The School of Nursing and Health Studies

HISTORY AND PURPOSE

Since its founding over a century ago, the School of Nursing and Health Studies (NHS) has been at the forefront of the health care field, preparing future leaders to respond to the growing complexity of health care delivery at all levels. Graduates pursue various careers including nursing, medicine, law, health policy, health management, and public health among many others. The Undergraduate Program offers its students a broad liberal arts education balanced with the natural and behavioral sciences through innovative curricula in either the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or the Bachelor of Science (BS) with majors in Healthcare Management and Policy, Human Science, or International Health. Students have an opportunity to study and intern at health care facilities and agencies throughout Washington, D.C., including Georgetown University Hospital, the National Institutes of Health, and the World Health Organization.

All majors in NHS focus on cura personalis--the care and development of the whole person--by educating students for a meaningful life, challenging them intensively, but also supporting them in their learning. The School embraces the Jesuit inspired principles shared by the entire Georgetown community, which emphasize the pursuit of knowledge with a responsibility to contribute to the common good. Students develop into health professionals who can recognize and respond to the full human experience encountered in the health field.

Graduates of the Healthcare Management and Policy, Human Science, and International Health Departments at Georgetown have received a strong scientific and liberal arts education that prepares them for a myriad of careers in health care or basic science. Students interested in careers such as health education, health policy, public health, medicine, physical therapy, international health, scientific writing or healthcare management and policy will have a solid curricular foundation as well as focusing experiences in seminars, independent research, and internships in the areas of their selected interest. Having taken advantage of the School's pre-professional advisement program, graduates wishing to pursue graduate or professional studies will have the necessary courses to prepare them for advanced education.

Completion of the B.S. in Nursing qualifies graduates for the nursing licensure examination. Excellence in both liberal and professional education is made possible through University offerings, which afford students a complete selection of major and minor concentrations and courses; and through the Georgetown University Medical Center, which affords students an opportunity to participate and to learn within the full range of its health care facilities. Further information about graduate studies in midwifery, acute care, acute and critical care clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthesia, family nurse practitioner, nursing education, and health systems administration may be obtained from the NHS Office of Admissions and Outreach.

The School of Nursing and Health Studies is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Nursing Association, and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, and the Association of University Programs in Health Administration.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

Mission and Terminal Objectives

The Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies prepares future nursing leaders to respond to the growing complexity of healthcare delivery at all levels. Consistent with this objective, and the overall mission of Georgetown University to provide student-centered, excellent professional education in the Jesuit tradition, the School of Nursing & Health Studies has based its baccalaureate and master's program curricula on terminal objectives derived from its mission and core values.

Baccalaureate Program

The baccalaureate program terminal objectives are derived from the School's mission and core values. The mission of health and well being for all people, with its emphasis on preparing students to be morally reflective healthcare leaders and scholars, are the core values serving as the foundation of the School's program that articulate the School's beliefs about the:

• cura personalis
• excellence in the pursuit of knowledge
• holistic care of the patient
• integrating the principles of common good and social justice

These beliefs provide the foundation for the program of study in each of the programmatic offerings: traditional BSN, second degree BSN, and RN to BSN. The belief that baccalaureate nursing education prepares professional nurses who have a broad knowledge of nursing science, the humanities, the biological and social sciences, gives rise to a curriculum in which a broad liberal arts education is balanced with the natural and behavioral sciences, as illustrated in the Programs of Study.

The terminal objectives of the baccalaureate program provide clear statements of expected results, derived directly from the Georgetown Nursing Model, and reflect the vision of the School's mission and core values. Upon completion of the BSN, students will:

1. Demonstrate evidence-based practice through the use of critical thinking in clinical decision making.
2. Formulate a personal and professional ethical framework to guide conduct and decision making in professional nursing.
3. Evaluate, apply, and communicate research findings to improve professional practice and patient outcomes.
4. Analyze and evaluate leadership and management theories in nursing practice and discuss implications for human flourishing.
5. Evaluate how health policy processes address the common good/social justice concerns and the improvement of the health and well-being for all members of society.
6. Demonstrate a commitment to a life-long process of education and personal and professional development through continuing education and participation in professional organizations.
7. Demonstrate a dedication to human flourishing for diverse cultural groups through humanitarian service and a commitment to the core values of individual and collective excellence, professional care and compassion, person-centered orientation, the common good and social justice.
8. Engage in professional communication and collaboration with all members of the healthcare team, including patient, family, and community, to improve the quality of healthcare delivery.

