Bachelor of Science Nursing, BScN

The UWI BScN degree is offered at:

  • The UWI Mona Campus
  • The UWI Western Jamaica Campus (WJC)
  • Three (3) Tertiary Level Institutions

This programme of theory and clinical practice consists of 120 credits and is offered in eight (8) semesters and (1) summer. Candidates successfully completing this BScN programme will be eligible to apply to sit the Regional Examination for Nurse Registration (RENR). This will enable the individual to practice nursing in Jamaica and other CARICOM Countries.

The purpose of the programme is to provide the educational and experiential foundation for entry level professional nursing practice and to provide a base on which to build a career through graduate-level study in specialist areas such as midwifery, nurse practitioner, clinical specialists and nurse administrator and educator. The aim of the curriculum is to prepare professional nurses who possess leadership skills and have the necessary competencies to meet the demands in a growing and changing health care system.

The programme will prepare graduates who will:

  • be eligible to apply for entry to General Registry for Nurses of the Nursing Council of Jamaica or any other nursing legislative body in the CARICOM region;
  • display professional responsibility and accountability for safe nursing care to individuals, families and communities along the wellness-illness continuum and at any stage of the life cycle;
  • apply evidence-based nursing care to clients/patients and their families at any stage of the life cycle, in primary, secondary, tertiary or extended care facilities with respect for individuals rights.

Application forms are available at the UWI Admissions Office and at any of the other campuses. Completed applications with the requirements stated are to be submitted the Senior Assistant Registrar, Admissions Office, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica

