Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)
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Caldwell University’s B.S.N. program provides an exceptional curriculum to prepare professional nurses for modern practice. The program is structured to provide a strong liberal arts foundation that is further developed in nursing course work, which includes clinical and laboratory activities. Clinical experience is provided in a variety of healthcare agencies and community centers in the region. Simulation activities are integrated throughout the program to provide students with opportunities to further develop essential clinical skills.
Why Caldwell?
Our program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the New Jersey Board of Nursing, ensuring high standards of quality. The university’s collaboration with the Healthcare Foundation of NJ further enhanced the program by offering advanced simulation opportunities. Graduates of the program are equipped to deliver safe and effective care to diverse populations in various healthcare settings.
funding through the Healthcare Foundation of NJ.
Three Entrance Tracks
Our B.S.N. program offers three entrance tracks: a second-degree track for those with a prior degree, a traditional track for incoming freshmen, and a transfer track for students moving from other institutions. The program requires completion of 124-125 credits, including nursing prerequisites, core courses, and nursing-specific courses. Students must also complete a criminal history background check before clinical placement.
Career Outlook
The career outlook for nursing in New Jersey is strong and continues to improve. Key factors contributing to the positive career outlook for nurses in New Jersey include:
- High Demand for Nurses: The state is experiencing a shortage of registered nurses (RNs), especially in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health care. This shortage is expected to continue in the coming years, driven by an aging population, increased chronic health conditions, and the retirement of older nurses.
- Strong Job Growth: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of registered nurses is projected to grow by 6% from 2021 to 2031, which is faster than the average for all occupations. In New Jersey, the demand for nurses is even higher due to the state’s population demographics.
- Competitive Salaries: Nurses in New Jersey enjoy competitive wages. The average salary for a registered nurse in New Jersey is higher than the national average. As of 2023, the average annual salary for an RN in New Jersey is around $85,000 to $95,000, depending on experience, location, and healthcare setting.
- Diverse Career Opportunities: Nurses in New Jersey have a wide variety of career paths to choose from, including roles in hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, home health care, and long-term care facilities. Specialized nursing roles such as nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse educators are also in demand.
- Advancement Potential: New Jersey offers various opportunities for career advancement. Nurses who pursue advanced degrees or certifications (such as becoming a nurse practitioner, nurse educator, or nurse manager) can further enhance their career prospects and earning potential.
- Workforce Diversity: New Jersey’s diverse population increases the demand for nurses who are culturally competent and can provide care to a wide range of communities, making it an ideal state for nurses looking to work in diverse settings.
In conclusion, nursing in New Jersey offers promising job security, career advancement opportunities, and competitive salaries, making it a strong field for current and future nursing professionals.
Evaluation of student learning demonstrates that graduates have achieved identified competencies consistent with the institutional mission and professional standards and that the outcomes of the nursing education have been achieved. The program uses data from outcomes assessment tools (students, alumni and employer) for curriculum development and revision. Additional outcome measures may include but are not limited to NCLEX® results, standardized test results, advisory board communications, and graduation rates.
Standardized examinations are used throughout the program to enhance NCLEX-RN® preparedness. Based on student standardized examination performance, an individualized remediation plan is developed and completed to foster NCLEX-RN® success. Students who do not meet the benchmark on the standardized exam must remediate and show evidence of completion of the remediation prior to progression to the next course. Course syllabi clearly indicate when the standardized examinations and remediation are included as course requirements.
The “Letter of Completion” will be sent to the New Jersey Board of Nursing when the student has successfully fulfilled all nursing major requirements that includes but is not limited to completion of the baccalaureate curriculum, standardized testing and remediation, and a selected NCLEX-RN® review course.
NURSING PREREQUISITES (25 credits)
Course Code : BI 203
Course Description :
This course is geared toward students who are pursuing careers in nursing and the allied health sciences. The study of anatomy and physiology provides the strong foundation needed to support students clinical experiences. The structure and function of the human body is introduced in systematic fashion from the cellular and molecular level to more complex interacting organ systems. Emphasis is placed on the mechanisms and regulation of body processes that maintain life in the face of environmental change. This course covers levels of organization, support and movement, integration and coordination. Prerequisite for the nursing program.
