Nursing
Accreditation
Russell Sage College is accredited by the Middle States Association Commission on Higher Education. The Department of Nursing is a member agency of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, the National League for Nursing, and the Council of Deans of Nursing in Senior Colleges and Universities in New York State. The baccalaureate and master’s degree programs in nursing at Russell Sage College are accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, D.C., 20036, (202) 887-6791. All nursing programs are registered with the New York State Education Department.
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.
Mission
The Mission Statement of the Department of Nursing is to provide and promote baccalaureate, graduate, and doctoral nursing education in an environment that 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. Russell Sage College strives to prepare graduates who are assertive and practice client advocacy, 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 both professionals and citizens striving to influence health care delivery, nursing education, and the welfare of society.
Program Characteristics
Students in the nursing program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree follow a suggested program of study (course plan) which is based on full-time study. Nursing student scholarships and loans are available. Professional courses (NSG) start in the junior year and continue through the senior year. Clinical experiences are available at Capital District organizations such as Albany Medical Center; St. Peter’s Health Care; Albany Stratton VA Health Center; Visiting Nurses Associations; Albany, Schenectady and Rensselaer County Health Departments; the Capital District Psychiatric Center; Bellevue Women’s Center; Seton Health System; Ellis Hospital; Northeast Health; and a variety of other health agencies.
Academic Standards
The Nursing Department requires the following academic standards:
- For all students, the overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) must meet the college standards.
- Admission to the Nursing program, either as a new student to the College or as a continuing student declaring Nursing as a new major, requires a major GPA of 3.000 for all coursework required for the Nursing program.
- Students must receive a grade of “C” or higher (2.000) in all NSG Nursing course
- Students must maintain a Nursing major GPA of 3.000 (all nursing and required support courses) to progress
- Student progress in the Nursing program is reviewed at the end of each semester by the program’s undergraduate Academic Standards Committee.
- A student whose nursing cumulative GPA is below a 3.000 may be put on probation in the Nursing major for the next semester and will not be permitted to progress in the Nursing course sequence.
- Students may only be on probation once while in the Nursing program and may only repeat one Nursing course.
- Students will not be permitted to begin any NSG courses without a major GPA of 3.000 in the required supporting courses.
- A withdrawal after the end of the Add/Drop period is considered an attempt of a course. Students are only allowed to repeat (second attempt) any Nursing course once or at the discretion of the program director.
Failure to meet academic standards and/or probation requirements may result in dismissal from the Nursing program (i.e., students will be required to select a different major if they wish to continue at Sage).
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.
Clinical Laboratory Requirements
Students are responsible for providing their own transportation for clinical experiences. Students are required to carry liability insurance and have a current physical examination including immunizations and titers. Hepatitis B immunization is required prior to clinical experience. This health clearance is required for each clinical semester. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification is required of all students before entering sophomore clinical courses and must be current for all clinical courses. Students may not attend clinical unless cleared and are responsible for costs incurred for clinical make-up related to not meeting these requirements. A $40.00 fine will be assessed to students whose health clearance information is not received in the Nursing Department in a timely manner. Students are financially responsible for costs associated with learning modules, standardized tests, and certain laboratory experiences/equipment.
Current Sage Students Who Wish to Request a Major Change to Nursing
Admission to the Nursing program as a continuing student declaring Nursing as a new major requires a cumulative GPA of 3.000 for all coursework required for the Nursing program. Requests for major changes to Nursing are only reviewed twice a year, at the end of the fall and spring terms. Sage students must contact the Office of Academic Advising ([email protected]) for more details on this process. Note: qualified candidates may be denied admission to the program if space is not available.
Graduates of Baccalaureate or Associate Degree Programs or Transfer Students
A person with an earned baccalaureate or associate degree - in a discipline outside of nursing - may enroll in the Nursing program, transferring in up to a maximum total of 66 credits.
Graduates of Registered Nurse Programs
A Registered Nurse (RN) who has matriculated at Russell Sage College prior to Spring 2003 may complete the Bachelor of Science degree, with advanced standing. Advanced standing is granted for the successful completion of examinations or by validation from approved courses taken at other colleges. Registered nurses earn a BS degree on a full-time or part-time basis. The program features scheduling so that the students may continue employment. Registered nurses interested in beginning baccalaureate coursework should apply to the Russell Sage College RN/BS program in Sage’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE). A nursing student works closely with a nursing advisor to plan the program of study.
