THE IOWA ARTICULATION PLAN

Transcription

1 THE IOWA ARTICULATION PLAN In 1990, the Iowa Board of Nursing became one of the first states in the United States to formally encourage Registered Nurses (R.N.) to complete a college degree in nursing. This plan, known as the Iowa Articulation Plan, was designed to assist Registered Nurses who had graduated with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or from a Hospital Diploma program to proceed, in a systematic way, toward a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Surveys were completed to identify what courses were included in all ADN and Diploma programs in the state of Iowa, and to identify what competencies were being taught in all programs. A similar survey was completed with all baccalaureate programs in the state. As a result of these surveys, the Iowa Board of Nursing developed criteria for all nursing education programs in the state to become "sending institutions" or "receiving institutions". Associate Degree and/or Diploma programs had to carefully examine their nursing education program in order to document that their curriculum contains the necessary courses and competencies as a "sending institution". In some cases, they had to add courses or change curriculums to meet the requirements. A list of all ADN and Diploma programs in the state who have qualified as sending institutions is available on the Iowa Board of Nursing web page Baccalaureate programs had to examine their nursing education program to determine which courses were unique to the baccalaureate experience and would need to be completed by an R.N. student coming from a "sending institution". Certain credit hour requirements were specified within the different options. Each baccalaureate program that wished to become a "receiving institution" then developed a plan for each option in the plan and submitted it to the Board of Nursing for approval. Lists of all baccalaureate programs in the state who have qualified as receiving institutions is available on the Iowa Board of Nursing web page THREE OPTIONS The Iowa Articulation Plan provides three options for the R.N. to complete the B.S.N. degree. Each option "describes how much additional coursework the student will need in order to complete the baccalaureate degree, how the student can obtain or transfer credit for coursework, and under what conditions the option will most benefit the student. Students may declare only one option at a time; those who wish to change the option they have selected must contact the individual baccalaureate degree institution." (Iowa Articulation Plan) Students must meet the admission requirements of the baccalaureate-degree-granting institution.

2 ALLEN COLLGE RN TO BSN /MSN PROGRAM POLICIES The following policies are applicable to Registered Nurses enrolled in the Iowa Articulation Plan at Allen College. 1 RN to BSN/MSN applicants must meet Allen College admission and graduation requirements. 2 RN to BSN/MSN applicants must: - Declare an articulation option, - Be licensed in Iowa, - Have current BLS certification, - Have a current physical examination on record, - Have all above documentation on file with Allen College before taking the first nursing course. 3 RN to BSN/MSN students must: - Complete 30 semester credit hours of nursing coursework with a minimum of 24 semester credit hours required from Allen College and up to 6 semester credit hours may be changed transferred. - Complete Allen College s course NU301-Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing before any transfer credit will be accepted. 4 RN to BSN/MSN students may take Allen College course, NU280-Health Assessment for regular credit or may request to challenge the class (See Item 5) 5 RN to BSN/MSN students may request to challenge/waiver a maximum of 6 semester credit hours using the designated Allen College guidelines. Waived coursework will require the student to substitute elective courses. 6 RN to BSN/MSN coursework eligible for challenge/waiver includes: - NU380 Introduction to Nursing Research NU455 Nursing Care of the Client at Home NU450 Nursing Care of the Community as Client NU460 Nursing Leadership One Community Health course may be transferred from an accredited collegiate nursing program to meet one of the Allen College course requirements listed below - NU455 Nursing Care of the Client at Home NU450 Nursing Care of the Community as Client If you are requesting challenge/waiver transfer credit as an RN to BSN/MSN student, you may be required to prepare a portfolio of previous education and clinical experiences appropriate to the course. The portfolio assists instructors in providing an individualized clinical experience in the required nursing courses. The portfolio should include: - Professional resume, - Documentation of coursework completed in previous programs, - Documentation of continuing education programs attended, and - A summary of practice experience. 2

3 THE ALLEN COLLEGE ARTICULATION PLAN The following pages describe the plan approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing for Allen College. Pre-Selection Suggestions It is recommended that the student: - review each of the three options, - identify option/course requirements which have been completed, and - bring the supporting documentation to their first meeting with their Academic Advisor. Option Selection Descriptions of the three options are provided as a checklist or worksheet for planning. Each of the three options lists: - general education courses and - nursing courses required for graduation. Each student should: - meet with their assigned Academic Advisor, - determine which option best meets their needs, - select only one option, and - sign an articulation agreement prior to registration. Changing the Option Selection If a student decides to choose another option, the student must: - meet with their assigned Academic Advisor, - develop a new plan, and - submit an application to change options to the Admissions, Promotion and Graduation committee for approval. - must sign a new articulation plan agreement prior to registration for the semester, and - be aware that, previous coursework may not satisfy the requirements in another option. DISTANCE LEARNING RN to BSN courses are offered on line on a rotating basis subject to course enrollment. By offering the courses over the Internet, we provide the flexibility that is so often needed. Students can access the course from any available Internet site, at any time of the day or night that is convenient for them. All but three of the required classes in the RN- BSN curriculum are also offered in the classroom each semester. 3

