Nursing, A.A.S.

Sample Academic Plan - Total Credit Hours: 67

Only in-program Nursing students are eligible to register for NRSG courses.  Students in the Pre-Allied Health Nursing track may take non-NRSG course work.  Program Requirements - The courses below are applicable to degree requirements. Students may be required to take additional Learning Support courses.

LPN/Paramedic to RN Transition Pathway Option

Required Courses - Prerequisities Credit Hours: 15 
(Courses which must be completed prior to admission to LPN/Paramedic to RN Transition to RN Pathway)

• BIOL 2010 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: 4 **
• BIOL 2020 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: 4 **
• MATH 1530 - Introductory Statistics Credits: 3 ***
• PSYC 1030 - Introduction to Psychology Credits: 3
• COLS 101 - Columbia State College Success Credits: 1

Note(s):

**BIOL 2010 and BIOL 2020 must have been completed no more than five years prior to program entry.  BIOL course currency exceptions may be considered based on documented workplace use of A&P content.  Exception Request forms may be obtained by emailing Nursing@columbiastate.edu.  Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all Biology courses.

***Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in the MATH course.

²Humanities/Fine Arts Requirement - Select from ART 1035 , ART 2000 , ART 2020 , ENGL 2160 , ENGL 2860 , HUM 1010 , HUM 1020 , MUS 1030 , PHIL 1030 , PHIL 1040 , PHIL 2200 , THEA 1030 . Literature Options: ENGL 2055 , ENGL 2130 , ENGL 2235 , ENGL 2310 , ENGL 2320 .

Requirements for Graduation Include:

1. Earn 25% of total program credits in residence at Columbia State.
2. Earn a GPA of at least 2.0 in program courses.
3. Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
4. Take the Exit Exam required by Columbia State.

This degree program is in compliance with the Common Course Curriculum Library for the A.A.S. in Nursing as delivered by the Tennessee Board of Regents community colleges.

Students and advisors should run a degree audit using Degree Works in ChargerNet (MyCN) each semester to confirm classes are applicable to the program of study.

For more information contact:
Dr. Loretta Bond at lbond2@columbiastate.edu or 931.540.2609
Health Sciences Division at HealthSciences@columbiastate.edu or 931.540.2599 or 931.540.2600
Detailed information is available via www.columbiastate.edu/nursing

General Information

Registered Nurses (RN) assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain healthcare records. RNs administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients and advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or management. Registered nursing is a profession that requires licensing by a state board of nursing. The RN is required to observe professional standards of practice and adhere to a code of ethics.

In accordance with the mission statement of the College, the Nursing Department serves humanity by providing a basic nursing education program that prepares graduates to become successful registered nurses who are compassionate, professional, self-motivated critical thinkers, able to assess their own strengths and weaknesses and gain the respect and support of their communities.  In carrying out this mission, faculty continually strive to practice what they teach. Students who successfully complete the planned learning activities in the Nursing Program's curriculum earn the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree as a Graduate Nurse.   The Columbia State Graduate Nurse is eligible to apply to the Tennessee State Board of Nursing (TBON) for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). 

Nursing is the application of knowledge and skills to help individuals, sick or well, adapt to their health needs.  The individual is a unique being of intrinsic worth and dignity, a unified whole, possessing an interrelatedness of experiences derived from biological, psychological, sociocultural and spiritual needs in response to the environment.  The practice of nursing is an art and a science.  The registered nurse extracts from a knowledge base comprised of evidence-based and intuitive knowledge to select nursing actions.  Nursing actions are directed toward assisting individuals to attain and/or maintain optimum health throughout the life span.

The Columbia State Nursing Program:

• Offers entry into the practice of Nursing by preparing students for taking the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) in order to obtain the title of Registered Nurse (RN).
• Offers the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills to function in a beginning staff nurse position.
• Offers courses on the Columbia and Williamson Campuses.

The nursing curriculum combines general and nursing education courses to provide students with scientific knowledge as well as technical and interpersonal skills. The Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing is designed to provide a graduate who will:

1. Practice within the ethical, legal and regulatory frameworks of nursing and standards of professional nursing practice.
2. Communicate effectively using verbal, nonverbal, and written techniques including information and technology.
3. Analyze subjective and objective assessment data to identify actual or potential health alterations.
4. Evaluate outcomes of clinical decisions implemented to provide safe and effective evidence-based nursing care.
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of caring interventions that incorporate principles of dignity, diversity, safety and knowledge.
6. Evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented teaching plan to meet the learning needs of patients, families and/or groups.
7. Collaborate when planning, implementing, and evaluating care.
8. Manage care through effective use of prioritization, delegation, informatics and resources.

