nursing of Senior Colleges and Universities in New York State. The Nursing  program has been a participant in the John A. Hartford Foundation Baccalaureate Program Partner for dissemination of Best Nursing Practices in Care for Older Adults.

Curriculum

The program requires completion of upper division nursing courses which build on the student’s Associate degree nursing courses. The liberal arts courses provide a broader education for students in the changing health care  environment. The curriculum contains four undergraduate nursing courses that expand nursing knowledge and experience in contemporary practice, health promotion, community/public health nursing and leadership. The  discipline-based elective course provides the flexibility to offer contemporary topics of critical interest to nurses. The two graduate nursing courses provide the core of advanced practice and a basis for early entry into the  Master’s Degree program. Some of the course work will be web-based.

Degree Requirements

The program is composed of upper-division nursing courses that build upon the student’s Associate degree nursing courses. The required liberal arts courses provide a broader education for the student in the changing health care environment. Students entering Sage After Work may transfer up to 90 credit hours toward the bachelor’s degree credit requirement. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits in residence, upper level courses specified by the requirements of his/her program, and three Sage LIFE general education classes as specified by the catalog. All credits earned as a direct requirement  of an Associate’s Degree with a grade of “C-” or better, are eligible for transfer credit toward a baccalaureate degree at Sage After Work. SAW will accept up to a total of 66 credits earned at a two year college regardless of  whether an Associate’s Degree was awarded. Not all accepted credits are applicable toward degree requirements. Students should meet with academic advisors to ascertain the applicability of previously acquired credits. Students  typically transfer in 36–54 credits of liberal arts credits from their associate degree program or other college programs, with an additional 30 credits of nursing being validated. A minimum of 30 credits must be completed at Sage, with 60 credits of liberal arts and a total of 120 credits required.

Academic Standards

Student progress in the program is reviewed at the end of each semester by the department’s undergraduate Academic Standards Committee. Appeals of decisions by the Academic Standards Committee may be made by submitting a written petition to the coordinator of the BS program. Nursing GPA includes all nursing and required support courses. Nursing requires the following academic standards:

For all students the overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) must meet the college standards.  Students must receive a grade of “C” or higher in all nursing courses.  Nursing students must also have a nursing cumulative GPA of 3.0 by the completion of 12 credits of 200-level nursing (NSG) courses [300-level for RN/BS students] and for all subsequent semesters.  A student whose nursing cumulative GPA is below a 3.0 after completion of 12 credits of 200-level NSG courses will be reviewed by the Nursing Program’s Academic Standards Committee and will be put on probation in the Nursing major for the next semester.  Policies related to Academic Standards such as probation, dismissal, and readmission and the Code of Conduct can be found, in detail, in the Nursing Department Student Handbook.

For additional information, call the Nursing Program at (518)-244-2231 and/ or write: Department of Nursing, The Sage Colleges, 45 Ferry Street, Troy, New York 12180 or 140 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, New York 12208 (e-mail: nursing@sage.edu).

Clinical Placements

Students are responsible for providing their own transportation for clinical experiences, and are required to carry liability insurance and have a current physical examination, including immunizations and titers. Hepatitis B  immunization is required prior to the clinical experience. Documentation of health clearance is required. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification is required of all students before entering a clinical experience. A $40.00  fine will be assessed for students who do not have health clearance information received in the Nursing Department on a timely basis. Students must meet the requirements of the clinical during the course.