The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Lee University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Majors
The School of Nursing offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (NURSG.BSN) degree; the Doctor of Nursing Practice (NURSE.DNP) degree; the Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner (NGFNP.DNP) degree; the Doctor of Nursing Practice, Transformational Executive Nursing Leadership (NTENL.DNP) degree; the Bachelor of Arts in Disaster and Healthcare Mission Management (DHMMG.BA) ;and the Bachelor of Science in Disaster and Healthcare Mission Management (DHMMG.BS) .
Minors
The School of Nursing offers the Disaster and Healthcare Mission Management Minor (DHMM).
Dean: Amy Jo Perry,DNP, MBA, RN-C, CPN
BSN Chairperson: Amy Moody, DNP, RN
Graduate Program Director: Julie Campbell, PhD, RN
DHMM Program Director: Jake Fast, M.Ed., MBA
Faculty
Associate Professor: Kelley Obringer
Assistant Professors: Julie Campbell, Jacob Fast, Glenna Lashley, Amy Moody, Kelli Noble, Amy Jo Perry, and Samantha Spinks
Associate Lecturer: Amy Blake
Lecturers: Matthew Adams and Shannon McBrayer
Visiting Lecturer: Briley Williams
The School of Nursing offers programs of study to prepare healthcare professionals who view practice through the lens of a caring, Christian worldview. We seek to produce graduates who will be transformational servant leaders and demonstrate a Christ-centered confidence which allows them to be bold, intentional, and compassionate while providing holistic care for others in an increasingly diverse, complex, and changing world.
The Lee University core values of responsible citizenship, ethical action, and redemptive service are incorporated throughout the curriculum to prepare students for leadership and advocacy. Our intention is to produce healthcare professionals dedicated to providing a “voice” for those who are disadvantaged, frail, and vulnerable by seeing every individual as Christ sees them-special and worthy of quality care.
Undergraduate Programs of Study
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Bachelor of Arts/Science in Disaster and Healthcare Mission Management
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
The program objectives/goals of the BSN program are:
- Provide baccalaureate nursing education within a liberal arts framework that is quality driven and that provides opportunity for holistic development.
- Prepare the graduate for entry into professional nursing as a generalist in the provision of care.
- Provide baccalaureate nurse preparation that serves as a foundation for graduate level nursing education.
Policies, Procedures, & General Admission Requirements for the BSN Program
A student must first apply and be accepted by the University and declare nursing as a major. Then, a separate application packet must be completed and submitted for acceptance to the School of Nursing (SON). The separate application packet is typically completed throughout a student’s first year at the University. Once the application packet to the SON has been submitted and reviewed, a student will be notified of their acceptance status in the nursing major. Students will receive admission status of accepted or denied. Admission to Lee University does not guarantee admission to the BSN nursing major.
Accepted students to the SON will work through a plan of study that aligns with a fall semester entry only. Students entering the University in the spring semester declaring nursing as a major will be advised by the SON enrollment office and will not be considered for acceptance until the next regular admission cycle.
Any student seeking to transfer from another nursing program may be considered for fall or spring admission depending on transferrable courses and course availability.
If a student is unable to fulfill the following admission and progression standards with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will not be admitted into, or allowed to progress through the program. The BSN major is a very rigorous program. The SON prepares students for a variety of settings that are mentally, emotionally, and physically challenging.
The following “Core Performance Standards for Admission and Progression of Nursing Students” must be met by all students as part of required admission criteria. Admitted students must continue to meet the Standards as they progress through each stage of the BSN program in the School of Nursing.
The standards listed below define the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective abilities that are necessary to the completion of this program and to safely perform as a competent nurse.
Core Performance Standards for Admission and Progression of Nursing Students
Cognitive Learning Abilities
The student must demonstrate cognitive abilities necessary and sufficient for the provision of safe and effective nursing care. Examples of required cognitive abilities are listed below. This list is not all-inclusive. The student must demonstrate the ability to:
- Receive and interpret information in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains of learning. The student must be able to remember information, reproduce it, and use it to solve problems, evaluate work and develop new ways of processing and categorizing information as stated in course objectives.
- Perform physical assessments of clients and make sound, responsible, evidence-based decisions related to nursing action within given time constraints.
- Appropriately and effectively synthesize data from various persons, charts, reports and medical histories and observe the status of the client to intentionally recommend or maintain interventions.
