The primary function of The Loewenberg School of Nursing is to offer a program of study designed to prepare students for careers in professional nursing. As a part of a comprehensive university, the school is dedicated to developing scholarship in nursing and providing services that support the institutional mission. The program is designed to accommodate the needs of high school graduates, transfer students, college graduates, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses who are graduates of diploma or associate degree nursing programs. The school is committed to: (1) providing a curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing basic to beginning professional practice and graduate study in nursing; (2) promoting the intellectual, personal and professional development of students by offering a curriculum that combines a strong liberal education with the professional major; (3) providing a plan of study with flexible options that are responsive to the individual learner's needs; (4) encouraging the use of opportunities available in a comprehensive university setting to foster values, attitudes and personal qualities essential to living a fulfilling life and contributing to a diverse society, (5) producing politically and socially conscious graduates who are competent practitioners in a variety of settings; and (6) preparing graduates who assume leadership roles to effect change for a healthy society.
    Graduates of the program are eligible to apply to take the NCLEX examination for state licensure through the respective state boards of nursing.
 

Baccalaureate graduates of the Loewenberg School of Nursing:
 1. Use the nursing process, core nursing knowledge¹, and core nursing compentencies² to design, provide, and manage culturally competent, cost effective, direct and indirect nursing care to individuals, families, communities, and populations.
2. Integrate theoretical, empirical, and intuitive knowledge from other scientific disciplines, and the humanities into the practice of nursing.
3. Collaborate with others to provide health promotion and health care access to diverse populations.
4. Integrate professional nursing values³ into nursing practice.
5. Modify patient care in response to changing health care systems, health policies, and global environmental factors⁴.
6. Integrate selected research findings into nursing practice.
7. Maintain professional accountability for effective nursing practice and the advancement of the profession.
8. Implement nursing roles that meet the emerging health needs of individuals, families, communities, and populations.

¹ Core nursing knowledge includes: a) health promotion, risk reduction, and disease prevention, b) illness and disease management, and c) information and health care technologies.
² Core nursing competencies include: a) critical thinking, c) communication, c) assessment and technical skills, d) teaching, e) caring, f) management, g) leadership, and h) integration of knowledge skills.
³ Professional nursing values include: a) caring, b) altruism, c) autonomy, d) human dignity, e) integrity, and f) social justice.
⁴ Global environment factors include: a) international law and public health, b) disease transmission, c) health policy, and d) health care economics.
 

    The Loewenberg School of Nursing is organized as one unit under the leadership of a dean. The curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing includes general education and support courses offered through other units of the university as well as the major requirements offered by the school. A comprehensive approach to health care is emphasized through utilization of a wide variety of health care settings available in Memphis and the surrounding community.
   

The faculty of the Loewenberg School of Nursing represents all clinical areas of nursing practice and a variety of experiences and interests. They reflect this diversity in their teaching, practice and research and are qualified by practical experience as well as by academic credentials, to function as facilitators of learning.
   

The Loewenberg School of Nursing holds membership in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Southern Council for Collegiate Education in Nursing, and the National League for Nursing Council for Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs. The program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY, 10006, phone number (800) 669-1656, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120, (202) 887-6791 and approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

Core performance standards for admission and progression:

1. Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment.
2. Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.
3. Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form.
4. Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces.
5. Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care.
6. Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.
7. Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care.
8. Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment.

Freshman Admission

    Qualified high school seniors admitted as freshmen to the University of Memphis may at the time of admission to the University be directly admitted to the nursing major by applying to the School of Nursing after receiving admission to the University. Freshman admission to the nursing major guarantees the student who remains in good standing placement in the nursing program in the second semester of the sophomore year.
    Freshmen admitted to the nursing major must remain in "good standing" by completing the prescribed curriculum at The University of Memphis for the freshman year and 1st semester of the sophomore year with a minimum grade of "C" in all required prerequisite courses, a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 for the prescribed three semesters of coursework and a science cumulative grade point average of 2.4. Students who do not remain in "good standing" may reapply to the LSON in a competitive pool with other students. See Sophomore Admission.

