Nursing Major, B.S.N.

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General Information:

Bachelor of Science

Don and Marie Garner of Branson, Missouri, generously endowed The Don and Marie Garner Nursing Program Director, which was established in 2005.

The BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (April, 2010) (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation) and holds Full Approval Status from the Missouri State Board of Nursing (March, 2011). The charter class began nursing courses in August, 2007, after Initial Approval Status was granted from the MSBN; the charter class graduated in May, 2010.

Nursing students with an interest in military service should refer to the “Nurse Cadet Program ” addressed under the Military Science section of this catalog.

Admission to BSN Program:

College of the Ozarks, in its long tradition of excellence, offers a traditional four-year professional baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN). Graduates are prepared to take the NCLEX-RN^®. After acceptance to the College and completion of at least one year of nursing program prerequisites, the student may apply to the nursing major. Prior to acceptance to the nursing major, a series of academic and physical assessments are required.

Fees: Students applying to the program will be assessed fees for entrance exams, background screening, and/or drug screening. Students accepted to the program will be assessed fees each semester for supplies, uniforms, standardized exams, and random drug screening.

Admission to the BSN program is competitive and selective, and not all who apply can be accommodated. Applications for program admission will be reviewed beginning March 1 in the year prior to fall admission.

Admission Requirements for BSN Program:

Enrollment in 200 level nursing courses will be permitted only if the student has:

Successfully completed all prerequisite courses (BIO 164 , BIO 174 , ENG 103 , MAT 013 or equivalent, PSY 103 , CHE 134 , and CHE 144 );
Earned a grade of C (2.0) or higher in the following: BIO 164 , BIO 174 , MAT 013 , CHE 134 , and CHE 144 . If less than a C (2.0) is earned twice (including transferred grades) in these courses, the student is ineligible to apply to the nursing program;
Successfully completed BSN Program Orientation Competency Requirements (ATI-TEAS pre-testing, Medical Terminology Competency Test (86% achieved within two attempts), advisor meetings, and workshops);
Earned a minimum cumulative (career) grade point average of 2.50. the minimum GPA of 2.50 does not guarantee admission to the program;
ACT composite of 21 or higher preferred;
Satisfactory score (76%) on nationally standardized nursing entrance exam(s) (fee);
Satisfactory character references and personal interview demonstrating suitability for the nursing profession;
Satisfactory background screening and/or drug screen (fees); and
1. Social Security Number Trace
2. State and Federal Criminal Records Check
3. National Criminal Check
4. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Employment Disqualify List
5. Missouri Child Abuse Search
6. OIG Medicare Fraud/Abuse
7. NCIC (National Crime Information Center - Department of Justice)
Satisfactory submission of health-related information.
Note: The following health documentation must be on file in the Department of Nursing prior to August 1 to remain eligible to progress to nursing courses:
1. tetanus booster or equivalent within last ten years,
2. proof of polio series,
3. two doses of MMR vaccine or proof of positive immune titers,
4. tuberculosis (Mantoux) skin test (annually-valid August to May), and
5. hepatitis B vaccine, series of three.

Sequential Progression Requirements:

The student may continue to progress in the nursing program according to the curriculum plan if they:

complete all prerequisite courses prior to enrollment in any nursing course;
earn a grade of C (2.0) or above in all nursing major courses, BIO 214 , and MAT 143 ;
maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50;
demonstrate satisfactory performance of designated nursing skills;
earn a satisfactory grade in both the theory and clinical components of the nursing courses (in the event that the earned clinical grade is unsatisfactory, the course grade assigned will not be higher than the letter grade of “D”);
pass the medication calculation competency test at 100% accuracy each semester;
demonstrate full compliance with all standards of the nursing profession as defined by the ANA standards of practice, the ANA Code for Nurses, and Missouri Nurse Practice Act;
maintain current health requirements/CPR;
provide satisfactory random drug and/or background screens; and
provide additional health-related information prior to clinical placement (as required by agencies).

If a student fails or withdraws from any nursing course, they may submit a written petition to the Admission and Progression Committee of the Department of Nursing requesting consideration for readmission.
Students having withdrawn from or earned less than a C (2.0) in a nursing course may be re-admitted to the program one time only.
Students are accountable to follow all policies in the current Nursing Student Handbook.
All program requirements must be completed with five (5) years of initial enrollment in NSG 254 .
A student not progressing in the program in a continuous manner may be required to complete additional courses (or audit courses) based on curriculum changes.

Baccalaureate program policies that describe standards for progression are outlined in detail in the department’s Nursing Student Handbook. The handbook is updated and distributed at the beginning of each academic year. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain a copy of the policies and to be familiar with them. The policies are a guide as the student progresses through the program.

