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 general admissions requirements .

After being accepted by the College, a student must meet AAS Nursing admission identified under the Enrollment Requirements section below. Nursing Program Traditional Option applications are accepted in summer semester with accepted students enrolling into nursing specific coursework in the fall semester. Nursing courses are completed in four semesters. After successful completion of coursework, students are awarded with an associates of applied science in Nursing Degree. Applicants are selected twice a year with applications due during summer and fall semester; applicants accepted begin classes in fall or spring semester.

Please note the timeline on application posting and deadline information for each cohort.

• August cohort start: will post to the nursing homepage in March with a deadline in June .
• January cohort start: will post to the nursing homepage in September with a deadline in December.

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 located above, 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.
   1. LPN to RN applicants must complete BIOL 2010: Human Anatomy and Physiology I; ENGL 1010: English Composition I; and PSYC 1030: Introduction to Psychology and MATH 1530: Introductory Statistics prior to applying to the associate of applied science degree in nursing program.
6. Achieve a grade of “C” or better in all courses required for the associate of applied science degree in nursing program.
7. Assure all BIOL courses contain lecture and laboratory components and are obtained within ten years of the first semester of NRSG coursework.
8. Complete the required entrance test* with a minimum score in each of the following areas: English Language Comprehensive Score, Science Comprehensive Score, and Math. The minimum score is set by the nursing department. Completion date of the entrance exam must be within one year of applying to the program.
9. Possess a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 after completing a minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework required for the associate of applied science degree nursing program OR possess a minimum ACT score of 23 in each of the following areas: Math, Reading, Science, and English. 
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 director 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.

*Attend a Nursing Information Session for information regarding the entrance test required.

Admission Assessment (A2) Entrance Test

All students applying to Northeast State’s Nursing Programs must take the nursing entrance test, the Admission Assessment (A2). For information about the A2 Study and Review Materials, the A2 test, and the A2 Registration form, click the link below:

• Nursing Entrance Exam

Registration and scheduling information is available at www.NortheastState.edu/Testing.

Effective for AAS in Nursing, LPN to RN Concentration, Summer 2023 Start - Class of May 2024: A Systemwide Articulation Agreement between the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology and TBR A.A.S. in Nursing, LPN to RN programs has been created and approved by TBR. The College System of Tennessee nursing program directors worked to establish common admission requirements to reduce confusion and to streamline the pathway to becoming an RN after completing the LPN program at a TCAT.

TCAT graduates will not be required to take the community college AAS RN Admission Assessment Exam (A2) IF the applicant has graduated within the past 3 years and has successfully passed the TCAT specific exit exam (successful completion of the TCAT specific exit exam is required for a student to graduate from the LPN program). If it has been greater than three years or the student is not a TCAT graduate current policy for Admissions Assessment will apply. (See Required Submission of Admission Assessment (A2) Scores below) If an LPN to RN applicant can provide proof they took their LPN Exit Exam, ATI Comprehensive Predictor (TCAT-Elizabethton) with an 90% or better within the last 3 years, they can submit these scores with their LPN to RN application as their Entrance Exam required for the LPN to RN Program. The applicant’s LPN Exit Exam, ATI Comprehensive Predictor scores must be included in the nursing application packet.

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. For applicants who have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework required for the associate of applied science degree nursing program
   1. To the Northeast State Admissions and Records Office: provide official, unopened copies of transcripts which includes any college credit hours or coursework that has been completed at institutions other than Northeast State.
   2. With the Nursing Application packet: included an official, unopened copy of Northeast State’s transcript showing any transfer credit.
3. For applicants with less than 12 credit hours of coursework required for the associate of applied science degree nursing program
   1. Provide a copy of ACT scores.
4. Provide a copy of the required entrance test scores with the application reflecting English Language Comprehensive Score, Science Comprehensive Score, and Math.
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.

For those applying to the LPN to RN option, documentation of a current, active LPN license must be provided with the nursing application.

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 director 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 director 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 director of nursing based on the ranking list.

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

Contact the nursing department 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 department 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. Nursing students are allowed to retake no more than two NRSG courses during their progression through the AAS Nursing curriculum. Failure or withdrawal of a third NRSG course will result in the inability to apply for readmission to the Nursing Program.
6. Nursing students are allowed no more than two attempts in each NRSG course. Failure or withdrawal of the second repeated NRSG course will result in the inability to apply for readmission to the Nursing Program.
7. Demonstrate safe, professional, ethical, and legal conduct.
8. Maintain all clinical agency health care requirements. 
9. Complete pre- and co-requisite courses. For students enrolled in the nursing program (traditional and LPN to RN option), all pre-requisite and co-requisite courses must be successfully completed as identified on the curriculum guide.
10. 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.
11. Submit at any time during the program to a drug test if requested by the clinical affiliate or the director 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 department 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.

Learning Support

Additional courses may be required to overcome deficiencies in English, mathematics, and reading.

Typical Program of Study (Traditional)

Articulation Agreements

East Tennessee State University - RN to BSN Agreement

For Further Information

Click here to contact a Nursing program advisor.

or

Click here to contact the Health Professions division.