School of Nursing

428 O’DOWD HALL (248) 370-4253
Fax: (248) 370-4279

Interim Dean: Diane Norris

Interim Associate Dean: Darlene Schott-Baer

Office of the Dean: Sherry Abernathy, assistant dean; Pamela Marin, assistant dean; Patrina Carper, academic adviser; Brian Harbac, simulation specialist; Deleana Hill, information technology specialist; Amy Johnson, administrative project coordinator; Cheryl McPherson, business manager/financial analyst; Estella Nicholson, coordinator of academic services; Jennifer Milnar, special projects assistant; Sarah Mullin, academic adviser; Colette O’Connor, director of development; April Thomas-Powell, academic adviser; Alison Wagner, events coordinator; Kristina White-Aaron, academic adviser

Professors emerita: Justine Speer, Diane Wilson, Carol Zenas

Professor: F. Darlene Schott-Baer

Maggie Allesee Endowed Professor in Gerontology: Ann Whall

Associate professors: Karen Dunn, Barbara Harrison, Dorothy Hawthorne-Burdine, Frances Jackson, Suha Kridli, Anne Mitchell, Gary Moore, Sarah Newton, Barbara Penprase, Cheryl Riley-Doucet

Assistant professors: Carrie Abele, Marisa Ferrari, Margaret Glembocki, Claudia Grobbel, Margaret Harris, Laura Pittiglio

Visiting professor: Jenn-tser Pan

Visiting instructors: Janith Beres, Kelly Berishaj, Ami Bhatt, Chesanny Butler, Ellen Gajewski, Deana Hays, JoAnn Kapa, Sandra Miller, Heather Soucey, Deborah Tierney

Special instructors: Ronald Piscotty, Stephanie Vallie, Rosalind Woodson

Adjunct assistant professors: Anne Hranchook, Lisa Mileto, John Nagelhout

Adjust full-time instructors: Kimberly Holka, Marilyn Mouradjian, Lynda Poly-Droulanrd, Vicki Varbedian

Adjunct instructors: Andrea Bittinger, Laurie Heline, John Roebuck

Director of nursing labs: Patricia Ketcham

Board of Visitors

The Board of Visitors for the School of Nursing is composed of community leaders in the greater Detroit area. It assists the school in developing goals and objectives, curricular design, as well as clinical and research programs that meet the rapidly changing requirements of the health care field. Board members consult on such matters as facilities, equipment requirements, special topics and long-range planning.

Members of the Board of Visitors are:

Marie Adam, Senior Medical Operations & Compliance, Chrysler LLC
Maggie Allesee, Counselor
Wayne W. Bradley, President & CEO, Detroit Community Health Connection, Inc.
Kathy Coburn, V.P. Patient Care Services and CNO, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland
Lisa DeMoss, ESQ, Faculty, Thomas Cooley Law School
Kay Douglas, President, Douglas Marketing Group
Val Gokenbach, Vice President, Chief Nurse Executive, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak
Nancy Hakala, Director and Manager, Wright & Filippis
Petra Hurt, Affiliate Clinical Coordinator/Assistant Director, U of D Mercy
Gregory Jamian, President & CEO, Americare Medical, Incorporated
Theresa Jones, MSN, RN
David Martin, President & CEO, Health Care News Alliance
Barbara R. Medvec, Senior Vice President & CNO, Oakwood Healthcare Inc.
Patricia Natale, Vice President Patient Care Services, Detroit Receiving Hospital
Laurine S. Parmely, Assistant General Counsel, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Margo Riza, Rehabilitation Services Representative, Special Tree Neuro Skills Center
Kathleen Ryan, RN
Karen Standfest, Vice President of Patient Care & CNO, Henry Ford Macomb Hospital
Nancy Susick, Vice President of Nursing, William Beaumont Hospital, Troy
Kathleen VanWagoner, Chief Nurse Executive, Crittenton Hospital Medical Center
Christine Zambricki, CRNA, RN

Programs Offered

Undergraduate program

The School of Nursing offers instruction leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree. The course of study combines general education in the humanities and the social, biological and natural sciences with education in the theory and practice of nursing. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination. Full and part-time program sequences are provided for baccalaureate students. An accelerated Second- Degree B.S.N. and a R.N.-B.S.N. Degree Completion Sequence are also available.