The basic four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is designed for high school graduates who wish to combine general education in the arts and humanities with preparation for a career in professional nursing. The curriculum includes a core of knowledge in the humanities and the behavioral, physical, and biological sciences, as well as the theory and practice of professional nursing. Coursework in bioethics and leadership prepares graduates to take their place in the current and future healthcare delivery system.

The School's nursing courses are based on the Georgetown University Nursing Model and prepare graduates for practice as generalists. Minor areas of concentration are available in most other disciplines.

The nursing component of the curriculum provides for development of clinical skills as well as a strong theoretical base. The Professional Nursing: Foundations for Practice course takes place in the first year with students having the opportunity to hear practicing nurses describe the many facets of the nursing profession which will be available to them as graduates. Nursing coursework and clinical practice begin in the first year, with additional clinical experiences in the sophomore, junior, and senior years. The senior clinical experience allows students to request a particular clinical or professional area of interest in which to expand their knowledge and leadership skills.

After completion of the baccalaureate program, graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination for licensure to practice as professional nurses.

Graduates are also encouraged to pursue graduate study at the masters and doctoral levels, in order to prepare for specialization and increased levels of responsibility.

The programs offered through the Department of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the District of Columbia Board of Nursing.

Nursing Honors Program

The purpose of this Honors Program is to allow those traditional undergraduate nursing students with academic potential to be challenged at the highest level. Participants in the Honors Program in nursing will address, through scholarly inquiry, a contemporary issue related to clinical nursing practice. The Honors Program in Nursing requires an independent research project, policy analysis, or health/illness education project. The culmination of the student's project leads to both an oral presentation and completion of a senior honors thesis. All participants are required to pass the oral presentation and senior honors thesis as determined by the assigned review committee. Prior to graduation, participants in the honors program are expected to submit results of the senior honors thesis for publication. Participants in the Honors Program are expected to complete all requirements for the nursing major, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.3, and successfully complete the Honors Seminar and an Honors Thesis Tutorial. Traditional nursing students with a GPA of 3.3 or higher are eligible to apply; the application deadline is October 15 in the fall of the junior year. Students who successfully complete the requirements of the honors program will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honors). Students are also eligible to complete the program with distinction, which would be indicated on the official transcript as Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honors, Passed with Distinction).

Sigma Theta Tau

In addition to the activities which Georgetown University offers all of its students, the School of Nursing and Health Studies offers the opportunity for membership in Sigma Theta Tau, the International Nursing Honor Society. Sigma Theta Tau honors practitioners and students of nursing who exemplify outstanding qualities of leadership, scholarship, and service to the profession of nursing. Tau Chapter was founded at the Georgetown University School of Nursing in 1960.

CPR and First Aid Requirements

Prior to the first year, all nursing majors must show evidence of having completed the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Course as offered by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association and a first aid course. All students must maintain current certification in CPR through their date of graduation. Evidence of compliance with the above must be submitted to NHS by August 1 of each year.

Health Screening Requirements and Background Check

When beginning their clinical experiences in NHS, nursing students must provide verification of standard immunizations or validate immunity with appropriate blood work. In accordance with occupational health guidelines, each individual who is involved in providing direct patient care must have an annual health examination by a physician or nurse practitioner and this examination must include a medical history, physical examination, and an annual intradermal tuberculin test or chest x-ray. Confirmation of compliance with all health screening requirements must be presented to the NHS by August 1 of each year. Students will not be permitted to begin their clinical experiences for the academic year without such verification. Additionally, all nursing majors are required to provide annual evidence of a criminal background check. Failure to provide the health clearance and criminal background check information in a timely manner may result in registration reversal in clinical nursing courses.

