School of Nursing - Radford University Main Campus, Roanoke Higher Ed Center, and Radford University Carilion

Dr. Johnnie Wijewardane, Dean of School of Nursing

Dr. Iris Mullins,* Interim Director

Dr. Patty Vari, Site Coordinator RUC
www.radford.edu/nursing

The Vision of the Radford University School of Nursing is in blending the art and science of nursing to prepare enlightened, compassionate professionals who will meet the diverse needs of the local and global community.

Mission: The Radford University School of Nursing is committed to excellence in the development of professional nurses to meet changing local and global health care needs through education, research, practice, and community engagement. Students are responsible and accountable for nursing practice in keeping with the American Nurses Association’s Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice.

The teaching and learning process involves a mutual partnership between students and faculty to develop a knowledge base in the liberal arts, sciences, and the discipline of nursing. This partnership exists to promote critical thinking, ethical decision making, and lifelong learning. Theory and skills learned in the classroom are applied through a variety of learning experiences. Faculty models the professional nursing role through teaching, scholarship, community service, and practice. Students are expected to develop a professional identity and professional values.

Values:

• Advocacy: Intervening on behalf of vulnerable populations to address ethical issues, care needs, and resources.
• Caring: Showing compassion for others in an altruistic manner through presence and a holistic practice.
• Cultural humility: Honoring traditions and spiritual beliefs through intentional engagement and openness to promote acceptance of those in our care.
• Excellence: Using rigorous evidence-based methodologies to instill competency and inspire professionalism and accountability in our graduates.
• Interprofessionalism: Utilizing interdisciplinary, collaborative practice and demonstrating respect to achieve the highest quality outcomes.

Accreditation and Licensure Requirements

The nursing program has been approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing and has full national accreditation with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The practice of professional nursing in every state in the United States requires licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN).Successful completion of the nursing program requirements and the awarding of a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree qualify the graduate to take the national NCLEX-RN examination for registered nursing in the state of their choice. Opportunity to take this required licensure examination is obtained by application to the Virginia Board of Nursing. This will require a criminal background check. The RU Nursing Program maintains approval by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Other state Boards of Nursing may have other requirements. RU cannot guarantee that students can gain initial licensure in other states due to differing requirements in other states. Therefore, students will need to be initially licensed in the State of Virginia upon graduation and can then transfer licensure to another state if desired. Applying for licensure in Virginia will require a Virginia address, and proof of residency (Virginia driver’s license, voter registration card). The specific requirements are subject to change. For more information about these requirements in Virginia, contact the Virginia Board of Nursing. The specific requirements are subject to change. For more information about these requirements in Virginia, call or write:

Board of Nursing
Department of Health Professions Perimeter Center
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
Richmond, Virginia 23233
Phone: (804) 367-4515
Fax: (804) 527-4455
Web Site: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/nursing/

Pre-licensure Functional and Technical Standards

The following serves to notify prospective students of standards for safe nursing practice. It is the student’s responsibility to utilize a critical thinking process to assess, implement, and evaluate their ability to learn and fulfill these standards throughout the educational process and the act of professional nursing.

Students seeking academic accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act must register with Radford University’s Center for Accessibility Services (CAS). The policies regarding students with disabilities may be found at http://www.radford.edu/content/cas/home.html.  Website: www.radford.edu/cas Phone: 540-831-6350 Email: cas@radford.edu. Students qualified for academic accommodations should meet with each course professor during office hours, to review and discuss accommodations.

Essential Mental Abilities:

• Follow instructions and rules.
• Demonstrate safe nursing practice within the defined clinical time period.
• Maintain reality orientation accompanied by short- and long-term memory.
• Assimilate knowledge acquired through lectures, discussion, readings and self- directed studies and effectively apply that knowledge in clinical settings for a variety of client needs and problems.
• Locate, retrieve, and utilize information from a variety of resources, e.g., electronics, libraries, people, and organizations.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply basic mathematical skills accurately, including, but not limited to, ratio proportion concepts, use of conversion tables, and calculations of drug dosages and solutions.
• Comprehend and apply abstract concepts from biological, sociological, and psychological sciences.
• Utilize sufficient critical thinking abilities for clinical judgment.
• Appreciate the diversity of people relative to age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, ethnicity, religion, socio economic level, lifestyle, values and functional ability.