Students gain nursing experience in clinical facilities at area hospitals and various health agencies throughout the community.  The length of the Nursing Program is four academic semesters.     

Accreditation

The course of study involves a curriculum that is approved and implemented in accordance with requirements set forth by:

Tennessee Board of Nursing (Rules and Regulations 1000-01-.09 - .12)
State of Tennessee
Department of Health
Health Related Boards
Tennessee Board of Nursing
665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
615.532.5166 or 1.800.778.4123 nationwide
Nursing.Health@tn.gov

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing  (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Phone: 404.975.5000, Fax: 404.975.5020
www.acenursing.org

Admission and Continuation/Retention Requirements

Admissions Requirements

• These requirements apply to all nursing applicants.

Columbia State's nursing program has enrollment limitations. This necessitates the screening of applicants, utilizing selection criteria that have been established for the program. General criteria for consideration are stated below.  

Note: Criminal background checks are a requirement at most affiliated clinical training sites. Based on the results of the criminal background check or drug screen, an affiliated clinical site may determine to not allow a student's presence at their facility. This could result in the inability to successfully complete the requirements of a specific course and the program. More information is available from the nursing program director. 

1. Meet all College general requirements for admission as a degree-seeking student as stated in the catalog and be accepted to the college prior to submitting an admissions application to the Nursing Program. 
2. Review "Programs with Special Admission Requirements" in the Columbia State catalog.
3. Exemption from or satisfaction of Learning Support competencies in reading, writing, and math as determined by college placement standards prior to submitting an admission application to the Nursing Program.
4. Applicants must have a composite ACT score of 19 or higher (900 or greater for SAT) to be considered for admission. In keeping with the college's placement policy, individuals who have satisfied all required LS deficiencies will receive nursing admission points equivalent to an ACT composite score of 19. Likewise, students holding bachelors or higher degrees without an ACT score but with passing transferable English and Math credit on a college transcript will receive nursing admission points equivalent to an ACT composite score of 19. (NOTE: while a composite ACT score of 19 is the minimum accepted, the competitive nature of the admission process encourages higher scores.)
5. Earned a cumulative college-level grade point average of 2.50 or above on a 4.0 scale for general education courses required for the A.A.S. in Nursing degree.  
   • If less than 12 hours of applicable general education hours have been completed, then a cumulative (all college history) GPA of 2.5 or above is required.  The high school GPA is used for students who have fewer than 12 college credit hours attempted. 
   • An applicant with no college level credit who has no high school GPA must have an actual ACT composite score of 19 or higher
6. STUDENTS PREVIOUSLY ENROLLED IN ANOTHER NURSING PROGRAM:  If the applicant has previously been enrolled in another Nursing program within the past three years of the date application, the applicant is considered a transfer applicant.
   Transfer applicants seeking advanced standing and credit for prior nursing coursework are evaluated for transfer credit on a case-by-case basis.  Eligible transfer applicants may be accepted to the nursing program on a space-available basis.  Nursing course credit must be within 3 years and a grade of "C" or better is required for all transferred nursing courses.  Eligible transfer applicants may be asked to validate clinical skills and/or knowledge obtained from previous nursing courses.
   To be eligible for entry into the Nursing Program, transfer applicants must:

• Be admitted/currently enrolled at Columbia State (including official transcripts from all college attended).
• Complete all required Learning Support classes (or be permanently exempt from all Learning Support requirements).
• GPA > 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) based on most recent grades for completed college-level general education courses required for the AAS Nursing (MATH 1530, PSYC 1030, BIOL 2010, BIOL 2020, BIOL 2230, PSYC 2130, Humanities/Fine Arts elective, & ENGL 1010).
  • If applicant has fewer than 12 attempted college credit hours, high school GPA will be used.
  • If applicant has 12 or more total attempted college credit hours but fewer than 12 credits which are required for the AAS Nursing program of study, then the cumulative, weighted average of all prior college level course work will be used. 
• Have a grade of "C" or better in all required science and math courses.
• Complete a Nursing Program Admission Application for Transfer Nursing Students (provided upon request by the Nursing Program Director).
• Request a letter to be sent from the Dean/Director of the nursing program in which the student was previously enrolled directly to the Columbia State's Nursing Program Director, stating that the student is in good standing and eligible to continue in or return to the previous program.
• Submit transcripts from all colleges attended, including Columbia State, attached with the transfer nursing application.
• If nursing courses are older than 3 years, transfer applicants may seek traditional admission to Columbia State's nursing program with no request for advance standing.
• Transfer applicants who are not seeking advanced standing or credit for prior nursing coursework, but have nursing credit from another program within the past 3 years, may seek traditional admission to Columbia State's nursing program.  In this situation, students are still considered transfer students and must request a letter to be sent from the Dean/Director of the nursing program in which the student was previously enrolled directly to the Columbia State's Nursing Program Director stating that the student is in good standing and eligible to continue in or return to the previous program.
• The standard admission/readmission requirements, rating criteria, and selection processes are used for those seeking traditional admission to the nursing program will also be used for transfer students.
• Students who exit any nursing program prior to the second semester for any reason (voluntary or academic) are not eligible for admission/readmission to the Columbia State Nursing program.  The possibility of a formal appeal based on extenuating circumstances, if applicable, may be discussed with the Nursing Program Director.
• Students who have two (2) prior attempts in any nursing program(s) are ineligible for admission/readmission into the Columbia State's Nursing Program.

