Associate of Science in Nursing Program PROGRAM INFORMATION updated October, 2015 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. When will the SLCC Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program enroll new students? every Fall 2. When will the selection process for the ASN Program occur? Applications will be due each spring, probably around March or April. Deadlines will be posted well in advance. The 16 credits of prerequisite courses MUST be completed by May of each year for students to be considered. Deadline for August 2016 admission is April 18, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. 3. Is there a waiting list now for the ASN Program? There will not be a waiting list applicants must apply each year. 4. What should my major be if I am planning to take the pre- requisites to apply to the ASN Program? One should apply to SLCC as majoring in an Associate Degree, General Studies, or AGS. Once selected for the ASN program your major can be changed to ASN or RN. 5. I am a first time student who is interested in the ASN Program at SLCC. What do I need to do in order to begin to register for classes? Where do I begin? Visit the SLCC website and apply online. Alternatively, you may come to the campus at 1101 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, Louisiana 70506, and complete the admission process in person, and have questions answered by an individual in Admissions and/or with one of our advisors in the College Success Center. 6. Will I still have to take the biology pre- requisites for the A&P course? Yes. Students must satisfy one of the following options to be eligible to register for BIOL 2022 & BIOL 2023 (Human Anatomy and Physiology lecture and lab): 1) complete BIOL 1010 & BIOL 1011 with a grade of C or better and have an ACT Science Score of at least 22; 2) complete BIOL 1010 & BIOL 1011 with a grade of C or better and have a TEAS Science Score of at least 58; or 3) complete BIOL 1010, BIOL 1011, BIOL 1020 & BIOL 1021 with a grade of C or better. With any further questions regarding biology or science courses, please direct them to Dr. Steffen at 337-521- 0162 or brian.steffen@solacc.edu 7. Will my ACT and/or COMPASS scores be evaluated by my advisor when I am scheduling courses for the ASN Program? ACT and/or COMPASS score(s) are used during the initial application process to SLCC. A separate entrance examination (TEAS) is given for admission to the ASN Program. The results of that entrance examination will be used as one of the criteria for admission to the ASN program. 8. I have C s in a few of the prerequisites that I will need to qualify for admission into the program. Should I repeat any of those to improve my chances of getting into the ASN Program when I apply? If you strongly feel that you might do better by repeating the class, and if you have the time and money to do so, this may be a good idea for you. Admission to the program is based on nursing prerequisite grades, so it behooves the applicant to have the highest GPA as possible, in all prerequisites. 9. Which GPA will be used to consider whether or not I am eligible to be accepted into the ASN Program the overall GPA, or the GPA from the prerequisites? Both the cumulative GPA and the GPA on ASN Program
prerequisites will be assessed. The GPA on the required prerequisites is weighted in the rubric with other admission criteria. 10. What nursing entrance test will you be using to test potential applicants and what will be the minimum admissible composite (overall) score? The TEAS V test will be administered. To be considered for acceptance into the ASN program, a minimum admissible composite (overall) score will be 62, with minimum sub- scores of 60. Higher scores will move the candidate up in ranking and provide a greater chance of being selected. 11. How many times can I take the nursing entrance exam if I don t do well the first time? You may take the test a maximum of two times within an academic year. 12. If I have taken a nursing entrance exam in the past, how long are my scores considered valid? TEAS scores will be valid for one calendar year. We will not accept any other nursing entrance test scores. 13. What are some of the admission criteria for acceptance into the ASN Program? The following factors will be weighed when selecting the class: The applicant must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or better, and must have completed all prerequisites with grades of C or better. The overall GPA on the prerequisites must equal or exceed 2.8. The TEAS score must be equal to or greater than 62, with no less than a 60 in each individual subsection of the test. A rubric is being used to assign applicants points on a 100- point scale. The higher the grades and the higher the test scores, the higher the number of points awarded. Points are earned for prerequisites taken at SLCC and previous licensure or certification in a health field. Points will be deducted for prerequisites repeated. 