Nursing (NU)
Students must meet immunization and other agency requirements (including criminal background checks) prior to the beginning of and continuing throughout nursing clinical courses. Drug screening is included in these requirements. Students admitted to nursing courses must a) hold current certification in BCLS healthcare provider course, b) submit annual TB skin test results, and c) carry their own health insurance coverage while in the nursing major. A health insurance form must reflect company and coverage and be on file in the nursing office.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree in nursing at Avila University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington DC 20036 (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation). The program has full approval by the Missouri State Board of Nursing.
Pre-Licensure Program
Admission Information
- The Avila University School of Nursing is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunity in its admission process.
- Upon attainment of sophomore status (or the academic year prior to entering the nursing major) written application by the student to the School of Nursing is to be submitted by the date published on the nursing website. Applications submitted after this date will be considered on a space-available basis.
- Students must complete all prerequisites to the major. Transfer prerequisite courses must be approved by the university and the School of Nursing. Courses in science and ethics taken more than ten years ago must be repeated.
- Written notification of acceptance of admission to the nursing major from the School of Nursing is required.
Criteria for Admission Consideration
- Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8.
- Obtain a “C” or above in all prerequisite courses. These courses may be repeated only once.
- Complete prerequisite courses prior to beginning nursing courses.
- Achieve a level of “proficient” or above on the TEAS test (TEAS can be repeated one time and must be taken within 12 months of the time of application to the School of Nursing).
- Complete the Avila University and School of Nursing admission processes. Refer to https://www.avila.edu/academics/schools-colleges/school-of-nursing/admission-1.
Additional consideration given to the following
- Overall GPA.
- Analysis of TEAS scores.
- Number of credit hours taken at Avila University.
- On campus interview and/or essay.
- Academic history with patterns and trends indicating potential for academic success (e.g., successful completion of a full-time semester).
- Eligibility for licensure. Refer to the Nurse Practice Act in the state in which you anticipate licensure. In Missouri, refer to http://pr.mo.gov/nursing-rules-statutes.asp.
Direct-Entry Admission
High school seniors admitted to Avila may secure a place in the nursing program by meeting, at a minimum, the following criteria:
24 ACT Composite
24 ACT Science sub-score
3.0 cumulative high school GPA (on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent
To maintain Direct-Entry status, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher when beginning the Nursing program and all other criteria for admission must be met.
If no ACT score is available, a minimum SAT score (CR+M) of 1090 and review of high school science courses will be required.
Guaranteed Admission
Students who complete their first and second year coursework at Avila with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher when beginning the nursing program and TEAS results of “Proficient” or above at the time of application to the nursing program will have admission granted provided that all other criteria for admission are met and all other additional considerations are satisfactory.
Post-Baccalaureate
Cumulative GPAs of applicants who have already earned an undergraduate degree will be calculated on completed coursework that is required for the nursing major.
Previous Nursing Enrollment
A student seeking admission who has prior enrollment in another nursing program will only be considered for admission if the student has a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in nursing courses and has been enrolled in a nursing program within one year of anticipated enrollment in nursing at Avila University. Students will not be considered for admission if they have received a grade of “D,” “F,” or “W/F” (withdraw/failing) in any previous nursing program. Upper division coursework must be taken at accredited (regional and professional) four-year universities.
A student seeking an exception to nursing admission criteria must submit a letter of petition to the coordinator of the School of Nursing Admissions Committee.
Policies for Pre-Licensure Students
Leave of Absence
- A student who is maintaining a grade of “C” in theory, is earning a passing grade in the clinical component of courses, and who is in good standing within the nursing major at the time of the leave, may be granted a leave of absence (LOA) for personal health or family health-related reasons. Students who have been admitted to the nursing program but have not yet begun the nursing courses may also be granted a LOA for the same reasons. This leave is not to exceed one academic year.
- The student will be granted automatic readmission provided space is available. If changes in the curriculum have occurred, the student must complete the curriculum effective at the time of readmission.
Withdrawal from Course/Program
A student who withdraws from a course cannot continue in the nursing program in the next semester due to course sequencing. Readmission to the nursing program is required to resume nursing courses (see policy on readmission).
