Nursing, BSN

CH 151 and CH 155 are the preferred Chemistry courses.

*Take either 1 EH (Area II) + 2 HY (Area IV) <OR> 2 EH (Area II) + 1 HY (Area IV). Take no more than six hours in a single discipline in Area II or Area IV.

Admission Policies

Students interested in pursuing the pre-licensure baccalaureate degree in nursing must meet the general entrance requirements of the University. Students should schedule advising as early as possible to ensure that the correct prerequisite courses for the pre-licensure program are completed as required. Students are also encouraged to meet with a nursing advisor each semester to monitor their progress. All lower-division general studies (prerequisite) courses must be completed to be eligible to enroll in upper-division nursing courses. For information and assistance, contact the College of Nursing Office of Undergraduate Programs (256.824.6742).

Early Promotion into UAH Nursing Program (EPNP)

Highly qualified students who enter UAH as freshmen, declare Nursing as their major, complete all lower-division nursing coursework on the UAH campus, and meet the requirements listed below will be enrolled in the EPNP and guaranteed acceptance in the upper-division nursing courses. Since students will also be eligible to enroll in the UAH Honors College, students enrolling in the EPNP should consider applying for the UAH Honor's College http://www.uah.edu/honors/application-forms.

High school students who meet the following criteria automatically qualify for the EPNP:

• A unweighted high school GPA of 3.5.*

In order to maintain good standing status for continuation into the upper division of nursing, EPNP students must:

• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 on all required lower-division (prerequisite) courses.
• Complete all identified required courses at UAH.
• Achieve an overall cumulative score of at least 80% on the HESI Admissions Assessment (A2) exam.

         Students who do not maintain these criteria may be eligible for admission but will need to apply and will be considered with the competitive pool of applicants.

Admission to the Upper Division BSN Pre-licensure program

Students must apply and be admitted to the upper-division nursing pre-licensure program to be eligible to enroll in 300 and 400 level nursing courses with clinical labs. Admission into the upper-division pre-licensure nursing program is competitive and spaces are limited. A separate nursing application (found on the UAH CON website) for the upper-division pre-licensure program must be submitted by the published dates. When the number of students applying to the upper-division pre-licensure program exceeds the number of spaces available, the most qualified applicants will take priority. Enrollment at UAH as a nursing major in the lower-division courses does not assure admission to the upper-division courses. Students admitted into the Early Promotion into Nursing Program (EPNP) as freshmen must maintain their eligibility requirements for EPNP to progress to the upper-division courses. 

Enrollment in the upper-division nursing component is limited and competitive. Students are admitted without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, or qualified disability.

Admission Criteria

1. Students must meet the following criteria to be considered eligible for admission:
   1. Admission to the University prior to the application deadline.
   2. Submission of a completed nursing application and application fee by posted deadlines.
   3. A minimum cumulative calculated nursing GPA of 3.0 on all nursing prerequisite courses. A minimum GPA of 3.25 or higher is required for EPNP students.
   4. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in all required science courses.
   5. A minimum grade of "C" in all nursing prerequisite course
   6. A minimum cumulative score of 75% on the HESI Admission Assessment (A2) Exam. 

      An 80% or higher is required on the HESI A2 for EPNP students.

2. Once students have been selected for promotion to the upper-division, grades in prerequisite courses are checked just prior to the start of the semester for which they were accepted. Promotion to the upper-division will be forfeited if any prerequisite course is found missing or less than a "C" is earned.
3. Students seeking transfer from the upper-division of another nursing education program must submit a letter of good standing indicating that the student is eligible for continued enrollment in that program. Nursing courses requested for transfer will be reviewed individually for equivalency by the College of Nursing. Transfer requests are to be submitted to the College of Nursing Office of Undergraduate Programs.
4. Students who were dismissed from another nursing program or failed any equivalent upper-division nursing courses are not eligible for admission to the UAH College of Nursing BSN  pre-licensure program. 

_{* Requirements and conditions are subject to change.}

Progression Standards

I. Grading Scale:

The College of Nursing grading scale for the upper-division nursing (NUR) courses and NUR 220: Health Promotions (lower divsion course) in the pre-licensure BSN program is consistent with major universities across the United States.  The scale is listed below:

A = 90 - 100

B = 80 - 89

C = 75 - 79

D = 60 - 74

F <60

II. Students must follow the program of study (POS) under which they were admitted (see A below). Students who withdraw or fail courses must follow the policies outlined in sections B-D below.

A. Progression according to the Program of Study (POS):

1. A grade of "C" or above must be earned in all required nursing courses.
2. Students must complete the clinical component of all clinical nursing courses with a satisfactory.  Students who are unsatisfactory in the clinical component of a clinical nursing course will receive a failing grade (F) in the course regardless of class course grade. 
3. Students must meet standards of professional conduct as described in the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses, the Alabama Board of Nursing Practice Act, and standards of student behavior as described in the UAH Undergraduate Student Handbook.
4. Throughout the program, students must meet the Core Performance Standards, the requirements identified in the Health and Other Requirements, and requirements specified in clinical agency contracts.

