Nursing, BSN Option

Curriculum

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The BSN Option blends the live classroom setting with the use of electronic resources such as interactive video and pre-recorded lectures, and offers on-site clinical settings, and local clinical rotations. This blended learning modality provides easy access to course content at any time and helps students apply the knowledge gained in the classroom in a practical way. The theory portion of courses are taught to students in Denver via Polycom.  The curriculum for the BSN requires four calendar years or a minimum of nine trimesters of full-time study. Upon completion of the BSN requirements, students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Students have up to seven years (84 months) from their admission to the University to complete the program.

Policies

The Baccalaureate Degree Nursing Program Student Handbook Supplement contains the policies of the Department of Nursing. By accepting enrollment as a nursing student, each applicant agrees to abide by the department’s regulations.

All nursing students must present:

• Up to date immunizations verifying the following:  Hepatitis B, MMR, Tetanus-Diphtheria, Varicella vaccine or proof of immunity (titer).
• Yearly verification of tuberculosis screening. If the test is positive, refer to the Communicable Disease Policy in the Student Handbook for additional information.
• Annual verification of the Influenza Vaccine for the current flu season (defined as October through March 31).
• Evidence of physical examination within three months prior to beginning a professional program.
• Verification of current certification in professional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from the American Heart Association, including infant, child, and adult CPR.
• Evidence of a successfully-completed FIT test prior to the professional program deadline (Florida students only). This must be completed annually.
• All health records, immunizations, and CPR certifications must be submitted by the Nursing Department Orientation the week prior to the start of classes. Failure to submit these documents by that day may result in forfeiture of a seat in the program.

Mental and Physical Requirements for Applicants

Applicants seeking admission to the nursing program must be able, with or without reasonable accommodation, to:

• Visually observe and assess a patient, discriminate color and depth, read and accurately complete reports, and visualize diagnostic/monitoring equipment in dimmed light.
• Auditorily monitor and assess patient health needs, monitor various equipment and background sounds, and communicate by telephone.
• Verbally communicate in a clear and concise manner.
• Communicate sufficiently to interact with others in appropriate professional verbal and written forms.
• Read and interpret relevant medical data from patients’ charts, reports, and orders.
• Safely lift and transfer patients to accomplish bed/chair/stretcher transfer with assistance or assistive devices.
• Safely push a gurney or wheelchair.
• Stand or sit for an extended period of time.
• Demonstrate sufficient manual dexterity necessary to perform activities specific to each professional program.
• Possess critical thinking skills sufficient to think clearly and act professionally, safely, and accurately in stressful situations.
• Professionally interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.

A professional program fee will be charged to cover the additional costs of the Nursing program (see the Fee Schedule of the Financial Information section).

All students who will participate in a clinical environment are required to carry health insurance upon admission to the program and must maintain this insurance for the duration of the program.

A student in the Nursing program must own or purchase a laptop from the University that meets the standards. University-approved laptops are available at cdwg.com/adulaptopprogram.  More information about the laptop program is available at the Department of Nursing office.

A level II background check is required to begin nursing classes. The Florida State Board of Nursing and the nursing boards of other states reserve the right to deny licensure in their states to an applicant who has an unresolved felony on record in any state. This background check may impact eligibility for licensure and should be determined in advance of beginning an educational program. For further information, see the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree Student Handbook Supplement.

With the approval of the University, the Department of Nursing reserves the right to revise, add, or withdraw courses and policies as necessary to ensure a quality nursing program.

Admission

Applicants¹ are considered for admission when they meet General Studies admission requirements (see General Studies admission in the Admission Information section) and they have:

1. Submitted the BS Nursing Option Application once admitted to the University. The application can be accessed at http://my.ahu.edu.
2. A minimum 3.00 GPA in prerequisite and cognate courses. A grade of C or better is required for all cognate and prerequisite courses. (GPA calculator)
3. Repeated only two (2) cognates, one time each, to be eligible for admission into nursing courses, including transfer credits. Must have a grade of C or better for required courses.
4. Achieved ATI TEAS score of 69% in Reading and a Composite score of 58.7%. All four sections of the ATI TEAS must be taken for the Composite score to be accurate. See AHU ATI TEAS re-test policy
5. Attended a mandatory pre-nursing session and complete the NURS115 Introduction to Professional Nursing   course, preferably the trimester preceding NURS225 Introduction to Health Assesment  .

Admission into all professional programs is competitive. Each program has a maximum number of students that can be admitted annually. Students meeting the admission requirements for a given program qualify to be considered for admission to that program. However, due to the competitive nature of each program’s admission process, meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Students may be given preferential consideration for admission to degree and certificate programs when they have successfully completed 12 college-level hours at AdventHealth University.

Each applicant accepted to an on-campus professional program is expected to pay a nonrefundable deposit of $200 to reserve his or her place in the program. The applicant’s acceptance letter will contain a deposit amount and a deadline indicating when the deposit must be received by the University. Once the student enrolls in the program, this deposit will be applied toward the student’s account. Students who have paid the deposit, but decide not to enroll in the program, will forfeit the deposit. If that student is admitted to the same program at a later date, he or she will be required to pay the full deposit amount again. If an applicant is admitted to a program with prerequisites in progress and becomes ineligible for admission due to his or her grades, a full refund will be provided. A professional program deposit is not transferable to another department. Distance Education students are not required to pay a program deposit.

