Nursing Associate Degree Program
 


The Division of Nursing and Health Services is an integral part of the college and offers educational opportunities to qualified individuals who seek a career in nursing. A student pursues a planned course of study, which will help him/her develop intellectually, emotionally, and socially in preparation for nursing practice as a registered nurse (RN).

The associate degree program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing. The nursing program provides a curriculum, which assists an individual to give safe, effective nursing care for culturally diverse clients in a variety of health care settings. The registered nurse functions as a member of the health care team in promoting and restoring optimal health. The program consists of courses in nursing Fundamentals, Health & Physical Assessment, Medical/Surgical, Maternal-Child & Women’s Health, and Pediatric Nursing. A variety of teaching/learning strategies are utilized throughout the program. In addition to the classroom hours, the student will participate in clinical, skills, and computer laboratory experiences.

Abraham Baldwin College offers a Generic RN Track and a One-Day RN Transition Track program. The Generic Track is the six semester traditional nursing program for any student who meets the admission criteria. The One-Day Transition Track is offered to provide the licensed practical nurse or licensed paramedic with an opportunity for advanced placement. A student successfully completing NURS 1115 Transition to Associate Degree Nursing, NURS 1109 Health & Physical Assessment may enroll in the sophomore nursing sequence.

Prospective students need to be aware that clinical, skills and computer laboratory experiences may be taught during day, evening or night hours and at different locations based on the availability of appropriate learning experiences for each nursing course. Certain hours for clinical, skills or computer laboratory experiences cannot be guaranteed. Transportation to clinical sites is the responsibility of the student.

Students must complete several general education courses to be eligible for admission into the nursing program. Because of the academically demanding program of study in the nursing curriculum, it is highly recommended that a student who anticipates enrolling in the nursing program complete as many additional general education courses as possible prior to admission.

The College offers many extra-curricular activities, which supplement the academic program and provide leadership and diversional opportunities. A nursing student is encouraged to be active in the Abraham Baldwin College Chapter of the Georgia Association of Nursing Students (GANS) and to participate in other college related activities.

Upon graduation the student receives the Associate of Science in Nursing Degree and is eligible to apply to take the examination for licensure as a registered nurse (RN). Permission to take the licensing examination is granted by the state examining board. Graduates who have been arrested/convicted of a moral and/or legal violation of the law may not be granted permission to take the licensing examination.

Program Outcomes

The nursing graduate will:

  1. Demonstrate a knowledge of nursing practice necessary for performance as an entry level registered nurse.

  2. Demonstrate the ability to function as an associate degree nurse in the roles of provider of care, manager of care, and member within the discipline of nursing.

  3. Demonstrate critical thinking skills in the utilization of the nursing process to meet the needs of culturally diverse clients.

  4. Demonstrate the ability to practice in diverse health care settings.

  5. Participate in activities which support the value of life-long learning.

STANDARDS FOR ADMISSION AND RETENTION

To enter the nursing program, a student must first be admitted to the college. Admission to the college, however, does not guarantee admission into the nursing program. A separate letter from the Division of Nursing and Health Services will be sent to the student upon acceptance into the program. A candidate for the Associate Degree in Nursing must possess assessment, communication, psychomotor, and behavioral skills. Reasonable accommodations may be made for some disabilities. However, each candidate is expected to perform in a safe and reasonably independent manner as demonstrated by:

*1. ASSESSMENT - A candidate must be able to assess a client accurately. Examples of assessment include: listening to heart and breath sounds, visualizing the appearance of a surgical wound, detecting the presence of a foul odor, and palpating an abdomen.

2. COMMUNICATION - A candidate must be able to interact therapeutically with clients and to communicate effectively with other members of the health care team. The candidate must be able to obtain and record in-formation, describe client situations, and perceive non-verbal communication.

3. PSYCHOMOTOR - A candidate must have adequate psychomotor function to work effectively with nursing problems and issues and carry out related nursing care. Examples of nursing care include: assisting clients with daily hygiene care; moving, ambulating, and positioning clients; performing invasive procedures such as venipuncture and urinary catheterization; administering intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and oral medications; applying pressure to stop bleeding.

4. BEHAVIORAL - A candidate must have the emotional health required to maximize his/her intellectual abilities, Candidates must be able to tolerate physically demanding workloads and to function effectively during stressful situations. All candidates must be able to adapt to ever-changing environments, which require flexibility, interaction skills, and ability to function in the case of uncertainty that is inherent in clinical situations involving clients. *

*Adapted from Medica1 College of Georgia’s catalog.

Generic Track students are admitted to the nursing program twice a year, at the beginning of fall and spring semesters. One Day Transition Track students are admitted once a year at the beginning of the summer semester.

