Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Nature of the Program
The mission of the WVU School of Nursing is to improve the health of West Virginians, as well as our regional and global communities, through the delivery of excellent student-centered programs and evidence-based teaching, scholarship, and service. This mission is responsive to changing healthcare needs and emerging national and state changes in technology and healthcare delivery and is enhanced by a supportive and open environment. The faculty's educational effort on the WVU Keyser campus is directed at providing a high quality, student-centered program of instruction which prepares superb professional nurses to meet basic healthcare needs. Unique characteristics of the state mandates that the healthcare needs of rural populations and vulnerable groups be a major focus of education, research, and service, including faculty practice.
The BSN curriculum offered on the WVU Keyser (Potomac State) campus follows the same fall progression plan as the WVU Morgantown campus and includes courses in the humanities, social sciences, basic sciences, and nursing science. The clinical component of nursing courses enables students to apply their learning to actual client, family, and community situations that warrant nursing intervention. The curriculum has been carefully designed to equip graduates to begin professional nursing practice with patients of all ages in any healthcare setting where there is a position for the professional nurse at the start of their career. The program also provides an excellent foundation for graduate study in nursing.
The basic (traditional) baccalaureate (BSN) program is available for high school graduates who aspire to a career in nursing. It can be completed in four years on the WVU Keyser (Potomac State) campus, as well as on the WVU Morgantown and WVU Beckley campuses.
Further information about the School of Nursing BSN program on the WVU Keyser (Potomac State) campus is available at https://academics.potomacstatecollege.edu/majors/four-year-programs/nursing-bsn or by contacting the WVU School of Nursing: Potomac State Department, J. Edward Kelley Complex, 400 Kelley Drive, Keyser, WV 26726, 304-788-7176.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master's degree program in nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice program at West Virginia University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Criminal Background Checks and Drug Screening
Nursing students are required by clinical agencies to undergo federal and state criminal background checks and a drug screen prior to clinical experiences, as well as annual drug screens. Felony convictions, some serious misdemeanors, and positive drug screens may preclude participation in clinical rotations. This could, in turn, prevent the completion of clinical course requirements and completion of the nursing program. It could also result in admission ineligibility or program dismissal.
Transportation, Immunizations, Confidentiality/ HIPAA Training, and BLS Certification
Students are expected to provide their own transportation, approved uniforms, equipment, and instruments for clinical courses. Clinical experiences require travel throughout a multi-county, multi-state area. Proof of a physical exam, tuberculosis testing, specific immunizations, and titers are required for all BSN nursing students. Annual training in confidentiality and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are also required. Nursing students are required to maintain current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Rural Care and Community Engagement
In keeping with the university's commitment to improving health care for all West Virginians, nursing students complete a community nursing experience during their senior year. Throughout the BSN program, students also complete 100 hours of approved community service and document the hours on WVU iServe as a requirement for graduation.
Laptop Program
WVU Keyser BSN students are required to participate in the campus' nursing laptop program. A laptop specifications sheet is provided to each student upon admission to the nursing program. Each student will bring their laptop for class, lab, and clinical every day.
Tuition and Scholarships
WVU Keyser nursing tuition information can be found at: https://tuition.wvu.edu/undergraduate/wvu-keyser-campus-online. The School of Nursing offers several scholarships. These scholarships require completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be considered for financial aid. Most School of Nursing scholarships are available only to students already admitted to the School of Nursing and are awarded each April for the following academic year. However, there are a limited number of scholarships for which students may apply before admission. Further information about scholarships is provided on the WVU Keyser https://admissions.potomacstatecollege.edu/cost-and-aid/scholarships and School of Nursing https://nursing.wvu.edu/students/resources/scholarship-opportunities/ websites.
Administration
Chair
- April Shapiro - PhD (West Virginia University)
Program Assistant
- Karen McRobie - AA Business (WVU Potomac State College)
Faculty
Tenured Associate Professor
- April Shapiro - PhD (West Virginia University)
Assistant Professors
- Heather Dignan - PhD (West Virginia University)
- Matthew Hottle - PhD (West Virginia University)
- Diana Niland - PhD (West Virginia University)
Senior Lecturers
- Krystal Abucevicz-Swick - DNP (West Virginia University)
- Mary Beth McCloud - PhD (Medical University of South Carolina)
Clinical Education Instructors
- Kasey Beckman-Sirk - DNP (Chamberlain College of Nursing)
- Brittany Knox - BSN (Capella University)
Admissions
In this section:
Note: Admission criteria are subject to change; visit https://academics.potomacstatecollege.edu/majors/four-year-programs/nursing-bsn for the most current criteria.
Students who have been dismissed from any nursing program (WVU or otherwise) are ineligible for admission to any of the WVU BSN programs; however, students who have received degrees or additional credentialing post-academic dismissal from a nursing program are eligible for admission to the WVU ABSN, RN to BSN, or graduate programs, provided they meet all other admission requirements and based on space available.