Dismissal from Program
A student will be dismissed from the nursing program if a grade of “D” or “F” is earned in any nursing course, a grade of “no credit” is earned in any clinical course, and/or for breaches in professional conduct. Dismissal from a clinical course necessitates withdrawal from all nursing courses.
Re-admission to the Nursing Major
A student who is dismissed or withdraws from the nursing program may apply for readmission to the nursing program by the specified due date. The student seeking readmission must meet the criteria for admission and graduation that are in effect at the time of readmission to the nursing major. A student who has been denied readmission may not apply to the program again for five years at which time, if accepted to the program, all nursing coursework must be repeated. Science and ethics courses need to be current within ten years. Subsequent failure to progress in any nursing course will result in dismissal from the nursing program without consideration for readmission.
Core Requirements
All students must complete the Avila University Core Curriculum as a part of their degree programs. The Core consists of a minimum of 39 credit hours that meet the requirements listed below. Please go to Core Curriculum for more information and to view all Core classes.
Skills Level (7 credit hours)
Develops fundamental skills key for both academic and professional success.
- Composition (3)
- Communication (3)
- First Year Seminar (1) - waived for transfer students
Liberal Arts Level (25 credit hours)
Provides diverse disciplinary lenses through which to examine the world. Concepts learned and viewpoints experiences at this level promote critical thinking and ethical decision-making with reference to real-life situations across the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and arts.
- Arts (3)
- History (3)
- Literature/Rhetoric (3)
- Mathematics (3)
- Natural Science (4) - must include a lab
- Philosophy (3)
- Religious Studies (3)
- Social Sciences (3)
Core Component Designations (6-12 credit hours)
Focuses on seeing beyond the self, immediate community, or chosen discipline. Designations include Interdisciplinary Studies, Global Studies, and Community Engagement, all of which call for application of learning across boundaries.
- Interdisciplinary Studies (6)
- Global Studies or Community Engagement (6)
Pre-Licensure Program Requirements
The candidate for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing must complete at least 120 semester hours of academic work with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0. The candidate must also complete all required assessments.
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Natural Sciences and Math
Technology Requirement
Computer competency will be demonstrated by successful completion of:
Licensure Note
Upon completion of graduation requirements, the graduate of the pre-licensure program may apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for professional nurses (NCLEX-RN™). Licensure applicants must have completed the basic professional curriculum in an accredited school of nursing. Graduation does not ensure licensure eligibility. Certain criminal activity and other applicant information may render a graduate ineligible for licensure. The State Board of Nursing in the state in which licensure is sought will make the decision whether or not to allow an individual to take the licensure examination. For additional information, refer to Sections 335.066 and 335.046 of the State of Missouri Nursing Practice Act (http://pr.mo.gov/nursing-rules-statutes.asp) or the Nursing Practice Act of the state in which the graduate anticipates licensure.
Outcomes
In addition to general degree requirements stated earlier in this university catalog, nursing majors are expected to meet the following program outcomes:
Outcome 1.
Select and use effective and facilitative communication techniques to deliver evidence-based patient-centered care with emphasis on patient safety and positive professional working relationships. (all nursing courses)
Outcome 2.
Perform professional role competencies with an emphasis on the roles of provider of care, designer/manager/coordinator of care, and member of the interprofessional team. (all nursing courses)
Outcome 3.
Integrate clinical reasoning and evidence-based decision making to deliver patient-centered care in a changing practice environment. (all nursing courses)
Outcome 4.
Demonstrate personal knowing, spirituality, and cultural humility in socially and globally responsible healthcare. (all nursing courses)
Assessment
Assessment activities occur throughout, at the end of the nursing curriculum, and post-graduation. Assessment early in the nursing curriculum can provide the faculty a baseline from which to evaluate curricular impact on outcomes. Formative assessments (conducted throughout the program) identify areas of strength and weakness and provide opportunities for focused student attention. Summative assessment activities completed by students may include such things as course assignments or surveys. Post-graduation outcome assessments help to evaluate such things as graduate satisfaction and success on the nursing licensure examination.
Note
Additional information on policies may be found in the Student Nursing Handbook available upon admission to the program. Students may submit a written petition with rationale to the School of Nursing for special exception to the above policies. The nursing faculty will have the right to accept or reject this petition.
Students must provide their own transportation to clinical experiences when enrolled in nursing courses. A program fee will be charged for each semester of the nursing major.
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