- Resolve practical problems and address a variety of variables in conditions where there is limited standardization.
- Differentiate and prioritize nursing care among multiple clients and situations simultaneously.
- Accurately assess clients using monitors and equipment (including cardiac monitors, electronic infusion devices, suction devices, glucometers, etc.).
- Apply the scientific process and methods of measurement (including calculation, analysis, reasoning, and synthesis).
- Interpret instructions that come from a variety of sources, and in varying communication patterns such as oral, written and diagrammed.
- Use critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills to make decisions in a timely manner.
- Learn large volumes of complex and technically detailed information to engage in clinical problem-solving.
- Record examination and diagnostic results accurately, clearly, and communicate them efficiently and effectively to the client and other healthcare team members.
Psychomotor Abilities
The student must demonstrate psychomotor abilities necessary and sufficient for the provision of safe and effective nursing care. Examples of required psychomotor abilities are listed below. This list is not all-inclusive.
Gross and Fine Motor Abilities
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
- Sit and stand in an upright posture for extended periods of time.
- Physically maneuver in laboratory and clinical settings, respond to emergency calls in a rapid manner.
- Position and assist clients in and out of bed/chair (requires lifting over 25 lbs).
- Maintain an object in a steady position for an extended period of time.
- Competently perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (C.P.R.) using guidelines issued by the American Heart Association.
- Pull/push/roll/lift objects to be closer or farther away.
- Use universal precautions with all patients and maintain sterile techniques when required.
- Write legibly and complete necessary documentation in laboratory and clinical settings in a timely manner and consistent with the acceptable norms of the setting.
- Legibly complete written assignments and tests.
- Effectively record communications in written form in charts, reports, and correspondence.
- Secure a firm grasp on equipment and related objects as necessary in the provision of care.
- Operate a variety of equipment that may require different actions by the nurse (push-button telephone and a computer keyboard).
- Effectively perform movements that require precision such as venipuncture, catheterization, IV fluid administration, injections, and medication administration.
- Accurately obtain assessment data from clients via palpation, auscultation and percussion.
- Properly manipulate equipment such as a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and thermometer; insert urethral catheters, IV catheters, nasogastric tubes, and other equipment as needed.
Visual Acuity Ability
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
- Perform precise movements.
- Identify color changes and coding systems per agency protocols.
- Identify and read small markings and inscriptions such as found on medications, syringes, thermometers, IV bags and sphygmomanometers.
- Peripheral vision that encompasses clinically significant visual space.
Hearing/Auditory Ability
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
- Interpret verbal communication used in lectures, instructions, narratives, questions and answers.
- Auscultate and percuss for body sounds such as heart, lung and bowel sounds.
- Respond to a variety of machine alarms and sounds in a timely manner.
- Effectively work in an environment that is frequently noisy and distracting.
- Respond to cries for help.
- Respond to verbal commands in an emergency situation.
Communication Ability
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
- Effectively communicate with clients and others within the healthcare environment verbally and in written format.
- Communicate spontaneously with others to ask questions, explain procedures and conditions and teach safely within a reasonable time frame.
- Perceive non-verbal communication and describe important changes in the client/situation.
- Develop professional relationships with the client, families, groups and other healthcare team members.
Self-Care Ability
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
- Organize and coordinate transportation and living accommodations for off-campus clinical assignments to ensure timely reporting to the clinical areas and classrooms/labs.
- Evaluate and maintain general good holistic health and self-care.
Affective Learning Abilities
The student must demonstrate affective learning abilities necessary and sufficient for the provision of safe and effective nursing care. Examples of required affective learning abilities are listed below. This list is not all-inclusive.
The student must demonstrate the ability to:
- Tolerate physically, emotionally and intellectually demanding academic and clinical workloads in nursing within set time constraints.
- Demonstrate composure of affective behaviors (verbal, physical, emotional) to ensure holistic safety of the client in compliance with ethical standards of the American Nurses Association.
- Adapt to rapidly and constantly changing environments, demonstrate flexibility, and function in uncertain situations.
- Acknowledge and respect individual values and options to foster working relationships with clients, peers, faculty, and healthcare team members.
*The previous Core Performance Standards and behavior examples are not all inclusive.
Acceptance for full admission status for all students is contingent upon receipt of a clear background check, physical exam, drug and alcohol screening, and specified immunizations. Before a student can proceed in courses with a clinical component, additional requirements such as immunizations federally mandated for all healthcare institutions by Centers of Medicare and Medicaid must be met.
