Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Health care is a dynamic field characterized by rapid and continuous change. Caring for acutely ill patients in hospitals is increasingly challenging and involves complex, usually high-tech treatment. More health care is being delivered in ambulatory settings and in community centers. Demand for professional nurses is rapidly escalating, with positions available in hospital specialty units such as Intensive Care or Labor and Delivery, and emergency departments, home health and community health. OU's BSN program is designed to develop critical thinking, communication and clinical skills necessary to enter and advance in professional nursing careers. We are preparing nurses to meet the challenges of the health care industry - today and tomorrow.

At the baccalaureate level, the course of study (125 credits) combines general education in the humanities and the social, biological, and natural sciences with education in the theory and practice of nursing.

The objective of the School of Nursing community-based curriculum is to prepare expert nurses who will promote health and provide care for well, acutely ill, chronically ill and dying patients across the life span in a variety of health care settings. Graduates will be competent in assessment, information management, critical thinking, clinical decision making, case management, and communication skills necessary to design, deliver, direct, and evaluate health care.

The School of Nursing Laboratory provides students with the opportunity to practice clinical interventions, communication and interpersonal skills in a simulated clinical setting. It also provides audiovisual learning aids and computer-assisted instruction, access to the Internet, interactive video and opportunities to study special nursing topics.

The School of Nursing gives students a diverse range of experiences at over 30 urban and suburban settings throughout metropolitan Detroit.

The undergraduate program will:

• provide quality nursing education
• foster professional development in assessing, planning and administering therapeutic interventions and evaluating the outcomes
• develop clinical decision-making skills based on ethical, legal, interpersonal, cross-cultural, and technological knowledge
• integrate the concepts of evidence based practice into nursing care delivery
• prepare students for the licensure exam of the Michigan State Board of Nursing
• foster a commitment to lifelong learning.

For full information, please review the program flyer [PDF].

RN/BSN DEGREE COMPLETION SEQUENCE

The RN/BSN degree completion sequence provides associate degree or diploma nurses with value added knowledge that will help them advance in today's health care market. Care management, health care finance, health promotion, and evidenced based practice are some of the concepts emphasized. The registered nurse returning for a bachelor's degree learns in an online environment that recognizes the professional nurse's strengths. Students may attend on a full- or part-time basis. The amount of time needed to complete the program varies for each individual student. The minimum time needed is four semesters, excluding spring or summer. This assumes that the student has previously completed all non-nursing requirements and takes two to three courses a semester. Associate degree graduates may transfer community college nursing credits and required non-nursing and general education credits (maximum 63 credits).

To meet the needs of the RN student for convenience and flexibility, all required nursing courses are offered online, with no requirement to travel to campus or other remote locations for classes. Recognizing the RN's prior education and professional experience, there is only one clinical course required. This course allows the RN to explore an area of her/his interest and develop in-depth knowledge in that area.

MORE INFORMATION

For full information, please review the program flyer [PDF].

If you would like to have more information mailed to you, please contact us.