Dear SVSU Nursing Program Applicant: Crystal M. Lange College of Health and Human Services Nursing Program Application Instructions In providing this application to you, the nursing faculty and I share your excitement about the possibility of you achieving the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) Degree from Saginaw Valley State University. Your application, with its attachments, is due in the Nursing Faculty Secretary Office, Health & Human Services Building - H230 on or before the third Monday in October and April (October 19 th for winter 2016). Decisions on April applications will be made in May; therefore, winter semester grades will be included in the calculations but not spring/summer semester grades. Winter and spring/summer semester grades must be submitted to the Nursing Department as soon as they are posted. Decisions on October applications will be made in November; therefore, fall semester grades are not included in the scoring. However, fall semester grades for those admitted must be submitted to the Nursing Department as soon as they are posted to confirm successful completion of the courses. Please be aware that you must apply and be admitted to SVSU before applying to the nursing program. The SVSU application is separate from the nursing program application and is available from SVSU s Office of Admissions or http://www.svsu.edu/apply/undergraduate/. The initial selection process will include review of your academic credentials (overall GPA, science GPA of prerequisite nursing courses and General Psychology (PSYC 100), Introduction to Sociology (SOC 111), General Education Categories 9 - oral communication, and 10 -written communication courses. You will be notified of your interview status via your SVSU email account. Those moving forward to the interview process must complete a background check and will be notified if they need to complete a writing sample. For your application to the nursing program to be reviewed, you must attach and submit electronically the following with your application: 1. Completed nursing program application with your signatures and dates. 2. Current class schedule, whether you are taking classes at SVSU or another institution. 3. If you are taking a required course during spring/summer, attach proof of registration for that course. 4. Your degree audit (go to Cardinal Direct on the SVSU web site and print it) 5. Transcript(s) (an unofficial copy is acceptable) from all colleges and/or universities ever attended, including SVSU transcript from Cardinal Direct. The SVSU Registrar also must have your official transcripts on file. 6. Copy of signed course petition form(s) if you have petitioned the Nursing Department Chair or the SVSU Registrar regarding a course. 7. Transfer Evaluation Report (TER) from each college and/or university attended; you received this report from SVSU s Registrar s Office after you applied to SVSU and sent official transcripts. If any of the above items are not included with your application, your application will not be processed. All Fall 2015 grades must be submitted upon course completion to the faculty secretary in H230. If any of these courses are taken outside of SVSU they may be emailed to: nurseapp@svsu.edu or faxed to 989-964-4024. We will communicate with all nursing program applicants through your SVSU email account. Please be sure to check your SVSU email account frequently, as this is the only means of communication that will be used. Best wishes as you pursue your academic goals at SVSU, Becky Toth, DNP, RN, FNP-BC Nursing Department Chair
READ BEFORE COMPLETING APPLICATION Thank you for your interest in the B.S.N. program in the College of Health and Human Services at Saginaw Valley State University. Below you will find important information about the application process. Please be sure to read carefully. The application is a multi-page document. Please download the entire document and print it. Here are some things to remember: The first page of the application is a letter with instructions. On that page is a list of items which must be attached to the application. If these are not attached to your application, we cannot process it. Please note: some items are required only if you have taken courses at other colleges/universities. Be sure you complete the entire application. If your application is incomplete, we cannot process it. If you have questions regarding the nursing application or application process, please contact our Health & Human Services academic advisor, Ted Lind, at talind@svsu.edu or (989)964-4517. Ted s office is located in H255 (second floor of the Health & Human Services building). Following is a list of requirements students must meet when they are admitted to the nursing program. Please read this carefully so that if you are admitted you will be able to comply with these requirements. 2
NURSING PROGRAM TECHNICAL STANDARDS It is critical that all candidates for a nursing degree possess certain fundamental skills and abilities. A person qualified for the nursing program is one who has met SVSU s academic standards and is able, with or without reasonable accommodations, to demonstrate on a regular basis the ability to perform the essential functions of a registered nurse and to provide safe and quality nursing care. The list of core skills and abilities set forth below is designed to help students make an informed decision about whether to pursue a career in nursing. The examples of necessary activities provided below are not exhaustive; individual clinical sites may have stricter requirements to which students practicing in that site must adhere. Additional specific requirements and competencies of the nursing program (e.g., academic standards) are outlined in course syllabi and clinical performance tools. Before deciding whether to obtain a nursing degree, it is important that all students consider whether he or she will be able to perform the essential functions of nursing, with or without accommodations. All nursing students are required to meet the same standards. SVSU fully complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate against students with disabilities. If at any time you wish to discuss whether reasonable accommodations can be provided by SVSU, you should submit a written request for accommodation to SVSU Disability Services. In order to allow Disability Services ample time to determine whether reasonable accommodations can be provided, whenever possible, the request should be submitted prior to entry into a course for which the student believes reasonable accommodations may be needed. Core Skills Standard Examples of Necessary Activities Communication Mobility Motor Skills Hearing Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in oral and written form. Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces. Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care. Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. Explain treatment procedures, initiate health teaching, document and interpret nursing actions and client responses. Read and record documentation in the chart and online data sources, quickly and accurately in emergency situations. Move around in client rooms, work spaces and treatment areas, administer cardio-pulmonary procedures, lift 40 pounds and move patients from bed to wheelchair or stretcher. Must be able to sit, stand, move and tolerate taxing workloads for up to12 hours at a time. Calibrate and use equipment, position clients, administer medications orally and by injection, use hospital equipment safely and manipulate life support devices. Can apply pressure to stop bleeding. Can perform palpation, percussion and auscultation. Hears monitor alarms, emergency signals, body sounds, cries for help. Can hear using a stethoscope and communicate over the telephone. 3
Core Skills Standard Examples of Necessary Activities Visual Tactile Mental Cognitive Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care. Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and performance of skilled nursing activities. Coping ability sufficient for coping with death, anxiety, and multiple demands. Reading comprehension, deductive, inductive reasoning and computation skills. Observes client responses and recognizes subtle physical changes. Can determine differences in colors and read information on patient charts, medications and equipment. Can read gauges. Can see to administer treatments, discriminate colors for diagnostic purposes, observe changes in skin color and drainage on dressings and assess movements. Performs palpation, functions of physical examination and/or those activities related to therapeutic nursing interventions, e.g. insertion of a catheter or IV. Can assess temperature, shape, size and vibration. Some latex sensitivities can be accommodated, but allergies make it extremely hard, if not impossible, to place in clinical settings. Comforts patients and families, keeps personal stress level in check and responds to multiple demands. Acts ethically and uses compassion. Completes all responsibilities, attendant to client care. Adjusts to changing circumstances. Calculates medication dosages, understands laboratory values, reads and understands physician orders. Can exercise sound clinical judgment. 4
HEALTH & OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR NURSING PROGRAM If admitted to the nursing program, I understand I will meet the requirements listed below. I understand I will need to comply with these requirements in order to remain/progress in the nursing program. Immunizations & CPR certifications are required by our clinical agencies when a student begins clinical courses (first semester of the nursing program). IMMUNIZATIONS Please note that you will need documentation of injection or titers. If your immunizations are not current, up to 6 months may be required to obtain this documentation. The following is a list of required immunizations: Hepatitis B (3 vaccine series) T.B. skin test (2-step process requiring 2 separate skin tests) and a chest X-ray if your skin test is positive for T.B. MMR (2 vaccines or titer) a titer is a lab test (IgG). Varicella (2 vaccines or titer)-if the titer is negative, the two vaccine series is required. Polio Tdap (done within last 10 years) Annual Flu Immunization CPR Certification: American Heart Association (Healthcare Provider Course) ~ OR ~ American Red Cross - CPR for the Professional Rescuer/BLS You must maintain current certification throughout the program. Online courses/certification are not accepted. 5
LATEX Please note that the clinical agencies/laboratories we use cannot provide a latex-free environment so we may not be able to place students with latex allergies. We will ask for a statement from your health care provider, as well as possibly requiring a lab (blood) test if you have or develop a sensitivity to latex indicating that it is safe for you to continue in those environments. FINGERPRINTING/BACKGROUND CHECK/DRUG TESTING If your application is moved to the interview round, you must complete a background check and bring the results to your interview. If you are admitted to the nursing program, you will also need to complete a drug test and the fingerprinting process. The background check, drug testing and fingerprinting process must be completed within the nursing program; outside or independent results are not acceptable. TRANSPORTATION Students are responsible for providing transportation to and from all courses and/or practicum learning experiences. Students must have reliable transportation to clinicals at distance locations on multiple schedules during the day and night. PHYSICAL EXAM I understand I must have a physical exam completed if I am admitted to the program. *please note that other requirements from clinical agencies may be requested. 6