Department of Associate Nursing

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Department Chair: Mary Jo Kirkpatrick

Associate of Nursing Faculty

Assistant Professors: Sarah Howell, Mary Jo Kirkpatrick
Instructors: Barbara Bryan, Allison Caston, Brandy Houlk, Karen Nabors, Clara Rustin, Theresa Sparks, Maria Stephens, Pam Thomas, Terry Todd

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the Associate of Science in Nursing Program is to prepare nurses to provide care to clients in the community with acute and chronic health care needs where policies and procedures reflect current nursing standards of care and practices. This purpose relates to the Mission of the University by providing general and specialized education for a diverse population of students, but with an emphasis on career preparation for women. The Associate of Science in Nursing Program functions within the College of Nursing and Speech-Language Pathology and the Department of Nursing to provide education which is facilitated by a personalized environment for entry level into professional nursing practice. This process prepares the graduates to assume responsibilities of a registered nurse as health needs change and research findings expand.

Philosophy

The Associate of Science in Nursing Program at Mississippi University for Women is cognizant of global health care needs and emphasizes the health needs of rural Mississippi. The program combines general and specialized education for a diverse population of students, but with an emphasis on career preparation for women. The program for the associate degree nurse prepares the graduate for entry level into professional nursing practice, which neither requires nor precludes further education.

The faculty believe that each person is a biological, psycho-social, cultural, spiritual and intellectual being. This holistic nature is in part unique to the individual and in part shared with all humankind. The person’s nature is basically good or neutral, and the individual strives to satisfy basic needs, as well as to work toward self-actualization. Interaction between the individual and the environment occurs throughout the life span, and follows a sequential, orderly pattern of growth and development. The person is of value to self, family, community and the environment as an individual, regardless of any innate abilities or differences. Therefore the individual has the right to health care opportunities that promote health behaviors, create health environments, and increase access to high quality health care, which can lead toward the realization of the person’s full potential as a human being.

Nursing is one of many professions providing health care to individuals within society as a whole. In its broadest sense, nursing is the application of arts and sciences in assisting the person to maintain and/or recover the optimum level of health or to accept death. Nursing’s functions include the performance of those activities that would ordinarily be performed by the self, if the individual had the strength, will or knowledge. These nursing interventions should be performed in a manner which reduces risk, prevents disease and promotes the client’s health responsibility, freedom, awareness and dignity as an integral part of society.

Associate degree nursing combines nursing skills with selected principles from the biological, technological, and social sciences. The associate degree nurse utilizes these principles and skills to assess the individual’s level of growth and development and potential assets along the wellness-illness continuum. Therapeutic nursing intervention and instruction are planned and evaluated to assist the person to achieve maximum health or to accept death. The associate degree nurse is prepared to provide care to clients in the community where policies and procedures reflect current nursing standards of care and practices.

Education is a change in individual behavior which evolves from organized learning experiences through the use of critical thinking. It is the process through which a student acquires knowledge decision-making skills, and understanding of those facts, principles and concepts that underlie a field of endeavor. The student is assisted in integrating the knowledge, communication and psychomotor skills necessary to function effectively in that field of endeavor in a complex, dynamic society.

Learning is a continuous and active process manifested by change reflected in behavior. This learning is best achieved when outcomes of learning are behaviorally defined and attainable through a sequential learning process from the simple to the complex. With recognition of the dependent nature of the student body, the learner is encouraged toward progressive independence. The learning process is facilitated by a personalized environment which re-enforces individual strengths through technological instruction, written communication, oral presentations, individual conferences, small group discussions, and specific planned activities reflecting evidence-based practices..

Associate Degree nursing education is committed to ensuring program effectiveness through strategic planning and collaborative relationships within the community. Through provision of educational opportunities, graduates are prepared to assume the roles of provider of care, manager of care and member of the discipline of nursing in a changing and diverse society. The functions and responsibilities of the associate degree nurse will change as health needs within society change and research findings expand. In preparing for this change and expansion, a learning environment which emphasizes leadership, management, individual accountability, and the need for continued professional and cultural growth is provided.

Educational Outcomes

The Associate of Science in Nursing Program prepares individuals to:

1. utilize the nursing process and Maslow’s hierarchy in providing care to an individual or to a group of clients with acute and chronic health care needs.
2. provide therapeutic nursing intervention, including client instruction, which reflects decisions based on critical thinking, nutrition, pharmacology, communication theory, research findings, and the assessment of client needs.
3. identify the interrelatedness between the client’s needs, family, community and cultural environment.
4. utilize the client’s level of growth and development and strengths along the wellness-illness continuum in providing care and instruction.
5. provide nursing care where policies and procedures reflect current nursing standards of care and practice. 
6. participate with other members of the health team in the community in managing client centered care in acute and long term settings.
7. demonstrate personal accountability within the ethical and legal framework of nursing practice.
8. recognize the responsibility of maintaining personal, professional, and cultural growth.