¹ Applicants who wish to transfer from another nursing program will be evaluated individually, according to the Nursing Student Transfer Policy.

Mandatory Pre-Nursing Information Sessions

All students interested in the AdventHealth University Nursing Program must attend a Mandatory Information Session prior to the trimester in which they are planning on enrolling. Information sessions are the most accurate resource to have questions answered, they will be offered in NURS 115  . Applicants who have not attended one of these sessions will not be accepted into the program.

Nursing Student Transfer Policy

Students currently enrolled in a nursing program who wish to transfer to the AdventHealth University BSN Option in Nursing must meet the following criteria to be considered for admission:

1. Meet the BSN degree option admission requirements.
2. Complete all cognate and general education courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 prior to enrolling in nursing courses.
3. Obtain a current minimum cumulative nursing GPA of 2.50 in all completed nursing courses.
4. Submit two recommendations on AHU Recommendation Forms, including one from the nursing program from which they are transferring.
5. Submit a one- to two-page letter explaining their desire to be considered for transfer to AdventHealth University, and their interest in becoming a nurse.
6. Demonstrate satisfactory validation of nursing knowledge and skills.

Students requesting to transfer to the BSN Option in the AdventHealth University Nursing program will be considered for placement into 200-level nursing courses only. Acceptance is not automatic and is contingent on available clinical/class space.

Progression

Students may progress in the BSN Option when they attain the following requirements:

1. Earn a minimum grade of “C” in each nursing course and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 in nursing courses. The nursing GPA will be calculated at the completion of 200- and 300-level nursing courses, and at the completion of the nursing program to ensure eligibility for progression and graduation.
2. After entering the nursing program, a student may repeat only two nursing courses for any reason. Each nursing course may be repeated only one time. Students who do not complete courses or do not progress with their cohort cannot be assured of placement in their choices of subsequent courses.
3. Fulfill any remedial contracts (see the Department of Nursing Baccalaureate Degree Option Student Handbook Supplement).
4. Present annual verification of tuberculosis screening. If the test is positive, refer to the Communicable Disease Policy in the Student Handbook for additional information.
5. Present updated immunizations including hepatitis B.
6. Verify current certification in professional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from the American Heart Association, including infant, child, and adult CPR.
7. Provide documentation of annual TB Respirator (Mask) Fit testing for Florida Campus students.
8. All students must complete their level’s general education courses indicated on the BSN Course Schedule before progressing to the next level.
9. All nursing students who are unsuccessful in the dosage calculation exam after three attempts in any trimester will meet with the faculty instructor of the course and choose either of the following options:
   1. Withdraw from all nursing courses immediately. The student will receive a full financial refund, and may return to the Nursing program at the next available trimester, based on space and clinical availability.
      OR
   2. Choose to enter the Dosage Calculation Remediation Program (DCRP) immediately after the failed third attempt. This student will be allowed to remain in the program pending successful completion of the DCRP and retesting.

Please note: NURS 115, Introduction to Professional Nursing is both a prerequisite and a required nursing course. It may be repeated only one time for any reason.
 

Readmission

A student who has used all of the options stated in number two (2) of the Progression Policy is not eligible for readmission to the Bachelor of Science Option. Readmission is not automatic and is contingent on available clinical/class space. Students will be readmitted under current program policies. Students who are eligible will be considered for readmission to the program when they complete the following:

1. Submit a Readmission Form to the Department of Nursing no later than six weeks prior to the beginning of the trimester in which they wish to enroll.
2. Hold a cumulative GPA of 2.50.
3. Present annual verification of tuberculosis screening. If the test is positive, refer to the Communicable Disease Policy in the Bachelor of Science Degree Nursing Student Handbook for additional information. Verify current certification in professional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from the American Heart Association, including infant, child and adult CPR.
4. Meet specified requirements as set forth by the Department of Nursing regarding the individual student.
5. Successfully demonstrate validation of nursing skills (see the Fee Schedule in the Financial Information section for Nursing Competency Validation exam fees).

If a lapse of time greater than two years occurs in a student’s program of study, prior nursing credits will not automatically be accepted. The student may petition to validate nursing knowledge and skills and have prior nursing credits accepted through written examinations and clinical performance evaluations.

Completion

AdventHealth University will consider students for graduation and conferral of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing when they have met the general requirements for graduation (see Graduation in Academic Information section), and when they:

1. Complete a minimum of 121 trimester hours of credit.
2. Complete the prescribed course of study for the degree with a minimum nursing GPA of 2.50 and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 (see Curriculum in the BSN Option in the Nursing section).
3. Achieve a minimum grade of “C” (2.00) in each nursing, cognate, and general education course.
4. Complete the Mid Curricular Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) and the Exit HESI examinations and the required remediation for the HESI exams. Please refer to the BSN Option Student Handbook Supplement for more information.
5. Successfully complete a minimum of 50% of the college-level credits required for the degree at AHU to satisfy the University Residency Policy.
6. Complete the service-learning requirement. Please refer to the BSN Option Student Handbook Supplement for more information.
7. Complete the Kaplan NCLEX preparation training package as assigned within the NURS465 Transition into the Nursing Profession  .