Nursing

Nursing Associate Degree
Vocational Education Transfer Option with the Ohio State University College of Education

See also:

• Practical Nursing Certificate
• Nursing Certificates

Nursing Associate Degree

Columbus State’s Associate Degree program in Nursing prepares graduates to provide health care services to clients of all ages located in a variety of settings in the community and home.
 
The program is sequential and integrates theory from biological and social sciences with reasoning and communication skills to develop a graduate who can think critically, solve problems, and communicate effectively. Opportunities are available to complete the nursing program in seven or nine quarters depending on the student’s needs. Students who go out-of-sequence in the Nursing program may join the program sequence with a subsequent class, providing space is available and petitioning requirements are met. Students entering subsequent nursing classes will meet the catalog requirements for graduation in place for that class.
 
Nursing classes are structured to promote student participation and learning through lecture, seminar, laboratory practice, and clinical experiences. Two program tracks are available: the traditional track and the online track. In the traditional track, lecture and seminar activities take place on campus in the classroom. In the online track, lecture and seminar content are done using an online format, but as with the traditional track, laboratory practice and clinical experiences will be hands on. These learning opportunities are designed to encourage the student to apply concepts and utilize critical thinking skills in the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health of clients. Students learn to work collaboratively with other health team members within the health care delivery system.
 
Students take 54 credit hours of nursing courses and 51 credit hours in the arts and sciences. An elective of at least 2 credit hours is required. Students participate in 4-16 hours of clinical experience each week in a variety of health care settings under the direction of a registered nurse. Two nursing outcome exams are given during the nursing program. Students must achieve a minimum percentile score on these exams in order to continue to the next nursing course or to graduate.
 
Students who successfully complete the associate degree program are qualified to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The Nursing program at Columbus State is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 61 Broadway New York, N.Y. 10006, telephone  (212) 363-5555, and the North Central Association of Colleges, and is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing.
 
Upon completion of the associate degree in Nursing, the graduate will be able to:

• Implement safe, competent, nurturing care in the role of the Associate Degree Nurse.
• Plan care for persons of all ages using the nursing process.
• Communicate effectively, including the use of teaching and counseling techniques, in the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health.
• Manage nursing care for a diverse population of clients in a variety of practice settings.
• Synthesize knowledge from nursing and related disciplines using critical thinking skills.
• Analyze legal, ethical, and economic concepts that influence nursing practice.
• Plan for maintaining competence and personal growth.

Program Admissions Information

Listed below are general requirements for admission to Nursing. For specific directions, see Nursing Admission requirements available in Nursing, Records and Registration, Advising Services, the Admissions Office, and the nursing home page within the Columbus State Community College Web site. Academic advising is available in Advising Services to help guide new students through the admission process. A separate application is required for nursing and is available on the Internet at www.cscc.edu/nursing.
 
It is highly recommended that those with an interest in nursing make an appointment to meet with an academic advisor in Advising Services by calling (614) 287-2668. There are two tracks available for the Nursing program. The online track is available for those who have a bachelor’s degree in another field of study; the traditional track is available for those with or without a previous degree.

Admission into Nursing requires completion of these criteria:

1. Required Documentation
After completing all of the other admission criteria, student must submit an application specific to nursing to the Nursing Department through the homepage: www.cscc.edu/nursing.  Applications submitted prior to meeting all criteria will be deleted. Information about application periods will be posted at the nursing homepage also.
 
Achievement of a minimum GPA of 2.6 on a 4-point scale based on completion of courses at the school or college most recently attended (high school, vocational program, or higher education institution). Official transcripts must be on file in the Records and Registration Office to verify GPA by the deadline dates. Students who do not have a minimum 2.6 GPA for their most recent coursework must complete at least 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Columbus State with a minimum GPA of 2.6 for admission to the Nursing program. The minimum 2.60 GPA must be maintained through the start of classes in Nursing.

2. COMPASS™ Placement Tests
Math Skills: Placement above MATH 103 Beginning Algebra II, or completion of MATH 103. Students awarded transfer credit by Columbus State for MATH 103 are not required to take the Math Skills Test. Credit awarded for MATH 135 will not substitute for the MATH 103 requirement.
Writing Skills: Placement into ENGL 101 Beginning Composition, or ENGL 111 English Composition, or completion of ENGL 100 Language Development. Students awarded transfer credit by Columbus State for ENGL 101 or ENGL 111 are not required to take the Writing Skills Test. Placement tests are administered in the Testing Center, Aquinas Hall 002. Call (614) 287-2478 for hours and directions to a Web site with sample questions.
 
3.  College courses completed with a grade of “C” or better:

• NURC 101 Nurse Aide Training Program or prior learning assessment credit (“N” credit) or copy of current Ohio practical nurse license (LPN). Requires completion of health records before registering for the course.
• NURC 102 Patient Care Skills or copy of current Ohio practical nurse license (LPN).
• CHEM 113 Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry
• Complete PSY 100 or PSY 240 credit.

