Program Details

School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Jones 117A
912-279-5870
Program Coordinator:
Dawana Gibbs 279-5907
dgibbs@ccga.edu

The Associate of Science in Nursing curriculum is a 70 semester credit hour program which prepares individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide nursing care to clients and groups of clients throughout the life span in a variety of settings. The purpose of the Associate of Science Nursing Program is to prepare graduates who can successfully enter the practice of professional nursing. Graduates of the ASN Program are prepared to take the national examination (NCLEX-RN) leading to licensure as a Registered Nurse.. The program conforms to standards set by the Georgia Board of Nursing and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) located at 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia 30326. ACEN can also be reached by phone at (404)975-5000, or on line at www.acenursing.org.

Students who are interested in the ASN Program must meet the college admissions requirements listed in the Admissions section of this catalog. This is a limited enrollment program and has a selective program admission process. Interested students may contact the School of Nursing and Health Sciences (912) 279-5860 for further information.

CCGA does not discriminate on the basis of disability. Students who would like to receive accommodations on the basis of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Rehabilitation Act of 1973, must self-identify, must provide documentation of the disability, and must request accommodations through the Disability Service Director on campus.

GEORGIA BOARD OF NURSING INFORMATION

The Georgia Board of Nursing requires criminal background checks for licensure and has the authority to refuse to grant a license to an applicant upon a finding by the board that the applicant has been convicted of any felony, crime involving moral turpitude, or crime violating a federal or state law relating to controlled substances or dangerous drugs in the courts of this state, any other state, territory, or country, or in the courts of the United States, including, but not limited to, a plea of nolo contendere entered to the charge; or any licensing board or agency in Georgia or any other state denied the applicant’s license application, renewal or reinstatement; or revoked, suspended, restricted, or prohibited the applicant’s license; or requested or accepted surrender of the applicant’s license, or reprimanded, fined or disciplined the applicant. If you have questions you may contact the Georgia Board of Nursing at (478) 207-1640. All new graduates must submit to a background check process required by 43-26-7-(4). Please refer to Georgia Board of Nursing website www.sos.ga.gov/plb/rn for additional information.

The Georgia Board of Nursing requires a social security number to apply for licensure as a registered nurse in the State of Georgia.

General Information

1. Learning Support courses, if required, must be completed prior to applying for the ASN Program.
2. Students must meet with a nursing advisor each semester to review their plan of study and prior to any changes in their schedule. Please contact School of Nursing to schedule an appointment with your advisor.
3. Students may begin taking core academic courses any semester.
4. The ASN Program sequence begins every fall semester.
5. Classes, laboratory, and clinical practice experiences in the ASN Program require a commitment of approximately 25-35 hours per week; therefore, it may be difficult for a student to work.
6. Health insurance may be required. If requested by the clinical agency students must submit proof of personal health insurance prior to attendance in clinical education. The USG has a health insurance program which is available for students to purchase.

Program Admission Information and Requirements

Applicants must meet specific requirements to be considered for admission to the ASN program. Applications must be received in the School of Nursing Office by the deadline date posted on the college website. Applications will be evaluated based on qualifications and space availability. Meeting minimal admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the ASN program. Letters of program status (acceptance or denial) will be mailed to all candidates. Admission status will not be provided via phone.

Applicants must:

1. Meet college admission requirement listed on the Admissions section of this catalog.
2. Provide evidence they have met with a nursing advisor prior to submitting program application.
3. Complete the ASN application, available at http://www.ccga.edu/Academics/SchoolNursing/. Submit official transcript(s) for all college work attempted. Include all required materials and submit to the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. All required admission materials must be submitted as a packet.
4. Successfully complete Biology 2110, English 1101 and Psychology 1101 to be considered as a program applicant.
5. Have a minimum grade of C in all Biology and English courses.
6. Have not repeated any science course more than once to achieve a passing grade of C or higher. Only a total of 3 courses in area A and F may be repeated. A withdrawal from a course is considered a repeat. The applicant will be EXEMPT from this requirement under the following conditions: The failures occurred at least 5 years prior to the date of application to the nursing program AND the student has successfully completed 30 semester hours of college credit with a minimum 3.0 GPA since the last failure occurred.
7. Have a minimum of a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) in all core academic courses required for nursing.
8. Take the required HESI A2 and submit the results with application (NO pending HESI A2 accepted). A score of 75% or higher must be achieved on the HESI A2 Assessment Exam, on no more than 2 attempts (minimum of 30 days between tests)in each of the five (5) sections: Math, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, Anatomy and Physiology, and Biology. Achieving 75% on the HESI A2 does NOT guarantee admission. See the college web site for test instructions.
9. Be evaluated on an individual basis by the Admission and Progression Committee, if an applicant has ever received a D or F in a nursing course in any nursing program. If a student has received a D or F in two or more nursing courses they are not eligible for admission to the ASN program.
For the purposes of calculating the GPA (Grade Point Average) pertaining to admission/progression/retention. ALL grades received during course attempts will be included in the GPA calculation(s). Example: if a student receives a grade of D in a course, then repeats the course and receives a grade of B in the course on the second attempt both grades (D from first attempt, and B from second attempt) will be utilized for GPA calculation. No adjusted GPA will be considered for admission or progression.
10. Meet/perform the Core Performance Standards for nursing as listed below:
    1. Critical thinking -- Critical-thinking ability sufficient for rapid clinical judgment and decision making.
    2. Interpersonal -- Interpersonal abilities sufficient for interaction with individuals, families and groups, from various social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds.
    3. Communication in English -- Communications abilities sufficient for verbal and written interaction with others.
    4. Mobility -- Physical abilities sufficient for movement from room to room and in small spaces.
    5. Motor Skills -- Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient for providing safe, effective nursing care.
    6. Hearing -- Auditory ability sufficient for monitoring and assessing health needs.
    7. Visual -- Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care.
    8. Tactile -- Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment.