Credit : 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 3 Hours
Prerequisites :
MA 113 or higher
Course Code : BI 203L
Course Description :
Laboratory exercises correlate with materials covered in lecture. Prerequisite for the nursing program.
Credit : 1
Prerequisites :
BI203
Course Code : BI 204
Course Description :
A continuation of BI 203. This course covers transport, absorption and excretion and the human life cycle. Prerequisite for the nursing program.
Credit : 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 3 Hours
Prerequisites :
BI203, BI203
Course Code : BI 204L
Course Description :
Laboratory exercises correlate with materials covered in lecture. Prerequisite for the nursing program.
Credit : 1
Prerequisites :
BI204
Course Code : CH 110
Course Description :
This course is a one semester course with lecture and laboratory experiences designed for students in the nursing program. This course introduces the fundamental concepts of general chemistry and provides the essential features of organic and biological chemistry. It begins with a study of concepts in general chemistry: periodic table, atomic structure, bonding, chemical reactions and states of matter. The second half of the course focuses on the structure and properties of organic molecules, culminating in the study of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. Radioactivity and its effects and uses in biological systems will also be examined. Note: This course is also a prerequisite for the nursing program.
Credit : 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 3 Hours
Co requisites :
MA 118 or higher
Course Code : SO 101
Course Description :
Introduces the study of society and acquaints the student with principles and major areas of sociological inquiry. Examines topics related to the individual, culture, deviance and social inequalities.
Credit : 3
Course Code : MA 207
Course Description :
Introduces the fundamentals of statistics as employed in a variety of disciplines. Includes sampling, descriptive statistics, probability, discrete and continuous probability distributions, hypothesis testing, correlation and regression.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
MA120, MA131, MA130, MA112, MA222, MA140, MA220, MA116, MA106, Core requirement in mathematics.
OR
Course Code : PS 208
Course Group(s) : Psychology 200 Level Courses
Course Description :
Introduces descriptive and inferential statistical methods to summarize, organize, and interpret data. Topics include data organization, measures of central tendency, variability, z-scores, logic of hypothesis testing, t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
MA220, MA130, MA117, MA116, MA208, MA131, MA207, MA222, MA221, MA106, MA108, MA 105, MA 112
Course Code : MA 118
Course Description :
This course studies the real number system, algebraic expressions, percents, fractions, decimals, ratios, proportions, scientific notation, exponents, and radicals. It also covers metric system and metric conversions. Polynomial, exponential, logarithmic functions and their applications in the nursing field are studied. The course emphasizes the use of both algebraic and non-algebraic techniques in the solution of problems. The course is designed to give students an appreciation for mathematics and its applications in nursing.
Credit : 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 3 Hours
Prerequisites :
MA 113 or MA130
Course Code : PS 101/PS 150
Course Description :
This course provides a survey of the major areas of psychology, the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Major content areas include research methodology, biopsychology, learning, psychopathology, and cognitive, social, and developmental psychology
Credit : 3
NURSING COURSES (63 credits)
Course Code : NU 219
Course Description :
This course provides students with an introduction to the identity, values, philosophy, standards, and challenges that define and underlie current and future professional nursing practice. Students will have the opportunity to discuss attributes, standards and criteria for professionalism in nursing as well as identify and learn about the basic elements that create a strong foundation required for successful nursing practice. These include history and current/future trends in professional nursing, current professional nursing roles, methods and philosophical basis for knowledge and skills acquisition, the role of critical thinking and application of evidence-based principles to nursing intervention, beginning development of strong professional communication skills, information literacy and the ability to access and cite appropriate resources to guide the development and delivery of professional nursing care.
Credit : 2 – 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 2 Hours
Course Code : NU 301
Course Description :
This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of nursing across the lifespan, the philosophy of nursing and the role of the registered professional nurse. The nursing process is utilized to identify and provide the building blocks of nursing care in a variety of healthcare settings. Emphasis is placed on developing skills needed to assess, implement and monitor selected nursing interventions and technologies. Concepts presented include beginning professionalism, therapeutic communication, documentation, life-span considerations, basic introduction to skills for supporting patient care, physical assessment, infection control, patient education, safety and nursing interventions. Guided clinical and simulation experiences will be provided to facilitate students acquiring the knowledge, attitudes and skills relevant to patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, safety and informatics.
