Department of Nursing

Dr. Victoria Strickland Seng, Chair
136 Gooch Hall
(901) 587-7131

Faculty

Jo Margaret Aden, Lori K. Anthony, Ruby Black, Esther Christian, Peggy A. Davis, Jill Hecker Fernandes, Melba J. Figgins, Shirley A. Fry, Mary Ruth Gibbons, Michelle R. Hand, Margaret Harvey, Julie Pearson, Rebecca W. Pitcher, Victoria Strickland Seng, Nancy A. Warren.

Major

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Nursing is a profession for individuals interested in a lifetime of challenge. As a critical part of the health-care system, nurses use skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and effective communication to assist individuals, families, and groups in attaining and maintaining optimal levels of health. Nursing requires a genuine interest in people combined with the ability to pull together knowledge from several disciplines and the physical stamina necessary to meet fast-paced demands.

The mission of the Department of Nursing is to prepare a liberally educated professional nurse with a strong clinical background who makes comprehensive assessments and responds to the health-care needs of individuals, families, and groups. Knowledge gained from theory and experience in the study of physical and behavioral sciences, humanities, and the discipline of nursing is required to develop and implement nursing practice. The professional nurse uses valid research findings to identify and participate in creating change in the practice and improvement of health-care delivery.

The B.S.N. nursing curriculum is a four-year program which combines general education and nursing, with nursing content beginning in the sophomore year. Students majoring in B.S. Nursing take 73 semester hours of nursing courses and 62 semester hours of required and elective non-nursing courses. Upon successful completion of the B.S.N. program, the graduate is awarded the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (B.S.N.) by The University of Tennessee. Graduates with the B.S.N. degree demonstrate the competencies necessary for entry into nursing practice and are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for licensure as a registered professional nurse. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program has full approval of the Tennessee Board of Nursing and fujj accreditation from the National League for Nursing.

A national need for professional nurses with a wide variety of practice options allows great flexibility and mobility for graduates. Graduates with a baccalaureate in nursing can choose from provision of direct patient care, teaching, administration, research, case management, and marketing positions in hospital, community, educational, military, government, industrial, and expanded practice settings. Graduate degrees at the master’s and doctoral levels allow greater specialization and further expand job opportunities.

Facilities

Lectures are held on campus or at off-campus sites. Practical laboratory experiences are held in the departmental labs with patient care and skill stations containing health-care simulators, equipment, and supplies for student instruction and practice. Numerous videotapes and filmstrips are available for student viewing.

Off-campus clinical laboratory experiences are taught by UT Martin nursing faculty in area health-care agencies. Transportation to various agencies for clinical experiences must be provided by the student.

Departmental Scholarships

Fats Everett Nursing Scholarship- Awarded to a full-time B.S.N. clinical student with a GPA of 2.50 and demonstrating financial need. Applications for the scholarship are available from the Department of Nursing and should be submitted by March 1.

Woman’s Clinic, Union City Nursing Scholarship- Awarded to a resident of Obion County enrolled as a full-time B.S.N. clinical student with a GPA of 2.50. Applications for the scholarship are available from the Department of Nursing and should be submitted by March 1.

David C. Hogan Scholarship- Awarded to a resident of Obion County (for at least two years) who is enrolled as a full-time upper division B.S.N. clinical student with a GPA of 2.50. Must be repaid if the recipient withdraws from the program. Applications for the scholarship are available from the Department of Nursing and should be submitted by March 1.

Other scholarships are available through various area health-care agencies and organizations.

Student Organizations

The Student Nurses Association at UT Martin is the student branch of the American Nurses Association and is composed of students majoring in nursing or pre-nursing who are interested in various nursing careers and experiences. Monthly meetings usually include speakers, films, or other types of programs. SNA sponsors several money-making projects. Benefits available to SNA members include eligibility for the National Student Nurses Association Scholarships, nursing journals, access to nursing conventions, meetings, and a banquet at the end of the year.

Any student majoring in nursing can join SNA by contacting a member for a membership blank and paying annual dues. All interested students are urged to attend meetings and consider joining.

Admission, Advanced Standing, Retention, And Readmission

The nursing program is open to men and women who satisfy the entrance requirements of the University and the nursing program. Students are eligible to participate in extracurricular activities made available by the university to students of all disciplines.

The admission, advanced standing, retention, and readmission policies of the Department of Nursing may differ from other programs in the university because limited enrollment is necessary to provide student clinical experiences while assuring safe patient care and adherence to standards required for state licensure of registered professional nurses.

Admission

All students not currently enrolled at UT Martin are required to apply for admission to the University by submitting an application to the Admissions Office.

Admission to the B.S.N. clinical program is separate from admission to the university. Applicants must submit a separate application to the Department of Nursing for admission to clinical nursing. Priority is given to applicants whose application is received by February 1 before the Fall Semester in which acceptance to B.S.N. nursing courses is desired. Admission priority will also be given to students who have successfully completed all the courses listed in the B.S.N. curriculum for the freshman year (or at least 34 semester hours of required general education courses which include Chemistry 121-122, Mathematics 140, Microbiology 251, and Psychology 110-120, or equivalent). A grade of D or F in any of these required courses may delay or alter admission to the clinical nursing program. The applications are screened for selection on a competitive basis by the Nursing Admissions Committee of the University.