Essential Communication Skills:

• Organize thoughts to communicate effectively through written documents that are correct in style, grammar, and mechanics.
• Speak clearly in order to communicate with patients, families, healthcare team members, peers and faculty.
• Effectively utilize interpersonal abilities to interact with diverse individuals, families and groups.
• Establish interpersonal rapport sufficient to communicate, collaborate, and relate effectively with individuals, families, community groups, and health care professionals.
• Read and accurately interpret written communications (i.e., test questions, provider orders etc.).

Essential Physical Abilities:

• Visual Acuity: 
  • Be able to read charts, records, scales, small print, handwritten notations, and detect changes in skin color or condition accurately. 
  • Be able to draw up the correct quantity of medication in a syringe, accurately read a syringe, and any other measuring device.
  • Demonstrate eye/hand coordination for manipulation of equipment.
• Auditory Ability: 
  • Demonstrate the ability to distinguish tonal differences and the ability to use the telephone. 
  • Included in this policy, but not limited to, is the ability to communicate effectively with patients in English, detect sounds related to bodily functions using a stethoscope, and detect audible alarms generated by mechanical systems used to monitor patients.
• Sensory Ability:
  • Distinguish odors, e.g., drugs, solutions, body fluids, smoke, and chemicals.
  • Demonstrate sufficient tactile ability to differentiate changes in sensation, with or without the use of protective gloves, e.g., pulse, temperature, and skin irregularity.
• Motor Ability:
  • Manipulate equipment appropriately to provide nursing care to clients, e.g., syringes, infusion pumps, life support devices, and stethoscopes. Use of hands for grasping,, pushing, pulling and fine manipulations.
  • Move unassisted from room to room, maneuver in small spaces, and stand and walk for six to twelve hours per day. Maintain balance while standing and able to reach below the waist and overhead. Able to bend, squat and kneel.
  • Provide a safe and clean environment, and be able to assist others in activities of daily living, e.g., walking, bathing, eating, toileting, transferring, and lifting.
  • Perform CPR (i.e., move patient to compress chest and manually ventilate patient).
  • Complete assignments with specified time periods, e.g., technical procedures, health assessments, written work, tests, and client documentation.
  • Perform multiple tasks accurately in rapidly changing situations.
  • Take responsibility for personal safety in laboratory and clinical environments.
  • Adhere to the School of Nursing dress and professional behavior policy. Must be well- groomed, clean, showered with no perfumes or strongly scented lotions of any kind. Included in this policy, but not limited to, are expectations that hair will be kept up and away from the face, fingernails will be kept short, body art will not be visible, and a maximum of one body piercing (small metal stud only) in each earlobe.

BSN Program Offered with multiple campus locations:

Radford University Main Campus & Roanoke Higher Education Center

• Undergraduate Pre-licensure BSN
• Undergraduate Post-licensure RN-BSN

Radford University Carilion

• Undergraduate Pre-licensure Traditional BSN
• Undergraduate Pre-licensure Accelerated BSN
• Undergraduate Post-licensure RN-BSN

RU Main Campus and Roanoke Higher Education Center

Undergraduate Program

The undergraduate nursing program leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. This major includes the development of a broad Core Curriculum foundation in liberal arts and the physical, behavioral, and social sciences. Nursing courses are concentrated in the junior and senior years (upper division) of the four-year academic program and include classroom, laboratory and clinical learning experiences.

Graduate Program

The graduate program in Nursing offers courses leading to the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. The program is designed to provide advanced knowledge in nursing theory, research and practice. For more information about the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a major in Nursing, consult the Radford University Graduate Catalog.

Academic Advising

Starting in Spring 2021, during their freshman and sophomore years, Pre-Nursing students are advised in the Academic Success Center in Young Hall. When students are accepted into the upper division nursing sequence, they are assigned to a faculty advisor within the department. Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor regularly to facilitate smooth progress towards completion of their degree.

