Nursing, ASN Completion Concentration for Licensed Practical Nurses 6252

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

This program satisfies the Nursing Transfer Single Articulation Pathway (TSAP) created under Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 182 passed in 2013. Entrance into the ASN Completion program will permit students to obtain credit for the first semester of the first year of the Associate of Science Nursing Program courses and enter into the second semester of the first year of the Associate of Science in Nursing Program. Graduates of the Associate of Science Nursing Program earn an Associate of Science in Nursing and are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

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 ASN Completion Concentration for Licensed Practical Nurses program is accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Information on accreditation status may be obtained by contacting the ACEN. They may be contacted at the following address: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN, Inc.), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia 30326 (1-404-975-5000), or www.acenursing.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. Applicants are accepted into the ASN Completion program only one time annually.

Program Outcomes

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

1. Collaborate with members of the healthcare team incorporating nursing informatics to manage care for patients and families across the lifespan in a variety of healthcare settings.
2. Utilize nursing judgment to provide safe and quality care for patient populations across the lifespans.
3. Provide holistic patient-centered care utilizing cultural sensitivity for diverse individuals, families, and groups.
4. Demonstrate professionalism and leadership skills while adhering to registered nurse practice standards.
5. Provide health promotion and preventative care for individuals, families, and groups.

Selection Process

Admission to the University does not ensure admission to the nursing program. The number of students admitted is limited by the availability of instructional resources and clinical learning sites. Each applicant is reviewed individually. Due to the number of applications for this program, admission is competitive in nature. Preference will be given to applicants having a higher GPA and those who receive a grade of B or higher in Math, Science, and Developmental Psychology courses. Practical Nursing course grades will also be considered when selecting students for admission. The Nursing Admissions Committee reserves the right to request additional information related to eligibility from the applicant. Any falsification of application information will result in denial of admission or removal from the program.

Admission Requirements

All applicants must meet the following basic admission requirements.

1. Meet Admission requirements of the University.
2. Possess an unencumbered practical nurse license.
3. Graduate from a nationally accredited Practical Nursing Program.
4. Possess physical and mental health acceptable for performance in the occupation as determined by the Department of Nursing and evidenced by examination by a licensed practitioner.
5. Provide evidence of a recent placement test if requested by the Nursing Admissions Committee.
6. Qualify for placement into MATH 102 , MATH 103 , or higher with no corequisite as determined by the Vincennes University Placement Test (Accuplacer), or receive appropriate credit.
7. Complete ENGL 101  and BIOL 111 /111L  with a C or better grade.
8. Complete one year of high school chemistry with a grade of C or better within 6 years of beginning the Program -or- complete CHEM 100 /100L  or an equivalent course with a grade of C or better. 
9. Possess a cumulative GPA of 2.6 or higher, calculated using the courses from the ASN Program General Education Requirements, applicable chemistry grades, and Practical Nursing Courses.
10. Applicant may repeat an academic course only one time in order to achieve a grade of C or better and/or raise the GPA to 2.6 minimum. Applicant must hold no current grade less than C in any required general education course. Applicants with current grades less than C in required general education courses are not eligible for admission. Required non-nursing courses may only be repeated one time in order to raise the grade to a C or better. This includes prerequisites to required courses.
11. Only MATH taken less than seven years prior to admission to the nursing program will be considered for credit. Students seeking credit for required math courses that were taken longer than seven years prior to admission to the nursing program must receive a score of QAS 255 or higher or AAF 240 or higher on the Accuplacer Next Generation, EA 70 or higher on the Accuplacer Classic, or receive a passing grade on the College Algebra CLEP exam. Students who fail to receive the referenced Accuplacer Classic or Accuplacer Next Generation scores or a passing grade on the College Algebra CLEP exam must complete remedial math courses to demonstrate proficiency in math and readiness for MATH 102 /MATH 103  or higher. The remedial math course(s) will be determined by the Accuplacer Classic or Accuplacer Next Generation scores. The remedial math course(s) must be completed with a grade of C or better prior to being considered for admission.
12. BIOL 208 - Microbiology for the Health Sciences / BIOL 208L - Microbiology for the Health Sciences Laboratory  and PSYC 201 - Developmental Psychology  will be considered for credit if taken less than five years prior to admission to the nursing program.
13. The Registrar will determine if credit is to be granted for courses taken at other higher education institutions.
14.  Applicants that have received a grade of F in any nursing course are not eligible for admission.

*Criminal History Policy

The Nursing Department requires that all applicants selected for admission submit a criminal history report. Applicants should be aware that any previous or current conviction of a crime or treatment for substance abuse may result in ineligibility to be admitted to the VU Nursing Program(s) and/or affect the ability to be licensed as a nurse. The determination on eligibility to take the licensure exam will be made by the Indiana State Board of Nursing. More information about the Indiana State Board of Nursing Licensure Laws and Regulations may be found on the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency’s website at http://www.in.gov/pla. Please visit http://www.vinu.edu/nursing for the current criminal history procedures.

Standards for Progression and Graduation

LPNs will enroll in NURS 110 - Pharmacology I  (2 credit hours), NURS 112 - Pediatric-Adolescent Nursing  (4 credit hours), and NURS 122 - Psychosocial-Mental Health Nursing  (4 credit hours). An early completion option will be available for NURS 110 - Pharmacology I  for any student that has previous credit for pharmacology in a practical nursing program.

Once beginning Associate of Science in Nursing courses, students will adhere to the same standards as all Associate of Science in Nursing students. Please refer to these standards for information on progression and graduation requirements.

Readmission Policy

The Readmission Policy applies to any student that was unsuccessful in passing or withdrew from a nursing course or any student that did not meet the Standards for Admission and Graduation listed above.

1. Applicants may be readmitted to the program one time only.
2. Applicants 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.
3. The effective catalog for students readmitted to the program in courses beyond the first semester will be the effective catalog at the time of the first admission.
4. Qualified applicants will be readmitted on a space-available basis. In the event that the number of applicants exceeds available space, positions may be offered to applicants with higher qualifications.
5. Applicants for readmission must submit a readmission application by the deadline established by the Nursing Department.
6. Applicants that received a grade of F in any nursing course may not apply for readmission.
7. Applicants that have received a grade less than C in more than one nursing course are not eligible to reapply for admission.
8. Applications are reviewed on an individual basis by the Nursing Department.
9. In accordance with the University Grievance Policy, applicants who believe they have extenuating circumstances to these readmission standards may submit a letter of appeal to the Nursing Department Admissions Committee to explain the situation.