The Kent State University College of Nursing provides a course of study at the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral level. After completion of the required course of study in the arts and sciences and professional nursing, graduates receive the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing and are eligible to apply to take the state licensing examination to become professional registered nurses. Additional successful study leads to the degree of Master of Science in Nursing with clinical focus in adult, psychiatric mental health or parent-child nursing, and role-function options in administration, education, clinical specialization or nurse practitioner. An accelerated combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Nursing allows qualified undergraduate students to substitute selected master’s core courses after completing 60 semester hours.

Accreditation
The baccalaureate and master’s programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The baccalaureate nursing program is approved by the state of Ohio Board of Nursing.

Aims of the Program
The specific purposes of the baccalaureate nursing program are to prepare practitioners for the beginning practice of professional nursing; to provide a base for the continuing development of the students as individuals, as citizens and as professional practitioners of nursing; and to provide a foundation for graduate study in nursing.

The College of Nursing is committed to the education of professionals in nursing within the perspective of today’s society. The faculty believes that the foremost aim of such education is the acquisition of knowledge and unique specialized skills of the nursing profession. Professional education for nursing lays a foundation for the proficient and competent performance of nursing practice, based on scientific principles and entailing self-directed activities and discriminative judgments.

The faculty believes that professional education in nursing stresses the development of high ethical standards and moral values, which enable future practitioners to make essential contributions to public welfare and social progress. Professional education in nursing strives to develop communication skills and personality traits for effective interpersonal relationships and provides a base for continuing study and for personal, social and professional development.

The program in nursing stresses the application of physical, biological and social sciences to professional nursing practice. Throughout the program, students learn to give professional nursing care to children and adults of various age groups in acute care, home and community settings.