B. Failure of One Course:

1. A student who receives a grade below "C" in a required nursing course must repeat the class before progressing in the program. The student must meet with the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs or BSN Program Coordinator to develop a revised program of study based on space availability and progression constraints. Before considering the placement of any students who have not succeeded in a course, preference for spaces will be given to those applicants who meet all progression criteria. Any alteration of the initial program of study will lengthen the student's program. A progression agreement may be required.

C. Dismissal from Nursing Program:

1. A student who receives two or more grades below "C" in required nursing courses (except NUR 311 and NUR 408), in either the same course or in separate courses, at any time during the program will be dismissed from the College of Nursing. Students may petition for readmission to the College of Nursing by following the policy and completing the form found in the College of Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook and submitting it to the Undergraduate Nursing Programs office. Readmission into the upper-division nursing program is not guaranteed; availability of space in a cohort and the information submitted in the petition for readmission are considerations. Students who are readmitted and subsequently earn a grade below "C" in any nursing course will be permanently dismissed from the program.
2. Academic dismissal from the College of Nursing precludes progression in the nursing curriculum. Retroactive withdrawal or other related progression decisions from courses after academic dismissal from the nursing program does not result in a reversal of the dismissal. The Student may petition for readmission into the CON after waiting the minmum of one semester, not to include summer semester. During this time, the student may take courses in other disciplines on the UAH campus. If readmitted, any additional failure will result in permanent dismissal. Students who have been dismissed for more than one year are not eligible to apply for readmission. 

D. Withdrawal from upper-division Nursing courses:

1. A student may not have more than two withdrawals in order to progress in the Nursing program. Students who fail the clinical component of a course may not withdraw from the course.  Students who elect to withdraw from any course are required to meet with an academic advisor regarding this decision.  Before finalizing the placement of students who have withdrawn from a course, preference for spaces will be given to those applicants who meet all progression criteria. Any alteration of the initial program of study will lengthen the student's program. A progression agreement may be required. 
   1. NUR 311: Clinical Calculations in Nursing and NUR 408: Professional Practice in Nursing Seminar are exempt from this policy. 
2.  Students may not exceed the university limit of withdrawals from all courses. 

E. Graduation from the Nursing Program:

1. Students are required to take national standardized examinations in selected courses. These examinations are counted as a portion of the overall course grade for each course. Remediation will be encouraged in areas that fall below the UAH CON passing standard.
2. An overall "C" (2.0) grade point average (GPA) on all courses taken at UAH is required for graduation.

Health and Other Requirements for Students in Upper Division Nursing Courses

Clinical agencies require students to meet various health-related requirements. Students must complete and maintain currency of all health documentation requirements prior to enrollment in upper-division level courses and throughout the program for progression. Students are responsible for maintaining original health records.  Some of these records will be managed by the Office of Undergraduate Programs, an external clearinghouse, or by the UAH Student Health Center. Students who fail to complete and submit their health requirements by any designated deadline may not be allowed to begin classes or clinical until all health requirements are met.  

Standards of Conduct and Accountability

The nursing student shall comply with legal, moral, and legislative standards that determine unacceptable behavior of the nurse and that may be cause for denial of a license to practice as a registered nurse, in accordance with the Alabama law regulating the practice of registered nurses as provided below.

The Alabama Board of Nursing may deny a license and/or temporary permit by examination or endorsement based on Alabama rule 610-x-8-.02 and rule 610-x-8-.03. Examples of grounds for denial and discipline of a license may include:

1. Engaging in fraud, misrepresentation, deception, or concealment of a material fact in applying for or securing licensure or taking any examination required for licensure.
2. Having engaged in conduct that is inconsistent with good moral character such as having a criminal history or pattern of illegal conduct or disregard for the law.

3. Having disciplinary action pending or having had a license, registration, or certification for any health-related profession denied, conditionally issued, fined, reprimanded, censured, restricted, limited, placed on probation, suspended, revoked, voluntarily surrendered, or otherwise encumbered in any state, territory or country.

4. Having been court-martialed or administratively discharged by a branch of the United States Armed Forces for any act or conduct that would constitute grounds for discipline Alabama under Rule 610-X-8-.03.

5. Any other reasons authorized by law.

Failure to comply with any of the Alabama Board of Nursing standards while in the nursing program constitutes grounds for dismissal from the program.

Completion of the nursing program does not guarantee licensure based on the Alabama Board of Nursing's regulations governing the review of candidates for eligibility for initial and continuing licensure.

