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Mission

The mission of the School of Nursing is to develop students who are broadly educated, technologically astute, highly skilled, communicative, and culturally competent, responsible practitioners of nursing. Graduates utilize the liberal arts, sciences, critical thinking, and holism to provide care that improves the human condition of individuals, families, aggregates, and communities in a diverse, value-rich, global society.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Communicate effectively to foster therapeutic interpersonal and collaborative relationships in a culturally diverse society.
• Demonstrate competency in informational technology and computer literacy as an adjunctive tool in practice.
• Synthesize concepts and principles and principles from previous learning to design, implement and evaluate nursing care of patients.
• Utilize ethical, legal, moral, spiritual, and societal values in professional nursing practice.
• Initiate efforts with other healthcare providers and consumers to improve the quality of healthcare to a culturally diverse society.
• Assume various roles in the practice of nursing to meet the healthcare needs of humans in a variety of healthcare settings.
• Demonstrate effective leadership skills in the management and nursing care of patients incorporating professional accountability, and responsibility.
• Utilize research to provide evidence-based holistic care to patients in a variety of clinical settings.
• Demonstrate a commitment to professional nursing by pursuing learning (formal or informal) opportunities to enhance their professional growth and enrichment.
• Synthesize complex information in the process of problem solving and intellectual inquiry, using critical thinking skills to arrive at well-reasoned conclusions in the practice of nursing.

Major

The School of Nursing offers three courses of study culminating in the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN). Students interested in nursing may enter the University as:

• Generic or transfer pre-nursing 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 126 semester hours in the program include 63 hours of nursing courses, 25 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

The School of Nursing does not offer a minor in Nursing.

Admission to the Nursing Major: Generic and Transfer Students

These policies are consistent with Dillard University policies. The School 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 126 semester hours of credit. These semester hours include 63 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.

Admission to the School of Nursing is competitive. All applicants to the generic BSN option must have earned a minimum GPA of at least 2.7 with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.7 in science courses. Admission to Dillard University does not guarantee admission to the School of Nursing. Applicants submitting applications to the School of Nursing does not guarantee admittance to the School of Nursing. The School of Nursing admits one class in the fall semester of each year. An admission packet will not be reviewed if it is incomplete or received after the application deadline.

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 following is required prior to review of the application:

• Completion of all prerequisite coursework with a grade of “C” or greater during the current semester.
• Final grades from all prerequisite courses.
• A minimum GPA of 2.7 on a 4 point scale.
• A cumulative GPA of at least 2.7 in science courses.
• Complete up-to-date immunization record and CPR requirement.
• HESI A2 Test results within the last three years.

The number of students who can be admitted to the nursing sequence is based on seat availability. The School 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 March 1ST of the expected year of entry into the School of Nursing. Students are eligible for admission when they have:

• Completed first-year core curriculum and nursing cognate courses with grades of ‘C’ or better
• No more than one repeat of any science and math pre-requisite course. (Two failures in the same required science course disqualifies a student for admission.) When a student receives a grade of D or F in two (2) required science courses, the student is not eligible for admission to the professional program. All previous grades are considered. Science courses consist of CHE 114 , CHE 114L  , & CHE 111  , and CHE 111L , MAT 121 , BIO 201 , BIO 201L , BIO 202  and BIO 202L  for admission to the nursing program.
• Achieved a minimum grade point average of 2.7 or above on a 4-point scale.
• Achieved a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7 in science courses on a 4 point scale.
• Provided the University and the School 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 Registrar and the School of Nursing.
• Applicants must earn a 77% or greater on the following components of the HESI A2: Reading Comprehension, Basic Math Skills, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology. Additional remediation with Student Support Services is required for any student admitted to the program who scores between 77-84% on the specified HESI A2 test components The examination can only be taken in one calendar year. No HESI A2 scores older than three years will be accepted.
• 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 August 1ST through June 1ST.
• Submitted a letter good standing, written from the institution on official letterhead and sent via mail, if transferring from another nursing program.

Admission to the Nursing Major: LPN to BSN

The program of study for the LPN-BSN student requires 126 semester hours of credit. These semester hours include 63 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 are:

• Graduation from an approved LPN program with a current, unencumbered LPN license to practice nursing in Louisiana.
• Active practice as LPN in nursing within the last three consecutive years at the time of admission. These applicants are eligible to receive credit for NUR 214 , NUR 214L , NUR 220  and NUR 220L  by competency testing given in the School of Nursing.
• 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 2.7 or above on a 4 point scale.
• Achieved a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7 on a 4 point scale in science courses.
• Applicants must earn a 77% or greater on the following components of the HESI A2: Reading Comprehension, Basic Math Skills, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology. Additional remediation with Student Support Services is required for any student admitted to the program who scores between 77-84% on the specified HESI A2 test components The examination can only be taken in one calendar year. No HESI A2 scores older than three years will be accepteCurrent professional liability and malpractice insurance.
• A statement of satisfactory health status as validated by a completed School 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.

Admission to the Nursing Major: RN to BSN

The program of study for the RN-BSN student requires 126 semester hours of credit. These semester hours include 63 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 School 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 , NUR 208 - Pathophysiology , and NUR 470 - Management of High Risk Clients .

Senior students take a standardized NCLEX-RN diagnostic test at the end of the fall semester of the senior level. The purpose of this is to assist the student in understanding his/her strengths, challenges, and learning needs in relating scientific knowledge to the practice of nursing. The result of the exam will also serve as a guide to prepare students for the senior level seminar NUR 456 and the comprehensive examination.

The HESI-RN Exit

Prior to graduation, senior nursing students will complete the HESI-RN Exit, a comprehensive examination which is administered in NUR 456 - Seminar in Nursing . The score for this exam is 900.

Requirements for Graduation

LPN to BSN

RN to BSN Program

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 class and clinical nursing courses.

• If a student achieves a failing grade in a nursing course or clinical course, he/she must repeat that course when it is next offered to remain in the program.
• Student can have no more than one repeat of any science course.
• If a student repeats a nursing 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.
• WD and 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 School of Nursing are assigned to an academic advisor by the School Chairperson. 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 School. 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.
• The student must take standardized tests administered by the School of Nursing. These tests determine the student’s level of knowledge and assist in advisement.

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 School 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 he/she:

• Fails one nursing course twice.
• Fails any two nursing courses during his/her matriculation in the School.
• 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.

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 School of Nursing is predicated on the review and recommendation of the School 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 School requirements must be met.

The student must take standardized tests administered by the School 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 “D” or “F” in any nursing course during the second readmission, the student will be dismissed from the nursing program. A grade of WD or WF will be counted as a failing grade. Petition and/or appeals for students who have been previously readmitted are not accepted.

Opportunities

Students play an important role in the policy-making process of the nursing program and are eligible to serve as representatives to appropriate School standing committees. Class representatives are invited to attend School 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.

Programs

• Nursing RN to B.S.N.
• Nursing, Generic, Transfer, LPN to B.S.N.

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