Curriculum for Programme

Year/Specialization: 1
Course Code Course Credit Course Name
NURS 1111 3 Microbiology This course introduces learners to the fundamentals of microbiology, the microbial world, the beneficial and non beneficial effects of microbes and host microbe interaction. Microorganisms and human disease, infection control and the implications for and applications to the practice of nursing are examined. In this course the use of critical thinking is essential in understanding the relationship between humans and microorganisms; as well as the influence of microorganisms in the wellness-illness continuum.
NURS 1110 6 Human Anatomy & Physiology This course introduces learners to evidence-based knowledge of human anatomy and physiology of the healthy male and female body at various stages of the life cycle. Learners will utilize critical-thinking skills to relate structure to function, determining appropriate nursing reactions to deviations from normal physiology, and apply anatomical knowledge within his or her nursing practice. The course provides a foundation for integration of evidence-based knowledge in responding to persons along the wellness-illness continuum and across the life-cycle.
NURS 1117 3 Biochemistry & Nutrition This course establishes a biochemical foundation for the delivery of evidence-based nursing care to clients throughout the life-cycle and along the well-illness continuum. It assists learners to apply critical thinking in examining basic organic and biochemical processes specific to human nutrition. Additionally, the course explores international, regional and local frameworks for nutritional health.
NURS 1022 3 Pharmacology & Therapeutics in Nursing This course introduces the student to pharmacological sciences with respect to drug origin and administration. It exposes students to the legal and ethical responsibility and accountability inherent in the nursing functions related to the administration of drugs, as well as the cultural, social and psychological aspects of drug therapy. Emphasis is placed on safety and accuracy in administering prescribed medication dosages to persons throughout the life cycle and along the wellness-illness continuum. To successfully complete this course students are required to demonstrate 100% safety in drug administration and management during clinical practice.
Year/Specialization: 2
Course Code Course Credit Course Name
NURS 1011 3 Basic Physiology Content
NURS 2015 3 Introduction to Professional Nursing This course introduces learners to evolutionary and revolutionary aspects of the nursing profession. Learners apply critical thinking to an evidence-based analysis of the influence of religious, military, socioeconomic, geopolitical, legislative, technological, scientific and organizational factors on the development of nursing.  During their analysis, learners explore the impact of interpersonal relationships on the organization of nursing locally, regionally and internationally. In addition, the course enables learners to develop an appreciation for caring as the foundation of contemporary nursing roles and responsibilities in caring for patients throughout the life cycle along the wellness-illness continuum.
NURS 2016 2 Fundamental Nursing Skills Laboratory This is a two-part skills laboratory-based course which focuses on the new nursing students’ development of fundamental evidence-based practice competencies in uncomplicated settings. It introduces the nursing process as a foundation for determining, implementing and evaluating nursing actions to meet basic human needs and targets the psychomotor and affective learning domains. Through role-modelling and peer interactions, students are assisted to foster professional interpersonal relationships and ethical / legal sensitivity in providing basic nursing care to individuals across the life-cycle and along the wellness-illness continuum.
NURS 2118 3 The Nursing Proceses & Health Assessment This course consists of theoretical and clinical components and introduces the student to the theoretical bases of nursing and the nursing process as the foundation for the study and practice of nursing as well as the application of theory based nursing care. The application of critical thinking skills and evidence based nursing practice is essential in understanding the theoretical bases of nursing practice. Students are guided to use interpersonal relationships effectively in relating to the health care team and in promoting wellness and preventing illness at different stages of the life cycle.
NURS 2024 3 Human Pathophysiology In this course, the learners will utilize evidence-based nursing to interpret clinical manifestations of pathophysiological processes seen in diseases of the human body, along the wellness-illness continuum. The course will also utilize the nursing process in responding to wellness-illness states in patients through the integration of critical thinking and evidence based
NURS 2001 4 Clinical Practicum I This clinical practicum focuses on the integration and application of evidence-based knowledge into real and simulated clinical circumstances. Emphasis is given to the application of microbiology and pathophysiology as well as the nursing process, nutrition and physical assessment skills to care for individuals and families along the wellness-illness continuum and across the life cycle. Students’ development and refinement of psychomotor and affective skills will be facilitated to ensure positive interpersonal relationship as they interact with patients and the health team.
NURS 2125 3 Nursing Care of Children and Adolescents This course focuses on common health issues that affect children and adolescents (ages 0-18) phase of the life-cycle. It facilitates students’ development of a sound evidence-based framework to inform nursing practice in caring for children, adolescents and their families along the wellness-illness continuum. The course will engage students’ critical thinking in decision-making to deliver nursing care in various clinical settings.  Particular emphasis is placed on the unique developmental needs of each age group and on the ethical and legal aspects that are relevant to paediatric nursing. Students will utilize the nursing process as the central component to client-focused care and the ethical/legal framework will be integrated into caring and ethically sound approaches to care.
