______________________________________________________________________ 10 SCHOOL OF NURSING _____________________ Dolores Sands PhD, RN Dean Joy H. Penticuff PhD, RN Assistant Dean Donna Lynn Rew EdD, RN Assistant Dean Susan Grobe PhD, RN Director Center for Health Care Research and Evaluation _________________________________________ GENERAL INFORMATION ___________________ HISTORY The University of Texas School of Nursing, established in Galveston in 1890 as the John Sealy Hospital Training School for Nurses, is one of the oldest schools of nursing in the Southwest. It was originally organized as an independent school under a Board of Lady Managers. In 1896 it was transferred to the University of Texas and became the School of Nursing, a division of the Medical Branch, with the diploma granted by the University. In addition to the diploma course, a curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing was established in 1923 in cooperation with the College of Arts and Sciences of the Main University in Austin. In 1932 the School of Nursing was renamed the John Sealy College of Nursing. The degree program was transferred to the college in 1943. With the financial support of the Texas Graduate Nursing Association, graduate courses in nursing were first offered in 1930 in the Department of Physical and Health Education at the Main University. In 1940 a complete curriculum was established leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education. Support for the program was given by the Texas Graduate Nurses Association in the form of a scholarship fund for Texas nurses. In 1945 the curriculum was transferred to the Medical Branch administration, bringing the John Sealy College of Nursing and the new Department of Nursing Education together to form the School of Nursing with its own dean. In September, 1949, a curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing was established for graduates of diploma programs. Funding from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation provided for a program leading to the Master of Science in Nursing with a major in nursing administration, first offered in 1952. Participating in the program of the Southern Regional Education Board for graduate education in nursing, the School of Nursing offered additional specialization in 1955. At that time the name of the school was changed to the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing. The last class of students enrolled in the diploma program was admitted to the School of Nursing in 1957; since that time the school has offered a single program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In the fall of 1960, the University of Texas at Austin became an extension campus of the School of Nursing, which was still located in Galveston, and nursing courses were offered on the Austin campus for the first time. The School of Nursing was reorganized in 1967 as The University of Texas Nursing School (System-wide) and administrative offices were moved to Austin. The school was renamed The University of Texas System School of Nursing in 1972. Junior- and senior-level nursing courses were offered in Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, Galveston, Houston, and San Antonio; in Austin, El Paso, or Fort Worth, a student could enroll for four years, taking liberal arts courses prior to being admitted to the nursing curriculum. A program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in nursing was initiated in 1974. On March 26, 1976, the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System voted to reorganize the schools of nursing in the system and to place each school under the administration of the president of the health science center or academic institution nearest it. On September 1, 1976, the School of Nursing at Austin became a part of the University of Texas at Austin. FACILITIES The 99,815-square-foot, five-story Nursing School building houses administrative, faculty, and staff offices, as well as large and small classrooms and seminar and conference rooms. Also located in the building are the Continuing Education Program; the Learning Center, with an audiovisual library and a staff who provide technical assistance for clinical simulation, instructional design, and production; and the Center for Health Care Research and Evaluation. Learning experiences in the health field are numerous and varied. Hospitals to which students are assigned include, among others, the Austin State Hospital, Brackenridge Hospital (the city-county hospital), St. David's Community Hospital, Seton Medical Center, and Shoal Creek Hospital. Other community settings used for student field experiences include nursing homes, neighborhood health centers, day-care centers, state and local health departments, physicians' offices, and clinics. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SCHOOL OF NURSING Application forms for the following scholarships are available from the Office of Student Financial Services and from the School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, 1700 Red River Street, Austin, Texas 78701-1499. The School of Nursing Scholarship Committee selects the recipients for nursing scholarships. The Rita Willner Atlas Endowed Presidential Scholarship provides support for undergraduate and graduate students. At the donor's request, recipients of the awards are designated Rita Willner Atlas Scholars or Rita Willner Atlas Fellows. The Betty J. Bomar Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Nursing provides scholarship support to an outstanding student pursuing a degree in nursing and a career in providing quality health care. Financial need is a priority in selecting the recipient. The Dr. Louis Edward and Virginia Steele Brenz Scholarship provides support to graduate and undergraduate students. The Billye J. Brown Excellence Fund provides, in part, scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students who exemplify excellence in nursing. The Edith Blanche Jennings Burns, RN, Endowed Scholarship in Nursing provides support to a full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student. The recipient must show excellent promise for a career in nursing and must have a grade point average of at least 2.50 if he or she has been a college or university student. Preference is given first to graduates of Moran High School, Shackelford County, Texas, and then to South Carolina residents, with preference to residents of Lancaster County. If such a recipient cannot be found, a resident of Travis County, Texas, who also graduated from a Travis County high school, is preferred. Financial need is considered. The Carole Diane Cave Memorial Endowed Presidential Scholarship is awarded annually to a student pursuing a career in nursing. The student must be a Texas resident in the professional nursing sequence and must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.30. The Joe and Tana Christie Endowed Presidential Scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding upper-division or graduate student