Policies and Procedure for Admission to Upper Division Nursing Major

(NOTE that requirements for admission into the School of Nursing are based on requirements in place at the time of application to the B.S.N. Program.)

1. Students electing to enter the School of Nursing enter as pre-nursing students. Students must apply for admission to the upper division nursing major by the deadline date for the semester desired. All students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of no less than 2.8 to apply to the upper division nursing major; however, the actual G.P.A. required for admission may be significantly higher. Admission is competitive, with admission granted on a space available basis.
2. At the time of application deadline (November 15 or August 1) students may have no more than two (2) of the following science courses to complete:  Chemistry 120, Biology 334 Microbiology, Biology 310 A&P and Biology 311 A&P.  Students transferring from a college or university in which Chemistry is taught in two (2) semesters must complete the two semesters in order to receive credit at Radford University for Chem 120.  Students must be within 6 hours of completing their Gen Ed requirements before admission to the upper division nursing major.
3. Students must have a cumulative or combined GPA of 2.8 or above on a 4.0 scale to be considered for admission to the nursing major. Only applicants with a cumulative or combined GPA of 2.80 or above will be considered in the admission pool for upper division; however, the GPA required to be competitive for admission may be considerably higher than 2.80.  Students offered admission to the nursing major must maintain the 2.80 GPA. If the GPA goes below the 2.80 students will not be allowed to start the nursing major.   Students who have only attended Radford University the Grade Point Average earned on courses taken at Radford University will be used for admission consideration.  Students who have attended other colleges in addition to Radford University – this includes dual enrollment in high school – the Grade Point Average will be a combined Grade Point Average used for admission consideration. Students with a confirmed baccalaureate degree may use their pre-requisite courses GPA for admission consideration.  The School of Nursing will need an official transcript from the college with the confirmed date of degree completion.
4. Students who have been unsuccessful in a previous nursing program may apply to the School of Nursing if it has been at least 2 years since last enrollment in the program in which the student was unsuccessful. The student must not have had any conduct or honor code violations and must provide a letter of good standing from the previous nursing program director. The student should provide a letter with the application explaining the previous experience in the nursing program and how the student plans to be successful in the future. All transcripts from the previous nursing program must be supplied. If the student is accepted, the student will be required to take all nursing courses. The School of Nursing may request further documentation from previous nursing program.
5. Students who enter Radford University as full-time freshmen with a declared  pre-nursing major who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.50 on a minimum of 24 semester hours credit at Radford University and have no prior history (either while a student at Radford University or prior to enrollment) of violations involving honor code, conduct, criminal charges or convictions, alcohol or substance violations, will receive a priority admit status at the end of the second semester of enrollment, contingent upon maintaining a 3.50 GPA, completing coursework according to the School of Nursing Guidelines [listed in the catalog] and having no infractions of the Radford University Honor Code,  Priority Admit Status will be revoked in the event of a violation of the Radford University Honor System, alcohol or substance abuse infractions, criminal charges or convictions or if the GPA goes below 3.50. In addition, the Radford University Admission Committee reserves the right to revoke a priority admission status of a student any time additional information is provided that would indicate a violation of the above mentioned selection criteria.

The application process for the School of Nursing is as follows:

Applicants must be admitted to Radford University prior to admission to the upper division major.

Submit application to the School of Nursing for fall admission by the deadline date of November 15 or for spring admission by the deadline date of August 1.

The School of Nursing can deny a student application if the criminal background, substance abuse and/or health record is such that they would not be successful in meeting professional standards of the School of Nursing. If admitted to the nursing major, students will be required to do a criminal background check, drug screening and a health record. If any of these shows issues of concern, the results will be shared with the clinical agencies the School of Nursing uses for clinical. The clinical agencies will determine whether the student can come to their agency for clinical; if the clinical agency refuses to allow the student in clinical, he or she will be dismissed by the School of Nursing.

