Nursing

• School of Nursing and Health Professions
• Nursing Department website

Professional Nursing

Nurses work individually and cooperatively with other health professionals to provide care that promotes well-being in the individuals, groups and communities they serve. Students called to this challenge must graduate from an approved school of nursing and successfully complete a national examination for a registered nurse (RN) license. Since 1965, the American Nurses Association has consistently identified the baccalaureate degree in nursing as the preferred educational requirement for basic nursing practice.

Career Opportunities

Choosing a career in nursing is an economic decision in more ways than one. The supply of nurses today cannot meet the demand. Because of this, nursing graduates can expect to work immediately in a professional practice setting, often with greater benefits and salaries than ever before. Settings for practice continue to expand beyond the familiar ones of clinics, hospitals and schools.

Nursing at the University of the Incarnate Word

The baccalaureate program prepares a graduate who is a beginning generalist in the practice of professional nursing. The graduate is qualified to take a national exam to be licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN). Graduates are also prepared for advanced education in specialized nursing fields.

Our mission is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word, through the educational preparation of professional nurses. Our vision is to provide excellent student-centered nursing education and to serve as a center for the development of leadership and innovation in nursing.

Courses

Typically, study in the program has two parts:

Pre-admission course requirements before student is eligible for admission to the program:

• approximately two years of study
  
• foundational coursework in the humanities and in behavioral and physical sciences

Admission to five semesters of nursing coursework:

• introduce the student to nursing practices and settings
  
• 40 students in the average class
  
• small student groups in clinicals and on-campus simulation labs
  
• early coursework in concepts of health and illness and development of technological skills related to health maintenance and management of illness
  
• mental health, critical care, care of childbearing families, care of newborns and children, and health promotion of individuals and families
  
• final coursework in community health and leadership

Throughout the program, students develop skills in critical thinking, the hallmark of professional practice.

Direct Admission to Nursing

The direct admission option is available to qualified first time freshman applicants with outstanding high school academic records. Students accepted for direct admission begin taking nursing courses along with prerequisite courses during the freshman year at UIW. Entry to the nursing major is guaranteed for a direct admit student who completes all nursing prerequisite courses with a 3.25 GPA or higher. For more information, see the nursing school website or contact Dr. Julie Nadeau: nadeau@uiwtx.edu or 210-829-3990.

About the Faculty

As diverse as they are qualified, the nursing faculty carries out the mission of the university by preparing students for the practice of professional nursing. Most of the faculty holds doctorates in nursing or related fields of study. Faculty work actively in and out of the classroom to promote close working relationships with students. Upon admission, every student is matched with a faculty member who serves as an academic advisor until the student's graduation.

Highlights

The nursing programs at Incarnate Word are well known nationally and locally for graduating many nurse leaders. These graduates serve in many roles: leadership in military and national organizations, nursing education, research, and advanced clinical practice. The nursing program provides all students the opportunity to develop leadership skills through participation in the nursing student organization and collaboration with program administration and faculty. Nursing students will be able to consult with faculty members who teach in the master's and doctoral nursing programs at UIW as they consider options for graduate school. Clinical practice sites are selected from many hospitals, healthcare agencies, and community institutions in the greater San Antonio area based on their suitability to meet educational needs of students. Throughout the program, students will care for vulnerable populations during clinical rotations and will participate in volunteer work to share in the university's commitment to social justice and community service.

Contact

Caroline S. Spana, PhD, RN
Director of Student Affairs for Undergraduate Nursing
Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing & Health Professions
University of the Incarnate Word
4301 Broadway, CPO#300
San Antonio, Texas 78209
210-829-3987 (Office)
210-829-3174 (FAX)
cspan@uiwtx.edu

Julie Nadeau, PhD, RN
Chair, BSN Program
Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing & Health Professions
University of the Incarnate Word
4301 Broadway, CPO#300
San Antonio, Texas 78209
210-829-3990 (Office)
210-829-3174 (FAX)
nadeau@uiwtx.edu