pursuing a degree in nursing and a career in providing quality health care outside a hospital setting for people with AIDS or other terminal illnesses. The recipient must have a grade point average of at least 3.50. The Mitzi I. Nuhn Dreher Endowed Presidential Scholarship provides an award to an undergraduate or graduate student. The School of Nursing Faculty-Staff Endowed Presidential Scholarship is awarded to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student. Preference is given to residents of Texas. The award is made to a nursing student who has shown academic achievement by maintaining a 3.00 or better grade point average, who has shown interest in the community through a record of community involvement, and who has shown a special dedication to nursing by participating in nursing organizations. The Kathryn Gurley Scholarship Endowment provides scholarships for students at all levels. There is no grade point average requirement. The Paul C. Jackson Centennial Excellence Fund provides, in part, scholarships to undergraduates who are in need and making satisfactory progress toward completion of the program. The Lee Hage and Joseph D. Jamail Endowed Scholarship in Nursing provides support to students of average academic merit who show promise of success in their chosen field and who demonstrate evidence of financial need. The Mary Gibbs Jones Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Nursing provides awards to nursing students with no restrictions. The James S. Kemper Foundation provides scholarships to graduate and undergraduate nursing students. Recipients are selected on the basis of accomplishment as well as of need. The Nancy Francis and William Arnold McMinn Endowed Presidential Scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in nursing and a career in providing quality health care. The student must be a Texas resident in the professional nursing sequence and must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.30. The PCA Health Plans Endowed Presidential Scholarship provides awards to incoming freshmen on the basis of academic merit. Preference is given to students who are graduates of the Austin Independent School District and then to students from the counties served by PCA Health Plans. Extracurricular activities and interests are also considered. The Ella Kate and Wallace Ralston Nursing Students Scholarship Fund provides assistance for a number of students each year. The Sophie Braun Rase Nursing Scholarship Fund provides an award annually to a nursing student for outstanding scholarship. The recipient is chosen on the basis of grade point average and must rank in the top 10 percent of the class. The Texas Graduate Nurses Association Scholarship provides awards to registered nurses, either to undergraduates in public health nursing or to graduate students. The Travis County Medical Auxiliary and Society Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Nursing is awarded to a full-time junior or senior with a grade point average of at least 3.30 and with excellent promise for a career in nursing. Preference is given to Travis County high school graduates. The Myrtle and Earl E. Walker Fund provides scholarships to a number of students. One scholarship is reserved in even-numbered years for the undergraduate student with the highest grade point average; in odd-numbered years it is awarded to the graduate student with the highest grade point average. The Lola B. Wright Foundation Centennial Scholarship enables the School of Nursing to assist several students each year with individual financial aid. Other scholarships are frequently available through the generosity of groups such as the Greater Austin Area Chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the Texas Paralyzed Veterans. Information is available in the Student Affairs Office each semester. OTHER FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS Air Force ROTC Nursing Scholarships. These scholarships provide for payment of tuition and fees and for textbooks and a $100 monthly allowance during the school year. For additional information, contact the Department of Air Force Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712-1183. Army ROTC Nursing Scholarships. These scholarships provide for payment of tuition and fees, a flat rate for textbooks, and a $100 monthly allowance during the school year. Students must attend the Nursing Advanced Camp during the summer between the junior and senior years and work individually with a licensed BSN preceptor. Students may apply to the dean for independent study credit; applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. For additional information, contact the Department of Military Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712- 1182. Navy ROTC Nursing Scholarships. These scholarships provide for payment of tuition and fees and for textbooks and a $100 monthly allowance during the school year. For additional information, contact the Department of Naval Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712-1184. To be eligible for an ROTC scholarship, an applicant must be a United States citizen and must be less than twenty-five years old on June 30 of the calendar year during which commissioning is scheduled. Vocational Rehabilitation. The Texas Rehabilitation Commission offers assistance in payment of tuition and nonrefundable fees to students who have certain disabling conditions, provided their vocational objectives are approved by a commission counselor. Such conditions include orthopedic deformities, emotional disorders, diabetes, epilepsy, and heart conditions. Services are also available to help students with disabilities become employable. Application should be made to the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, P. O. Box 7638, Austin, Texas 78713- 7638. STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS Undergraduate students enrolled in the School of Nursing are eligible for membership in the Nursing Student Organization. Through the organization, nursing students are represented on campus committees and in campus activities involving all students. The local organization is affiliated with the Texas Nursing Students' Association and the National Student Nurse Association. Qualified students in the School of Nursing are also eligible for membership in Epsilon Theta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing. _________________________________________ ADMISSION AND REGISTRATION __________________________ ADMISSION TO THE UNIVERSITY Admission and readmission of all students to the University is the responsibility of the director of admissions. Information on University admission requirements and procedures is given in General Information. REQUIREMENTS FOR ENROLLMENT IN UPPER-DIVISION NURSING COURSES Completion of sixty-nine or seventy semester hours of prerequisite coursework with an overall grade point average of at least 2.50 is required for enrollment in upper-division (professional sequence) nursing courses. The applicant must not be on scholastic