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), 17 South High Street, Suite 660, Columbus, OH 43215, http://www.nursing.ohio.gov.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, the student will be able to:

  1. Synthesize knowledge from nursing and a liberal education as the basis for clinical judgment, reflective practice, and decision making.

  2. Incorporate professional standards in the practice of nursing.

  3. Value integrity, caring, accountability, respect and excellence in nursing practice.

  4. Collaborate with patients and health professionals to develop and implement culturally appropriate health promotion, disease prevention, and illness care methods.

  5. Select current theory and evidenced-based knowledge to guide and teach individuals, families, and populations regarding health promotion, and illness prevention

  6. Employ patient care technologies, information systems, and communication devices that support safe nursing practice and development of nursing knowledge.

  7. Demonstrate knowledge of healthcare policy, finance, and regulatory environments that impact patient care.

  8. Incorporate effective communication and collaboration skills to form partnerships to provide care and to promote positive outcomes to a diverse society in a global context.

  9. Apply leadership concepts, principles of advocacy and decision making in the provision of quality patient care, healthcare team coordination and accountability for care delivery in a variety of settings.

  10. Collaborate with healthcare professionals to enhance quality improvement and safety initiatives at individual and systems levels of care.

  11. Investigate health-related social justice concerns within legal, ethical, and political contexts.

  12. Value lifelong learning for personal and professional growth to support excellence in nursing practice.

Nursing Programs Description

The Bachelor of Science in nursing degree prepares students to practice the art and science of professional nursing. Nursing majors are introduced to the profession’s theoretical knowledge base, research for evidence-based practice, focus on international perspectives in healthcare, apply the nursing process to families and aggregates in the community setting, explore the role of nurse as leader and manager, investigate the role of nurses in legal, ethical, and political settings, and learn the highly technical and clinical skills needed for working with patients and their families in a variety of settings. This degree also provides the foundation for graduate education in nursing.

Four programs leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing are offered. Each student’s previous education and experience are evaluated to determine placement in the appropriate program within the College.

Admission to Nursing Programs

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 (ten panel screen) will take place during the fourth term of enrollment for the traditional four-year program students and prior to clinical experiences for advanced entry and accelerated program students. RN to BSN program students will obtain criminal background inquiries and drug screenings one semester prior to clinical coursework.

Background checks and drug screenings will be performed by the agency chosen by the College for nursing program students. Results are sent directly to the College. RN to BSN students required to obtain background checks or drug screenings may select an alternative agency at their own cost. Results for all students are sent directly from the agency to the College. Students who fail an initial drug screen will be allowed one additional repeat test to confirm the results. 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 classes for the traditional four-year track students and prior to admission to the program for advanced entry and accelerated track students. For post-licensure students, certification is required upon admission.

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 are available on the MyAU Portal page on the AU website nursing page for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. See the nursing student handbook for detailed information on these requirements.

Transfers Applying to the Traditional 4-year Program without Nursing Transfer Credit

Students applying to transfer must file an AU transfer application.

Requirements:

  1. 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.

  2. Achieved at least a 3.0/4.0 cumulative grade point average in college coursework.

  3. Achieve at least a 2.5 grade point average in non-nursing required coursework (BIO 222, BIO 223, BIO 240, CHEM 251, CHEM 253, DIET 320, PHIL 215, PSYC 209, MATH 108)

  4. Have not been dismissed from a nursing program and/or failed a nursing course in another nursing program.  The CONHS Admission & Progression Committee must approve these applicants prior to admission.

    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.

  5. Meet all other program requirements listed in the 4-year program:

  • Pass a criminal background check and drug screen.(done prior to entering clinical coursework)

  • Meet the health status criteria for mental and physical health.

  • Documentation of ability to perform the essential functions for clinical course work

  • 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 better. Courses with a grade of "C-" can be transferred and applied toward Ashland University's institutional degree requirements, but will not apply toward the nursing program major requirements.

Transfers Applying to the Traditional 4-year Program Seeking Nursing Transfer Credit

Students applying to transfer must file an AU transfer application and submit official transcripts through the admissions office.

The Nursing Department Admission and Progression Committee will determine if a student transferring from another accredited nursing program will be admitted to the AU nursing program. Only coursework from accredited nursing programs will be considered for transfer credit. Students who are admitted to the nursing program are subject to the degree and graduation requirements in the AU catalog and nursing student handbook at the time of admission.

Admission Requirements:

  1. 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.

  2. Applicant must be in good academic standing in their current nursing program as evidenced by a letter from the Dean of that program.

  3. Achieved at least a 3.0/4.0 cumulative grade point average in college coursework.

  4. Achieve at least a 2.5 grade point average in non-nursing required coursework (BIO 222, BIO 223, BIO 240, CHEM 251, CHEM 253, DIET 320, PHIL 215, PSYC 209, MATH 108)

  5. Have not been dismissed from a nursing program and/or failed a nursing course in another nursing program.  The CONHS Admission & Progression Committee must approve these applicants prior to admission.

    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.

  6. Meet all other program requirements listed in the 4-year program:

  • Pass a criminal background check and drug screen.(done prior to entering clinical coursework)

  • Meet the health status criteria for mental and physical health.

  • Documentation of  ability to perform the essential functions for clinical course work

  • Complete record of required immunizations

Credit for Transfer Nursing Coursework:

  1. Nursing course credits from an accredited program may be granted transfer credits. The Department Chair, Program Director, and/or Nursing Department Admission and Progression Committee review transcripts for clarification of course related content and assessment of transfer credit.

  2. 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.

  3. Clinical orientation, auditing of nursing courses, or retaking of nursing courses may be required in the admission process.

  4. Students may be required to demonstrate safe practice in medication administration and other skills to progress even if transfer credit is granted.

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 science coursework and received a "C-" or below, will be required to retake these courses in order to gain admission to the CONHS. 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, Advanced Entry, and Accelerated Nursing Programs

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, CHEM251, and 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:

  1. Contact the Registrar’s Office to notify the college of potential readmission at least 3 months prior to the semester the student is applying.

  2. Submit a letter of intent to the Registrar’s Office stating the desire for readmission, including additional education that has occurred since applicant’s last classes at AU.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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:

  1. Applicant's stated reason for requesting readmission.

  2. Past academic performance and any work completed while absence is evaluated to determine potential for success and/or placement.

  3. Applicant’s ability to complete the program within the 6-year requirement.

  4. Space availability in the appropriate courses.

  5. 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 intra-muscular or subcutaneous injection practicum dependent upon the student’s placement in the program;

d.    Successful completion of the indwelling urinary catheter sterile skill practicum dependent upon the student’s placement in the program; 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 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:

  1. The admission decision applies to the upcoming semester and cannot be deferred.

  2. Applicants must repeat or audit courses (even if passed) when the Nursing Department Admission and Progression Committee deems necessary.

  3. Readmitted students must follow the progression grade requirements.

  4. Readmitted students will enter on probation and be assessed at the end of the first term.

Withdrawals from Traditional, Advanced Entry, Accelerated Nursing Programs

Students who do not register for nursing coursework within two academic terms (fall/spring) will be administratively withdrawn from the nursing program so that another student may be placed in that spot. They must wait one calendar year before reapplying to the nursing program and must follow the readmission process.

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, Advanced Entry, Accelerated Nursing Programs

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 DET score of 115. Exemption: applicant is a native English speaker – i.e. citizen of a native English-speaking country.