Nursing
Nursing Mission Statement
The mission of the Jeanette C. Rudy Nursing Program is to prepare caring, highly competent graduates who will provide excellent, evidence-based nursing care for individuals, families, and communities across the lifespan. Emphasis will be placed on knowledge, skills, attitudes, and experiences that promote clinical reasoning, clinical judgement, integrity, and life-long learning.
Vision Statement
The Jeanette C. Rudy Nursing Program will be a leading nursing program in Middle Tennessee that graduates individuals who are characterized by their professional excellence and positive impact on healthcare.
Program Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of the Nursing program the graduate will be prepared to:
- Integrate critical thinking, based on liberal arts foundation, and clinical reasoning for the development of clinical judgement in planning holistic, person-centered care.
- Incorporate current best evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values into optimal clinical decision-making within the four spheres of care.
- Demonstrate effective and compassionate communication strategies that support the patient, family, and community's full engagement in their care, health, and wellness.
- Employ established and emerging principles of safety for the enhanced quality of nursing care and minimized risk of harm to patients.
- Engage in partnership with health professionals for the provision of team-based, person-centered care to promote equitable population health outcomes.
- Effectively use electronic tools and technology for inter-professional communication and for the collection and interpretation of data to support clinical decision making.
- Apply principles of professional nursing ethics through respect for diverse individuals, recognizing the person's autonomy by advocating for their well-being and healthcare equity.
- Engage in personal well-being and leadership activities in an inter-professional environment for the continuous improvement of quality and safety in healthcare systems.
Nursing Entry Options
The Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions offers three entry options leading to a baccalaureate degree in nursing:
Entry Option I is a generic, eight or nine semester academic and clinical nursing program. The traditional day track meets during the day, but may have clinicals in the day, evening, or weekends depending on healthcare facility availability.
Part-time or Full-time Option
Students may choose to attend either track on a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time is the recommended scheduling approach for the day student, but a part-time option is available to enhance access to nursing education. Part-time schedules are planned with the student's advisor based on prerequisites for each nursing course, alignment of coordinated courses and individual student needs.
Entry Option II is the LPN to BSN track. This is a hybrid nursing track designed for the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) seeking a baccalaureate in nursing (BSN). This track is unique in that the LPN is admitted to the School of Nursing on acceptance to Cumberland and begins nursing classes along with general education credits (GEC). From semester one, the student is considered a nursing student rather than a pre-nursing student. The LPN to BSN track is 7 semesters for the full-time student, in contrast to 9 semesters for the traditional student. Courses are taught with a combination of asynchronous online course work and synchronous on-ground classes, labs, and clinicals. On ground courses occur one day a week. Clinical rotations are on weekends. LPNs are awarded up to 16 validation hours for previous learning in their LPN program. To receive validation hours, the LPN to BSN student must be successful in courses and mastery tests of similar nursing courses in their LPN program. The validation hours are earned in a specific course that is similar to a course in the student’s LPN program and are totaled and awarded at the end of the program.
VSCC/Cumberland Partnership
Through this partnership, Volunteer State Community College (VSCC) students earning the Associate of Science in Pre-Nursing will transfer to Cumberland University to complete the requirements for the BSN degree through the Jeanette C. Rudy Nursing Program. All VSCC credits apply toward the BSN at Cumberland University if the student has followed the prescribed course requirements in the Associate of Science in Pre-Nursing.
VSCC students apply during the first semester of their sophomore year. Students meeting the admissions requirements and following the admissions procedures will receive conditional admission into the nursing program pending the receipt and review of the final official transcript confirming the award of the associate degree.
Transfer Policy
- Students must first meet the requirements for admission to Cumberland University.
- The Nursing Admissions and Progression Committee evaluates each student who transfers from another accredited nursing program on an individual basis.
- Requests to transfer nursing courses from another college or university will also be considered by the Nursing Admissions and Progressions Committee on an individual basis based on comparability of the course with the same or similar course in the Cumberland Nursing Program along with the rigor of the course and the university from which the student is transferring. Other factors will be considered such as student GPA, reason for transfer request, and other student factors indicating potential for success or failure in the Cumberland Nursing Program.
- Students who desire to transfer from another accredited BSN nursing program must meet the following requirements:
- Submission of official transcript from the accredited BSN nursing program.
- A letter from the applicant explaining why he or she is requesting the transfer.
- Minimum GPA of 2.75.
- If required, completion of ATI TEAS.
- If required, completion of competency check-offs, exams, and/or ATI testing.
- If required, a letter of good standing from the accredited BSN nursing program.
- The student must meet the Cumberland University requirements for undergraduate transfer credit.