Mission

The mission of the Nursing Program is to provide nurses innovative and responsive programs to advance their career as valued graduates and nurse leaders. The Nursing Program is committed to serving the educational needs and enhancing the quality of life while enriching the economic, cultural life, and health of the communities served.

UHV Nursing Program Goals:

1. Provide student-centered innovative education programs.
2. Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships.
3. Advance the nursing profession through scholarship and professional involvement.
4. Serve as a foundation for graduate study.

Expected Student Outcomes (ESO)

Graduates will:

1. Synthesize knowledge from the biological, social, and behavioral sciences, the humanities, and nursing to provide appropriate, culturally sensitive care to individuals, families, and communities.
2. Demonstrate inquiry and analysis in applying patient care technologies and information systems to support safe nursing practice and population risk reduction.
3. Lead safety and quality improvement activities as part of the interprofessional team and as an advocate and manager of nursing care.
4. Manage care transitions and promote population risk reduction with diverse communities in collaboration with members of the interprofessional health care team.
5. Participate in monitoring institutional, professional and public policy to maintain adherence to standards of practice within legal, ethical, and regulatory frameworks of the professional nurse.
6. Demonstrate leadership skills related to clinical and professional issues, financial, and human resource in providing and evaluating care.
7. Demonstrate leadership and advocacy that reflects the values and ethics of the nursing profession.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree in nursing at University of Houston-Victoria is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-877-6791.  

Plans and Degrees Offered

The programs consist of the plans listed below.

Nursing B.S.N. RN to BSN

Practice Learning Requirements for all Undergraduate Nursing Students - NURS 4410, 3411, and 4110

See the RN to BSN Student Handbook for further information.

1. Background Check
   All students will be required to undergo a criminal background check. The results will be shared with the Program Director and other designated staff. Any student convicted of or who receives adjudication for any criminal offense prior to program admission or while in the program, will be required to obtain a Declaratory Order from the Texas Board of Nursing that states the student is eligible for initial licensure or licensure renewal prior to program entry or progression.
2. CPR
   All students must submit a non-expired copy of CPR certification by week 6 of NURS 4314. Students must be certified in the following classification of CPR approved by the Program Director. Online certification will not be accepted.  CPR for Health Care Provider (BLS), American Heart Association Students will be responsible for maintaining bi-yearly compliance with the CPR requirements throughout their program. In the event that a student does not meet the requirements at any time during the program, a course registration hold will be implemented until the requirement is met.
3. Health Insurance
   All students enrolled in the program must carry health insurance and provide a copy of the policy or insurance card by week 6 of NURS 4314.  Students will be responsible for maintaining compliance with the health insurance requirements throughout their program. In the event that a student does not meet the requirements at any time during the program, a course registration hold will be implemented until the requirement is met.
4. Malpractice Insurance
   All students are provided with malpractice insurance through UHV.
5. Drug Screen
   All students will be required to provide a random negative urine drug screen via an assigned outside testing agency, by week 6 of NURS 4314. At the discretion of the faculty, students may be required to comply with periodic random drug screening during enrollment in nursing programs.
6. Annual Clinical Passport
   All students will be required to demonstrate basic safety knowledge, including HIPAA training in the practice area via the Annual Practice Learning Experience Passport Training Module. Evidence of satisfactory compliance will be submitted to the outside tracking entity.
7. Immunizations Required by week 6 of NURS 4314.

Immunizations	Requirements
Varicella (Chickenpox)	There must be documentation of one of the following: Positive antibody titer.
Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR)	There must be documentation of one of the following: 2 vaccinations OR positive antibody titer for all 3 components (lab report required). Positive antibody titers for all 3 components (lab reports required or physician verification of results).
Hepatitis B	There must be documentation of the following: 3 vaccinations. Positive antibody titer (lab report required or physician verification of results).
TB Skin Test (PPD)	One of the following is required: Every 12 months evidence of a negative PPD skin test. If positive results, please refer to the RN to BSN Student Handbook.
Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis (Tdap)	There must be documentation of a Tdap booster within the past 10 years. Td does not meet this requirement.

Degree Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) / RN-BSN

The primary educational objective of the RN to BSN completion program is to increase the career and educational opportunities available to registered nurses in the university’s service region. Graduates of the program will have a broader understanding of the nursing profession and will bring that understanding to the practice of nursing in their places of employment. Graduates will be prepared to assume some leadership and management roles.

The following requirements apply to all candidates for the RN-BSN degree.

1. Students must satisfy all university requirements for a bachelor’s degree as found in the section UNIVERSITY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS  of this catalog in addition to the program requirements below.
    
2. Lower Division:
   • 3 semester hours of Statistics (may take psychology statistics if Math core satisfied)
   • 8 semester hours of Human Anatomy and Physiology.
   • 4 semester hours of Microbiology
   • 3 semester hours of Chemistry or Physical Science
   • 6 semester hours of Psychology (PSYC 2301 Introduction to Psychology , and PSYC 2314 Lifespan Development ).
   • RN-BSN students will be given up to 36 hours of advanced placement credit for successful completion of Associate Degree in Nursing and subsequent RN licensure.
      
3. Upper Division: Thirty (30) semester hours of Nursing core (Transition to the BSN Role, Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice, Foundations of Comprehensive Pathophysiology in Nursing, Leadership Roles, Comprehensive Health Assessment, Ethics in Healthcare, Population Focused Community Health, Healthcare Organizations and Informatics, Global Health Systems, and Capstone Project).
    
4. Students in the RN-BSN program may repeat only one failed course (grade of “D” or “F”). A subsequent failure in any course will cause the student to be ineligible to progress in the program.

These requirements are summarized below: