Return to: Undergraduate Programs of Study

**Brookfield students starting in or after September 2020, Click here  for the BSN Program Outline.

**Kenosha and Madison students starting in or after October 2020, Click here  for the BSN Program Outline. 

Program Description

This pre-licensure bachelor degree in nursing program prepares the generalist nurse with a focus on practice which is holistic, caring, safe, quality, and evidence-based client/patient care. The baccalaureate nurse generalist assumes the role of provider of direct and indirect care, designer, coordinator, and manager of care, and has membership in the profession as an advocate for clients/patients and the professions (AACN, 2008). The liberal arts education core provides a strong foundation for developing the clinical judgment and critical thinking skills required to provide care to diverse populations across the life-span, health-illness continuum, and in a variety of healthcare settings and to practice lifelong learning.

The general education and core nursing courses build on each other and are integrated throughout the curriculum. Theoretical instruction is integrated with clinical experience in a variety of healthcare settings in order to provide a broad, holistic, and reality-based understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a professional nurse.

Herzing University currently offers two options for completion of the pre-licensure BSN program; the Pre-licensure Plan and the Advancement Plan.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of their program, the student should be able to:

1. Practice using caring, compassionate, culturally competent, and evidence-based practices in the roles of the baccalaureate nurse using the nursing process to provide patient/client-centered care in a variety of healthcare settings.
2. Use a broad base of techniques to communicate effectively with clients, families, healthcare teams, and communities.
3. Use critical thinking and decision making, local, state, national, and global policies, legislative concepts, and healthcare economics to effect quality healthcare and the evolving healthcare system.
4. Integrate knowledge and skills in nursing leadership and management, quality improvement, and patient safety, as required, to provide healthcare.
5. Integrate knowledge and skills to promote health and prevent disease across the lifespan and the continuum of healthcare environments.
6. Practice professionalism, including the inherent values of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice.
7. Formulate a professional ethic that includes lifelong learning and continuous professional development in an ever-evolving healthcare environment.
8. Think critically at a conceptual level and by using mathematical analysis as well as the scientific method, write and speak effectively, use basic computer applications, and understand human behavior in the context of the greater society in a culturally diverse world.

BSN Pre-Licensure Admission Requirements

Please refer to the “Undergraduate Nursing Admission Requirements  ” policy in the Admissions Information section of this catalog for nursing program admission requirements.

Potential Occupational Titles

Potential occupational titles for this program include, but are not limited to, registered nurse.

Program Content

A minimum of 120.00 semester credit hours is required for graduation.

Third Party Testing

Assessment and remediation are critical components of nursing education. Students in the nursing program may be required to take third-party, standardized exams in an electronic format throughout the curriculum. These standardized tests are valid and reliable predictors of success on the NCLEX examination and provide valuable feedback concerning student strengths and weaknesses. Student learning outcome data identifies content areas that require remediation, allowing faculty to personalize student support and intervention. Courses that utilize third-party exams will incorporate the points earned on the test as a percentage of the final grade earned for the course as specified in the course syllabus.

BSN Nursing Curriculum Progression Milestone Exams and Policy

The purpose of the nursing progression milestone exams and policy is to ensure preparation of the student for the NCLEX exam. This process validates knowledge acquisition and application through standardized, third-party exams. Students will be required to complete three progression milestone exams at key points in the curriculum as well as an exit exam during the final semester.

Progression Milestone exam #1 is administered after completing NSG 120, NSG 121, NSG 122, and NSG 124.

Progression Milestone exam #2 is administered after completing NSG 123, NSG 221, NSG 222, and NSG 223.

Progression Milestone exam #3 is a Pharmacology exam and will be administered during the semester prior to NSG 426 and NSG425. If below the benchmark score on the first attempt a plan for remediation will be developed in collaboration with the faculty/program chair/NCLEX coach. A second attempt will be provided.

If the benchmark score on the first attempt is not attained, a plan for remediation will be developed in collaboration with the faculty/program chair/NCLEX coach and a second attempt will be provided. If the student is below the benchmark score on the second attempt, the student cannot enroll in the next semester clinical nursing courses. The student will be enrolled in any outstanding general education courses as well as a nursing remediation course to provide remediation of content. At the end of the 8-week remediation course, students will be provided a final attempt to demonstrate competency.

RN Exit Exam

The exit exam will cover content from all nursing courses, is reflective of NCLEX readiness and is administered in the final semester. Students who are unable to reach the benchmark score on the exit exam will be required to complete the remediation plan as indicated and will retake the exit exam.  Students will receive ongoing remediation, practice, and individualized coaching in preparation to retake the exit exam. The student must achieve the benchmark score on the exit exam prior to graduation.