7. In cases of transfer or re-admission, if three or more years have elapsed since enrollment in a Nursing Program, the nursing courses must be repeated.
8. If five or more years have elapsed the following requirements apply:
   1. Anatomy and Physiology courses must be repeated.
   2. All current application/enrollment requirements apply.
9. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, all applicants and admitted students must be, with reasonable accommodation, physically and mentally capable of performing the essential functions of the program as outlined in the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) system and the Southern Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing.  Please read the following Nursing Core Performance Standards for all TBR nursing programs (TBR policy 2:03:00:00).
   • Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal, nonverbal and written form.
   • Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.
   • Critical thinking ability sufficient for appropriate clinical judgment and utilization of the nursing process.
   • Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces.
   • Strength to perform patient care and assist with patient mobility.
   • Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care.
   • Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.
   • Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary to provide safe and effective nursing care.
   • Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and intervention.
   • Ability to be responsive within appropriate time periods.

Additional Requirements (After Admission)

Once admitted, student are required to submit documentation of the following entry requirements: 

1. Health Requirements:  All nursing student must submit evidence of good health by returning a completed Physical Examination form.  Required forms are provided to students who are offered admission into the Nursing Program.  Mandatory: all documentation must be submitted before or by the deadline date.  Failure to submit all documentation by the deadline results in forfeiture of the offer of Nursing program admission.
   • all students must have a:
     • Documented negative TB Skin Test and/or Chest X-Ray yearly.  An initial two-step TB Skin Test must be within three months of the start of the program as a condition of participation in clinical rotations.  After the initial TB skin test another TB skin test is required within two (2) to three (3) weeks.  If the second TB skin test is positive, a baseline chest X-ray will be required.  Thereafter, a TB skin test Risk Assessment is completed annually unless exposure occurs.
   • Vaccine documentation or evidence of Immunity for:
     • Rubella (positive titer).
     • Varicella Zoster (chicken pox) (positive titer).
     • Rubeola titer (positive titer).
     • Mumps (positive titer).
   • Hepatitis B:  Evidence of vaccine series with titer results or evidence of vaccine series in progress followed by titer results.
   • Tetanus/diphtheria booster within the past ten years.
   • Influenza immunization (seasonal deadline).
   • Other vaccinations may be required by specific clinical affiliates.
   • Some clinical affiliates MAY grant access to students who decline vaccinations (the Health Records Clerk can provide a declination form on request.
2. In order to meet Clinical Affiliate expectations, students coming into health sciences programs are required to submit copies of current BLS (Basic Life Support) Provider certification compliant with American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC) guidelines.  Clinical affiliates accept neither AHA Heartcode® (blended/hybrid/style) nor AHA HeartSaver® (by-stander/public) versions or certification.  BLS certification classes are offered by Columbia State Community College or the AHA/ARC.  Certification must be maintained continuously for the duration of program enrollment.
3. Malpractice Insurance;  Malpractice insurance is required for all clinical nursing courses.  A group policy is available.  The fee is assessed annually as a part of course registration. 
4. Health Insurance: Students are responsible for all costs incurred related to health problems, including injuries occurring during clinical experiences. Students must provide evidence of health insurance coverage before clinical rotations begin.
5. Criminal Background Checks and routine drug screens are required by most affiliated clinical training sites as a condition of participation in clinical education.  Based on the results, an affiliated clinical site may determine not to approve a student for access to the facility.  This could result in the inability to successfully complete the requirements of a specific course and the program.  More information is available from the program director.  In addition, applicants who have been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation may be ineligible for licensure.
6. A 10-panel drug screen and urine alcohol screen are required by clinical facilities as a component of the clinical access clearance process. These items are ordered through Truescreen with results available to Columbia State's Health Science Records Clerk electronically. Clinical agencies may deny a student access to the facility based on the results of the background check or the drug screen. This could result in a student being unable to successfully complete the requirements of a course or the program.

