The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies offers an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree for individuals who hold a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing. The program begins in May and continues through graduation in August of the following year: a total of 15 months. 

The Accelerated Second Degree BSN Program (ASDNU) is designed to draw on your prior education and experience while allowing you to earn a second bachelor's degree in an accelerated format.  This previous knowledge serves as a foundation for nursing courses and helps you develop the social awareness, critical thinking skills, aesthetic sensibility and values that prepare you to sit for the NCLEX licensing exam. The program will empower you to become a leader in the nursing field.  

Upon successful completion of the program, students receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Nursing graduates are qualified to take the NCLEX examination for licensure as a registered nurse. The nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Connecticut Department of Higher Education and the Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing.

Baccalaureate in Nursing Program Competencies

1. Synthesize and apply knowledge from the discipline of nursing into professional practice, guided by a social justice lens, a liberal humanistic approach, and the natural and social sciences.
2. Plan and provide holistic, person-centered care that is equitable, respectful, compassionate, coordinated, evidence-based, and developmentally appropriate for diverse individuals.
3. Engage in the planning and implementation of initiatives that span the public health continuum from prevention to disease management through community partnerships and collaboration with local government entities and others to improve equitable population health outcomes.
4. Translate, apply, and disseminate knowledge from nursing scholarship to improve and transform health care.
5. Use established and emerging principles of safety and improvement science to enhance quality and minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.
6. Collaborate with individuals, families, care team members, and communities, demonstrating professional communication and respect, to enhance the healthcare experience and improve outcomes.
7. Participate in the coordination of health care delivery by organizing resources to provide safe, cost-effective, and equitable care to diverse populations.
8. Use information, communication, and healthcare technologies to gather data, inform decision making, and manage and improve the delivery of safe, high-quality, efficient healthcare services in accordance with professional and regulatory standards.
9. Cultivate a sustainable professional identity that encompasses accountability, ethical principles, empathy, teamwork, and behaviors that reflect nursing's characteristics and core values of altruism, autonomy, and human dignity.
10. Participate in activities that support holistic well-being through self-care, reflection, and discernment to foster personal health, professional growth, lifelong learning, acquisition of nursing expertise, resilience, and leadership qualities.

Disability Statement

Consistent with its mission and philosophy, Fairfield University Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies does not discriminate on the basis of disability. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the University will assist students in making reasonable accommodations that allow an otherwise qualified student with disability to meet essential eligibility requirements in order to participate in its programs. Candidates for the Nursing program must be able to meet minimum standards for clinical practice, with or without reasonable accommodations. To receive accommodations on the basis of disability, the student must self-identify, provide documentation of the disability and request accommodations from the Office of Accessibility. The decision regarding appropriate accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. An accommodation will not be made in those situations where the accommodation itself would fundamentally alter the nature of the program, cause hardship on the school, or jeopardize the health or safety of others. For further information refer to the Fairfield University website for “Policies for Students with Disabilities and Temporary Impairments.”

Eligibility Requirements

The curricula leading to degrees in nursing from Fairfield University requires students to possess essential non-academic skills and functions required to engage in clinical practice. It is within the sole determination of Fairfield University and the Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies to assess and determine whether a student meets these skills and functions. Eligibility requirements for participation and completion in the nursing program shall include, but are not limited to, the following six capabilities:

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment; student must be able to examine, interpret, analyze, and synthesize material for problem solving and evaluation of patient situations and own performance.

• Ability to assess, plan, establish priorities, implement and evaluate patient outcomes.
• Ability to calculate appropriate dosages for specific medications.
• Ability to use good judgment in establishing priorities and making appropriate decisions in client care.
• Sophisticated problem-solving skills, including calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis: ability to learn through a variety of modalities, including classroom, simulation, and clinical settings, individual and team-based learning, preparation of oral and written reports, and use of technology to support academic work.

Interpersonal and Communication

Relationship and communication abilities appropriate for interacting sensitively with individuals, families, groups and inter-professional team members from a variety of social, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds. Ability to accurately and clearly communicate appropriate information regarding evidence-based practice, patient status and response to care, both orally and in writing.

• Interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with patients/families and members of the (inter-professional) healthcare team.
• Ability to gather and record patient data concerning history, health status and response to care.
• Ability to follow and give verbal and written reports, presentations and directions to patients, families, and members of the inter-professional health care team.
• Capacity to use data for demonstrations and oral presentations, and use visual images, sounds, and verbal and non-verbal communication to inform patient care.
• Ability to demonstrate proficiency in documentation methods and ability to maintain accurate records..
• Ability to perceive and interpret nonverbal communication.

Sensory Abilities

Ability to observe, identify, and obtain information in order to assess, plan, provide and evaluate nursing interventions; student must possess adequate sensory abilities or be able to demonstrate appropriate and safe compensation for deficits.

• Student has the ability to perceive signs of disease or infection through a physical examination by observing, monitoring, assessing and responding to any physical changes in the patient's health status. This information is derived through auditory information (patient voice, heart sounds, bower, and lung sounds), visual information, and palpable changes in organs and tissues.
• Cognitive ability sufficient to read and understand directions, assignments, and patient documents.

Motor Skills and Mobility

Sufficient mobility, including the gross and fine motors skills needed to provide safe and competent nursing care, both routine and emergency.

• Sufficient motor skills necessary to perform or assist with physical care such as ambulating, positioning, and assisting with activities of daily living as needed.
• Fine motor skills needed for basic assessment such as palpation, auscultation, and percussion.
• Mobility sufficient to carry out patient care procedures such as suctioning, positioning, and drawing up medication into a syringe.

