Nursing and Health Sciences
Nursing Programs
Mission
The mission of the Nursing Department is to educate individuals to become nurse leaders committed to evidence- based practice and service in a diverse and global society. Our innovative nursing programs embrace the college's ICARE values (integrity, caring, accountability, respect, and excellence), interprofessional collaboration, scholarship, and lifelong learning.
Accreditation and Approval
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education http://www.ccneaccreditation.org and the pre-licensure nursing program is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN), 8995 East Main St, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068, http://www.nursing.ohio.gov.
Licensure
Licensure Disclosure: The BSN program curriculum meets educational requirements of all 50 states for graduates to apply for a Registered Nurse license. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) provides professional licensure requirements by state. Additionally, NCSBN identifies participating jurisdictions as part of the Nurse Licensure Compact.
AU's BSN program does NOT meet the educational requirements for licensure in the District of Columbia or the U.S. territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. If a student’s permanent residence is in the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory, they can only enroll in the BSN program if they agree that, upon graduation, they intend to seek employment in a “Meets” state. Students from “does NOT meet” states must meet with their advisors to sign a formal attestation agreement.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, the student will be able to:
Integrate foundational knowledge from nursing and a liberal education as the basis for clinical judgement, evidence-based practice, and ethical decision making.
Integrate healthcare priorities and societal needs for person centered care of diverse individuals, families, and populations.
Collaborate across professions and coordinate resources using informatics and healthcare technologies to provide safe, quality, and equitable care across complex systems of healthcare.
Demonstrate competencies consistent with life-long development of professional nursing, leadership roles, and personal health and well-being.
Nursing Program Description
The Bachelor of Science in nursing degree prepares students to practice the art and science of professional nursing. Nursing majors are introduced to core competencies for entry into the profession. This degree also provides the foundation for graduate education in nursing.
Admission to Nursing Program
As of April 2002, The Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN) has the authority to refuse to grant licensure to applicants with any of the felony convictions specified in the law. The law requires a criminal record check for new applicants for licensure in Ohio who entered a pre-licensure nursing education program on or after June 1, 2003.
Criminal background inquiries and drug screening will take place prior to clinical coursework at a time designated by the program. Background checks and drug screenings will be performed by the agency chosen by the College for currently enrolled nursing program students. The College reserves the right to deny any student based on the results of the inquiries regardless of whether it is a positive drug screen, a misdemeanor, or a felony conviction.
Basic life support for health care providers from the American Heart Association certification is required prior to clinical coursework.
Nursing students are required to meet the health and clinical requirements by submitting the appropriate student health documentation, including physical examination and immunization records, and documentation of health insurance. The Medical Record and Health History forms will be made available at the appropriate time. See the nursing student handbook for detailed information on these requirements..
Transfers Applying to the Traditional Program
Students applying to transfer must file an AU transfer application.
Requirements:
Attended an accredited college or university. Students who have completed less than 30 semester hours of coursework from an accredited high school or equivalent must provide acceptable ACT and high school transcripts for acceptance.
Achieved at least a 3.0/4.0 cumulative grade point average in college coursework.
Achieve at least a 2.5 grade point average in non-nursing required coursework (BIO 222, BIO 223, BIO 240, CHEM 253, DIET 320, PHIL 215, PSYC 101, MATH 108). Required science coursework must have been completed within ten years prior to program start date. Non-nursing required coursework letter grades must be a "C+" or higher.
Have not been dismissed from a nursing program and/or failed a nursing course in another nursing program. The Department of Nursing Admission & Progression Committee must approve these applicants prior to admission. The Transfer Admission Coordinator will refer all students with completed nursing coursework to the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Chair of the Admission and Progression Committee for an additional decision to the Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences nursing program.
If #3 and #4 above are not met, applicants will be considered pre-nursing status and will move through the pre-nursing process of achieving a 2.5 or higher in 10 or more credits of the Non-Nursing courses.
Transfer nursing coursework accepted to meet degree requirements for AU’s nursing program must have met the nursing degree requirements of the institution where the course credit was completed.
Clinical orientation, auditing of nursing courses, or retaking of nursing courses may be required in the admission process.
Students may be required to demonstrate safe practice in medication administration and other skills to progress even if transfer credit is granted.
Other Requirements Prior to Clinical Coursework:
Pass a federal and Ohio state criminal background check and ten-panel drug screen.
Documentation of ability to perform the essential functions for clinical coursework.
Complete record of required immunizations.
Transfer credit for required non-nursing coursework, including science coursework, will only be applied toward the nursing degree if the grade is “C+” or higher.
