Nursing, A.S.

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Associate Dean of Nursing Department - Dr. Heather Zonts, PhD, RN, CNE
Chairperson, Associate of Science in Nursing Program - Dr. Sue Clark, PhD, RN

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All students in the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program are considered to be in the two-plus-two (2+2) Associate of Science/Bachelor of Science program, as the intent is that students will continue seamlessly to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

The ASN Degree curriculum at Mount Aloysius College provides an education to prepare graduates as professional nurses, qualified to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for registered nurses following graduation. A blending of theory classes, campus laboratory & simulation experiences, seminars, and clinical agency experiences enable students to achieve established program and student learning outcomes. The general education and professional components of the curriculum are designed to provide graduates with knowledge, skills, and competencies to function effectively in acute, long-term, and community-based settings.

The following end of program student learning outcomes will be achieved by the Mount Aloysius College ASN graduates:

1. Patient- Family Centered Care: Engage in partnership with the patient or designee to plan, advocate for and provide care that is consistent with the patient’s and family’s culture, values, beliefs, and needs.
2. Teamwork & Collaboration: Engage in effective communication and collaborative practice to provide coordinated and integrated patient care.
3. Evidence Based Practice: Evaluate the plan of care using best available evidence, patient values, preferences, and clinical judgment.
4. Informatics: Utilize health information and communication technologies to support safety, decision making, outcome/data analysis and the promotion of health literacy.
5. Quality Improvement: Formulate care practices that incorporate quality improvement measures to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
6. Safety: Create a culture of safety that minimizes harm to patients and providers and increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes.
7. Professionalism: Demonstrate the values, ethics, and legal standards of the nursing profession; responsibility and accountability for own behaviors and decisions; and competent performance in nursing practice to ensure quality patient-centered care.

The ASN Degree in Nursing Program must be completed within (3) years of starting the first nursing course. In addition, the pre-requisite course of BIOL 201  - Anatomy and Physiology I must have been satisfactorily completed with a “C” grade. The student is considered a “Non-Matriculated Nursing Student” until the required pre-requisite course requirements have been met.

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Admission Requirements

NOTE: All decisions regarding admission to the nursing program at Mount Aloysius College are made by the Nursing Department.

Students requesting admission to the ASN Degree program must have been admitted to the College and meet the following admission requirements:

1. First time college student applicants who have graduated from high school less than two (2) years and/or have less than 24 credits of post-secondary education must:

• have achieved a combined SAT Critical Reading and Math score of 1000 OR an ACT composite score of 22 OR achieve a composite score of 59% on the designated pre-entrance exam (ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills - TEAS), as well as minimum sub score of 60% on the Math portion on the TEAS. The applicant has a maximum of two attempts on the exam to achieve a satisfactory scores;
• Any student whose Native Language is not English will need to take one of the English Proficiency Examinations listed below:
  • A TOEFL iBT of 84 or higher total score with a minimum speaking score of 26;
  • TOEFL PBT of 540 or higher total score;
  • IELTS Academic score of 6.5 or higher with a minimum of 6.0 in each module; or
  • PTE Academic score of 55 or higher overall, with no Communicative Skills sub-scores lower than 50 in each part; or
  • MELAB with Speaking score of 81 or higher overall total score and minimum score of 3 on the speaking test is required as part of the application for an individual whose primary language is not English.
• Have completed work equal to a standard high school course inclusive of a minimum of 16 units, including:
  • four units of English,
  • three units of social studies,
  • two units of mathematics (one of which is Algebra), and
  • two units of science with a related laboratory, (Biology and Chemistry recommended). The two units of science with a related laboratory and Algebra must be completed with a minimum grade of “C”;
• minimum high school GPA of 2.50

2.  Transfer applicants, who have graduated from high school greater than or equal to two (2) years and/or completed 24 or more credits of post-secondary education must:

• achieve a composite score of 59% on the designated pre-entrance exam (ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills - TEAS), as well as minimum sub score of 60% on the Math portion on the TEAS. The applicant has a maximum of two attempts on the exam to achieve a satisfactory scores;
• demonstrate a minimum 2.50 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) on most recent post-secondary education as verified by official transcript;
• have completed BIOL 201  - Anatomy and Physiology I or its equivalent with a minimum grade of “C” in both theory and lab. All science courses must have been completed within the past seven (7) years;

3. Transfer applicants who have had previous nursing education courses are required to meet the admission requirements as stated above for transfer students and sign and send to the previous nursing program(s) a request for confidential reference. In addition, the applicant may apply to take a challenge* exam(s). To begin the challenge exam process, the applicant must submit a course syllabus and calendar to the Department Chairperson at least five (5) weeks prior to the start of the semester or earlier. An applicant wishing to challenge a course must have successfully completed a comparable course (including clinical if applicable) at an accredited school within the past three (3) years. Challenge exams must be completed by June 30 for Fall admission and by December 15 for Spring admission. The following Associate Degree nursing courses may be challenged -

• NUAS 130T   Theory- Adult Nursing I (4 credits)
• NUAS 130C  Clinical - Adult Nursing I (3 credits)
• NUAS 220T   - Nursing Pharmacology (3 credits)
• NUAS 240T  Theory - Nursing of the Family (3 credits)
• NUAS 240C  Clinical - Nursing of the Family (2 credits)
• NUAS 275T   - Mental Health Nursing (3 credits)
  
  *Note: Challenge exams are accomplished by using standardized exams for theory courses; clinical courses will include a skills challenge.

4. Students granted readmission to the nursing program may be required to challenge* or retake nursing courses that were successfully completed at Mount Aloysius College within the past three (3) years prior to re-admission. Courses taken more than three years prior to readmission cannot be challenged and must be repeated.

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Pre-Nursing Status
An applicant is identified as pre-nursing when he/she has met all admission requirements, but has not completed the pre-requisite course requirements. Once pre-requisite course requirements are met the applicant must complete the Internal Nursing Audit Form.

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Matriculation:

• achieve a composite score of 59% on the designated pre-entrance nursing exam (ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills - TEAS) as well as a minimum sub score of 60% on the Math portion on the TEAS. The applicant has a maximum of two attempts on the exam to achieve a satisfactory score, whether the exams are taken at MAC or another location;
• Have completed BIOL 201  - Anatomy and Physiology I or its equivalent with a minimum grade of “C” in both theory and lab. All science courses must have been completed within the past seven (7) years.

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Clinical Enrollment Requirements**

Prior to the start of a clinical nursing course, the student must submit the following:

1. A completed health form, physical exam and required titers and immunizations;
2. Two-Step PPD or agency accepted equivalent
3. Urine Drug screen from the start of the first clinical course. Additional urine drug screens may be required;
4. PA Criminal Background***, FBI Fingerprinting*** and Child Abuse History Clearances***; and
5. CPR Certification (American Heart Association Healthcare Provider or American Red Cross Professional Rescuer which includes Adult, Child, Infant and AED) within 30 days of the start of the semester
6. Students who withdraw from the program must submit new PA Criminal Background Check, FBI Fingerprinting and other documentation required by the college or clinical agencies.

**Students must have health requirements confirmed by Health Services prior to participation in clinical experiences. The MAC School of Nursing Prohibitive Offense Policy guides decisions related to background check findings. Healthcare agencies have the right to deny employment or clinical experiences based on background checks.
 

***Nursing students must comply with the requirement of the Professional Nursing Law of Pennsylvania (Act of April 14, 1972, P.L. 233, No 64) known as “The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.”
 