Credit : 6
Instruction methods : lab: 3 Hours, Lecture: 3 Hours, Clinical: 6 Hours
Course Code : NU 303
Course Description :
This course focuses on concepts and principles of holistic health assessment of diverse individuals across the lifespan, with particular consideration of vulnerable populations facing health care disparities. The role of the nurse in the organized and systematic approach to comprehensive health assessment is emphasized. Students will utilize interviewing techniques to obtain and record a comprehensive health history, apply the clinical skills of inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation to perform a complete physical assessment, and practice therapeutic communication skills to assess psychosocial health. An appreciation of the impact of culture and patient belief systems on healthcare practices is developed. Through didactic and laboratory practice experiences, students have the opportunity to develop competence in identifying, describing, and recording findings with sensitivity to developmental issues, characteristics and customs of diverse populations.
Credit : 5
Instruction methods : lab: 6 Hours, Lecture: 3 Hours
Course Code : NU 305
Course Description :
This course focuses on concepts of pathophysiological alterations and their association to major regulatory mechanisms of the body, as they relate to the care of diverse populations in a holistic and caring framework. Expanding on pre-requisite Chemistry, Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology, this course addresses disease etiology, clinical presentations and manifestations of disease. Human responses to altered body functions in diverse populations throughout the lifespan are emphasized.
Credit : 4 – 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 4 Hours
Prerequisites :
NURN, NU219
Course Code : NU 306
Course Description :
This course is focused on the role of the professional nurse in providing patient-centered, safe and effective care, promotion and maintenance of health, including psychosocial and physiological integrity, for adult and geriatric patients with common and chronic health problems. Emphasis is on integrating and applying content from fundamentals of nursing, pathophysiology and health assessment to promote health and safety, reduce health risk, and prevent disease. Students will apply evidence-based knowledge and clinical skills to develop, implement and evaluate plans of care that assist patients and their immediate caretakers to maintain optimal health while living with chronic health problems. Interdisciplinary coordination for end of life care, with attention to the physical, psychological, social and spiritual concerns of the patient and the patients family is provided.
Credit : 8
Instruction methods : lab: 3 Hours, Lecture: 4 Hours, Clinical: 8 Hours
Course Code : NU 308
Course Description :
This course focuses on developing critical thinking and information technology skills necessary to access, analyze, evaluate and apply evidence-based scientific literature to nursing practice. Principles of research methodology and the relationship of nursing research to evidence-based practice and the nursing process are discussed. Students will formulate research questions based on clinical observation and practice the process of summarizing a body of research-based information related to these questions for application to evidence-based practice situations. Students will explore the role of the nurse related to the ethical conduct of human subjects research.
Credit : 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 3 Hours
Course Code : NU 310
Course Description :
This course introduces the student to the history, standards, and legal responsibilities that impact the use and administration of medications to clients. The effects of pharmacological therapy and their therapeutic applications throughout the lifespan are emphasized. Mathematical concepts and the role of the practitioner in safe medication administration and related client education are discussed. Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic effects and adverse effects of all the major drug classes are explored.
Credit : 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 3 Hours
Course Code : NU 409
Course Description :
This course focuses on patient/family centered care utilizing culturally sensitive approaches to address the health care needs of women and families from diverse populations. Emphasis is on the provision of evidence-based care encompassing health promotion and disease prevention, safety and risk reduction during the childbearing stages of life. Principles related to childbearing, parenting, growth and development and mother/baby safety issues for clients and their families will be studied. The student will explore nursing care focusing on common health problems of women and newborns, as well as end of life issues for the perinatal client. Competency for safe drug dosage calculation for the perinatal client will be measured.
Course Code : NU 410
Course Description :
This course focuses on patient/family centered care utilizing culturally sensitive approaches to address the health care needs of women, children and families from diverse populations. Emphasis is on the provision of evidence-based care encompassing health promotion and disease prevention, safety and risk reduction, during childhood, adolescence and the childbearing stages of life. Principles related to childbearing, parenting, growth and development and mother/baby safety issues for clients and their families will be studied. The student will explore nursing care focusing on common health problems of women, infants, children and adolescents as well as end of life issues for the perinatal and pediatric client. Competency for safe drug dosage calculation for the perinatal and pediatric client will be measured.