4 Option A Direct transfer of credit for graduates of Iowa diploma and associate degree nursing programs validated for participation in Iowa Articulation Plan. Target Audience - Graduates of programs validated for participation in the Iowa Articulation Plan. - Must begin within six (6) years of graduation from that basic program. General Education Courses Required Students choose 9 credit hours of Humanities electives and 6 credit hours of Social Sciences Electives. Students will also choose a cultural diversity course. Statistics is a required general Education course. General electives will be taken as needed to reach 124 semester hours 66 Semester Credit Hours Granted from validated program must include Anatomy & Physiology...6 Microbiology... 3 Psychology...3 Sociology... 3 Growth & Development...3 Nutrition... 3 Written Communication...3 Nursing Courses Semester Credit Hours Nursing Courses Required NU301 Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing...3 NU380* Intro to Nursing Research...3 NU445 Nursing Electives...9 NU430 Loss, Grief and End of Life Issues NU455* Client at Home...3 NU450* Community as Client...3 NU460* Nursing Leadership...3 NU496 Nursing Capstone (RN)...3 Total Credit Hour *Up to 6 Semester hours may be waived/challenged through proof of proficiency testing - Once proof of proficiency is determined, Nursing Course Electives may be substituted. - Several nursing electives are available at Allen College. Students can obtain a current listing from the Student Services Office. Total Hours Required for Graduation

5 Option B Standardized examinations for graduates of diploma and associate degree nursing programs from any state. Target Audience Graduates who: - May have some college credit to transfer, - May have graduated from an out-of-state school, and - Do plan to take or have taken the Regents exams. 52 Semester Credit Hours of General Education Courses Required Anatomy & Physiology...6 Sociology... 3 Statistics...3 Psychology... 3 Microbiology...3 Written Communication... 6 Growth & Development...3 Nutrition... 3 Humanities Electives...9 General Electives... 4 Diversity elective...3 Social Sciences Electives.. 6 (Credit granted for transferable college courses is determined on an individual basis.) 42 Semester Credit Hours Regents Credits will be granted for the following exams: Fundamentals of Nursing...16 Maternal/Child Baccalaureate... 8 Adult Nursing...14 Psychology Mental Health Semester Credit Hours Additional Nursing Courses Required NU301 Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing...3 NU380* Intro to Nursing Research...3 NU445 Nursing Electives NU430 Loss, Grief and Life Issuesof Life Issues...3 NU455* Client at Home...3 NU450*.Community.as.Clientt...3 NU460* Nursing Leadership...3 NU496 Nursing Capstone (RN)...3 Total Credit *Up to 6 Semester hours may be waived/challenged through proof of proficiency Total Semester Hours Required for Graduation

6 Option C Escrow/validation of credit for graduates of basic nursing programs from any state, which are not validated for participation in Iowa Articulation Plan. Target Audience Graduates who - Have some college credit (12 semester hours or more) or - May have graduated from a program in any state. 52 Semester Credit Hours of General Education Courses Required Anatomy & Physiology...6 Sociology... 3 Statistics...3 Psychology... 3 Microbiology...3 Written Communication... 6 Growth & Development...3 Nutrition...3 Humanities Electives...9 General Electives... 4 Diversity elective Social Sciences Electives. 6 (Credit granted for transferable college courses is determined on an individual basis.) 42 Semester Credit Hours Escrow/Validation Credits Forty two semester credit hours of coursework are held in escrow until NU:301 Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing is successfully completed. 30 Semester Credit Hours Additional Nursing Courses Required NU301 Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing... 3 NU380* Intro to Nursing Research...3 NU445 Nursing Electives.. 9 NU430 Loss, Grief and End of Life Issues....3 NU455* Client at Home...3 NU450* Community as Client...3 NU460* Nursing Leadership...3 NU496 Nursing Capstone (RN)...3 Total Credit...30 *Up to 6 Semester hours may be waived/challenged through proof of proficiency Total Semester Hours Required for Graduation

7 ALLEN COLLEGE ARTICULATION AGREEMENT I,, have studied the three options outlined in the Iowa Articulation Plan and have chosen the following option. Option A: Direct transfer of credit through competency validation Option B: Documentation of National Standardized Examinations accepted by baccalaureate nursing program Option C: Documentation of escrow/validation of credit accepted by baccalaureate nursing programs I understand that I must submit a proposed course of study to meet the requirements of this option. I know that I cannot combine components from two or more plans to meet my graduation requirements at Allen College. If I choose to change options, I will need to submit a new proposed course of study to meet the requirements of the new option. Signed Date (R.N. Student) Signed Date (faculty Advisor) 7