Nursing, RN-BSN

Admission of RN-BSN Students

1. Prospective students should contact the College of Nursing Office of Undergraduate Programs at 256-824-6742 to determine eligibility for the online program based on state residency and work location. 
2. Admission to the upper division nursing major for registered nurse students requires admission to the University as well as the following minimum requirements:
   1. Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 for admission to the University.
   2. Graduation from an accredited associate degree nursing program or a diploma program in nursing.
3. Registered nurse students must submit proof of an unencumbered current license and maintain this status throughout the program.  A registered nurse student will not be allowed to continue in the program if the nursing license is placed on probation, suspended, or revoked status. An unencumbered license must be maintained throughout the program.

Progression and Graduation Standards

1. Outstanding prerequisite courses may be completed while taking upper division nursing courses. However, it is advised that outstanding prerequisite courses be completed prior to beginning the curriculum. Student are strongly encouraged to work closely with RN-BSN advisor to ensure transfer credits and residency requirements are met.
2. A minimum grade of "C" or above must be earned in all required nursing courses and any outstanding prerequisite courses.
3. An overall "C" (2.0) grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation.

Health and Other Requirements for RN-BSN students:

Student must complete and maintain currency of all health documentation requirements 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. The following are required as part of admission, enrollment, and progression in the nursing curriculum:

1. Physical examination: The physical exam should be done within the past three (3) months prior to starting the upper division curriculum. Any medical or mental health status change from the time of enrollment in the nursing program must be shared with the Associate Dean and documentation of release from healthcare provider for program progression. If a status change is not reported in a timely manner, the student may not be allowed to progress in the program. 
2. Hepatitis B: Three (3) doses of vaccine or titer results demonstrating immunity. For initial enrollment a minimum of first 2 immunizations is required prior to entry to the upper division curriculum.
3. Evidence of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), and varicella (chickenpox/VZV). 
4. Evidence of negative for tuberculosis (TB/PPD). Each student is required to have a 2-step tuberculin (TB) skin test or a T-spot less than three months prior to the first day of class of upper division nursing courses. Instead of skin testing, students may provide evidence of a blood test indicating negative for tuberculosis. If the skin test or the blood test is positive, a chest x-ray is required and possible other medical evaluation may be requested. An annual one-step TB renewal test is required while enrolled in the Nursing Program.
5. Annual Influenza Vaccination (Flu): Students are required to provide evidence of influenza vaccination each year while enrolled in the Nursing Program.
6. Current health insurance: Students are required to provide evidence of current health insurance each year while enrolled in the Nursing Program.
7. CPR certification: Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Provider through the American Heart Association while enrolled in the Nursing Program. CPR certification must cover the entire semester that the student is enrolled. 
8. Drug testing and criminal background check: Students are required to submit to drug testing and criminal background checks upon admission and annually. In addition, drug testing and criminal background checks can be administered for reasonable suspicion of drug/alcohol use and as required by affiliating clinical agencies while enrolled in any Nursing Program. The College of Nursing Undergraduate and Graduate Student Handbooks provide detailed policies. Violations of the policies are serious and will result in dismissal of students from the College of Nursing.
9. Other health requirements may be implemented based on clinical requirements.

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 practice of registered and nursing 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 rules 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 Nursling's regulations governing review of candidates for eligibility for initial and continuing licensure.

Core Performance Standards

Core Performance Standards may also be referred to as essential functions 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 level of education preparation. Examples (not all inclusive) of necessary activities include identifying cause-effect relationships in clinical and classroom situation, use of scientific method in developing patient care plans; evaluation of effectiveness of nursing interventions.
2. Professional relationships, Interpersonal skills 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; capacity to engage in successful conflict resolution; peer accountability.
3. Communication adeptness 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 as physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces. Examples (not inclusive) include moving around in clients' rooms, work spaces and treatment areas; and administering cardiopulmonary procedures.
5. Gross and fine motor abilities 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 ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. Examples (not all inclusive) include hearing basic conversation; monitoring alarms, emergency signals and auscultatory sounds; and hearing cries for help.
7. Visual abilities sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in patient care. Examples (not all inclusive) include reading documents 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 color changes and nonverbal communication and responses to treatments.
8. Tactile abilities sufficient for physical assessment. Examples (not all inclusive) include performing palpation, percussion, temperature changes, complete physical examinations and other activities related to therapeutic interventions.
9. Behavioral/Social abilities sufficient to demonstrate emotional stability, maintenance or composure under stress, development of mature, empathetic and effective nurse-patient relationships and use of sound and unimpaired judgment in classroom and clinical activities.

These core performance standards are not intended to be 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).

RN-BSN (All Classes Online)

Current Curriculum as of May 1, 2016

New curriculum as of May 1, 2017 (courses begin summer 2017)