Program Information

For BSN Students

• Clinical Requirements

  DeSales University students must comply with general health and background safety checks that are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and by individual clinical agencies.  These requirements may change over time.  Students are expected to remain in compliance with all of these health and safety requirements or risk being unable to practice clinical and progress in the program. The Division of Nursing maintains a zero tolerance policy for all BSN clinical requirements.

  Health Requirements

  The financial costs associated with clearances, immunizations, and examinations are the responsibility of the student. No student will be allowed to participate in clinical or laboratory experiences without documentation that he/she satisfactorily meets all of the following BSN Clinical Requirements (as determined by the Division of Nursing). Inability to satisfactorily meet one or more of the BSN Clinical Requirements will prohibit the student from attending required clinical and/or laboratory experiences. Inability to attend required clinical and/or laboratory experiences may result in course failure and/or dismissal from the nursing program. Some documents and clearances may need to be updated on a yearly basis.

  Affiliating clinical agencies, utilized for required student clinical experiences, reserve the right to deny a student’s participation in any clinical experience/rotation because of a positive drug test, a positive criminal record+, a felony or misdemeanor conviction+, a record of child abuse+, pending charges, or the inability to produce appropriate documentation related to required health clearances. Inability to attend required clinical experiences may result in course failure and/or dismissal from the nursing program.

  Students must also meet the Essential Standards and Functional Abilities for Nursing Students.

  +Regardless of whether or not a student graduates from DeSales University, individuals who have a positive criminal record, a felony or misdemeanor conviction, pending charges, or a record of child abuse may be denied licensure as a health professional.

  Child Abuse & Criminal Clearance

  At the beginning of the academic year, each student must complete a Certified Criminal Background and Child Abuse clearances. Castle Branch is an on-line service that conducts a nationwide child abuse and criminal clearance. The agencies have the right to refuse student placement when there is a positive child abuse or criminal history record. Agencies have the right to require yearly background clearances, by which students must abide as directed by the Clinical Liaison.

  Federal Fingerprinting Clearance

  At the beginning of the academic year, each student must complete federal fingerprinting clearance through Castle Branch. Castle Branch is an on-line service that conducts this clearance.  The agencies have the right to refuse student placement when there is a positive child abuse or criminal history record. Agencies have the right to require yearly federal fingerprinting clearances, by which students must abide as directed by the Clinical Liaison.

  Urine Drug Screen Clearance

  At the beginning of the academic year, each student must complete a 10-panel urine drug screen with expanded opiate through Castle Branch.  Drug screens are considered valid for one year (subject to changes outlined by clinical agencies).  Students must have a valid drug screen clearance on file throughout their clinical nursing courses. Castle Branch is an on-line service that conducts this screening. Failure to complete a urine drug screen clearance will result in the student not being permitted to begin clinical rotations. The agencies have the right to refuse student placement when there is a positive drug screening clearance result.

• Essential Standards and Functional Abilities for Nursing Students

  It is both an expectation and a requirement that all DeSales University Nursing Students be able to meet and perform the essential standards and functional abilities of nursing students while in the classroom and/or the laboratory/clinical setting.  This requirement is included in the DeSales Nursing Division “Clinical and Laboratory Attendance Policy”.  In addition, these essential standards and functional abilities are referred to when evaluating a student’s ability to provide safe patient care as part of individual clinical course outcomes.

  “A qualified individual with a disability is protected from discrimination on the basis of his or her disability.  A qualified individual with a disability is an individual who has both a substantial impairment and meets the skills, experience, and education requirements of the position held or desired and who can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.

  Regardless of the disability, the individual must be able to perform ‘Essential Functions of the Job.’ Functions are considered essential if:

  • The employees in the position are required to perform these functions;
  • They are functions that would fundamentally change the job if removed;
  • The position exists to perform these functions;
  • A limited number of other employees are available to perform the functions; or
  • The functions are highly specialized, and the person in the position is hired for his or her special expertise or ability to perform the function.”

  -American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 1/4/01, “Guidelines for accommodating students with disabilities in schools of nursing”

• Student Support

  You'll have plenty of support as a student in the BSN Program at DeSales. Information about all available resources can be found on the Academic Support & Resources page.

  New Student Orientation

  In addition to the University Fall Orientation, the DeSales BSN program includes a thorough orientation to the curriculum, policies, procedures, and course methods at the start of the fall semester.

  HelpDesk

   The DeSales HelpDesk will guide you through any problem you are experiencing with a DeSales technology system. 

  • helpdesk@desales.edu
  • On campus: ext. 4357 (“help”)
  • 610.282.1100 ext. 4357

  Trexler Library

  Access to Trexler Library is available both on-campus and online. The Library maintains an extensive collection of medical books in electronic format that are available through our online catalog.

  Cooperative library agreements exist between DeSales and two major consortial partners. Trexler Library's collection is augmented by the collections available at all Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC) institutions. Trexler Library is also a member of LYRASIS, the nation's largest regional library consortia. This enables students to retrieve resources not held at the DeSales library or other LVAIC institutions.

  Trexler Library

  Extensive healthcare resources available from Trexler Library include:

  • Cochrane Reviews
  • Joanna Briggs Institute
  • CINAHL Plus Full-Text
  • PsychINFO
  • EBSCO Health Source: Nursing Academic Edition
  • Epocrates
  • Nursing Reference Center
  • PubMed 

  Academic Resource Center

  The Academic Resource Center provides both peer and professional tutoring services, writing assistance, and guidance in the areas of reading comprehension, time-management, study-skills, and test anxiety.

  • Dooling Hall Room 23
  • On campus: ext. 1824
  • 610.282.1100 ext. 1824 

• Student Learning Outcomes

  The undergraduate nursing program outcomes are congruent with the Division of Nursing philosophy, consistent with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing scope of practice, and commensurate with contemporary beliefs of the profession.

  Students who graduate from DeSales University with a bachelor of science in nursing will be able to:

  • exemplify Christian humanism through valuing and facilitating full human development;
  • assist persons to make ethical and moral health care decisions;
  • integrate best evidence into clinical practice;
  • demonstrate intellectual curiosity, rational inquiry, problem solving, and creativity when applying the nursing process to individuals, families, aggregates, communities, and populations with health needs;
  • advocate for changes in the practice of nursing and the delivery of health care that promote improved health outcomes;
  • coordinate and manage interdisciplinary and community resources to meet changing health needs of individuals, families, aggregates, communities, and populations;
  • demonstrate leadership and flexibility by assuming multiple roles in order to facilitate the competent delivery of health care;
  • safely and effectively integrate technological and scientific advances into cost-effective nursing care;
  • provide culturally competent nursing care to persons with diverse backgrounds and needs;
  • communicate effectively and therapeutically using a variety of media and methods.