Associate Dean, Administration and Compliance, Chief Nurse Administrator: Joan Owens, PhD, RN
Professors: S. Boysen(Emeritus), N. Crogan (Emeritus), M. McFarland (Emeritus), J. Ramirez, M. Shaw J. Tiedt
Associate Professors: C. Kottwitz, L. Murphy (Emeritus), J. Owens, M. Schiavenato, B. Senger, C. Sloan
Assistant Professors:
Senior Lecturers: J. Derzay
Lecturers: L. Anagnostopoulos, A. Argyle, A. Berg, C. Brumley, Cline, J., S. Edwards, S. Ellefson, K., Evans, J. Garrity, K. Gonder, E. Hennessey, Hoving, D., K. Manion, B., Maefsky, K., Magee, H. Newton, M. Nowak, D. Ogorek, M. Parker, T. Redman, Staaben, J., Todd, J. Thompson, R. Townsend, S., Tviet
Introduction
Grounded in Jesuit and Nursing values, the pre-licensure BSN program offered by the Department of Nursing prepares students to be able to practice as registered nurses in a variety of settings. Students learn to promote health, to care for patients with acute and chronic illnesses, and to support patients and their families at the end of life. The BSN program builds on the curricular themes of servant leadership, social justice, community, and reflective practice. The concept of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) serves as the organizing framework for the curriculum. One application of this concept is that students initially care for individuals with more predictable healthcare needs. As they progress in the program, they learn to care for individuals, families, and populations with increasingly more complex healthcare needs in highly complex organizational settings.
Program Overview
Students are admitted to the pre-licensure BSN program as freshmen. At the time they submit their applications to Gonzaga University, nursing applicants must indicate "Nursing" as their first academic interest on the Common Application. Nursing applicants are also required to complete "Section V" of the Common Application Gonzaga Student Supplement. Those not admitted into nursing as freshmen may not become a nursing major at Gonzaga. As freshman nursing majors, students begin the process of completing the GU core requirements and the nursing pre-requisite courses.
Due to constraints on availability of clinical placements, it may take nine semesters to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The Nursing faculty tries to accommodate student requests to complete the program in eight semesters, but the eight-semester time frame is not guaranteed. Students apply for their preferred time frame (Spring or Fall start) placement during the second semester of their freshman year and are notified of their placement by the end of that same academic year. If demand for completion in eight semesters exceeds available clinical placements and/or limits on class sizes, students will be placed based by their ranked grade point average in the nursing pre-requisite courses and progression in the program. Students who are major-ready by the end of their sophomore year but are placed in the nine-semester time frame for the program may take a leave of absence in the fall semester of their junior year. The nine-semester time frame is supported by financial aid in the same way as the eight-semester option, and it provides students with opportunities to pursue a minor or to participate in a study abroad program.
Once students begin their upper division nursing courses, they also complete a series of practicum courses that introduce them to professional nursing practice in a variety of healthcare settings. The program also prepares students to take the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) after graduation, which is a requirement for licensure as a registered nurse.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the pre-licensure BSN program is competitive and selective. Students are admitted to the pre-licensure BSN program as freshmen. The decision to admit a student to the BSN program as a freshman is based on consideration of the student's overall portfolio including:
- Cumulative GPA and grade trends
- Four years of math and science courses
- SAT/ACT scores
- Work or volunteer experience in healthcare
- One academic letter of recommendation
- Written essay as well as responses to short answer questions on the application
Information regarding admission to Gonzaga's Nursing Program will follow notification of acceptance to the University by approximately one month.
