Nursing

The Department of Health Sciences at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in the University of Sciences and Arts in Lebanon (USAL) offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in partnership with Bahman Hospital University Medical Center in Beirut.

The BSN is a traditional three-year program that prepares students in the biological, physical, and health sciences, as well as the theory and practice of professional nursing. Nursing students also take core-required courses in the humanities and social sciences. This is achieved by integrating theoretical knowledge, psychomotor skill acquisition, and the development of clinical judgment and reasoning, featuring experienced faculty and high-tech nursing labs.

The nursing curriculum integrates professional, ethical, and legal standards with the development of  problem- solving, decision-making, and leadership skills. It promotes life-long learning among the graduates.

Graduates of the program are general nurses who are prepared to achieve distinction in the practice of the nursing profession in four disciplines: practice, teaching, research, and management. Graduates have the opportunity to practice their profession in one of the following areas:

1. Hospital units: Surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, coronary care, intensive care, operating room, dialysis room, psychiatry,….
2. Community health services: Schools, outpatient clinics, occupational health, health care centers, dispensaries,…
3. Extended care facilities: Nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, special needs / handicap services,….
4. Education and administration: Nursing schools, ambulatory care centers, governmental and non-governmental organizations, ….

The mission of the Department of Health Sciences is to promote, maintain, and restore the health and well-being of individuals and diverse communities through leadership and professional nursing education, research, and practice service. The department aims to contribute to forming a young and competent nurse generation empowered with science, experience, professionalism, integrity, and ethics, able to adapt to modern society, and to use the acquired skills and talents to meet the needs of the local and global labor market.

The vision of the Department of Health Sciences is to create a center of excellence in nursing education that will be recognized for scholarship, innovation, and service in the preparation of professional nurses.

The following objectives are set in line with the mission and vision of the department and with respect to the values of the university. Most of these objectives are derived based on the code of ethics for the nursing profession – The Order of Nurses in Lebanon, and based on some well-known and worldwide-referenced universities.

1. Educate nurses from different backgrounds to be efficient collaborators      in the healthcare system committed to increasing patient safety and improving the quality of outcomes through evidence-based practice.
2. Enhance the nurses’ academic experience to make professional judgments in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team using critical thinking and scientific inquiry competencies for high-quality and equitable nursing care.
3. Provide nurses with professional clinical practice to attain leadership capabilities in healthcare management and nursing interventions to improve the quality of nursing care delivered to different populations.
4. Help nursing graduates adapt to rapidly changing healthcare delivery and practice while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and ethics in nursing care.
5. Engage in self-development, life-long learning, and research projects on what constitutes safe with respect to rights and dignity and that advance nursing knowledge and best practices in health promotion, disease prevention, and rehabilitation .
6. Assess, identify, and develop plans to address community and health care facility needs, and implement, monitor, and evaluate these programs, considering high standards of nursing care.

The major requires 61 nursing credits, and 35 core/foundation courses. In addition, the students must take 9 credits of University Requirements, of which six credits are electives from other faculties. to make 105 Credits as Total Requirements.

Credit Distribution (Total 105 Credits)

University requirements: 12 credits

Program courses: 35 credits

Component courses: 61 credits

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

1. Submission of completed application form.
2. Successful completion of Lebanese Baccalaureate II or its equivalence.
3. A passing score (60/100) on Entrance Exam (remedial courses will be required otherwise)
4. Favorable recommendation following an interview with faculty.
5. Required health screens and immunizations.

Students holding a Lebanese “Technicien Supérieur” (TS) degree in Nursing are eligible to integrate the BSN program upon the satisfaction of the following:

1. Submission of completed application form.
2. Successful completion of Lebanese “Technicien Supérieur” (TS) degree in Nursing with an overall GPA of 12/20.
3. A passing score (60/100) on Entrance Exam (remedial courses will be required otherwise)
4. Successful completion of all prerequisite and required courses according to formal TS Lebanese equivalence decision 780/3/2013 sec. 16 Appendix 2 dated 1/7/2013.