Dr. A. Gretchen McNeely RN DNSc
gmcneely@montana.edu [2]
Dr. A. Gretchen McNeely RN DNSc
gmcneely@montana.edu [2]
Dr. Helen Melland RN PhD
helen.melland@montana.edu [3]
Program Description: The College of Nursing at Montana State University offers an accelerated option for post-baccalaureate students to earn a BSN. Because these students already have a degree in a field other than nursing and have demonstrated success as college students, they are able to progress at a faster pace through such an intense program. The curriculum is the same as for the traditional students except that is at a much faster pace, full-time, more credits each semester, and year-around. Once admitted to the option, the students complete the BSN degree in approximately 15 months including two summers and one academic year (four consecutive terms). The accelerated option is held to the same national accreditation standards as the traditional baccalaureate degree program. The nursing programs at Montana State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The need for this accelerated option for students who already have a baccalaureate degree in a discipline other than nursing acknowledges the shortage of nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level, especially in rural, remote underserved areas such as Montana. The accelerated option is available on two of the college’s five campus sites, Great Falls and Bozeman, and can accommodate 16 students on each of those campuses for a total of 32 new students each summer. Upon graduation, these students are qualified to sit for NCLEX-RN, the national licensure examination to enter professional nursing practice. Research has indicated that post-baccalaureate students are highly motivated, do well in school, and are rated highly by employers upon graduation.
Program Objectives:
- Utilize a foundation of community-based nursing to provide client-centered health care.
- Synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge from nursing, the sciences, the arts and the humanities to practice safe and effective professional nursing.
- Apply principles of critical thinking in professional decision making.
- Evaluate the applicability of research findings in evidence-based nursing practice.
- Utilize evidence-based clinical judgments to assist clients with the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health; prevention of disease and death with dignity.
- Incorporate professional values of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity and social justice and value-based behaviors into nursing practice.
- Employ legal and ethical principles in the practice of professional nursing.
- Assume responsibility for career development and participation in life-long learning.
- Utilize effective communication in professional relationships with clients in order to influence health and healing over time.
- Utilize progressive technology and information systems to support nursing practice and deliver client care.
- Collaborate with communities to design, implement, and evaluate population- based approaches to care.
- Provide culturally sensitive direct and indirect care for clients across a variety of settings.
- Participate as a member of the nursing profession.
For entry into the Accelerated BSN Program the institution has several additional requirements including but not limited to: Two references, Writing sample, Faculty interview, GPA requirement of 3.0 , and Background check. Pre-requisite course requirements are: Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Microbiology, Inorganic Chemistry, Intro to Organic & Biochemistry, Developmental Psychology/human growth and development, Statistics, Nutrition, Intro to Psychology, and Intro to Sociology.
$20,000 - $29,999