Policies and Procedures: Admission Policy for the BSN Program
General Admission Policy
Acceptance to Lee University - must be received prior to consideration for SON acceptance.
SON accepted admission status is based on a holistic review of applicant materials, space, competitiveness of the applicant pool, and all factors listed below.
The SON application packet (See below for details) must be submitted November 1 - June 1 for all students applying to the BSN program. These will be reviewed monthly on a rolling basis.
Acceptance decision is based on SON application packet, which is comprised of 3 primary components - Academic Eligibility, Nursing Compatibility, and Compliance Requirements:
- Determine Academic Eligibility
- Minimum 2.75 GPA
- Grade of “B” or higher in:
- NURS 100 (taken during the Freshman year)
- NURS 102 (taken during the Freshman year)
- Grade of “B-“or higher in:
- MTHS-135 Introduction to Statistics
- CHYS-135 Principles of GOB Chemistry & Lab or CHYS-131/132 Principles of General Chemistry/Principles of Organic & Biochemistry
- HSCS-231 Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology I & Lab
- HSCS-232 Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology II & Lab
- HSCS-233 Microbiology & Lab
- One grade of “C” on any above-mentioned, required pre/co-requisite courses may be reviewed by the SON UARCC for consideration of acceptance without requiring the student to retake the course. The committee considers multiple factors in the decision process.
- Grade of “C-“or higher in:
- ENGL-110 Rhetoric & Research
- PSYC-200 Understanding Human Behavior
- PSYC-260 Lifespan Development
- If a student is not successful in achieving required grades for these, the student must retake the course.
- Academic Eligibility Considerations include:
- Students may only retake one required pre/co-requisite course one time, for a total of two attempts. The student will not be considered for accepted status until the course is successfully retaken. The need for students to repeat course(s) will affect time to degree completion.
- Dual enrollment credit courses that are required as pre/co-requisites for nursing courses must have a grade. A “P” will not be accepted.
- Acceptance of Advanced Placement course credit is determined by AP test scores.
- ACT, SAT, or ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) are preferred. The ATI TEAS must include Reading, Math, Science, English, and Language Usage. Test scores are helpful to the application review process. Absence of a test score may impact receipt of accepted status.
- Applicants with a native language other than English are required to submit scores earned on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), designed to ascertain proficiency in English. Lee University’s institutional number is 1401. Online score of 90 or higher is required if native language is not English.
- Determine Nursing Compatibility
- Submit essay as determined by the SON’s Undergraduate Admission, Retention, and Concerns Committee (UARCC)
- References reviewed
- Compliance Requirements Met
- Accepted admission status for all students is contingent upon receipt of a clear background check, physical exam, drug and alcohol screening. Before a student can proceed in courses with a clinical component, additional requirements such as immunizations federally mandated for all healthcare institutions by Centers of Medicare and Medicaid must be met.
- Physical Exam/ Fit for Duty
- Background Check
- Alcohol and Drug Screening
- Immunizations
Admission status decisions include:
- Accepted: A student receiving accepted status into the School of Nursing assures the student that she/he may remain in the major provided progression requirements are maintained. (See Progression & Dismissal Policies below.)
- Denial: An admission decision of denial indicates that there are significant concerns related to the submitted application. If a student is denied admission the SON Enrollment an Advising Specialist will assist the student in determining feasibility of future reapplication and/or exploration of other majors.
Admission: High School Seniors Seeking Early Acceptance Policy
High School Seniors seeking early acceptance status, must meet all requirements in the General Admission Policy for the BSN Program (see above).
The student should notify the SON Office of Enrollment and Advising of their intent to seek early acceptance, and the separate SON application packet must be completed based on the dates in the Admission Policy.
Requirements for early acceptance consideration include:
- Minimum High School GPA of 3.5
- Minimum ACT Score of 26 or SAT Equivalent
Early admission decisions for students may be delayed for those currently enrolled in required pre/co-requisite courses. Once final grades have been issued, the admission status will be determined.
Students not accepted for early admission may work with the SON Adviser to determine timing for reapplication.
Admission: Current Lee and Transfer Student Policy (excluding transfers from another nursing program)
Current Lee and Transfer Students seeking acceptance status, must meet all requirements in the General Admission Policy for the BSN Program (see above).