Freshman admission requirements:

1. Graduation from an accredited high school with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
2. Minimum ACT score of 21 with a minimum score of 19 in all areas.
3. Completion of high school Algebra I, II, Geometry, Biology, and Chemistry.

Sophomore Admission

    Students who are not admitted as freshmen may apply to the Loewenberg School of Nursing when they meet the requirements identified below. To be admitted to the School, a student must:
1. Be admitted to the University of Memphis as a degree-seeking undergraduate student.
2. Have a minimum college cumulative grade point average of 2.7, a cumulative of 2.4 in prerequisite science courses. (A prerequisite science course may be repeated only once to earn a minimum grade of “C”. A maximum of two prerequisite science courses may be repeated to earn the minimum required grade.)
3.  Have completed specific pre-nursing courses with a minimum grade of “C” in all courses:
  ENGL 1010 & 1020: English Composition I & II (6)
  BIOL 2010/11 & 2020/2021: Anatomy & Physiology I & II (8)
  BIOL 1230/1231: Microbiology (4)
  SOCI 1111: Introduction to Sociology (3); PSYC1200: General Psychology
  NUTR 3202: Nutrition for Health Care preferred or NUTR 2202: Nutrition (3)
  MATH 1420: Foundations of Mathematics, or Math 2000: Experiences in Mathematics, or MATH 1830: Elementary Calculus, or MATH 1190: Calculus I
4. Clearance of any high school deficiencies.
5. Have a minimum score of 600 (250 computer based score) on the TOEFL (for students for whom English is a second language).
6. Students who are transferring from another nursing program must submit a letter of good standing from the dean/director of the previous nursing program and a transcript.
7.  Complete and submit School of Nursing application for admission to:
Loewenberg School of Nursing
The University of Memphis
Newport Hall, Room 101
Memphis, TN 38152
 Must have complete files by the deadline (February 15 for Fall; October 1 for Spring) to be considered. (In order to allow adequate time for processing of the University of Memphis transfer credit evaluation you should receive your acceptance letter to the University by September 15 for Spring term or February 1 for Fall term).

Advanced Placement Admission RN students seeking BSN degree
     To be admitted with advanced placement, the Registered Nurse must:
1.  Be admitted to the University of Memphis as a degree-seeking undergraduate student.
2.  Have current licensure as a Registered Nurse in Tennessee.
3.  Submit evidence of recent clinical practice.
4.  Have a minimum college cumulative grade point average of 2.7.
5.  Have completed specified pre-nursing courses with a minimum grade of “C”: ENGL 1010, 1020 (6); BIOL 2010/2011, 2020/2021 (8), MATH 1420 or MATH 1830, 1910 or 2000, BIOL 1230/1231 (4); SOCI 1111 or PSYC 1200; NUTR 3202*.
6. Minimum of 2.4 cumulative grade point average in required laboratory science courses: BIOL 2010/2011 and 2020/2021; BIOL 1230/1231. A prerequisite science course may be repeated only once to earn a minimum grade of “C”. A maximum of two prerequisite science courses may be repeated to earn the minimum required grade.
7. Must meet the Sophomore Admission Criteria identified earlier.
 

*Credit in NUTR 2202 may also be used to meet this course requirement

ACADEMIC ADVISING-BASIC AND RN STUDENTS
    Students who are completing courses required for admission to The Loewenberg School of Nursing receive advising through the Academic Counseling Center. However, questions about admission requirements may be addressed to the assistant dean for students in the Loewenberg School of Nursing. The Assistant Dean for Students advises RN students while they are completing courses required for admission to The Loewenberg School of Nursing. Following admission to the School of Nursing, each student is assigned an advisor from the school. The advisor will assist the student in planning for completion of the BSN program and will provide the opportunity for meaningful discussion regarding academic progress and career goals. This assistance, however, does not in any way relieve the student of the primary responsibility for studying the Bulletin and fulfilling all the requirements for the degree.
 

