Mission
Dillard University’s College of Nursing (DUCON) has one mission and one set of end of program learning outcomes for both its undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
DUCON’s mission is to prepare caring, courageous future nurse leaders who are ethical, critical thinkers that communicate effectively and therapeutically respecting the diversity of peoples in all health care settings to improve the human condition.
End of Program Student Learning Outcomes (EPSLOs)
- EPSLO 1 -The graduate will communicate effectively using various forms of media inclusive of technology to foster therapeutic interpersonal and collaborative relationships in a culturally diverse society.
- EPSLO 2 - The graduate will synthesize complex information in the process of and intellectual inquiry, using critical thinking skills to arrive at well-reasoned evidenced-based conclusions.
- EPSLO 3 -The graduate will demonstrate effective leadership skills in the management and nursing care of patients or consumers of health incorporating professional accountability and interprofessional collaboration.
- EPSLO 4 -The graduate will utilize ethical, legal, moral, spiritual, and societal values in professional nursing practice.
- EPSLO 5 -The graduate will initiate efforts with other health care providers and consumers to improve the quality of health care for a culturally diverse society.
- EPSLO 6 -The graduate will demonstrate a commitment to professional nursing by pursuing learning (formal or informal) opportunities to enhance their professional growth and enrichment.
- EPSLO 7 -The graduate will engage in research and scholarly pursuits at the level of educational preparation.
Major
The College of Nursing offers both a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) (MSN). Students interested in the BSN degree program may enter the University as:
- Generic or transfer students
- LPN to BSN students
- RN-BSN students
All students must meet requirements for the BSN degree.
Generic BSN students enter the University as first year or transfer students. Following the successful completion of specified university core courses and nursing cognate courses, students apply for admission to the nursing major and enter the program as first semester sophomores. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to write the national licensing examination for registered nurses and pursue certification and graduate study in nursing.
The 120 semester hours in the program include 61 hours of nursing courses, 21 hours of nursing cognate courses, 38 hours of University General Education core courses. Nursing students must also satisfactorily complete the University community service/service learning requirement of 120 hours by the end of the junior year.
The nursing program has continuing accreditation with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) located at 3343 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 850 Atlanta, GA 30326. The Commission can be reached by phone at (404) 975-5000 and via website at www.acenursing.org. The program is conditionally approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, located at 17373 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70810. The Board can be reached by phone at 225-755-7500 and via website at http://www.lsbn.state.la.us.
If transfer students were previously enrolled in a nursing program, a “letter of good standing” from that program is required. Because of clinical constraints, only a limited number of transfer students can be accepted into clinical courses.
Minor
Healthcare Advocacy
Admission to the Nursing Major: Generic and Transfer Students
These policies are consistent with Dillard University policies. The College of Nursing Student Nurse Handbook and the University Catalog are the principal documents governing policies and procedures for prospective nursing students. Students are responsible for accessing and reviewing the documents that govern admission, progression and retention to the School of Nursing at Dillard University. The BSN program of study requires 120 semester hours of credit. These semester hours include 61 hours of nursing courses. Cognate and core courses are taken concurrently with nursing courses. A nursing advisor assists students to develop a plan of study based on program requirements. Course schedules must have advisor approval.
Admissions Criteria for admissions to clinical nursing courses
- A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.80 or higher.
- Earn a grade of C or greater in science (College Algebra MAT 121; Anatomy and Physiology BIO 201, 201L, 202 and 202L; or General Chemistry CHE 111, 111L) with a GPA of 2.80 or higher.
- Earn a grade of C or greater in all courses including NUR 214 Introduction to Nursing
- Earn a score of 77 or greater on the Health Education Services, Inc. Admission Assessment (HESI A2) tests
- Must have completed the freshmen core (1st year).
- Interview Required (video recorded within the College of Nursing); scheduling of interview video to be made with the Testing & Media Coordinator at 504-816-4721
Application Process: Ranking of Applications
Students meeting the minimum requirements are ranked according to the Admission Criteria Scoring Grid by the Admissions, Progression and Retention Committee. Students are notified by mail of their admission status.
Applicants who have met admission criteria and whose ranked GPA falls within the number of available seats are provisionally admitted to the program until verification of the successful completion of all prerequisite courses and maintenance of the required GPA is received. In the event that the final score using the Admission Criteria Scoring Grid results in a tie, student ranking will be determined by the students’ overall GPA.
Applicants who meet all requirements for admission, but whose admission criteria score is ranked lower than the number of seats available, are placed in an applicant’s pool. The applicant’s pool is maintained only until the completion of the first two week of the fall academic semester. Applicants not admitted and who still desire admission to the program must reapply for the next year. Applications from applicants who do not meet minimum admission criteria or whose application is incomplete are not reviewed by the admission committee.
