Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Graduates of the baccalaureate program in nursing are expected to achieve the following outcomes upon completion:

1. Knowledge for Nursing Practice

Demonstrate a systematic approach (integration, translation and application) to critical thinking and clinical reasoning, inclusive of knowledge from nursing, other disciplines, theology, philosophy, and the other liberal arts and natural and social sciences to make judgments and create innovations in nursing practice for the common good.

2. Person-Centered Care

Provides holistic, individualized, just, compassionate, coordinated, evidence-based, developmentally appropriate, and inclusive care that is respectful of the dignity of the human person, promotes human flourishing and is consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

3. Population Health

Engage in collaborative activities and evidence-based practice to promote health, prevent disease, and manage risks, considering social determinants of health, across the continuum of care and levels of prevention with both traditional and non-traditional partnerships from diverse communities, public health, industry, academia, health care, local government entities, and others.

4. Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline

Synthesize, interpret, and apply nursing knowledge to improve health and transform health care.

5. Quality and Safety

Use principles of safety, including improvement science to provide quality care that minimizes the risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.

6. Interprofessional Partnerships

Demonstrates interprofessional teamwork and intentional collaboration with colleagues, patients, families, and communities that value engagement with the city, nation, Church and world through participatory decision-making related to healthcare needs to optimize, enhance and improve health outcomes.

7. Systems-Based Practice

Incorporate strategies of coordinated cost-effective, proactive, and efficient care within complex healthcare systems based on Catholic values to provide safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations.

8. Informatics and Healthcare Technologies

Use information and communication technologies to gather data, drive decision making, and provide care respecting the dignity of the human person that aligns with best practice and professional and regulatory standards.

9. Professionalism

Demonstrates the formation of a sustainable professional identity grounded in Catholic social teaching, inclusive of honesty, integrity, accountability, a collaborative disposition, and ethical behavior reflective of the Catholic identity and nursing’s unique characteristics and values.

10. Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development

Engage in activities that demonstrate a commitment to lifelong whole personal well-being, intellectual curiosity, professional growth and development, resilience, and healthcare leadership.

Progression in the Conway School of Nursing requires:

• A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.
• A minimum grade of C minus in the following basic natural science courses: chemistry with lab (CHEM 109 / CHEM119), anatomy and physiology I and II (BIOL 232, BIOL 233), and microbiology (BIOL 223). A combined science GPA of 2.75 is required. A calculator is available on the Conway School of Nursing website. The science GPA, including any science repeated course, must be met before the spring semester of the sophomore year.
• Students must attempt each science course (A &P I, A & P II, Chemistry with lab, Microbiology) at Catholic University. An attempt is defined as enrollment in a class with the following indication on a transcript: (a) Course Grade (b) Incomplete = I (c) Withdrawal = W.
• Students may raise this cumulative science GPA by repeating a maximum of one basic science course. Students may only repeat one science course out of the required 4 science courses (A &P I, A & P II, Chemistry with lab, Microbiology). A repeated science course must be pre-approved by the appropriate department and the Transfer Coordinator. The science GPA, including any repeated science course, must be met by the end of the Fall semester of sophomore year.
• Successful completion of the HESI Nursing Progression Exam, with a minimum overall composite score of 75% and 75% or higher on each of the science, English and math composite scores. Students have two attempts at this exam, but scores are not combined from attempt 1 and attempt 2, and no scores are rounded up.
• Computer Specifications: Undergraduate nursing students must have laptops for the duration of their program.  We offer hardware and software information to help navigate the purchasing process.