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Nursing

RN Nursing students need higher reading scores than do other students:

ACT: 19, CPT 88. Nursing students will also need to score a 13 on the Nelson-Denny after taking CIED 0133. If the CPT score is below an 88, the student needs to be placed in CIED 0133.

Other CPT cutoff scores for Nursing: English 78, Math 73
Address academic deficiencies, including science (MATH 0013, MATH 0113 and CIED 0133) immediately.
Do not enroll them in any NURS classes; let one of the Nursing faculty or the dean do that.

An ideal first semester schedule for students with less than two deficiencies:

  • FYE 1011 (Choose a section taught by health science faculty if possible)
    (Students with two or more deficiencies need to be placed in CLS 1021 also)
  • BIOL 1604, CHEM 1215 or BIOL 1414 (Don’t use BIOL 1414 if student is unsure about whether they want to pursue an RN or BSN because it will not transfer)
  • PSYC 1113
  • POLS 1113 or HIST 1483/1493
  • ENGL 1113
  • CS 1103

*If the student has any deficiencies, substitute zero level classes for those above (ENGL 0123 for ENGL 1113, CIED 0133 for PSYC 1113 and any math classes needed to clear the science deficiency) and enroll the student in CS 1103 and CLS 1021.

Gen. Ed. requirements

  • ENGL 1113 & 1213
  • HIST 1483 or 1493
  • POLS 1113
  • PSYC 1113 (prerequisite for NURS 1219 and for Developmental Psyc)
  • PSYC 1603 (Developmental Psyc)
  • Computer Proficiency (CS 1103 or CS 2103, prefer CS 1103)

Notice: There is no college math requirement for the NEO nursing program. However the students must complete MATH 0123 if they need it because it is a requirement for the first semester in the nursing program.

Program Requirements

If the student does NOT plan to get a 4-year degree, BIOL 1414 will meet the requirement. If the student DOES plan to get a 4-year degree, BIOL 1604 or CHEM 1215 are better choices for transferring to other schools. Students who are unsure should be encouraged to take BIOL 1604 or CHEM 1215. CHEM 1215 is the best option. Suggest that students take the first science in the summer if that is a possibility. It increases the points for acceptance.

  • BIOL 1414 OR BIOL 1604 OR CHEM 1215
  • BIOL 2114 (Anatomy & Physiology)
  • MCRO 2124 (Microbiology)
  • NUTR 1113 (Nutrition) Use any in-class section instead of online
  • Tell students to make an appointment to see Debbie Morgan. The way to make an appointment to see Debbie is to call Jackie: 6316

More tips and guidelines

  • All academic deficiencies should be removed first if their ACT is less than 19 in any area (English, Reading, Math, and Science) or if not cleared by CPT. Nursing requires an 88 on CPT for reading and 73 for math if ACT is
  • If they have two or more deficiencies (and are nursing/pre-nursing majors), they need to be enrolled in both FYE and CLS (preferably my FYE section on T/R at 11:00 or 12:00). CLS follows the second 8 weeks, same time, but I am not teaching that class.
  • Often the college does not require at ACT for admission, but we will need one for admission into the Nursing Program (19 or > in all areas). They have to have a minimum of 19 on composite to receive points on their application. If composite score is <19, they can retest if desired prior to the application deadline (either national or residual is okay, just have to watch the timing of taking a national exam too close to the application deadline in order to get results back).
  • If they have deficiencies and want summer classes, I start by trying to get those completed or add computer proficiency if they need or want to be full-time. I generally do not put them in history or political science due to the amount of reading in those courses, especially if they are deficient in English and/or reading.
  • I usually avoid online nutrition as many students struggle with that.
  • If a student is not deficient in any area (ACT scores 19 or >), I encourage them to start their first science in summer (cell phys). If a student is strong in science, I would recommend they take CHEM 1215, but that is not offered in summer at NEO—but if they can take an equivalent course elsewhere that transfers to NEO, that works. Otherwise, I usually put them in cell phys in summer, then A&P in fall, then micro in spring.
    • If they don’t want summer classes (and ACT is 19 or greater), I typically will put them in CHEM 1215 in fall. However, not all are ready for college level chemistry though especially if they have not had any exposure in high school—so that is something I talk about with each student individually. They will need a college level chemistry course for their Pre-BSN (and CHEM 1215 works for both OU and NSU—the most common RN-BSN programs our students choose). In that case, I put them in cell phys or chemistry for fall, A&P for spring, and micro for summer (will not get micro points on application then since this is past the March 1st deadline, but better than waiting to take micro with nursing classes in fall if admitted).
  • The more classes they have completed (or in the process of completing) when they apply, the more competitive their application becomes–March 1st is the application deadline every year. We look at spring mid-terms and if they are a “C” or higher, they will get credit for that grade in that course. If they have a “D” or “F” at midterm, they receive no points as far as the application process and it is not calculated into the GPA of the required 36 hours of pre-reqs.
  • I typically do not use zoo as the first science as cell phys or chemistry works better as they prepare for the Pre-BSN. I usually complete both the nursing and Pre-BSN degree audit on all students and encourage them to think about getting their Bachelor in Nursing at some point. About 50% of the ADN students are working on both nursing and Pre-BSN degrees; about 10-15% have their masters mapped out.
  • If students are not doing well in classes, it is always better for them to drop versus getting a “D” or “F” on their transcript.
  • We will be adding an admission exam (ATI TEAs) in spring 2012 to the application process—we are working on the processes that students will need to follow to complete this new requirement beginning in fall 2011. It is similar to an ACT, but gives much more detailed information about a student’s strengths and weaknesses in areas of reading, math, English, and science (and is supposed to be a predictor of their success in the first semester of a nursing program). We will still require the ACT also for points on the application as well (at least for now).
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