School of Nursing Information

Mission

The mission of the Carlow University School of Nursing is to educate novice to advanced practice to doctoral-prepared nurses to meaningfully impact the quality of health care as clinicians, educators, leaders, and researchers. A high-tech learner-centered curriculum is founded on evidence-based practice which fosters teamwork and collaboration in the promotion of patient-centered care uniquely influenced by the Mercy tradition and founded on the core values embedded in sacredness of creation, service to humanity, integrity, and social justice. A scholar practitioner model is nurtured to instill a passion for excellence and lifelong learning.

Vision

Carlow University School of Nursing educates practitioners of tomorrow and encourages a passion for discovery, innovative practice, and application in an evolving healthcare arena.

Nursing Programs at Carlow University

• Practical Nurse Certificate Program
• RN to BSN
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Masters of Science in Nursing Leadership and Education
• Masters of Science in Nursing Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) Nurse Practitioner
• Masters of Science in Nursing Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 
• Masters of Science in Nursing Women’s Health Gender Related Nurse Practitioner
• Post Masters Certificate in Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) Nurse Practitioner
• Post Masters Certificate in Women’s Health Gender Related Nurse Practitioner
• Post Masters Certificate in Nursing Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Doctor of Nursing Practice

Program Outcomes

BSN Degree Outcomes*

All Carlow Nursing BSN Graduates will:

1. Integrate theories and concepts of human experience from the humanities and social/natural sciences into professional practice.
2. Transition into the professional nursing role: demonstrating critical reasoning, providing respectful, compassionate care, valuing life-long learning and practicing within professional legal and ethical frameworks.
3. Demonstrate leadership and interprofessional collaborative communication to achieve patient safety, quality improvement and patient advocacy in healthcare delivery systems.
4. Integrate evidence; clinical experience; interprofessional perspectives; and patient-centered (or individual, family, and community) preferences into the plan of care.
5. Implement information technology knowledge, skills and attitude in the delivery of patient-centered care in diverse settings.
6. Apply basic knowledge of the impact of political, financial, and regulatory systems on the rapidly changing healthcare environment.
7. Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills for respectful interprofessional collaboration.
8. Collaborate with individuals, the interprofessional team, and the community to promote positive health outcomes and decrease health disparities.
9. Incorporate professional nursing standards and accountability into safe and competent individual and system-level practice.

*The overarching outcomes for all BSN Program Tracks reflect: The Sisters of Mercy Core Values (Carlow University Mission Statement, 2009), the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) BSN Essentials (2008), and the QSEN Pre-licensure Competencies (2012).

MSN Degree Outcomes*

All Carlow Nursing MSN Graduates will:

1. Incorporate primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of prevention efforts in the care of individuals, families, and communities.
2. Demonstrate leadership and interdisciplinary skills in advocating for individuals, families, and communities to influence health care policy.
3. Collaborate as a member of an interdisciplinary team with organizations, populations, and professional communities.
4. Evaluate and modify approaches to health care delivery utilizing principles of continuous quality improvement.
5. Assimilate ethical, legal, and practice standards from professional organizations into the practice setting to enable preparation for certification in a variety of advanced roles.
6. Synthesize nursing, medical, and other relevant knowledge to engage in evidence-based practice.
7. Recommend practice changes based on integration of the evidence with clinical expertise, patient preferences, and available health care resources.
8. Demonstrate leadership abilities in practice and actively assist others in professional growth.
9. Analyze health care delivery and finance systems in order to design and implement cost containment and care coordinator strategies.
10. Employ technology and information systems in the transformation of health care delivery.
11. Develop a foundation for lifelong learning and doctoral studies.

*These overarching outcomes for all MSN Program Tracks reflect the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials.

DNP Program

All Carlow Nursing DNP graduates will:

1. Critically appraise current scientific findings and theories to enhance the practice of nursing and health care
   1. Evaluate strengths, limitations, and disparities in current health care systems and care to diverse populations
   2. Integrate current theoretical and research literature to impact positively the quality of health care
   3. Construct, and evaluate new approaches to practice, utilizing a collaborative interdisciplinary approach
2. Translate and utilize evidence-based concepts and information systems to promote optimal health. health in diverse populations, settings, and systems
   1. Use databases, information technology, and research methods to participate in data collection that generates and evaluates evidence-based practice
   2. Design effective methods for the empowerment of health care consumers that encourages active participation in their own health care
   3. Evaluate, apply, and revise evidence-based practice protocols to promote wellness
3. Create leadership roles and collaborate with other professionals to effect changes within complex systems of care a. Propose and implement ongoing changes in delivery approaches and health care systems to promote quality, safe care
   1. Impact the ethical, economic, social, and political issues that affect health care outcomes
   2. Develop, advocate for, and promote health care initiatives at local, regional, and/or national levels
   3. Promote fiscally responsible quality care/outcomes.
4. Pursue clinical scholarship and scientific inquiry to transform health care practice and systems
   1. Demonstrate accountability for and utilization of evidence-based practice principle and the practice of advanced nursing
   2. Advance the practice of nursing through scholarship, mentorship, and leadership efforts
   3. Disseminate results of evidence-based practice protocols, systems changes, and population health care initiatives.

The overarching outcomes for the DNP Program reflect the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) DNP Essentials.

Approvals

All nursing programs that are offered at Carlow University are fully approved by:

Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing
P.O. Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649 
Phone: +1 (717) 783-7142  

Certification Pass Rates

2022 FNP Graduates: AANP Certification Pass Rate 90%
2022 Women’s Health Graduates NCC First Time Pass Rate “Very Strong”

Program Pass Rates

2023 BSN Programs NCLEX-RN First-Time Pass Rate 93%

Accreditation

The (baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master’s degree program in nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate program) at Carlow University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

Carlow University is accredited by:

Pennsylvania State Board of Education
333 Market Street, 1^st Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Phone: +1 (717) 787-3787

Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
1007 North Orange Street
4^th Floor MB# 166
Wilmington, DE 19801