Degrees and Certificates
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Nursing (B.S.) -
Nursing ABSN (B.S.) -
Nursing RN (B.S.)
Classes
NSG 201: Theoretical Basis of Nursing
The focus of this course is to assist students in developing an understanding of the roles of professional nurse within the current social, economic, psychological, political and philosophical climate. The student identifies the autonomous and collaborative components of nursing practice within the health care delivery system. Concepts which contribute to professional development such as critical thinking, communication, accountability, ethics, and legalities are explored. Students trace the historical evolution of the profession from its early beginnings to current theories of nursing and identify the value of research to the future of nursing and health care. A conceptual framework is utilized. This course counts as a wellness distribution course for general education.
NSG 207: Health Assessment and Promotional Strategies
The focus of this course is on the development of assessment and critical thinking skills needed by the nurse in the data collection and includes communication and interviewing, nursing history, vital signs, interpretation of routine laboratory date, and the physical examination. Opportunities will be provided for skill development in communicating effectively and in a caring manner while collecting and recording subjective and objective data, identifying factors that present health risks or actual overt alteration in functional patterns and health status, developing outcome and interventions related to the helping and teaching domains of practice, and documenting all aspects of the nursing process are covered. A conceptual framework is utilized. [Theory: 38 hours; College Lab: 25 hours]
BIO 201, BIO 202, BIO 208, CHM 103 (or CHM 111 or PHY 101), PSY 101, and SCI 120.
NSG 207L, NSG 207R
NSG 207 coreqs: NSG 207L & NSG 207R
NSG 207 Lab and NSG 207 Recitation are taken in the same term with NSG 207 Lecture.
NSG 212: Nursing Concepts I
This course focuses on individualized interventions related to the prevention and alleviation of common health problems in the client experiencing alterations in functional health patterns. In simulated and actual clinical settings the student practices in a professional role while utilizing critical thinking skills in an environment that values the concept of caring. The focus on implementation of care reflects cultural, developmental level for adults (older adult/Hartford Geriatric Curriculum), and advocacy needs of the client using the application of Benner's domains of practice. A conceptual framework is utilized. [Theory: 25 hours; Clinical: 80 hours]
BIO 201, BIO 202, BIO 208, CHM 103 (or CHM 111 or PHY 101), PSY 101, and SCI 120.
NSG 212L, NSG 212R
NSG 212 coreqs: NSG 212L & NSG 212R
Corequisites: NSG 212L Clinical (80 hours minimum) & NSG 212R Recitation are taken in the same term with NSG 212 Lecture.
NSG 267: Honors Ill-Behaved Women: Nursing and Literature
This interdisciplinary honors course takes as its focus the history and portrayal of nursing and nurses in literature, with a particular emphasis on the nineteenth- and twentieth-centuries. From the religious orders of women who preceded Florence Nightingale in serving the ill and infirm to the empowerment of women in nursing currently, the course explores the field of nursing from its origins to current time. The challenges and opportunities that nursing presented for diverse women will be analyzed by considering the ways in which gender, race, and class shaped and continue to shape their work experiences. Students will analyze the role of nursing in a variety of text selections, including historical literature, biographies and first-person accounts of leaders within the nursing profession, selected essays and fiction, as well as film excerpts. The course emphasizes the important contributions that women have made in the development of the field of nursing, including creating an awareness of the profession through literary production.
