The Nursing Second Degree Track is designed for students who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field and do not hold RN licensure. Studies lead to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree. Program Overview The nursing degree program at RMU builds on the natural and behavioral sciences, integrating liberal arts and professional courses into a cohesive program. Students develop strong technical skills, as well as the clinical judgment and critical thinking necessary to succeed in today's rapidly changing health care system. Clinical experiences are conducted in community and hospital settings.

About the Program: Program Overview Program Objectives R.N. Licensure Prerequisites Curriculum Requirements Admission Requirements Application Deadlines Career Opportunities Salary Information

The program has a unique focus on business, communications, global perspective and technology in addition to strong clinical skills. All students receive personal digital assistants (PDAs) capable of storing two to three textbooks of medical and nursing information at their fingertips. Students learn to care for patients in state-of-the-art clinical facilities as well as in RMU's new nursing laboratory, where bedside computers and a SIMMAN patient simulator assist in developing clinical decision-making skills. Students also have the opportunity to travel internationally to better understand global health issues.

Depending on the applicant's previous degree, many of the core and prerequisite courses can be filled by advanced placement or transfer credits. Once admitted to clinical courses, students can complete the degree in four semesters over a 15-month period.

Program Objectives
The B.S.N. degree program prepares students to:

• Demonstrate critical thinking, clinical decision-making and psychomotor skills necessary for safe and competent practice;
• Integrate methods of research and scholarship to make and prioritize diagnoses, plan, implement and evaluate the care of individuals, groups and communities;
• Assess health and incorporate principles and methods of health promotion and health education in nursing care of individuals, groups and communities;
• Integrate traditional and developing methods of discovering, retrieving and using information in nursing practice;
• Demonstrate professional behaviors when providing nursing care to individuals and families;
• Describe how health care delivery systems are organized and financed and the effect on patient care; and
• Communicate clearly and succinctly in speech and writing.

R.N. Licensure
Following completion of the degree, students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) required for practice as a registered nurse (RN).

Pennsylvania State Licensure Requirements

Prerequisites
Students must meet RMU core requirements plus 27-31 prerequisite credits prior to beginning clinical courses. Students receive advanced placement or transfer credit for courses taken as part of their previous degree. Any course not taken as part of the previous degree may be taken either at RMU or another institution if approved by the dean of the School of Nursing. Students must have a QPAof at least 2.5 in these prerequisite courses to be admitted to the program.

Chemistry with lab	3-4 credits
Microbiology with lab	3-4 credits
Anatomy & Physiology with lab	6-8 credits
Nutrition	3 credits
Growth & Development	3 credits
Pathophysiology*	3 credits
Intro to Professional Nursing*	3 credits
Statistics	3 credits
Health Assessment	2 credits
Total	29-33 credits

Curriculum Requirements
To earn the B.S.N. degree, students must complete 127 credits through prerequisite, transfer and RMU nursing program credits with a QPA of at least 2.0. Up to 64 credits may be filled by prerequisite and transfer credits. The curriculum has four components:

1. Robert Morris University Core - 40 credits
   These are the traditional liberal arts requirements of the University. Studies in humanities, communications skills, and social, behavioral, natural and quantitative sciences are included.
2. Required Non-Nursing Courses - 21 credits
   These courses develop a strong foundation in the sciences and human development. An introductory accounting class provides perspective on how nursing fits into the business of health care.
3. Nursing Courses - 60 credits
   These courses develop strong clinical nursing skills with comprehensive coverage of the background and knowledge required to perform competently in the nursing field.
4. Electives - 6 credits The open electives provide the student with the opportunity to include some special courses of interest.

Sample Curriculum - BS in Nursing, Second Degree Track

Admission Requirements
The following are required for admission to the Nursing Second Degree Track:

• Robert Morris University application for admission
• Baccalaureate degree in another field
• Undergraduate QPA of at least 2.5 (submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended)
• QPA of at least 2.5 in prerequisite courses
• A 300- to 600-word essay on why the applicant wants to become a nurse
• Two professional letters of reference
• Current résumé
• Interview with nursing faculty or nursing advisor

Application Deadlines
Admission into the nursing program at RMU is competitive. Please observe the following deadlines for the application process.

Qualified applicants who submit all of the required credentials and meet all of the necessary admission requirements may receive an admission decision prior to March 30.

A waitlist will be created for students not initially accepted for the following fall. As space permits, students on the waitlist will be accepted and notified.

Applicants who take prerequisite courses at RMU may be considered for early admission under the University's rolling admissions policy.

Applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their first baccalaureate degree who show evidence of strong performance in sciences and math on their official transcripts also may be considered for early admission.

Career Opportunities
A career in nursing has endless possibilities, allowing graduates the flexibility to choose a specialty that fits their interests and abilities. Specialties include pediatrics, geriatrics, emergency care, surgical nursing and more. Other nurses work outside of hospitals and doctor's offices, such as forensic nurses, legal nurse consultants, clinical researchers and school nurses.

The career outlook for nurses has never been better. With a nationwide nursing shortage and an aging population, qualified nurses have their choice of well-paying jobs. There are currently over 100,000 vacant nursing positions in the U.S., and that number is predicted to grow to over 1 million by the year 2010.

Salary Information
Financial compensation for nurses varies according to geographic location, type of nursing, years of experience and level of education. The national mean bachelor-level starting salary for a registered nurse is around $45,000. Benefit packages often include health insurance, vacation, holiday pay, college tuition reimbursement, child care, flexible scheduling and pension plans.