Director of Undergraduate Nursing
Mary Dishman, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC
PH 402.552.6134  TF 800.647.5500
DishmanMary@clarksoncollege.edu

Assistant Director of Undergraduate Nursing 
Rebecca Allen, MSN, RN
PH 402.552.3375 TF 800.647.5500
allen@clarksoncollege.edu 

Clinical Program Administrator of Undergraduate Nursing 
Dawn Fichter, MSN, RN
PH 402.552.3373 TF 800.647.5500
fichterdawn@clarksoncollege.edu

Clinical Program Administrator of Undergraduate Nursing 
Jennifer Renken, MSN, RN
PH 402.552.6181 TF 800.647.5500
renkenjennifer@clarksoncollege.edu

Program Specific Competency Goals

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), graduates will:

  • Evaluate caring relationships and behaviors that contribute to positive outcomes for clients, families, communities and populations, as well as health care providers and health care systems. (Communication, Diversity)**
  • Analyze client-centered care with respect to health, environment and cultural preferences across the lifespan while respecting the client as the source of control. (Diversity, Critical Thinking)**
  • Function effectively within nursing and interdisciplinary teams, fostering teamwork and collaboration with the client, family, community and populations. (Communication)**
  • Utilize best current evidence considering clinical expertise along with client and family preferences for the delivery of optimal health care. (Critical Thinking, Professionalism)**
  • Participate in data evaluation to monitor client outcomes to continuously improve the quality of health care. (Technology)**
  • Evaluate standardized practices and technologies to minimize the risk of harm to clients and health care providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance. (Critical Thinking)**
  • Analyze information and technology resources to build knowledge, select the mode of communication, decrease error and support decision making. (Technology)**
  • Analyze behaviors consistent with the ANA Code of Ethics, Nursing’s Social Policy Statement and Standards of Practice into the role of the professional nurse. (Professionalism)**

**Categories denoted in the parentheses represent relationship to the Clarkson College student success skills, which are our institutional student learning outcomes, and include Communication, Technology, Critical Thinking, Diversity and Professionalism

Upon graduation, students are prepared to practice in a variety of settings, both independently and collaboratively, with colleagues in other disciplines. Graduates from the baccalaureate nursing program have a solid preparation for graduate studies in nursing and are encouraged to pursue advanced education as one means of lifelong learning.

BSN graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Registered Nurses.

Admission Policies

Enrollment in Clarkson College degree programs is limited through a selective admissions process. Admission policies and procedures are available from: the Enrollment and Advising office, College website or Academic Policies & Procedures section (AD-1).

Comprehensive Student Assessment

Baccalaureate nursing students are enrolled in the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) program. This comprehensive program prepares individuals for the NCLEX-RN. Individual ATI tests are administered upon completion of each area of study. Areas of student weakness are addressed and remediation is provided to those students. At the completion of the nursing program, the Comprehensive Predictor examination is administered to further identify strengths and weaknesses.

Curriculum Requirements

In order to complete a BSN at Clarkson College, students must successfully complete a total of 121 semester hours. These hours must be distributed as follows:

  • General Education = 49 semester hours (with at least eight semester hours of Anatomy and Physiology, four semester hours of Microbiology, four semester hours of General Chemistry I, two semester hours of Gerontology and seven hours of elective courses). 
  • Core Courses = 9 semester hours (three semester hours in each of the following Clarkson College Healthcare Core curriculum: Intercultural Communication, Humanities, and Ethics, Empathy, and Advocacy). Must be taken at Clarkson College. 
  • Major Courses = 63 semester hours (includes 40 semester hours of nursing theory and 23 semester hours of clinical nursing courses).

Program requires Health and Safety – View Health and Safety Information

Service Requirements

Service reflects a holistic view that focuses on how individuals provide high quality, ethical and compassionate service in the field of health care and the community at large. Students will become familiar with service agencies, connect learning with practice and engage in civic service activities to live and demonstrate the Clarkson College Values of Learning, Caring, Commitment, Integrity and Excellence.

