Student Information Handbook, Current Students
Refer to the Student Information Handbook for policies on professional behavior and clinical requirements.
Student and Faculty Newsletter
Contact Information and Office Hours
The department office location, fax number, and hours are at the bottom of the page. Hours may vary; changes are posted on office doors. Appointments are appreciated.
Theresa Gropelli, PhD, RN
Professor, Chairperson - Nursing and Allied Health
Telephone: 724-357-2558
Email: tgropell@iup.edu
Department Email:
Advising Information
Your Advisor
All nursing students are assigned an academic advisor. Please check MyIUP to find out more information about your advisor.
Registration
Registration for the Spring semester begins in mid-October. Registration for fall semester and summer sessions begins in mid-March. Schedules are available through MyIUP and are typically posted several weeks before the registration period begins.
Some nursing students receive an early registration time each semester to facilitate scheduling of science courses and are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to get the best schedule possible. Students must schedule an appointment to meet with their advisor each semester to discuss academic progress and plans for the next semesters. At that meeting, students will receive their Personal Identification Number (PIN), which is needed to access the registration system. Sign-up times for advising appointments are posted in mid-February and mid-September, and advisees are notified by e-mail when advising appointments begin.
The IUP email account is the official form of communication while a student is at IUP. All department and advising information will be shared through IUP email. Students are expected to check their IUP email frequently and use their IUP email address when sending email to anyone in the IUP community. Important and helpful information is sent to students from the chairperson, faculty, secretary, registrar, and others. Assistance with the use of the IUP email system and other technology support is available at IT Support.
Resources and Information for Nursing Students
Employment Opportunities
- Anova Home Health Service Nurse (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- St. Andrews Village Registered Nurse (Indiana, Pennsylvania); Nurse Aide (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
- Alleghenies Unlimited Care Providers
MyIUP
MyIUP provides links to a wide variety of information and resources, including the academic calendar, schedules, financial aid and billing, grades, how to calculate a grade point average (GPA), and details about graduation. A link to Writing Intensive courses is also available.
Academic Support
Tips for Success
- Get organized: Keep a detailed calendar with assignment due dates, exams, and other important dates. Block off study time and prepare for exams and assignments in advance.
- Make academic success a priority: Do your work first and there will be plenty of time for getting involved in campus, community, and social activities.
- Seek help to succeed and excel: IUP offers outstanding academic support services that help students be successful in their classes. Meet with your professors during their office hours and take advantage of workshops, supplemental instruction, tutors, and the Writing Center.
Coursework at Another College or University
Many students plan to take courses during the summer at other colleges or universities. This excellent strategy allows students to take a lighter course load during the academic year, pursue a special area of interest, or stay on track for the clinical year. Students interested in registering for courses at other colleges or universities should follow the steps listed below:
- Meet with your advisor to discuss options.
- Use the Online Credit Evaluation System to check course equivalency.
- Contact the other college or university for details about schedules, registration, tuition, etc.
- Submit an Application for Pre-Approval of Coursework at Another College or University.
- Earn a C or higher grade to have credits posted to IUP transcript.
- Request an official transcript be sent to IUP Admissions Office, Credit Evaluation, Sutton Hall, Room 117, 1011 South Drive, IUP, Indiana, PA 15705.
- If you plan to complete BIOL 150 Human Anatomy and/or BIOL 151 Human Physiology at another college or university, you must be certain the courses are equivalent to the IUP courses. Many colleges and universities offer these courses as Anatomy and Physiology I and II. If so, you must complete both I and II at that college or university to have the courses posted to your IUP transcript as BIOL 150 and BIOL 240.
Consider Completing a Minor
Nursing students who are not on a four-year plan and find themselves needing some extra credits to maintain full-time status may find it helpful to obtain a minor. Students may discuss potential minors with their advisor. Nursing students commonly explore a minor in psychology, human development and family science, nutrition, and/or biology.
Clinical Course Information
Students begin their clinical practice their sophomore year and, in over six semesters, complete 52 credits in nursing courses.
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Sophomore-level clinical experiences include health promotion projects with the elderly and participation in flu shots at the University's Health Service. Sophomore-level students spend a portion of their clinical time practicing basic skills in our skills/simulation laboratory on campus, then a portion in Assisted Living or Nursing Homes in the local community.
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Clinical courses at the sophomore level, NURS 211 Fundamentals I Clinical and NURS 213 Fundamentals II Clinical, are three hours per week.
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Junior-level students will complete clinical experiences in medical surgical, maternal child health, and pediatrics, while senior-level students will have clinical rotations in critical care, leadership/management, community health, and psychiatric nursing. The senior level also includes a preceptor experience, which provides the student nurse an opportunity to practice with a registered nurse. Junior- and senior-level students attend clinical two days a week.
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Clinical courses at the junior and senior levels (NURS 337 Adult Health I Clinical, NURS 331 Care of the Child and Family, NURS 333 Maternal-Neonatal Health, NURS 437 Adult Health II Clinical, NURS 440 Nursing Management Clinical, NURS 431 Public/Community Nursing, and NURS 433 Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical) are conducted at facilities within approximately 60 miles of Indiana, Pa.
Clinical agency affiliates of IUP include Indiana Regional Medical Center, Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, Penn Highlands DuBois, Excela Health Latrobe Hospital, Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital, Visiting Nurses Association of Indiana, St Andrew's Village, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, West Penn Hospital, and several other agencies in the region.
Travel to Clinical Sites
All students must make arrangements for their own transportation to clinical sites. IUP vans are no longer available for students to use for transportation.
Uniform
All nursing students are required to wear a student uniform. Information for obtaining student uniforms is provided at the sophomore orientation prior to the start of sophomore-level clinical. The student dress code is available in the Student Information Handbook.
Liability Insurance
Each student must purchase liability insurance. Students must carry professional liability of $1,000,000/$3,000,000, which pays up to $1,000,000 for each claim up to a total of $3,000,000 in any one year. Students are not permitted to begin clinical practice until proof of liability insurance is received by the Nursing Department. Contact the Nursing Department with any questions.
Graduation
Undergraduate students are required to apply for graduation in their next-to-final semester of enrollment. The graduation application may be completed online.
- Students graduating in May apply online by November 15.
- Students graduating in August and December apply online by April 1.
A Nursing Department ceremony is held in May of each year. May and August graduates will also be invited to the university commencement ceremony in May.
December graduates will be invited to participate in the university's commencement ceremony scheduled in December. Details about commencement may be found at Commencement.
Student Organizations
There are several nursing student organizations students can choose to join while they are in the Nursing program.
- ATD (Alpha Tau Delta)
- Sigma Theta Tau
- SNAP-IUP
- Nurse's Christian Fellowship (NCF)
- Class Officers
- Student Advisory Committee
Student Scholarships
Scholarship information is available in the department on the Scholarship Bulletin Board located by 228 and 229 Johnson Hall. In addition, nursing scholarship information is available for you to review online.