Objectives Progression

Your objectives progression by BSN learning essentials

The grid below shows the objectives progression for the Traditional BSN program spanning 4 semesters (2 years).

Please note:
  •   Program outcomes are the same for the Accelerated BSN and RN to BSN programs but those programs proceed on different schedules, with different learning strategies, for different levels of student (bachelor-degreed students for Accelerated BSN program and associate-degreed registered nurses for RN to BSN program).
  •   These objectives are keyed to baccalaureate curriculum essentials set forth by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) as shown in the first column.

  AACN Essential     Semester 1     Semester 2     Semester 3     Semester 4  
  I
Liberal Education for Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice		     Incorporate knowledge from prerequisite social sciences, physical sciences, and the arts to assess and promote health of individuals across the life course     Apply knowledge from prerequisite courses to support critical thinking and independent/interdependent decision making in patients with predictable outcomes.     Use prerequisite knowledge to evaluate the outcomes of critical thinking processes for vulnerable patients and groups.     Practice nursing based on a liberal education using critical thinking and nursing science to support independent and interdependent decision making.  
  II
Basic Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Care and Patient Safety		     Demonstrate beginning nursing leadership roles in the provision of safe, quality health care.     Practice leadership roles in the provision and coordination of safe, quality health care through collaboration with other health professionals in a variety of health care settings.     Formulate professional leadership approaches in the provision, coordination, and evaluation of safe and quality health care through collaboration with other health professionals in a variety of health care settings.     Demonstrate leadership in promoting safe, high quality care with a focus on continual evaluation and improvement within a variety of organizations and systems.  
  III
Scholarship for Evidence Based Practice		     Interpret general concepts, theories, and research relevant to evidence-based nursing practice.     Apply research evidence and theory, and patient preferences and values in developing individualized care.     Integrate best current evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values for delivery of optimal health care.     Practice based on best evidence and participate in the generation and dissemination of nursing scholarship.  
  IV
Information Management and Application of Patient Care Technologies		     Describe the use of patient care technology and information systems in improving patient outcomes and supporting safe care environments.     Apply clinical decision making tools and safeguards embedded in patient care technologies and information systems to promote a safe practice environment for both patients and healthcare workers.     Apply information technology to assist clients in self-care and plan care for populations.     Apply information management, technology and information systems to create safe care and enhance sound decision-making in health care delivery systems.  
  V
Health Care Policy, Finance, and Regulatory Environments		     Describe how health care is organized and financed, and describe the regulations that authorize and define professional nursing practice.     Describe the impact of health care organization and finance on patients and families.     Participate in activities that promote the shaping of health care policy, finance, and regulatory environments, and reduce health disparities for vulnerable populations.     Practice with regard for and participation in the shaping of healthcare policy, finance and regulatory environments to influence the allocation of health resources and reduce health disparities.  
  VI
Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration for Improving Patient Health Outcomes		     Develop communication skills to collaborate in finding solutions to problems and/or meeting the health care needs of people using the roles of direct care provider, teacher, and communicator.     Demonstrate communication skills to facilitate collaboration with other health professionals in finding solutions to problems and/or meeting the health care needs of individuals and/or families using the roles of advocate, collaborator, and facilitator.     Integrate communication skills to enable teamwork and collaboration with other health professionals in finding solutions to problems and/or meeting the health care needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, society using the roles of manager, case finder, and change agent.     Foster and participate in intra- and inter-professional partnerships, characterized by teamwork, collaboration, and communication to deliver high-quality, safe patient care.  
  VII
Clinical Prevention and Population Health		     Demonstrate an understanding of primary prevention in promoting well-being and prevention of disease across the life course for individuals and groups.     Use primary prevention strategies and demonstrate an understanding of secondary prevention to promote well-being and prevent disease for individuals, families, and groups.     Use primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, as appropriate, to promote well-being and prevent disease for individuals, families, groups, and populations.     Use all levels of prevention to promote well-being and prevent disease for individuals, families, groups, populations, and communities in complex situations.  
  VIII
Professionalism and Professional Values		     Identify the roles, functions, and values (altruism, autonomy, dignity, integrity, and social justice) of the professional nurse in the health care system.     Demonstrate attributes of leadership, professional identity, and values with individuals and families.     Demonstrate attributes of leadership, professional identity and values with individuals, families, groups, and communities and in an ethical and legal framework.     Consistently demonstrate attributes of leadership, professional identity and values within an ethical and legal framework with all patients, families, groups, populations and communities.  
  IX
Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice		     Perform nursing skills and interventions safely and with compassion.     Provide safe, appropriate nursing interventions, using critical thinking, to assess the quality of outcomes for individuals, families, and groups.     Evaluate the development of professional roles and the maintenance of standards in the delivery of safe comprehensive nursing care.     Practice caring, competent, holistic and patient-centered nursing with diverse individuals, families, groups, communities and populations, delivered in a variety of settings across the life course.