Nursing

Faculty

Mary Jane K. DiMattio, Ph.D., RN, CPNP, Chair
Michelle Boland, MSN, RN
Barbara Buxton, Ph.D., RN, PHM-CNS, BC
Laura Skoronski Chavez, Ph.D., RN
Teresa M. Conte, Ph.D.
Susan Elczyna, Ph.D., CRNA
Ann Feeney, Ph.D. CRNP, CNM
Kelly Filchner, Ph.D., RN, OCN, CCRC
Natalie J. Gilboy, MSN, RN, CRNP, PMHS
Anna Grippi, MSN, RN
Julieann Kane, DNP, FNP-BC
Lisa Ann Lesneski, Ph.D.
Linda R. Lewis, MSN., RN, CCNS, BC
Wendy Manetti, Ph.D., MSN., CRNP
Julie Murphy, Ph.D., MSN, RN
Tracy Murray, J.D., MSN, CRNP, CRNA
Megan Ossont, Ph.D., CRNP, PMHNP-BC, CNE
Corey Posa, MSN, RN
Laurie Valunas, MSN, CPNP
Cristen Walker, Ph.D., MSN, CRNP
Patricia Moyle Wright, Ph.D., RN, ACNS-BC, CHPN, CNE

Overview

The Mission of the Department of Nursing at The University of Scranton is to prepare nurses at the baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral levels, who are grounded in the Catholic and Jesuit tradition, and committed to excellence in practice for the 21st century. Our graduates will have the knowledge and competencies to deliver high-quality, evidence-based, holistic person-centered care.

The Nursing program reflects a curriculum that is responsive to the healthcare needs of society. The purpose of the baccalaureate program is to prepare beginning professional nurses, who as generalists, possess clinical competence to function in various settings. Patient-centered care, quality and safety, collaboration and teamwork, the use of evidence-based practice, informatics and ethics are emphasized. The program prepares graduates to deliver holistic nursing care to individuals, families, communities, and populations, and to participate in the advancement of the nursing profession. The baccalaureate program provides a foundation for graduate education in nursing.

High school graduates are admitted as first year students into the program, which leads to a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing. Total class enrollment is limited in consideration of educational and clinical resources. The curriculum can be completed in eight regular semesters of full-time study or four academic years.

Upon graduation the student is eligible for admission to the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) and upon successfully passing the NCLEX exam, the student will be licensed as a registered nurse.

Accreditation and State Approval

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at the University of Scranton are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. (https://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE). The program has full approval of the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

Applicants and students should be aware that Pennsylvania law prohibits licensure of individuals convicted of felonies related to controlled substances and may prohibit licensure if there is a conviction for any felonious act. Prior to the beginning of the sophomore year, all Nursing majors are required to submit a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, a Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check, and an FBI background check. All records are maintained via castlebranch.com. Copies will be provided to clinical sites upon request.

Curriculum and Academic Requirements

The curriculum is based on a planned progression of courses that develop and build upon knowledge and skills at levels of increasing complexity. Therefore, all required courses must be taken in sequence. For progression through the Nursing program, a minimum grade of C must be attained in each of the prerequisite Natural Science courses (BIOL 110/ BIOL 110L , /BIOL 111 /BIOL 111L , BIOL 210 , CHEM 110-111 , NUTR 220 ). A minimum grade of C must be attained in the Social Behavioral course, PSYC 110 and in the prerequisite Quantitative course, PSYC 210 (or EDUC 120 or MATH 112 ), and in each Nursing course. In addition, students who score less than 46 on the ALEKS Test must take a remedial math course MATH 005 in their first semester that would satisfy a free elective. The student must achieve a grade of C or better prior to entering the sophomore year of the nursing program.

A cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher and a GPA of 2.70 or higher in nursing courses is required for progression to the sophomore, junior and senior levels. To maximize success in the national licensure examination (NCLEX), senior students are required to complete an NCLEX review course at the University of Scranton prior to taking the exam.

Final Grade for Nursing Courses with Concurrent Clinical Laboratory

Students must pass both the classroom and laboratory component of nursing courses with clinical laboratories to receive credit for both components. The clinical laboratory component of a Nursing course shall be graded based on Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. Students are required to complete the clinical rotation with a Satisfactory evaluation. The grade recorded for the clinical laboratory component will be the same as the grade assigned for the lecture component of the course. If a student’s performance in the clinical laboratory of a Nursing course is unsatisfactory, a grade of F is recorded for both the laboratory and theoretical component of the course. If a student receives a grade of C-, D+, D or F in the theoretical component of the course, the same grade is assigned to the clinical component of the course. Both lecture and clinical components of a course must be repeated if a grade of C-, D+, D or F is obtained in a Nursing course. Students may repeat only one nursing course.

Clinical Requirements

All first-year students are required to complete health information requirements, as outlined by the university. This required information must be submitted to the student health center. There are no clinical requirements for first year students. All second, third, and fourth year students are required to obtain and submit specific health and criminal background information as detailed in the Nursing Student Handbook.”

In preparation for clinical experiences, students will be required to obtain and submit annual clearances through the Castle Branch platform. Prior to the second year, these annual requirements include FBI Fingerprinting and Background Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Background Check, tuberculin test, and a ten-panel urine drug screen. The influenza vaccine is required each year for the current flu season and clinical agencies may require the Covid vaccine and boosters. In addition, the Department of Nursing follows the current Centers for Disease Control (CDC) requirements for all immunizations, therefore students must submit evidence of all routine childhood immunizations. While enrolled in the nursing program, students are required to submit evidence of qualified health care insurance coverage that is accepted in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The student will not be able to attend clinical if required documents are not completed in their entirety by the due date. Health documents may be provided to clinical agencies upon request with student approval.

Prior to the initial clinical experience in the second year, and continuously through graduation, students enrolled in the nursing program must be certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and AED for health care providers. All students must have a current American Heart Association Basic Life Support, “BLS Provider” CPR card.

Students must also be able to perform the functions and meet the standards outlined in the Department of Nursing policy “Essential Functions and Safety Standards”. For details on the Essential Functions and Safety Standards policy and the implications of conviction for a felonious act see the admissions materials and the Student Handbook of the Department of Nursing.

Additional Expenses and Travel

In addition to the general University tuition and fees, students majoring in Nursing assume responsibility for the following: required background checks and drug testing, uniforms and other required clinical accessories, physical examinations, immunizations/vaccines, comprehensive achievement tests, software programs required for simulation, coursework and NCLEX preparation, health insurance and any travel expenses incurred.

Students must also provide their own transportation to and from agencies utilized for clinical laboratories and visits. Beginning in the spring semester of the second year, students are assigned to clinical sites throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. An optional pediatric clinical experience is also offered at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. For this particular rotation, students complete the clinical requirements over the course of two long weekends.

Study Abroad for Nursing Majors

Nursing majors have an option to study abroad in the spring of the sophomore year. To stay on track in the curriculum, students are required to complete the sophomore Nursing requirements prior to the study abroad experience. This provides students freedom to select from a variety of study abroad options. A GPA of 3.00 at the end of the first year is required to be eligible for study abroad.

Course Information

Courses for Nursing are listed under the prefix NURS. For more information on these courses, visit our Nursing Department Courses page. For more information on all courses offered, visit our Course Descriptions page.

Click here for information on the Accelerated Master’s Degree and Combined Baccalaureate/Master’s Degree Programs .

For more information about the Nursing department, visit our website.