Nursing, ASN Completion Concentration for Licensed Practical Nurses 6252, A.S.

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.), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, 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

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 selected for admission, with cancellations being filled from a waiting list. The number of students admitted to the Associate of Science in Nursing program is limited by the availability of instructional resources and clinical learning sites. Each applicant is reviewed individually and will be ranked based on a point system. The point system utilized for the program and application deadline information is available at www.vinu.edu/nursing. 

Any falsification of application information will result in denial of admission or removal from the program. Compliance with all criteria does not guarantee acceptance to 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.
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. Completion of one year of high school chemistry with a grade of C or better within five years of beginning the program or have three or more years of experience as an LPN or completion with a grade of C or better in CHEM 100 /100L , or an equivalent course. 
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 a required general education 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. 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 Associate of Science in Nursing program.
12. The Registrar will determine if credit is to be granted for courses taken at other higher education institutions.
13.  Applicants that have received a grade of F in any nursing course are not eligible for admission.

Orientation Information

Applicants that are selected for admission should be aware that there will be mandatory orientation sessions that take place prior to classes beginning in the Spring. Applicants must be able to attend the appropriate orientation session in order to begin the Associate of Science in Nursing program. Students selected for admission will be provided additional detail. More information can be found at www.vinu.edu/nursing.

*Criminal History Policy

The Associate of Science in Nursing program is committed to selecting students for admission who can be guaranteed placement in our affiliated clinical agencies. As part of the admissions process, applicants selected for admission to the Associate of Science in Nursing program, Practical Nursing program, or ASN Completion Concentration for LPNs will be required to complete a criminal history and drug screening. The criminal history report and drug screening results will be used as criterion for admission to and continued enrollment in the programs. Applicants should be aware that any adverse criminal history report or treatment for substance abuse may result in denial of admission or dismissal from the program. 

Directions for submitting the criminal history report from Vincennes University’s approved vendor will be provided to applicants that are selected for admission to the program. Applicants are responsible for the cost of the criminal history report. Results of criminal history reports from our approved vendor automatically release to the Department of Nursing and may be shared with affiliated clinical agencies. 

Information will be shared with our clinical affiliates regarding any applicants with an adverse criminal history report. If a clinical agency deems an applicant ineligible for clinical placement the student will not be eligible for admission/continuation in the program.    

Any applicant or currently enrolled student in any of the nursing programs who has had an arrest or any change in their criminal history since the initial background check was completed must report the information to the Department of Nursing Nurse Administrator or Department Chair prior to the next nursing course day. Failure to report this information violates our clinical agency agreement and is grounds for immediate dismissal from the nursing program.

Drug Screening Policy

All applicants selected for admission to the Associate of Science in Nursing, Practical Nursing, or ASN Completion Concentration for LPNs are required to submit a 10 panel drug screening prior to beginning courses. The drug screening includes screening for Amphetamines, Barbiturate, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, Creatinine, Cannabinoids, Methadone, Methaqualone, Opiates, Phencyclidine, Propoxyphene, and PH. Drug screen results with a dilute negative will not be accepted. Applicants with a dilute negative result will be required to retest within 2 weeks of the original posted results. A second dilute negative will result in the student either supplying a blood test or hair sample for drug testing.  Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program. Please note that use of CBD oil may result in a positive drug screen. A positive drug screen for any reason will result in denial of admission to the program. Instructions for the drug screening will be provided to applicants that have been selected for admission to the program.

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 www.in.gov/pla.

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.

Nursing Readmission Policy

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. Students who have been unsuccessful in the program twice, or earned an F, are eligible to apply to the program at the freshmen year second-semester level after a period of three years.
7. Applications are reviewed on an individual basis by the Nursing Department. Factors that will be considered in the decision to readmit a student include, but are not limited to, space availability, course sequencing, and student performance, which includes grades, professional behavior, and clinical performance.
8. 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 Chair of the Program to explain the situation.