Rematriculation:

A student not following sequenced nursing courses in six (6) consecutive semesters must have approval by their advisor, Program Director, and Dean of the College (graduation extension process).
Prior to final enrollment in the nursing course, the student must demonstrate competence with expected level of nursing knowledge, psychomotor skills, medication calculation, ATI benchmarks, and culminating simulations. A fee may be charged for this process.
The student will be allowed to audit the courses they have completed.
All other program requirements stated in the Nursing Student Handbook (Section 6.2) apply to the re-matriculatingstudent.

Dismissal from Program:

Failure to achieve any of these progression requirements will constitute reason for the student to be dismissed (withdrawn) from the program. The faculty and administration of the Department of Nursing reserve the right to dismiss any student enrolled in the program for unethical, dishonest, unprofessional, or illegal conduct that is inconsistent with the ANA Code for Nurses and the College’s Honor Code.

Readmission:

The Department of Nursing acknowledges the responsibility of readmitting only those students who, in the judgment of the faculty, satisfy the requirements of scholarship, health, and professional suitability for nursing. Students requesting readmission must apply in writing to the nursing department’s Admissions and Progression Committee. Each student situation is reviewed on an individual basis. Requests for readmission for fall must be submitted by February 1 of the year in which readmission would occur in the fall, or by October 1 for readmission, which would occur the following spring. Readmission cannot be guaranteed to any student. Students following the curriculum plan without interruption are given priority for course enrollment.

Specific guidelines for readmission include the following:

Course repetition policies
1. A nursing course may be repeated one time only (exception NSG 201 ).
2. Only one (1) nursing course may be repeated.
3. The course must be repeated within the next academic year.
4. The course must be repeated successfully (2.0) prior to taking other nursing courses.
Students may appeal decisions based on course repetition policies in writing to the Department of Nursing Admission and Progression Committee with the concurrence or recommendation of the academic advisor or course instructor. Decisions on appeal requests are the responsibility of the Admission and Progression Committee and may be approved or denied based on individual circumstances and an evaluation of the request.
Any student readmitted to the program will be required to:
1. Meet college readmission criteria.
2. Demonstrate a satisfactory level of knowledge from prerequisite nursing courses.
3. Successfully validate prior medication calculation competency and clinical skills.
A readmitted student will be expected to meet graduation requirements in effect at the time of readmission and to follow the baccalaureate degree nursing policies in effect for that academic year.
A student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 to be considered for readmission.
Students must complete all program admission requirements prior to readmission.

Graduation:

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is granted by College of the Ozarks to those candidates who have completed the credit requirements as described in the nursing curriculum course plan and who have met all degree requirements of College of the Ozarks. A cumulative GPA of 2.50 is required to graduate from College of the Ozarks’ Nursing Program.

Students intending to graduate must complete a graduation check application with the Registrar at least three semesters before they expect to graduate. The student is responsible for assuring that their academic record is in order.

Prior to Department of Nursing approval for the candidate’s licensure (NCLEX-RN^®) application, an exit interview (Program Synthesis Portfolio defense) with the Department of Nursing is required. Additionally, all student accounts must be cleared, and all clinical name badges must be returned to the Department of Nursing office.

Completion of the program does not guarantee eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN^® exam (refer to Section 335.066 of the Missouri Nurse Practice Act). Refer to www.cofo.edu/nursing and the Nursing Student Handbook for details of 335.066.

Requirements:

Required major courses: 13 credit hours

Required lab/clinical courses: 46 credit hours

Required collateral (support) courses: 25 credit hours

BSN Program Orientation Competency (prior to program admission) (0)
BIO 174 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II *
BIO 214 - Medical Microbiology
CHE 134 - General, Organic, & Biochemistry I *
CHE 144 - General, Organic & Biochemistry II *
CSC 253 - Informatics
MAT 143 - Statistics
FCC 213 - Human Development or
PSY 253 - Developmental Psychology

General Education courses specified by the major: 45 credit hours

Fine Arts Requirement: 3 credit hours

DRM 173 - Movement Training for the Stage

Notes:

*Indicates required prerequisite courses for application to BSN program

*MAT 013 - Intermediate Algebra is required in the first semester (corequisite of CHE 134 ) if ACT Math Subscore is less than 22 or Compass placement. For enrollment in BIO 164 , an ACT science subscore of 21 or equivalent is required.

The minimum TOTAL credit hours required for a Nursing major is 129 hours. A student with a BSN major must average 17 hours per semester to graduate in four years. Students desiring to enter the nursing major will make application to the program by March 1. Applications are distributed from the Department of Nursing office. Notification of program acceptance will be made by June 1st.