Principles

The Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON) is accredited by Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the undergraduate curriculum is based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Baccalaureate Essentials.  It focuses on the student’s role development as 1) provider of care; 2) designer, manager and coordinator of care; and 3) member of the profession.  Students graduating from the KCON baccalaureate program are expected to display the following outcomes:

1. Provide nursing care based on expanding clinical judgment within parameters of functional capacity of individuals, families, groups and communities in multiple settings that incorporate knowledge from the liberal arts and knowledge unique to nursing.
2. Coordinate health care with individuals, families, groups and communities across the life span, using communication skills, in collaboration with members of the health care team.
3. Assume ethical, legal and professional accountability for the development and practice of nursing in a changing health care environment.

KCON teaching and learning practices, curricula and learning environments are designed based on our philosophy of nursing education and organizing framework, to foster the behaviors that faculty believe are most important for the roles of provider of care, designer/manager/coordinator of care, and member of the profession. These include: 

1. Critical thinking
2. Communication
3. Assessment
4. Health promotion, risk reduction, and disease prevention
5. Illness and disease management
6. Information and health care technologies
7. Ethics
8. Human diversity
9. Global health care 

Program Design

Grand Valley’s nursing program focuses on evidence based nursing practice. Students are prepared to provide nursing interventions for individuals, families, and communities at a beginning, generalist level and will complete five semesters of clinical coursework. Nursing courses are not held during the summer for students in the traditional program.

Clinical courses use multiple teaching methods, including hands on learning, in a variety of health care settings. Students will receive instruction and gain knowledge in our learning labs, through simulation exercises, and in clinical experiences. KCON offers multiple clinical rotations in such areas as medical/surgery, mental health, obstetrics, pediatrics, long term care, and community health; students will complete approximately 1,260 clinical hours throughout the undergraduate experience. These rotations may include settings in:

1. Primary care
2. Acute and rehabilitation hospitals
3. In patient and community mental health sites
4. County health departments
5. Home care agencies
6. Community health screening clinics
7. Immunization clinics 

Some students, based on interest and opportunity, can earn credit towards their community health clinical obligations through a two week faculty-lead study abroad trip to Ghana. This program offers an intercultural nursing experience that provides students with an opportunity to compare and contrast different community-based health care systems.  For more study abroad information.

Coursework and Progression

Upon completion of the BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program, graduates are eligible for licensure as a registered nurse and entry into professional nursing practice. Once admitted, students must achieve a grade of C or higher in each of the following nursing theory courses in order to progress in the nursing program and ultimately graduate:  

• NUR 265: Introduction to Research and Evidence
• NUR 266: Professional Nursing I
• NUR 316: Professional Nursing II
• NUR 366: Professional Nursing III
• NUR 416: Professional Nursing IV
• NUR 467: Professional Nursing V
• IPE 407/507: Integrated Team Health Care

A student must achieve a grade of “Credit” in each of the following clinical courses that coincide with the respective theory course:

• NUR 267: Clinical Nursing I
• NUR 317: Clinical Nursing II
• NUR 367: Clinical Nursing III
• NUR 417: Clinical Nursing IV

The nursing major also consists of required core courses. A student must achieve a grade of C or higher in the following courses in order to progress to the next level:  BMS 305 (Clinical Nutrition), BMS 310 (Pathophysiology), BMS 311 (Pharmacology), and BIO 355 (Genetics).