probation at the University. A request to begin upper-division coursework may be submitted only after the student has completed at least fifty semester hours of prescribed lower- division coursework and is enrolled in the last semester of coursework required to meet the prerequisites for the professional sequence. Request forms for enrollment in upper-division nursing courses must be submitted to the School of Nursing by February 1 for the following fall semester and by October 1 for the following spring semester. Admission decisions are made by the Admissions Committee of the School of Nursing. An applicant whose grade point average exceeds the minimum of 2.50 will gain more favorable consideration. Required work done at the University and work done elsewhere are evaluated separately. Applicants requesting admission to the professional sequence are notified of their status as soon as all requested credentials have been received and reviewed by the Admissions Committee of the School of Nursing. STUDENTS FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS Students who wish to transfer to the University from another college or university must apply to the Office of Admissions according to the procedures given in General Information. In addition to meeting the regular admission requirements, students seeking to transfer from another institution to the professional sequence of nursing courses must apply for admission to the School of Nursing. The student must submit the following documents to the School of Nursing: (1) an application for admission to upper-division nursing courses; (2) an official copy of the transcript from each institution attended. Transfer students must meet the same deadlines as University students seeking admission to the professional sequence, and their applications are evaluated according to the same standards. However, they are considered for admission to the School of Nursing only if they are admitted to the University. REGISTRATION General Information gives information about registration, adding and dropping courses, transfer from one division of the University to another, and auditing a course. The Course Schedule, published each semester and summer session, includes registration instructions, advising locations, and the times, places, and instructors of classes. The Course Schedule is available at campus-area bookstores before registration. ACADEMIC ADVISING Students are encouraged to come to the School of Nursing Office of Student Affairs for academic advising as well as for information about professional nursing. The Student Affairs Office is open Monday through Friday. Staff members are available to advise students during office hours; telephone inquiries and appointments are accepted. Faculty members advise students during registration and during their regular office hours or by appointment. Preregistration advising is required for all undergraduates in the School of Nursing. _________________________________________ ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ________________________________ STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY 1. It is the student's responsibility to be informed of general and special notices, including examination schedules posted in the School of Nursing building. 2. The student must make arrangements for the completion of all work, including makeup examinations and requirements for removal of conditional and incomplete grades. 3. A student's combined employment and semester-hour load (including clinical laboratory hours) should not exceed forty hours a week in either a long-session semester or a summer term. 4. Students may be employed as nursing aides, performing functions for which they have been trained by the employing institution and for which the institution has a clearly discernible policy, either in writing or by precedent, defining the scope of these functions. Any individual not licensed in the state of Texas to practice professional nursing who engages in such practice does so illegally and may be prosecuted accordingly. Supervision by a professional licensed nurse does not provide protection to the student or make the student's actions legal. Students should be aware that (1) the School of Nursing assumes no responsibility for their activities as employees of an agency; (2) they are personally responsible and liable for any activity they participate in while employed; (3) professional liability insurance purchased by students may be valid only in their student role, not in their employment role; (4) individuals who practice illegally may jeopardize their future careers, since those who are convicted of violating the Nurse Practice Act may not be eligible to write state board examinations and subsequently to be licensed. Students employed in an agency are personally and professionally responsible for engaging only in those activities that fall within their job descriptions as nonprofessional workers (such as aides). They have a responsibility to refuse to participate in activities that they have not been legally licensed to perform, such as giving medications and assuming total responsibility for a nursing unit. STANDARDS OF NURSING PERFORMANCE AND PROGRESS A student must earn a grade of at least C in each nursing course for the course to be counted toward degree requirements. In a nursing course containing both theory and laboratory or clinical components, the student must earn a grade of at least C in both components to receive degree credit. Concurrent or sequential enrollment may be required as stated in each course description. If the student is not on scholastic probation at the University, permission may be granted to repeat a required nursing course in which he or she failed to earn a grade of C or better. To receive credit, the student must repeat the course at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing. The semester in which a course is repeated is at the discretion of the dean and is dependent on the space available. A student may repeat a nursing course only once. If the student does not earn a grade of at least C upon repeating the course, he or she cannot continue in the School of Nursing. If, while repeating the course, the student drops the course or withdraws from the University at a time when the student's performance in the course is considered to be inferior to that required for a grade of C, he or she may not reenroll in the course or continue in the School of Nursing. No more than two nursing courses may be repeated. A student may not repeat for credit a course in which a grade of C or better was awarded. As a prerequisite to five clinical nursing courses (Nursing 425P, 455P, 465P, 466P, and 477P) a student is required to pass a medications and calculations test with a grade of at least 90. The student may repeat each test once. Calculators may not be used in any medication examination. MEDICAL CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS Clinical experiences for nursing students are provided in hospitals and other health care facilities