14. Does it increase the likelihood of being accepted into the program if I have taken all/most of my prerequisites at SLCC? Yes. A rubric is being used to assign points. Additional points will be awarded for each prerequisite completed here at SLCC. 15. Will it be an advantage for me if I already have a degree in a healthcare- related occupation or if I am licensed or certified as a healthcare provider? Yes. On the aforementioned rubric used to score applicants, additional points will be awarded if the applicant is licensed or certified and recently employed in a health occupation (i.e.: CNA, LPN, Respiratory Therapy, EMT, Paramedic, Medical Assistant, etc.) 16. At what point can LPN S be admitted into the program? At this point, LPN s will undergo the same process for admission into the program as a person who is not an LPN. 17. Can I test out of any ASN classes if I have experience as an LPN? How much experience should I have as an LPN before I consider applying to enter the LPN to RN bridge program? The LPN to RN bridge program has not been finalized but is under development. 18. If I have already taken 6 credit hours of Fine Arts courses, will I still need to take 3 credit hours of Humanities courses as a prerequisite for the ASN Program? To be considered as an applicant, one must have taken EITHER a 3- credit Arts OR a 3- credit Humanities course. To COMPLETE the requirements for this Associate s Degree, the student must have completed BOTH any 3- credit- hour Arts course AND any 3- credit- hour Humanities course. Thus, the student having only taken Arts or Humanities may apply to the program, but later will still need to complete a 3- credit Humanities course. Please see page 5 for Humanities and Fine Arts electives. 19. I have already taken Math 1100. Will I still have to take MATH 1105 as a pre- requisite for the ASN Program? SLCC prefers students to take MATH 1105. 20. Am I allowed to take any of the prerequisites along with the nursing courses once I am accepted into the RN Program? No. The five prerequisites must be completed prior to application to the program. However, if you are currently enrolled in one of the prerequisite courses in the spring, you may still apply as long as you will have completed the course by May. 21. What is the approximate cost of attendance for the average ASN student at SLCC? Total costs associated with attending the program are approximately $12,000. This does not include living expenses (housing, food, transportation). 2
22. Once a student is admitted into the ASN Program, how long should it take to complete the program? The core nursing courses span four semesters, or two calendar years. (The prerequisites usually will take the student two semesters to complete.) 23. Once I complete the ASN Program, will that degree assist me in pursuing a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) degree in the future? Yes. Many universities and online schools host programs that allow the graduate to articulate to a BSN level of education, often in as little as one year. 24. If I have a criminal background (misdemeanor/felony), can I still apply to the program? Yes, such an individual is welcome to apply. The Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) requires a criminal background check on all applicants, and the LSBN itself (not SLCC) will determine whether or not a student may enroll in the nursing clinical courses within the ASN program. Clinical affiliates have the right to refuse students access to their facilities if they have a criminal history. 25. I took some of the prerequisites nearly 20 years ago. How recent do any of my prerequisite courses have to be in order to be considered by the SLCC ASN program? Courses taken within the last 10 years will transfer to SLCC. On a course- by- course and individual- by- individual basis, the Registrar, Deans and Department Chairs of SLCC will determine which courses are acceptable for transfer, if older than 10 years or from out of state. 26. I have previously taken courses at another college/university; can I transfer them to be considered for the ASN Program at SLCC? On a course- by- course and individual- by- individual basis, the college Registrar and Divisional Deans of SLCC will determine which courses are acceptable for transfer. Please complete a Transcript Evaluation Request and follow the process. 27. Where can I go to get my transcript from another college/university evaluated? What forms will I need to get my transcript evaluated? Who will I need to speak with in order to ask questions about transcript evaluations? Complete a transcript evaluation form in the Registrar s office or download one from our website. Courses must be evaluated by the college Registrar or Divisional Dean BEFORE you can apply to be accepted into the ASN program. You can reach the college registrar at registrar@solacc.edu. Courses from other colleges/universities are not transcribed onto a SLCC transcript until students are actually enrolled at SLCC. 28. How can I improve my chances for being accepted into the ASN Program? Scores on the admission test weigh heavily in the rubric used to score applicants. It would behoove an applicant to review well for the TEAS. The GPA on prerequisites also weighs heavily in the rubric used to score applicants. Visit www.atitesting.com for TEAS review materials. 29. What websites/social media sites should I access to continue to get updates on the SLCC ASN Program? Consult the SLCC website s http://www.solacc.edu/ 30. What is the difference between a diploma, associate degree (ASN), and bachelor degree (BSN) Program? The major difference between the 3 types of programs are the amount of general education courses required for degree completion. All graduates take the same licensing exam. In the United States, a Diploma in Nursing or Nursing Diploma is awarded by hospital- based nursing schools. Students awarded a Diploma in Nursing are qualified to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX- RN) and to apply for licensure as a Registered Nurse. An Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate s Degree in Nursing (ADN) is a nursing degree which typically takes 2-3 years to complete and usually is awarded by community colleges or similar nursing schools. Some four- year colleges also offer this degree. Students awarded an Associate of Science in Nursing are qualified to sit for the NCLEX- RN and apply for licensure to become a Registered Nurse. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN, is a four- year degree in nursing, granted by universities. Upon completion of this four- year degree, the graduate of such a program also is eligible to sit for the NCLEX- RN and to apply for licensure to become a Registered Nurse. Those holding a BSN degree are frequently hired for administrative positions that might not be available to those with an ADN or Diploma in Nursing. The BSN 3
4 degree is required for those seeking advanced nursing degrees, such as a Master s in Nursing, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthetist, etc. 31. Faculty information: a. Ava Miller ava.miller@solacc.edu 521.6913 b. Monica LeJeune monica.lejeune@solacc.edu 521.6910 c. Alisa Butler alisa.butler@solacc.edu 521.6911 d. Shawndolyn Lebine shawndoly.lebine@solacc.edu 521.6912 e. Naoshia Carroll naoshia.carroll@solacc.edu 521.9037 32. What is the curriculum? See an example of a curriculum map on following page:
5 1 Students must satisfy one of the following options to register for BIOL 2022 & BIOL 2023 Complete BIOL 1010 & 1011 with a grade of C or better AND an ACT Science Score of 22+ OR Complete BIOL 1010 & 1011 with a grade of C or better AND a TEAS Science Score of 58+ OR Complete BIOL 1010 & 1011 AND BIOL 1020 & 1021 with a grade of C or better. CCFS 1003 College and Career Foundations Seminar (college requirement but does NOT count towards major, or in pre- requisite GPA calculations) TOTAL CREDITS (3) Semester Completed Additional developmental or pre- requisite courses may be required (3-14 credits) before you are eligible to enroll into required courses below BIOL 1010 & 1011 General Biology I & General Biology I Lab (4) BIOL 1020 & 1021 General Biology II & General Biology II Lab (4) Required pre requisite courses MATH 1105 College Algebra 3 ENGL 1010 Rhetoric & Composition 3 BIOL 2022 1 Human A&P Lecture 3 BIOL 2023 1 Human A&P Lab 1 PSYC 2010 Introduction to Psychology 3 *Arts or Music, Arts, Theatre, Dance, Literature, foreign language, 3 Humanities Elective history, Communications, philosophy, religious studies, etc. TOTAL 16 Students must apply for admission into the Nursing Program SEMESTER 1 Fall BIOL 2032 Human A&P II Lecture 3 BIOL 2033 Human A& P II Lab 1 ENGL 1020 Composition & Critical Thinking 3 PSYC 2080 Developmental Psychology 3 NURS 1100 Fundamentals of Nursing 6 TOTAL 16 SEMESTER 2 Spring NURS 2100 Adult Nursing I 6 NURS 2120 Mental Health Nursing 4 BIOL 2100 General Microbiology 3 BIOL 2101 General Microbiology Lab (1) Not counted towards major but required by college TOTAL 13 SEMESTER 3 Fall NURS 2200 Adult Nursing II 6 NURS 2220 Maternal Child Nursing 7 TOTAL 13 SEMESTER 4 Spring NURS 2300 Adult Nursing III 8 MATH 2020 Elementary Statistics 3 *Arts or Humanities Elective Music, Arts, Theatre, Dance, Literature, foreign language, history, Communications, philosophy, religious studies, etc. TOTAL 14 Associate of Science Degree Total 72 *students must earn 3 credits of Arts and 3 credits of Humanities to meet degree requirements Courses highlighted in yellow can be taken prior to being accepted into the ASN program it will be easier on students if they take these courses prior to the first nursing course, since the weekly clinical component may interfere with other college courses. The 16 credits of pre- reqs MUST be completed prior to NURS 1100. 3
Students must take one Humanities elective and one Arts elective. Ex: Students cannot take two Arts electives for the 6- credit hours. 6 Humanities Communication (CMCN) 2030 Group Problem Solving 2050 Mass Communication and Media Communication/Public Speaking (SPCH) 1010 Fundamentals of Human Communication 1020 Interpersonal Communication 1030 Voice and Diction 1200 Public Speaking History (HIST) 1040 World Civilizations I 1041 World Civilizations II 2010 United States History I 2020 United States History II 2070 African- American History 2100 Louisiana History Language (FREN) 1010 Introduction to French 2010 Intermediate French 2011 Intermediate French Lab Fine Arts Arts (ARTS) 1010 Design I 1100 Survey of the Arts I 1200 Survey of the Arts II 1210 Basic Drawing 2250 Introduction to Painting Communication (CMCN) 1170 Introduction to Film Production Music (MUSC) 1010 Music Appreciation 2300 History of Jazz Theater and Dramatic Arts (THEA) 1010 Introduction to Theatre & Performing Arts 2010 Introduction to Acting 2070 Introduction to Film Performance Language (SPAN) 1010 Elementary Spanish 2010 Intermediate Spanish 2011 Intermediate Spanish Lab Literature (ENGL) 2010 British Literature I 2020 British Literature II 2030 American Literature I 2035 Major American Writers 2040 American Literature II 2055 Introduction to Fiction 2090 Film as Literature 2070 World Literature 2025 Major British Writers 2180 World Lit II 2175 Major World Writers 2065 Intro to Poetry 2060 Intro to Literature 2230 Intro to African American 2210 Intro to Women s Lit 2240 Mythology & Folklore 2220 Southern Literature Literature (FREN) 2020 Readings in French