Admission to the Basic (Traditional) BSN Program from General Nursing (Pre-BSN or Pre-Nursing) or Other College Major
Pre-BSN and Pre-Nursing students have the opportunity to apply for admission to the WVU Keyser basic (traditional) BSN program as a sophomore after completion of at least one semester of college coursework. Admission consideration is dependent upon:
- a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all college work attempted,
- a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0,
- completion of required prerequisite courses from an accredited college or university with a grade of C or better, and
- space available in the admission class.
Pre-BSN and Pre-Nursing applicants are admitted to the School of Nursing as sophomores for the Fall semester. A completed application for the BSN program, including transcripts, must be made by January 15 of the year the candidate wishes to be admitted for the Fall semester. Acceptance and placement in the program are dependent upon admission criteria and space available in the program. There are limited spaces available, and the best-qualified applicants are accepted. Applications are available online from the admissions website every year from November 1 through January 15.
Transfer Students
An applicant with nursing credit from a nationally accredited nursing program in a regionally accredited college or university is eligible for consideration for transfer admission by presenting a record of courses comparable to those required in this curriculum and meeting other School of Nursing admission requirements, including, but not limited to, the following:
- a statement of good standing from the nursing program in which they are currently enrolled
- a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for previous college coursework (Note: WVU Keyser [Potomac State] requirements for students transferring to general nursing [Pre-BSN or Pre-Nursing] are different. Check the Potomac State College catalog for more information)
- a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the previous nursing program
- earned grades of C- or higher in all nursing and prerequisite non-nursing courses with no grade below a C- in any nursing course
Acceptance and placement in the program are dependent on the individual's academic record and the number of spaces available. Applications should be initiated six months prior to the beginning of the semester in which the applicant wishes to begin nursing courses. Transcripts and other required materials must be received no later than three months before the start of entering semester.
Applicants may request review of previously completed nursing courses for transferability. Syllabi of current and completed nursing courses may be sent electronically to nursing@hsc.wvu.edu for review. Only courses that are comparable to required courses in the BSN curriculum will be transferable as determined by program administration. Nursing credits from a program that is not nationally accredited or an institution that is not regionally accredited are not transferable.
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-requisite courses required with a grade of C- or better before enrollment in Sophomore nursing courses. | ||
| BIOL 102 & 102L | General Biology 2 and General Biology 2 Laboratory (GEF 2B) | 4 |
| CHEM 111 & 111L | Survey of General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry 1 and Survey of Chemistry 1 Laboratory (GEF 8) | 4 |
| CHEM 112 & 112L | Survey of General Organic Biological Chemistry 2 and Survey of Chemistry 2 Laboratory (GEF 8) | 4 |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric (GEF 1) | 3 |
| BIOL 230 & 230L | Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 and Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 Laboratory | 4 |
| NSG 100 | Introduction to the Profession and Discipline of Nursing | 2 |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology (GEF 4) | 3 |
| WVUE 191 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| Pre- or Co-requisites with enrollment of Sophomore courses. Must be completed with a C- or better. | ||
| MATH 124 | Algebra with Applications (GEF 3) | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Composition, Rhetoric, and Research (GEF 1) | 3 |
| MICB 200 | Medical Microbiology | 3 |
| HN&F 171 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | 3 |
| BIOL 231 & 231L | Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 and Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 Laboratory | 4 |
| PSYC 241 | Introduction to Human Development | 3 |
| STAT 211 | Elementary Statistical Inference | 3 |
| Nursing courses. Must be completed with a C- or better. | ||
| NSG 211 | Health Assessment & Communication | 6 |
| NSG 212 | Fundamentals of Nursing | 6 |
| NSG 250 | Principles of Pharmacology | 3 |
| NSG 311 | Alterations in Adult Health 1 | 6 |
| NSG 312 | Alterations in Adult Health 2 | 6 |
| NSG 320 | Pediatrics and Family-Centered Care | 4 |
| NSG 330 | Alterations in Mental Health and Wellbeing | 4 |
| NSG 350 | Evidence-Based Practice and Nursing Scholarship | 3 |
| NSG 360 | Professional Standards of Nursing Care | 3 |
| NSG 410 | Women's Health and Newborn Nursing Care | 4 |
| NSG 411 | Population Health and Healthcare Policy | 6 |
| NSG 412 | Personal and Professional Leadership Development | 7 |
| NSG 460 | Alterations in Adult Health 3 | 4 |
| NSG 486 | Comprehensive NCLEX Review | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Nutrition for Nursing | ||
| Tobacco Treatment | ||
| Cardiology for Nursing | ||
| Advanced Life-Saving Technologies | ||
| The Role of the Nurse in the Patient Experience | ||
| Core Concepts in Gerontological Nursing | ||
| Palliative Care Nursing | ||
| Children With Complex Health Needs | ||
