Bachelor of Science in Nursing

At the time of graduation from the Nursing Program, nursing students are expected to:

• Demonstrate a commitment to excellence in professional accountability, leadership, professional behaviors and responsibility for nursing judgments and actions within a moral, ethical and legal framework, utilizing the most current information resources with a commitment to continuous professional development.
• Utilize the most current informatics and technology resources to communicate, manage knowledge, educate, mitigate error and support decision making to promote patient safety, quality care services.
• Function effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision making to achieve quality patient care and improved patient outcomes.
• Facilitate safe, holistic and effective patient/family centered care outcomes through use of evidence-based research and other science-based, humanities and research frameworks.
• Promote a culture of caring to provide holistic, compassionate, culturally competent patient-centered nursing care based on a comprehensive and focused health assessment across the lifespan using sound clinical judgment.
• Evaluate the implications of policy on issues of access, equity, affordability, a social justice in healthcare delivery including the health of vulnerable populations and healthcare disparities.
• Advocate for patients, families, communities, and the nursing profession, applying values and utilizing an ethical framework, clinical reasoning, and cultural competence.
• Implement individual and population-focused interventions to promote health and to prevent and manage disease and injuries by identifying threats to safety and develop strategies to minimize risk of harm to individuals and populations.

1. Applicants to the BSN Program must have a recognized high school diploma or General Equivalency Examination (GED), or the equivalent. They also must have successfully completed high school Biology, Algebra and preferably Chemistry.
2. Applicants must have a general high school GPA of 2.50. High school graduates with a cumulative GPA of 2.40 to 2.49 may be granted conditional admission to the BSN Program at PHSU. This classification is for the first year where the student must enroll in general education and core courses and achieve a minimum GPA of 2.50 in courses completed to progress to the second year of the nursing curriculum. As soon as the student meets this requirement, the conditional admission will be changed to regular admission.
3. For admissions as an Upper Division Program, PHSU requires applicants to complete the following general education and science courses with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 from accredited schools. Only grades of C or higher transfer.  Nursing courses from other institutions are not accepted for transfer.

Upper Division Pre-Requisites

(Students who have not completed the pre-requisites for admission to the Upper Division Program may be eligible for the Direct Entry BSN Program).

4. Candidates under 21 must comply with immunizations included in the guidelines from the Puerto Rico Department of Health at the moment of admission.  All students must comply with immunizations required to health-related professionals (see immunization policy section).
5. Written essay indicating interest in nursing.
6. Submit two letters of recommendation from persons not related to you who can speak to your potential to become a registered professional nurse.
7. Complete an interview with the admission committee.
8. Demonstrate English proficiency in speaking and reading by TOEFL scores or evidence of successful completion of a year of college English.
9. Must have taken the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) or equivalent admission test (SAT), students with 23+ years do not have to meet this admission test requirement.
10. Negative penal records certification or background check is required prior to admission.
11. Read and sign the document of Essential Performance Standards in Nursing*
12. A non-refundable US $30 Application Processing Fee. (Payments are accepted using VISA/MasterCard or Check/Money Order payable to Ponce Health Sciences University).

To apply submit the following admission documents directly to the admissions office:

1. Admissions application (completed on the website)
2. Official High School transcript (s) with degree conferred.
3. Transfer students must present post-secondary transcripts, if applying for Upper Division.
4. Essay
5. Two letters of recommendation
6. Entrance Exam Test results
7. Negative Penal Record Certification or Background check
8. Evidence of application processing fee payment.

Clinical training begins after the student has: (1) successfully completed the Physical Assessment for Advanced Practice Nursing course (2) complied with all clinical requirements, including  immunization documentations, (3) successfully completed prerequisite core course work,  and (4) received the appropriate clearance to attend the clinical practicum from the FNP program.