All students are required to complete designated service courses as a component of their program of study. Successful completion of service experiences is required to pass the designated service courses. Designated service courses are identified using the following symbol: ◊

Curriculum plan of required courses for BSN: Traditional Option

First Year

First Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
BI 211 (BIO 211) - Human Anatomy - Lecture and Lab 4
CH 110 (CHM 110) - Fundamentals of Chemistry - Lecture and Lab 4
EN 101 (ENG 101) - English Composition I 3
IC HU EA (ICC HUM EEA) - Healthcare Core Courses 3
MA 130 (MAT 130) - College Algebra 3
IPE 301 - Interprofessional Education 0
Total Semester Hours 17

Second Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
BI 210 (BIO 210) - Microbiology - Lecture and Lab 4
BI 213 (BIO 213) - Human Physiology - Lecture and Lab 4
NS 118 (NRS 118) - Introduction of Professional Nursing Concepts and Clinical Judgement: Theory 2
NS 125 (NRS 125) - Foundational Skills and Assessment of the Adult: Theory 3
NS 126 (NRS 126) - Foundational Skills and Assessment of the Adult: Clinical 2
NS 153 (NRS 153) - Population Health Nursing: Foundations 1
Total Semester Hours 16
Second Year

First Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
BI 122 (BIO 122) - Nutrition Science 3
NS 227 (NRS 227) - Pathophysiology 3
NS 233 (NRS 233) - Assessment and Care of the Adult with Abnormal Findings: Theory 2
NS 234 (NRS 234) - Assessment and Care of the Adult with Abnormal Findings: Clinical 2
NS 235 (NRS 235) - Pharmacology I 2
IC HU EA (ICC HUM EEA) - Healthcare Core Courses 3
Total Semester Hours 15

Second Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
PY 101 (PSY 101) - Introduction to Psychology 3
PY 200 (PSY 200) - Human Development 3
NS 254 (NRS 254) - Managing the Nursing Care of the Adult: Theory 4
NS 255 (NRS 255) - Managing the Nursing Care of the Adult: Clinical 4
NS 256 (NRS 256) - Pharmacology II 2
EN 102 (ENG 102) - English Composition II 3
Total Semester Hours 19
Third Year

First Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
IC HU EA (ICC HUM EEA) - Healthcare Core Courses 3
NS 332 (NRS 332) - Behavioral Health Continuum of Care: Theory 2
NS 333 (NRS 333) - Behavioral Health Continuum of Care: Clinical 2
ST 310 (MAT 310) - Statistics 3
NS 353 (NRS 353) - Population Health Nursing: Community Based Care: Theory 1
◊ NS 354 (NRS 354) - Population Health Nursing: Community Based Care: Clinical 1
Electives 3
Total Semester Hours 15

Second Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
NS 334 (NRS 334) - Nursing Care of Women and Child-bearing Families: Theory 2
NS 335 (NRS 335) - Nursing Care of Women and Child-bearing Families: Clinical 2
NS 336 (NRS 336) - Family-Centered Nursing Care of Children: Theory 2
NS 337 (NRS 337) - Family-Centered Nursing Care of Children: Clinical 2
NS 346 (NRS 346) - Evidence-Based Inquiry in Healthcare 2
SO 101 (SOC 101) - Introduction to Sociology 3
HC 220 (GEN 220) - Gerontology 2
Total Semester Hours 15
Fourth Year

First Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
NS 453 (NRS 453) - Population Health Nursing-Global Health and Health Policy: Theory Online 2
NS 454 (NRS 454) - Population Health Nursing-Global Health and Health Policy: Clinical 1
NS 458 (NRS 458) - Concepts of Complex Multisystem Clients I: Theory 3
NS 459 (NRS 459) - Concepts of Complex Multisystem Clients I: Clinical 3
Electives 3
Total Semester Hours 12

Second Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
NS 467 (NRS 467) - Transition to Practice 1
NS 470 (NRS 470) - Concepts of Complex Multisystem Clients II: Theory 3
NS 473 (NRS 473) - Preceptorship: Clinical 4
NS 474 (NRS 474) - Pharmacology III 1
NS 483 (NRS 483) - Principles of Leadership and Management: Theory Online 2
Electives 1
Total Semester Hours 12

Total Semester Hours - 121

Last updated: 08/03/2023