| Movies and Mental Health | ||
| GEF Requirements 5, 6, and 7 | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 122 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 102 & 102L (GEF 2)+ | 4 | BIOL 230 & 230L+ | 4 |
| CHEM 111 & 111L (GEF 8)+ | 4 | CHEM 112 & 112L (GEF 8)+ | 4 |
| MATH 124 or 126 (GEF 3)* + | 3 | ENGL 101 (GEF 1)* + | 3 |
| PSYC 101 (GEF 4)* + | 3 | STAT 211** | 3 |
| WVUE 191* + | 1 | NSG 100* + | 2 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 231 & 231L | 4 | ENGL 102 (GEF 1)** | 3 |
| MICB 200 | 3 | HN&F 171** | 3 |
| PSYC 241** | 3 | NSG 212 | 6 |
| NSG 211 | 6 | NSG 250 | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| GEF 7*** | 3 | GEF 5*** | 3 |
| NSG 311 | 6 | NSG 312 | 6 |
| NSG 350 | 3 | NSG 320 | 4 |
| NSG 410 | 4 | NSG 360 | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| GEF 6*** | 3 | NSG 412 | 7 |
| NSG 330 | 4 | NSG 460 | 4 |
| NSG 411 | 6 | NSG 486 | 2 |
| NSG 435 | 2 | ||
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total credit hours: 122 | |||
- +
Required with grade of C- or better before enrollment in sophomore nursing courses
- *
Can be taken fall or spring semester
- **
Pre- or Co-requisites with sophomore courses. Must be completed with C- or better to progress to junior level
- ***
May be interchanged; required to complete 3 credit hours in F5, 3 credit hours in F6, and 3 credit hours in F7
Major Learning Outcomes
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Integrate knowledgeand theories fromnursing and other disciplines to form the basis for clinical judgement and innovation in nursing practice.
- Evaluate evidence-based, inclusive, equitable,and compassionate nursing care for diverse individuals, families,and communities.
- Engage in collaborative partnerships with communities, public health, and other industries to address social determinants of health and improve health outcomes.
- Utilize evidence-based nursing interventions, information, and communication technologies to drive decisions that enhance quality of care, reduce risk potential, and improve health outcomes in accordance with regulatory standards and health policy.
- Collaborate with interprofessional teams, families, and communities to support the acquisition of shared knowledge and expertise to optimize communication and the healthcare experience to strengthen health outcomes.
- Coordinate nursing resources within complex systems to promote safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations.
- Model behaviors that reflect accountability, integrity, and characteristics that align with professional and ethical nursing standards.
- Participate in activities and self-reflection that foster personal health and resilience to support well-being, the acquisition of nursing expertise, leadership development, and lifelong learning.
Progression Requirements
Pre-BSN/Pre-Nursing Progression Requirements
Students admitted to Pre-BSN or Pre-Nursing complete a common curriculum in the freshman year designed to provide the foundation for success in subsequent nursing courses. Consult the Potomac State College catalog regarding general nursing (Pre-BSN and Pre-Nursing) admission and progression requirements. While students are not required to maintain a GPA of 3.0 to remain in Pre-BSN or Pre-Nursing, any student who does not meet GPA or coursework requirements for the BSN nursing program will not be eligible for admission to the BSN program. Pre-BSN and Pre-Nursing students applying to the BSN program must have completed the freshman-year pre-requisite courses prior to beginning sophomore-level nursing courses, with a grade of C or better, a cumulative prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or higher, and an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in all college level work.
Traditional BSN Progression Requirements
The baccalaureate of science in nursing (BSN) degree for the traditional BSN program is conferred upon completion of the required total hours (per the progression plan), all required coursework, and community service requirements. From entry into sophomore nursing courses to program completion, students must fulfill the following academic requirements to maintain good academic standing.
- GPA
- Students must maintain an overall college GPA of at least 3.0.
- Students who do not maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 will be placed on academic notice for two semesters.
- Students who do not raise their overall GPA to 3.0 after two semesters on academic notice will be dismissed from the School of Nursing.
- Required course grades
- All courses used to earn the BSN degree must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students who earn a grade of D or F in more than two NSG courses used to earn the BSN degree will be dismissed from the School of Nursing.
- All courses used to earn the BSN degree in which students earn a grade of D, F, W, or WU must be repeated prior to the student's progression to the next semester in the nursing sequence. Nursing courses must be repeated in the next semester that the course is offered. There is an exception to this individual standard regarding nursing electives; students who receive a W in a nursing elective are not required to repeat it.
- Repeats
- Students who receive a grade of D, F, W, or WU in a course used to earn the BSN degree must repeat the course and earn a minimum grade of C-.
- Students may repeat a NSG course only once.
- Students who repeat a NSG course and earn a grade of D, F, W, or WU will be dismissed from the School of Nursing.
- Readmission: Students who have been dismissed from the BSN program are not eligible for readmission.
Grading Scale
The grading scale for nursing courses using letter/numerical values is: A=93-100, B=85-92, C=77-84, D=70-76, F=69 and below.