Oakwood College

Nursing Programs Offered

RN to BSN Program Details

Bachelor of Science in Nursing - RN Completion Program

Admission Requirements

1. Admission by the university. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to a specific department or program.
2. University cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or above.
3. Current license to practice as a registered nurse in Alabama.
4. Completion or equivalency credit for an associate degree program in nursing. (See prerequisite courses below).
5. Evidence of current CPR certification.
6. Medical clearance from Oakwood University Health Services.
7. Students having two failures (C- or less) in the physical sciences (biology, chemistry, microbiology) or two failures in previous nursing courses are not eligible for admission to the nursing program. This policy does not apply to NU 110 Introduction to Nursing taken at Oakwood University, which is open to non-nursing majors.

Prerequisites
Specific prerequisite requirements will vary according to the student’s previous program of study. The student is expected to have completed the following courses with a grade of C (2.00) or better
prior to entering the program in nursing:

English Composition I and II
Anatomy and Physiology I and II
College Mathematics or Beginning Calculus
Microbiology
Inorganic Chemistry
Introduction to Psychology
Nutrition
Public Speaking
PE Activity (1 semester credit)

Successful completion of NU 340 Transition to Professional Nursing is prerequisite to progression to the second semester of the nursing program.

Progression

1. Earn a grade of C (2.00) or better in each required nursing theory course and a grade of Pass in each required nursing clinical (nursing performance) course.
2. Courses required for the major may be repeated only once. No more than two courses may be repeated, only one of which may be a nursing course.
3. Graduation requirements include a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the major.

BSN Program Details

Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Generic Option

Admission Requirements:

1. Admission by the university. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to a specific department or program.
2. University cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or above on a 4.00 scale.
3. ACT composite score of 17 or above, or SAT composite of 840 or above. Satisfactory completion of developmental courses, identified by low ACT/SAT scores, with a grade of C
(2.00) or above.
4. Demonstrated reading at the 12th grade level, as indicated through diagnostic testing by the Center for Academic Success (CAS) or other testing centers.
5. Students having two failures (C- or less) in the hard sciences (biology, chemistry) or two failures in previous nursing courses are not eligible for admission to the nursing program. This policy does not apply to NU 110 Introduction to Nursing taken at Oakwood University, which is open to non-nursing majors.

Admission by Transfer

1. Transfer credits for cognate courses will be evaluated by the appropriate university department.
2. Transfer credits for nursing courses will not be accepted.
3. Credits for science courses in anatomy & physiology, microbiology, nutrition, and chemistry earned more than five years prior to admission will not be accepted. Applicants may choose to validate knowledge by examination or by repeating the course.

Progression
To progress through the nursing program to graduation, the student must:

1. Pass a math proficiency examination at the 90 percent level in NU 210 Fundamentals and Skills, and pass a dosage calculation examination at the beginning of each nursing performance course at the 90 percent level.
2. Pass all required clinical skills performance assessments at the 90 percent level or above.
3. Earn a grade of C (2.00) or better in each required nursing theory course and a grade of “Pass” in each required nursing clinical (nursing performance course).
4. Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or above.
5. Maintain a nursing cumulative GPA of 2.70 or above for progression in the sophomore year of nursing courses, and for progression to the junior year. Maintain a nursing cumulative GA for progression from the junior year to the senior year of nursing, and for progression during the junior and senior years of nursing.
6. Earn a grade of C (2.00) or better in each cognate course. Cognate courses include, but are not limited to, anatomy & physiology I & II, inorganic and organic chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, college-level mathematics, psychology, sociology, speech, statistics, service learning, and English composition.
7. Complete with a passing grade all previous level courses (cognate and nursing) before progression to the next level.
8. Repeat successfully all nursing and cognate courses in which the minimum grade (2.00) was not achieved. No more than two courses may be repeated, only one of which may be a nursing course. Courses may be repeated in the following combination: one nursing and one cognate, or two cognate courses.
9. Fulfill any remedial contracts specified by the department.
10. Present annual verification of current CPR certification and tuberculosis screening.
11. Demonstrate the personal qualifications necessary to the professional practice of nursing as evaluated by the Department of Nursing faculty.
12. Participate in scheduled and random drug screening and background checking as required.
13. Achieve a score equal to or greater than the national average on each required ATI test.

Students who are dismissed from the program through the Disciplinary Policy are not eligible for progression.

Students who do not maintain the minimum required cumulative GPA of 3.00 and the nursing cumulative GPA as described above may not progress to the next nursing course until the required GPA is achieved.

Students who engage in misconduct that would jeopardize their professional performance as nurses may be denied admission to or be removed from the program.

The Department of Nursing reserves the right to revise, add, or delete courses as needed to maintain the quality of the nursing program.

Students in the generic option must graduate in order to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The RN license may be denied where there is failure to show good moral character as it pertains to nursing, including but not limited to conviction of a felony, abuse of or addiction to alcohol or drugs, and theft of drugs. The decision as to whether the applicant is of good moral character is at the discretion of the Alabama Board of Nursing.

Exit Examination
Students must demonstrate satisfactory performance on a comprehensive exit examination as described in the departmental Student Handbook in order to graduate from the program.

Student Learning Outomes
Students who complete the B.S. in Nursing (gneric or RN completion) will be proficient in the following student learning outcomes:

1. Act consistently to exemplify the fruit of the Spirit
2. Apply biblical and SDA Christian principles to meeting patient needs
3. Critique knowledge of the disciplines and nursing from the perspective of biblical faith in order to develop a personal professional philosophy
4. Utilize cognitive skills when managing patient care
5. Provide clinical prevention and population health care using levels of prevention
6. Demonstrate safe delivery of care and appropriate use of health care and information technology
7. Demonstrate knowledge of the varying contexts for nursing practice: physical, cultural, economic, environmental, ethical, legal, health care policy and regulation, organizational, scientific, and spiritual
8. Establish safe and effective interpersonal relationships
9. Utilize patterns of knowing to collect data for the provision of nursing care
10. Assume responsibility of self-development and lifelong learning and leadership in the profession
11. Develop social responsibility and a philosophy of service through service learning projects
12. Demonstrate competence in collaboration with patients and others in designing, implementing, and evaluating plans to promote health and a safe environment