Clinical Regulations

All students in the clinical setting are required to wear the Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies uniform and to be well groomed at all times. School uniforms are not to be worn when engaged in nursing activities which are not sponsored by the School of Nursing and Health Studies. See Undergraduate Handbook for complete regulations regarding clinical expectations.

Comprehensive Assessment and NCLEX-RN Pretesting

All nursing students are required to participate in the designated assessment and review program (ATI). The program involves an assessment of critical thinking at the beginning and end of the program, an assessment of nursing knowledge after core nursing courses, and a comprehensive diagnostic predictor examination that is administered in the senior year prior to graduation. The tests evaluate specific knowledge mastery as students progress in the program and determines readiness to obtain licensure as a registered nurse. The majority of the testing is administered in a computerized format. Feedback about the test results is provided to the students as part of the overall program.

In order to receive authorization from the Department Chair to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination, a student must earn a score on the comprehensive predictor examination that equates to a 95% probability or higher of passing the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt. Students who have not met this requirement after three attempts will not be cleared for graduation. To facilitate achievement of this requirement, rising senior nursing students identified to be at risk for not passing the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt will be required to participate in the department's knowledge mastery program throughout their senior year.

It is strongly recommended that the NCLEX-RN Licensing Examination be completed within six months of graduation. Students who choose to take the exam after six months from the time of graduation must submit documentation of the recent completion of an NCLEX-RN review course to the Department Chair before receiving authorization to sit for the NCLEX-RN. The student must sit for the exam within ninety days after the authorization is given.

B.S. IN HUMAN SCIENCE

Vision, Mission and Curriculum Overview

The vision of the Department of Human Science is for students to understand human physiological adaptation and health through the complementary study of the continuum of human nature (the humanities) and the development of health as a science. The Department's mission is to provide the highest quality teaching in the basic biomedical health sciences, including a strong emphasis on appreciating the diversity of human cultures, and on empowering students to be leaders in the health sciences. The program prepares students for a variety of graduate programs such as medicine or dentistry, as well as many careers in biomedical science, including communicating science, research, teaching, and administration.

The human science major within the Department of Human Science is designed for those individuals who wish to have a strong foundation in the basic and health sciences. The curriculum emphasizes understanding the ability of the human body to adapt to widely changing environments at the molecular, cellular, and organ system levels. Above and beyond the Human Biology and General Chemistry requirements, human science students will study Genetics, Immunology, Biotechnology, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology.

Throughout their study of human science, students will be guided in building critical thinking and analysis skills as they develop a questioning mind. Experiential activities in laboratory research and community activities will provide additional breadth and depth in their study of human health. Internships will further focus the student in the direction he or she wishes to pursue, whether it is a career in scientific writing, communication or medical informatics, biomedical or clinical research, sales and marketing, or further graduate or professional education.

During the first two years in the program students are introduced to foundational courses, including human biology, chemistry, nutrition, mathematics, pathophysiology, pharmacology, health promotion/disease prevention, research methods in health care, and communication in science. These courses are expanded by complementary studies in the liberal arts, including English, philosophy, ethics, and theology. Students also have the opportunity early on to choose electives that they may ultimately want to build into a minor. In the last two years, students take more specialized health science courses in microbiology and the first portion of the human science biochemistry module with a course in molecular and cellular fundamentals of health and disease. This prepares the student for the senior year with studies in immunology, biotechnology the second portion of the biochemistry module, physiological adaptation in extreme environments, and human genetics. These courses are balanced with the combination of the seminar in contemporary issues in science and the senior health science internship. The latter provides the opportunity for each student to design their own area of discovery in an experiential, laboratory or archival setting of the student's choosing and to polish their written and oral expression as they prepare to complete her or his studies and graduate as a human science student. Students with high academic achievement and a quest for independent discovery may also apply for Honors in Human Science beginning as early as the second semester of their first year, which culminates with a thesis describing their independent research in the spring of their senior year.