Students accepted to begin B.S.N. nursing courses are required to:

  1. Have removed all high school deficiencies.
  2. Be certified in First Aid and CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) Basic Health Care Provider before taking Nursing 211.
  3. Maintain a grade of C or above in all required courses and a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.00 or above (otherwise the student may not be allowed to begin the B.S.N. program).
  4. Demonstrate evidence of physical and mental health by submitting the appropriate health form to the Department of Nursing on the first day of nursing class. Failure to do so cancels eligibility and acceptance to the B.S.N. program.

Advanced Standing Admission

Students requesting to receive nursing credit for previous nursing education must:

  1. Submit an application for Advanced Standing to the Admissions and Policies Committee of the Department of Nursing by January 1 for admission to Fall semester and by August 1 for admission to Spring semester.
  2. Be eligible for admission to the university.
  3. Meet all admission requirements to the nursing program.
  4. Submit documents that verify reasons for leaving the previous nursing program.
  5. Successfully pass any written exams and skills evaluations required by the Department of Nursing to demonstrate nursing competencies comparable to the placement level requested.

Retention

  1. Each student must maintain a college grade point average of 2.00 or above for retention in the program.
  2. Students must maintain a C or above in each required course in the nursing curriculum.
  3. Students must maintain a satisfactory in the nursing laboratory portion of each clinical nursing course and must have a C or above in the theory portion of each required nursing course in order to obtain a final grade of at least a C in the course.
  4. If unsatisfactory clinical performance is characterized by dangerous, inappropriate, or irresponsible behavior which actually or potentially places the welfare of the client or family in jeopardy, the student will be removed from clinical client care and will receive a failing grade for that course.

Readmission

  1. A period of one year may elapse before a student is readmitted to B.S.N. nursing courses since nursing courses are taught in sequence and normally are offered only once a year.
  2. Application for readmission to nursing courses must be filed with the Department of Nursing by January 1 for readmission to Fall semester and August 1 for readmission to Spring semester. Before readmission is granted,
    1. All grades of less than C in required non-nursing courses must have been removed if offered by UT Martin prior to the readmission date and
    2. The applicant may be required to demonstrate evidence of retention of knowledge and skills acquired from previous nursing courses.
  3. Readmission is on a space available basis only.
  4. All students will be evaluated on an individual basis with consideration given to each student’s potential for successfully completing the program, which includes both clinical and academic performance. Readmission may be denied even if space is available.
  5. A student may repeat only one time any nursing course in which a grade of D or F had been achieved.
  6. A student who receives two grades of D or below in nursing courses will not be eligible for readmission, even if the student has already repeated one of the courses and received a grade of C or above.


Note: Ineligibility for the nursing curriculum does not affect the student’s eligibility for acceptance into another curriculum offered by the university.

Graduation Requirements

To receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (B.S.N.) all students must:

  1. Satisfy the university's general requirements for a bachelor’s degree;
  2. Attain a grade of C or above in each of the B.S.N. curriculum requirements; and
  3. Complete the B.S.N. degree program.

Students already licensed as Registered Nurses may complete the B.S.N. degree program and meet the general requirements for a Bachelor’s degree as follows:

  1. Complete required non-nursing courses for which equivalent college credits have not already been received. Credit may be received for some courses through challenge or CLEP exams.
  2. Receive credit for Nursing 211, 221, 231, 331, 341, and 400 by fulfilling one of the following options:
    1. Registered nurses with associate degrees in nursing—transfer the courses taken in their associate degree programs in nursing for credit and presentation of a current Tennessee registered nurse license.
    2. Registered nurses with hospital diplomas—present record of a hospital diploma transcript and a current Tennessee registered nurse license as validation of knowledge and registration of the proficiency validation with the registrar.
  3. Complete Nursing 350 Transition to Professional Nursing in place of Nursing 321.
  4. Take the remainder of required Nursing courses. Students may request to challenge Nursing 301, 302, 411, and 431. Three years of clinical experience within the last five years will be required to challenge either Nursing 411 or 431.
  5. Complete 58 semester hours from an accredited four-year school (may include challenge exams).
  6. Take a minimum of 20 semester hours of upper division nursing course work in meeting the 30 semester hours residency requirement for graduation from UT Martin. RN students may establish the academic year of residence by taking a minimum of 30 semester hours at UT Martin, 20 semester hours of which must be upper-division nursing courses. RN students will be allowed to challenge upper-division courses within the residency hours, but these hours will not be counted toward residency.

Extra Costs - Subject to Change:

  1. Uniform—$100
  2. White hose, shoes, and watch with a sweep second hand.
  3. Liability insurance—$16.00 per year.
  4. NLN achievement exams throughout the program—$11 per exam.


Curriculum Requirements
Course Descriptions

 


Webmaster