with which the School of Nursing is affiliated. A number of these facilities require that nursing students assigned to them have evidence of immunity to certain diseases; these requirements are subject to change. Nursing students engaged in clinical activities must fulfill the requirements of the individual facilities to which they are assigned, including requirements for preventing the transmission of communicable diseases. PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE Professional liability insurance is required of all students enrolled in the School of Nursing. Coverage in the amount of one million dollars for each claim and one million dollars limit aggregate for one year is required to cover possible claims made against the student in performance of duties as a nursing student. Each student must present evidence of insurance before enrolling in a clinical nursing course. The insurance premium may be paid at registration. All student policies expire on the date of graduation. Approximate premium costs are $13.50 for coverage from August 31 to August 31, $9.00 for coverage from January 1 to August 31, and $5.00 for coverage from June 1 to August 31. UNIFORMS AND OTHER EXPENSES Students must purchase uniforms, shoes, name pin, identification patch, and other supplies before taking the first clinical nursing course. HONORS Dean's Honor List Each semester the Dean's Honor List recognizes superior scholastic achievement by students enrolled in nursing prerequisite courses or in the professional sequence of nursing courses. Prenursing students must complete fifteen semester hours in residence on the letter-grade basis and earn at least fifty- two grade points. They must also earn no grade below a C for the semester. Students enrolled in the professional sequence of nursing courses are required to earn forty-eight grade points when enrolled in twelve semester hours and sixty grade points when enrolled in fifteen semester hours. Sigma Theta Tau Epsilon Theta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing, was chartered at the University on May 16, 1980; before that time, membership in Sigma Theta Tau on the Austin campus was conferred through Alpha Delta Chapter, chartered at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1963. Epsilon Theta Chapter presents scholarly programs each semester; program meetings are open to anyone interested in the program topic. An annual meeting, at which new members are inducted, is held in May. Membership in Sigma Theta Tau is an honor conferred by active chapters on students who demonstrate academic excellence and on nursing leaders who advance the scientific base of the profession. The society recognizes superior achievement in many areas, facilitates the development of leadership qualities, fosters high professional standards, encourages creative work, and strengthens commitment to the ideals of nursing. Each year qualified students in the undergraduate and graduate programs may apply for consideration for membership. Invitations to membership are extended to students who are in the top 35 percent of their graduating class. Undergraduates must have a grade point average of at least 3.00; graduate students must have a significantly higher grade point average. Qualified community nursing leaders may also be invited to membership. Applications for membership in Epsilon Theta Chapter are available from the Student Affairs Office in the School of Nursing. At the annual meeting each spring, Epsilon Theta Chapter announces its awards, grants, and scholarship recipients. A $100 scholarship is awarded to an upper-division nursing student who has demonstrated leadership potential and has a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or above. Recognition awards are given to those who have made significant contributions to the promotion of excellence in nursing through outstanding participation in professional organizations, enhancement of the standards of nursing practice or education, noteworthy involvement in community or public areas that affect health, creative delivery of nursing care, or other substantial professional activities. Small research grants are awarded annually to Epsilon Theta Chapter members and/or students enrolled in the graduate program in nursing. In 1992, Sigma Theta Tau International had active chapters on 322 campuses with nationally accredited nursing programs granting baccalaureate and higher degrees in nursing. Sigma Theta Tau International offers opportunities for involvement at the chapter, regional, national, and international levels. Programs are offered each year in different parts of the United States under joint sponsorship of chapters and Sigma Theta Tau International. International research congresses are held in cooperation with scholarly nursing organizations in other countries; these programs focus on scholarly topics of relevance to the advancement of nursing knowledge and to the improvement of public health. Research grants are awarded annually by Sigma Theta Tau International as well as by Epsilon Theta and other chapters. CREDIT BY EXAMINATION The faculty believes that each educational experience should build on previous achievements to encourage fulfillment of each student's potential. Therefore, all students and registered nurses are urged to seek advice on arranging a logical sequence of work. The faculty subscribes to the principle that a candidate's competence should be validated and that credit should be awarded on the basis of satisfactory achievement on examinations as well as in the classroom. Twenty-four of the last thirty semester hours of credit presented for the degree must be earned in residence, rather than by examination, correspondence, or transfer. Therefore, credit may be earned by examination for all nursing courses except Nursing 258, 368, 375P, 377, 477P, 278, and seven additional semester hours of upper-division coursework in nursing. To petition for credit by examination for upper-division nursing courses, a student must have met all the requirements for admission to upper-division courses in the School of Nursing. An examination for credit may not be taken in a course in which the student is enrolled, which the student has completed, or from which the student has withdrawn with either a passing or a failing grade. The candidate should consult the dean for application forms, information about policies, and scheduling of the examination. A candidate for credit by examination may obtain the course material that would be given to a student enrolling in the course and has access to all material in campus learning centers. He or she may audit any or all of the lecture portion of any course in the School of Nursing, if approval is obtained in advance from the instructor and if space is available. The candidate is subject to the auditor's fee unless he or she is a University student. Each candidate is assessed a fee by the Measurement and Evaluation Center for taking the examination. Credit is granted only after the student is enrolled in the School of Nursing, and only for a grade of C or better. The student may elect to have the credit recorded as the symbol CR or as the letter grade achieved. In the latter event, the grade is included in computing the cumulative grade point average. No notation appears on the student's record when the examination is failed. Credit earned by examination does not reduce by a corresponding amount the number of courses that may be taken on the pass/fail basis. A candidate may not retake an examination for any nursing course. _________________________________________ GRADUATION __________ SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE SCHOOL OF NURSING All students must fulfill the general requirements for graduation given in chapter 1. Students in the School of Nursing must also fulfill the following requirements. 