Human Science Honors Program

The purpose of this program is to permit students of high academic achievement to enjoy greater responsibility and initiative in their major work. The Honors Program in Human Science requires a significant research experience which leads to both oral presentation of the research results in a seminar deemed satisfactory by the faculty members in attendance, and completion of a research-based thesis deemed acceptable by the faculty. Students in the Honors Program are required to maintain at least a B average both in their major and overall. They complete the requirements of the Human Science major, plus take a semester each of Honors Research, a final semester of Honors Thesis, and the Human Science Internship/research courses. Students with a B average may apply for the Human Science Honor anytime after the end of the first semester of their freshman year. Students who successfully complete the requirements of the honors program will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Human Science (Honors). Students are also eligible to complete the program with distinction, which would be indicated on the official transcript as Bachelor of Science in Human Science (Honors with Distinction).

B.S. IN HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT AND POLICY

The Healthcare Management and Policy curriculum builds on a strong liberal arts base and examines how health systems and health policy contribute to the health of individuals and populations. The program's mission is to prepare graduates for careers in the administration of health services through a well-designed liberal education and an in-depth understanding of the organization and management of health services. To that end, students take courses in international health, health economics, health policy, health promotion/disease prevention, epidemiology, and population health. The core healthcare management sequence includes organizational theory and leadership, accounting, health finance, research, statistics, health law, health information systems, managerial communication, marketing, and strategic planning. There are opportunities to take electives in other schools within the University, to minor in an area of interest, and to study abroad. The senior year includes a semester-long internship that focuses on quality of care in the Georgetown University Hospital under the preceptorship of an experienced executive. The internship provides the student with an opportunity to experience the organization and delivery of health services in the most complex of care delivery systems, and to hone their analytical and leadership skills as they prepare for subsequent professional roles and/or graduate school.

The emerging health are system calls for leadership at all levels. The healthcare management and policy major attracts those students who aspire to management and leadership careers in the ever-changing environment in healthcare. Program graduates are prepared for careers in health services and healthcare management, policy and advocacy, health law, medicine, public health, and related fields.

Upsilon Phi Delta

In 2003, Georgetown University established a chapter of the national academic honor society for students in health care administration. Membership in Upsilon Phi Delta is conferred upon undergraduate and graduate students in recognition of outstanding academic accomplishment. The Society also honors leadership in healthcare administration practice.

B.S. IN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH

Mission and Curriculum Overview

The mission of the Department of International Health is to prepare academic leaders in the field of international health and development and to provide a range of international health related learning and research opportunities for students and faculty. In the face of persisting and emerging global health threats such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, tobacco, obesity, SARS and avian flu, international and national health organizations have shown an increasing demand for well-qualified and globally trained health professionals. There is no more challenging and important mission than improving the health of populations around the globe.

The international health major, which emphasizes international development and public health, provides the first step toward a career in private voluntary organizations, government agencies, multilateral organizations, and consulting companies that comprise most of the field. The curriculum provides an overview of the field of international health while also providing the tools students need to pursue various career opportunities. Students study the interaction of environment, culture, economics, and politics, and how those relationships influence global health. Experts from agencies such as the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, USAID, the Global Health Council and other nongovernmental organizations participate in a variety of curricular activities. Experiential learning opportunities provide students with experience both in international health organizations and in the field.

During the first two years of the undergraduate program, students explore the biological sciences and fundamental concepts, frameworks, and topics in international health. During this time, they will develop skills in public health research methods including epidemiology, data collection, and statistical analysis which will prepare them for field research during their senior year practical experience abroad. Students in the major will also examine specific themes related to topics like maternal-child health, health in conflicts and disasters, and global patterns of disease. During the course of the four-year program, students will develop critical thinking skills that they will also apply in improving the health of the people with whom they are working.

Language Requirement

All students majoring in international health in NHS must achieve proficiency in a modern language through the intermediate level. Placement exams are offered in most languages during New Student Orientation. Students who do not place above the intermediate level of a language on these placement exams can fulfill this requirement by completing courses in a modern language through the intermediate level.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

The Second Degree BSN Program

This program is designed for college graduates who wish to pursue a career in professional nursing. The program extends over sixteen months of full-time study. Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination so that they may be licensed to practice as registered nurses. The program begins each January to end the following May or each September to end the following December. The direct entry to MS program is available in certain specialties. Please see the Graduate School Catalog for more information about the Direct Entry to MS option.