Deadline dates for application to the nursing program are as follows: a) Generic Track: March 15 (Fall admission) or September 15 (Spring admission); b) One Day Transition Track: February 15. Applications received after these dates will be considered only if vacancies remain.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission to the nursing program is academically competitive and will be based on academic qualifications. Minimum requirements for consideration for admission are as follows:

1. Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II and the corresponding labs must have been completed within the five (5) years prior to initial admission into the nursing program.

2. The Pharmacology for Health Professions must have been completed within one (1) year prior to initial admission into the nursing program. This course is not transferable from another institution and must be taken at ABAC.

3. Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II and Microbiology and the corresponding labs and Pharmacology for Health Professions may be repeated one time only. If a student has more that one failure that is more than five (5) years old, a student may retake the course(s). After successful completion of the course(s), the student may apply to the nursing program.

4. A student must achieve a minimum grade of a C in all core courses applicable to the nursing program.

5. Students will be required to adhere to the Policy & Procedure Manual for Nursing Students in force at the time of admission into the Nursing Program.

6. Students must meet the graduation requirements as listed in a single ABAC catalog which is not more than five years old at the time of their graduation and which is in effect for a term during which they earned academic credit at ABAC.

7. In addition to the immunizations required for admission to the college, a student must show current immunization to Hepatitis B (through completion of the Hepatitis B immunization series or titer screening) or be in the process of completing the HBV series of immunizations before attending clinical laboratory. It is highly recommended that a student have an antibody screening test performed following completion of the HBV series to show adequacy of immunization. A student choosing not to take the HBV series must sign a disclaimer.

8. All nursing students must have a PPD skin test within the past year prior to entering the nursing program or a chest x-ray within the past 3 years. The PPD skin test or chest x-ray must be updated as recommended by the CDC until graduation.

9. A student must have current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification (must include infant, child & adult CPR) and current malpractice insurance while enrolled in the nursing program.

10. A candidate for the Generic Track must meet all of the above admission requirements (#1-9) plus the following additional requirements:

a. A student with a minimum composite SAT score of 850 or a composite ACT score of 18 and a minimum 2.30 grade point average (GPA), may enter the program after successful completion of Pharmacology for Health Professions, Human Anatomy & Physiology I, and Introduction to General Psychology each with a C or better. All other core course requirements will be finished while completing the nursing sequence.

b. A student without the minimum composite SAT or ACT score is required to have a minimum 2.30 grade point average (GPA) on a minimum of 20 semester hours of core courses applicable to the nursing curriculum. The 20 hours must include Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II and corresponding labs, Pharmacology for Health Professions, and Introduction to General Psychology with a grade of C or better. All other core course requirements will be finished while completing the nursing sequence.

c. Only core courses required for the associate degree nursing program will be used to calculate the grade point average. Grades achieved in each attempt will be used in the calculation of this grade point average.

d. A student who is not required to take the SAT or ACT by the college (a student who has been out of high school for five or more years) may elect to take one of these tests in order to achieve the minimum score required for nursing or may elect to take the 20 hours, as described above.

e. A student with a previously earned bachelor’s or higher degree may enter the program with a minimum 2.30 grade point average and successful completion of Pharmacology for Health Professions, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and corresponding lab, and Introduction to General Psychology each with a C or better.

11. A candidate for the One-Day Transition Track must meet all of the above admission requirements (#1-9) plus the following additional requirements:

a. A student must hold current LPN or Paramedic licensure in the state of Georgia.

b. A student must have successfully completed a minimum of 25 semester hours of core courses. The 25 hours must include Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II and corresponding labs, Pharmacology for Health Professions, Introduction to General Psychology, Composition I, and Introduction to Human Development. All other core course requirements will be finished while completing the nursing sequence.

c. A student must have a minimum grade point average of 2.30. Only core courses required for the associate degree nursing program will be used to calculate the grade point average. Grades achieved in each attempt will be used in the calculation of this grade point average.

d. A student must purchase Transition Course Review Modules and successfully complete a comprehensive examination prior to admission into the program. Students will have two attempts to successfully complete this examination with a 75% or higher grade. If a grade of at least 75% is not achieved on the second attempt, the student will no longer be eligible to apply for admission to the One-Day Transition Track. Successful completion of this exam grants the student clep credit for NURS 1108 and NURS 1110.

e. It is highly recommended that a student complete all core courses prior to admission into the program.

f. Students transferring all core course credit from another institution must take a minimum of 30 semester hours at ABAC to be eligible for graduation.

ACADEMIC PROGRESSION REGULATIONS

1. Students must achieve a minimum theory grade of 75 and a satisfactory grade in the clinical laboratory, nursing skills laboratory, and designated class activities in each nursing course in order to be admitted into the next semester of nursing.

2. A student must achieve a minimum grade of a C in all core courses applicable to the nursing program. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 must be maintained.

3. Introduction to Human Development must be taken as a pre-requisite or as a co-requisite with NURS 1108 & NURS 1109. Human Anatomy and Physiology II must be taken as a pre-requisite or as a co-requisite with NURS 1110. Microbiology must be taken as a pre-requisite to NURS 2207 & 2208

3. Each Human Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology and corresponding lab courses and Pharmacology for Health Professions may be repeated one time only.

4. Failure in two nursing courses (same course or separate courses) in the Generic Track Program will result in dismissal from the program. Failure in one nursing course in the One Day Transition Track Program will result in dismissal from that program. A “WF” will be considered a failure.

5. If a student chooses to withdraw from a nursing course, he/she must withdraw from all co-requisite nursing courses if applicable.

6. If a student has one proven incident of gross unprofessional conduct or behavior, he/she will receive a “WF” in the course and be permanently dismissed from the nursing program without possibility of readmission.

7. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Any proven occurrence may result in a course grade of “WF” and permanent dismissal from the nursing program without possibility of readmission. Refer to the college policy regarding due process for academic dishonesty.

8. Students are required to purchase the Total Testing Package. Fees for this package are equally divided over the four nursing semesters. This package includes the cost of malpractice insurance, Kaplan Stars Testing Packages, a comprehensive competency validation examination, course syllabi and materials, skills laboratory equipment, and a NCLEX review course.

9. Successful completion of a comprehensive Competency Validation Examination is required in order to exit NURS 2210 Nursing VII-Medical-Surgical Three. Students who fail the exam will be given only one opportunity to retake it. Failure to pass the examination on the second attempt will result in a grade of “D” in the course. Only students with a passing grade in NURS 2209 and NURS 2210 will be allowed to take the examination.

10. A student must maintain current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification (must include infant, child & adult CPR) and current malpractice insurance while enrolled in the nursing program. Proof of CPR certification must be provided to the Division of Nursing Office.

11. A student enrolled in the nursing program must adhere to the policies and procedures as outlined in the current Nursing Policy and Procedure Manual for Nursing Students. Readmitted students will be held to the Nursing Policy and Procedure Manual in effect when they are formally readmitted to the program.

12. The two-year nursing sequence must be completed within four years from the beginning of the term in which the student was initially admitted to the nursing program.

READMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Readmission to the nursing program is academically competitive and will be based on academic qualifications. Minimum requirements for consideration for readmission are as follows:

1. Any student wishing to be considered for readmission must make application to the Nursing Division at least three weeks prior to the desired semester of re-entry. Applications will be reviewed by the Admission/Readmission Committee. Students who experience any break or delay in the progression through the nursing course sequence must apply for readmission to the nursing program. This includes students who have withdrawn (W) from any nursing course or have earned a D or F in a nursing course.

2. Any student wishing to be considered for readmission must have a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA (calculation based on all attempted nursing courses and all attempted core courses which are applicable to the nursing program) and meet all other initial admission criteria for the nursing program. If all ADN core courses have been completed, then any core courses applicable to the BSN will also be used in the GPA calculation.

3. Any student who has a break or delay in progression through the nursing program (failure or withdrawal) may be considered for readmission, provided criteria 1 and 2 above are met and space is available.

4. The two-year nursing sequence must be completed within four years from the beginning of the term in which the student was initially admitted to the nursing program.

5. Readmitted students will be held to the current Policy and Procedure Manual for Nursing Students in effect when they are formally readmitted to the program.

6. Readmitted students must meet the graduation requirements as listed in a single ABAC catalog which is not more than five years old at the time of their graduation and which is in effect for a term during which they earned academic credit at ABAC.

7. Students who have been dismissed from the Generic Track program due to earning two failures in nursing courses, may be considered for readmission only if criteria 1 and 2 above are met plus the following stipulations:

a. The student must become (be) a LPN or Paramedic and hold current licensure in the state of Georgia.

b. The student applies for admission to the One-Day Transition Track, if eligible (see Admission Requirements applicable to the One-Day Transition Track).

8. Students who have received one failure in the One-Day Transition Track program must apply for admission to the Generic Track program, if eligible (see Admission Requirements applicable to the Generic Tracks).

9. Students who have received two failures in the Generic Track and one failure in the One-Day Transition Track will no longer be eligible for readmission into either program.

Cost of the Program

1. Textbooks: $650-800 for the first semester nursing courses and $350 or less for each subsequent semester nursing courses

2. Total Testing Package: $212 - $250 every semester of the nursing sequence. This package includes:

   Course materials
   Skills lab supplies
   Standardized tests
   Malpractice Insurance
   NCLEX-RN Review Course

3. Uniforms and Accessories: $250-300.

4. Transportation to clinical agencies: cost varies and is the responsibility of each student.

5. Georgia Board of Nursing application and NCLEX-RN exam fees: $300 upon completion of the nursing program.

6. Graduate Nurse Pin (optional): $100-200

7. Membership in the Abraham Baldwin College Chapter of the Georgia Association of Nursing Students (GANS) (optional): $39 per year

8. Additional expenses may be incurred during completion of the nursing program.