The number of students who can be admitted to the nursing sequence is based on seat availability. The College of Nursing reserves the right to choose which applicants are admitted to the nursing program. Students must re-apply annually if they wish to be considered for admission. Applications are not saved after the beginning of the semester.
Prospective students should submit completed applications by August 1st of the expected year of entry into the College of Nursing. Students are eligible for admission when they have:
- Provided the University and the College of Nursing with official transcripts from all schools previously attended. Official transcripts must be sent from the institution with the seal of the school affix to the document. Course equivalence will be determined by the University Registrar and the College of Nursing.
- Presented evidence of satisfactory health status with a current and complete record of immunizations.
- Presented proof of health insurance coverage. Students who do not purchase insurance through the University must sign a waiver which states that they have, and will maintain, insurance coverage from another source.
- Presented a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) card for a Healthcare Provider (Basic Life Support) from the American Heart Association. CPR should be current from two (2) years of certification date.
- Submitted a letter good standing, written from the institution on official letterhead and sent via mail, if transferring from another nursing program.
- Potential nursing students must be accepted for enrollment at Dillard University to be considered for admission to Dillard University College of Nursing.
Admission to the Nursing Major: LPN to BSN
The program of study for the LPN-BSN student requires 120 semester hours of credit. These semester hours include 61 hours of nursing courses. Cognate and core courses are taken concurrently with nursing courses. A nursing advisor assists students to develop a plan of study based on program requirements. Course schedules must have advisor approval.
Requirements for the LPN to BSN student seeking admission to the nursing program must meet the same requirements as the Generic and Transfer applicants and:
- Graduation from an approved LPN program with a current, unencumbered LPN license to practice nursing in Louisiana.
RN to BSN Program
The program of study for the RN-BSN student requires 120 semester hours of credit. These semester hours include 61 hours of nursing courses. Cognate and core courses are taken concurrently with nursing courses. A nursing advisor assists students to develop a plan of study based on program requirements. Course schedules must have advisor approval.
Requirements for the RN-BSN applicant seeking admission to the nursing program are:
- Graduation from an approved RN nursing program with a current, unencumbered RN license to practice nursing in Louisiana.
- Submission of official transcripts from all colleges, schools, and universities attended. Course equivalence will be determined by the Registrar and School of Nursing.
- Admission to Dillard University.
- A minimum grade point average of 2.0 or above on a 4 point scale.
- Achieved a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4 point scale in science courses.
- Current professional liability and malpractice insurance.
- A statement of satisfactory health status as validated by a completed College of Nursing health form with a current complete record of immunizations and titers.
- The health form is to be completed by a physician or other primary care provider.
- Presented a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) card for a Healthcare Provider (Basic Life Support) from the American Heart Association. CPR should be current from August 1st through June 1st.
RN-BSN students may transfer up to 38 hours toward the general core; 57 hours toward the nursing core and cognates. Following the successful completion of NUR 399 - Conceptualizations of Professional Nursing students will receive 28 advance placement credit hours for NUR 214, NUR 214L, NUR 220, NUR 220L, NUR 352, NUR 352L, NUR 360, NUR 360L, NUR 371, NUR 371L, NUR 374, and NUR 374L.
Semester Review Assessment Testing (SRAT)
The purpose of the end of Semester Review Assessment Testing (SRAT) is to assist students in their progression through the Nursing program and in successful completion of their RN licensing exam (NCLEX-RN) after graduation. All students in the nursing program are required to take a standardized proctored assessment test at the end of each semester for courses with clinical components and NUR 203 - Introduction to Nursing Pharmacology.
Comprehensive Portfolio Assessment
Prior to graduation, senior nursing students will submit a comprehensive portfolio assessment. The assessment is administered the final semester of graduation.
Progression: School of Nursing Academic Policies
An overall GPA of 2.0 must be maintained to continue in the nursing major. Students are evaluated on their performance in the lecture and clinical nursing courses.
- If a student achieves a failing grade in a nursing lecture or clinical course, he/she must repeat that course when it is next offered to remain in the program.
- A student can have no more than one repeat of any science course.
- If a student repeats a nursing lecture or clinical course and fails (e.g., achieves a grade of “D” or below) the student is automatically dropped from the program and cannot enroll in any nursing courses.
- If a student fails a lecture and/or corresponding laboratory, the student will be required to repeat the failed course or lab and audit the corresponding course or lab.
- WF will be treated as unsuccessful attempts in nursing courses.
- Students can only enroll in a nursing course twice.
- Students dismissed with two nursing failures are eligible to apply for readmission after 2 years.
