Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The curriculum of the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN), at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, is distinguished by its comprehensiveness and objectivity.  It has been developed in both a scientific and methodological way in order to match the accredited curricula in international universities and has been designed to keep up with the latest academic developments and applications as well as to meet the requirements of the NCAAA.  The curriculum also covers the various health problems peculiar to the Saudi Arabian community, so that our graduates have a clear understanding and appreciation of their future clients’ specific concerns.

College

College of Nursing

Campus

Dammam

Track

Health

Level

Undergraduate

Degree

BSc

Gender

Female, Male

Years of study

5 (1 prep + 3 college + 1 Internship)

Credit hours

136

Additional requirements

Internship

Vision

To be innovative cornerstone of nursing nationally, regionally and internationally through the use of technology within a caring context.

Mission

Offer a dynamic, comprehensive, and innovative educational experience and research, to graduate Saudi Nurses with high scientific and clinical competencies meeting the health care needs of the community within the context of Islamic culture, beliefs, and values.

Goals

Values

• Comply with and incorporate Islamic and community beliefs with the ethics of the profession.
• Quality performance.
• Development of confidence.
• Transparency.
• The pursuit of self-education.

Program Graduate Attributes 

Patient-Centred Care
The graduates will use problem-solving and decision-making skills to develop comprehensive patient, family, and community-focused care plan.

Communication and Teamwork
The graduate will utilise effective communication, interpersonal and interprofessional skills to deliver patient care and maintain patient advocacy

Evidence-based practice
The graduate will utilise research and evidence-based practice to deliver optimum patient care.

Quality management /patient safety
The graduate will deliver safe nursing practice, utilising risk management and quality improvement strategies.

Leadership
The graduates will assume professional and leadership roles in the delivery of efficient nursing practice in ever changing health care system.

Digital Skills
The graduate will utilise technology in the delivery of patient care and nursing practice.

Program Learning Outcomes

Clinical Training

The students’ practical training starts in the nursing clinical laboratories where the students safely practice various nursing skills before practicing them at the hospital and in different training centers, followed by hospital training in the different departments at King Fahd University Hospital and other accredited centers. The different nursing specialties that should be covered in practical training include:

• Fundamentals of Nursing
• Medical Surgical Nursing
• Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
• Obstetric and Gynecologic Nursing
• Pediatric Nursing
• Community Health Nursing
• Administration and Leadership Nursing
• Critical Care Nursing

The students will also take courses that support and complement their training:

• Nursing Informatics

• Human Relations and Communication Skills

• Psychology

• Epidemiology and Biostatistics

• Introduction to Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice

• Teaching Skills

Students' Assessment and Evaluation

• The Examination Committee and the Departmental Boards administer the examinations.
• These are written, practical, clinical and sometimes oral examinations for marginal cases.
• The written examination consists of multiple choice questions, short essay answers, structured questions and problem solving questions.
• Practical and clinical examinations (OSCE + OSPE).
• Examinations comply with the content of courses and percentage weight as announced to the students.
• Correction and analysis of the questions will be done electronically.
• Continuous Assessment:  comprises a number of advertised and ad hoc tests, assignments and attendance at lectures and practicals.
• Examination timetables are announced at least two weeks before the set date for the beginning of exams.
• The final result is computed for each course from the Continuous Assessment, Final, Practical and Clinical Examination (student portfolio).
• External examiners are invited yearly to assess the congruence of the examinations with the courses' objectives and outcomes as well as with the overall program objectives.

Accreditation

Students have to pass the Preparatory year program, then they will be allowed to continue their studies in the Bachelor of Nursing Program at the College of Nursing, provided that:
1. The student passes all of the courses offered in the Preparatory year program of the nursing track.
2. The student obtains a cumulative GPA of 3 out 5.

The Program comprises 3 phases

• Phase one: Preparatory Year Program (first year; first 2 semesters)

The Preparatory year program applies to all students who are admitted by the colleges participating in the Preparatory Year. The study in the Preparatory year program comprises two semesters. It could be extended to one more semester in the summer. Students have to pass the Preparatory year program, then they will be allowed to continue their studies in the college in which they were initially accepted, provided that:

• The student passes all of the courses offered in the Preparatory year program.
• The student obtains a cumulative average of at least 300 out of 500 at the end of the second semester of the Preparatory Year.
• The student receives a minimum grade of ‘C’ in all the English language courses or a score of 450 in the TOEFL test.

In order to be accepted into the College of Nursing, the students should register in the Health track.

• Phase two: Includes the next 3 years (6 semesters), it comprises of basic clinical experiences and specialized clinical experiences.

General Education Courses such as anatomy & physiology, pathology, and pharmacology are undertaken along with Specialised Nursing Courses as Medical-surgical nursing, pediatric, and Community Health Nursing. Each course has a prerequisite and is studied at a specific level within the curriculum as it is a requirement for other courses.
The General Education Courses are offered by various colleges at the university such as the College of Medicine and the College of Clinical Pharmacy. The General Education Courses serves the BScN curriculum as its learning outcomes are in line with the program learning outcomes.
The Specialised Nursing Courses are the core courses of the BScN curriculum. They provide theoretical information and practical training for the students utilizing high fidelity simulation labs and different clinical settings that fulfill the requirements of each course.

• Phase three: Internship Year

Following successful completion of the four years (8 Levels) in the undergraduate nursing program, the student must spend 52 weeks of hospital-based internship period in a recognized hospital that can offer a proper training area to meet the objectives of the internship program. This period of practical, managerial and theoretical experience will enable the graduate to acquire more competency and experience to perform as an independent nurse specialist (as per Saudi council for health specialties accreditation) and as a nursing manager and will enable her to adjust to the real practical life in different units in the hospital settings. By the successful completion of this internship period, the graduate is expected to fulfill the objectives of the program and will be awarded the BScN certificate.