During their first two years at Gonzaga, students need to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and achieve a minimum grade of "C" (2.0) in all nursing prerequisite courses and their respective labs. If a student receives less than the required minimum grade of “C” in any of the nursing prerequisite courses taken at Gonzaga or taken at any other college/university as a substitution, the student is allowed a single retake in two (2) of these courses. Continuation to the upper division BSN program is contingent upon maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and successful completion of nursing prerequisite courses.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 130 credits |
|
Sample Freshman Year Fall |
|
BIOL 105 Information Flow in Biological Systems | 3 credits |
ENGL 101 Writing | 3 credits |
MATH 121 Statistics | 3 credits |
NURS 100 Nursing Perspectives | 1 credit |
PHIL 101 Reasoning | 3 credits |
SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology | 3 credits |
Spring | |
BIOL 105L Information Flow in Biological Systems Lab | 1 credit |
CHEM 101 General Chemistry |
3 credits |
CHEM 101L General Chemistry Lab | 1 credit |
COMM 100 Communication and Speech | 3 credits |
PSYC 101 General Psychology | 3 credits |
First Year Seminar (193) | 3 credits |
Sophomore Year Fall |
|
HPHY 241 Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 credits |
HPHY 241L Anatomy and Physiology I Lab | 1 credit |
NURS 251 Determinants of Health | 3 credits |
PHIL 201 Philosophy of Human Nature | 3 credits |
Core Broadening Requirement: (Literature) | 3 credits |
Core Fine Art | 3 credits |
Spring | |
BIOL 170 Microbiology | 3 credits |
BIOL 170L Microbiology Lab |
1 credit |
HPHY 242 Anatomy and Physiology II | 3 credits |
HPHY 242L Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | 1 credit |
HPHY 244 Nutrition and Metabolism | 3 credits |
NURS 210 Growth and Development | 3 credits |
Broadening Requirement: (History) | 3 credits |
RELI Christianity and Catholic Traditions | 3 credits |
Junior Year Fall |
|
NURS 311 Professional and Therapeutic Communication | 2 credits |
NURS 314 Assessing and Promoting Wellness | 4 credits |
NURS 315 Practicum I: Healthy Individuals, Families, and Communities | 5 credits |
NURS 316 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I | 4 credits |
PHIL 301 Ethics | 3 credits |
Spring | |
NURS 351 Care of Individuals and Families | 4 credits |
NURS 352 Practicum II: Care of Individuals and Families | 5 credits |
NURS 356 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II | 3 credits |
NURS 404 Research and Information Management | 3 credits |
RELI World or Comparative Religion | 3 credits |
Senior Year Fall |
|
NURS 402 Acute and Chronic Alterations in Health Status | 4 credits |
NURS 403 Practicum III: Acute/Chronic Alterations in Health | 6 credits |
PHIL 455 Healthcare Ethics | 3 credits |
Spring | |
NURS 465 Professional Nursing within a Complex Adaptive System | 3 credits |
NURS 466 Community and Populations as Clients | 3 credits |
NURS 467 Practicum IV: Community and Populations as Clients | 2 credits |
NURS 468 Practicum V: Member of the Nursing Profession | 3 credits |
NURS 469 Nursing Leadership and Management | 4 credits |
RN to MSN Program
(for Registered Nurses)The RN to MSN program offers the licensed registered nurse with an associate degree in nursing the opportunity to earn a master's degree in nursing in less time and with fewer credits than would be required if completing separate BSN and MSN degrees. The MSN is the degree awarded, and there is no option for earning a separate BSN degree. To meet the needs of working registered nurses, the program is offered in a distance delivery format. Students complete five courses (15 credits) that "bridge" them to the master's level courses.
Once the "bridge" courses have been successfully completed, students progress immediately to the master's level courses provided they maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. At the master's level, there is an emphasis on preparation for an advanced role as a nursing leader. Students take the core MSN courses and then complete the Nursing Leadership in Healthcare (NLH) track or concentration. Grounded in Jesuit and Nursing values, the program builds on the curricular themes of servant leadership, social justice, community, and reflective practice. The concept of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) serves as the organizing framework for the curriculum.