Academic Advisement
All students in the College of Nursing are assigned to an academic advisor by the Dean of the College of Nursing. Usually, the student retains that advisor throughout his or her matriculation in the nursing program. All students are expected to have conferences with their advisor at least twice a semester. The student and advisor outline a suggested course of study. If a student drops out of the program for a semester or more, that student re-enters the program under the prevailing curriculum plan.
Readmission
If a student’s course of study is interrupted for a semester or more and that student is interested in resuming study, the student must reapply to the College. This application must be accompanied by a letter from the student that includes information on, and evidence of, any academic work the student completed in the interim. Out-of-sequence students are advised to enroll in Resource Studies in Nursing courses to enhance academic skills.
The following criteria also apply:
- The student must have satisfactorily completed, with a grade of C or better, prerequisite courses for readmission to the major under the present catalog entry requirements.
Academic Probation
Academic probation notifies the student that the quality of work is below the required standard and that continuation of unsatisfactory work will result in dismissal from the College of Nursing. A student is placed on probation following one failure in a nursing course or if the GPA falls below 2.0. The maximum load for students on probation is 12 credit hours. Students can remain on probation for only one semester. To be removed from probation, the student must pass the nursing course in question and/or raise the GPA to a minimum of 2.0. If this does not occur, the student is dismissed from the nursing program.
Dismissal
A student is automatically dismissed from the nursing program when they:
- Fail one nursing course twice.
- Fails any two nursing courses during their matriculation in the College of Nursing.
- Fails to maintain a 2.0 grade point average for any two semesters after admission to the nursing program.
In all of the above instances, students may not enroll in any nursing courses until after two (2) years.
Appeal Process
Nursing students have the right to appeal a dismissal from the nursing program due to an academic failure of two nursing courses. Appeals should be submitted in writing to the DUCON Admission, Progression, and Retention Committee within one year of dismissal.
Readmission after Dismissal
A student dismissed from the nursing program due to academic difficulty and/or failure may apply for readmission after 2 years of separation. Readmission to the College of Nursing is predicated on the review and recommendation of the College of Nursing Admission, Progression, and Retention Committee. Admission status will be determined under the prevailing admission policies. A student may be considered for readmission on a probationary basis. The probationary period is one (1) year, during which time the College requirements must be met.
The student must take standardized tests administered by the College of Nursing. These tests determine the student’s level of knowledge of nursing major and nursing cognate courses. The results of testing are used for placement of students in the appropriate courses and level.
Should the student earn a “NC”, “D” ,”F” or “FA” in any nursing course during the second readmission, the student will be dismissed from the nursing program. A grade of WF will be counted as a failing grade. Petition and/or appeals for students who have been previously readmitted are not accepted.
Readmission after Withdrawal
The following policy applies to students who are readmitted to the nursing clinical component after withdrawal for non-academic reasons. Admission status will be determined under the prevailing College of Nursing Admission, Progression, and Retention Committee policies. Should the student withdraw a second time, a grade of WF will be counted as a failing grade. A second withdrawal will result in a two year waiting period, from the date of withdrawal should the student choose to reapply for admission. Petition and/or appeals for students who have been previously readmitted are not accepted.
Transfer of Credit
You can transfer credit of coursework completed at other institutions for credit towards the degree. Please refer to the University’s general guidelines.
Transfer or credit pre-licensure (Generic and LPN-BSN)
Transfer of credit for nursing courses is only accepted for NUR 203 Introduction of Nursing Pharmacology upon review by the College of Nursing Curriculum Committee. You, the student must submit a request for transfer to the College of Nursing Curriculum Committee at nursing@dillard.edu. Transfer credit will not be granted for any other nursing courses.
Transfer of Credit – RN - BSN
‘You, the RN-BSN student may transfer up to 38 hours toward the general core; 57 hours toward the nursing core and cognates. Following the successful completion of NUR 399 - Conceptualizations of Professional Nursing students will receive 28 advance placement credit hours for NUR 214, NUR 214L, NUR 220, NUR 220L, NUR 352, NUR 352L, NUR 360, NUR 360L, NUR 371, NUR 371L, NUR 374, and NUR 374L.
Opportunities
Students play an important role in the policy-making process of the nursing program and are eligible to serve as representatives to appropriate College standing committees. Class representatives are invited to attend College faculty and committee meetings. Students have voting privileges on specific committees.
Santa Filomena Student Nurse Association is the Dillard University Chapter of the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA). Membership in the NSNA automatically provides membership in the Louisiana Association of Student Nurses (LASN). High performing students are eligible to join the Santa Filomena Student Nurse Association upon declaration of the nursing major. Students may be invited to join the Xi Psi at-large chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.
There are many opportunities for eligible students to participate in local, national, and international summer research internships as well as other enriching experiences. Several scholarships are available for students who have been admitted to the nursing major. Students are encouraged to inquire and review the criteria for each award.
