Nursing - University of Maine at Augusta

UMA’s Holistic Nursing Program will prepare you with skills in clinical practice, communication, critical thinking and writing, research, and leadership.

One degree | Two Holistic Nursing Pathways

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is rapidly becoming the preferred educational credential for registered nurses, and we are delighted to help students earn this credential. UMA offers the Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Holistic Nursing with two pathways to degree completion; the traditional 4-Year program and the RN-BSN completion option. Holistic nursing focuses on the individualized care of the patient based on the principle that a patient’s biological, social, psychological, spiritual, and environmental aspects are all connected and need to be attended to individually while fostering healing relationships.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

UMA offers a 4-year pre-licensure holistic Nursing Program. This rigorous program prepares students to sit for the NCLEX and enter the field as registered nurses. This 4-year program is available at multiple UMA locations, including a residential opportunity in partnership with the University of Maine at Farmington. Students will be enrolled in UMA’s program while taking courses from both UMF and UMA, and enjoying a residential campus experience at UMF.

RN to BSN Completion Program

A program for registered nurses with their Associate’s Degree, our RN Completion Program offers a combination of fully online and blended learning courses. With a holistic approach and blended format, you will transform as a nurse and earn the qualifications necessary to take your career in new directions, to assume professional leadership positions, to adapt to the changing nature of health care and health care roles, to integrate the new science of informatics into your practice, and to pursue a graduate degree.

The University of Maine at Augusta Nursing Program, educates and embraces a diverse student population in holistic and integrative therapies using innovative technology and evidence-based practices to nurture future nurse leaders who serve and care for individuals across the lifespan.

We are committed to nurturing the growth of compassionate professional nurses who will embody the values of holistic caring using their wisdom, heart, and soul to make a difference.

The Nursing Program faculty believes that an individual is a holistic being with basic human needs aligning with Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Basic Human Needs are fundamental physiologic, psychological, social, and spiritual requirements for the well-being and health of an individual. Health is a dynamic state in which individuals adapt to internal and external environments to strive for optimal wellbeing and quality of life. Health incorporates human needs, developmental processes, and the ability to maximize individual potential. Each person has the right to participate in decisions, which affect health.

The Nursing Faculty embraces the philosophy of Relationship-Centered Care, which is the intentional cultivation of relationships. Relationship-Centered Care encompasses the values of respect for dignity and uniqueness of others, valuing diversity, integrity, humility, mutual trust, self-determination, empathy, and the capacity for grace and empowerment.

Nursing is a caring profession with a goal of assisting clients to achieve an individual level of wellness through a holistic caring approach. The client enters the health care delivery system for assistance in managing health needs. The profession requires clinical reasoning skills in order to make sound nursing care decisions, which incorporate accountability and integrity. Professional nursing actions are also based on a body of knowledge that is the integration of theory from the arts, humanities, physical sciences, and caring-humanistic sciences.

Consistent with UMA’s strong commitment to the adult learner, the Nursing Program has incorporated the principles of adult education in its curriculum. Learning is a linked effort of faculty and students that fosters life-long self-directed learning, critical thinking skills, and personal and professional growth. Learning is a continuous process, which involves the student’s intellect, feelings, values, interests, and past experiences. The role of the faculty member is that of an experienced teacher, facilitator, resource person, the role model of care and self-care, and the architect of a climate for learning. Faculty and students become partners in the relationship-centered educational experience.

An integral educational framework approach is utilized to further examine the health potential of self, patients, and communities while enhancing the students’ understanding of healing and holism. The Nursing Program prepares registered nurses for leadership roles in nursing while supporting their ability to create caring-healing sustainable holistic nursing practices. This is achieved through the practice of self-reflection and self-care.

Students are offered the opportunity to explore holistic-healing elective courses. Knowledge and skills acquired can be utilized in various clinical practice settings.

The BSN graduate has enhanced opportunities for career growth and leadership roles. Students are encouraged to pursue graduate-level studies.

In fulfilling our commitment to students’ learning needs, and in response to continual changes in healthcare, the faculty is committed to the integration of technology throughout the curriculum. The BSN curriculum is delivered via a variety of contemporary learning platforms, including hybrid, web-based, and simulation. The UMA nursing graduate is prepared to utilize nursing theory, technology, and evidenced based knowledge in the provision of holistic relationship centered care to patients and populations. The graduate nurse has the ability to adapt to the changing nature of health care and health care roles.