Admissions Procedure

To be admitted to the nursing program, please complete the following steps. 

1. Submit the following to the College Admissions office:
   1. Completed Application for Admission to the College
   2. Official college transcripts from all previously attended colleges
   3. High school transcripts or High School Equivalency Diploma 
   4. ACT or SAT exam results
2. Program Applications are accepted between August 1-31 for entry into the Spring nursing class and February 1-28 for entry into the Fall nursing class.  Before beginning the nursing application, be sure to have electronic copies of 1) unofficial transcripts of ALL prior college work including Columbia State Community College and 2) screenshot/copy of best ACT/SAT scores.  PDFs or clearly legible images/photos are acceptable.  These documents must be uploaded within the online nursing application form.  Each transcript and exam score document must show the applicant's first and last name to be accepted.
   1. Complete the online Nursing Program Application.
   2. Applications are only accepted in February and August and must be completed electronically before 4 p.m. on the last day of the application period.  Applications received before the first day or after 4 p.m. on the last day of the application period will not be accepted.  Faxed, mailed or emailed applications are not accepted.
3. Admissions decisions are made based on applicant's total earned admission points within the admission period with weighted average cumulative GPA as a tie-breaker for applicants with the same admission score.
4. If an applicant does not meet the admission criteria, he/she will be notified in writing.  If the eligibility requirement are met at a future date, the applicant must submit a new program application.
5. Applicants who are admitted will be notified in writing. Applicants are required to respond to the Nursing Program in writing of the intent to accept the offer of admission by the deadline in letter of acceptance. 
6. Applicants will be removed from consideration for admission if the acceptance response is not received in the Health Sciences/Nursing office by the deadline.  Students are responsible for promptly notifying the Nursing Program office of any change in name, mailing address, phone number, etc., to facilitate contact during the application process. 
7. Applicants who have previously been enrolled in other nursing programs within the past 3 years are considered transfer applicants.  Transfer applicants must:
   • Apply for admission to Columbia State and be eligible for admission as a degree-seeking student OR be admitted/currently enrolled at Columbia State (including official transcripts from all colleges attended).
   • Complete and submit a Nursing program Admission Application for Transfer Nursing Students (provided upon request by the Nursing program Director). Copies of transcripts (official or unofficial) must be submitted with the application
   • Request a letter to be sent from the Dean/Director of the nursing program in which the student was previously enrolled directly to the Columbia State's Nursing Program Director, stating that the student is in good standing and eligible to continue in or return to the previous program.
   • Submit transcripts from all colleges attended, including Columbia State, attached with the transfer nursing application.
   • Provide catalog descriptions and syllabi of successfully passed nursing course(s).

Readmission Requirements:

1. A minimum cumulative college-level grade point average 2.0 or higher. 
2. A completed Exit Interview on file in the Health Sciences/Nursing Office completed no later than 6 weeks following the end of the semester of enrollment.
3. Enrollment and repetition of all co-nursing requisite courses as delineated for the specific semester's academic plan.
4. Readmission procedures as aligned in the College Catalog.

LPN/Paramedic to RN Transitition Pathway

The LPN/Paramedic to RN Transition Pathway is a plan for the applicant already licensed as a practical nurse (LPN) or Paramedic in the state of Tennessee. Qualified LPNs and Paramedics may complete the Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing requirements in three continuous semesters of study beginning in the summer semester. 

Admission Requirements

In addition to the admission requirements for the Major in Nursing, licensed practical nurses and paramedics seeking admission through the LPN/Paramedic-to-RN Pathway option must meet the following admission requirements. 

1. Meet all College general requirements for admission as a degree-seeking student as stated in the catalog and be admitted to the College.
2. Complete prerequisite course requirements by the start of summer transition course.  Final pre-requisite courses may be in progress at the time of application.  Documentation of enrollment is required.  
3. Earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale for prerequisite courses required for admission into the Transition Pathway.
4. Have a "C" or better in required Math and Science prerequisite courses.

Admission Process

Apply to Columbia State and be accepted into the College.

1. Submit the following to the college Admissions office:
   1. Official college transcripts
   2. High school transcripts or GED 
2. Complete the online LPN/Paramedic -to-RN Nursing Pathway Program Application.
3. Upload a copy of a valid driver's license.
4. Upload a copy of valid Tennessee LPN or Paramedic license.

Applications for Columbia State's LPN/Paramedic-to-RN Pathway option will be accepted from the 2nd Monday in December through the 2nd Monday in February. 

Continuation Requirements

The same continuation requirements apply to all students in Nursing. These are stated under " Continuation Requirements". Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review the Nursing Program Student Handbook for an understanding of program policies and expectations.