Core Performance Standards

Core Performance Standards may also be referred to as essential functions that define selected attributes and behaviors necessary for students to demonstrate in order to successfully complete their education and subsequently enter nursing practice. These essential functions are determined to be required for initial and continued enrollment in the College of Nursing. Students must be able to perform each of the following essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations.

1. Critical thinking ability for effective clinical reasoning and clinical judgment consistent with the level of educational preparation. Examples (not all-inclusive) of necessary activities include identifying cause-effect relationships in clinical and classroom situations, use of the scientific method in developing patient care plans; evaluation of the effectiveness of nursing interventions.
2. Professional relationships, Interpersonal skills are sufficient for professional interactions with a diverse population of individuals, families, and groups. Examples (not all-inclusive) include the ability to establish rapport with patients/clients and colleagues; the capacity to engage in successful conflict resolution; peer accountability.
3. Communication adeptness is sufficient for verbal and written professional interaction. Examples (not all-inclusive) include explaining treatment procedures, initiating health teaching, and documenting and interpreting nursing actions and patient/client responses.
4. Mobility such as physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces. Examples (not all-inclusive) include moving around in clients' rooms, workspaces, and treatment areas; and administering cardiopulmonary procedures.
5. Gross and fine motor abilities are sufficient for providing safe, effective nursing care. Examples (not all-inclusive) include completing examinations/evaluations by writing, typing, or demonstration; calibrating and using equipment, and therapeutic positioning of clients.
6. Auditory abilities that are sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. Examples (not all-inclusive) include hearing basic conversations; monitoring alarms, emergency signals, and auscultatory sounds; and hearing cries for help.
7. Visual abilities that are sufficient for observation and assessment as necessary for patient care. Examples (not all-inclusive) include reading documents (printed and electronic) such as patient charts and laboratory reports, reading calibrations on syringes, sphygmomanometers, and thermometers, and equipment outputs such as waves, printouts, and digital readings; and accurately observing client behaviors such as physical/physiological changes, nonverbal communication, and responses to treatments.
8. Tactile abilities that are sufficient for physical assessment. Examples (not all-inclusive) include performing palpation, percussion, temperature changes, necessary for complete physical examinations, and other activities related to therapeutic interventions.
9. Behavioral/Social abilities that are sufficient to demonstrate emotional stability, maintenance or composure under stress, development of mature, empathetic, and effective nurse-patient relationships, and the use of sound and unimpaired judgment in classroom and clinical activities.

These core performance standards are not intended to be a complete listing of all nursing behaviors, but they are a sampling of the types of abilities needed by nursing students to meet program objectives and requirements. The College or its affiliated agencies may identify additional critical behaviors or abilities. The identified core performance standards are revised and adopted from the Americans with Disabilities Act implications for Nursing Education (revised 2008).

Responsibility Compliance with Clinical Agencies

Students are responsible for complying with policies and procedures required by clinical agencies. The College of Nursing may not be able to provide alternative placements for students. Failure to meet clinical agency requirements may lead to exclusion from required clinical educational experiences and prevent completion of the program.

Upper Division Program of Study: 

Semester 1		Semester Hours
NUR 001	NURSING TESTING BLOCK	0
NUR 301	Professional Concepts in Nursing	3
NUR 303	HEALTH ASSESSMENT	5
NUR 303L	CLINICAL	0
NUR 304	APPLIED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY ACROSS THE LIFESPAN	3
NUR 311	CLINICAL CALCULATIONS IN NURSING	1
	Term Semester Hours:	12
Semester 2
NUR 001	NURSING TESTING BLOCK	0
NUR 310	PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN NURSING I	6
NUR 310L	CLINICAL	0
NUR 312	GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING CARE	3
NUR 321	PHARMACOLOGY IN NURSING	3
	Term Semester Hours:	12
Semester 3
NUR 001	NURSING TESTING BLOCK	0
NUR 305	NURSING PROCESS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND ILLNESS	4
NUR 305L	CLINICAL	0
NUR 307	INQUIRY INTO EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING PRACTICE	3
NUR 308	NURSING CARE OF ADULTS WITH ALTERATION IN HEALTH	8
NUR 308L	CLINICAL	0
	Term Semester Hours:	15
Semester 4
NUR 001	NURSING TESTING BLOCK	0
NUR 401	NURSING CARE OF THE CRITICALLY ILL ADULT	5
NUR 401L	CLINICAL	0
NUR 403	MATERNAL INFANT NURSING	4
NUR 403L	CLINICAL	0
NUR 404	FAMILY-CENTERED NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN	4
NUR 404L	CLINICAL	0
	Term Semester Hours:	13
Semester 5
NUR 405	COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING	4
NUR 405L	CLINICAL EXPERIENCE	0
NUR 407	PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN NURSING II	8
NUR 407L	CLINICAL EXPERIENCE	0
NUR 408	PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN NURSING III SEMINAR	2
	Term Semester Hours:	14
	Total Semester Hours:	66