Nursing, ASN Program

• Curriculum

The ASN Program blends the live classroom setting with the use of electronic resources such as interactive video, 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 curriculum for the ASN requires 20 months or a minimum of five trimesters of full-time study. Upon completion of the ASN requirements, students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Students have up to four years (48 months) from their admission to the University to complete the program.

Policies

The Associate of Science in 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, COVID-19 vaccine or proof of immunity (titer).

• Verification of tuberculosis screening prior starting NRSG 105 – Concepts of Physical and Health Assessment  course. If test is positive, refer to the Communicable Disease Policy for more 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.

• Verify current certification in Basic Life Support professional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from the American Heart Association, including infant, child, and adult CPR.

• Provide documentation of annual TB Respirator (Mask) Fit testing for Orlando campus students.

• All health records, immunizations, and CPR certifications must be submitted by the Nursing Department Orientation the week prior to the start of Nursing classes. Failure to submit these documents by that day may result in forfeiture of a seat in the program. (See Immunization, Health and CPR Forms- access provided in the Admissions Checklist).

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 Associate of Science in Nursing Degree Program Student Handbook Supplement. 

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.

All students are required to have a laptop that meets the AdventHealth University specifications (see the Laptop/Mobile Device for Learning Policy).

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).

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.

​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.

Admission Requirements

Applicants (1) 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 ASN Program Application once admitted to the University. The application can be accessed at http://my.ahu.edu.

2. A minimum combined 3.00 GPA in cognate prerequisite courses. A grade of C or better is required for all cognate prerequisite courses. 

3. Repeated only one (1) cognate, 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 Composite score of 62.5%. All four sections of the ATI TEAS must be taken for the Composite score to be accurate. See AHU ATI TEAS re-test policy.

Admission into all health sciences 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 the ASN program when they have successfully completed twelve (12) college-level hours at AdventHealth University.

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

Conditional Admission for Nursing Undergraduate ASN program.

• Students will be considered for conditional admission to the undergraduate ASN program with the following criteria:
• Minimum combined GPA of 2.75 and Minimum Composite TEAS Score of 62.5 or
• Minimum combined GPA of 3.0 and Minimum Composite TEAS Score of 58.7.
• Students with both combined GPA < 3.0 and a composite TEAS score of < 62.5 will NOT be eligible for conditional admission into the Undergraduate Programs.
• The conditional period will last for the first two trimesters of the ASN program. During this conditional period, the student must maintain a Nursing GPA of 2.75 and can only repeat one nursing course for any reason. Failure to meet these requirements may result in dismissal from the nursing program. Upon the student’s successful completion of the first two trimesters, they will no longer be on conditional status.

Mandatory Information Sessions

All students admitted to 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.

Program admitted students who have not attended one of these sessions may delay starting the program.

Nursing Student Transfer Policy

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

1. Meet the ASN Program 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 3.00 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 ASN Program at AdventHealth University will be considered for placement into the second trimester nursing courses. Acceptance is not automatic and is contingent on available clinical/class space.

Progression

Students may progress in the ASN Program when they attain the following requirements:

1. Achieve a minimum grade of “C+” (2.33) in each nursing course, and a “C” (2.00) in each cognate and general education course and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in nursing courses. The nursing GPA will be calculated at the completion of the third trimester in the ASN Program 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 one nursing course for any reason. This 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. All students must complete their level’s general education courses indicated on the ASN Course Schedule before progressing to the next level.

4. Fulfill any remedial contracts (see the Associate of Science in Nursing Degree Program Student Handbook Supplement).

5. Present a verification of up-to-date immunizations.

6. Verify current certification in Basic Life Support 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.

Readmission

A student who has used all the options stated in number two (2) of the Progression Policy is not eligible for readmission to the Associate of Science in Nursing Program. 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 three 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 Student Handbook for additional information.

4. Verify current certification in professional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from the American Heart Association, including infant, child and adult CPR

5. Meet specified requirements as set forth by the Department of Nursing regarding the individual student.

6. 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 an Associate of Science in Nursing Degree when they have met the general requirements for graduation (see Graduation in Academic Information   section), and when they:

1. Complete a minimum of 69 trimester hours of credit.

2. Complete the prescribed course of study for the degree with a minimum nursing GPA of 2.75 and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 (see Curriculum in the ASN Program in the Nursing section).

3. Achieve a minimum grade of “C+” (2.33) in each nursing course and a “C” (2.00) in each cognate and general education course. There will be no rounding of any final course grade in all nursing courses for the ASN program.

4. Complete the Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) Course Standardize Exams, and the Exit HESI examinations and the required remediation for the HESI exams. Please refer to the Associate of Science in Nursing Program 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 HESI NCLEX preparation training package as assigned within the NRSG 225 - NCLEX-RN Immersion   course.  

Curriculum