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Master of Science in Nursing at JMU

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BSN: Academic Progression, Readmission, Grading and Graduation

Taking and Retaking Prerequisite Courses:

Prerequisite courses completed at other institutions prior to coming to JMU and which are accepted for transfer to JMU according to normal University procedures, are accepted by the Nursing Department to meet departmental requirements. Students are, however, encouraged to complete prerequisite courses at JMU. If a student receives a grade lower than a C- in any prerequisite course taken at JMU he/she is required to repeat the course at JMU in order to raise the grade and meet departmental requirements.

Enrollment in Nursing Courses:

Initial enrollment in nursing courses is contingent upon meeting all general admission requirements. Students enter the 4-semester program in the fall or spring semester.

Progression Policies:

  1. Students are not required to maintain a minimum GPA in the nursing program. However, nursing students must earn a grade of C- or better in all nursing courses. A grade of D or F is considered a failure.
  2. A student who receives a grade of less than a C- in a nursing course for the first time must seek departmental approval to repeat the course. Courses must be retaken when they are next scheduled in the curriculum and as space allows) If a grade of C- or better is achieved when the first failed course is repeated, the student will be allowed to continue in the nursing program.
  3. A student who receives a second grade of less than a C-, in a nursing course repeated or taken for the first time, will not be allowed to continue in the program. Students will not have the option of repeating failed courses following a second failure.
  4. In some courses students must average a passing grade on the in-class multiple-choice exams in order to pass the course. Scores for other course activities will contribute to the course grade when a weighted exam average of 70% or higher has been achieved. When the weighted in-class exam average is less than 70%, this average will constitute the course grade.
  5. A satisfactory clinical performance using the performance evaluation tool is mandatory for a passing grade. A student may fail a practicum course and receive a grade of less than a C- because of unsatisfactory clinical performance. Depending upon the type and seriousness of the problem, the student may be put on probation or asked to withdraw from the course and/or program prior to the end of a semester. Unsatisfactory performance occurs when the student:
  • Consistently fails to meet clinical objectives.
  • Does not take initiative and/or takes initiative inappropriately, thereby endangering client's safety and well-being.
  • Is insensitive to client's needs.
  • Is consistently unable to develop communication skills and form therapeutic relationships with clients, families and coworkers, even with guidance.
  • Frequently exhibits negligent behavior causing potential irreversible damage to the client.
  • Violates professional ethics through behaviors such as:
    • Carelessness with client confidentiality.
    • Inconsistency in complying with agency policies.
    • Failure to recognize implications of behavior for the professional role.
    • Violation of therapeutic nurse/client relationship.
    • Gross violation of agency policies.
    • Consistently fails to meet obligations.
    • Inability or unwillingness to acknowledge errors or areas of weakness, even when identified by the faculty.

Re-admission Policy:

When a student withdraws from the nursing program for personal, performance, or academic reasons, re-admission will be considered on the basis of space available in the courses to be taken and evidence that problems have been appropriately resolved. The student must:

  1. Submit a request in writing to the BSN Program Coordinator during the semester prior to the semester of desired enrollment. Re-admission is not automatic and priority is not necessarily given on the basis of previous enrollment. A personal interview with the Coordinator is required prior to re-admission.
  2. Complete nursing courses in existence at the time of re-entry. Students applying for re-admission after a lapse of three or more years, may, at the discretion of faculty, be required to validate knowledge by examination or by repeating nursing courses.

Grading Scale:

The following scale is used for all course final grades in the Department of Nursing. The grading policy is consistent with that of the university. The department of nursing will use plus and minus grades and no grade will be rounded upward. The scale is as follows:

A 93.00 to 100.00
A- 90.00 to 92.99
B+ 87.00 to 89.99
B 83.00 to 86.99
B- 80.00 to 82.99
C+ 77.00 to 79.99
C 73.00 to 76.99
C- 70.00 to 72.99
D+ 67.00 to 69.99
D 63.00 to 66.99
F 59.99 and lower

Incomplete Grade Policy:

  1. The university allows an Incomplete to be given in a course only when a student is unable to complete the course work because of illness or some other equally compelling reason. Courses in which a student receives a grade of an “I” must be completed by the end of the next regular semester or the grade is recorded permanently as an “F”.
  2. Nursing progression policies do not allow students to progress with a grade of less than a C-, so it is inappropriate for an “I” grade to continue an entire semester. Caution is used in giving “I” grades. An incomplete grade will not be given to a student who has not assumed appropriate responsibility for completing the work of a given course; such a student receives a failing grade.
  3. An incomplete given for a fall semester course must be satisfactorily completed within the first 3 weeks of the spring semester or the student will not be allowed to continue in the remaining courses for the semester. An incomplete in a spring semester course must be completed by the end of May.
  4. If a faculty member gives an incomplete grade they are to submit the following in writing to both the student and department head:
    • The reason for the “I” grade.
    • The conditions for clearing the incomplete grade.
    • Dates by which completion of each condition is to be accomplished.
  5. When there are questions about whether or not an incomplete grade can appropriately be given, the situation is to be reviewed and clarified with the department head.

Graduation Requirements:

All requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN) must be met. In addition a grade of C- or better must be earned in each nursing course.