Undergraduate program objectives

Based on program goals, relevant student learning outcomes were developed related to each program goal. By the end of the program, students will:

Demonstrate critical thinking through synthesis of knowledge from the humanities and the sciences in the application of the nursing process to the independent and collaborative practice of professional nursing.
Demonstrate effective communication skills and proficiency in information management, including standardized nursing languages, and technology in delivering safe, effective and cost-efficient professional nursing care based on current best practice.
Apply ethically and legally grounded clinical judgments supported by research in making decisions about the provision of professional nursing care.
Demonstrate adherence to the essentials of the AACN when delivering nursing care across the life span to diverse client populations in a wide variety of settings.
Acquire the foundation for continued study at the graduate level.

Graduate program

The School of Nursing offers programs of study leading to the Master’s of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) degree and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree. The M.S.N. program prepares nurses to be adult/gerontology nurse practitioners, adult health clinical nurse specialists, clinical nurse leaders, family nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and nurse educators. Post-master’s certificate programs are also offered in these specialty areas. A R.N.-M.S.N. program is available for diploma or associate degree prepared registered nurses who wish to follow an accelerated plan of study in all M.S.N. specialty programs except nurse anesthesia. For more information, see the Oakland University Graduate Catalog.

Master of science in nursing completion sequence for registered nurses

The R.N.-M.S.N. program is selective and designed for high achieving Registered Nurses who want to pursue graduate education in Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, Clinical Nurse Leadership, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Nursing Education after they complete the requirements for the undergraduate degree. Students who wish to enter this program are first admitted to the R.N.-B.S.N. program. Once admitted to the R.N.-M.S.N. program students can take two graduate level courses (NRS 515 and NRS 516) and pay undergraduate tuition rates for these graduate credits. Before students can take NRS 515 and 516 they must request a change in program status from the nursing program academic adviser and be admitted to the R.N.-M.S.N. program. The request for a program transfer can be submitted at any point after admission to the R.N.-B.S.N. program when an applicant meets the minimum requirements for a program transfer. NRS 515 and 516 replace NRS 355 and NRS 450 in the R.N.-B.S.N. program and graduate courses NRS 521 and 610 will be waived once a student begins course work toward the M.S.N. degree.

To receive approval for the change in status to the R.N.-M.S.N. program graduates from an associate degree in nursing program (A.D.N.) must have achieved an A.D.N. cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Students who do not have an A.D.N. program GPA above 3.5 can request a change in status to the R.N.-M.S.N. program after maintaining an Oakland University undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better in 12 credits of required non-nursing courses in the R.N.-B.S.N. program. These 12 credits must include NRS 310.

Early admission to M.S.N. program: Once a student in the R.N.-M.S.N. program attains undergraduate senior level status (minimum of 91 credits) the student is able to formally apply for admission to the Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, Clinical Nurse Leadership, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Nursing Education. The Nurse Anesthesia program is not open to this early admission opportunity. With the exception of the B.S.N. degree, all other graduate level M.S.N. admission requirements must be fully met for early admission status. When a student is officially accepted into the M.S.N. program, he/she will receive a graduate program Plan of Study outlining the course sequence to complete the M.S.N. program. Once the B.S.N. degree is posted the B.S.N. graduate who has been granted early M.S.N. admission status officially becomes a graduate student and is subject to graduate tuition rates and School of Nursing graduate level policies.

Admission

Students wishing to enter the pre-nursing program should have completed four years of mathematics, one year of college preparatory biology and one year of chemistry, each with a grade of 2.8, in addition to presenting an academic grade point average of at least 3.20 and an ACT minimum composite score of 20 or SAT equivalent.

Admission to the School of Nursing occurs in one of three ways: (1) admission after completion of prerequisite courses as space permits, (2) as a second degree student into an accelerated program of study as space permits, or (3) as a registered nurse into a degree completion sequence. The School of Nursing encourages and actively seeks male and other minority applicants. Individuals with disabilities will be considered for admission to the School of Nursing on an individual basis related to their ability to meet clinical practice requirements and core performance standards. Students are admitted to the School of Nursing on a competitive basis. In addition to the admission requirements listed, the applicant must be in good standing in the university (minimum overall GPA of 2.00). Completion of minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Openings are filled with applicants best qualified to succeed in the nursing program. Preference for admission is given to students who have completed five or more pre-nursing courses (excluding MTH 061 ) at Oakland University. Pre-nursing courses which are satisfied by Advanced Placement (AP) equivalent courses will be counted toward the preference for admission. Please refer to OU Advanced Placement (AP) Policies for approved equivalents (oakland.edu/appolicies).

Admission after the freshman year

Students who are admitted to the pre-nursing major upon entry to Oakland University or upon changing their major are eligible to apply to the School of Nursing once the following requirements are met:

Complete BIO 111 , BIO 121 ; CHM 104 , CHM 201 and PSY 100 with a minimum grade of 2.8 in each course and a minimum overall GPA of 3.20.
Complete one philosophy course (PHL 101 , PHL 102 , PHL 103 , PHL 107 , PHL 204 , PHL 205 , or PHL 206 ) with a minimum grade of 2.8.
Complete WRT 160 with a minimum grade of 2.8
Complete MTH 061 with a minimum grade of 3.2. (This requirement is waived for students who receive a score of 18 or higher on the mathematics subsection of the American College Test (ACT) or who have taken an Oakland University placement test and have placed into MTH 062 or higher.)
Applicants who have been dismissed from a nursing program at another institution, or have two grades below 2.5 in nursing courses from another institution, must submit a statement of explanation that includes current status as a nursing student and have their application reviewed prior to consideration for admission to a School of Nursing undergraduate program.

Admission into the accelerated second-degree B.S.N. program

Admission to Oakland University as a pre-accelerated second degree B.S.N. program student is required in order to be eligible for admission to the School of Nursing in the Accelerated Second Degree B.S.N. program. Admission into the Accelerated Second Degree B.S.N. program is competitive and based on G.P.A., goal statement and interview. Completion of minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

Students who meet the criteria in items 1-4 listed below are eligible for conditional admission with full admission pending completion of items 5-7 listed below:

Adherence to the Oakland University undergraduate admission requirements for a second degree student.
Minimum overall GPA of 3.2, with a minimum grade of 2.8 in each of the following courses: BIO 111 , BIO 121 , CHM 104 , CHM 201 and PSY 100 . Completion of Philosophy (PHL 101 , PHL 102 , PHL 103 , PHL 107 , PHL 204 , PHL 205 or PHL 206 ) with a minimum grade of 2.8 and MTH 061 with a minimum grade of 3.2 (this requirement is waived for students who receive a score of 18 or higher on the mathematics subsection of the American College Test (ACT) or who have taken an Oakland University placement test and have placed into MTH 062 or higher).
A 500-1,000 word written goal statement.
A faculty interview is required.
Completion of PSY 225 and BIO 307 , with a grade of 2.5 or higher. (Must be taken prior to the program start date.)
NRS 220 , NRS 227 and NRS 308 with a grade of 2.5 or higher. (Must be taken prior to the program start date.)
Applicants who have been dismissed from a nursing program at another institution, or have two grades below 2.5 in nursing courses from another institution, must submit a statement of explanation that includes current status as a nursing student and have their application reviewed prior to consideration for admission to a School of Nursing undergraduate program.

Admission clinical requirements

Admission to the nursing program is contingent upon meeting all clinical requirements. These requirements are subject to change. Specific details will be provided with the letter of admission. Requirements include:

Submission of a completed health assessment, including inoculation for tetanus; skin testing or chest x-ray for tuberculosis; proof of immunity to rubella, rubeola, mumps, varicella and Hepatitis B (or formal refusal of Hepatitis B vaccination).
Meeting minimum physical, cognitive and psychosocial technical standards for clinical/field and laboratory experiences (see core performance standards). Students with disabilities who have questions about their ability to meet these standards are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Support Services, 106 North Foundation Hall, (248) 370-3266.
Documented completion of an approved CPR course.

The following are required by clinical agencies where students are placed for clinical experience:

Criminal background check.
Urine drug screen.

Students are responsible for any costs associated with the requirements described above. Students accepted to the nursing program must submit proof of all the above requirements by the published deadline date (per program plan). All requirements must remain in effect throughout the academic year. Students who have not provided necessary documentation by the published deadline dates will not be allowed to enroll in clinical nursing courses. NOTE: Students must maintain their own health insurance for illness or injury. Clinical agencies are not required to provide free treatment for students and will bill individuals for use of their emergency or employee health services.

