GENERAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The nursing student shall comply with legal, moral, and legislative standards that determine unacceptable behavior of the nurse and that may be cause for denial of a license to practice as a registered nurse, in accordance with the Alabama law regulating practice of registered and practical nursing stated below.
The board shall have the power to deny, revoke, or suspend any license issued by it or to otherwise discipline a licensee upon proof that the licensee is guilty of fraud or deceit in procuring or attempting to procure a license; has been convicted of a felony; is guilty of a crime involving moral turpitude or of gross immorality that would tend to bring reproach upon the nursing profession; is unfit or incompetent due to personal habits; is habitually intemperate due to the use of alcohol or is addicted to the use of habit-forming drugs to such an extent as to render him or her unsafe or unreliable as a licensee; has been convicted of any violation of a federal or state law relating to controlled substances; is mentally incompetent; is guilty of unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud, or injure the public in matters pertaining to health; or has willfully or repeatedly violated any of the provisions of this article as defined by board rules and regulations.*
Failure to comply with any of the above stipulations while in the nursing program constitutes grounds for dismissal from the program.
It is important for nursing students to know about the Alabama Board of Nursing’s regulations governing review of candidates for eligibility for initial and continuing licensure. There will be questions on the application to take the examination for licensure as a registered nurse that ask “Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a criminal offense?” and “Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol?” Application to take the examination may be denied on the basis of this review. Although these policies apply specifically in Alabama, other states have similar stipulations for licensure.
Essential Skills and Behaviors
See “Promotion Policies,” Item 1, earlier in this section.
- The student must complete a minimum of 127 hours* of academic credit approved by the Capstone College of Nursing to meet the requirements for the degree of bachelor of science in nursing. Additional courses may be necessary for students to meet the University Core Curriculum requirements.
- All coursework leading to the BSN degree, including electives, requires a minimum grade of “C-.”
Evidence of current certification as a professional-level provider of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is required for registration in all clinical nursing courses. Students are responsible for obtaining and maintaining current CPR certification while enrolled in the Capstone College of Nursing. Certification must be renewed annually and verified through presentation of a CPR card to the Office of Nursing Student Services.
A health form must be completed prior to matriculation in the upper division and prior to beginning senior-level courses if the student’s health status has changed. The health form is available from the Capstone College of Nursing ONSS and must be completed by a licensed physician or a certified nurse practitioner. Students must also present documentation of immunization against hepatitis B and other specified communicable diseases prior to progressing to the upper division and prior to the beginning of the senior year.
Many lower-division courses have specific prerequisites. See course descriptions for prerequisites or contact the Office of Nursing Student Services for detailed information.
Policies Governing Progressionand Graduation
Upon promotion to the upper division, students progress to clinical nursing courses in the established sequence. If a student’s progression is interrupted for any reason, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the director of the undergraduate nursing program to request consideration for reassignment. Because spaces in clinical courses are limited, any alteration of the usual progression may lengthen the student’s program.
To be eligible for the degree of bachelor of science in nursing, a candidate must show successful completion of the courses required in the nursing program of studies and complete a minimum of 32 semester hours at The University of Alabama.
Academic Probation and Suspension
- The general academic scholarship rules of the University apply to students enrolled in the Capstone College of Nursing; however, any written agreements entered into by students and the dean of the College take precedence over the University’s general rule. See the “Student Records and General Academic Policies” section of this catalog for further details.
- Any student who receives a second “D” or “F” in any nursing course, or in any combination of nursing courses, will be academically suspended from the Capstone College of Nursing.
Readmission of Academically Suspended Students
After a lapse of one regular semester from the last date of enrollment, a student who has been suspended by the Capstone College of Nursing may apply for readmission through the Office of Academic Programs. This application may be submitted immediately after notification of suspension. The application, the student’s record of performance, and other pertinent information submitted by the student will be reviewed, and a recommendation concerning the application for readmission will be made to the dean of the College. Students who are suspended a second time are placed on indefinite academic suspension.
Readmission following Withdrawal
A student who has withdrawn from the upper division of the Capstone College of Nursing and who wishes to be readmitted after an absence of one semester or more must do the following:
(2) To apply for readmission, contact the office of the associate dean for academic programs of the Capstone College of Nursing.
(3) Apply for readmission to the University by contacting undergraduate admissions.
Permission to return to the Capstone College of Nursing will depend on the student’s previous performance and the availability of space in the required nursing courses. Readmission may require repeating courses to ensure that knowledge is current.
A student may not exceed a course load of 18 semester hours except with the approval of the dean.
- A record of all courses attempted will appear on the student’s transcript.
- If a grade below “C-” is received in any course required in the program of study, the course must be repeated on a space-available basis.
With special permission, a student may choose to receive a grade of “Pass” (“P”) or “Fail” (“F”) for a course instead of the conventional “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F.” If a “P” is earned, the hours count, but the grade point average is not affected. If an “F” is earned, the grade point average is reduced.
- Only elective courses may be taken pass/fail.
- Courses used to meet University Core Curriculum requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.
- Forms for the pass/fail option may be obtained from the College’s ONSS.
- See the “Student Records and General Academic Policies” section of this catalog for further details.
Administrative Withdrawal from Clinical Nursing Courses
Students’ clinical experiences are considered a vital part of learning the practice of professional nursing, and faculty guidance is available in facilitating these learning experiences. As students progress through the program of studies, they are expected to increase their abilities to function independently and assume responsibility for their actions. When a student’s clinical decision making is deemed by faculty to constitute unsafe or unethical nursing practice, or when there is lack of adherence to established policies and procedures related to professional conduct, the student will receive a failing grade in the course and will be withdrawn from the course and/or suspended from the program. Administrative withdrawal procedures are initiated by faculty through the office of the associate dean for academic programs. Further progression in the Capstone College of Nursing is determined according to the rules for academic probation and suspension and the availability of space.
