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 health care team. Core components, which are elements essential to the work of the entry-level registered nurse and inherent in the three roles of nursing practice include Professional Behaviors, Communication, Assessment, Clinical Decision Making, Caring Interventions, Teaching and Learning, Collaboration, and Managing Care. The professional codes of conduct and the demonstration to commitment for continuous learning and self development are interrelated throughout the program.

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 to the Associate of Applied Science Nursing Degree Program

Prior to applying for acceptance into the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing program a student must complete the following steps:

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 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 enrolling in the associate of applied science degree Nursing program.
6. Demonstrate computer competency/proficiency as required by the nursing division.
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 in each course.
   1. Biological science courses previously taken must have been completed within the last ten years and must be a total of 4 credit hours.
8. Complete the required entrance test*. Completion date  must be within one year of applying to the program.
9. Achieve an overall GPA of 2.75 in all 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.
11. Provide documentation to the dean of Nursing that the student 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

A student desiring to pursue the associate of applied science degree in Nursing must complete the Nursing Application Process as outlined below. Please note a student must complete all steps as directed in the Prior to Applying to the Associate of Applied Science Nursing Degree Program  before completing the following steps:

1. Complete all forms required for the Nursing Application packet.
2. A student with college credit hours or coursework at institutions other than Northeast State must provide official, unopened copies of transcripts to both the Admissions Office and also to the division of Nursing as instructed in the application packet.
3. A student with college credit hours or coursework at Northeast State must attach copies of his/her official, unopened Northeast State transcripts with the Nursing Application.
4. Students, who have had course work transferred into Northeast State must attach copies of his/her official, unopened Northeast State transcripts showing transfer credit applied with the Nursing Application.
5. A copy of the required entrance test scores must be provided with the application.
6. The completed application must be mailed for submission with all requested documents enclosed. Hand delivered applications will not be accepted.
7. Application packets must be submitted as a complete packet with all copies and forms submitted at the same time.
8. Applications must be received at the designated location by the deadline date and time.
9. Applications that are incomplete or past the submission date and time will NOT be considered.

Acceptance in the Associate of Applied Science Degree Nursing Program

Rationale for Policy: Due to the increased number of applicants, selection into the Nursing Program is determined by using an objective format. A student who makes application to the Northeast State Community College associate of applied science Nursing program and meets the Admissions Requirements (General) , the requirements Prior to Applying to the Associate of Applied Science Nursing Degree Program  , and the requirements for Applying to the Associate of Applied Science Nursing Degree Program  and has followed the Nursing program application process and requirements 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.   

Consultation may be made by the dean of Nursing and the nursing faculty members with the Nursing Admissions and Progression Committee. The Nursing Admission and Progression Committee membership consists of:

1. Dean of Nursing

2. Nursing Faculty

3. Representatives from the Nursing Advisory Council

4. Vice President for Academic Affairs (ex officio)

Notification of Selection to the Nursing Program

The dean of Nursing will notify in writing all students who have been selected for admission into the program. Notified students 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 student’s offer for admission will be rescinded, and the student’s file will become inactive. These positions will be filled by other applicants selected by the dean of Nursing based on the ranking list.

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

Contact the Nursing program for additional information at 423.354.5509.

Retention and Progression Requirements

 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 80% or more in each required Applied Associate of Science in nursing course.
 a. Students receiving a grade of “D” or “F” in a nursing or biology course will be dismissed from the program.
 b. Students receiving a grade of “F” in nursing lecture will result in a grade of “F” for the clinical.
4. Earn 80% or more in the clinical component (lecture, lab, and clinical) of each nursing course.
 a. “Unsatisfactory” performance in the laboratory or clinical component will result in a grade of “F” for the  entire course.
 b. Clinical performance must be rated as satisfactory according to the clinical evaluation tool in order to pass  the course regardless of the test scores.
 c. 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 professional liability insurance at a level required by clinical affiliate.
7. Maintain current healthcare provider CPR endorsement.
8. Successfully complete BIOL 1230: Introduction to Microbiology with a minimum grade of “C” prior to enrolling in the second semester of the nursing program.
9. Successfully complete PSYC 1030: General Psychology with a minimum grade of “C” prior to enrolling in the third semester of the nursing program.
10. Successfully complete SPCH 1010: Fundamentals of Speech with a minimum grade of “C” prior to enrolling in the fourth semester of the nursing program.
11. Successfully complete the Humanities elective with a minimum grade of “C” prior to or during the fourth semester of the nursing program.
12. Submit by the designated date all clinical healthcare requirements as may be required by a clinical affiliate. The student may be required to take another comprehensive health exam if the student has experienced an illness, surgery, birth, or other significant healthcare issue.
13. 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 and progression requirement is not met, the dean of nursing has the authority to dismiss the student from the nursing program.

Re-Enrollment Policies

A student who has been dismissed or who has withdrawn from the Nursing program may be eligible to reapply for admission. The following conditions apply to students seeking readmission:

1. A student, who has received a “F” in a nursing course, has withdrawn from the nursing program, or who was dismissed from the Nursing program must schedule an appointment with a nursing faculty advisor or with the dean of Nursing and complete the exit interview process.
2. The student reapplying for readmission to the nursing program must have a cumulative 2.75 GPA or higher on all college-level coursework completed to be considered for admission.
3. A student reapplying for admission to the Nursing program must comply with the General Admission Requirements, the Nursing Program Enrollment Requirements, the Nursing Program Application Process and Requirements, and the Readmission/Repeat of Nursing Course/s policy. (For more information, please contact the Nursing Division at 423.354.5509).
   

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.