LOANS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Students are encouraged to complete applications and forms for financial aid. These are available in the Student Financial Aid Office. Some scholarships are also available through The Loewenberg School of Nursing. See Section 3 of this Bulletin for a list. Applications for scholarships are available in the school office.
 

FEES
     Practicum nursing courses require an additional fee of $60 and Skills Laboratory courses an additional fee of $50. These fees are not included in the Fee Schedule.
 

RESIDENCY
University residence requirements are explained in detail in the Graduation from the University section of this catalog. Note that students transferring from a community or junior college must complete a minimum of sixty semester hours in an accredited senior institution. In addition, 31 of the last 62 semester hours for the degree must be completed at the University of Memphis.

Nursing Major (B.S.N.)

A. University General Education Program (41 hours)
 See Graduation from the University link for University General Education Program requirements. Note the following requirements are specified for this program: Natural Science: BIOL 2010/2011, 2020/2021; Social/Behavioral Sciences: PSYC 1200 or SOCI 1111.
 

B. Support Courses for Nursing Major (10 hours)
 Microbiology (4 hours)*: BIOL 1230/1231
 Nutrition (3 hours): NUTR 3202.
 Statistics (3 hours): EDPR 4541 [C], PSYC 3001 [C], or SOCI 3311 [C], with a minimum grade of "C".
 All support courses must be completed with a minimum cumulative grade of "C".
* Science courses must have a minimum grade point average of 2.4 and must have been completed in the past 7 years. Refer to Science Course Validation section below.
 

C. The Major (66 hours)
 Completion of NURS 2217, 2218 (1), 2219 (2), 2220 (1), 3000, 3101, 3117 (4), 3118 (1), 3119, 3127, 3129 (2), 3217 (2), 3219, 3227 (2), 3229, 3230, 3400, 4110 [W], 4117, 4119, 4120, 4127, 4129 (2), 4227, 4229  [C,I] (4).
 

D. Elective (3 hours)
 Any upper division course at the 3000 or 4000 level.
Nursing Course Requirements - Basic Students
Nursing (66 hours): NURS 2217, 2218 (1), 2219 (2), 2220 (1), 3000, 3101, 3117 (4), 3118 (1), 3119, 3127 (3), 3129 (2), 3217 (2), 3219, 3227 (2), 3229, 3230, 3400, 4110 [W], 4117, 4119, 4120, 4127, 4129 (2), 4227, 4229 [C,I] (4).
Upper Division Elective (3 hours): Any 3000-4000 course.
 

Nursing Course Requirements - RN Students
Nursing (27 hours): NURS 3000, 3101, 3107 (1), 3400, 4110, [W], 4120, 4127, 4129, 4327, 4329 [C,I].
Upper Division Elective (3 hours): Any 3000-4000 course.
The remaining hours for the major requirements are fulfilled by validation.
Under the Tennessee Career Mobility Plan registered nurses who have graduated from Tennessee schools or out-of-state NLN accredited programs will be able to progress to the baccalaureate degree in nursing without testing to verify previous nursing education. Registered nurses articulating to the baccalaureate level may be awarded or transfer in nursing credits equivalent to approximately one year of nursing courses. For this to occur, a minimum grade of "C" must have been earned in previous nursing course work. Nursing credits transferred or awarded will be held in escrow. These credits will be placed on individual transcripts only after students have successfully completed 15 hours of nursing courses with a minimum grade of "C" in The Loewenberg School of Nursing. Non nursing credits are transferred according to university policies. Testing will be required for graduates of non NLN accredited programs or for students who have not been in active clinical practice in the past three years.
 

The following represent typical schedule plans for basic and RN students.

