Program Overview

• The baccalaureate degree in nursing program, master’s degree in nursing program and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at James Madison University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org)
• Is fully approved by the Virginia State Board of Nursing
• Leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN)

As a graduate of the James Madison University (JMU) School of Nursing RN-BSN Program, you will be prepared to practice as a baccalaureate registered nurse and provide nursing care to patients in a variety of settings. Graduates will also have developed the skills needed to pursue advanced nursing studies. The program enjoys a positive reputation within the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.

Teaching Methods

Online Program Format: Didactic courses in the RN-BSN program are delivered in an asynchronous online format. In order to prepare and enhance students learning in this fully online program a one–day virtual orientation will be required of all students entering the program. Students may need to repeat orientation if returning to the program after an extended leave of absence. All of the online courses in the program are delivered using the learning platform provided by JMU.

Community Health Clinical: Students participate in a single 45–hour community clinical experience during one summer semester. This clinical consists of 35 direct contact hours and 10 indirect hours.

Program Philosophy

The JMU Nursing faculty is committed to nursing education grounded in the arts, sciences and humanities, meeting professional standards for nursing education and practice. Nursing is a humanistic profession that enhances the quality of life by promoting health and preventing illness through the effective delivery of coordinated health care. Nursing knowledge is advanced through thinking critically, engaging in scholarship, and applying knowledge to the delivery of nursing care. The values of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice are the foundation for professional nursing practice. Through community collaboration graduates are prepared to assume multiple roles to impact the profession, health care systems, and communities.

School of Nursing Mission, Values, and Purposes

Mission: We engage students, faculty and communities through dynamic and innovative nursing education, practice and scholarship to influence health in our world.
Values: We are committed to…

• Integrity: being honest, sincere and just in all of our endeavors
• Caring: sharing compassion, kindness and authenticity with those we encounter
• Excellence: pursuing the highest quality in teaching, learning, scholarship and service
• Collaboration: cultivating partnerships built on respect, trust and commitment
• Advocacy: providing a voice for those we serve and promoting policies that improve healthcare for all
• Inclusivity: honoring the richness that diverse perspectives bring to our world
• Resilience: achieving inner strength and wisdom by adapting to life's challenges

In order to support and accomplish this mission the nursing faculty has identified the following purposes:

1. Prepare nursing professionals who provide culturally competent, holistic, evidence-based nursing care to individuals, families, aggregates, and communities in a wide variety of settings.
2. Promote a community of learning that models professional values and lifelong professional development for both faculty and students.
3. Promote service-learning activities that include collaborative, interdisciplinary initiatives and partnerships between nursing education and the practice arena to meet the future health needs of consumers.
4. Conduct research and creative scholarship to generate nursing knowledge and disseminate that knowledge through collaboration, publication, and presentations.

Student Learning Outcomes

The graduate of the JMU baccalaureate nursing program will be able to demonstrate:

1. Knowledge for Nursing Practice: Attain, develop, and critique theoretical and empirical knowledge specific to the discipline of nursing through ways of being, knowing, choosing, and doing. Engage relationally with complex and dynamic personal, social, cultural, ethical, and political concepts to endeavor to support the well-being of persons and populations.
2. Inquiry & Critical thinking: Develop a spirit of inquiry to contribute to innovative contributions to nursing practice. Critically appraises current practice, and actively seeks to find and translate best evidence into practice. Makes judgments and uses problem-solving skills in practice that synthesize nursing science and knowledge.
3. Population Health: Engage in community and population assessment, health promotion, disease prevention, care coordination and interdisciplinary efforts to improve outcomes. Assess determinants of health and respond to health disparities at the individual, family, community, and population level, across all levels of prevention, and over the entire healthcare continuum.
4. Healthcare systems collaboration: Communicates and effectively utilizes technology to achieve high quality, safe, evidenced-based, and cost-effective care at the individual and systems level. Collaborates with individuals, families, community stakeholders, and the interdisciplinary health care team to assess, implement and evaluate the safety and quality of both patient and population-centered care across health care settings and systems. Develops and advocates for policies across the healthcare continuum.
5. Professional Identity and development: Demonstrate responsibility as a life-long learner. Utilizes self-care to practice in a mindful and resilient manner. Reflects on and modifies professional practice according to ethical, moral, humanistic, and legal principles. Contributes to the profession through mentorship, leadership, and advocacy.