Baccalaureate Degree Program Policies

Blanket Credit

Associate Degree Nurse

A maximum of 51 semester hours blanket credit may be awarded for the RN-BSN completion students with proof of current unencumbered Registered Nurse licensure received from an approved state board of nursing within the United States. These credits will be transcribed, upon successful completion of all other program progression requirements, as the following:

Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse

A maximum of 10 semester hours blanket credit may be awarded for the LPN-BSN completion students with proof of current unencumbered Practical Nurse licensure received from an approved state board of nursing within the United States. These credits will be transcribed, upon successful completion of all other program progression requirements, as the following:

Sequential Progression

Students who are enrolled in the nursing program are subject to three different minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) standards. Nursing classes have a prefix of NB and NL. Students who are enrolled in courses that are prerequisites for nursing classes or general education courses required for the degree must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. Students are, however, advised that maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.00 is not sufficient to meet the standard for enrollment in nursing classes.

Students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70 in order to initially enroll in nursing classes (see below).

After the first semester of enrollment in nursing classes, students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50. Once a student progresses to the nursing major and falls below the minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA, the student must appeal in writing to the Division of Nursing Admission and Progression Committee for consideration (see progression policy below). A one-time grace period for the semester following the GPA of less than 2.50 is granted in order to give the student the opportunity to raise the GPA to the 2.50 standard before dismissal from the program.

Enrollment in entry level nursing courses (NB 215/NL 215) will be permitted only if students have:

1. Completed all prerequisite courses
2. Earned a grade of "C" (2.00) or above in all required nursing major and health professions track requirement courses and in the following courses: CT 233, EN 133, and RS 293.
3. Maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70 or higher.

Students may continue to progress according to the curriculum plan if they:

1. Complete all prerequisite courses prior to enrollment in any nursing course
2. Earn a grade of "C" (2.00) or above in all required nursing major and health professions track requirement courses
3. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher
4. Maintain an unencumbered and active license and be in compliance with all states where PC is authorized to offer the program and other appropriate state Nurse Practice Acts all times (LPN and RN students)
5. The RN student who is practicing as a community health nurse may be eligible to challenge NB 462/NL 462 per a portfolio. Courses successfully challenged through the portfolio process will be recorded on the transcript for a fee, not including the cost of the portfolio fee.
6. Demonstrate satisfactory performance of designated nursing skills with each clinical course and earn a satisfactory grade in both the theory and clinical/lab components of the nursing courses.
7. Pass the math calculation competency test at 100% each semester in selected clinical courses (RNs are exempt) (see Handbook for policy).
8. Remain in compliance with the standards of the nursing profession as defined by the American Nurses Association (ANA) standards of practice and the ANA code for nurses for all states in which Presentation College is authorized to offer the program.
9. Maintain all rules and regulations of Presentation College as outlined in the College Catalog.
10. Maintain current background screen(s), nursing documentation, immunizations, and other requirements in the Viewpoint Document Tracker which are valid for the entirety of the next academic semester by the deadlines of April 1st for the summer semester, August 1st for the fall semester, and December 1st for the spring semester. The cost of these items is the student's responsibility. See the Nursing Student Handbook for specific requirements.

LPN students (diploma or associate degree) will have the opportunity to complete selected NLN mobility exams. The selected NLNs must be completed prior to enrolling in the first nursing course of NB 215/NL 215, or a signed waiver must be on file with the Division of Nursing forfeiting the right to take NLNs and agreeing to complete required coursework and clinical. Students must meet the benchmark on all of the mobility NLN exams that are attempted. If students do not meet the benchmark the first time, they will do informal remediation to master the content before retaking the exam. All students are allowed ONLY two attempts on each NLN mobility exam. Students who do not pass the exam on the second attempt will be required to take the appropriate coursework and accompanying clinical.

The benchmarks for the diploma and associate LPN NLN mobility exams are outlined below:

• NACE II Care of the Adult Client is 74%
• NACE II Care of the Client with a Mental Disorder is 72%
• NACE II Care of the Childbearing Family is 72%
• NACE II Care of the Child is 72%
• Multilevel achievement exam Anatomy and Physiology is 70%
• Multilevel achievement exam Microbiology is 70%

Please note that both the NACE II Care of the Childbearing Family and NACE II Care of the Child must successfully be passed in order to receive credit for Maternal-Child Nursing. Courses challenged with exams will be recorded on the transcript for a fee, not including the challenge test fee. Contact the Career and Learning Center for scores for the CLEP exam equivalent to EN 113 College Composition I (prerequisite to EN 133) and CH 103/CL 101 Introduction to Chemistry (prerequisite to CH 133/CL 131).