Baccalaureate Program for RNs

Within its regular undergraduate program, the School of Nursing and Health Studies offers a special course of study for nurse graduates of diploma and associate degree programs who have passed the NCLEX-RN examination. Upon admission to the School, the RN student can achieve advanced placement by presenting transferable credits and by passing proficiency examinations. Students are allowed two opportunities to pass their proficiency examinations, successful completion of which is necessary for entrance into a summer course prior to the senior year. If unsuccessful in passing any proficiency exam, the RN is required to enroll and successfully complete the equivalent course in the BSN curriculum. Degree requirements in this course of study may be completed within two years. An RN-MS program of study is available.

Pre-Medical, Pre-Professional Curriculum

The School of Nursing and Health Studies offers select students the option to pursue a pre-medical or pre-professional program that prepares them to enter medical school or graduate school. The School of Nursing and Health Studies offers its own pre-medical and pre-professional advising program coordinated by the Office of Student Academic Affairs and Dr. Allan Angerio. Study for the pre-medical program is individualized to meet the student's needs and includes, in addition to major courses, another semester of mathematics (Calculus I); two semesters of General Chemistry; two semesters of Organic Chemistry; and two semesters of Physics. Nursing majors taking pre-medical requirements will substitute two semesters of General Chemistry for Biochemistry and will take two semesters of Organic Chemistry, Calculus I, and two semesters of Physics. Health studies and nursing majors should expect that completion of this program option may require summers and/or additional time beyond four years of study. Students need to have a strong background and high aptitude in science and math.

The School of Nursing and Health Studies, along with the other Schools of the University, has an agreement with the Georgetown Medical School whereby a select number of students, at the end of their sophomore year, may be assured admission to the Medical School, contingent upon satisfactory completion of the junior and senior year course work. The program is designed to encourage exceptionally well qualified students to undertake ambitious academic programs with a degree of certainty about eventual admission to medical school. In addition, students admitted through this program are not required to take the MCAT.

Students interested in preparing for dental, physical therapy, law, and graduate school will integrate prerequisite courses within their curriculum.

Certificate in International Health for Nursing Majors

This certificate is designed for undergraduate nursing students interested in pursuing a career in international health.

The selection of courses is designed to complement the nursing courses.

Requirements:

1. Introduction to International Health (INTH-140)
2. Globalization and Health Care (INTH-445)
3. Ecology of Global Hunger (INTH-401), or Global Patterns of Disease (INTH-444)
4. Clinical Experience in either Public Health Nursing or Nursing Care of Vulnerable Populations, with a national or international organization that impacts the area of IH.
5. An elective in an international course offered at Georgetown University, other consortium universities, or universities where students will study abroad. This elective should enhance a student's knowledge of IH issues. Students can also propose a research and/or service oriented independent study in IH, or achieve intermediate level proficiency as defined by the language department.

Certificate in International Health for Health Care Management
and Policy & Human Science Majors

This certificate is designed for undergraduate Health Care Management and Policy and Human Science majors interested in pursuing a career in international health. The requirements are designed to complement these programs' required courses.

Requirements:

1. Introduction to International Health (INTH-140)
2. Globalization and Health Care (INTH-445)
3. Ecology of Global Hunger (INTH-401), or
   Global Patterns of Disease (INTH-444)
4. All students will add a Service Learning Credit with an international component (either working with an immigrant population in the US or actually engaging in a service-oriented program abroad) to one of the following courses:
   • INTH-177 Epidemiological Approach to Population Health
   • HEST-195 Population Health Concepts and Contemporary Issues
   • HESY-201 Politics of Health Care
   • INTH-449 Health, Environmental Issues, and Development
   • Or another related HEST course
5. All students will fulfill one of the following options:
   • Select an elective from a list of courses across campus which will enhance the students' knowledge base related to IH issues;
   • Propose an elective related to health issues, culture, or community-based learning that they take during a semester abroad;
   • Propose another course on campus or within the Consortium and make a case for how it would enhance their program;
   • Propose an independent study, perhaps service oriented, that would produce a project related to IH; OR
   • Show evidence of achievement of the Intermediate Level of a foreign language (as defined by the College).