1. All University students must have a grade point average of at least 2.00 to graduate. In the School of Nursing, students must also have a grade point average of at least 2.00 in the coursework used to fulfill the upper-division requirement. 2. A candidate must complete the prescribed curriculum and must meet all other requirements of the School of Nursing. 3. A student must supply the School of Nursing with transcripts of courses taken outside the school as the courses are completed. DEGREE AUDIT A degree audit is prepared in the dean's office when the student begins the junior year of nursing courses. The student is then notified of the courses he or she must take and the requirements he or she must fulfill to receive the degree. The degree audit is normally done according to the catalog in effect when the student was admitted to the School of Nursing, but the student may choose to have it done according to any catalog under which he or she is eligible to graduate. Rules on graduation under a particular catalog are given on page 17. In advising and in registering students, the dean and advisers try to prevent errors. Avoidance of errors is the main purpose of the degree audit, but it remains the responsibility of the student to fulfill all catalog requirements. GRADUATION APPLICATION FORM In the long-session semester or summer session in which the degree is to be awarded, the candidate must be registered at the University and must file a Graduation Application Form in the School of Nursing Student Affairs Office. The form must be filed by the deadline to apply for an undergraduate degree, which is given in the official academic calendar. REGISTRATION AS A PROFESSIONAL NURSE Each student seeking registration as a professional nurse must pass the National Council Licensure Examination, administered by the Board of Nurse Examiners for the state of Texas. The Board of Nurse Examiners may refuse to admit persons to its examinations or may refuse to issue a license or certificate of registration for any of the following reasons: 1. The violation, or attempted violation, of any of the provisions of the law regulating the practice of professional nursing. 2. Conviction of a crime of the grade of felony, or of a crime of a lesser grade that involves moral turpitude. 3. The use of any nursing license, certificate, or diploma that has been fraudulently purchased, issued, counterfeited, or materially altered. 4. The impersonation of another or the acting as proxy for another in any examination required by this law to obtain a license as a registered nurse. 5. Intemperate use of alcohol or drugs that, in the opinion of the board, endangers patients. 6. Unprofessional or dishonorable conduct that, in the opinion of the board, is likely to injure the public. Application for registration by examination requires submission of a complete application and transcripts of all work completed at least one month before the National Council Licensure Examination. Students receive the application form and instructions for completion about two months before graduation. The application must be completed, notarized, and returned to the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing as soon as possible, with the registration fee. All 139 or 140 hours for the degree must be completed before the student is eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination and to obtain a temporary permit to practice professional nursing. Students planning to take the National Council Licensure Examination in another state must obtain information about procedures from the agency responsible for professional nurse registration in that state. For the purpose of assuming graduate nurse status, the official date of completion of the nursing program is the publicly announced date of graduation. CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM The School of Nursing supports the concept of education as a lifelong process consisting of both formal and informal learning experiences. Continuing education is viewed as supplementary to formal educational programs and, consequently, is considered most appropriate in the form of short-term noncredit learning opportunities. Each year the Continuing Education Program of the School of Nursing offers a selection of conferences, workshops, and seminars designed to meet the learning needs and interests of registered nurses in a variety of practice areas. Registration fees vary according to program costs and expected enrollment. When space is available, nursing students may attend. _________________________________________ DEGREES _______ PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOL OF NURSING The School of Nursing offers an undergraduate program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing and graduate programs leading to the Master of Science in Nursing degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in nursing. The undergraduate program is designed for students who wish to enter the profession of nursing. Students who have earned an associate's degree or a diploma in nursing and wish to obtain the baccalaureate degree may apply to the accelerated track leading to the BSN. The master's and doctoral degree programs are designed to prepare professionals for advanced clinical practice and research in nursing. The baccalaureate program is accredited by the National League for Nursing and the State of Texas Board of Nurse Examiners. PURPOSE OF THE SCHOOL OF NURSING The purpose of the School of Nursing is to contribute to the teaching, research, and service missions of the University of Texas at Austin through 1. Preparing generalists in professional nursing practice at the baccalaureate level. 2. Preparing specialists at the graduate level in nursing to assume roles in practice, administration, education, and research. 3. Promoting excellence in nursing scholarship. 4. Contributing to the body of nursing knowledge. 5. Offering educational, consultative, and other health care services to the community. OBJECTIVES OF THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAM The graduate of the baccalaureate program in nursing is expected to 1. Integrate knowledge from nursing, physical and behavioral sciences, and the humanities in planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care. 2. Utilize nursing process to meet the health care needs of individuals, families, and groups in a variety of settings. 