For the diploma and associate LPN *successful challenge exams can include credit as follows:

• NLN mobility exam NLN NACE II Care of the Client with a Mental Disorder: NB 345/NL 345 (4 credits) and PS 133 (3 credits)
• NLN mobility exam NLN NACE II Care of the Childbearing Family and NLN NACE II Care of the Child: NB 331/NL 331 (5 credits) and PS 153 (3 credits)
• NLN mobility exam NLN NACE II Care of the Adult Client: NB 364/NL 364 (5 credits), BI 263 (3 credits) BL 263 (1 credit), BI 293 (3 credits), and BL 291 (1 credit)
• Anatomy and Physiology: BI 293 (3 credits) and BL 291 (1 credit)
• Microbiology: BI 263 (3 credits) and BL 263 (1 credit)
• EN 113: College Composition I - CLEP (prerequisite to EN 133) (3 credits)

Students who do not progress according to the curriculum plan as identified, fail, or withdraw from nursing courses must petition in writing to the Division of Nursing Admission and Progression Committee to gain permission to progress out of the expected sequence (email Nursing.Progression@presentation.edu).

A nursing course may be repeated one time only regardless of whether students earn less than a "C" or withdraw failing ("WF").

Students who earn less than a "C" or withdraw failing ("WF") in two nursing courses in two separate semesters will not be allowed to progress.

Students are accountable to follow all policies in the current Nursing Student Handbook.

In keeping with accreditation guidelines, nursing students shall complete their coursework within six calendars years, which is equivalent to 150% of the expected time allotted for program completion. In the event that students are unable to complete program requirements within the six-year timeframe, they will have a one-time opportunity to create a coursework completion plan which shall set forth a program of study for the remaining coursework to be completed within a two-year time period. The completion plan must be approved by the Nursing Admission and Progression Committee. Failure to successfully complete the remaining coursework as outlined in the completion plan within the two-year timeframe will result in termination from the program.

Failure to achieve any of these standards shall constitute reason for students to be dismissed from the program. The faculty and administration of the Division of Nursing reserve the right to dismiss any student enrolled in the major for unethical, dishonest, unprofessional, or illegal conduct that is inconsistent with the ANA Code for Nurses.

Readmission - Progression

Students requesting readmission-progression must apply in writing to the Division of Nursing Admission and Progression Committee (email Nursing.Progression@presentation.edu). Student situations are reviewed on an individual basis. Placement is dependent upon class size and course enrollment constraints. Readmission-progression cannot be guaranteed to any student. A formal letter of provisional acceptance and or the outcome of the appeal stating the terms of the appeal will be sent to the student via email and placed in the official academic file.

Specific guidelines for readmission-progression include the following:

1. Course repetition policies:
   1. A nursing course earned less than a "C" (2.00) or withdrawn failing ("WF") may be repeated only one time.
   2. Non-nursing science courses may be repeated only one time.
   3. A repeated course must be repeated within the next academic year at its earliest offering.
   4. Students who have earned less than a 2.00 ("C") in two science courses (either lab or lecture) at Presentation College or another institution (same course repeated or two different courses) within the last three academic years (fall-spring) will not be readmitted.
   5. If students are allowed to repeat a nursing course, they must repeat the course as availability allows.
   6. Students may appeal decisions in writing based on course repetition policies to the Division of Nursing Admission and Progression Committee (email Nursing.Progression@presentation.edu). The appeal should include a recommendation from the academic advisor or course instructor. Decisions on appeal requests are the responsibility of the Division of Nursing Admission and Progression Committee and may be approved or denied on a case-by-case basis.
2. Students readmitted to the major will be required to:
   1. Meet College readmission-progression criteria.
   2. Demonstrate a satisfactory level of knowledge from prerequisite nursing courses.
   3. Successfully validate prior medication calculation competency and clinical skills*.
3. Readmitted students will be expected to meet graduation requirements in effect at the time of readmission-progression and to follow the baccalaureate degree nursing policies in effect for that academic year.
4. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.70 or higher to be considered for readmission-progression.
5. A tuition deposit is required to hold a place in the class (waived for online completion students).
6. Students must meet #1 – 6 under "Progression to All Nursing Programs (General Requirements and Information) ".

*The range of fees for validation of mathematics and nursing skills is $50 - $150 dependent upon which semester of the program students re-enter. See the Nursing Student Handbook for detailed discussion of program policies.

Graduation

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing is granted by Presentation College to those candidates who have completed the 121-credit requirement as described in the nursing curriculum course plan and who have met all degree requirements of Presentation College. A cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher is required to graduate from the program. In compliance with the Boards of Nursing, 50% of the student’s clinical experiences must be completed face-to-face in the clinical environment. The fulfillment of clinical requirements will be verified in NB 472: Nursing Seminar. Students not meeting this requirement will be given an opportunity to complete the required face-to-face clinical hours prior to the completion of NB 472: Nursing Seminar.

State Board of Nursing Regulations for Licensure

The Board of Nursing may deny, revoke, or suspend any license or application for licensure or may take corrective action if the licensee or applicant has:

1. Been convicted or pled guilty to a felony. If the applicant has a felony conviction, or if the applicant has ever pled guilty to a felony, the Board of Nursing should be contacted before seeking progression to the nursing program;
2. Become addicted to the habitual use of intoxicating liquors or controlled drugs.

Prior to the Division of Nursing approval for the candidate’s licensure (NCLEX) application, all College graduation requirements must be met and students’ accounts must be cleared. Official transcripts or certificates of completion of education program forms will not be released to State Boards of Nursing until students have successfully completed Division of Nursing requirements for NCLEX-RN preparation. No exceptions to the Division of Nursing NCLEX-RN preparation requirements will be made.