Admission Policy

See Undergraduate Admissions  in this Bulletin for information concerning admission.

Progression Policy - A.S.N. Program

Once admitted to the A.S.N. Program:

1. All non-nursing co-requisite courses must be passed with a grade of C or above before proceeding to the next semester. The biological science courses may be repeated only once.
2. A grade of C or above is required in each required nursing course (NU 112, 114, 115, 116, 124, 125, 126, 144, 145, 214, 215, 216, 224, 225, 228, 235). A student who makes a D or lower in any nursing course is automatically excluded from the A.S.N. program and must petition for readmission. A student may be readmitted only once to the A.S.N. program. If only one course component is failed it is considered as one failure. If more than one course is failed concurrently (in the same semester) it is also considered as one failure. A student who fails to make a C or above on any required nursing course, following readmission is permanently excluded from the A.S.N. program and is ineligible for readmission. See redmission policy for exception. 
3. For each theory nursing course with an accompanying clinical course (NU 114/115, 124/125, 144/145, 214/215, 224/225 or NU 235) a grade of a C or above is required in the theory course with a grade of C or better in the accompanying clinical course in order to progress. If this does not occur, both the theory and the clinical course must be retaken together. If only one course component (theory or clinical) is failed it is considered as one failure; if both theory and clinical components are failed concurrently it is also considered as one failure.
4. A WF in a nursing course or in a biological science course is considered as a failure in that course.
5. A student who fails a nursing course for unsafe practice, unethical or illegal conduct will be dismissed from the program and will not be eligible for readmission to any program in the Department of Nursing.

(Copies of the Nursing Student Grievance Policy are given to nursing majors during their orientation to the program. Copies are available in the College and Department offices.)

Readmission Policy—A.S.N. Program

Students may be readmitted to the A.S.N. Program only once. Students who are ineligible to return to the Department of Nursing due to two nursing failures and who have become Licensed Practical Nurses with a current unencumbered Mississippi license and with at least 2 years work experience as an LPN may be considered for a second readmission into the Associate Degree Program.

1. Students must petition in writing to the A.S.N. Readmission Committee.
2. The Readmission Committee will meet in February, May, August, and October. Petitions for readmission must be submitted by the 10th of the specified month.
3. Students must obtain an MUW and an overall grade point average of 2.5 prior to readmission to the A.S.N. Program.
4. Students who have been dismissed from the program for unsafe practice, unethical or illegal conduct will be excluded from the A.S.N. Program and will be ineligible for readmission to any program in the Department of Nursing.
5. Generic students who are ineligible for readmission in the B.S.N. nursing program are ineligible for readmission into the Department of Nursing and therefore ineligible for admission into the A.S.N. program.
6. The transcript, clinical record and letter of petition for each student will be reviewed by the Readmission Committee. After review, the Committee will make recommendations and notify each student by certified mail. The Readmission Committee chairperson will then inform the department chair of the committee’s recommendations.
7. If the recommendation of the committee is to readmit the student, this readmission will be conditional on a space available basis according to the number of faculty and availability of clinical facilities.
8. Students will be readmitted under requirements of the current catalog.

Advanced Placement Option for Licensed Practical Nurses

Licensed practical nurses desiring to obtain an associate degree may do so through the advanced placement option. The requirements for university admission and graduation are the same as for those students entering the regular option. The LPN student must have a current unencumbered Mississippi license; one year’s work experience as a licensed practical nurse; complete the prerequisite courses, the first year non-nursing courses, NU 112, Pharmacology, NU 144, Nursing Transition, and NU 145 Nursing Transition Clinical prior to enrolling in the second year of the curriculum. NU 112, NU 144 and NU 145 are taught in the second term of summer school. Upon completion of NU 144 and NU 145 the student will have validated 16 hours of nursing credit equal to the freshman level nursing courses. The second year of the program is the same for regular and advanced placement students.

General Degree Requirements are the Following:

1. completion of the A.S.N. curriculum requirements.
2. satisfaction of residency and other general requirements (see “Academic Policies and Procedures ”).
3. completion of a minimum of 71 semester credit hours.
4. for both generic and LPN advanced placement students, the completion of no more than half of the hours required for the Associate of Science degree at another institution and/or through by-pass examination.

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