Advising

The School of Nursing Advising Office is located in 444 O’Dowd Hall, (248) 370-4253. It is recommended that students schedule an advising appointment during the freshman/pre-nursing year(s) to review degree requirements and develop a plan of study. The plan of study is a timetable of courses to be taken and assures progress toward satisfying degree requirements. In addition, students are required to attend a School of Nursing orientation prior to beginning the nursing program.

Transfer Policy

Programs offered by the School of Nursing are designed to meet the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation criteria as well as to reflect the Oakland University philosophy of education. Records of students transferring to Oakland University from other academic institutions are evaluated and transfer credit is granted as appropriate. Once matriculated at Oakland, students are expected to complete all remaining nursing course work for the degree at Oakland. See Transfer student information in this catalog for additional information about the university transfer policies, including transfer of credit from community colleges.

Grade for transfer courses do not appear on the Oakland University transcript. However, for purposes of admission to the School of Nursing, grades for pre-nursing courses taken at other institutions are included in the pre-nursing GPA. Letter grades are converted as follows: A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0.

On-leave Status

Students can request on-leave status for personal or academic reasons in the School of Nursing for a period of up to one year. Their return to the program is contingent upon availability of space. Students who return to the nursing program from on-leave status must comply with all School of Nursing policies in effect when they return and must submit their request to return to active status three months before the beginning of the term for which the student seeks to be reactivated.

Policies and Procedures

Once admitted to the nursing program, students should consult the School of Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook for detailed information on program policies and procedures.

Additional Information

Accreditation and program review

The Oakland University School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and is approved by the Michigan State Board of Nursing. The RN-BSN Degree Completion Sequence is fully accredited as an online program by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

National black student nurses association (N.B.S.N.A.)

The purpose of the association is to give Oakland University nursing students an opportunity to promote unity among minorities and other students by providing a support network for pre-nursing students as well as current nursing students. B.S.N.A. allows members to increase their networking skills and ability to work with others while educating and informing the community about health risks that affect minorities.

Sigma theta tau-theta psi chapter

The local chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society in Nursing was chartered in April 1986 at Oakland University. Each year Oakland University students who are eligible are invited to become members of this national honor society. Candidates for membership are selected on the basis of superior scholastic achievement, academic integrity and evidence of professional leadership potential.

Student nurses association of Oakland University (SNAOU)

Nursing students are eligible for and encouraged to become members of the Student Nurses Association of Oakland University. The organization gives OU nursing students an opportunity to receive information and support from other nursing students and increase networking skills. It also gives members the ability to work with others, participate in community and political events, and have an opportunity to communicate with OU School of Nursing administrators.

Qualification for R.N. licensure

Licensure is granted by the state of Michigan. Requirements for licensure include successful completion of a state-approved educational program and satisfactory performance on the licensing examination prescribed by the state of Michigan. Upon registration of the license, a nurse is known as a registered nurse (R.N.). Licensure in one state entitles a qualified holder to seek licensure by endorsement in other states. As part of the pre-licensure screening policy, the Michigan Board of Nursing will obtain criminal conviction history. Additionally, new licensure applicants with previous substance abuse convictions may not be prohibited from licensure; however, the circumstances of the conviction will be reviewed and may result in investigation and/or referral to the Health Professional Recovery Program (Legal and Professional Regulation of Nursing Practice in Michigan, 1995).

Continuing education

Continuing professional education is offered by the School of Nursing in order to meet the life-long learning needs of professional nurses. Specialized contract programs can be provided in order to meet the unique professional staff development needs of employers in the health care setting, business and industry, government and other settings. These programs are individually tailored to meet the specific workplace needs of professionals and employers. Programs and courses are offered for university credit or noncredit. When noncredit programs and courses are offered, they carry the Continuing Education Unit (CEU).

Programs & Cores

Nursing, B.S.N

Course Descriptions

The department offers selected courses from this catalog as warranted by student needs and availability of faculty: School of Nursing .

The following courses are graduate level courses open to undergraduate students who have been admitted to the R.N.-M.S.N. program (See Graduate catalog for descriptions).

NRS 515 Vulnerable Populations and Social Issues
NRS 516 Health Policy, Finance and Nursing Management

Schedule of Classes

Specific offerings for each semester may be found in the Schedule of Classes: sail.oakland.edu.