University of Balamand | Nursing Program

NURSING AT UOB

The Nursing Program at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), University of Balamand (UOB) offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in English & French, and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in English in two fields of specialization: Adult Care and Neonatology and Pediatric Care.

The BSN program is competency based and student-centered. It is recognized at the national and international levels. It embraces an evidence-based health care education underpinned by research and ethics. In addition to the generic curriculum designed to foster students’ critical thinking and clinical reasoning, the Program offers a TS-BSN ladder program that bridges between technical and university education.

The curriculum is continuously updated to meet the ever-changing health education and healthcare needs. Offering the Program in two languages and on three campuses: Al Kurah (North), Dekwaneh (Beirut), and Souk El Ghareb (Aley) makes it more accessible for the public. The Program offers scholarships and significant financial aid in addition to work opportunities. It is important to note that the BSN in the French language is only offered on the Dekwaneh (Beirut) Campus.

WHY NURSING?

It is a reputable Program that is recognized at the national and international levels.
It fosters students’ critical thinking and clinical reasoning. The competency-based curriculum is updated based on evidence, to meet the changing healthcare needs.
It has been utilizing various platforms over the years to facilitate blended learning and online education.
It has advanced laboratories that enhance experiential learning, and stat -of- the art and advanced library resources/databases for health and nursing.
It has qualified and capable academic faculty and human resources, with friendly and supportive environment, and individual tutoring of students in classes and clinical settings.
It has developed partnerships with leading hospitals/training sites.
It offers scholarships and significant financial aid in addition to student work opportunities.
It facilitates the students’ active involvement in community-based projects to bridge academic and community-oriented work.
Its graduates have an excellent reputation in the market, which allows them to maintain good positions within different settings.

WHAT WILL YOU STUDY?

The Nursing Program focuses on enhancing the critical thinking and analytical skills of its students. Students acquire a broad knowledge base, ranging from humanities to the social sciences, and biological sciences, including human physiology, anatomy, microbiology, and natural and nursing sciences. The experiential learning and professional internship allow students to have real-time experience within different healthcare settings and to work as a member of an interdisciplinary team. Students are involved in decision-making and administrative processes, where they can develop their clinical judgement, decision-making, leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

The curriculum is composed of 100 credits, which could be acquired over a minimum of 3 years. Students also have paid internships and acquire first aid certification.

CAREER PROSPECTS

Professional nurses are in great demand in Lebanon and abroad

Abundant work opportunities are available in several settings:

Nathalie Mounayar, RN

Current MSN student: Adult Care Nursing

I joined the Nursing Program at UOB in 2010 as an undergraduate student. I was active and engaged in faculty student life as Club President of the Nursing Society in 2013. I excelled academically and was also highly dedicated to my profession in order to enhance the image of our profession. In this regard, I was awarded by the Beirut Lions Club the “Distinguished Student Nurse" award in 2014. After graduating, I joined Saint George Hospital University Medical Center as a medical surgical Registered Nurse and became one of the preceptors for Balamand Nursing Students. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I was one of the frontliners who worked with passion beside the patients to deliver the highest quality of care and give them the highest support. I’m currently pursuing a higher degree in nursing, the MSN in Adult Care Nursing, also at Balamand, as I believe that my educational goals are in line with this University’s goals.
Carina Boghossian

Current Nursing Student

It has been a long hard walk. Nursing had prepared me, built my confidence, and showed me that I can handle more than I thought I ever could. It taught me how to hold back my tears during the toughest situations. This journey of mine has been overwhelming and filled with endless study nights, tiring clinical rotations but I am forever grateful, for it showed me how to adapt and continue to give my all. I want to thank my beloved University of Balamand and my insightful instructors for their sacrifice, patience, and their continuous support, because thanks to them, I have become the best version of myself, and will forever pour everything in me to witness a patient's smile.
Karim El Ferkh, RN

Nursing Program Graduate (Graduated Spring 2011);
PhD – University of Edinburgh

I would describe the University of Balamand as exciting and dynamic, but I was initially attracted by the Nursing Program’s reputation – and the knowledge that I would gain, which would strongly support my career goals. Not only is the major first-class, but as a student, I was given many opportunities to volunteer for community outreach such as running general health check-ups at schools in underprivileged areas. This gave me leadership and teamwork skills. UOB also helped me build a strong nursing foundation and prepared me well for the challenges of my post-grad pathways. I encourage new students to seize every opportunity that comes their way and use the support structures that are in place to their full advantage. The staff, teachers, and supervisors will offer wonderful support and encouragement throughout the challenging journey of nursing school.
Pamela Zeinoun, RN

Nursing Program Graduate
(Graduated Spring 2015)

You all should be proud of yourselves for being part of the University of Balamand. We have been granted the basis of everything we know from the most prestigious and most welcoming university. This basis that was worked on by many instructors and professors is what makes us as good today. For nursing students specifically, you are doing the right thing and do not let anyone convince you otherwise. There will come a day when you experience that there is nothing more noble than what you are doing. I can promise you that you will be fully equipped with the knowledge, the know-how, and the care needed to start your journey as a Nurse. I was at work in SGHUMC on August 4, 2020 when the blast occurred. The experience was devastating, but I was able to make the right decision. Being in the right place at the “right” time urged me to rescue three premature babies from Port blasts. I personally am forever grateful to the Nursing Program at the University of Balamand.