Current AU Students Who Want to Change Majors to Nursing
Students who wish to change majors will be accepted to the program pending space availability. Existing AU students who have already taken the required non-nursing coursework and received a "C" or below, will be required to retake these courses in order to gain admission to the Nursing Program. Exceptions to this may be granted for those who have taken subsequent (higher level) science courses and received grades of "C+" or above.
Readmission to Traditional BSN Program
The Nursing Department Admission and Progression Committee will determine if a student will be readmitted to the nursing program. Students may be readmitted to the nursing program no more than one time.
Students with two nursing (NUR) course failures prior to the 400 level courses will not be readmitted to the nursing program. Students with two non-nursing required science course failures (BIO222, BIO223, BIO240, CHEM 253) will not be considered for readmission to the nursing program.
If a student continues to take classes at AU while not enrolled in the nursing program, they will be subject to the core requirements of their original AU catalog. However, they will be subject to the nursing program requirements and policies in the AU catalog and student handbook at the time of readmission to the nursing program.
Readmission Process:
Contact the Registrar’s Office to notify the college of potential readmission at least 3 months prior to the semester the student is applying.
Submit a letter of intent to the Office of Records and Registration and to the Nursing Department Chair stating the desire for readmission, including additional education that has occurred since applicant’s last classes at AU.
The Nursing Department Admission and Progression Committee will review the student’s letter of intent, transcripts and any other written material or letters submitted by the student in the readmission decision.
The readmission decision will include requirements to determine appropriate course placement including but not limited to skills testing, ATI testing, and/or medication calculation practicums. Course placement will be determined by the committee in conjunction with the program director.
Final course recommendations will be sent to the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office will enroll the student in the required courses the student’s first readmitted semester in the nursing program.
Readmission Criteria:
The Nursing Department Admission and Progression Committee will use the following in rendering a decision regarding readmission to the nursing programs:
Applicant's stated reason for requesting readmission.
Past academic performance and any work completed while absence is evaluated to determine potential for success and/or placement.
Applicant’s ability to complete the program within the 6-year requirement.
Space availability in the appropriate courses.
The following items will be considered prior to readmission for students who have a second course failure during the 400-level coursework:
a. Successful completion of Head to Toe assessment practicum.
b. Successful completion of at least one Medication Calculation Practicum dependent upon the student’s placement in the program;
c. Successful completion of the IV piggy back and/or IV push practicum;
d. Successful completion of the indwelling urinary catheter sterile skill practicum; and
e. Completion of the following:
i. ATI practice tests and achieve at least a 90%;
ii. ATI Targeted Medical-Surgical Body System quizzes and achieve at least a 90%; and
iii. ATI proctored examinations achieving minimally a Level 1 (Level II is preferred).
iv. ATI practice and proctored tests may include RN Pharmacology, RN Fundamentals, RN Mental Health, RN Adult Medical-Surgical, RN Nursing Care of Children, RN Maternal Newborn, RN Community Health, and RN Leadership.
Based on the outcomes of these assessments, the student may be readmitted, may be denied readmission, or may be required to audit or retake for credit select courses dependent on the student’s placement in the program.
Readmission Progression Requirements:
The admission decision applies to the upcoming semester and cannot be deferred.
Applicants must repeat or audit courses (even if passed) when the Nursing Department Admission and Progression Committee deems necessary.
Readmitted students must follow the progression grade requirements.
Readmitted students will enter on probation and be assessed at the end of the first term.
Withdrawals from Traditional BSN Program
Students who do not register for nursing coursework within two academic terms (fall/spring) will be administratively withdrawn from the nursing program.
The student may also be tested for safety in a clinical setting before being readmitted. Students are free to continue taking courses to satisfy their AU degree requirements while awaiting readmission to the nursing program.
Students who voluntarily withdraw from the nursing program may reapply for admission without waiting one full calendar year and will be considered on a case by case basis. Readmission to the nursing program is possible with the following guidelines:
Students can continue to take AU core requirements while they await readmission.
A withdrawal of up to two semesters is available for students who need to leave the nursing program for personal reasons but intend to return to the nursing program (i.e. medical or family problem); however, permission for this must be granted by the CONHS Admission and Progression Committee.
International Student Admission to the Traditional BSN Program
In addition to the nursing program admission requirements, international students will also need to meet the following English proficiency requirements:
TOEFL iBT score of 84 (Speaking subscore of 26), PBT score of 563, or IELTS 7.0 (Speaking subscore of 7.0), or PETA score of 59 or above. DuoLingo English Test (DET) score of 130 or above. Exemption: applicant is a native English speaker – i.e. citizen of a native English-speaking country.