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NURSING

Interim-Dean: Dr. Lorin Ramocki

Associate Dean: Dr. Pamela Smith

Program Advisors:   Dr. Marife Aczon-Armstrong, Ms. Alexis Barroga, Dr. Donna Bernhard, Dr. Sandra Bourgette-Henry, Ms. Katherine Gardner-Bougard, Ms. Anela LaBore, Dr. Linda Malone, Ms. Alexandra McInerny, Dr. Dana Monday, Dr. Jennifer Nafarrete, Dr. Lorin Ramocki, Dr. Julieta Rosado, Ms. Joy Ryan, Dr. Pamela Smith, Dr. Jasmine Wagner

Nursing Mission Statement

CUH offers its students an education in a collaborative learning environment that prepares them for life, service, and successful careers. Guided by its Catholic, Marianist, and liberal arts educational traditions, Chaminade encourages the development of moral character, personal competencies, and a commitment to build a just and peaceful society. The University offers both the civic and church communities of the Pacific region its academic and intellectual resources in the pursuit of common aims.

The School of Nursing and Health Professions lives out the mission of the University by educating students to be competent and caring nursing professionals who will promote optimal health and high standards of practice, decrease health-related disparities in society, and enhance quality of life for their patients in a dynamic health care environment.

BSN program relationship to the University Mission and Identity

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Chaminade University recognizes its Catholic/Marianist tradition and strives to promote the principles that make Chaminade a unique place for nursing education. These principles include educating for formation in faith, hope, and love; providing quality education; maintaining and developing a family spirit and sense of community; providing service and working towards a peaceful and just world; and preparing students for adaptation and change. The cohort approach to the program encourages and fosters a sense of community amongst its members. Quality education is the goal as we seek to prepare competent nurses who will work towards improving the human condition and promoting and leading the profession of nursing.

The BSN degree at Chaminade University provides students with foundational nursing knowledge and skill necessary for professional nursing practice in a liberal arts and values-based educational environment. The program is committed to the holistic development of its students: intellectually, spiritually, physically, emotionally, and socially.

The Catholic, Marianist identity of Chaminade University emphasizes preparation for life, service, and career success. Within this framework, a vocational and professional emphasis characterizes the Chaminade School of Nursing. The BSN program prepares students for work in a variety of health care settings within Hawaii, the Pacific region, the U.S. mainland, and globally. The demographic composition of the School of Nursing reflects that of Chaminade (a Federally-designated Native Hawaiian serving institution), with a significant proportion of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students. An emphasis on cultural competence, and on the significance of post-graduate contributions to society, leads Chaminade nursing graduates to contribute to the health and wellness of their communities and to a reduction of healthcare disparities in the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations.

BSN Program Goals

The goals of the BSN program are congruent with the University’s academic vision and are as follows:

  1. Provide a program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in which students are able to achieve the knowledge, skills, and Marianist values necessary for professional nursing practice and leadership in health care.

  2. Ensure an educational foundation in the biological, physical, and social sciences as well as in the humanities all of which are essential to professional nursing practice

  3. Foster an attitude of intellectual and critical inquiry that promotes evidence-based practice

  4. Provide an educational experience that emphasizes engagement of students through active learning

  5. Create a collegial environment that fosters professional development of students including life-long learning scholarship, and leadership

  6. Prepare students for professional nursing roles in a dynamic health care environment

  7. Prepare students to sit for the NCLEX examination and practice as a professional Registered Nurse

  8. Provide a foundation for graduate study and leadership at the bedside and in the community.

The BSN program leads to eligibility to apply for professional licensure in all 50 states.

BSN Transfer Credits

Transfer credits over 5 years old, from the intended enrollment/start term, to fulfil science pre-requisite courses in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program must be retaken. Should a student have taken any of the pre-major science or math courses multiple times, only the first attempt will be articulated

Students requesting to fulfill pre-major courses elsewhere, while currently registered at CUH, will need to obtain approval from their Nursing Faculty Advisor prior to registering. Upon approvals, student will need to earn a B- or higher.