Behavior and Emotional Attributes

Emotional stability for providing care safely to patients and their families within a rapidly changing and often stressful healthcare environment; the ability to monitor, identify, and manage one's own and others' emotions, and use the information to guide thinking and actions.

• Integrity needed to make ethical decisions and honor the professional code of nursing.
• Ability to adjust and respond appropriately to stressful situations in the classroom or clinical setting.
• Ability to develop mature relationships with the health care team and modify behavior in response to constructive feedback.

Standards for Admission and Progression in the SDNU Curriculum

Admission is competitive and all students must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 to enter as a nursing major. Students must complete an application to begin nursing courses. Admission is done on a rolling basis.

Core Requirements

Applicants must meet the University's core course requirements. Course requirements in the liberal arts and required supportive courses can be met by challenge examinations, transfer credits from other academic institutions, or enrollment in specific courses. Courses are accepted in transfer from other accredited colleges and universities on the basis of a satisfactory (C or better) academic record and course equivalency.

Prerequisite Course Requirements

The Egan School suggests that all prerequisite courses be completed within 10 years prior to the first nursing course. Applicants normally have completed science courses with grades of A or B in the last three to five years. Acceptance of credit is at the discretion of the Program Director and Dean. Students are expected to review course material to ensure that their knowledge of the subject matter is current. Students can maximize their potential for success in the nursing program with a strong foundation that is provided by these courses.

Residency Requirement

A minimum of 60 credits, including credits in nursing, must be completed at Fairfield University. In addition, the last 30 credits for the degree must be taken at Fairfield University.

Nursing Courses

Nursing courses are sequential, beginning with foundational courses and progressing to increasing levels of complexity and challenge throughout the program. As students move through the curriculum, new content is integrated and builds upon previously learned material. Thus, all students must earn the minimum grade of C+ (77) in all nursing courses to progress to the next semester and continue in the program.

Further, students may not progress to the next semester with an incomplete in any nursing course. Students who do not obtain a grade of C+ or better in a nursing course may repeat the course once. A grade of less than C+ in two nursing courses (including a repeated course) will result in dismissal from the Egan School. The clinical component of all clinical nursing courses is graded on a pass/fail basis. Students must pass the theory and clinical component of a course to pass the entire course, regardless of their grade in the theory component. Students who fail to earn the minimum grade in either component of a clinical course must repeat the entire course. In clinical courses (Geriatrics, Medical Surgical I & II, Mental Health and Pediatrics), an average of 77 on theory tests and final exams (quizzes not included) is needed in order to pass the course.

If a student withdraws from a course due to it being impossible to mathematically pass the course, this would count as a failure of a nursing course. Withdrawals based on health/personal issue would to be counted against a student.

Fairfield University is committed to providing accommodations to students with disabilities in order to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities. Students with disabilities can begin the accommodation request process by contacting the Office of Accessibility.

Health and Professional Requirements 

All clinical agencies require documentation of various professional and health information. Nursing students must be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before starting clinical and remain certified throughout the nursing program. Students must receive their certification through either the Health Care Provider course offered through the American Heart Association or the Professional Rescuer or CPR/AED for Lifeguard Certification course offered through the American Red Cross. All health requirements and OSHA training requirements must be met each year prior to clinical practice.

To attend clinical, students must have an annual physical examination and comply with all health requirements of the clinical agencies and submit to the clinical tracking system used by Fairfield University nursing students. Students are responsible for uploading information and keeping all required information updated throughout their clinical experience. Students unable to comply with agency requirements will be dismissed from the program. All costs associated with agency requirements are the responsibility of the student.

Student Background Checks and Drug Testing

Nursing programs at Fairfield University requires the successful completion of the clinical component of the curriculum.  Most clinical sites require students to complete health screenings, criminal background checks and drug screenings before participating in clinical placements.  In addition, national certification agencies may determine that persons with criminal convictions are not eligible to sit for national certification examinations and state laws may restrict/prohibit those with criminal convictions from acquiring a professional license to practice following graduation.  Therefore it is the policy of the Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies that all admitted students must satisfactorily complete compliance requirements, including a background check and drug screening, prior to participating in the clinical component of the curriculum.  These will be completed at the student's expense at a location designated by the University, and may be required more than once depending on the agency.  Fairfield University and the Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies have no obligation to refund tuition or otherwise accommodate students in the event that a criminal background check or drug screening renders the student ineligible to complete required courses or clinical placement(s).

Continuous Assessment

All nursing students participate in a comprehensive nationally standardized assessment program. This total testing program allows close monitoring of student progress and serves as the basis for individualized advisement. A testing fee will be included for all nursing students in appropriate semesters.

Licensure

All nursing students graduate with a bachelor of science degree. To obtain initial licensure as a Registered Nurse, students apply to the State Board of Nursing in the state in which they plan to practice. In addition, students register to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) at a conveniently located testing center.

All students are expected to pass the licensure exam on the first attempt. Application procedures vary by state. Information may be obtained on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website: http://www.ncsbn.org.

Graduation from the nursing major does not ensure eligibility for state licensure. A candidate who has been convicted of a felony or another crime in any state may be required to submit documentation about this conviction to the State Board of Nursing in which licensure is sought. Each State Board of Nursing reserves the right to make a decision on whether to grant licensure to practice as a registered nurse.

Credit from International Programs

Students completing coursework outside the United States must submit certified English transcripts and course-by-course evaluation of all academic records. Information may be obtained from World Education Services (800-937-3895 or info@wes.org).

Scholastic Honors

Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society

The Mu Chi Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing was established at Fairfield University in 1992. Since then, the Chapter has grown to nearly 1000 members. The Society is committed to fostering nursing leadership, research and creativity. Standards for membership include demonstrated excellence in scholarship and/or exceptional achievement in nursing.