Hampton University Nursing School Review
Hampton University (Hampton U, HU), located in Hampton, Virginia, is home to a variety of programs in liberal arts, as well as technical degrees and graduate degree programs. It has a long standing legacy with its role in providing education to freedmen in the 19th Century. It is historically a black university that started as Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute and grew considerably after the Civil War due to financial support from American Missionary Association. Hampton University is rooted in African-American traditions and has been since its inception.
Today it offers 68 undergraduate programs, 27 master’s degree programs, and 6 doctoral degree programs and 2 specialist programs in education degrees. Among these is its nursing program which offers several options to students interested in assuming traditional and non-traditional roles in this area.
School of Nursing
The Hampton University School of Nursing, which opened in 1891, offers baccalaureate programs, both traditional and accelerated as well as master’s degrees in nurse practitioner, administrator and educator. Hampton University also offers a doctoral degree in family and family-related nursing research. The School of Nursing offers programs in Hampton and Virginia Beach as well as online learning options. The School of Nursing is home to 339 undergraduate students and 44 students at the graduate level. All of the nursing programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The undergraduate program is approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Upon graduation from the undergraduate programs in nursing, students are able to apply to write the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Bachelor of Science (B.S)
This is a four year program that builds on liberal arts, science and nursing subjects. The school adopts a two-tier admission policy in which students are admitted in the Lower Division and Upper Division. However, first time students are admitted to the Lower Division. Freshman students have to submit three letters of recommendation, whereas transfer students must submit one letter to get into the program. Transfer students can only request credit transfer for general education courses only if they completed courses at an accredited college or university. All courses must have a grade of “C” of higher.
Accelerated BS Program
This is a three year program in which new students are accepted to the Lower Division before they are transferred to the Upper Division. During the first year of the program students undertake different liberal arts, science and nursing subjects. Some of these subjects include: Biology, History, Communication and Physical Education. The second and third year are spent entirely on Upper Division subjects focused around nursing with option for electives. Students that wish to gain credit from non-nursing courses may take the ACT-PEP or CLEP examinations according to the University policy. There is also the possibility to gain advanced standing if they present an academic record that supports the request.
RN to BS Program
This is a three year program with one summer semester. In the third year and summer semester strong emphasis is placed on nursing courses. Those that wish to gain credit for non-nursing courses may take the ACT-PEP or CLEP examinations. During the first year of the program students must complete 33 credits consisting of general education subjects such as Biology, Communication, Sociology, and English, just to name a few.
LPN to BS
This is a three year course that is designed for licensed practical nurses that want to gain their bachelor of science. The first year and one semester of the program fall under the Lower Division category. During the summer period students may choose an elective, Physical education, Psychology or Mathematics and Introduction to Statistics.The entire program consists of 115 -116 credits.
RN to MS Program
This is a three year program with the only summer semester focusing on Trends, Issues and Leadership in Nursing and Nursing Practicum and Issues in Research Seminar. It is considered a career advancement program and students can graduate from the Registered Nurse Sequence after attaining 121 credits.
Graduate Programs
Master of Science (MS) Degree Program
Only students that have a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from an accredited institution can enter the program. They must also have completed an undergraduate course in statistics and physical assessment. In addition to this, one year of clinical assessment beyond the baccalaureate degree prior to clinical courses is also necessary. There are several specialty areas and three functional role development areas being offered for the MS program. They are:
Specialty
– Advanced Adult Nursing
-Community Health Nursing
-Community Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing
-Family Nurse Practitioner
Functional role development
Administration: Students can take this role development course with any of the specialties except Family Nurse Practitioner. The combination of these key areas equips students with the necessary knowledge to undertake roles in home care agencies, hospitals, out-patient facilities among others at the management level.
Education: This role development course can be taken with clinical specialty in Advanced Adult Nursing, Community Health Nursing and Community Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing. The program prepares nurses to be teachers in collegiate programs or baccalaureate degree nursing education. During this program, students are taught all the essentials of delivering in a classroom and clinical setting. Students are taught to use systems approach when teaching students and in a clinical setting.
Nurse Practitioner: Students are exposed to the advanced concepts that enable them to meet the health care needs of different types of people in a community/group/family or individual setting. The course is specifically targeted towards those that wish to undertake Family, Pediatric Primary Care, or Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program
The University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and School’s Commission on Colleges to offer doctoral programs. The program prepares students to use the research skills and knowledge they gain to better serve underserved families and thus improve the type of health care solutions that are offered to these populations. They will be prepared to assume leadership roles in nursing science, nursing practice and nursing education. Among other roles, students are trained to construct, test and modify theories taking into consideration the impact these have on the social, economical and cultural and scientific community.
Students must have a master of science in nursing degree (MSN) from an accredited institution and have a GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. They must also, among other requirements, have a current valid license to practice professional nursing in any state.
Distance Education program
Students interested in undertaking the role of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner can select the PhD and Master of Science program which are offered as distance education options. The school uses the Blackboard Academic Suite™ as a Web-based tool to deliver online courses. Students must have the latest version of JAVA installed on their computer to access the program.
In Summary:
Undergraduate Programs
Applicants to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (BS) must submit a criminal background check, a physical examination annually, immunization records, liability insurance, and CPR certification. The application process to the Hampton University School of Nursing is two tiers; lower division and upper division. Upper Division applicants are those who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at another post-secondary institution and would like to transfer, as well as those students who would do not have a declared major and would like to make nursing their declared major. Upper Division applicants must hold specific academic requirements.
Those Upper Division applicants must complete lower division courses and hold a University GPA of 2.7 or above. Applicants must also hold a “C” grade at minimum in all courses including; English, communication/speech, nutrition and all prerequisite math and science courses. Hampton University also offered an advanced placement option for applicants in high academic standing. Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses are admitted to the undergraduate programs with advanced placement as long as their license is without fault for programs including the LPN to BS program and the RN to BS program, for individuals who are already licensed as either a Licensed Practical Nurse or a Registered Nurse respectively. The College of Virginia Beach also offered an accelerated BS program
Graduate Programs
The School of Nursing at Hampton University also offers a Master of Science degree (MS) with three specific divisions; education, administration and nurse practitioner. The nurse practitioner stream has three specializations; pediatric, women’s health and family. There is also a Master of Health Administration degree. Clinical options include Community Health, Advanced Adult and Community Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing. If an individual has already earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, he or she is able to apply to complete a Master of Science in Nursing.
Hampton University’s School of Nursing also offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) for Nurse Practitioners and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Nursing. The PhD program in nursing focuses on families and family-related research and has a nurse educator stream as well. In order to apply to any of the doctoral programs in nursing, students must hold a master’s degree in nursing.
Contact:
Hampton University
100 E. Queen Street,
Hampton, VA 23668
Phone: (757)727-5000
