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• School of Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook  

Mission of the School of Nursing

The mission of University of Mobile School of Nursing is to provide quality education incorporating Christian beliefs to prepare competent, caring practitioners of nursing. The school aspires to the highest standards of educational excellence, blending a professional perspective with a liberal arts and science foundation. The school is committed to the development of its students into knowledgeable, caring, responsible, and self-directed individuals who meet the health care needs of a diverse and complex society. University of Mobile School of Nursing emphasizes quality teaching while encouraging and valuing scholarly activity and research to support the teaching role.

General Information for School of Nursing

There are three ways that a student can achieve a bachelor’s of nursing (BSN) degree at the University of Mobile.  A traditional (TBSN) program is designed for students to progress through the program of study in the usual four year time period.  The accelerated (ABSN) program is designed for students 23 years of age and older when they already have a minimum of 60 hours of college credit or if they have another degree.  The RN-BSN program is designed for the student with a current RN license to continue their education to achieve the bachelor’s degree.

Admission Requirements for School of Nursing

Students entering University of Mobile to attain a nursing degree complete the admission requirements of the University. However, admission to the University does not assure the student admission to a nursing program. Admission to the School of Nursing must be approved by the BSN nursing admission committee.

These are minimum admission standards. Since admissions may be limited and competitive, achievement of these minimum standards does not guarantee admission to the clinical component.

Students who have completed all of the prerequisite courses at University of Mobile are given priority consideration for admission to the clinical sequence. It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify with the office of enrollment services and the registrar’s office that all necessary materials for consideration for admission are in his or her application file. These records are NOT maintained in the School of Nursing.

Specific requirements for the School of Nursing include:

Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (TBSN) Admission Requirements

1. Submission of application. 
2. Submission of official transcripts of all college coursework from all institutions attended.
3.  International students:

• Students with international transcripts must provide an evaluation from Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (www.cgfns.org) for previous coursework.
• Students with international transcripts must provide evaluation from World Education Services (Http://www.wes.org/) for previous non-nursing coursework.
• International students must show proof of English proficiency.  Applicants should request that official TOEFL test scores be sent directly to Enrollment Services.

4. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in all academic coursework.
5. Completion of a minimum of 55 semester hours of specified courses including successful completion (C or better) of:  BIO 201  , BIO 202  , BIO 301  , MA 107  or MA 110  , MA 211  , NU 252  , and PSY 301  .  Science courses must be completed within the past five years prior to starting clinical nursing (BIO 201  , BIO 202  , BIO 301  ).
6. Minimum composite score of 20 on the ACT is required.  
7. Submission of a clear background check.
8. Submission of Health History and record of required immunizations.
9. Submission of current personal health insurance coverage.
10. A personal interview with the Undergraduate Admission Committee of the School of Nursing may be required, if requested.

Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) Admission Requirements

Applicants WITH an earned bachelor degree:

1. Submission of application.  Applications will be taken until class is filled.  Early decisions are made by July 1.
2. Completion of a bachelor degree from a regionally accredited educational institution.
3. Submission of official transcripts of all college coursework from all institutions attended.
4. International students:

• Students with international transcripts must provide an evaluation from Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (www.cgfns.org) for previous nursing coursework.
• Students with international transcripts must provide evaluation from World Education Services (http://www.wes.org/) for previous non-nursing coursework.
• International students must also show proof of English Proficiency. Applicants should request that official TOEFL test scores be sent directly to Enrollment Services.

5. Completion of prerequisites prior to starting program:    

• Human Growth and Development (3 credit hours)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credit hours)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credit hours)
• Microbiology (4 credit hours)
• Pathophysiology (3 credit hours)

A grade of “C” or higher is required for all prerequisites.  May only repeat a prerequisite course one time.

6. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on last 60 hours of academic coursework.
7. Submission of a clear background check.
8. Submission of Health History and a record of required immunizations.
9. Submission of current personal health insurance coverage.
10. Personal interview with the Undergraduate Admissions Committee may be required, if requested.

