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Note: Because of the competitive admissions process to the College of Nursing, it is strongly recommended that students interested in nursing contact the Student Services Advisor on one of the four campuses for current information and advising. The following information is an overview of the College of Nursing. More detailed information is available in the Bulletin of the College of Nursing which may be obtained from the Student Advisor on one of the four College of Nursing campuses.
University of Nebraska Medical Center programs are accredited by North Central Association of Colleges*. All programs of the College of Nursing are accredited by the Committee on College Nursing Education (CCNE). The nursing program is also approved by the Nebraska Board of Nursing. The purpose of this baccalaureate nursing program is to prepare the graduate for entrance into professional nursing practice as a generalist and to provide a foundation for graduate education in nursing.
A total of 128 credits are required for completion of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)-College of Nursing (CON)-Kearney Division.
The undergraduate nursing program at UNMC-CON is committed to quality higher education and a learning environment which promotes personal development, scholarship, and competent practitioners who are skilled in the caring art and science of nursing. The graduate of this program is prepared for entry into nursing practice as a generalist with emphasis on the roles of provider of health care, coordinator of health care, and member of the nursing profession.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing offers graduate programs leading to master of science in nursing (MSN) and doctor of philosophy (PhD) degrees. The masters student enters with an interest in a chosen field of clinical nursing and basic clinical competence. The masters program offers several nurse practitioner options, clinical nurse specialist options and a health systems administration option. The doctoral student enters with clinical competence in a chosen field of nursing and an interest in a specific area of research.
Graduate-level nursing courses are offered by the graduate faculty at the College of Nursing. Graduate-level cognate courses in the basic, behavioral and social sciences may be taken at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney or the Medical Center, or from other accredited graduate programs. All programs of study are planned with the major advisor after acceptance into the graduate program.
The College of Nursing offers an advanced placement program for registered nurses leading to a bachelor of science in nursing or an accelerated option leading to the master of science in nursing. Interested RNs should contact the Student Services Advisor, West Center 153, UNK, for details.
As a provider of health care, the baccalaureate generalist integrates scientific, conceptual and nursing practice competencies from the domains of knowing, relating and developing that are common to nursing and human experience.
As a coordinator of health care, the baccalaureate generalist employs managerial, nursing practice and professional competencies to promote comprehensive cost-effective and meaningful health care for consumers in diverse health care environments.
As a member of the profession of nursing the baccalaureate generalist displays a professional ethic and behaviors reflective of the social responsibility and caring tradition of nursing.
Applications for admission to the College of Nursing are welcomed from women and men who are interested in preparing for a career in nursing. In accordance with university policy, UNMC prohibits the denial of admission on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, handicap, or religious or political beliefs.
Preference for admission may be given to Nebraska residents. Admission is competitive based on grade point averages of college/university work. Applicants must be able to meet eligibility requirements for licensure to practice nursing in Nebraska. Persons who have criminal records, substance abuse problems or health problems that could interfere with safe practice may be ineligible for licensure. Applicants must submit a disclosure statement prior to the offer of admission and complete a background check prior to enrollment. Admission may be denied or rescinded based on a review of the background check and disclosure statement.
A freshman student who wishes to pursue a pre-nursing course of study at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) should make application to UNK as a pre-nursing student. While completing his/her pre-nursing requirements, the student applies for admission into the UNMC- CON. Admission into the major is competitive and the student may indicate a preference for one of four campuses: Kearney, Omaha, Lincoln, or West Nebraska in Scottsbluff.
A pre-nursing student may request information regarding admission to the major from the office of the College of Nursing Kearney Division located in West Center (Phone: (308) 865-8322).
International applicants must present scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Test of Spoken English (TSE). A total score of at least 550 on the paper-based TOEFL or 213 on the computer-based TOEFL is required. An overall comprehensibility score of 220 on the TSE is required. For the test of spoken English, students taking the TSE need a minimum score of 220 for admission. Students taking the SPEAK test need a minimum score of 55 for admission. Foreign students admitted on the basis of undergraduate work completed in a college or university in which instruction is in a language other than English will be required to demonstrate acceptable proficiency in English before they will be eligible for admission. Proficiency must be demonstrated by successfully completing study in a college or university in the United States. These credits must include an intensive language program offering instruction in English as a second language and 6 hours of English Composition
The College of Nursing, Kearney Campus, utilizes a variety of health agencies throughout the Kearney area for clinical learning and experience. Cooperating community agencies include: Good Samaritan Health System, Richard Young Hospital, St John Good Samaritan Center, St Luke's Good Samaritan Village; St Francis Hospital, Grand Island, NE; Mary Lanning Hospital, Hasting, NE. All students complete a rural health experience. All clinical course work is under the direct supervision of the College of Nursing faculty.