The clinical requirements and supporting documents for practicum must be submitted prior to beginning the first advanced clinical nursing course. These include the following:

1. Annual Standard Precautions (Bloodborne Pathogens – BBP) Training

All students are required to participate in BBP training annually.  All students must attend the specified safety orientation, and successfully complete blood – borne pathogen training prior to being allowed into clinical work. Students are expected to acquaint themselves with the location and contents of manuals, Minimum Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and posted notices related to Blood-Borne Pathogens. Additional information about this process is in the Clinical Practicum Handbook.

2. HIPPA Training

All students are subject to the US Department of Health and Human Services “Privacy Rule” contained in the Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act (HIP AA) of 1996. This federal law is designed to guarantee patient confidentiality and protects against the misuse or inappropriate disclosure of individually identifiable health information. As part of the clinical experience, students are allowed access to protected health information as necessary to provide patient care. Completion of the HIPAA Education Module is required prior to enrollment in clinical courses and annually thereafter. Illegal disclosure of patient confidential information is grounds for dismissal from the Nursing Program and carries the possibility of legal action.

3. CPR Certification

Submit the signed front and back copy of your card to the Nursing Program. CPR cards must be renewed before the due date for clinical requirements and may not come due for renewal at any time during the semester.

4. Health Insurance

Provide a copy of your current health insurance card or proof of coverage. If your name is not included on the card, you will be asked to submit a letter from your insurance company verifying your coverage. At any time should your coverage change, please copy and provide updated information.

5. Immunization and Tuberculosis Testing  

Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) adheres to the CDC norms on adult immunization. The Office of Student Affairs is responsible for maintaining the documentation of student immunization and PPD status. Immunization requirements are:

• Hepatitis B: All nursing students are required to have been immunized against Hepatitis B. Such immunization consists of a series of three injections that should be completed prior to or as soon as possible after matriculation. Students who are not in compliance may be barred from participation in clinical activities at the discretion of the Associate Dean’s Office.

• Rubella:  Rubella immunity via history or documented vaccine or serological titer is required before a student will be allowed to participate in clinical activities.

• Rubeola: Rubeola immunization is required for all students born after 1957. Students must provide physician documentation of receipt of two doses of vaccine or serologic evidence of immunity before a student will be allowed to participate in clinical activities.

• Mumps:  Mumps immunization is required. A physician documented history of immunization or documented evidence for immunity (serologic titers) is required before a student will be allowed to participate in clinical activities.

*Rubella, Rubeola and Mumps requirement is filled by 2 doses of MMR at least on year apart.

• Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria:  Students should be current in immunization against polio, tetanus and diphtheria. It is required before a student will be allowed to participate in clinical activities.

• Varicella:  Students with a history of varicella should have it documented. Students without a history of varicella must have a titer for varicella antibody determined. Students with a negative titer are recommended to undergo varicella immunization. Non-immune students will not be permitted on some clinical services specifically Pediatrics Nursing.

• Influenza: Students should have the influenza vaccine before entering the clinical clerkships. It will be available at a reasonable cost at PHSU Outpatient Clinic.

PHSU requires annual tuberculin (intra dermal) testing for actively enrolled students. Evaluation and management of nursing students with positive tests or those whose test becomes positive during nursing school will be evaluated through the PHSU outpatient clinic.

These requirements may vary according to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) recommendation. (Refer to the complete Immunization Policy in the PHSU Catalog and the Student Policy Manual).

6. Professional Liability Insurance

All Nursing students need to have Malpractice/Liability Insurance. The coverage required is a policy that provides $1,000,000 for each medical incident and $3,000,000 aggregate. Additional information about this will be provided to each student prior to the first clinical course.

7. Alcohol, Tobacco, Illicit Drug and Violence

PHSU prohibits the abuse of alcohol within the academic community. The possession, distribution or use of illegal drugs is ground for immediate sanction, including dismissal. Smoking is prohibited on school grounds. Violence is not tolerated within the academic community or on the school or affiliated facilities. (Refer to the institutional policy in the PHSU l Catalog, the Student Policy Manual).

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For more details of PHSU tuition and fees please refer to: Cost of Attendance

ALL TUITION AND FEES ARE PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE REGISTRATION.

Ponce Health Sciences University reserve the right to increase the tuition or other fees as deemed necessary.

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