Admission Requirements RN to MSN Program
At the time of application to the RN to MSN program, the applicant also applies for admission to Gonzaga University. The applicant must have an associate degree in nursing from an accredited college and must submit one official transcript from each college or university. The decision to admit an applicant to the RN to MSN program is based on consideration of the individual's overall portfolio including:
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (4.0 scale)
- Evidence of a current unencumbered RN license
- One official transcript from every college or university attended. Only degrees and courses from regionally accredited institutions will be accepted.
- Current curriculum vitae (CV)
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals such as employers, colleagues, or professors who can attest to the applicant’s leadership, interpersonal skills, professional practice, critical thinking and judgment, and potential for advanced study.
- Typewritten statement that describes the applicant’s:
a) Interest in the RN to MSN Program and specific MSN option, i.e., Nursing Leadership in Healthcare
b) Professional goals
c) Personal and professional strengths
d) Professional experiences - Non-native English speakers are required to provide proof of English proficiency. Gonzaga University accepts the following:
a) Score of 6.5 or better on the IELTS, or
b) Official TOEFL score of at least 88 ibt or 580 pbt, or
c) Completion of an associate's degree in nursing from an institution where English is the primary medium of instruction.
Degree Requirements
The RN to MSN program requires the completion of five "bridge" courses (15 credits) with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in order to progress to MSN-level course work.
Bridge Courses: 15 Credits
PHIL 201 or PHIL 301 (One PHIL course at GU required) | 3 credits |
NURS 320 Statistics | 3 credits |
NURS 406 Nursing Research | 3 credits |
NURS 463 Community Health | 3 credits |
NURS 464 Community Health Practicum | 3 credits |
The master’s-level courses are listed in the Graduate Catalog.
In addition to their major and minor areas of study, all undergraduate students follow a common program designed to complete their education in those areas that the University considers essential for a Catholic, Jesuit, liberal, and humanistic education. The University Core Curriculum consists of forty-five credits of course work, with additional designation requirements that can be met through core, major, or elective courses.
The University Core Curriculum is a four-year program, organized around one overarching question, which is progressively addressed through yearly themes and questions. Hence, core courses are best taken within the year for which they are designated. First year core courses encourage intellectual engagement and provide a broad foundation of fundamental skills. Second and third year courses examine central issues and questions in philosophy and religious studies. The fourth year course, the Core Integration Seminar, offers a culminating core experience. Taken at any time throughout the four years, broadening courses intersect with the core themes and extend students’ appreciation for the humanities, arts, and social and behavioral sciences. Finally, the designation requirements (writing enriched, global studies, and social justice) reflect important values and reinforce students’ knowledge and competencies.
Overarching Core Question: As students of a Catholic, Jesuit, and Humanistic University, how do we educate ourselves to become women and men for a more just and humane global community?
Year 1 Theme and Question: Understanding and Creating: How do we pursue knowledge and cultivate understanding?
- The First-Year Seminar (DEPT 193, 3 credits): The First-Year Seminar (FYS), taken in the fall or spring of the first year, is designed to promote an intellectual shift in students as they transition to college academic life. Each small seminar is organized around an engaging topic, which students explore from multiple perspectives. The FYS is offered by many departments across the University (click here [PDF] for list of FYS courses).
- Writing (ENGL 101, 3 credits) and Reasoning (PHIL 101, 3 credits): The Writing and Reasoning courses are designed to help students develop the foundational skills of critical reading, thinking, analysis, and writing. They may be taken as linked sections. Writing (ENGL 101) carries one of the three required writing-enriched designations (see below).
- Communication & Speech (COMM 100, 3 credits): This course introduces students to interpersonal and small group communication and requires the application of critical thinking, reasoning, and research skills necessary to organize, write, and present several speeches.
- Scientific Inquiry (BIOL 104/104L, CHEM 104/104L, or PHYS 104/104L, 3 credits): This course explores the scientific process in the natural world through evidence-based logic and includes significant laboratory experience. Students pursuing majors that require science courses will satisfy this requirement through their major.
