Nursing ASN

Goal 1: Integrate theoretical and experiential knowledge from the general education curriculum into nursing practice.

Goal 2: Utilize clinical judgment and clinical reasoning as a basis for safe and competent nursing practice.

Goal 3: Provide holistic care which promotes health with respect for dignity, diversity, and the inherent rights of clients.

Goal 4: Practice within the legal and ethical framework of nursing.

Goal 5: Demonstrate inter and intra professional communication and collaboration to improve client outcomes.

Goal 6: Integrate principles of quality and safety in nursing practice.

Goal 7: Assume accountability for intellectual growth, professional development, and competent practice.

1. Clinical attendance is mandatory. Students must be punctual and prepared for all clinical experiences regardless of type (client care, simulation, observational experience, seminar, virtual, etc.). Time missed for dismissal from any clinical experience is considered clinical absence. 

2. Clinical experiences are a vital component of the learning experience, and students are expected to attend all clinical hours as scheduled. Faculty recognize that extenuating circumstances occur; thus, any student exceeding two absences per course may be dismissed from the course delaying progression. All students are required to make-up missed clinical hours, incomplete clinical hours will result in course failure, with a grade of (F) submitted for the course. 

3. All clinical absence time and unplanned SNAH closure on clinical days will be made up as allocated by the course faculty. Make-up days will be designated on a monthly basis. Students missing a clinical prior to the designated day are expected to make it up on the designated day unless otherwise directed by the course coordinator. Weekend students will be assigned a weekend make-up as designated on the clinical schedule. For NUR 115 and NUR 265, students will be required to complete clinical make-up as allocated and scheduled per syllabus. No changes will be made to scheduled clinical make-up days.

4. A grade of incomplete would be earned if an absence is incurred within the last two weeks of the semester with the make-up scheduled at the discretion of the program. 

5. The first clinical make-up day will not incur a fee. Additional make-up days will incur a fee of $200 per absence per course, which will be billed to the student’s account. 

6. Students are responsible for reporting a clinical absence at least 30 minutes before each day of their assigned clinical time or as otherwise directed by the course faculty. 

7. Students are responsible for reporting clinical tardiness as soon as possible or as otherwise directed by the course faculty. 

8. Students not properly reporting a clinical absence or tardiness will receive a warning from the course faculty. A second offense may result in failure of the course. 

9. Students are granted one excused late arrival for up to 30 minutes. This late arrival will not count toward the course hour limit and the student will be permitted to complete the clinical day. Subsequent tardiness shall result in the student being dismissed from the clinical setting and clinical absence time will be accrued for that clinical day. 

Academic Progression Policy

The Nursing curriculum is designed to move the student from a fundamental understanding of basic concepts to complex critical thinking and application in clinical settings. Academic progression is designed to support educational success, licensure and transition to practice. 

This policy delineates the academic standards required of students admitted to the pre-licensure undergraduate nursing program.

Definitions

A course attempt in one pre-licensure nursing program applies to all pre-licensure programs.

A leave of absence does not negate previously attempted nursing courses. 

An attempt is defined as earning a grade in a course or late-dropping the course.