Submit official transcripts of all college course work. Transcripts must show completion of the following prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or above:

CHEM 112 - General Chemistry  or CHEM 120 - Chemistry of Life 
PSYC 230 - Lifespan Developmental Psychology 
SOCY 110 - Introduction to Sociology 
NUTR 214 - Introduction to Nutrition 
STAT 200 - Introduction to Statistics  or STAT 130 - Understanding Statistics in Society  
BIOL 322 - Human Anatomy and Physiology 
BIOL 334 - Microbiology 
NURS 321 - Pathophysiology  

All students must be within 6 hours of completing Core Curriculum requirements when they begin the upper division nursing major. Students are advised that failure to complete all Core Curriculum courses prior to enrollment in the upper division major may result in the necessity of attending summer school or an additional academic year or semester(s).

Applicants who hold a Baccalaureate Degree from an accredited institution have met Core Curriculum requirements.

At the time of application deadline, the student may only have two (2) of the following pre-requisite courses left to complete: Chemistry, Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology. Students transferring from the community college system please note that to receive transfer credit for Chemistry and/or Anatomy and Physiology at Radford University, you must complete the two (2) course sequence of these courses (i.e.,CHM 101 and 102; BIO 141 and 142).

Students offered admission to the nursing major Fall Semester, must earn a grade of “C” or above on pre-requisite courses taken during the Spring Semester.  If student earns a grade of “C- “or below or withdraws from pre-requisite courses during the Spring Semester, the offer of admission can be revoked by the School of Nursing.  If offer of admission is revoked, the School of Nursing will notify student by e-mail or phone call. 

Students offered admission to the nursing major Spring Semester, must pass all pre-requisite courses with a grade of “C” or above at the end of the Fall semester.  If student earns a grade of “C-” or below or withdraws from pre-requisite courses during the Fall Semester the offer of admission will be revoked by the School of Nursing.  All pre-requisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or above before students can start the nursing major

Students who have been unsuccessful in a previous nursing program may apply to the School of Nursing if it has been at least 2 years since last enrollment in the program in which the student was unsuccessful. The student must not have had any conduct or honor code violations and must provide a letter of good standing from the previous nursing program director. The student should provide a letter with the application explaining the previous experience in the nursing program and how the student plans to be successful in the future. All transcripts from the previous nursing program must be supplied. If the student is accepted, the student will be required to take all nursing courses. The School of Nursing may request further documentation from previous nursing program.

Following acceptance to the upper division nursing major, the student will:

Submit a Criminal Background Check each semester through a company the School of Nursing has contracted with to do the background check and set up a tracker for students to submit the required forms the School of Nursing requires.   The cost of the background check is the responsibility of the student.

Students will have a drug screening each semester during a time frame the School of Nursing sets for students to complete.  The drug screening is ordered through the company that does the background check.  Students are subject to a random drug screening for probable cause.  The cost of the drug screening each semester is the responsibility of the student.

Provide evidence of current certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) through the American Heart Association BLS.  No other CPR course will meet this requirement.  The student is responsible for maintaining current certification throughout the upper division nursing program. If CPR certification has expired, no grace period will be allowed and the student may not attend clinical rotations.  The cost of CPR is the responsibility of the student.

Upper Division Nursing Special Requirements

(Junior & Senior Years)

The upper division nursing courses are offered at two locations: the Radford University Campus, Radford, Virginia which admits students for upper division in Fall Semester and the Roanoke Campus, Roanoke Higher Education Center, located 50 miles northeast of Radford in Roanoke, Virginia, which admits students for upper division in Spring Semester. Students indicate a preference on their applications.

Nursing majors incur financial costs in addition to those already required by the university. A physical examination with updated immunizations, and a current certification in CPR are required prior to beginning upper-division classes. Each student is personally responsible for transportation to and from institutions and agencies utilized for clinical learning experiences. Nursing students are required to purchase the Nursing Uniforms from the Radford University Bookstore Store.  Skills Pack is required the first semester in the nursing program for nursing course labs.