Early admission decisions for students may be delayed for those currently enrolled in required pre/co-requisite courses. Once final grades have been issued, the admission status will be determined.
Students receiving a denial status may meet with the SON Enrollment and Advising Specialist to determine feasibility of future reapplication and/or exploration of other majors.
Current Lee Students: Students may change their major to nursing and be advised by the SON until ready to submit application for admission consideration.
Transfer Students: Students may be required to prove competency for transferred courses. Science courses older than 5 years will not be accepted for transfer (students may petition the SON UARCC to request acceptance of science courses older than 5 years).
Admission: Transfer Policy from other Nursing Programs
Transfer students from other nursing programs seeking acceptance status, must meet all requirements in the General Admission Policy for the BSN Program (see above).
Application Deadline is June 1 for fall admission consideration and October 1 for spring admission consideration.
Students desiring to transfer from another nursing program, OR who were previously enrolled at another nursing program, must provide the following items to be considered for transfer admission to Lee University SON:
- Letter of good standing from the Dean/Director of previous nursing program.
- Syllabi of courses taken in previous nursing program.
- Request for nursing course transfer credits.
Students may be considered for acceptance in the nursing major in any semester, depending upon curriculum placement and course offerings.
Policies and Procedures: Progression and Dismissal Policies for the BSN Program
Students accepted into the BSN program must meet the following requirements to maintain their accepted status:
- Overall college GPA of 2.75 or higher. Students who do not maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 will be placed on probation for one semester. If the required GPA is not met at the end of the first semester on probation, the student will be dismissed from the Nursing major.
- Students may only retake one required pre/co-requisite course one time, for a total of two attempts. If a student fails more than one required pre/co-requisite course, the student will be dismissed from the nursing program and must meet with the SON Adviser to consider next academic steps.
- Students must meet health and safety compliance requirements on the dates designated by the SON. These compliance requirements include drug/alcohol testing, criminal background check, physical examination, and specified immunizations. The SON will notify students of the appropriate dates on which these requirements should be completed. If a student is unable to meet specified requirements, he/she may be dismissed from the nursing major.
- Students in the major must maintain consecutive semester enrollment in nursing courses as indicated by plan of study. If a student does not maintain consecutive enrollment for any reason (other than retaking of courses), the student must appeal to the following for re-entry to nursing courses:
-
Dean of Nursing if absence was due to medical reasons
-
SON UARCC if absence was due to any other reason not listed
-
Dean of Nursing and UARCC if more than one semester of leave from the nursing major is required
Re-entry may also depend upon availability of SON course offerings, lab seats, and clinical site placements.
Students who are unable to maintain consecutive semester enrollment in nursing courses due to retaking a course must work closely with the Adviser for the School of Nursing and the BSN Chair to determine any re-entry requirements.
Re-acceptance to the nursing major will be based on student historical data as a nursing student, availability of SON course offerings, lab seats, and clinical site placements.
Students must continue to meet “Core Performance Standards for Admission and Progression of Nursing” throughout the BSN program. See above criteria related to admission, progression, and general requirements. If a student is unable to meet specified requirements, he/she may be dismissed from the nursing major. If the situation is temporary, the student may be required to delay progression in lab/clinical courses until the situation is resolved. The student should be aware that illnesses, accidents, and injuries may cause a delay to degree completion.
Nursing Course Grades: A grade of “C” or higher is required in all nursing courses above NURS-102 (per School of Nursing Grading Policy). Students will be dismissed from the major when the student receives a grade of less than “C” in any two nursing courses (or twice for the same nursing course).
Students may repeat only one nursing course. The student will be dismissed from the nursing major and the School of Nursing if the student earns below a 74%/”C” grade (per School of Nursing Grading Policy for final course grades) in any nursing course that is being repeated. Additionally, Nursing courses require a 74% exam average to pass. See SON BSN Student Handbook.
Students may only withdraw from one nursing course during their time as a nursing student. Repeating of courses that students withdraw from for any reason is contingent upon course offerings and space availability in the course. Students should be aware that withdrawing from nursing courses will delay time to graduation.
Students may be dismissed from the nursing major for severe critical incident violations. See SON Student Handbook for policy related to critical incidents.
