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Associate Degree Nursing Program

Dalton State College offers a nursing program leading to the Associate of Science in Nursing Degree (RN). This program provides persons with the knowledge and clinical expertise necessary to give direct nursing care to patients in a variety of settings. Some clinical experiences involve out-of-town travel and evening hours. Prospective students should be aware that all clinical sites are tobacco free areas and smoking is prohibited. The program of study includes general education and nursing theory, and provides opportunities to care for patients of all ages. This program is approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326, Phone: 404-975-5000; Fax: 404-975-5020. www.nlnac.org). Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for Registered Nurse (RN) licensure.

There are specific practices and/or acts delineated in the Nurse Practice Act which might prevent a candidate from being granted a license to practice as a Registered Nurse. Clinical facilities used by the program may require students to submit to background checks and drug screenings before they are allowed in the facility. Based on the information obtained, these facilities can refuse student access. Failure to be accepted into clinical facilities may jeopardize a student’s ability to complete the program. For more information, contact the School of Nursing.

Pre-Nursing Requirements

  1. Admission to Dalton State College and exit (or exempt) all areas of Learning Support.
  2. High School graduate or G.E.D. equivalent.
  3. Placement in one of the following plans:
    1. Plan I: total SAT 970 or above, or ACT composite 21 or above, or Bachelor’s degree, or for non-traditional students, test above exit the score in all learning support areas.
    2. Plan II: total SAT 870-960, or ACT composite 19-20, or for non-traditional students, test above the exit score in two learning support areas.
    3. Plan III: 860 or below on SAT, or composite below 19 on ACT, or for non-traditional students, test above the exit score in one or none of the learning support areas.
  4. Non-traditional students (those without SAT or ACT scores) will be placed in a plan based on Compass scores.
  5. Students with a Bachelor’s degree or higher will be placed in Plan I.
  6. 60th percentile overall with no less than the 50th percentile in Math, Verbal, and Science on the Pre-Admission Examination (PAX) — RN. Only two attempts will be allowed for consideration into the nursing sequence. Scores must be obtained by the end of the calendar year (December 31), unless otherwise posted on the School of Nursing web site, for fall nursing sequence consideration.

Students meeting the above criteria are not guaranteed admission to the Nursing program. Since enrollment in the Nursing program is limited, those students meeting pre-nursing requirements will be evaluated by the faculty of the School of Nursing and the most qualified students will be selected.

Selection Criteria

  1. SAT, ACT or Compass scores.
  2. Completion of courses in the applicable plan (I, II, III).
  3. Dalton State College G.P.A. of 2.75 or better. If Dalton State College grades are 2.75 or better, transfer grades of courses applicable to the degree are awarded with DSC credits and must be 2.75 or better when averaged. If no DSC credit, transfer grades of courses applicable to the degree must average 2.75 or higher.
  4. Completion of a Nursing Sequence Application form by designated due date.
  5. Number of applicable hours toward the nursing degree.
  6. 60th percentile overall with no less than the 50th percentile in Math, Verbal, and Science on the Pre-Admission Examination (PAX) RN.

Initial selection of each class will be made after the fall semester. Students must have been accepted to the college and/or declared nursing as their major by the end of the calendar year (December 31) to be eligible for class consideration. The GPA must remain at 2.75 or better to keep a place in the class. On a space available basis, further selections will be made following spring and summer semesters. Students selected will begin nursing courses the following fall semester. For admission and retention in the nursing program, each student must meet stated performance standards. To obtain a copy of these standards contact the School of Nursing.

Former nursing students desiring to re-enter the nursing sequence and transfer students will be considered on a space available basis and MUST meet the current catalog requirements. This includes the current GPA Standard under Selection Criteria. Students withdrawing from the nursing sequence must contact the Dean of the School of Nursing before withdrawal to be eligible for re-entry into the program.

The following documents must be submitted each year the student is enrolled in a nursing class:

  1. Physical examination report, with documentation of required immunizations.
  2. Dental status report.
  3. CPR certification (American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer or American Heart Association Health Care Provider).
  4. Background Check (upon clinical facility request)
  5. Please be advised that there may be additional costs for uniforms, equipment, testing, liability insurance, books and other items as needed. For a listing of these additional costs, please contact the School of Nursing.

Students must maintain at least a “C” average while enrolled in the nursing program and shall earn at least a “C” in all nursing, math, and biological science courses, or the course shall be repeated. Science and/or nursing courses shall have been taken within five years of readmission, or transfer into the program, or they shall be repeated. Students may repeat only one nursing course for academic reasons. Students are ineligible to enter, re-enter or remain in the nursing sequence if unable to pass any of the required biological science courses or College Algebra after two attempts. Students must graduate within four years of entry into the nursing sequence. Students must also comply with all School of Nursing policies.