Upper Division Academic Policies

• A minimum grade of “C” is required in each nursing course.
• The theory grade measured through testing will stand alone as the course grade if less than 80 percent is achieved.
• In courses with theory, laboratory and/or graded clinical components, a passing grade of 80 percent must be earned in each component in order to pass the entire course. In addition, clinical evaluations must receive a PASS on PASS/FAIL system in order to pass the course.
• If the student makes below the grade of “C” in any 2 upper division nursing major courses, the student is withdrawn from the upper division nursing program and may not apply for readmission. Students who withdraw from or earn a grade below a “C” in 1 nursing course must request in writing for continuation in the School of Nursing. The ability to progress is not guaranteed. Students who withdraw from any 2 nursing courses, earn a grade below a “C” in any 2 nursing courses or a combination of a withdrawal and a grade below a “C”, will be dismissed from the nursing program and may not reapply.
• A minimum grade point average of 2.5 in the nursing major is required for graduation.
• The credit hour ratio for classroom instruction is 1:1 (One hour of course credit for one hour of instruction.)
• The credit hour ratio for laboratory instruction is 1:2 (One hour of course credit for two hours of instruction.)
• The credit hour ratio for clinical instruction is 1:3 (One hour of course credit for three hours of instruction.)
• Students will be required to pass a Medication Calculations Test on the first day of each semester in Upper Division Nursing. Students will purchase a self-study book and will be notified about the specifics when they receive their admissions letter and each semester thereafter. Students will be required to pass Medical Dosage Calculation Tests in selected clinical nursing courses throughout the curriculum.
• Nursing students must always be safe in practice; any compromise of safe practice can be a cause for immediate withdrawal from the program. This includes psychomotor and/or psychosocial areas.
• In addition to meeting the preceding requirements, a student must fulfill other policies outlined in the current School of Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook.
• Students who withdraw from or fail upper division nursing courses must request continuation in the School of Nursing. The ability to progress through the remainder of the program is not guaranteed and is on a space available basis.

Post-licensure (RN-to-BSN) Track - Main Campus and Radford University Carilion Campus

The post-licensure track of the undergraduate nursing program, or “RN-to-BSN,” provides flexible online learning opportunities for students who are graduates of community college or diploma schools and are licensed Registered Nurses (RN). Co-enrollment options are available as well.  Students complete 31 credit hours but are also awarded additional credits for prior learning and work experience.  Transfer credit hours are awarded towards the general requirements for a B.S.N., thus completing a total of 123 credit hours at the baccalaureate level. Students are admitted each fall and spring. 

An individual may be admitted to the post-licensure track based upon the following eligibility criteria if he/she:

• Option 1:
  • Holds an Associate Degree or Diploma in Nursing from a state-approved program;
  • Holds an active Registered Nurse license with the Virginia Board of Nursing or a Nurse Licensure Compact state or hold an active Registered Nurse license in another state and be eligible for licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia;
  • Has practiced as an R.N. for a minimum of six (6) months and/or plans to practice concurrently while enrolled;
• Option 2:
  • Enrolled in an Associate of Applied Science Nursing Program in any VCCS school;
  • Within two semesters of completing the AAS in Nursing;
  • Have a letter of recommendation for AAS Nursing faculty (that student has the ability to be successful in second year of AAS along with a BSN program)
• Has completed the following degree requirements or their transfer equivalencies with a grade of “C” or better: BIOL 310  and BIOL 311 , BIOL 334 , PSYC 230 , NUTR 214 , and STAT 130  or STAT 200  (some may be taken concurrently with nursing courses with SON approval);
• Has at least a 2.50 G.P.A. on all nursing courses attempted and on all cumulative college work;
• Has not withdrawn from any two nursing courses, earned a grade of “C” or below in any two nursing courses, or have a combination of one nursing course grade of a “C-” or below and one withdrawal from a nursing course at any nursing program; the only exception to this policy is withdrawal from a nursing program for documented extenuating circumstances (i.e. medical withdrawal);
• Has been admitted to Radford University.