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General Information

Information related to progression throughout the ASN program includes the following:

1. Completion of all pre- or co-requisite courses, as listed in the current catalog, with a minimum “C” grade prior to graduation;
2. Completion of all nursing courses with a minimum 75%;
3. Completion of all clinical nursing courses with a “P” in the clinical component of the course;
4. Maintenance of a cumulative grade point average of 2.0;
5. Annual One-Step PPD is required after the initial 2-Step PPD;
6. CPR re-certification if a student’s CPR certification expires prior to program completion;
7. Students are expected to adhere to the Policies and Procedures set forth in the Mount Aloysius College Department of Nursing Student Policy and Procedure Manual;
8. Clinical site availability is dependent on many factors and varies from semester to semester. No guarantee can be made to students regarding placement at any particular clinical site. Placement in a nursing course that is being repeated is on a space-available basis. Transportation to clinical sites is not provided by Mount Aloysius College. Each student is required to provide his or her own transportation to and from clinical sites.Graduation Requirements

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Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must complete all general education core requirements (listed in the current College Catalog) and all nursing requirements for the ASN Degree.

The ASN Degree must be completed within six (6) years of starting the first nursing course.

Students must complete their final thirty (30) semester hours before graduation in Mount Aloysius College.

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Fees

Students are assessed a one-time nursing clinical education fee to cover expenses connected with the clinical education requirements. This fee is included in the NUAS 130T  - Adult Nursing I and NUAS 115T  - LPN to RN Transition courses. Included in this fee is one urine drug screen, PA Criminal Background, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and CPR certification. If additional criminal background checks, child abuse clearance or urine drug screens are required, the student is responsible for the costs. The clinical education fee also includes the purchase of a Nurse Pak, which includes equipment needed for skill performance.

The ATI Comprehensive Assessment and Remediation Program, Modules and Tutorials are utilized in the ASN Degree program. Students are assessed a competency testing fee for the program at the beginning of each semester.

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*Articulation Criteria for LPN Advanced Standing

LPN candidates are required to meet the requirements of the College along with the ASN program admission criteria and complete all pre-enrollment and enrollment requirements. In addition, applicants must submit official transcripts and proof of current or previous LPN license in good standing as a requirement for admission. Applicants articulating directly from LPN programs must obtain LPN licensure by the completion of the semester that NUAS 115 is taken.

LPN applicants meeting the articulation criterion may be granted a maximum of twelve (12) credits in nursing; seven (7) credits following successful completion of NUAS 115T   - LPN to RN Transition and five (5) credits for Nursing of the Family Challenge.

In order to receive the seven (7) credits, the applicant must have graduated within the past three years from an LPN program, have work experience as an LPN equivalent to 1000 hours in the past three years, or have completed an approved refresher course. Applicants licensed for greater than three years must submit employer verification of work experience. If the applicant meets these criteria, seven (7) credits will be given after successful completion of NUAS 115T  - LPN to RN Transition course.

In order to receive the five (5) credits, the applicant must successfully obtain a Level 2 proficiency on the ATI RN Nursing Care of Children AND the ATI RN Maternal Newborn. Both of these exams must be successfully completed by the end of NUAS 115T  - LPN to RN Transition. If unsuccessful on the exams, the applicant will be required to take NUAS 240T  - Nursing of the Family.

Prior to enrolling in Level III Nursing courses, NUAS 260T  - Adult Nursing II and NUAS 275T  - Mental Health Nursing, the student must have completed the following:

• BIOL 201   - Anatomy and Physiology I  
• BIOL 202   - Anatomy and Physiology II  
• ENGL 110  - Rhetoric I
• LIBA 150   - College Success & the Mercy Experience  
• MATH 111  - The Three C’s: Calculate, Compute, Critique 
• PSYC 101   - General Psychology  
• PSYC 102   - Human Growth and Development  
• BIOL 210  - Microbiology
• NUAS 115T   - LPN to RN Transition  
• NUAS 220T   - Nursing Pharmacology  
• NUAS 130T  / NUAS 130C  - Adult Nursing I  - advanced credit following successful completion of NUAS 115T  and the Fundamentals Skill Challenge 
• NUAS 240T   - Nursing of the Family - or advanced credit upon completion of the ATI exams (ATI RN Nursing Care of Children and the ATI RN Maternal Newborn).
• All required pre-requisite courses 

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Accreditation

The ASN Degree Nursing Program is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400

Atlanta, GA 30326

 404-975-5000 

www.acenursing.org

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