- Mathematics (above Math 100, 3 credits): Mathematics courses promote thinking according to the modes of the discipline—abstractly, symbolically, logically, and computationally. One course in mathematics, above Math 100, including any math course required for a major or minor, will fulfill this requirement. MATH 100 (College Algebra) and courses without the MATH prefix do not fulfill this requirement.
Year 2 Theme and Question: Being and Becoming: Who are we and what does it mean to be human?
- Philosophy of Human Nature (PHIL 201, 3 credits): This course provides students with a philosophical study of key figures, theories, and intellectual traditions that contribute to understanding the human condition; the meaning and dignity of human life; and the human relationship to ultimate reality.
- Christianity and Catholic Traditions (RELI, 3 credits). Religious Studies core courses approved for this requirement explore diverse topics including Christian scriptures, history, theology, and practices as well as major contributions from the Catholic intellectual and theological traditions (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses) .
Year 3 Theme and Question: Caring and Doing: What principles characterize a well lived life?
- Ethics (PHIL 301 or RELI, 3 credits): The Ethics courses are designed to help students develop their moral imagination by exploring and explaining the reasons humans should care about the needs and interests of others. This requirement is satisfied by an approved ethics course in either Philosophy (PHIL 301) or Religious Studies (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- World/Comparative Religion (RELI, 3 credits): Religious Studies courses approved for this core requirement draw attention to the diversity that exists within and among traditions and encourage students to bring critical, analytical thinking to bear on the traditions and questions considered. These courses carries one of the required two global-studies designations (see below) (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
Year 4 Theme and Question: Imagining the Possible: What is our role in the world?”
- Core Integration Seminar (DEPT 432, 3 credits). The Core Integration Seminar (CIS) offers students a culminating core experience in which they integrate the principles of Jesuit education, prior components of the core, and their disciplinary expertise. Some CIS courses may also count toward a student’s major or minor. The CIS is offered by several departments across the University (click here [PDF] for list of CIS courses).
The Broadening Courses
- Fine Arts & Design (VART, MUSC, THEA, 3 credits): Arts courses explore multiple ways the human experience can be expressed through creativity, including across different cultures and societies. One approved course in fine arts, music, theatre, or dance will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- History (HIST, 3 credits): History courses are intended to develop students’ awareness of the historical context of both the individual and the collective human experience. One course in History (HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 112, HIST 201, HIST 202) will fulfill this requirement.
- Literature (3 credits): Literature courses foster reflection on how literature engages with a range of human experience. One approved course in Literature (offered by English, Classics, or Modern Languages) will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- Social & Behavioral Sciences (3 credits): Courses in the social and behavioral sciences engage students in studying human behavior, social systems, and social issues. One approved course offered by Criminal Justice, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, or Women and Gender Studies will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
The Designations
Designations are embedded within already existing core, major, minor, and elective courses. Students are encouraged to meet designation requirements within elective courses as their schedule allows; however, with careful planning students should be able to complete most of the designation requirements within other core, major, or minor courses.
- Writing Enriched (WE; 3 courses meeting this designation): Courses carrying the WE designation are designed to promote the humanistic and Jesuit pedagogical ideal of clear, effective communication. In addition to the required core course, Writing (ENGL 101), which carries one of the WE designations, students must take two other WE-designated courses (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- Global-Studies (GS; 2 courses meeting this designation): Courses carrying the GS designation are designed to challenge students to perceive and understand human diversity by exploring diversity within a context of constantly changing global systems. In addition to the required core course, World/Comparative Religion (RELI 300-level), which carries one of the GS designations, students must take one other GS-designated course (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- Social-Justice (SJ; 1 course meeting this designation): Courses carrying the SJ designation are designed to introduce students to one or more social justice concerns. Students must take one course that meets the SJ designation (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
Major-specific adaptations to the University Core Curriculum
All Gonzaga students, regardless of their major, will complete the University Core Curriculum requirements. However some Gonzaga students will satisfy certain core requirements through major-specific programs or courses. Any major-specific adaptations to the core are described with the requirements for the majors to which they apply.