2016-2017 Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2016-2017 Catalog and Student Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Nursing (Traditional)


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The Nursing program prepares individuals to become registered nurses. The associate degree nurse is a generalist whose practice encompasses the interrelated roles of care provider, coordinator/manager of care, and a member of the comprehensive healthcare team. Assessment, caring interventions, clinical decision making, collaboration, communication, managing care, professional behaviors, and teaching and learning characterize this role. The curriculum framework is based on NLN’s Core Competencies for the ADN, identified above, and five additional curriculum threads (safety, cultural diversity, community, nutrition, and ethics) which are imperative to the practice of the ADN.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326; Telephone 404.975.5000

General Education Requirements


Note: All courses must be from the Approved Courses for General Education  courses for each category listed in the General Education section of this catalog.

Admission Requirements (General)


A student desiring to pursue the associate of applied science degree in Nursing must follow the admissions requirements (general) located here .

Nursing Program Enrollment Requirements


Prior to applying for acceptance into the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing program an applicant must:

  1. Meet the general admission requirements as noted in the Admissions Requirements (General)  , and submit an application to Northeast State Community College.
  2. Be accepted by Northeast State Community College.
  3. Indicate the associate of applied science degree in Nursing (Traditional option) as the desired major on the Northeast State application form.
  4. Seek advisement from the student’s assigned nursing advisor to establish a program plan of study.
  5. Complete all required learning support courses prior to applying to the associate of applied science degree nursing program.
  6. Demonstrate computer competency/proficiency as required by the nursing division through one of the following:
    1. Completion of INFS 1010: Computer Applications, 3 credits.
    2. Completing Credit by Examination at Northeast State, 0 credits. Credit by Examination may not transfer into Northeast State from other colleges/universities.
  7. Complete BIOL 2010: Anatomy and Physiology I, lecture and lab; BIOL 2020: Anatomy and Physiology II, lecture and lab; ENGL 1010: Composition I; and MATH 1530: Probability and Statistics; and the Computer Competency/Proficiency Requirement with a grade of “C” or better for each.
    1. Biological science courses previously taken must have been completed within the last ten years and must be a total of four (4) credit hours.
  8. Complete the required entrance test*. Completion date must be within one year of applying to the program.
  9. Achieve a Grade Point Average of 2.75 in college courses, excluding learning support coursework.
  10. Complete the Nursing Program Application process as described in “Applying to the A.A.S. Nursing Degree Program”. Submission of all requirements must be received by the established deadline date and time as a complete packet.
  11. Provide documentation to the dean of Nursing that the applicant is, with reasonable accommodation, physically and mentally capable of performing the essential job functions of a registered nurse as outlined in the Core Performance Standards of Admission and Progression adopted by the Tennessee Board of Regents institutions offering nursing programs.

*Contact the Nursing Division for information regarding the entrance test required.

Applying to the Associate of Applied Science Nursing Degree Program


An applicant desiring to pursue the associate of applied science degree in Nursing must complete the Nursing Application Process as outlined below. All steps in the “Nursing Program Enrollment Requirements” must be finalized before completing the following steps:

Rationale for Policy: Due to pre-determined admittance numbers and limited clinical availability, nursing has specific admission criteria, and application does not guarantee admission to this program. An applicant desiring to pursue the associate of applied science degree in Nursing must:

  1. Complete all forms required in the Nursing Application packet.
  2. Provide official, unopened copies of transcripts to the Northeast State Admissions Office, if college credit hours or coursework has been completed at institutions other than Northeast State.
  3. Attach official, unopened copies of transcripts from Northeast State to the Nursing Application. (Applicants, who have had course work transferred into Northeast State, must attach copies of his/her official, unopened Northeast State transcripts showing transfer credit has been applied to the Northeast State transcript.)
  4. Provide a copy of the required entrance test scores with the application.
  5. Mail the nursing application enclosing all requested documents in the same envelope. (Hand delivered applications will not be accepted.) Noting the following:
    1. Application packets must be submitted as a complete packet with all copies and forms submitted at the same time.
    2. Applications must be received at the designated location by the deadline date and time. Applications that are incomplete or past the submission date and/or time will NOT be considered.

Acceptance in the Associate of Applied Science Degree Nursing Program


Rationale for Policy: Selection into the Nursing Program is determined by using an objective format. An individual’s application to the Northeast State Community College associate of applied science Nursing program will be reviewed by the dean of Nursing and/or nursing faculty members. Ranking of applicants for admission into the program will be based on specific weighted criteria.  

