Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The BSN program emphasizes intensive and early clinical experience, a strong foundation in acute and critical care nursing and a commitment to service to our community. Our students begin their clinical experience in the first term of the freshman year and complete their program with a 280-hour clinical preceptorship in the senior year. Students graduate with over 1547 hours of clinical experience, far exceeding that of other schools of nursing. In addition, students provide healthcare services to children and families--collectively amassing approximately 16,000 hours of service to local schools alone each year. The student-learning environment includes traditional classrooms, world-class clinical facilities, community settings and the Learning Resource Center (LRC). The LRC consists of four activity centers: the Clinical Teaching Center; the Center for Bio-informatics and Health Promotion; the Multimedia Simulation Center; and the Cyber Café. Clinical experiences occur in Cleveland’s nationally and internationally renowned health care facilities including the University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Cleveland Clinic and the MetroHealth System. Students also have extensive experience in community health departments, community centers and the Cleveland Municipal School District. The opportunities available to students are limitless. Students are encouraged to participate in interdisciplinary research projects with senior faculty. They have the opportunity to explore health issues in the global arena, to study in international sites as part of their standard curriculum. International activities are supported by FPB’s World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center. Graduates have a foundation in the discipline of nursing, demonstrate leadership in clinical practice, use clinical inquiry to advance practice, become involved in research, and assume responsibility for their own professional development. Student Learning Outcomes Teaches and counsels individuals, families and other groups about health, illness and health seeking behaviors Critiques and applies research findings to clinical practice Provides direct patient care and assumes leadership role in directing nursing care to individuals, groups and families Participates and assumes beginning leadership roles Uses principles of ethics and the professional code as a framework for decision making Works effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team Uses effective communication techniques with diverse clients, colleagues, and information systems Describes process of health care policy development Curriculum This four-year generic program for high school graduates leads to a BSN degree. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX examination for licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN). A sample study plan also demonstrates how a BSN student might schedule the required courses. The FPB School of Nursing has the right to determine a student's readiness to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination and the right to restrict testing until the student demonstrates a readiness to pass this examination. This examination is given by State Boards of Nursing, and satisfactory completion of this examination enables the graduate to practice as an RN in the state for which the examination was written. The BSN program includes nursing, science and liberal arts courses. A minimum of 126 credit hours, with at least 50 credits from upper division courses, are required for award of the BSN degree. Students must meet the University requirements for graduation. The ratio of clinical hours to credit hours is 4 to 1, and for laboratory hours, it is 2 to 1.