All SON students participate in the Engage Plan. The Engage Plan is SON policy and will be followed as such. The Engage Plan consists of course exam requirements and specific program requirements set each year that relate to standardized assessment exams and progression, retention, and dismissal in the nursing major. The specific required percentage scores for standardized assessment exams are distributed to students each semester. This policy affects student progression, graduation, and dismissal from the nursing major. See the SON Engage Plan located in the SON Student Handbook for detailed information.
Policies and Procedures: Readmission to the BSN Program
It is recognized that there may be unusual and/or unpredictable circumstances that lead to a student withdrawing or being dismissed from the nursing program. If a student has withdrawn or has been dismissed from the BSN program or university and is seeking readmission to the Nursing major, the student must first be readmitted to the university. This must be done prior to appealing to the SON for BSN program readmission. The student must have been out of the nursing major for a minimum of one full semester (fall or spring) prior to requesting readmission. Readmission to the nursing major is not guaranteed and may not be granted depending upon the circumstances for withdrawal/dismissal and the readmission appeal. Readmissions are also subject to space and/or course availability.
Students seeking readmission to the BSN nursing major may appeal for re-entry by submitting a readmission appeal to the SON UARCC for consideration. See Readmission Appeal process below.
Readmission Appeal Process
STEP 1 - The student submits an appeal to the SON UARCC committee. Appeals for readmission should contain the following:
- A clear statement of what is being requested.
- An explanation of the circumstances leading to withdrawal or dismissal.
- A list of actions taken to increase likelihood of success upon readmission.
UARCC will review the appeal, including previous history as a nursing major and determines whether to move the student to STEP 2 of the process or deny readmission at the current time. If denied, the student must wait a minimum of one semester (fall or spring) from the date of the denial letter to reapply.
*Steps 2-4 must successfully be achieved prior to the student enrolling in nursing courses.
STEP 2 - The student must meet all Standardized Assessment requirements aligning with curriculum placement for readmission. UARCC will notify the student if there are outstanding Standardized Assessments. Students must pre-pay for Assessments and will follow the policy for Standardized Assessments, including meeting the designated, required score. Once Standardized Assessments are successfully passed, the student will move to STEP 3.
Should a student be unsuccessful in achieving the designated score, the student will need to wait a minimum of one semester (fall or spring) from the time of the denial letter to reapply. This will allow for extended remediation time prior to seeking readmission.
STEP 3 - The student must demonstrate continued competency in select skills, including math/medication calculations. The SON will provide information related to competency demonstrations. Once a student has successfully completed the required competencies, the student moves to STEP 4. If denied, the student must wait a minimum of one semester (fall or spring) from the date of the denial letter to reapply.
STEP 4 - Students must complete and meet a Criminal Background Check. Health requirements must be met with confirmation of meeting Core Performance Standards and Behaviors (in Catalog). Should a student be unsuccessful in completing and meeting requirements, the student will need to wait a minimum of one semester (fall or spring) from the time of the denial letter to reapply.
Policies & Procedures: Graduation Requirements
Students must meet the following graduation requirements:
- Successfully pass all nursing courses according to criteria set by the School of Nursing.
- Successfully meet all SON Engage Plan requirements, including standardized assessment exam scores set by the School of Nursing.
- Complete the nursing program within five consecutive years, starting from the first day of enrollment as an accepted nursing major.
Bachelor of Arts/Science in Disaster and Healthcare Mission Management
The purpose of the Disaster and Healthcare Mission Management (DHMM) degree program is to prepare graduates to function in team management roles for: Disaster Teams and Healthcare Mission Teams.
The program objectives/goals of the BA/BS DHMM major are:
- Prepare the graduate to demonstrate competency according to national and international standards of practice and operations for disaster healthcare mission management.
- Prepare the graduate for entry into practice in the area of disaster and healthcare mission management.
- Provide preparation that serves as a foundation for graduate level related studies.
Policies and Procedures: Admission & Progression for the DHMM.BA/BS
The DHMM program is a very rigorous mental, emotional, and physical program that places specific requirements and demands on the students enrolled. Progression in the major will require adequate affective and psychomotor abilities, to include gross and fine motor, visual acuity, hearing/auditory, communication, and self-care abilities. These are required in the field of disaster and healthcare mission management.
Through the DHMM curriculum, students will participate in both immersion training as well as agency internship experiences. These practical applications will require an array of cognitive, psychomotor, and affective abilities. Beyond these expectations, students may be required to pass a background check or meet other requirements per the standards of partner organizations. Specified immunizations and other health/safety requirements may be required for such experiences.
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Other Programs