The RN-BSN curriculum is as follows:

• NURS 302 - Strategies for Success
• NURS 332 - Theoretical Foundations of Nursing
• NURS 365 - Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice
• NURS 380 - Holistic Nursing Practice
• NURS 441 - Gerontological Nursing - Post-Licensure Track
• NURS 449 - Nursing Management and Leadership Post-Licensure Track
• NURS 452 - Introduction to US Healthcare
• NURS 456 - Community Health Nursing – Post-licensure track
• NURS 470 - Professional Role Transitions
• Additional RU Courses with “C” or better (6 credits)

Academic Advising

Students in the RN-to-BSN program are advised by the track coordinator/RN-BSN faculty. All students should make advising appointments upon admission and anytime necessary to help modify a program of study or discuss program progression.  All advisors are focused on supporting the growth and development of the students and assist them in utilizing Academic Support Services as needed. Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor regularly to facilitate smooth progress towards completion of their degree.

Radford University Carilion Campus

Nursing, B.S.N. – RUC BSN Tracks

All course requirements for nursing majors studying at the Radford University Carilion campus are outlined below.

• Pre-licensure BSN Traditional Track
• Pre-licensure BSN Accelerated Track
• RN-BSN Track (see above under RN-BSN for both Main Campus and RUC)

Pre-licensure BSN Policies and Procedure for Admission

For RUC nursing students the admission and progression process is as follows:

1. On the Radford University Carilion campus, students are admitted to the nursing program as freshmen
2. Students must have a 2.8 GPA on a 4.000 scale to be considered for admission to the nursing program
3. Throughout the program, students must meet progression criteria in order to progress
4. The program in nursing is demanding both academically and physically. Students must meet the ethical and technical standards of professional nursing. Health records, criminal background checks and urine drug testing are required. Due to the rigorous program students are discouraged from working outside of school for more than 10 hours per week.
5. Applicants applying for the Accelerated BSN track who have been unsuccessful in a nursing program at a university or community college will not be eligible for admission.
6. Applicants who have been unsuccessful in a nursing program at a university or community college will be reviewed on an individual basis for the Traditional BSN Program and must meet the following requirements:

• The student must not have had any conduct or honor code violations and must provide a letter of good standing from the previous nursing program director.
• The student should provide a letter with the application explaining the previous experience in the nursing program and how the student plans to be successful in the future. All transcripts from the previous nursing program must be supplied.
• If the student is accepted, the student will be required to take all nursing courses. The School of Nursing may request further documentation from previous nursing program.
• Admission is not guaranteed and the student will need to start at the beginning of the nursing program.

Academic Advising

Students on the RUC campus are directly admitted into the Nursing program, and are thus assigned a faculty advisor throughout the program. For the freshman and sophomore years, the students are assigned to the TBSN academic advisor. Once students progress into upper division nursing courses, they are assigned to another faculty advisor within the department. All advisors are focused on supporting the growth and development of the students and assist them in utilizing Academic Support Services as needed. Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor regularly to facilitate smooth progress towards completion of their degree.

RUC TBSN Progression Criteria

1. Students in their 4th semester must file an INTENT TO PROGRESS. In order to file an INTENT TO PROGRESS, students may have no more than two (2) of the following science courses to complete: Chemistry, Micro, A&P I & II
2. Students must maintain:

• 3.5 and above: Guaranteed progression
• 2.8 - 3.49: Priority placement for progression
• 2.5-2.79: Ranked for placement on space available basi
• Less than 2.5: Not eligible for progression

3. Students must earn a grade of “C” on all prerequisite courses. If a student earns a grade lower than a C or withdraws from prerequisite courses, they must retake the course and pass with a minimum grade of “C” before progressing
4. Students are required to complete the Kaplan Nursing Admission Test (KNAT) in their sophomore year with a target score of 65. The KNAT can be taken twice and is to be completed by November 15th for students admitted in the Fall semester and by April 15th for students admitted in the Spring semester. It is the student’s responsibility to submit their KNAT score to the SON
5. Students should have no prior history of violations involving honor code, conduct, criminal charges or convictions, alcohol or substance violations to progress to upper nursing courses.
6. Once in upper division nursing courses, two nursing course failures will result in program dismissal
7. Students eligible for progression to upper division nursing courses are required to complete a Criminal Background check and drug screening. If the Criminal Background Check or drug screening show issues of concern, THE SON may take appropriate action, which can include dismissal from the program.