NURS 2126 3 Nursing Care of Adults This course focuses on health issues that affect men and women in the adult (ages 19 – 64) phase of the life-cycle. It facilitates students’ development of a sound evidence-based framework to inform nursing practice in caring for adults along the wellness-illness continuum. The course engages students’ critical thinking in decision-making to deliver nursing care in various clinical settings. Emphasis is placed on the nursing process as central to client-focused care and the ethical/legal framework will be integrated into caring and ethically sound approaches to care.
NURS 2002 6 Clinical Practicum II This clinical practicum focuses on the use of the nursing process in caring for individuals and their families in the medical-surgical setting particularly during childhood, adolescence and adulthood stages of the life-cycle. Especial emphasis is placed in the application of the knowledge gained in pharmacology and the development and refinement of psychomotor and interpersonal relationship skills. Additionally, this practicum promotes critical thinking and applying evidence-based practice to nursing care planning, implementation and evaluation along the wellness-illness continuum, unique to the named stages of human development in the medical-surgical setting.
Year/Specialization: 3
Course Code Course Credit Course Name
NURS 1010 3 Basic Anatomy
NURS 3000 3 Parent Child Nursing This course focuses mainly on the child bearing family and specifically on healthy mothers and well neonates. It engages the student in critical thinking and application of evidence-based practice in parent and child health.  It prepares students to demonstrate caring in delivering appropriate and effective nursing care to the parents during the pre-pregnancy period, parental and foetal health during pregnancy, labour, delivery and the puerperium. Emphasis is placed on foetal and neonatal transitions and neonatal life. Social, cultural, traditional and contemporary influences, sexuality, parenting and family life, gender issues, ethical and legal issues are explored as are health education, health promotion and family planning.
NURS3020 3 Primary Health Care Nursing This course provides an overview of primary health care in the community. It examines contemporary trends in primary health care delivery utilizing epidemiology as the corner stone science.  Emphasis is placed on effective utilization of the global strategy for primary health care in caring for individuals, families and communities throughout the life cycle and along the wellness-illness continuum. The course introduces the application of the theory and practice of community health nursing to public health issues; it also introduces the application of evidenced-based primary health practices health promotion and illness prevention. It addresses, and explores strategies for problem solving. Additionally students are guided to apply critical thinking in integrating the bio-psychosocial sciences and ethical and policy frameworks to primary health care
NURS 3023 3 Health Promotion This course focuses on the concepts, theories and principles of health promotion and health education. It facilitates students’ use of the nursing process and critical thinking in the application of these areas to the health and welfare of persons throughout the life cycle and along the wellness-illness continuum in primary and secondary prevention. Students will utilize evidence-based knowledge to inform individuals, families and communities as they engage in health promotion and health educational activities. Emphasis is placed on the use effective interpersonal relationship and caring in communicating health messages.
NURS 3010 5 Clinical Practicum III This practicum focuses on the synthesis of concepts of primary, secondary and tertiary levels of health care intervention in the conduct of evidence-based practice to care for individuals, families and communities across the life-cycle. It introduces the student to the use of the nursing process in perinatal care planning and engages them in primary health care policies and practices and health promotion. Additionally, it enables the students’ critical thinking in integrating the bio-psychosocial sciences into the primary care nursing of individuals, families and communities in all health care settings.
NURS 3027 3 Nursing Care of Older Adults This course focuses on a holistic approach in delivering nursing care to older adults and their families using the nursing process. In this course students will use critical thinking skills to incorporate various health sciences in particular pharmacology and pathophysiology.  It will also enable students to integrate developmental theories and concepts of primary health care in delivering evidence-based nursing care to clients and families in various health care settings. Emphasis will be placed on effective use of interpersonal relationship and caring attitudes towards older adults and the health team. The focus is also on various nursing theories related to the care of older adults along the life cycle and throughout the wellness-illness continuum.
NURS 3133 3 Nursing Care of Patients in Specialized Care Settings This course focuses on evidence-based practice in caring for individuals and families across the life-cycle who face sudden, unexpected, or acute and life threatening health-related events. These events include those requiring specialized nursing interventions. Critical thinking processes are engaged in applying of the nursing process to solving common and recurrent problems associated with sensory and motor functions. Additionally, it integrates ethical/legal frameworks into the context of specialized nursing care.
NURS 3136 3 Mental Health Nursing This course focuses on application of the nursing process in meeting the mental health needs of individuals, families and communities. This course exposes students to evidence-based knowledge and skills in the assessment, diagnosis and management of mental disorders in persons throughout the life cycle. The course prepares the learners to make sound clinical judgments using critical thinking skills and caring principles to provide evidenced- based nursing care. 