4.     Nurse Entrance Test (NET)
Completion of NET with a reading comprehension score of 64% or above is required for admission. This score reflects a science reading ability of at least the 12th grade.  Applicants are encouraged to review NET Study Guide in preparation for taking the NET. The study guide is available at the Columbus Metropolitan Library or for purchase at the bookstore. A NET math composite score of 64% is required.
 
5.    Additional Admission Information

• The Columbus State admissions application form is online at www.cscc.edu. If it has been more than three years since you attended classes at Columbus State, call (614) 287-2453 or 1-800-621-6407, ext. 2453, to reactivate your student file.
• To register to take the Nurse Entrance Test (NET), contact ACT Skills Max and Testing Center at (614) 287-5750.  The initial cost for taking the NET is $35 payable at the Cashier’s Office, Rhodes Hall.  The cost to repeat the NET is $50. On the day of the test, bring a picture ID and paid receipt to the Testing Center, Center for Workforce Development, Room 223. Retesting eligibility begins six months from the date of previous NET testing. Net scores from schools other than Columbus State Community College will not be accepted. The Nursing Program will maintain nursing scores for a period of four years.
• Contact the Records and Registration Office, Room 201, Madison Hall, (614) 287-2658, for information about the processing of college transfer credit from other institutions
• Applicants currently licensed as Practical Nurses should refer to “Licensed Practical Nurse Admission Procedure to Nursing,” available from Nursing Department or online at www.cscc.edu/nursing.
• Applicants for admission from another program preparing students to take NCLEX-RN should refer to “Procedure for Admission to Nursing Program from another R.N. Program” for transfer information. This information is available from the Nursing Department or online at www.cscc.edu/nursing.
• The Ohio Board of Nursing Felony Policy: Section 4723.28 of the Ohio Revised Code states that the Board may deny a convicted felon a license or the privilege of sitting for the licensure examination. A student with a history of felony conviction is responsible for informing the Nursing chairperson of this history.
• The Ohio Board of Nursing Licensure Application Requirement: As of June 2004, the Ohio Board of Nursing requires all applicants for licensure to identify existing psychiatric condition(s). Please check with the Board of Nursing, (614) 466-3947 or www.nursing.ohio.gov, for further clarification or questions.
• A new federal law, PROWORA, known as the “Personal Responsibility Act” limits licensure to U.S. citizens and other qualified applicants. The State Board of Nursing is required to keep assurance of citizenship on record with applications for licensure. School of Nursing will provide graduates with the form along with the licensure applications.
• Admission to Nursing is offered for a specific quarter only. Students who decline the offer of admission, or who fail to respond, must re-apply if they wish to be considered for a future class and must meet the admission criteria in effect for that class.
• A minimum grade of “C” or better is required in all Nursing, science, psychology, and math courses in the curriculum. Students accepted to Nursing who do not achieve a minimum grade of “C” or better in any of the following support courses must retake the course(s) prior to the start of their NURS classes or during the quarter in which the course(s) is (are) required in the curriculum plan, in order to remain a student in good standing in the program: BIO 261 Human Anatomy, BIO 262 Human Physiology, PSY 240 Human Growth and Development through the Life Span, BIO 215 General Microbiology, BIO 263 Human Pathophysiology, MATH 135 Elementary Statistics.
• Columbus State Community College makes every effort to inform prospective students of the admission requirements for the Nursing program. Students are responsible for maintaining awareness of the application periods, of the admission requirements and any changes made to those requirements over time. Any questions about admission criteria should be directed to Columbus State Advising Services at (614) 287-2668.
• While waiting to start Nursing, students should first complete admission requirements and then work on general education and basic related courses listed on the Plan of Sudy. Please continue to work with academic advisor to complete your pre-admission checklist and to plan a schedule of other courses.
• Clinical agencies have set requirements for patient safety. Students accepted to the program will be informed of the specific requirements for health, fingerprinting, drug screening and CPR, which must be met prior to starting and while continuing the NURS sequence of courses.

Application Process

The applications for the online program track will be available each November 1 through December 30 to fill the following autumn class (one class start per year). The traditional program track admits two classes per year, autumn and spring.  Applications are available January 14 through January 31 to fill the following autumn and spring classes.  All applications can be found online at www.cscc.edu/nursing.

Vocational Education Transfer Option with the Ohio State University College of Education

The Nursing Program at Columbus State has completed an articulation agreement with the Technical Education and Training Program of the Ohio State University College of Education. This agreement allows nursing students to complete their associate degree at Columbus State, transfer their credits to Ohio State, and complete a baccalaureate degree in Technical Education and Training. Students completing the Ohio State program may be eligible for certification by the Ohio Department of Education to teach in related high school career and technical education programs throughout the State of Ohio. Interested students should contact their Columbus State department chairperson for curriculum requirements and additional details. Please note that course requirements for this transfer option may differ from the standard Plan of Study published in the catalog.

Nursing Associate Degree