BSN Program Progression Information

BSN Minimum GPA

Student must maintain a GPA of 2.50 throughout the course of study and earn a grade of C or higher in all Nursing pre-major and major courses to progress. A GPA of 2.50 in nursing major courses is required for graduation.

Academic Probation and Reinstatement:

Students will be placed on academic program probation when:

1. A grade less than C is earned in any nursing course (A student who earns a grade less than C in any nursing course must repeat the course).

2. Cumulative GPA is less than 2.50.

3. Nursing major GPA is less than 2.50.

Students placed on academic probation in the nursing program must create a success plan with their Nursing Faculty Advisor to be implemented immediately. Students have one semester to raise their GPA to 2.50. If a student is unable to raise their GPA after the probationary semester, they may be dismissed from the nursing major. If a student requests permission to repeat a NUR class required for the major, the student must first meet with their nursing advisor to create a plan of success. A written request for space available registration must be submitted to the Dean, SONHP, by May 15th for the following fall semester, December 15th for the following spring semester, and March 1st for the following summer semester. The request should include the following information: what course the student is requesting to repeat, rationale for why the student should be allowed to repeat, plan for success, review and approval from their Nursing Faculty Advisor. The student may be asked to meet with the Dean, SONHP, to discuss their request after submission of the request.

BSN students earning less than a “B-” in pre major science and math courses

If a student earns a grade less than a “B-” in a Nursing pre-major science or math course (BI 151/L, BI 152/L, BI 162/L, BI 216, CH 254/L, BI 304, and MA 100/103) the student must repeat the course and achieve a grade of “B-” or higher in order to progress in the nursing curriculum. 

BSN students earning less than a “C” in nursing program specific courses

If a student earns a grade less than a “C” in a Nursing major course (NUR course) or other pre-major course (PSY350, PSY 101, and PSY 200) the student must repeat the course and achieve a grade of “C” or higher in order to progress in the nursing curriculum. The student may only repeat a NUR course one time.

BSN Students with Incomplete Grades in NUR courses

 If a student received an Incomplete “I” grade in a Nursing clinical course, the student may not progress to a new clinical course until the Incomplete course is successfully completed with a grade of “C” or higher.

Nursing faculty advisor and Clinical Placement coordinator permissions are required to repeat a clinical course due to the requirements for clinical placement planning and space limitations. Health compliance must be current.

Course Failures in BSN Program

 A second NUR course failure will cause dismissal from the BSN program – either the same course twice or two separate courses.

Automatic transfer from Accelerated track to Traditional track

Any student admitted in the accelerated track who fails one NUR course at any time will be transferred to the traditional track.

 Withdrawal from a BSN course

Student may withdraw from a Nursing (NUR) course at a passing level for non-academic reasons only one time, and then must successfully complete the course, space available, with a grade of “C” or better to progress in the program. Individual circumstances are subject to review by the Dean. If a student is failing the course at the time of withdrawal- this constitutes a failed course in the BSN program.

 Withdrawal from the BSN program

Students withdrawing from the BSN program for any reason must meet with their Nursing Faculty Advisor to initiate this process.

If a student has not responded to contact from their Nursing faculty advisor or the SONHP office and has been inactive or not enrolled in classes in the BSN program for a semester, the student will automatically be withdrawn from the BSN program.

 Re-admission to BSN program

Re-admission after withdrawal for any reason must be approved by the Dean, based on the individual circumstances related to the reason for withdrawal. Student submits a written request for re-admission to the Dean.  Re-admission to the BSN program after dismissal is very rare and is at the discretion of the Dean.

BSN program dismissal

Grounds for dismissal from the nursing program include, but are not limited to, the following:

·        Fail two NUR courses - either the same course twice or two separate courses.

·        Failure to disclose pertinent health or legal information, including background check and drug screening information, that can adversely affect the ability of the SONHP to arrange required clinical placements.

·        Failure to maintain confidentiality of patient, healthcare agency, University, SONHP simulation/lab/classroom, and/or peer information.

·        Failure to maintain the minimum Nursing major GPA of 2.50.

·        Violation of student policies in the SONHP BSN Program Student Handbook