NSG 323: Nursing Concepts II
The purpose is to identify, clarify, and conceptualize pathological changes in major health problems across the lifespan which provides a theoretical base for the nurse in the Benner's domains of practice. The concept of caring is reflected in the seeking of knowledge regarding pathophysiology and nursing interventions. Using a student-centered learning environment, students have an opportunity to demonstrate critical thinking skills in applying pathophysiological and nursing principles. Students integrate theory into the care of the acutely ill client in practice settings. A conceptual framework is utilized. [Theory: 50 hours; Clinical: 80 hours]
NSG 201, NSG 207, & NSG 212
NSG 323L, NSG 323R
NSG 325: Family Community Health Nursing I
This course assists students in examining factors that promote health or act as barriers to health across the life span. Students will explore multidimensional factors including culture, religion, and economics that influence health behaviors. Clinical experiences in a variety of community settings will provide students with knowledge to develop and implement specific health promotion strategies using a dynamic interdisciplinary approach. Application of learning theory will be applied to groups in the community.[Theory: 25 hours; Clinical: 40 hours]
NSG 212
NSG 325L
NSG 326: Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
This course is designed to refine students' communication skills and therapeutic use of self for application with clients who are experiencing behavioral difficulties in living. Theory and practice in psychiatric-mental health nursing is directed toward the development of skill and comfort in intervening with these clients. Theory consists of content related to emotional/mental disorders with the expectation that the student applies this knowledge in the practicum. The course examines clients across the life span, with emphasis on the adult, and from various socio/cultural backgrounds. Primary focus is on the nurse/client individual relationship. Students collaborate with other health care providers, and accountability and clinical judgment are emphasized. [3 theory/classroom credits with 1 clinical credit].
NSG 212 and PSY 202 (or PSY 208)
NSG 326L
NSG 331: Contemporary Professional Nursing Practice
This course is an overview of nursing role development, professional values and the hallmarks of professional practice environments that are based on nursing knowledge, clinical quality care and evidenced based decision making. Students use critical thinking and theoretical knowledge to further develop cognitive and communication skills in nursing theory, research, leadership, advocacy, and accountability. The ANA Standards of Clinical Nursing Practice and AACN/AONE reports serve as benchmarks for professional practice.
NSG 332: Assessment for Health Promotion & Risk Reduction
Focus of this course is on the development of assessment and critical thinking skills needed by the nurse in the data collection phase of the nursing process and includes nursing history, vital signs, interpretation of routine laboratory data, and the physical examination. Opportunities will be provided for skill development in communicating effectively and in a caring manner, while collecting subjective and objective data, identifying factors that present health risks or actual overt alteration in functional patterns and health status, developing outcomes and health promotion and risk reduction interventions related to the helping and teaching coaching domains of practice, and documenting all aspects of the nursing process.
BIO 201 & BIO 202
NSG 333: Nursing Concepts III
The purpose is to identify, clarify, and conceptualize advanced pathological changes in major health problems across the lifespan which provides a theoretical base for the nurse in the Benner's domains of practice. The concepts of caring is reflected in the seeking of knowledge regarding pathophysiology and nursing interventions. Using a student-centered learning environment, students have an opportunity to demonstrate critical thinking skills in applying pathophysiological and nursing principles. Students integrate theory into the care for the acutely ill client in practice settings. Students develop and expand their clinical judgement and skills in selected domains of practice. A conceptual framework is utilized. Offered Fall and Spring. [Theory: 50 hours; Clinical: 80 hours]
NSG 201, NSG 207, NSG 212, NSG 323, NSG 325
NSG 333L
NSG 345: Nursing Pharmacology
The major focus of this course is on the scientific application of drug actions and their effect on an individual's wellness/illness state across the lifespan. This course enhances the students' critical thinking abilities related to pharmacological concepts within a caring framework. Drug classifications are presented, analyzing pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, within a framework of an individual's physiological and psychological functioning. Socioeconomic concerns, cultural diversity, age-related changes, legal constraints and ethical issues related to drug therapy are explored. Nursing GPA of 3.000 required to enroll.
