Nursing

This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.mtmercy.edu.

The nursing major is approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing to provide an educational program that builds on natural and behavioral sciences and integrates the liberal arts with professional courses. The Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing degree program in nursing at Martin-Herald College of Nursing and Health is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. Graduates are prepared to enter the profession of nursing in a variety of areas and are prepared for graduate education.

The baccalaureate curriculum is based on the belief of the faculty that socialization of nursing students into the profession is a journey that continues throughout and beyond their baccalaureate education. The faculty has adopted “the hero’s journey” as presented by anthropologist Joseph Campbell as a unifying theme for the nursing curriculum.

Additional information is available at www.mtmercy.edu/nursing

Licensed registered nurses who wish to complete the baccalaureate degree may do so through the RN to BSN program in the accelerated programs or online. Please refer to those sections of the Mount Mercy University Catalog.

Procedure for Admission into the Nursing Major:

Students must complete an application for the nursing major by following the procedures below. (In the spring semester of the first year. Students are required to meet the admission criteria that are most current for the semester in which they wish to be admitted).

  1. Complete the application form for the major. Prior to filing this application the student must:
    1. Have completed or be in the process of completing the following prerequisite courses or their equivalent with a grade of C or above (C- does not count) in:NU 101 Answering the Call to Nursing, BI 125 Foundations of Biology & Scientific Inquiry I, BI 150 Basic Microbiology (a co-requisite), BI 273 Human Anatomy, CH 110 Introduction to Chemistry, English Composition, NU 113 Medical Terminology, and at least two of the following courses: PS 101 Introductory Psychology, PS 224 Developmental Psychology, CO 101 Oral Communication, SO 122 Introduction To Sociology. 
    2. Achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 based on a 4.00 scale.
    3. The science classes of BI 125 Foundations of Biology & Scientific Inquiry I, BI 150 Basic Microbiology, BI 273 Human Anatomy and CH 110 Introduction to Chemistry can be repeated once only. 
    4. Prerequisite coursework must be complete by the end of the spring term of the year applying to the major. Applicants requiring summer prerequisite coursework (except the Certified Nursing Assistant) will be on the admission wait list.
    5. The health immunization record (form is available at the Department of Nursing Office) is required when applying to the major. 
    6. Status of completion or enrollment in a Certified Nursing Assistant course is required when applying to the major. 
  2. Additional requirements for the nursing major:
    1. Physical exam  (physical form is available at the Department of Nursing Office);
    2. Proof of current certification for Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association;
    3. Proof of health insurance;
    4. Proof of completion of Certified Nursing Assistant Course within three years of beginning the program or currently working as a nursing assistant;
    5. Proof of completion of Mandatory Reporter training (Adult and Child);
    6. Complete a background check, including Dependent Adult and Child abuse, done by a third party company selected by the Department of Nursing. Instructions will be provided for completing this task. Any concerns will require a meeting with the BSN Chair.

Fulfillment of these specific requirements does not ensure admission to the Department of Nursing program.  For applicants who meet the minimum requirements, the Department of Nursing Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee will select the applicants who, in its judgment, are best qualified physically, emotionally, and scholastically as well as anticipate meeting the standards expected of prospective members of the nursing profession.

The student is responsible for transportation to and from clinical experiences.

Nursing courses with a clinical component may not be taken by a person: a) who has been denied a license by any state board of nursing; b) whose license is currently suspended, surrendered or revoked in any U.S. jurisdiction; c) whose license/registration is currently suspended, surrendered or revoked in another country due to disciplinary action.

Students in the nursing major incur additional fees throughout the program (See current nursing fee charges in the catalog).

Nursing students may not fulfill prerequisite requirements by taking CLEP exams for credit in place of courses that have been attempted and not successfully completed.

The number of students admitted to the nursing major may be limited due to available faculty and clinical resources. In the event that more students qualify for admission than can be accepted, the Department of Nursing Clinical, Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee will determine the number of students to be admitted.

A student who is not accepted into the nursing major may appeal in accordance with the Academic/Administrative Grievance Procedure for Students as stated in The Good Book.

Students wishing to transfer from another baccalaureate nursing program will be considered on an individual basis. This process begins with a meeting with the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Academic Adviser; the application will be evaluated and permission for admittance will be granted or denied by the Department of Nursing Clinical, Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee.

Procedure for Continuation in the Major

Once admitted to the Department of Nursing the student must maintain a C or above (C- does not count) in all nursing courses.  A student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.00. The faculty of the nursing department also reserves the right of retaining only those students who, in the judgment of the faculty, satisfy the requirements of scholarship and health, and meet the standards expected of prospective members of the nursing profession.

All nursing courses are expected to be taken in an uninterrupted sequence until completed. If interruptions occur the student must seek readmission to the nursing major. To be a candidate for re-admission into the nursing major a student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above and submit a formal written letter requesting permission for readmission. Each application for re-admission will be reviewed on an individual basis by the Department of Nursing Clinical, Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee.

Specific guidelines for the readmission protocol are described in the Nursing Student Handbook. A student may only repeat a course at the discretion of the Department of Nursing Clinical, Admission, Promotion, and Graduation Committee. Students who are academically unsuccessful in a nursing course may repeat the course once; however, only one nursing course may be repeated.

Additional details about policies and procedures related to the Department of Nursing may be found in the current edition of the Nursing Student Handbook on the Nursing Department web site.

Career Opportunities

Hospitals, public health agencies, and various other community health services represent the major career openings for graduates. See the Graduate section of this Catalog for more information on Graduate programs offered at Mount Mercy.