Nursing
BSN for RN Information Packet Graduate Nursing
DEPARTMENT OF NURSING TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM INFORMATION PAGE
Length of Program: If a student starts at CUW as a nursing major at the beginning of their college career the program can be completed in four academic years. We usually do not offer summer nursing courses. The model curriculum is available as a link on the web site.
Majors: 180 nursing majors. We can accommodate 60 students in each class for the clinical courses. We do not have a waiting list. At this time we are able to accommodate all the qualified applicants in our clinical courses. Students must attain a 2.75 cumulative GPA with grades of C or better in all science courses to be admitted to the nursing clinical courses. A GPA of 2.75 must be maintained to progress through the nursing program. Our data supports that a strong GPA correlates with successful passage of the national licensing examination to be an RN. Due to attrition we can accommodate some transfer students each year.
Attrition Rates: We have an average attrition rate of about 5% per year. Students are dismissed from the nursing program when they do not maintain a 2.75 nursing or cumulative GPA.
Assessment Testing: Nursing knowledge is validated/assessed through the use of a national, standardized testing program, ATI. This assessment testing is predictive of success on the NCLEX-RN examination. The data allows students to identify areas where they have additional learning needs and may need additional assistance. Tutors and study groups are available through the Learning Resource Center.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rates: 2008=87% which is comparable to the national pass rate and other schools in the state. 2009= 96% for graduates working in Wisconsin.
Placement Rates: 100%. All of our graduates who want positions have been able to find jobs in the nursing field.
Clinical Experiences: Our students have specialty clinical learning experiences in the major healthcare systems and community agencies in Southeast WI. These experiences include medical-surgical, geriatric, pediatric, obstetric, psychiatric, and community health nursing. We have a human patient simulator (HPS) Sim ManR which is used each semester to provide learning opportunities to enhance nursing skills. Our Nursing Learning Center has up-to-date equipment donated by a local firm, Spaulding Clinical Research. Students will need their own transportation to clinical by the start of te second semester of their sophomore year.
Global Learning Experiences:
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A trip to Costa Rica is offered during Winterim to experience health care in this country.
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As part of the Community Health clinical course, a trip is offered to Belize two or three times per year during break times and Winterim. Students may elect to spend part of their community clinical experience on this trip. Special grants are available from CUW but some additional costs may need to be paid by the students.
Student Nurses Association: We have an active SNA open to all declared nursing majors. Students have had the opportunity to attend state and national conventions. Our SNA participates in the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA).
CUW Nursing Honor Society: The Nursing Department has a chapter ( Phi Beta) of the International Nursing Honor Society, Sigma Theta Tau (STT). Students are selected annually based on the competitive criteria set by STT.
Scholarships: There are a number of scholarships available for nursing students. These scholarship are awarded by the nursing faculty each year by competition open to all nursing students. These scholarships are provided by individuals and organizations supportive of nursing such as the Lutheran Hospital Alumnae Association.
Awards:
The faculty members of the Department of Nursing awards the Nightingale Award each year to a nursing student through competitive nomination and review. Nominations are also submitted for the U.S. Army’s Spirit of Nursing awards when appropriate.