NSG 201, NSG 207, NSG 212
NSG 355: Reproduction and Sexuality
This course provides in-depth coverage of health care concepts with nursing applications. This course provides continuing opportunities for development of clinical judgement skills. The course lends itself to a concept-based approach. This course examines the nursing role in the maintenance and restoration of the family during the childbearing, and child rearing phases of family development. Students are encouraged to explore interactions which contribute to the family's functioning and interaction with the community. Caring is the overriding construct which directs interventions identified in the domains of helping, teaching-learning, and diagnostic-monitoring of therapeutic regimes. Offered: Fall and Spring. [Theory: 30 hours; Clinical: 80 hours]
NSG 201, NSG 207, NSG 212, NSG 323, NSG 325
NSG 355L
NSG 402: Comm/Publ Hlth Nsg in Chng Wld
This course introduces the epidemiological process as a basis for understanding health and nursing in the community. The course emphasizes application of community theory, health promotion, and family theory in an epidemiological framework to health care on an individual, family, population and global level. The course assists students to examine health through community assessment and group teaching processes, with particular attention to the needs of vulnerable populations. Offered Spring. [Theory: 52 hours; Clinical: 80 Hours]
NSG 331, NSG 332
NSG 402L
NSG 402L: Comm Public Health Nursing Lab
To be taken with NSG 402 lecture.
NSG 402
NSG 404: Leadership in Professional Nursing
This course is designed to integrate the professional concepts of nurse, environment, person, and health as they apply to the domains of practice across a variety of health care settings. Students will examine the contributions made by effective leadership/management to the client's experience of the health care system and its complexities. Students will draw upon previous knowledge and nursing experience, integrated with nursing theory and research, to manage the care of clients. Offered Spring semester. [Theory: 25 hours; Clinical: 40 Hours]
NSG 331, NSG 332, NSG 402
NSG 404L
NSG 405: Leadership/Management in Nursing
The baccalaureate graduate, as a professional practitioner, assumes responsibility for planning, delegating, supervising, and evaluating nursing care given by other staff in health care agencies. The nature of organizations, the behavior of individuals and groups in the organization, patterns of delivering care in various health care settings, and the evaluations of services are explored. A major focus is developing clinical judgment in the domains of monitoring and ensuring quality of health care practice and organizational work role competencies. [Theory: 25 hours]
Completion of 87 or more credits
NSG 409: Prof. Role:Challenges and Issues
The development of the baccalaureate nurse's commitment to and leadership in the profession of nursing is the emphasis of this course. Emphasis is on professional responsibility for helping to shape the future of health care, for advancing human caring as a public agenda, and for influencing developments within the profession. In seminar discussion, students investigate and analyze the impact of specific professional, ethical, political, social, legal, and economic issues in nursing and health care. [Theory: 25 hours]
Completion of 87 or more credits
NSG 425: Family and Community Health II
The epidemiological prevention process, community theory and family theory provide the basis for nursing care in the community. The course emphasizes application of this knowledge base to improve the health of the community. The course emphasizes application of this knowledge base to improve the health of the community through program planning and effective use of the health care resources. Emphasis will be placed on achieving positive outcomes of nursing management for individuals, families, and specific population groups through dynamic interdisciplinary practice. Offered Fall and Spring. [Theory: 30 hours; Clinical: 80 hours]
NSG 201, NSG 207, NSG 212, NSG 323, NSG 325
NSG 425L
NSG 448: Topics in Nursing
A series of evolving topics and concepts in nursing. Current topics will reflect national health trends, relevant practice issues, and implications for the nursing profession.
For students enrolled in the RN-BS major program.
NSG 450: Transitions in Professional Practice
This capstone course is designed to help the student synthesize the concepts of nurse, environment, person, health and caring as they apply to the domains of nursing practice in various health care settings. Students will examine the clients total experience of the health care system and its complexities to support culturally sensitive care within a diverse environment. Complex dimensions of the domains of practice will be analyzed with implications for the graduate leadership roles. By synthesizing knowledge of nursing theory/research, and previous practice, students will make the initial transition to professional practice models. Certification preparation is incorporated in seminars. Offered Fall and Spring. [Theory: 18 hours; Clinical: 240 hours] (6 seminars, 3 hours/seminar)
NSG 201, NSG 207, NSG 212, NSG 323, NSG 325, NSG 326, NSG 333, NSG 355, NSG 425
NSG 450L
NSG 558: Paradigms & Perspectives of Advanced Practice Nursing
- See Graduate Catalog: https://grad-catalog.sage.edu/nursing/nsg-558
NSG 559: Nursing in a Sociopolitical-Environment
- See Graduate Catalog, https://grad-catalog.sage.edu/nursing/nsg-559