3. Accept responsibility and accountability for providing nursing interventions and evaluating their results. 4. Participate in the delivery of health care through interdisciplinary collaboration, coordination, and consultation. 5. Participate in nursing and interdisciplinary efforts to improve the delivery of high-quality health care to individuals and communities. 6. Demonstrate continued personal and professional growth. 7. Practice nursing according to professional standards. 8. Critically appraise and apply research findings to professional nursing practice. APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN COURSES Physical Activity Courses Physical activity courses are offered by the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education. They may not be counted toward a degree in the School of Nursing; however, they are counted among courses for which the student is enrolled, and the grades in physical activity courses are included in the grade point average. ROTC Courses The dean has the authority to substitute an equivalent air force science, military science, or naval science course or courses for a course or courses prescribed by the School of Nursing and to make adjustments to compensate for any differences in semester hour value. The total number of semester hours required for the degree remains unchanged. Three semester hours of upper-division coursework in air force science, military science, or naval science may be counted toward the nursing degree as electives by students who complete the ROTC program at the University. Correspondence and Extension Courses Credit that a University student in residence earns simultaneously by correspondence or extension from the University or elsewhere or in residence at another school will not be counted toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree unless specifically approved in advance by the dean. No more than nine of the semester hours required for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree may be taken by correspondence. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING This program consists of two and one-half academic years or four semesters and a summer session of nursing prerequisite courses (the preprofessional sequence) taken at an accredited college or university, followed by two and one-half years or four semesters and a summer session of upper-division nursing courses (the professional sequence) taken at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing. Upon completion of the program, students are awarded the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and have fulfilled the prescribed course of study and clinical practice required to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for licensure as a registered nurse. Prescribed Work Students may fulfill the foreign language component of the University's basic education requirements by completing two years of a single foreign language in high school, by earning an appropriate score on one of the placement examinations administered by the University, or by completing two semesters of college coursework in a single foreign language in addition to the degree requirements given below. PREPROFESSIONAL SEQUENCE Students must complete the sixty-nine or seventy semester hours of coursework (preprofessional sequence) listed below. Completion usually requires two and one-half academic years. All courses must be completed before the student enrolls in upper-division courses in nursing. SEMESTER COURSES HOURS ____________________________________________________________________ Natural Sciences Anatomy and physiology: Zoology 314K, 316K, 116L* 7 ____________________________________________________________________ Biology 302 3 ____________________________________________________________________ Chemistry (including three hours of biochemistry): Chemistry 313N, 113P, 314N, 114P 8 ____________________________________________________________________ Mathematics 301, 302, 403K, or 305G 3 or 4 ____________________________________________________________________ Microbiology 216, 116L 3 ____________________________________________________________________ Nutrition 311 3 ____________________________________________________________________ Liberal Arts English 306, 316K 6 ____________________________________________________________________ American government, including Texas government 6 ____________________________________________________________________ CHILD DEVELOPMENT 313 OR ____________________________________________________________________ Anthropology 321L 3 ____________________________________________________________________ American history 6 ____________________________________________________________________ Psychology, sociology, or anthropology elective 3 ____________________________________________________________________ Fine arts elective 3 ____________________________________________________________________ Nursing Nursing 305, Health Promotion 3 ____________________________________________________________________ Nursing 310, Communication in Health Care Settings 3 ____________________________________________________________________ Nursing 311, Ethics of Health Care** 3 ____________________________________________________________________ Nursing 212, Health Promotion Skills 2 ____________________________________________________________________ Nursing 112P, Health Promotion Skills (Practicum) 1 ____________________________________________________________________ Free elective*** 3 ____________________________________________________________________ TOTAL 69 OR 70 __________________________________________ *Biology 303 is a prerequisite of Zoology 314K. **All students must take English 306 and 316K. In addition, all students must complete two courses certified as having a substantial writing component; at least one of these courses must be upper-division. Courses with a substantial writing component are identified in the Course Schedule; Nursing 311 and 278 and the section of Nursing 477P designated "RN" are generally certified. Courses used to fulfill the writing requirement may be used simultaneously to fulfill other requirements. ***A course used as a free elective must be one for which the student has received University credit either in residence or by examination, correspondence, or transfer. Courses taken at another college or university but not transferable to the University may not be used to fulfill this requirement. Neither nursing nor physical activity courses may be used. A list of recommended elective courses is available from the Office of Student Affairs. PROFESSIONAL SEQUENCE The student may begin taking nursing courses in his or her sophomore year, but the final sixty-one semester hours of coursework in nursing must be completed after the student has achieved upper-division standing. The following