NURS 3110 5 Clinical Practicum IV This practicum emphasizes mastery in the application of the nursing process in caring for individuals across the life cycle, in specialized health care settings. It engages senior nursing students in independent and supervised evidence-based practice specific to mental health nursing, care of elderly adults and specialized medical/surgical nursing. Advanced interpersonal relationship, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are considered pivotal to efficient and accurate planning, implementing and evaluating therapeutic nursing interventions in acute, intermediary and other specialized clinical settings.
Year/Specialization: 4
Course Code Course Credit Course Name
NURS 4037 3 Introduction to Health Informatics This course introduces the student to health informatics. Emphasis is placed on current trends and issues in information management in healthcare and the utilization of technology to support nursing practice. Students will apply critical thinking skills to examine the various ways in which technology can support evidence-based information to improve the quality of nursing care regionally and internationally.
NURS 4034 3 Nursing Research Methodology This course exposes learners to the scientific method of enquiry and its relevance in investigating phenomena in health care. It engages learners in critical thinking to critique published research findings and theoretical frameworks that have applicability to nursing practice. The course facilitates the development of learners’ competencies in using the research process, using inferential statistics and transferring evidence-based knowledge into practice. The course also exposes learners to ethical frameworks for conducting research and using evidence-based knowledge.
NURS 4039 6 Senior Clinical Nursing Elective This clinical elective focuses the final year student on a selected area of nursing practice to enable the student to synthesize knowledge from the previous courses, strengthen professional attitudes and interpersonal relationships, integrate evidenced- based practice with principles of caring when managing aggregate of patients at various stages of the life-cycle, along the wellness-illness continuum. Additionally, it facilitates students’ self-directedness in determining and selecting a clinical area of interest and their subsequent refinement of clinical competence in that chosen field.
NURS 4034 3 Nursing Research Project This course provides students with mentorship and supervision in using the research process and evidence based approach to conduct of a small research study using the proposal developed in NURS3034.  Students are expected to collect data using an approved instrument, analyse and interpret data and write a project report.  This small study follows the scientific rigour of larger studies.
NURS 4032 7 Transition to Professional Nursing Practice with Practicum This course prepares the senior nursing student for the new role of registered nurse.  It engages the student’s critical thinking skills in examination of issues crucial to contemporary professional nursing practice and assists them to establish an evidence base for best clinical practice. The course guides the student through an analysis of frameworks for patient care management while focusing on the development of administrative skills. It anticipates that students will assume leadership roles and show increasing independence and competence in utilizing the nursing process to provide quality patient care along the wellness-illness continuum; across the life cycle. The student will be placed in the clinical setting for at least three (3) days per week.
NURS 4033 8 Clinical Internship This clinical nursing internship is a ten-week intensive clinical experience that provides students with an opportunity to synthesize knowledge and skills acquired in the previous 8 semesters of the BScN programme in various health care settings locally, regionally or internationally.  The internship will bridge the gap between undergraduate education and “real-life” professional nursing practice, by assisting the nursing student to transition to an independent, competent professional. The student will be supported in consolidation of clinical and leadership skills to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team. This practicum experience will allow students to analyze the broad cultural, environmental, socio-economic, and political systems that contribute to health status and outcomes, health policies, and health care delivery

Qualifications for Admission

  1. Candidates must be at least seventeen (17) years old at the beginning of the academic year of entry andHave at least two, 2-unit CAPE subjects at grades I to IV. One from Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Biology and one subject from any of the other subject areas, as specified by the Nursing Council of Jamaica (CAPE requirements waived for applicants to the 2012/2013 academic year) and
  2. Have at least 5 CSEC/CXC/GCE subjects (No more than two subjects at CXC General III or at GCE O’ Level C). The combination of these subjects must be taken from the categories listed below:

English Language,

one subject from Mathematics, Physics or Statistics

one subject from Biology, Human & Social Biology, Integrated Science
and two subjects from Agricultural Science, Geography, Caribbean History, A Modern Language, Social Studies, Religious Education, Food & Nutrition, Home Economic Management, Principle of Accounts, Principles of Business, English Literature, Business Studies, Information Technology, or Chemistry; andHave successfully completed 1st semester/year courses in any Tertiary Level Institution recognized for credits by the University of the West Indies or

     3.   Hold qualifications from Tertiary Level Institution recognized by the University of the West Indies and

Persons age 21 years and over who do not satisfy the entry requirements may be considered for entry to the programme. Applicants will be required to submit full details of their academic and professional attainments and overall experience