Graduates of the Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN) Program are prepared to become licensed as an entry level Registered Nurse (RN). The nursing 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, as well as 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.
The ASN program is offered on the Charlotte, Collier, and Lee campuses. There are two schedule options available at each campus. The traditional schedule is offered during daytime hours, Monday - Friday. The evening/weekend schedule is offered evening hours Monday - Friday and weekends. Both schedules consist of classroom instruction, laboratory, simulation education, and clinical practice through multiple modalities including online and in person instruction. Both schedules will require the student to fully commit to the academic schedule put forth by the nursing department.
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.
The Associate and Baccalaureate of Science degree nursing programs at Florida SouthWestern State College at the Charlotte, Collier, and Lee campuses located in Punta Gorda, Naples, and Fort Myers, Florida are accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Telephone: 404-975-5000
https://acenursing.org/
*The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate of Science in Nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.
Admission Application Requirements:
High School Graduates:
A limited number of high school graduates will be admitted each Fall and Spring semester. High school graduate applicants must meet the following requirements prior to the ASN application deadline (Fall: June 30; Spring: September 15). If the applicant does not meet these requirements, it is recommended to follow the Current College Student application requirements/process.
• Earned a standard high school diploma from a regionally accredited high school in the academic year immediately preceding the ASN application deadline. *
• Earned a high school GPA (unweighted) of 3.5 or higher.
• Be accepted into Florida SouthWestern State College.
• Demonstrate college level readiness in English, reading and mathematics (https://www.fsw.edu/testing/ftic)
• Complete and submit the ASN Application through the ASN program page including payment of program Application Fee.
*Applicants who did not graduate from high school in the United States must have the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma and must meet language standards established through College policy and/or procedure.
Current College Students:
Current college student applicants must meet the following requirements prior to the ASN application deadline (Fall: May 15; Spring: September 15).
- Be accepted by Florida SouthWestern State College.
- HUN 1201 - Human Nutrition with a grade of “C” or better.
- ENC 1101 - English Composition I with a grade of “C” or better.
- DEP 2004 - Lifespan Development with a grade of “C” or better.
- BSC 1085C - Anatomy and Physiology I with a grade of “C” or better.
- GPA 3.0+ Based only on completed general education coursework required to graduate with an ASN. For ASN Admission purposes, the GPA will be calculated using the best attempt with a “C” or better.
- If applicable, transcripts must be received and evaluated by the FSW Registrar’s Office. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure this is completed by the application deadline.
- Complete and submit ASN Application through ASN program page. This includes payment of application fee.
Licensed Practical Nursing Applicants:
Florida Department of Education Gold Standard Career Pathways and Statewide Articulation Agreement guarantees the minimum award of course credits or a block of credit toward the above AAS/AS program is 10 hours of credit. This agreement does not preclude the awarding of additional credits by any college through local agreements. The Licensed Practical Nurse certification, or National Licensed Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN) certification represents industry acknowledgment of technical skill attainment of competencies in the Nursing (Associate Degree) R.N. program. To be eligible for articulation, the student must show evidence of their current Licensed Practical Nurse certification, or National Licensed Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN) certification which must have been issued within three (3) years prior to their enrollment in the program. If space permits, Florida SouthWestern State College offers LPNs, meeting the application and agreement requirements, the option to accept an ASE1000 block of credits. The ASE1000 block consists of Level I AS Degree Nursing Core Courses.
LPN applicants must meet the following requirements prior to the ASN application deadline (Fall: May 15; Spring: September 15):
- Be accepted by Florida SouthWestern State College (Fall 2021 applicants must have been admitted to FSW by no later than Spring 2021).
- HUN 1201- Human Nutrition with a grade of “C” or better.
- ENC 1101 - Composition I with a grade of “C” or better.
- DEP 2004 - Lifespan Development with a grade of “C” or better.
- Any General Education Mathematics (STA 2023 Statistical Methods required for entry into the RN to BSN Program)(Spring 2022 Requirement).
- BSC 1085C - Anatomy and Physiology I with a grade of “C” or better.