Notification of Selection to the Nursing Program


Each individual making application to the Northeast State Community College associate of applied science Nursing program will receive written notification. Applicants selected for admission must return the Intent to Enroll form to the dean of Nursing by the date and time specified. Included in the Intent to Enroll Forms are the dates and times for the mandatory nursing student orientation. If the Intent to Enroll Form is not returned by the specific date and time or if the student does not attend the mandatory nursing student orientation, the applicant’s offer for admission will be rescinded, and the applicant’s file will become inactive. These positions will be filled by other applicants selected by the dean of Nursing based on the ranking list.

Applicants not selected for admission may reapply for a subsequent class.

Contact the Nursing Division for additional information at nursingmail@NortheastState.edu

Nursing Program Retention and Progression Requirement


Rationale for Policy: Retention and progression requirements established by nursing ensure optimal proficiency and promotion of safe student interactions with patients.

To remain in good standing once admitted to the nursing program, the student must: 

  1. Comply with the policies of the college, the division of Nursing, and clinical affiliates.
  2. Maintain a cumulative (all college-level courses completed) GPA of 2.0.
  3. Earn a minimum grade of “C” in each Applied Associate of Science course.
  4. Earn a minimum grade of “C” (80%) in each component (lecture, lab, and clinical) of each nursing course. 
    1. “Unsatisfactory” performance in the laboratory or clinical component will result in a grade of “F” for the course.
    2. Clinical performance must be rated as satisfactory according to the clinical evaluation tool in order to pass the course regardless of the test scores. 
    3. Earning less than a minimum grade of “C” (80%) in any one component (lecture, lab, or clinical) of a nursing course will result in a grade of “F” for the course.
    4. A student may not progress to the next nursing course until the minimum semester grade of 80% is achieved.
  5. Demonstrate safe, professional, ethical, and legal conduct.
  6. Maintain all clinical agency health care requirements. 
  7. For students enrolled in the traditional option:
    1. BIOL 2230: Introduction to Microbiology must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” prior to enrolling in NURS 2000;
    2. PSYC 1030: General Psychology must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” prior to enrolling in NURS 2200;
    3. SPCH 1010: Fundamentals of Speech Communication must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” prior to enrolling in NURS 2400 and/or NURS 2600; and
    4. Successfully complete the Humanities elective with a minimum grade of “C” prior to or during the final semester of the traditional nursing program option.
  8. Submit by the designated date a “Self-Declaration of Good Health” form and proof of any additional requirements the clinical affiliate deems necessary. The student may be required to submit additional comprehensive physical exam if the student experiences an illness, injury, surgery, birth, or other significant health care issue.
  9. Submit at any time during the program to a drug test if requested by the clinical affiliate or the dean of Nursing. A positive drug test is grounds for immediate dismissal from the Nursing program.

If any retention or progression requirement is not met, the student will be unable to successfully complete course, program, and/or clinical agency requirements, leading to the inability to progress in the program.

Re-Enrollment Policies


A nursing student seeking readmission to the program due to non-progression, withdrawal from the program, or dropping a nursing course must follow the proper procedure in seeking re-admission.

Please contact the Nursing Division at nursingmail@NortheastState.edu for more information.

Graduation


Students successfully completing all of the Nursing degree curriculum requirements and meeting other college requirements for graduation will be awarded an associate of applied science degree in Nursing.

Typical Program of Study


Fall or Spring


Spring


Total Credit Hours: 65-68


Total Clinical Hours: 450


Additional Information


The prerequisites (ENGL 1010, BIOL 2010, Computer Competency/Proficiency Requirement, MATH 1530, and BIOL 2020) must be completed prior to making application to nursing. Co-requisites (BIOL 2230, PSYC 1030, SPCH 1010, and Humanities/Fine Arts Elective) may be completed prior to making application to nursing or after being accepted into nursing. If completed after acceptance, successful completion of these courses must occur in the semester they are listed.

Students, who reside in the state of Virginia, are required to complete Virginia Board of Nursing requirements. In order for these students to write for the NCLEX-RN, a minimum of 500 clock hours of direct client care supervised by qualified faculty must be completed. NURS 2990 , Nursing Special Topics - Clinical, provides students with an additional 60 clock hours of clinical which fulfills this requirement. (Requirements may be reviewed at http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/nursing/nursing_forms.htm.) [§18VAC90-20-120.E.]

For Further Information


Division of Nursing
Telephone: 423.354.5108
Fax: 423.245.4013
E-mail: nursingmail@NortheastState.edu

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