Progression Requirements

1. A student must have a minimum earned cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to enter into the required Nursing courses beginning with NUR 115. Students are expected to maintain a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA while in the nursing program. Students with less than a GPA of 2.50 will be placed on Academic Probation. Students who are on Academic Probation for 2 consecutive semesters will be dismissed from the program.
2. Successful completion of required Nursing courses  is defined as a 77% or better according to the School of Nursing and Allied Health Grading Scale. Required Nursing (NUR) Courses are:
   • NUR 115 Introductory Concepts of Health & Illness
   • NUR 265 Health Assessment 
   • NUR 135 Foundational Concepts of Health & Illness
   • NUR 280 Concepts of Pathophysiology
   • NUR 210 Concepts of Health & Illness V
   • NUR 220 Concepts of Health & Illness VI
   • NUR 230 Concepts of Health & Illness VII
   • NUR 240 Concepts of Health & Illness VIII
   • NUR 250 Concepts of Health & Illness IX
   • NUR 290 Transitions to Practice
3. A student must earn a C or better in any Mathematics or Natural Science courses that are required for the major.
4. A student who attempts (see definition above) any required Nursing courses (NUR)  in the nursing program or earns less than a 77%  in the same required Nursing course for a second time will be dismissed from the Nursing major. Academic advising relative to other majors/options will be provided.
5. A student may attempt a maximum of two required nursing courses (NUR) in the program. Students exceeding this requirement will be dismissed from the Nursing major. Academic advising relative to other majors/options will be provided.
6. Students who successfully complete NUR 010 LPN Assessment Module: 
   • Are exempt from taking NUR 115 and NUR 265. 
   • Must have worked a minimum of 1,000 hours as an LPN in the two years prior to beginning the 010 LPN Assessment Module. 
   • May not have more than one semester of non-clinical time prior to enrolling in NUR 135.  Failure to begin coursework within this time frame will require the student to begin the program with NUR 115. 
   • May not repeat the NUR 010 Assessment Module.
   • May repeat a maximum of two courses if starting with NUR 135 after successfully completing the NUR 010 LPN Assessment Module. Students exceeding this criterion will be dismissed from the program. 
7. Students who wish to return to the University after a leave of absence or re-enroll after withdrawing from the University will follow the re-enrollment policies of the University. Prior to a student re-entering the program of study, faculty reserve the right to assign placement in the curriculum and to require remedial activities.
8. Any exceptions to the two-attempt limit must be approved by the Dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health. 
9. If a student is enrolled in more than 1 NUR course in a semester and is unable to remain in one of the NUR courses due to circumstances (such as withdrawal) a student may remain in the other co-requisite NUR courses (if appropriate) if the semester is beyond the 4th week. Otherwise, students must be removed from all NUR courses.   
10. Once a student begins to take an NUR clinical course, the maximum time students may be out of NUR clinical courses is “12 consecutive months from the time the student exited the program” .  Prior to a student re-entering the program of study, faculty reserve the right to assign placement in the curriculum and to require remedial activities. If a student exceeds the 12 consecutive month limit, the student must restart the program’s clinical courses from beginning and will adhere to the current policies and plan in place for the program of study
11. Students dismissed from the ASN program may not transfer into the 3 year BSN or 4 year BSN program.
12. Successful completion of Assessment Technologies Incorporated (ATI) assessments and learning modules is required for academic progression. Refer to the School of Nursing and Allied Health Undergraduate Nursing Student Handbook for detailed information.
13. The following courses may be taken to supplement the ASN curriculum, if the Cornerstone Core Curriculum (CCC) requirements are completed: Theology/Philosophy, Statistics, Narrative Medicine, General Elective and Humanities Elective. These courses are part of the RN to BSN program requirements. 

Grading Standards

Purpose: To explain the grading standards.

1. Grades on quizzes, exams (tests) and other forms of evaluation are carried out to two decimal places and not rounded.

2. Rounding occurs at the end of the semester only with final course grades. Final course grades ending with 0.5 or greater are rounded upward unless the final course grade is less than required, in which case no rounding occurs.

Example:

79.47 = 79%. It does not round up.

79.74 = 80%.

76.99 = 76.99%. It does not round up.

3. In any course, all course outcomes and/or additional course requirements must be met, or a course grade of “F” will be assigned regardless of points earned. 

 Example:

If a student earns a passing course grade but does not meet course or clinical outcomes, a grade of “F” will be awarded

4.  A course grade of “C+” (77%) or higher is required in all NUR courses. 

5. A grade of “C” (74%) or higher is required for all other courses.

Minimum Examination Grade Policy

Students must achieve a weighted examination average grade of 77% in all nursing (NUR) clinical courses to successfully complete the course. If a weighted examination average of 77% is achieved, the other course points such as extra credit, quizzes, assignments, and ATI will be added into the final grade calculation and this grade will be entered as the student’s overall average. If a student does not earn the weighted examination average of 77%, the weighted examination average will be entered as the student’s overall course grade. A minimum grade of 77% is required to pass this course.

Cornerstone Core Curriculum Requirements

Consist of five core and one overlay requirements.  See below for additional detailed information for each of these requirements.

Recommended CCC Courses

Major Requirements