Bachelor of Science Degree

The baccalaureate program in nursing is designed to prepare men and women to become professional registered nurses. Upon graduation the student is eligible to take the State Licensing Board Examination (NCLEX-RN) and obtain an entry level position in medical, surgical, geriatric, maternity, pediatric, psychiatric-mental health or community nursing in a variety of settings: hospitals, home health care, clinics, community health agencies, hospices or the armed services. The program is approved by the RI State Board of Nurse Registration and Nurse Education and is accredited by the Collegiate Commission on Nursing Education (CCNE).

Nursing is a creative profession that provides for the promotion of health, prevention of illness and care of patients. The curriculum integrates the humanities and the physical and social sciences with nursing courses. Students begin nursing courses during their freshman year with our first nursing course, Professional Practice in Health and Illness.

The clinical courses include experiences in numerous hospitals, community health agencies, nursing homes, schools and clinics throughout Rhode Island. From your very first clinical experience to your final semester, you will gain the competence and confidence needed to practice nursing within a constantly changing health care arena.

CON Behavioral Outcomes for the BS Program

Role and Leadership

Assume professional nursing roles in a variety of supervised settings and move toward increasing independence and leadership.

Appreciation of:

• The value of independence and interdependence in assuming nursing roles.
• The leadership role of the professional nurse in practice.
• The value of participation in interdisciplinary teams.
• The importance of negotiation to improve client outcomes.

Knowledge of:

• The nature of and requirements for a variety of nursing roles in relation to types of nursing problems, client types, health care settings.
• The process for the development of increased independence in nursing practice.
• Leadership, leadership processes, leadership style, and leadership roles within the context of professional practice.

Implementation By:

• Assuming a variety of nursing roles with increasing levels of independence.
• Demonstrating leadership in practice.
• Advocating for clients to maximize health and quality of life.

Theoretical Knowledge

Demonstrate basic conceptual knowledge of nursing theories, theories of practice, and those theories derived from the biophysical and psychosocial sciences.

Appreciation of:

• The existence of varieties of theories relevant to nursing practice and health care.
• Various modes of developing knowledge relevant to nursing practice and health care.

Knowledge of:

• Major concepts and theories relevant to understanding client problems in a variety of clinical settings.
• The scientific rationale for selecting and implementing nursing strategies and therapeutics.
• The nature of and factors influencing health care systems, the nursing profession and nursing practice.
• Concepts related to ethical decision making.

Implementation by:

• Articulating major concepts and theories to explain client's needs and problems and approaches to care.
• Articulating theories from the biophysical, psychosocial, and nursing sciences to develop a foundation for practice.

Nursing Practice

Provide direct care to patients, families, and groups skillfully assessing health needs, identifying problems, formulating expected outcomes, designing and implementing interventions, and evaluating their effectiveness.

Appreciation of:

• The contribution of the nursing process as a method of improving quality of care.
• The scope of strategies that may be incorporated by the professional nurse in the delivery of care.
• The contribution of various disciplines in the delivery of health care.

Knowledge of:

• The nursing process as a systematic approach for problem identification, management, and evaluation of client outcomes.

Implementation by:

• Providing nursing care to clients with a variety of problems and needs to reduce risk, prevent disease, manage illness, and support the client in all phases of living and dying.
• Providing nursing care to diverse clients across the lifespan in a variety of settings.
• Applying health care technologies to maximize optimal outcomes for clients.

Intra- and Interpersonal Relationships

Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with clients, health professionals, and other colleagues in the provision of needed health services.

Appreciation of:

• Communication as a complex interactive process that forms the basis for building interpersonal relationships.
• The need for collaborative relationships in the delivery of health care.

Knowledge of:

• The principles and modes of, and barriers to communication.
• The concepts and processes of collaboration, and coordination, negotiation, and delegation.

Implementation by:

• Using therapeutic communication within the nurse-client relationship.
• Establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships within an interdisciplinary team.
• Utilizing technology to enhance the communication related to client care.

Professional Responsibilities

Demonstrate ethical and professional behaviors, and engage in the process of life-long learning.

Appreciation of:

• The values of the profession as they relate to patient welfare.
• The impact of the legal and ethical guidelines on the nursing profession.
• The value of continued personal and professional development.

Knowledge of:

• Professional nursing standards that guide nursing practice.
• Legal and ethical guidelines that impact the practice of nursing.
• Professional nursing issues that influence client care.

Implementation by:

• Engaging in the continuous process of personal and professional development.
• Applying the Professional Nursing Code of Ethics to practice.
• Incorporating principles of ethical decision making in practice.
• Demonstrating accountability in nursing practice.
• Becoming a contributing member of the profession of nursing.

Societal Responsibilities

Maintain an awareness of the impact that legal, cultural, political, economic, and ethical forces have on health and nursing issues locally, nationally, and globally, and participate in society's efforts to make change.

Appreciation of:

• Key health, nursing, and societal issues in diverse settings.

Knowledge of:

• Legal, political, economic, and organizational mandates, policies, standards, and designs that impact on health and health care including nursing practice.
• The processes involved in addressing health and nursing issues at societal levels.
• Issues related to cultural diversity and social justice.
• Ethical issues related to health care and society.

Implementation by:

• Participating in the assessment of problematic issues that impinge on health and nursing practice.
• Involvement in various activities that positively influence health and nursing practice at various societal levels.

Research

Appreciate the role of research in the generation of nursing knowledge, use research findings responsibly, and demonstrate a sense of critical inquiry.

Appreciation of:

• The contribution of research to health, health care, and nursing practice.
• The rights of subjects in research protocols.
• The value of critical inquiry in professional practice.

Knowledge of:

• Critical inquiry and research process for generation of nursing knowledge.
• The processes of research utilization in nursing practice.

Implementation by:

• Engaging in beginning levels and forms of research utilization in practice.
• Incorporating critical inquiry into nursing practice.
• Identification of research questions in clinical practice.
• Protecting the rights of subjects in research studies.