Plattsburgh State Nursing

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Nursing

The nursing program leads to a bachelor of science with a major in nursing. Its primary mission is to prepare graduates for the practice of professional nursing in a wide range of institutional and community settings. There is a curriculum track for students who wish to become registered nurses as well as a track (RN Option) for registered nurses with associate degrees or diplomas in nursing who want to pursue baccalaureate study.

The nursing program accepts high school graduates, college transfers and graduates of associate degree or diploma nursing programs who meet admission requirements. Those who complete program requirements receive the bachelor of science with a major in nursing. Graduates who do not hold R.N. licensure are eligible to sit for the professional nurse licensing examination (NCLEX-RN ).

Benefits of a B.S. in Nursing

The nursing program is registered by the New York State Education Department and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The program holds membership in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and the Council of Deans of Nursing of Senior Colleges and Universities in New York. It supports an active Chapter (Gamma Delta) in Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society of Nursing. 

Program Requirements

There are 54 credits of nursing courses.  RN Option students are granted 26 nursing credits after successful completion of NUR350, Theoretical Foundations of Nursing, in recognition of their nursing experience and education.  An overview of the RN Option courses can be found HERE.

All students must complete a total of 120 credits with attention to the campus General Education requirements of 40-44 credits.

An incoming freshman student should follow this course plan to finish in 4 years.

Admission

Admission to the major is competitive and is contingent upon academic qualifications and spaces available in the major. Candidates must meet the general admission requirements to the College as published herein and the following requirements specific to the nursing major:

1. Freshman applicants must have completed three units of high school science including general or earth science, biology and chemistry.
2. Transfer applicants must have achieved an overall grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for courses completed at another college or university. Graduates of diploma nursing programs must have attained an overall average equivalent to a grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. This requirement may be waived in exceptional cases by the chairperson of the Department of Nursing.
3. Applicants planning to pursue the Registered Nurse Option must be graduates of a nursing program that is approved by the state or Canadian province in which the program is located. Also, current registered professional nurse licensure in New York State is required. Applicants awaiting the results of the licensing examination taken for the first time will be admitted. However, continuance in the option will be contingent upon a passing grade on the licensing exam.

Transfer Credit

All courses completed satisfactorily at another accredited institution of higher education are evaluated on a course-by-course basis in accordance with guidelines established by the College and the following Department of Nursing criteria:

1. Students transferring from two-year colleges may be granted a maximum of 67 semester hours earned at two-year colleges that include a maximum of 30 transfer credits in nursing (26 required nursing credits and 4 elective nursing credits).

Change of Major Students who wish to declare a major in nursing after admission or enrollment at the College must first obtain approval from the Department of Nursing. Admission will be contingent upon academic qualifications and available space in the transfer class. An overall grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for all college level course work completed is required.

Progression Policy

In order to progress within the nursing major, students must meet the following requirements:

1. All students must have an overall GPA of 2.5 to enter upper division courses of the nursing major.
2. All students must have a GPA of 2.0 (P grades are not acceptable), as well as achieve a grade of C in all required nursing courses, in order to continue in the nursing program.
3. Students in curriculum code 202 must complete cognate requirements with a grade of C or higher (P grades are not acceptable) prior to taking upper division nursing courses.
4. Students are required to obtain CPR certification prior to the first nursing course with an off-campus clinical component and annually thereafter.
5. Required non-nursing courses can be repeated only once. A student may repeat no more than two failed required non-nursing courses within the total program.
6. Required nursing courses can be repeated only once. A student may repeat no more than two required nursing courses within the total program.
7. All students must demonstrate satisfactory performance in both theory and clinical portions of a nursing course in order to be successful in a nursing course with both a theory and a clinical component. Failure to successfully complete either portion (theory or clinical) will constitute a failure for the course.
8. Nursing courses taken at another institution will be considered for transfer credit.
9. Students in curriculum 202 are required to obtain professional liability insurance prior to the first nursing course with an off-campus clinical component and must maintain coverage throughout the program.