Effective December 20, 2022, this nursing program is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires on December 20, 2024.

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CHAIRPERSON’S MESSAGE

Mathilde Azar, Midwife, MSN, DEA, PhD
mathilde.azar@balamand.edu.lb

The Nursing Program at the Faculty of Health Sciences - University of Balamand was founded in 1995 with the aim of promoting the nursing profession and impacting the development of the healthcare sector in Lebanon and the region. The Nursing Program has the BSN Program with the regular and premedical track, and the bridging program BT and TS to BSN. It also includes the Program of Master of Science in Nursing with two areas of concentration, Adult Care and Neonatal and Child Care.

The Nursing Program has made considerable progress in achieving accreditation with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The Nursing Program hosted the ACEN candidacy site visit in 2022 and the candidacy status has been granted for two years. ACEN accreditation contributes to enhancing the quality of nursing education, and benefiting graduates from a wide range of opportunities for career development and admission to graduate education.

The world Health Organization announced the need of at least 6 million new nursing jobsif we want to reach the goal of universal health coverage by 2030. In compliance with this goal and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Nursing Program at the University of Balamand provides excellence in nursing education to prepare professionals who provide healthcare for people of all age groups and cultures, and improve the health and well-being of the individuals and communities. The Nursing Program is located in three university campuses in different areas of Lebanon and offers many facilities to attract and retain undergraduate and graduate candidates to increase the nursing work force that is witnessing massive migration due to the economic crisis.

Our Nursing Program has played a leadership role in graduating highly qualified professionals who assume an array of diversified nursing responsibilities and lead best practicessupported by scientific knowledge and scholarly activities. We are very proud of our students and graduates who courageously participated in the management of the disaster after the explosion of August 4.They have also been at the frontlineduring the COVI-D-19 pandemic and played a pivotal role in screening, vaccinating, and caring for the patients.

Our nursing curricula are periodically revised to adopt the best teaching and learning strategies and assessment methods. We built MOUs with different healthcare centres to enhance students’ experiential learning. Our dedicated multidisciplinary faculty team and clinical preceptors support students to engage in active learning and become life-long learners.

Offering rigorous undergraduate and graduate nursing education, underpinned by Ethical and professional standards, and delivered in a friendly environment, is key to the mission of the Nursing Program at the University of Balamand.

Mathilde Azar, Midwife, MSN, DEA, PhD

Director, Nursing Program

Faculty of Health Sciences

mathilde.azar@balamand.edu.lb

University of Balamand

T: +961 1 495 833 Ext: 5128

PROGRAMS

The Nursing Program offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), TS-BSN ladder program, Pre-med track, and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in two tracks: Adult Care; and Neonatal and Child Care.

The curriculum is competency-based, Community-based, and Population-focused. The language of instruction is English in the BSN and MSN programs or French in the BSN Program on the Dekwaneh Campus.

BS nurses are equipped with broad knowledge and skills that allow them to continue in post-graduate studies in several disciplines such as Medical-Surgical, Gerontology, Oncology, Traumatology/Emergency, and Neonatal and Child Care. They can also get a university diploma or certificate that broadens their professional performance and allows them to become clinical specialist in their area of interest.

Continuing education courses are offered for working nurses to upgrade their competencies in different areas.

Nurses can also complete premedical track requirements and pursue their medical study after completing their BSN degree.

FACILITIES

The Nursing laboratories at the Main Campus (Kurah), Dekwaneh Campus (Beirut), and Soul El Ghareb Campus (Aley) provide our students with a safe learning experience in a dynamic and diverse environment. It is important for nursing students to consider the training lab as a safe environment designed and aimed to allow them to become familiar and comfortable with the skills needed, prior to starting their clinical practices in hospital settings.

Experiential learning in the nursing laboratory and in the clinical settings are an integral part of all nursing courses. The labs are designed and equipped to meet the learning needs of undergraduate and graduate students, and the requirements of different courses such as Introduction to Nursing Practice, Nursing Care of Adults, Nursing Care of Children etc. They are equipped with low and middle fidelity mannequins for students to perform basic and complex nursing procedures on., The environment in the Nursing lab emulates the real hospital setting.