Nursing, A.A.S.

Avon Williams Campus
(615) 963-7101
Windia Urquhart Wilbert, DNP, RN
AASN Program Director

Faculty: J. Bechard, S. Boone, B, Brown, C. Campbell, K. Gretton (LPN-RN Coordinator), E. Knox, S. Levy, B. Paramore, A. Poynter, A. Wilk and E. Wiltcher.

General Statement: The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing is designed to prepare nurses who can provide safe competent care: assess patient needs, develop a plan of care, implement the plan of care skillfully, and evaluate the effectiveness of the care given. Care is provided to clients throughout the life cycle with commonly occurring illnesses in a variety of settings.

Student Learning Outcomes and Competencies:

1. Clinical decision-making that results in finding solutions, individualizing care and assuring the delivery of accurate safe care that has positive outcomes.
2. Understand the client and family’s cultural diversity to create a caring environment of hope and trust, where client choices related to cultural values, beliefs, and lifestyle are respected.
3. Communication whether verbal, nonverbal, written or through information technology, that is effective and promotes positive outcomes.
4. Professionalism which adheres to standards of professional practice; is accountable for own actions and behaviors; and within legal, ethical and regulatory frameworks.
5. Providing nursing care to the patient and family that incorporates knowledge of expected growth and development, prevents and/or provides for early detection of health problems, and uses strategies to achieve optimal health.
6. Management of care by efficiently and effectively using human, physical, financial, and technological resources to meet client needs and support organizational outcomes.

Program Options

There are two options for completing the associate degree program:

1. The regular weekday program is offered on the main TSU campus, and at Volunteer State Community College.
2. The LPN-AAS/RN Career Mobility evening/weekend program is offered on the TSU Avon Williams campus.

Admission, Progression, Retention Requirements

Students must be accepted into the University and be advised by the Division of Nursing faculty to assure students are completing the required courses for the AASN degree program.

Students can meet the prerequisite math requirement for the Division of Nursing by:

1. taking an ACT (Enhanced) examination, within the last 3 years, and having a composite and a mathematics score of 19 or greater,
2. or by successfully completing a college level algebra course from an accredited institution.

Students can meet the prerequisite Chemistry requirement for the AAS Nursing Program by:

Completing chemistry with a lab (1 year high school or 1 semester of college with grade of “C” or better).

All high school deficiencies and pre-requisite courses must be completed before being admitted to the AAS Nursing Program. Students are admitted on a space available basis.

Admission Requirements:

1. All pre-requisite course requirements completed.
2. High school graduate or a GED score of 50 or higher. Applicants with GED scores less than 50 must complete prescribed college level courses with a minimum GPA of 2.50.
3. Overall GPA of 2.5 on high school or completed college work.
4. One year of high school or one semester of college Chemistry with lab, with a grade of “C” or better which must be completed by the specific program application deadline.
5. Verification of math competency at the college algebra level by university testing or completion of required courses.
6. Completion of the pre-admission nursing entrance examination with scores equal to or above those designated on the AASN program website. (http://www.tnstate.edunnterior.asp?mid=2958,ptid=1)
7. Anatomy/Physiology and Microbiology/Bacteriology courses must have been taken within the last 5 years of admission with a minimal grade of C.
8. The curriculum plan must be followed in the sequence listed in the catalog. General education required courses must be taken in the semester listed or may be completed before the required semester.

Application Requirements

Applications are available on-line or by contacting the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Degree program (http://www.tnstate.edu/interionasp?mid=2898,ptid=1).

Applicants will be conditionally accepted to the AASN Program until they are fully admitted to Tennessee State University.

Eligibility Considerations for Admission:

1. completed Division of Nursing application
2. copies of transcripts from all institutions
3. copy of current TSU transcript
4. copy of pre-admission nursing entrance examination report with designated scores

Admission Selection

The Admissions Committee will consider students who have submitted completed application materials postmarked by March 1st. Applications received after March 1st are considered on a space available basis. Students who are not admitted must reapply in order to be considered for the next academic year. Students who meet admission criteria are ranked for selection for the upcoming class. The order of selection for applications postmarked by March 1st will be ranked according to:

1. Overall GPA on all college work or cumulative high school GPA if no college courses have been completed at the time of application.
2. Number of required general education courses completed.
3. Scores on the pre-admission nursing entrance examination.
4. If more than one applicant has identical ranking scores, these applicants will be randomly selected. Qualified applicants who are not initially accepted will be placed on a waiting list and will be added to the class if space becomes available up until the first day of class. All waiting lists expire the first day of class.

Accepted Students

Students who are accepted are generally notified by May 15th. Students must return their acceptance form to the Division of Nursing AASN Program by the date listed in the admission notification letter to assure their space in the class. Students who do not return the acceptance form by the date listed in the letter will be removed from the admission list. Students must complete the required Division of Nursing orientation as stated in the admission notification letter.

Students admitted to the program on a space available basis are contingent on submission of required health forms by the designated due date. Students must have a health examination which indicates satisfactory health. Other requirements are: health insurance, Liability insurance [$1,000,000/$6,000,000], immunizations, titers, tuberculosis screening must be up to date as required by health care agencies for clinical practice. Clinical agencies may require fingerprinting, ten panel drug screen, and criminal background clearance. Students must show evidence of current AHA Healthcare Provider BLS training. Students must present documentation of requirements in order to attend clinical nursing classes. Documentation of all of the required clinical materials must be submitted to the AASN Program office no later than July 1. Failure to meet the July 1 deadline will result in loss of admission to the program. All requirements must be updated annually while the student is in the Division of Nursing courses.

Progression and Retention Requirements for AASN Program

1. A grade of C or better in nursing courses and S (satisfactory) in laboratory and clinical evaluation is considered passing.
2. A grade of D, F, or U is considered failing. A student who earns a failing grade in a nursing course is not eligible to progress in the program or be admitted to the BSN program.

Readmission Process

1. A student who earns a failing grade in a nursing course and wants to re-apply, must write to the Program Director for re-entry at least six weeks before the beginning of the semester re-entry is requested. An updated transcript is required. Re-admission requests are reviewed by the Retention and Progression Committee, which makes recommendation to the program director. Readmission is in part based on available faculty and clinical resources. There is no guarantee that any student will be re-admitted.
2. A student who earns a second failing grade in any nursing course at TSU cannot continue in the program. This includes any newly enrolled course(s) or any nursing course being repeated a second time.

Transfer of RN Nursing Courses:

Transfer students from other RN programs must meet the University and Division of Nursing requirements for admission and graduation. Students who have completed nursing courses with minimum grades of C in an NLNAC or CCNE accredited RN program may be eligible to receive transfer credit. Students must provide a current transcript, nursing course descriptions, evidence of satisfactory clinical performance, and a letter of good standing from their previous nursing school director BEFORE the course(s) are evaluated. Students who have earned a D, F, or WF in a nursing course at another school are not eligible for admission. Eligible transfer students are admitted on a space available basis.