Nursing, Associate of Science 6250, A.S.

A Two-Year Restricted Admission Program Leading to the A.S. Degree

The aim of the Associate of Science in Nursing program is to prepare graduates who can function with competency to assess, plan, implement, direct and evaluate nursing care of individuals or groups of clients in a variety of settings. Graduates are eligible to write the State Board examination to earn licensure as a registered nurse.

Indiana Code Section 39.IC 25-23-1-11 requires that any person who applies to the board for a license to practice as a registered nurse must not have (a) been convicted of a crime that has a direct bearing on the person’s ability to practice competently; or (b) committed an act that would constitute grounds for a disciplinary sanction under IC 25-1-9. If applicable to you, see the Program Chairperson for further discussion.

The Associate of Science in Nursing Program is accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). Information on accreditation status may be obtained by contacting the NLNAC. They may be contacted at the following address: NLNAC, Inc., 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia 30326 (1-404-975-5000), or www.nlnac.org.

The curriculum provides a balance between general education and nursing. The nursing faculty provides instruction and guidance in the College Learning Laboratory, hospitals, community mental health centers,  community agencies, and other healthcare facilities. Transportation related to clinical experiences is the responsibility of the student.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of the Associate of Science in Nursing Program, the graduate will:

1. Utilize critical thinking in the implementation of the nursing process to provide safe, evidence-based and culturally competent care to clients in various settings.
2. Effectively communicate by sharing accurate information through various technologies thus promoting multidisciplinary team and client collaboration to provide effective nursing care.
3. Demonstrate caring in order to foster a therapeutic environment.
4. Provide health education for clients to promote adaptation to health changes and achieve optimal levels of wellness.
5. Incorporate legal and ethical guidelines into nursing practice to demonstrate professionalism and adherence to registered nursing practice standards.
6. Communicate a commitment to lifelong learning to maintain professional growth and career mobility.

Admission Requirements

The selection process for Vincennes University’s Nursing program is based on the premise that student selection is vital to student success in the program and on the NCLEX licensing exam. The standards of selection will also contribute to the quality of care administered by graduates of this program. In order to complete this program successfully, students must be well motivated and have an academic background sufficient to succeed in the curriculum. A limited number of students will be accepted, with cancellations being filled from a waiting list. The number of students admitted to the nursing program is limited by the availability of instructional resources and clinical learning sites. Due to the high number of applicants for this program, selection is competitive in nature and involves review of the following criteria by the Nursing Program’s Admission Committee. Each applicant is reviewed individually. Preference will be given to applicants with a High School Academic Honors Diploma; students who receive a grade of B or higher in Math and Science courses; higher GPA; and/or complete their General Education courses through Vincennes University.

Any falsification of application information will result in denial of admission or removal from the program. Compliance with all criteria does not guarantee acceptance.

Basic Admission Requirements for All Applicants

All applicants must meet the following:

1. Meet admission requirements of the University.
2. Qualify for placement into MATH 102  or higher as determined by the Vincennes University Placement Test (Accuplacer).
3. Qualify for exemption from READ 011  as determined by placement test scores (e.g. SAT, ACT, or other standardized placement tests as accepted by Vincennes University).
4. Qualify for placement into ENGL 101  as determined by placement test scores (e.g. SAT, ACT, or other standardized placement tests as accepted by Vincennes University).
5. Complete two semesters of high school chemistry (Note: integrated chemistry-physics course does not meet this requirement) with a grade of “C” or better or complete CHEM 100 /CHEM 100L  Elementary Chemistry or CHEM 103 /CHEM 103L  Introduction to Chemistry or CHEM 111  Chemistry I with a grade of C or better.
6. Achieve a high school diploma (students may apply to the program during their senior year of high school) or achieve a minimum average standard score of 500 on the General Education Development (GED) test.
7. Possess physical and mental health acceptable for performance in the occupation as evidenced by examination by a licensed physician.

If students do not meet the “Basic Admission Requirements” criteria, they will be advised to take general education courses before applying to the nursing program in order to achieve these basic admission requirements. (See the General Education/Previous College Courses Standard below.)

For students who have previous college experience, admission to the nursing program is based on meeting the “General Education/Previous College Courses Standard”, in addition to the “Basic Admission Requirements”.

General Education/Previous College Courses Standard

1. Applicant must have completed all developmental courses as required by applicant’s Accuplacer test results.
2. Applicant must have nine hours of college courses (100 level or above) with a 2.7 grade point average (GPA), with no grade lower than a C. These nine hours must come from the Associate of Science in Nursing Program General Education Requirements (non-nursing courses). CHEM 100 /CHEM 100L  and/or HIMT 110  Medical Terminology may also be used as part of the nine credit hours.
3. The GPA will be calculated using only the courses from the A.S.N. Program General Education Requirements and any applicable chemistry grades.
4. If a student receives a grade of D or F in a required general education course, then the course may be repeated only one time to raise the grade to a C or better.
5. Applicant may repeat an academic course only one time in order to raise the GPA to 2.7 minimum.
6. A recent placement test may be requested by the Nursing Admissions Committee.
7. Transfer credits: The registrar will determine if credit is to be granted for courses taken at other institutions of higher education.
8. Time limit on previously completed courses:
   1. Only MATH; BIOL 111 /BIOL 111L  Anatomy and Physiology I; BIOL 112 /BIOL 112L  Anatomy and Physiology II; and BIOL 210 /BIOL 210L  Microbiology taken less than seven years prior to admission to the nursing program will be considered for credit. Students seeking credit for a required math course that was taken longer than seven years prior to admission to the nursing program may elect to take the University General Education Math test and receive a score of EA 74 or higher, take the CLEP exam, or enroll in the course and seek early completion.
   2. CHEM 101 /CHEM 101L  Organic and Biochemistry: No time limit.
   3. Principles of Sociology, General Psychology, Speech and Interpersonal Communication: courses taken less than fifteen years prior to admission to the nursing program will be considered for credit. Exceptions will be made for applicants with a previous college degree.
9. Possess physical and mental health acceptable for performance in the occupation as evidenced by examination by a licensed physician.