BASIC STUDENTS

FRESHMAN YEAR

SOPHOMORE YEAR

JUNIOR YEAR

SENIOR YEAR

NOTE: PROGRESSION OF NURSING COURSEWORK: All courses in group A must be completed before enrolling in any courses in group B. All courses in group B must be completed before enrolling in any courses in group C.
A.  Professional Foundation Courses: NURS 3101, 2217, 2218, 2219, 2220, 3400, 3000.
B.  Provider of Care Courses: NURS 3117, 3118, 3119, 3127, 3129, 3217, 3219, 3227, 3229, 3230.
C.  Coordinator of Care Courses: NURS 4117, 4119, 4127, 4129, 4227, 4229 [C,I], 4327, 4329 [C,I], 4110 [W], 4120.
RN (Upper Division Requirements)

SENIOR YEAR

Science Course Validation: If seven years have lapsed since credit was earned in BIOL 2010/2011 and 2020/2021 (Anatomy and Physiology), or BIOL 1230/1231 (Microbiology), the content is considered outdated, and students are required to either repeat the course(s) or validate currency of knowledge. Registered nurses may validate currency of knowledge by submitting evidence of recent clinical practice. If not currently employed as a RN, validation of current knowledge may be accomplished by taking a higher level course in the same field or by examination. The NLN tests in Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology are used for this purpose. A score at the fiftieth percentile or above is required. Registered nurses are required to submit evidence of recent clinical practice to validate currency of knowledge.
 

Progression in the Nursing Major:
1.  A nursing course may only be entered twice.
2.  A minimum grade of "C" must be earned in each nursing course to progress. Failure to earn a minimum grade of "C" will require repeating the course before attempting other nursing courses.
3.  When the theory or clinical component of any course sequence must be repeated, the companion course must also be repeated even though a satisfactory grade has been earned.
4.  Irregular progression students who are out of clinical nursing course work for longer than three months will be reviewed by the Student Progression Committee. The Committee may require testing or the repetition of courses in  which satisfactory grades have been earned.
 

Disqualification from the Nursing Major:
1.  Failure to earn a minimum grade of  “C” when repeating a nursing course for a grade of less than a “C”.
2.  Failure to earn a satisfactory grade in a clinical course when repeating the course for an unsatisfactory grade.
3.  Failure to earn a minimum grade of  “C” or “S” in two nursing courses.
4.  Professional/academic misconduct or dishonesty.
5.  Falsification of any academic/medical/ nursing record or misrepresentation of nursing care or credential.
6.  Clinical practice that willfully places patients in physical or emotional jeopardy.
7.  Clinical practice while under the influence of alcohol or illegal substance.
 

Clinical Nursing Course Requirements: Before enrolling in a clinical nursing course, students must present evidence of current CPR certification, professional liability insurance ($1,000,000 per occurrence/$3,000,000 aggregate minimum coverage), criminal background and credential check, appropriate immunizations and titers, and a statement of good health, including a negative PPD skin test or chest x-ray. Immunizations and titers include DT, measles, mumps, polio, Hepatitis B; Rubella vaccine or titer showing immunity; varicela titer. The basic nursing student will pay for malpractice insurance at fee payment. RN students must purchase their own insurance and present evidence prior to enrolling in clinical nursing courses. RN students are also required to present evidence of current licensure in Tennessee.
Students are encouraged to complete these requirements during the semester prior to anticipated enrollment. No student will be allowed to participate in clinical learning experiences until these requirements are satisfied.
 

Credit By Exam: Credit for some of the upper division nursing courses may be earned through credit by examination. Other methods of earning credit are explained in detail in the Academic Regulations section of this Bulletin.
 

RN Licensure: Upon graduation from the program, graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX examination for licensure at testing sites determined by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.
 

Student Organizations: Students are encouraged to join their professional organization, Student Nurses’ Association. This is the local chapter of the National Student Nurses’ Association.
Senior students who have achieved a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and who are recommended by faculty are eligible to apply for induction into Sigma Theta Tau, Beta Theta Chapter at Large of the international nursing honor society.