Nursing, AS

Graduates of the Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN) program are prepared to become licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN). The role of a RN is to assess and evaluate clients and their healthcare needs, develop and implement plans of care, and document client responses to interventions. Nurses administer care to people who are ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled. Nurses counsel clients seeking healthier lifestyles.

The  ASN curriculum   incorporates   classroom   instruction,   laboratory,   simulation education, and clinical practice in the care of diverse populations. Local health facilities are utilized for clinical practice, including community agencies, acute care institutions, long-term and ambulatory care facilities. Graduates of the program possess knowledge, values, skills, and compassion;  all  are  essential  for  professional  nursing  practice  in  a  dynamic  and  rapidly changing health care environment.

Current occupational employment and wage data for Registered Nurses are published by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm.

Accreditation:

The Florida SouthWestern State College Associate in Science in Nursing Program is accredited by:

Accreditation Commission on Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN)
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Telephone: 404-975-5000
http://acenursing.org/

Degree Requirements and Program Length:

The ASN degree consists of 72 credit hours. These hours include General Education  (16 credits) and Program Specific Courses (14 credits), and Nursing Core Courses (42 credits). Competitive applicants will have completed most or all of their General Education and Program Specific courses before starting the Nursing Core courses.

Prior to admission, applicants must complete the following:

• STA 2023 - Statistical Methods I  
• BSC 1085C   or BSC 1093C - Anatomy and Physiology I  

Prior to registration for the final semester of the Nursing Program, students MUST complete all General Education and Program Specific courses outlined in the Program of Study below.

Nursing Core Courses are completed in a four (4) semester cohort/group sequence. Students who begin the program in Fall semester can successfully complete the program in 20 months. Students who begin the program in Spring semester can successfully complete the program in 24 months.

Application Deadlines:

Fall Semester Start - Application due by May 15

Spring Semester Start - Application due by October 15

*Finalists will be notified within four weeks after application deadlines.

The Nursing program has limited enrollment due to the rigorous clinical education requirements for the program. Acceptance to Florida SouthWestern State College does not imply acceptance into the program. Each applicant must meet specific criteria which are listed in the admission policies. The Criteria for Admission Policies are available through the School of Health Professions Nursing office on each campus. Admission information and applications are located at http://www.fsw.edu/academics/programs/asnursing.

Phase I: Initial review of applications is based on a calculation of admission points using completed pre-nursing course GPA, TEAS test score, and the total number of general education/program specific courses completed. Pre-admission standardized examination includes the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS).

Phase II: At the applicant’s expense, a college-approved criminal records check and drug testing must be completed. Note that applicants should consult Florida Board of Nursing if they have any criminal offenses, beyond minor traffic violations, which may limit obtaining Registered Nurse (RN) licensure.

Phase III: In this phase, applicants will participate in a panel interview to assess written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.

Phase IV: Selected applicants will receive a letter of acceptance. The letter will include information for accessing the Nursing Program Policy & Procedures and Virtual Orientation. The student must submit an affidavit of acknowledgement, acceptance and compliance of the Nursing Program Policy & Procedures before the College Drop/Add Deadline.

At the applicant’s expense, the following items must be completed before the College Drop/Add Deadline:

• Health Form
• Immunizations
• Screening for tuberculosis (TB)
• Certification in American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (CPR and AED)

Academic Policy and Progression Criteria:

The academic standards in the Nursing program are very rigorous and require full-time commitment.

• A grade of C or higher must be earned in General Education (16 credits) and Program Specific (14 credits) courses.
• A minimum percent score of 77% must be earned in each Nursing/NUR course (42 credits) in order to progress in the program.
• A score of less than 77% earned in a Nursing/NUR course will require a reattempt.
• A Nursing/NUR course may be repeated or reattempted only once. If a minimum percent score of 77% is not achieved when the course is repeated or reattempted, dismissal from the program will result.
• If a minimum percent score of 77% is not acheived or Withdrawal/W grade occurs in two or more Nursing/NUR courses, dismissal from the program will result.
• Dismissal from the Nursing Program will occur if a student is deemed unsafe or unprofessional in clinical practice/patient care.
• The Academic Review Committee (ARC) will evaluate each student who is unsuccessful in a course or has an interruption in their program sequence. An alternate program plan will be developed by the committee in collaboration with the student.
• The program will make every effort to accommodate students with appropriate clinical training sites. However, admission to the program and completion of the curriculum does not guarantee placement at all clinical training sites.
• Admission to the program and completion of the curriculum does not guarantee the award of RN licensure by the Board of Nursing.
• Attendance and punctuality is mandatory for all classroom, laboratory, and clinical activities. The third and each subsequent classroom absence and/or partial absence will result in a 5-point deduction from the final course grade. Attendance (100%) is required for all laboratory and clinical activities.

RN to BSN Nursing Career Ladder:

Credits earned in the ASN program will count towards the related baccalaureate Nursing degree completion (RN to BSN) program under the provisions of Florida Rule 6A-10.024. This creates a career ladder so that students can proceed toward their educational objectives as rapidly as their circumstances permit. Please note that ASN graduates will be required to complete all General Education, Program Specific Courses, Foreign Language competence, and earn the Florida Registered Nursing RN credential before admission to the RN to BSN program at FSW. For more information, please refer to the RN to BSN Program of Study.