courses may be completed in two academic years and a summer session. SEMESTER COURSES HOURS ______________________________________________________________________ Nursing Nursing 225, Adult Health Nursing I Nursing 425P, Adult Health Nursing I (Practicum) Nursing 226, Conceptual Bases of Mental Health Nursing 226P, Mental Health Nursing (Practicum) Nursing 327, Conceptual Bases of Aging Nursing 127P, Clinical Nursing Skills I (Practicum) Nursing 347, Specialized Topics in Nursing Nursing 455, Adult Health Nursing II Nursing 455P, Adult Health Nursing II (Practicum) Nursing 256, Conceptual Bases of Mental Health Problems Nursing 356P, Problems in Mental Health Nursing (Practicum) Nursing 157P, Clinical Nursing Skills II (Practicum) Nursing 258, Nursing Research Nursing 265, Nursing Care of Childbearing Families Nursing 465P, Nursing Care of Childbearing Families (Practicum) Nursing 266, Nursing Care of Children and Their Families Nursing 466P, Nursing Care of Children and Their Families (Practicum) Nursing 167P, Clinical Nursing Skills III (Practicum) Nursing 368, Community Health Nursing Nursing 375P, Community Health Nursing (Practicum) Nursing 377, Management of Nursing Care Nursing 477P, Clinical Care Management (Practicum) Nursing 278, Synthesis of Nursing Knowledge* 61 ______________________________________________________________________ Other Courses Psychology, sociology, or anthropology elective 3 ____________________________________________________________________ Introductory statistics 3 ____________________________________________________________________ Pharmacy 338 3 ____________________________________________________________________ TOTAL 70 ___________________________________________ TOTAL FOR DEGREE 139 OR 140 ___________________________________________ *All students must take English 306 and 316K. In addition, all students must complete two courses certified as having a substantial writing component; at least one of these courses must be upper- division. Courses with a substantial writing component are identified in the Course Schedule; Nursing 311 and 278 and the section of Nursing 477P designated "RN" are generally certified. Courses used to fulfill the writing requirement may be used simultaneously to fulfill other requirements. _________________________________________ COURSES _______ This section lists the courses that the faculty expects to offer in the academic years 1994-1995 and 1995-1996; however, all courses are not taught each semester or summer session. Students should consult the Course Schedule, published before registration, and the supplement to the Course Schedule, published before classes begin, to determine which courses will be offered during a particular semester or summer session. These publications also may reflect changes that have been made to the courses listed here since this catalog was printed. A full explanation of course numbers is given in General Information. In brief, the first digit of a course number indicates the semester hour value of the course. The second and third digits indicate the rank of the course: if they are 01 through 19, the course is of lower-division rank; if 20 through 79, of upper-division rank; if 80 through 99, of graduate rank. The letter A following a course number identifies the first half of a two-semester course; the letter B, the second half. Unless otherwise stated in the description below, each class meets for three lecture hours a week for one semester. NURSING: N Lower-Division Courses N 305. Health Promotion. Required for nursing majors. Introduction to concepts related to personal resources, with emphasis on the knowledge and behaviors an individual needs to maintain health and maximize well-being and with consideration of the health resources of the community. N 310. Communication in Health Care Settings. Required for nursing majors. Introduction to theories and models of communication in relation to health care; basic factors affecting interpersonal communication in health care settings. N 311. Ethics of Health Care. Required for nursing majors. Ethical issues of health care and related legal concerns. Contradictions, inconsistencies, and competing views that lead to dilemmas in health care. N 212. Health Promotion Skills. Required for nursing majors. Discussion of the knowledge and skills needed to provide a safe, comfortable environment to deal with minor alterations in the health of oneself and others. The assessment and decision making appropriate to seeking resources for the promotion, maintenance, and improvement of health. Prerequisite: Credit or registration for Zoology 314K, 316K, and 116L. Two lecture hours a week for one semester. N 112P. Health Promotion Skills (Practicum). Offered on the pass/fail basis only. Required for nursing majors. Application of health promotion skills. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Nursing 212, and credit or registration for Zoology 314K, 316K, and 116L. Two laboratory hours a week for one semester. Upper-Division Courses N 225. Adult Health Nursing I. Discussion of the concepts and theories necessary to promote and restore the health of adults with biological problems; related physiological and psychological responses. Prerequisite: Completion of sixty-nine or seventy semester hours of prerequisite coursework and credit or registration for Pharmacy 338. Two lecture hours a week for one semester. N 425P. Adult Health Nursing I (Practicum). Application of the concepts and theories necessary to promote and restore health of adults with biological problems; related physiological and psychological responses. Prerequisite: Completion of sixty-nine or seventy semester hours of prerequisite coursework and credit or registration for Nursing 225. Eight laboratory hours a week for one semester. N 226. Conceptual Bases of Mental Health. An introductory course based on the philosophy of holism and focusing on the psychological and physiological attributes and the social, spiritual, and cultural factors that contribute to the mental health and wholeness of individuals and families. Prerequisite: Completion of sixty-nine or seventy semester hours of prerequisite coursework, or consent of instructor. Two lecture hours a week for one semester. N 226P. Mental Health Nursing (Practicum). Assessment of biological, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual factors that contribute to health and dysfunction; use and evaluation of appropriate interventions. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Nursing 226. Four laboratory hours a week for one semester. N 327. Conceptual Bases of Aging. Nursing 327 and 376 may not both be counted. An examination of the theories of aging, the developmental tasks of families, and the physical, psychological, social, economic, ethical, legal, and spiritual needs of aging persons. Responsibilities and needs of caregivers. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of instructor. N 127P. Clinical Nursing Skills I (Practicum). Offered on the pass/fail basis only. Laboratory instruction and practice in clinical nursing skills. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Nursing 425P or 226P. Two laboratory hours a week for one semester. N 228. Concepts of Professional Nursing. Nursing 228 and 247 (Topic: Concepts of Professional Nursing) may not both be counted. Major premises of professional nursing. Prerequisite: Admission to the alternate entry MSN program or the accelerated track RN to BSN program. Two lecture hours a week for one semester. N 229. Health Promotion Concepts. Nursing 229 and 247 (Topic: Health Promotion Concepts) may not both be counted. Introduction to health, including aspects of knowledge, behavior, interpersonal/professional communication, and resources available for health promotion of individuals and groups. Prerequisite: Admission to the alternate entry MSN program or the accelerated track RN to BSN program. Two lecture hours a week for one semester. N 229S. Health Promotion Skills Practicum. Nursing 229S and 247 (Topic: Health Promotion Skills Practicum) may not both be counted. Discussion of the knowledge and skills needed to provide a safe, comfortable environment to deal with minor alterations in the health of oneself and others. The assessment and decision-making skills appropriate to seeking resources for the promotion, maintenance, and improvement of health. Prerequisite: Admission to the alternate entry MSN program. Two lecture hours a week for one semester. N 137, 237, 337. Independent Study. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Study in a specific area; topic and mode of study are agreed upon by student(s) and instructor. Prerequisite: A grade point average of at least 2.80 and consent of instructor. The equivalent of one, two, or three lecture hours a week for one semester. N 147, 247, 347. Specialized Topics in Nursing. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the upper-division sequence or consent of instructor. The equivalent of one, two, or three lecture hours a week for one semester; some topics require up to thirty-nine hours of fieldwork a week for one semester. Topic 1: Computers in Nursing. N 455. Adult Health Nursing II. Advanced concepts and theories to promote and restore health of adults with biological problems and related physiological and psychological responses. Prerequisite: Nursing 225 and 425P and concurrent enrollment in Nursing 258. Four lecture hours a week for one semester. N 455P. Adult Health Nursing II (Practicum). Application of advanced concepts and theories to promote and restore health of adults with biological problems and their related physiological and psychological responses. Prerequisite: Credit or registration for Nursing 455. Eight laboratory hours a week for one semester. N 256. Conceptual Bases of Mental Health Problems. Predisposing factors, associated responses, and the care of individuals, groups, and families experiencing mental health problems. Prerequisite: Completion of sixty-nine or seventy semester hours of prerequisite coursework, or consent of instructor. Two lecture hours a week for one semester. N 356P. Problems in Mental Health Nursing (Practicum). Application of strategies for the care of individuals, groups, and families experiencing mental health problems. Prerequisite: Credit or registration for Nursing 256. Six laboratory hours a week for one semester. N 157P. Clinical Nursing Skills II (Practicum). Offered on the pass/fail basis only. Laboratory instruction and practice in clinical nursing skills. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Nursing 455P or 356P. Two laboratory hours a week for one semester. N 258. Nursing Research. Basic components of the research process; interpreting descriptive and inferential statistics in research. Critical examination of research studies in nursing. Prerequisite: Completion of sixty-nine or seventy semester hours of prerequisite coursework, including an introductory course in statistics. Two lecture hours a week for one semester. N 265. Nursing Care of Childbearing Families. Concepts, theories, and processes essential to understanding the health concerns and problems of women and their families during the childbearing years. Prerequisite: Nursing 455, 455P, 256, 356P, 157P, and 258, and concurrent enrollment in Nursing 465P. Two lecture hours a week for one semester. N 465P. Nursing Care of Childbearing Families (Practicum). The application of concepts, theories, and processes pertinent to care of women and their families during the childbearing years. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Nursing 265. Eight laboratory hours a week for one semester. N 266. Nursing Care of Children and Their Families. Prerequisite: Nursing 455, 455P, 256, 356P, 157P, and 258, and concurrent enrollment in Nursing 466P. Two lecture hours a week for one semester. N 466P. Nursing Care of Children and Their Families (Practicum). Application of concepts, theories, and developmental processes essential to the health concerns and problems of children, adolescents, and their families. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Nursing 266. Eight laboratory hours a week for one semester. N 167P. Clinical Nursing Skills III (Practicum). Offered on the pass/fail basis only. Laboratory instruction and practice in clinical nursing skills. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Nursing 465P or 466P. Two laboratory hours a week for one semester. N 368. Community Health Nursing. An examination, based on community health concepts, of the interaction among the environment, populations, and resources. Description and analysis of formal and informal health care systems affecting public health and mechanisms of health care delivery. Prerequisite: Nursing 455, 455P, 256, 356P, 157P, and 258. N 375P. Community Health Nursing (Practicum). Application of community health concepts underlying the interaction among the environment, populations, and resources in the care of individuals, families, and small groups/populations. Prerequisite: Credit or registration for Nursing 368. Six laboratory hours a week for one semester. N 377. Management of Nursing Care. Examination of selected concepts and theories of management in the context of the delivery of dynamic nursing care. The use of management concepts in working with a team to provide high- quality patient care. Prerequisite: Nursing 265, 465P, 266, and 466P; or concurrent enrollment in Nursing 368 and 375P. N 477P. Clinical Care Management (Practicum). Application of selected concepts and theories of management in the planning and delivery of health care. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Nursing 377. Eight laboratory hours a week for one semester. N 278. Synthesis of Nursing Knowledge. Discussion of synthesis of the concepts, theories, and principles related to the provision of professional nursing care. Development and articulation of a personal model of clinical nursing practice. Prerequisite: Credit or registration for Nursing 375P, 377, and 477P (or credit for 377P). Two lecture hours a week for one semester.