Clinical nursing courses are not open to auditors.
Standard University of Alabama tuition is charged for enrollment in clinical nursing courses. In addition to textbook expenses, clinical nursing students are responsible for the provision of uniforms and supplies for performance in the clinical area. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from all clinical experiences. The expense of required liability insurance and standardized test fees is also the responsibility of the student. Detailed information on ordering uniforms and supplies will be furnished when students are promoted to the upper division of the nursing program.
In addition to standard University fees, a laboratory fee is assessed when students are enrolled in nursing courses. Costs for textbooks, physical-assessment equipment, PDA, PDA software, and other supplies for the first semester of upper-division work substantially exceed those of subsequent semesters.
There is no late registration for clinical nursing courses.
If upper-division requirements for the degree have not been completed within five years after initial registration in the Capstone College of Nursing, the student’s academic record will be reviewed to establish appropriate changes or requirements. Any student who has not enrolled in upper-division courses for more than one semester is required to seek approval from the director of undergraduate programs prior to registration to enroll in any subsequent courses. Approval may require repeating courses to ensure that knowledge is current.
Students are required to make passing scores on all standardized exit exams given in the College. A student who fails to achieve a satisfactory score must complete a remediation program. Failure to satisfactorily complete the standardized program exit exam in the last semester of the program may delay the student’s graduation from the BSN program.
Each student is strongly encouraged to take a review course near the end of the BSN program in preparation for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
The degree of bachelor of science in nursing requires the completion of the courses designated in the following program of studies. Elective hours may be used to complete a major portion of the University Core Curriculum; additional courses, however, may be required. Students may choose to enroll in a summer session(s) to meet requirements and to adjust the program of studies to meet individual needs. Students should also review core curriculum requirements in the “Student Records and General Academic Policies” of this catalog. Bold letters indicate courses that meet specific University Core Curriculum requirements. Clinical nursing courses are not taught in summer sessions.
| LOWER-DIVISION REQUIREMENTS—GENERIC BSN | |
| (SAMPLE) | |
| FRESHMAN YEAR | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| CH 104 Introductory Chemistry with lab (N) | 4 |
| EN 101 English Composition I (FC) | 3 |
| PY 101 Introduction to Psychology (SB) | 3 |
| 1NUR 102 Introduction to Professional Nursing | 1 |
| CS 102 Microcomputer Applications | 3 |
| HD 101 Human Development (SB) | 3 |
| __ | |
| 17 | |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| CH 105 Introductory Organic Chemistry with lab (N) | 4 |
| EN 102 English Composition II (FC) | 3 |
| MATH 110 Finite Mathematics or higher math course (MA) | 3 |
| 2Foreign language or computer (FC or C) | 3–4 |
| 2History or literature (HI or L) | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 16–17 | |
| SOPHOMORE YEAR | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| BSC 215 Human Anatomy and Physiology I with laboratory | 4 |
| SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology or | |
| ANT 102 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (SB) | 3 |
| NHM 101 Introduction to Human Nutrition | 3 |
| 2History or literature (HI or L) | 3 |
| 2Statistics | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| BSC 216 Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BSC 242 Microbiology and Man (N) | 4 |
| PHL 204 Medical Ethics or PHL 200 (HU) | 3 |
| 2Fine arts (FA) | 3 |
| 2History or literature (HI or L) | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 17 | |
NOTES: Students who opt to complete the foreign language sequence (FC) must also complete CS 102 (C), which is a prerequisite to NUR 309.
1NUR 102 is not a required course.
2Consult with the Office of Nursing Student Services or your nursing advisor for appropriate courses to satisfy these requirements.
3CS 102 is a prerequisite for NUR 309.
| UPPER-DIVISION REQUIREMENTS—GENERIC BSN | |
| SOPHOMORE YEAR | |
| Summer Session1 | Hours |
| NUR 305 Human Pathology | 3 |
| NUR 307 Medication Calculation | 1 |
| NUR 308 Conceptual Foundations for Professional Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 309 Nursing Informatics (C) | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 10 | |
| JUNIOR YEAR | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| NUR 324 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice | 9 |
| NUR 326 Pharmacology for Nursing Practice | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 12 | |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| NUR 328 Introduction to Nursing Research (W) | 3 |
| NUR 372 Professional Nursing Practice: Adults | 8 |
| NUR 374 Professional Nursing Practice: Mental Health | 4 |
| ___ | |
| 15 | |
| SENIOR YEAR | |
| Fall Semester | Hours |
| NUR 418 Professional Nursing Practice: Childbearing Families | 4 |
| NUR 420 Professional Nursing Practice: Children | 4 |
| NUR 422 Professional Nursing Practice: Community Health | 4 |
| ___ | |
| 12 | |
| Spring Semester | Hours |
| NUR 471 Professional Nursing Practice: Complex Client Systems | 4 |
| NUR 473 Professional Nursing Practice: Leadership in Practice (W) | 7 |
| NUR 475 Preparation for Licensure | 1 |
| ___ | |
| 12 | |
| Total lower-division and upper-division hours: 127 | |
A student may pursue a minor in any area that has a University-approved minor program and is approved by the faculty advisor and the dean of the Capstone College of Nursing. Consult the departmental listings in this catalog for specific requirements of minor programs. Forms for declaring a minor may be obtained from the ONSS in the Capstone College of Nursing.
An application for a degree must be completed on the first day of class of the semester during which the student will complete all requirements for the BSN degree. Application forms can be obtained from the ONSS in the Capstone College of Nursing.