Course Code : NU 412
Course Description :
This course is focused on the integration and application of bio-psycho-social concepts to promote health and provide nursing care for people and populations experiencing vulnerabilities and alterations in mental health across the lifespan. Students will develop and practice health assessment and health promotion strategies, plans of care, therapeutic communication skills, nursing interventions, medication management, and rehabilitative processes in both inpatient and outpatient settings to provide knowledgeable, sensitive, holistic nursing care for individuals and groups with a variety of acute and chronic mental health conditions.
Credit : 4
Instruction methods : Lecture: 2 Hours, Clinical: 6 Hours
Prerequisites :
NU301, NU303, NU305, NU306, NU308, NU310
Course Code : NU 415
Course Description :
This course explores organization and management, financing, and reimbursement of health care services within complex, rapidly-changing healthcare delivery systems. It includes a review of regulatory agency policies that impact nursing practice, scope and roles. Students will demonstrate basic knowledge of health care policy, finance and regulatory environments including local, state, national and global healthcare trends. Important legal, ethical, political and advocacy principles and their impact on health care, especially for vulnerable populations, are emphasized, with particular focus on equity, access, affordability, and social justice. Ethical decision making and conflict resolution skills are developed. Students will examine professional nurse obligations including requirement for nurses to engage in lifelong learning. Students will also develop clinical prioritization and delegation skills critical to effective health care delivery. [Formally: Management & Leadership until Fall'15]
Credit : 3 – 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 4 Hours
Prerequisites :
NU308
Course Code : NU 416
Course Description :
This course is focused on combining best evidence with planning and implementation of appropriate nursing interventions to plan and provide care for adults with acute health problems. Students will develop skills in critical thinking, problem-solving and clinical judgment to render evidenced-based care in a variety of acute-care patient situations. Students will assess, analyze, plan, implement, and evaluate the nursing care of adult patients in acute care under direct supervision. Safe, comprehensive nursing care for patients with a wide range of disorders will be addressed as well as the need for patient teaching, advocacy, inter-disciplinary communication, and continuity of care as the patient returns to the community. Cultural, spiritual, and ethical/legal issues related to serious illness and the end of life, including the nurse’s role in organ donation and hospice care, will be presented. Particular acute care situations, such as disasters and emergencies, are addressed.
Credit : 8
Instruction methods : Lecture: 4 Hours, Clinical: 12 Hours
Course Code : NU 418
Course Description :
The focus of this course is on the transitional issues of the graduate into professional practice. Topics related to legislative and economic issues of the health care delivery system are explored. Legal and ethical issues as they impact health care delivery are discussed and debated. Future trends in nursing and health care and the role of the nurse and professional organization in health promotion are discussed. Student will have the opportunity to analyze and integrate various clinical practice issues using case studies, peer-reviewed journal articles and guided discussion with peers. An action plan for NCLEX preparation will be developed and implemented.
Credit : 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 3 Hours
Course Code : NU 420
Course Description :
This course focuses on the application of nursing science and public health concepts to develop strategies to address health problems in the community. The framework of primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of prevention is utilized in the provision of community and population focused care. Determinants of health and disease patterns will be analyzed in the United States and in the global context to improve health for all. Selected community resources will be utilized for guided clinical experiences to meet the needs of the client while providing community-based, public health and community healthcare.
Credit : 3 – 5
Instruction methods : Lecture: 3 Hours, Clinical: 5 Hours
Prerequisites :
NU310
Your degree includes credits from Liberal Arts and Sciences Core, Major, and Electives.
Accreditation
Caldwell University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
The affiliated Clinical Agencies of the School of Nursing and Public Health are accredited by nationally recognized accrediting bodies; the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Caldwell University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
The Caldwell University Baccalaureate Nursing Program is also fully accredited by the New Jersey Board of Nursing.
For any comments or concerns regarding the program, please contact the New Jersey Board of Nursing at 124 Halsey Street, 6th Floor, Newark, New Jersey 07101, or (973) 504-6430.