The University of Maine pre-licensure BSN option uses a concept based curriculum. This involves active learning on the student part. As an active learner, students are expected to complete some work prior to engaging in learning activities. Tickets to class (TTC), clinical paperwork (where applicable) and lab pre-learning activities are all part of this process therefore the late policy does not apply. These are necessary for student active participation in class, lab, and clinical activities and will not be granted late submission except for extenuating circumstances.

Revised 06/27/24

Students in the nursing program should expect to use a variety of technology throughout their course of study. It is a requirement to have access to high-speed internet.

Technical Skills

Students must have the ability to:

use multiple features in Office type programs (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
use email services
manage files (upload, delete, attach, save/back-up)
navigate the internet
download programs
upload assignments
accept and send text messages

Nursing Student Laptop Requirements

Laptops support learning and improve productivity of our nursing students in the classroom. Laptop computers enable students to take more comprehensive notes, stay organized, complete computerized examinations, and most importantly access a broad range of learning resources needed for class. Due to their portability, laptops aid in facilitating team-based assignments, encourage accessibility and connectivity here on campus and home environments.

Pre-licensure students must have unlimited and continual access to a laptop computer. The laptop must be available for students to use at home, and to bring to campus for all classes. The laptop must meet the minimum requirements, listed below, for hardware and software operating systems, and for compatibility with software in use by the school. Students are not required to buy a new laptop if their existing laptop meets the minimum requirements. RN-BSN students with no live on campus courses should have access to a laptop or desktop that meets the minimum specifications listed below.

Computer Configurations

Students are required to have access to a laptop. The laptop must be available for students to use at home, and to bring to campus for all classes. The laptop must meet all of the following minimum criteria/specs:
- Windows 10 (PC) or Apple OS X 10.13 “High Sierra” or newer. We recommend Windows10 Pro edition rather than Windows10 Home edition.
- Intel i5 or i7 processor (or comparable equivalent)
- 8GB RAM
- Hard Drive Storage: 256 GB should be the minimum, 500GB/1TB are preferred.
- PowerPoint 2016 or newer (see below)
- Broadband wireless access
- Capability for audio and video interfacing
The laptop must have automatic Windows/IOS updates configured. Windows10 by default the configuration is on. Windows10 also has an anti-virus by default.
Students that suspect that their laptop has been compromised, either by malware virus or phishing must immediately report the exposure to nursing faculty and phish@maine.edu UMA ITSS cannot work on personal devices.
The nursing student understands that technical support is limited to assistance with technical issues with Brightspace and Zoom by contacting the Helpdesk at 621-7400, 800-696-4357 or via Live Chat from itsupport.maine.edu. The Helpdesk can also assist with password reset.
The UMA IT Support Services staff are not responsible for assisting with personal student computers. IT can provide basic consulting guidance through the IT Helpdesk.
It is recommended to carry a laptop warranty with accidental damage protection that covers your time at UMA in the nursing program to avoid the possibility of educational interruptions.
Students should ensure the laptop is charged to adequate capacity in order to participate in class and for online examinations.
Students needing assistance in purchasing a laptop should consider accessing the UM Campus store.
Students that may not already have reliable access to high-speed internet should refer to the Resource Guide.

Microsoft Office

Microsoft offers their Office 365 suite of programs to faculty, staff, and students of higher education institutions that purchase Office for their entire campus.

Visit office.com and “Sign in” using your maine.edu email address.

Office can be installed for use on personal computers at no cost by signing in and selecting “Install Office”. The online version may also be used.

Accreditation

UMA’s BS in Nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
3343 Peachtree Rd NE Suite 850, Atlanta GA 30326
P: (404) 975-5000
F: (404) 975-5020

The University of Maine at Augusta BSN Nursing Program comprised of our BSN Prelicensure and RN-BSN tracks are pleased to receive an endorsement from the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation as one of only 18 nursing schools across the country. UMA’s Nursing Program may now provide graduates with an opportunity to sit for the Holistic Nursing Board Certification exam, a desired credential for holistic nurses. View the Current AHNCC Endorsed Nursing Programs »

This program will prepare you to be eligible for licensure in the State of Maine. Visit the UMS State Authorization & Licensure page to learn more about the licensure requirements in other states and territories, in addition to the contact information needed to inquire further into the licensure requirements associated with this program.