Nursing Program Requirements

Once accepted in the Associate of Science Nursing program, students are required to:

1. Participate in a nursing orientation session.
2. Submit proof (form provided upon acceptance) of the following:
   1. Yearly TB skin (PPD) test or TB screening;
   2. Current physical health examination by a healthcare provider;
   3. Additional immunizations required by the program or clinical agencies;
   4. American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR Certification (the student must keep this certification current throughout the program);
   5. Professional liability insurance (included in tuition and fees);
   6. Students must provide proof of personal health insurance if requested throughout the program.
3. Adhere to the student guidelines specific to the ASN Program as outlined in the Nursing Student Handbook.
4. Travel at own expense to clinical practice sites. Note: Some clinical experiences may be distances up to 100 miles.
5. Clinical practice experiences may be scheduled during days, evenings, nights and or weekends.
6. Undergo criminal background checks and/or drug testing as required by individual agencies. The cost will be the responsibility of the student. Background checks and/or drug testing results could result in denial to the clinical site and inability to pass a course or the program.
7. Purchase required School of Nursing uniforms and supplies.

Continuation and Progression in the ASN Program

1. Continuation in the ASN Program requires a minimum grade of C in all required nursing, biology and English courses.
2. A 2.0 overall Grade Point Average (GPA) must be maintained in all courses required in the nursing curriculum.
3. All non-nursing academic courses must be completed before the student enters NURS 2112, the last nursing course.
4. All nursing courses include a medication calculation requirement.
5. Letter grades for nursing courses are computed as follows: A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C=75-79 D = 66-74 F = 65 and below
6. Only one nursing course may be repeated.
7. All nursing courses must be completed within four years of the date of entry into the first nursing course.
8. All nursing students will be required to participate in comprehensive testing while enrolled in the nursing program. Additional fees per semester will be applicable.
9. Laboratory fees are charged.
10. Leave of Absence: Under catastrophic circumstances, a student may request a Leave of Absence from the School of Nursing. See Nursing Student Handbook for specific guidelines.

School of Nursing and Health Science
Conditional Admit Policy

All students who are admitted to the School Nursing and Health Sciences have qualifications equal to or greater than the minimum standards outlined in the requirements for admission to a nursing or health science program except under rare and unusual circumstances. However, on appeal, the Admissions and Progression Committee may recommend, with the consent of the School Dean, that a student be admitted to a nursing or health science program with conditions. The Admissions and Progression Committee will require the student to maintain a grade of B higher than that of the minimum requirement of C for one semester, take a specified number of semester hours of coursework, and/or meet other conditions as specified by the Committee and/or Dean. A conditionally admitted student may also be required to remedy deficiencies, academic and/or behavioral, to remain in a program. A student who does not fulfill the conditions within the specified time may be dismissed from the program and/or the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Standardized Testing

All pre-licensure nursing students will be required to take standardized examinations as part of the course work. Students who score less than the benchmark are required to complete faculty supervised, independent remediation programs in order to complete the requirement of the course (mastery of content).

Readmission to the ASN Program

1. A student seeking to return to the ASN Program after any period of non-attendance must apply to the college and nursing program for readmission.
2. College readmission applications are available from the Admissions Office.
3. Program readmission applications are available from the School of Nursing. Re-admission applications must be submitted by the deadline date.
4. The readmission applicant will be required to meet the current admissions and curriculum requirements in effect at the time of re-admission.
5. A student may be re-admitted only once.
6. Readmission is not guaranteed and is contingent upon the professional judgement of the Nursing Faculty, completion of all core academic courses, an overall GPA of 2.0 with a GPA of 2.8 in required core academic courses, and space available.
7. All nursing courses must be completed within four years of the date of entry into the first nursing course.
8. Students who have been dismissed from the program are ineligible for readmission (see Nursing Student Handbook).

Advanced Placement Option (APO) for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)

This option is designed to provide educational advancement opportunities for the LPN. The applicant must have graduated from an LPN program within the past 5 years, be licensed or eligible for licensure in the state of Georgia as an LPN and must have work experience within the past 5 years in a structured health care setting (acute care, long term care). LPNs who graduated more than 5 years ago will be evaluated by the Admission/ Progression Committee to determine eligibility.

LPN applicants who are accepted into the ASN Program and successfully complete the validation requirements (listed below) will be eligible to enter the second semester of the first year (spring semester) of the nursing curriculum. In catastrophic circumstances, an APO applicant unable to begin in the nursing program may request a one-year admission extension. The Admission and Retention Committee will consider documented extension requests on an individual basis. Escrow credit for Nursing 1111 will be awarded upon completion of the program.

Admission Requirements for LPN Advanced Placement:

1. Apply to the ASN program and meet the same admission requirements as for pre-licensure nursing students (See ASN program admission requirements).
2. Submit documentation of required work experience after acceptance when requested.
3. Validate cognitive and clinical competency through written and demonstration testing processes. (Written and skills competency testing may only be taken one time.)
4. Enter Nursing 1112 in the January (spring semester) following passing validation testing the previous summer.

For career associate degree completion University System of Georgia requires a minimum of 21 general education hours. The College requires that at least one general education course is completed in the following areas: humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, and natural science/mathematics. These courses do not specifically focus on a particular occupation or profession. Additionally, each program may offer additional general education courses that support the career major.

Click to hide the core curriculum and see only the program specific curriculum.