Applicants WITHOUT an earned bachelor degree:

1. Submission of application.  Applications will be taken until class is filled.  Early decisions are made by July 1.
2. Completion of a minimum of 60 academic credit hours from a regionally accredited educational institution.
3. Submission of official transcripts of all college coursework from all institutions attended.
4. International students:

• Students with international transcripts must provide an evaluation from Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (www.cgfns.org) for previous nursing coursework.
• Students with international transcripts must provide evaluation from World Education Services (http://www.wes.org/) for previous non-nursing coursework.
• International students must also show proof of English Proficiency. Applicants should request that official TOEFL test scores be sent directly to Enrollment Services.

5. Completion of prerequisites prior to starting program:

• English (6 credit hours)
• English Literature (3 credit hours)
• History (3 credit hours)
• Mathematics (3 credit hours)
• Public Speaking or Introduction to Philosophy (3 credit hours)
• General Psychology (3 credit hours)
• Statistics (3 credit hours)
• Christian Studies (6 credit hours)
• Human Growth and Development (3 credit hours)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credit hours)*
• Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credit hours)*
• Microbiology (4 credit hours)*
• Pathophysiology (4 credit hours)*
• Electives (15 credit hours)

A grade of “C” or higher is required for all prerequisites.  May only repeat a prerequisite course one time.

6. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on last 60 hours of academic coursework.
7. Must be 23 years of age at the time of entering program.
8. Submission of a clear background check.
9. Submission of Health History and a record of required immunizations.
10. Submission of current personal health insurance coverage.
11. Personal interview with the Undergraduate Admissions Committee may be required, if requested.

RN to BSN Program for Career Nurses Admission Requirements

1. Submission of application.
2. Submission of official transcripts of all college coursework from all institutions attended.
3. International students:

• Students with international transcripts must provide an evaluation from Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (www.cgfns.org) for previous nursing coursework.
• Students with international transcripts must provide evaluation from World Education Services (http://www.wes.org/) for previous non-nursing coursework.
• International students must also show proof of English Proficiency. Applicants should request that official TOEFL test scores be sent directly to Enrollment Services.

4. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in all academic coursework.
5. Must hold and maintain an unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse.
6. Submission of a clear background check.
7. Submission of Health History and record of required immunizations.
8. Submission of current personal health insurance coverage.
9. Submission of record of American Heart Association BLS Healthcare Provider Certification.
10. A personal interview with the Undergraduate Admission Committee of the School of Nursing may be required, if requested.

Progression in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing Courses

Students must past BIO 201, Anatomy and Physiology I; BIO 202, Anatomy and Physiology II; and BIO 301, Microbiology with a grade of “C” or better. Each of these science courses may be repeated only once.

1. A passing grade of C or better must be achieved in all nursing courses. A student may not progress to the next clinical nursing course until the current course is completed with a C or better.
2. Dismissal from the nursing program will result if the student fails two nursing courses. If a student fails one nursing course twice, this is considered two nursing course failures. (Senior Seminar is the exception)
3. A second withdrawal in the same course or a single withdrawal from a course previously failed will be treated as a failure in the course concerned. Students who withdraw after the designated “drop date” with a failing grade in a nursing course will be considered as having one (1) failure. 
4. Clinical nursing students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 throughout the program.
5. Students must maintain American Heart Association BLS Healthcare Provider Certification in CPR-AED/BLS Certification for infant, child, and adult.
6. All immunizations and the tuberculin test must remain current in order to progress through the program.
7. Students are required to pass a medication dosage test with no more than three attempts at the beginning of each academic period (semester) in which clinical nursing courses are taken. The student must score 80% or better on the test given in the first clinical year. The student must score 90% or better on the test given the first academic period (semester) of the second clinical year and 100% on the test given the academic period (semester) of graduation. If the student fails to make the accepted score, he/she must withdraw from the course.
8. Students are required to take selected specialized standardized tests at the end of each course. If the student does not achieve the benchmark score of 900, the student will be required to remediate and repeat the exam.
9. All students must pass a comprehensive exit examination in order to be recommended for graduation. This examination is given in NU 434 . If the student does not pass the comprehensive examination, the student receives a failing grade in the course. The student may repeat the course one time. If NU 434  is failed a second time, the student will be dismissed from the School of Nursing. The grade for this course will be “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory.” When the grade is “satisfactory,” the student will be assigned a grade of “C” to replace the grade of “F” in the last attempt of NU 434 .
10. If a clinical agency refuses to allow the student to participate in clinical activities, the student will be unable to continue in nursing and will be requested to select a new major.
11. Students may not withdraw from more than two nursing courses
12. Students must complete all curriculum requirements prior to the beginning of the final semester.
13. Students should see the School of Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook for further explanation of policies.
14. A student must have both a residential and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better to graduate.
15. If a clinical agency refuses to allow a student to participate in clinical activities, the student we be unable to progress in the BSN nursing program. Students unable to progress will be provided career advisement and assistance through the Student Success Center.
16. After the first semester, students in the ABSN Program are ineligible to transfer to the TBSN Program.