- BSC 1086C - Anatomy and Physiology II with a grade of “C” or better.
- GPA 3.0+ Based only on completed general education coursework required to graduate with an ASN. For ASN admission purposes, the GPA will be calculated using the best attempt with a “C” or better.
- Current Licensed Practical Nurse Certification, or National Licensed Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN) certification which must have been issued within three (3) years prior to enrollment in the program. LPN’S that do not meet this requirement should follow the Current College Student Admit Plan.
- If applicable, transcripts must be received and evaluated by the FSW Registrar’s Office. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure this is completed by the application deadline.
- Complete and submit ASN Application through the ASN Program Page. This includes payment of Application Fee.
Admission Process:
Step #1:
All applicants will receive a score based on their GPA and will be determined to be:
• Qualified and Selected for Step #2:
- Highest scoring high school applicants.
- Highest scoring current college students and LPN applicants combined.
• Qualified and Not Selected: Applicant met the minimum application requirements, but did not score high enough to proceed.
• Not Qualified: Applicant did not meet the minimum application requirements.
High School Graduate Applicants: Based on High School GPA.
Current College Student and LPN Applicants: Based only on completed general education coursework required to graduate with an ASN. For ASN admission purposes, the GPA will be calculated using the best attempt with a C or better.
Step #2:
Selected applicants will complete an interview, a proctored math quiz, and a proctored writing exercise. Each item will be scored and added to the initial GPA score. Applicants will be determined as selected or not selected for admission.
• Selected for Admission:
- Highest scoring high school applicants.
- Highest scoring current college students and LPN applicants combined.
• Not Selected for Admission: The applicant did not score high enough for acceptance.
Step #3:
Applicants selected for admission will be placed based on their overall score, as well as their campus and schedule preferences. At the applicant’s expense, a college-approved criminal background 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 clinical training placement and obtaining Registered Nurse (RN) licensure.
Step #4:
Applicants who receive clearance for their background check and drug testing will be converted to ASN-admitted students and will proceed to complete final steps prior to first day of class. Students must have successfully completed the following by the dates indicated on the timeline they will receive in their acceptance packet:
- Health Form, immunizations, and screening for tuberculosis (TB)
- Certification in American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (CPR and AED)
- Proof of personal health insurance throughout enrollment in the program, naming the student and dates of coverage.
- ASN Orientation.
- Uniform fitting.
- Purchase books and materials.
- Complete a Change of Major Form, register for classes, and register for campus colloquium.
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 better must be earned in all General Education (16 credits) and Program Specific (14 credits) courses.
- The ASN Program uses the following grading system: (90 - 100 = A, 80 - 89.99 = B, 77 - 79.99 = C, 60 - 76.99 = D, Below 60 = F).
- A grade of “C” or better (77%) must be earned in each Nursing/NUR course (42 credits) in order to progress in the program.
- A grade less than “C” in a Nursing/NUR course will require a reattempt.
- A Nursing/NUR course may be repeated or reattempted only once. If a grade of “C” or better 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 achieved, according to the syllabus grading requirement, in two or more Nursing/NUR courses, dismissal from the program may result. If a second withdrawal/W occurs within the nursing program, student’s case will be reviewed by the Department of Nursing.
- 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 may be suggested by the committee in collaboration with the student.
- Attendance and punctuality are 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 simulation and clinical activities.
End of Program Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the ASN Program, the graduate will be able to:
1. Advocate holistically for diverse patient populations and their families in ways that promote health, self-determination, integrity, and ongoing growth as human beings.
2. Integrate clinical reasoning, substantiated with evidence, to provide and promote safe and compassionate quality care for patients and families in a community context.
3. Distinguish one’s professional identity in ways that reflect integrity, responsibility, legal and ethical practices, and professional growth and development as a nurse.
4. Communicate respectfully and effectively with diverse populations and the interdisciplinary healthcare team through collaborative decision making to produce optimal patient outcomes.
5. Manage patient care effectively related to time, personnel, informatics, and cost to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care systems.
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