The generic B.S.N. program balances the liberal arts, sciences, humanities, and professional nursing preparation. The RN-B.S.N. program is designed to educate registered nurses who graduated from diploma or associate degree nursing programs for an increased leadership role in nursing. Students complete 60 credits of sciences and humanities in lower-division courses prior to transfer to Jefferson. The Department offers the unique opportunity for RN students to earn 12 of the remaining upper-division credits through Portfolio Assessment of previous nursing knowledge. The Department also offers an Accelerated Pathway to the M.S.N. program for highly motivated, academically talented registered nurses and students who hold a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing.
Students apply concurrently to the undergraduate and graduate programs.
The goal of the option is to provide a mechanism for RN students to earn the B.S.N. and M.S.N. degrees in a seamless integrated curriculum. An Accelerated Pathway option is available to applicants with a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing. The Master of Science in Nursing program prepares nurses for advanced and sophisticated clinical practice. The graduate program offers nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, and post-master's certificate programs in acute care, adult health, community systems administration, oncology, and pediatrics as well as a family nurse practitioner option. The curriculum is predicated on the Department of Nursing's belief that professional nursing is an art and a science that incorporates theory, research, and clinical practice.