Readmission to a Nursing Program

1. A student requesting to repeat a course must complete an Application for Readmission form. If a student is out of the nursing program for no more than one year, he/she may return with a 2.0 or better residential and overall GPA.
2. If a student requesting to return to a program has been out for over one year, he/she must complete an Application for Readmission and meet all current admission criteria. Students seeking readmission with advanced standing in nursing courses must be aware that nursing knowledge changes constantly with new findings. Therefore, if three or more years elapsed since the previous nursing educational experience, all nursing courses must be repeated.
3. Readmission to nursing courses is based on space available and is not guaranteed.

Transfer Credit for School of Nursing

Credit may be granted to transfer students who meet all admission requirements of the School of Nursing who have had a similar course in a regionally accredited college or university in the United States of America or its territories. If a student fails two nursing courses at another school or is dismissed for any reason, the student cannot be accepted into the University of Mobile School of Nursing program. All transfer students must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Course equivalency is determined by the dean of the school.  The University of Mobile does not accept transfer of clinical nursing courses. Transfer students must complete at least 35 hours of course work or validated nursing courses and at least one half of the nursing curriculum at the University of Mobile. Once admitted to the University, the student must complete all remaining courses at the University of Mobile. No transient study will be permitted.

Alabama Board of Nursing Regulations

The nursing student must comply with legal, moral, and legislative standards which determine acceptable behavior of the nurse and shall avoid those behaviors which may be cause for denial of license to practice as a registered nurse, in accordance with the Alabama Law Regulating Practice of Registered and Practical Nursing and the Alabama Board of Nursing Administrative Code. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THE STIPULATIONS OF THIS LAW WHILE IN THE NURSING PROGRAM CONSTITUTES GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL FROM THE SCHOOL OF NURSING.

It is important for nursing students to be familiar with the Alabama Board of Nursing regulations on the review of candidates for eligibility for initial and continuing licensure. There will be questions on the Application for Licensure as a Registered Nurse by Examination such as “Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense other than a minor traffic violation? Have you within the last five years abused drugs/alcohol OR have been treated for dependency to alcohol OR illegal chemical substances? Have you ever been arrested OR convicted for driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol? Have you within the last five years received inpatient OR outpatient treatment OR been recommended to seek treatment for mental illness? Have you ever had disciplinary action OR is action pending against you by any state board of nursing? Have you ever been placed on a state or federal abuse registry? Have you ever been court-martialed/disciplined OR administratively discharged by the military?” Application to write the examination may be denied on the basis of this review. Although these policies refer specifically to Alabama, other states have similar stipulations regarding licensure.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Baccalaureate nursing education prepares a nurse who is capable of functioning in beginning professional positions in all types of health care facilities, and with experience, may be a leader on the health care team. The baccalaureate graduate is prepared for graduate study in nursing.

Credit for Advanced Standing in the RN-to-BSN Program

The policy of the university is to allow advanced standing for selected students. Consistent with this policy, the student who wishes to earn advanced standing in nursing must be enrolled as a full-time, part-time, or special student at University of Mobile. All students must take a minimum of thirty-two hours at University of Mobile to be eligible for the baccalaureate degree.

Programs

• Nursing, A.B.S.N.
• Nursing, R.N. to B.S.N.
• Nursing, T.B.S.N.

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