Usually credit earned from an accredited college is acceptable to the University of Nebraska. Grades from other than a University of Nebraska campus must be at least 2.0 (C) if the course is to be accepted for transfer credit by the College of Nursing. The College of Nursing reserves the right to evaluate all credit hours submitted on an application. Transfer credits are recorded with no grade or quality points assigned.
Applicants from other than University of Nebraska campuses will receive credit in the program based on the transferable college credits they present which are equivalent to the College of Nursing program requirements. It is emphasized that even though courses and credits may transfer, the College of Nursing is the final authority on how these courses and credits apply toward a degree in nursing.
Credit earned more than five years prior to application for admission will be evaluated. Applicant may be required to repeat selected courses, or validate knowledge through challenge examinations.
Following admission to the College of Nursing, all financial aid for nursing students is disbursed through the UNMC Financial Aid Office, Box 984265, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4265. Application materials are obtained from that office.
All candidates must meet minimum technical standards to function successfully as students and later as practitioners of nursing. The following general abilities have been identified as necessary to meet the technical standards for admission.
The student must possess the functional use of the senses of sight, hearing, touch, and smell. He/she must also possess a sense of equilibrium along with sufficient motor function to carry out activities required in nursing. Additionally, the student must possess the communication and intellectual skills to perform the assessment and intervention activities required in providing nursing care.
These general abilities will be required to meet the objectives of undergraduate courses and will be evaluated throughout the program.
These are general policy requirements. Students at Lincoln, West Nebraska and Kearney Divisions should check with individual campus requirements. Admission is not final until documentation of the above is provided.
Application forms and information about the College of Nursing can be obtained from the Office of Academic Records, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Box 984230, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4230, or online at www.unmc.edu/nursing. Applicants may obtain additional information through the Student Services Advisors of the College of Nursing (Kearney Division 308/865-8322).
The application for admission includes the following: An application admission form (including the Campus Preference Form), two letters of recommendation, an official high school transcript (showing date of graduation) or high school equivalency certificate (GED), and official transcripts of ALL university/college work and any other educational institutions attended since graduation from high school, as well as scores from TOEFL and TSE for International Students.
Students with a minimum cumulative college grade point average of 2.0 (C) may apply for admission. Since the College of Nursing cannot admit more students than it has resources to accommodate, admission is competitive based on college cumulative GPA and course completion; therefore it is in the best interest of the student to complete as many of the non-nursing courses with the best GPA as possible. An average GPA for admission has been 3.0 or above for all campuses. Applicants with GPA's of 2.5 and above will be given priority consideration for admission. If space remains available, students with a GPA between 2.0-2.49 may be considered for admission. A course grade of "C-" and below in any of the non-nursing courses is not acceptable to the UNMC College of Nursing. Full admission is dependent upon the cumulative GPA and successful completion of all prerequisites and support courses.
The application should be submitted online at www.unmc.edu/nursing or sent to:
University of Nebraska Medical CenterApplications are accepted twice a year by November 1 and July 1. The starting date for the program is late August and early January each year. Applications are reviewed in January and July, and enrollment may be limited by educational resources available.
A nonrefundable application fee must accompany each initial application to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Application fees are not applied toward tuition and fee charges. Applicants who are currently enrolled are not required to pay an application fee to either UNO, UNK, and UNL. Payment is made by check or money order payable to the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Transcripts and all other materials submitted in support of an application become the permanent property of the university and will not be returned.
Applicants who are enrolled in pre-nursing at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Kearney, or University of Nebraska at Omaha must authorize the transfer of records and transcripts by completing the "Change of Campus" form.
Following acceptance, and prior to enrollment, the student must provide (a) medical health forms, (b) immunization information, and (c) verification of CPR for Health Professionals certification. Acceptance is not final until these requirements are met. Students are required to have current immunizations and CPR certification throughout the program. All students with 7 or more credit hours are required to carry health insurance. Finally, each student admitted to the College of Nursing must meet with the Student Services Advisor on his or her campus to file a projected plan of study.
Candidates for a degree who do not complete all requirements within a five-year period will have their records reevaluated and may be required to repeat some courses.
11 May 2007
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