Once all requirements have been met, the student is advised to submit the completed admissions application to the Vincennes University Admissions Office.

The Nursing Admissions Committee will review the completed application. If the student is selected for admission, then the student will be asked to submit a criminal history report*, with the fee paid by the student. Full admission into the Associate Degree Nursing Program is contingent upon a satisfactory criminal history report as determined by the Nursing Admissions Committee.

*Criminal History Report

The Associate of Science in Nursing program is intended to provide the education necessary for students to become registered nurses. As part of the licensing process, applicants are required to submit information regarding any criminal history to the Indiana State Board of Nursing. Consequently, all applicants meeting academic requirements must release criminal background information to the Vincennes University Nursing Program prior to  admission, per Department of Nursing protocol. The background check will be at the applicant’s expense.

A prior conviction or prior criminal activity will not automatically bar the applicant from admission to the nursing program. The applicant should provide a detailed explanation of the offenses or convictions, including the location, the convictions, the dates, and the court disposition. The Nursing Admissions Committee will review the case and make a determination regarding admission to the Vincennes University Nursing Program. If the committee denies the applicant’s admission into the Nursing Program, the applicant may request in writing an appeal in accordance with the University’s Student Grievance Policy.

Requirements for All Associate of Science in Nursing Students Admitted to the Program

Once students are admitted to the program and before beginning any nursing courses, students admitted to the program are responsible for completing the following requirements:

1. Students must possess current certification in Basic Life Support (American Red Cross, CPR Professional Rescue or American Heart Association Healthcare Provider level).
2. Students must complete and have on file with the University Health Service Office a current medical/physical form, immunization records form, and the Hepatitis B vaccination form. Students must possess current  immunizations and annual TB (PPD) test, and provide verification of Hepatitis B inoculation or refusal thereof.
3. A fee for liability insurance will be charged through the University Bursar’s Office.
4. Any costs for necessary health care will be the responsibility of the student. Therefore, students are strongly urged to maintain health insurance coverage.
5. Additional criminal history documents and/or screenings may be required based on the changing policies of the clinical agencies.

Standards for Progression and Graduation

1. All required science courses must be successfully completed concurrently with or prior to the recommended course sequence.
2. MATH 102  or higher must be completed prior to Semester III..
3. General Psychology, English Composition II and Speech or Interpersonal Communication must be successfully completed prior to Semester IV of the nursing courses.
4. Students may repeat a required academic course one time.
5. Nursing students must achieve a minimum grade of C in all required courses and maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 each semester. Failure to meet this requirement will result in withdrawal from the nursing program at the end of the semester.
   1. If the semester average falls below 2.0 and the student has earned a grade less than C in a required course, the student will be required to enroll in one semester of General Studies. Failure to raise the GPA during this semester of General Studies may result in denial of readmission to the nursing program.
   2. When students are enrolled in a nursing course that has a corequisite and earn a grade less than a C, students may complete the remaining nursing corequisite during the current semester. When students are enrolled in a nursing course that has a corequisite and withdraws from the nursing course, this results in withdrawal from the ASN Program and the student may not complete the remaining nursing corequisite during the current semester.
   3. If a student is unsuccessful in the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program twice, that student may have the option of completing the program of Practical Nursing, if eligible. Then, if eligible, that person, upon becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse, may be admitted into the ASN completion concentration for one time only.
   4. Each application is reviewed individually by a review committee of the Nursing Department Admissions Committee.
   5. Students having extenuating circumstances may petition the nursing review committee for retention in the program.
6. Nursing students who receive an F in a nursing course will not be eligible for readmission to the nursing program regardless of GPA.

Readmission Standards

Readmission standards apply to any student who has enrolled in and attended a nursing course, dropped the nursing course, and/or has not met the Standards for Progression and Graduation as listed above.

1. Students may be readmitted to the nursing program limited to one time.
2. Applications for readmission must be obtained from and returned to the Health Science and Human Performance Division Office, Attention: Associate of Science in Nursing by the deadline established by the program.
3. Students seeking to reenter the program at the point in which they withdrew, must reenter the program within one year. Otherwise, the student may apply for readmission to begin the program in its entirety.
4. Qualified applicants will be readmitted on a space-available basis.
5. Each application is reviewed individually by the Nursing Department Admissions Committee.
6. Students who believe they have extenuating circumstances to these readmission standards, may write a letter to the Nursing Department Admissions Committee to explain their situation, following the University Grievance Policy.