Certificate in Population Health

The undergraduate Certificate in Population Health provides an opportunity for the School of Nursing and Health Studies to respond to a growing interest in examining and improving health in the aggregate. From traditional public health to managed care; in ambulatory, acute, and long term care venues; and community-wide partnerships, the relevance of population health to policy, planning, delivery and evaluation of health care is clear. A focus in population health complements a variety of disciplines through the study of broadly defined determinants of health; the economic, political and social impact of healthy versus unhealthy populations; and ethical and social justice considerations of health disparities.

Requirements:

The six-course Certificate in Population Health combines essential elements in a core of three courses, while maintaining choice among electives taken from University-wide offerings. The remaining required course, a capstone seminar, provides a forum for integrating prior content, and culminates in a service learning experience facilitating the practical application of knowledge about population health.

Core Coursework

1. Population Health: fulfilled by HEST-195 Population Health Concepts and Contemporary Issues (formerly Public Health Concepts)
2. Research Methods: fulfilled by HSCI/NURS-175 Research in Health Care or its equivalent
3. Epidemiology and Biostatistics: fulfilled by INTH-177 Epidemiological Approaches to the Health of Populations or its equivalent

Elective Support

The two elective courses can be chosen from a broad range of relevant courses, framed within four major areas: Science and Technology; Culture and Society; Health; and Ethics and Justice. Students will choose one course from at least two of these areas. Students should see the Program Director for a list of relevant courses within each area. All substitutions must be approved by the Program Director.

Capstone Seminar/Paper

To provide students with an opportunity to integrate diverse experiences and knowledge about population health, a final capstone seminar (HEST-460) is required. This three-credit course serves as a forum for students to learn from one another, and requires a service learning experience at one of the many organizations in the Washington metropolitan area concerned with the health of population. Students attend a two-hour seminar each week, and complete a 40 hour service learning component.

International Experiences Abroad

There are multiple options for Nursing and Health Studies students to study abroad. The options, however, depend on the student's major, academic background, and placement in the curriculum. All Georgetown University students participating on Georgetown study abroad programs pay full Georgetown tuition for the semester. Some need-based scholarships are available. Currently, academic semester study abroad programs designed specifically for NHS students exist at Curtin University and Charles Sturt University in Australia, the University of York in the United Kingdom, and Denmark's International Studies Program in Denmark. Current summer options include the Community-Based Learning Program in Santiago, Chile, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Health studies students may also choose from over 90 programs approved by Georgetown University in every region of the world. Admissions standards vary by program, but students should maintain at least a 3.0 to be considered for most programs. Summer programs often have slightly lower GPA requirements.

NHS students interested in studying abroad should begin planning early. They should review options open to NHS students and then visit the Resource Center in the Office of International Programs (OIP) on the 2nd floor of Poulton Hall. In their research, students should take into consideration such things as the course offerings for specific sites, curricular needs, academic background, and language of instruction. Once students have narrowed their options, they should meet with the regional advisor in OIP as well as their advisor in the NHS Office of Student Academic Affairs.

R.O.T.C.

Qualified applicants may be admitted to the Reserve Officers Training Corps of the United States Army, which supports a unit on the Georgetown Campus. Students complete the nursing major as well as required courses in military science. Graduates serve as commissioned officers in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps for their obligation period, with consideration of choice of location and clinical assignment. Air Force and Naval units are available at neighboring institutions. For further information, please refer to the "Expenses and Financial Assistance" section in this Bulletin.

Graduate Programs

Several areas of advanced practice specialization are offered to registered nurses through the Department of Nursing: nurse-midwifery, family nurse practitioner, acute care nurse practitioner, nursing education, acute and critical care clinical nurse specialist, and nurse anesthesia. In addition, an MS in Health Systems Administration is offered through the Department of Health Systems Administration. These programs may be completed in three to four semesters of full-time study but may also be taken part-time. See the Graduate School Bulletin for more information.