Program Information
Undergraduate Nursing Program Outcomes
Graduates of the Mercy University Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing will be expected to demonstrate the following program outcomes:
- Integrate concepts from liberal arts and sciences as the basis for nursing education and the practice of professional nursing
- Demonstrate leadership strategies that promote quality improvement, client safety, and organizational effectiveness that promotes health
- Evaluate the levels of evidence that guide evidence based on practice in professional nursing
- Explore ethical management of data, information, knowledge, and technology to facilitate professional nursing care
- Investigate healthcare policies and practices, finances, costs, and regulations that influence professional nursing and the general population while promoting advocacy and social justice particularly for the vulnerable
- Examine the implications of interprofessional communication and collaboration in improving health outcomes
- Examine the impact of clinical prevention on health promotion and disease prevention on population health
- Integrate the core values characteristic of professional nursing
- Integrate and apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes that lead to the improvement in health outcomes while recognizing the diversity of culture, spirituality, ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender, and sexual orientation of all clients
Admission Criteria
Students who choose the major concentration in nursing must have:
- An associate degree in nursing from an accredited Nursing Program or a diploma in nursing.
- Students who completed their nursing degree outside of the U.S. must complete a WES evaluation
- Passed the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.
- A valid unencumbered state license to practice as a registered nurse in the U.S.
- A GPA of 2.75
- Students will be considered for matriculation with GPAs 2.5-2.70.
Admissions Procedure
- Obtain an application form and general information regarding your eligibility for the nursing program from the Admissions Office at the main campus, any of the branch campuses or online.
- All applicants for the Nursing Program must submit the following to the Office of Admissions:
- An application for Admission, accompanied by the $40 application fee. (The application fee will be waived for students who are presently matriculated at Mercy University.)
- An official transcript of record from each diploma school, college, or university previously attended.
- Evidence of current licensure as a registered nurse.
- Students applying for acceptance to the RN-BS Program are able to apply with the Mercy University Undergraduate Application or the Common Application.
Eligibility for Admission to Nursing Courses NURS 361 and above:
To be admitted to these nursing courses, the student must have passed the NCLEX exam and hold a valid license to practice as a registered nurse in the U.S. Students who are in their senior year of their Associates Degree program are permitted to take up to 6 credits (NURS 361 , NURS 366 , or NURS 371 ) in one semester before they graduate. These students will not be permitted to take anymore nursing courses until they pass the NCLEX-RN exam and have a valid RN license.
Transfer Credit
Previously earned college credit in the liberal arts and sciences may be accepted in transfer by Mercy University. Additional academic credits can be earned by passing RCE or CLEP examinations.
Organization of the Program
This program has been designed for the part-time or full-time student. A student may enroll for 3-16 credits a semester. Courses are scheduled for a combination of evenings, days, weekends (general education classes) and/or online (asynchronous, synchronous, hybrid modalities). A variety of schedule patterns and teaching and learning methods are utilized. Nursing courses are offered at the Dobbs Ferry and Online Campuses. General education courses can be taken at either of the branch campuses in the Bronx, or Manhattan.
Additional Nursing Science Requirements
Clinical Requirements for NURS 401 - Community Health Nursing
Current RN License. Additionally, must have taken at least three of the following courses at Mercy University: NURS 361 , NURS 362 , NURS 363 , NURS 364 , NURS 365 , NURS 366 , NURS 367 , NURS 368 and/or NURS 371 .
All students must complete the following before starting clinical. Requisite clinical documents must be submitted to CastleBranch. No one is allowed to begin clinical without the following:
- Current CPR for Health Care Personnel
- Heath clearance approval
- Immunization titers - MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella
- Flu vaccine
- COVID-19 vaccines
- PPD or Quantiferon or chest x-ray (if PPD positive)
- Copy of current RN license
- *Criminal background check - Depending on agency requirements
- *Drug screen - Depending on agency requirements
- *Fingerprints - Depending on agency requirements.
Program Probation
If a student’s cumulative and/or major GPA falls below a 2.00, they will be placed on program probation and will have two semesters to raise their cumulative and/or major GPA to a 2.00 or higher.
Program Dismissal Review
In cases which a student has been dismissed from the Nursing Program, the student may request a dismissal review when they believe that extenuating circumstances affected their academic performance in the program. The student must follow the SON Program Dismissal Review Policy.
Complaints That Fall Outside the Realm of Due Process
The School of Nursing is committed to meeting its mission as it relates to serving our students, potential students, staff, faculty, adjunct faculty, clinical faculty and the public. The School of Nursing and all its Program adhere to Mercy’s existing policies and procedures including but not limited to the Academic Appeals Policy, Policies and Procedures relating to Sexual Misconduct, Policy on Equal Opportunity and Non- grade appeals, student discipline, sexual misconduct complaints, disability accommodations, discrimination and retaliation. In addition to university policies, the School of Nursing, and our accreditor, Commission on College Nursing Education, all have policies and procedures in place that must be followed. If a circumstance arises for which there is no established policy or procedure, we are committed to ensuring that these exceptional complaints are considered and resolved in a timely, fair, consistent and equitable manner.
Procedure: Complaint to the Program: Complaints should be addressed to the Program Director through email. If the program director is the subject of the complaint, the complaint should be addressed to the Associate Dean, School of Nursing.