To meet the needs of persons with varying capacities and backgrounds, three alternate curriculum plans have been developed.

Plan I

Designed for applicants whose total minimum score is 970 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or a minimum composite score of 21 on the ACT, or an earned Bachelor’s degree, or for non-traditional students with test scores above the exit score in all learning support areas. Students shall complete the following prior to consideration for admission to the nursing sequence:

BIOL 2212KAnatomy and Physiology I4
MATH 1111College Algebra3
ENGL 1101English Composition I3
Total Hours10

Plan II

Required for applicants whose total SAT scores are between 870-960, or an ACT composite score of 19-20, or for non-traditional students with test scores above the exit scores in two learning support areas. Students shall complete the following prior to consideration for admission to the nursing sequence:

MATH 1111College Algebra3
BIOL 2212KAnatomy and Physiology I4
BIOL 2213KAnatomy and Physiology II4
ENGL 1101English Composition I3
PSYC 1101Introduction to Psychology3
Total Hours17

Plan III

Required for applicants who achieve less than 860 on the SAT, or a composite score of less than 19 on the ACT, or for non-traditional students with test scores above the exit scores in one or none of the learning support areas. Students shall complete the following and one other general education course prior to consideration for admission to the nursing sequence:

MATH 1111College Algebra3
BIOL 2212KAnatomy and Physiology I4
BIOL 2213KAnatomy and Physiology II4
BIOL 2215KMicrobiology4
ENGL 1101English Composition I3
PSYC 1101Introduction to Psychology3
Total Hours21

Because the nursing program is time consuming and challenging with both theoretical and clinical components, students are encouraged to complete as many of the general education requirements as possible before entering the nursing sequence. Most of the nursing courses have one to two, full day clinical components as well that make it difficult to schedule other classes around except in the evenings. It is also highly recommended that the following are completed before entering the nursing sequence:

BIOL 2212KAnatomy and Physiology I4
BIOL 2213KAnatomy and Physiology II4
BIOL 2215KMicrobiology4
Total Hours12

LPN TO RN OPTION

Credit-by-Examination:

Dalton State College School of Nursing offers Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) the opportunity to earn up to 10 semester credit hours by examination for the following first year nursing courses:

NURS 1111Basic Nursing Care6
NURS 1112Pharmacology2
NURS 1113Nutrition2
Total Hours10

To be eligible to take the exam for credit, the Licensed Practical Nurse shall:

  1. be admitted to Dalton State College.
  2. be accepted for admission to the first nursing course in the program, NURS 1111.

To receive credit:

Nursing 1111 & 1113

  1. Achieve a score of at least the 60th percentile on the NLN Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam I PN-RN (cost: approximately $55.00).
  2. Satisfactorily complete prerequisites for NURS 1111, NURS 1112, NURS 1113.

Nursing 1112

  1. Achieve a score of at least the 60th percentile on the NLN Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam I PN -RN (cost: approximately $55.00).
  2. Satisfactorily complete prerequisites for NURS 1111, NURS 1112, NURS 1113
  3. Achieve a score of at least 80% on School of Nursing Pharmacology Examination (no charge).

School of Nursing

CURRICULUM GRID

First Year
First TermHoursSecond TermHoursSummer TermHours
BIOL 2213K4BIOL 2215K4COMM 11103
NURS 11116PSYC 11013HIST 2111 or 21123
NURS 11122NURS 11148POLS 1101 or ENGL 1102*3
NURS 11132  
 14 15 9
Second Year
First TermHoursSecond TermHours 
NURS 20119NURS 20129 
HIST 2111 or 21123NURS 20131 
   
 12 10
Total credit hours: 60

 

NURSING

Associate of Science in Nursing

Prepares students for licensure as a Registered Nurse. This degree requires proof of computer literacy.

General Education
BIOL 2212KAnatomy and Physiology I4
BIOL 2213KAnatomy and Physiology II4
BIOL 2215KMicrobiology4
COMM 1110Fundamentals of Speech3
ENGL 1101English Composition I3
ENGL 1102English Composition II *3
HIST 2111United States History to 18773
or HIST 2112 United States History since 1877
MATH 1111College Algebra3
POLS 1101American Government3
PSYC 1101Introduction to Psychology3
Major Field Courses
NURS 1111Basic Nursing Care6
NURS 1112Pharmacology2
NURS 1113Nutrition2
NURS 1114Nursing Care Across the Lifespan I8
NURS 2011Nursing Care Across the Lifespan II9
NURS 2012Nursing Care Across the Lifespan III9
NURS 2013Nursing Issues1
Total Hours70

* Students who have satisfied the Regents’ reading requirement may take HUMN 1201, MUSC 1100, or THEA 1100 in lieu of ENGL 1102.

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706.272.4436 • 1.800.829.4436 • www.daltonstate.edu

Copyright 2011 The University. All rights reserved.
Updated October 2011