Associate Degree Nursing

Overview

Offered at the Augusta campus

Admission: Associate Degree Nursing is a competitive program. Students who meet the College admission criteria are eligible to enroll at the College to take prerequisite courses for this program.  Prerequisite courses (ENGL 1101, BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114, BIOL 2114L, BIOL 2117, BIOL 2117L, Humanities/Fine Arts Area IV [refer to options] , PSYC 1101, and MATH 1111) must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale by the designated deadlines to be evaluated for program admission. Students must also take the TEAS Test and score at the proficient level (58.7%) or higher. The academic ranking order for admission to the program is determined using the TEAS cut score (represents 30% of the ranking score) and the grade point average for the prerequisite courses (represents 70% of the ranking score). Students who are not selected for admission may consider another program or resubmit an admission application and a new Competitive Ranking Application by the next ranking cycle deadline. If selected for admission, SPCH 1101 and PSYC 2103 can be taken during the first or second semester of the program. High school graduation or GED is required for admission to this program. For more information regarding this process, please contact the Admissions Office at (706) 771-4028. Refer to program related deadlines.

Program Description: The Associate Degree Nursing program is designed to prepare students to practice professional nursing in a variety of settings. Graduates will understand the nursing process, learn to think critically, and make appropriate clinical decisions. They will use current evidence as a scientific rationale for making clinical decisions. Based on their understanding of the significance of ongoing developments in nursing, medical science, and technology, they will express a commitment to lifelong learning and further career development. They will comprehend the core values of the nursing profession, including respecting the dignity as well as value of all persons, including caring, cultural competence, and basic ethical and legal concepts. They will develop the basic role competencies expected of associate degree graduates.

Employment Opportunities: Graduates are always in demand for employment in nursing homes, health centers, convalescent homes, hospitals, schools, doctor’s offices, and prisons.

Credentialing (Required for Employment): Satisfactory completion of all program courses entitles students to sit for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) Registered Nursing (RN) examination.

Curriculum Outline

General Core Courses, 15 credits

Non-General Education Degree Courses, 15 credits

Occupational Courses, 42 credits

Notes:

• The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is an examination for students considering health programs and is composed of four areas: reading, mathematics, science, and English and language usage. Ideally, the TEAS should be taken immediately after completing the prerequisite courses (but not required), as the recent content in these courses may lead to a student scoring higher on the TEAS exam. If a student has previously taken the TEAS V, a test score older than 5 years at the time of progression evaluation will not be accepted for ranking purposes.
• A grade of “C” or higher is required for all courses listed in the curriculum outline. A student who receives a grade of less than a “C” in two or more prerequisite courses is not eligible for program progression/admission. This includes less than a “C” in the same or a different course. This includes courses taken under any program of study at Augusta Technical College and courses included on all submitted transcripts.
• Students must have received a grade of a “C” or less in order to retake a course for ranking purposes. The first grade and the retake grade(s) will be averaged to determine the grade used for ranking purposes. This policy also applies to students with a transfer grade of a ‘C”. The transfer grade of a “C” and the retake grade will be averaged to determine the ranking grade.
• If a student makes less than a “C” in a prerequisite course that includes a lab, this will be counted as “one” academic failure or unsuccessful attempt. The student will be required to retake the component (lab or theory) in which a grade of less than a “C” was awarded in order to meet the prerequisite requirement. The theory letter grade will be averaged with the corresponding letter grade in lab to determine the final letter grade for ranking purposes.
• Unsuccessful course attempts that led to ineligibility for competitive progression evaluation will expire after five years.
• Students who do not earn a grade of “C” or higher in any two courses with the RNSG prefix will not be allowed to reenter the program.
• The student bears the responsibility for paying for the health requirements of the program. Students are required to sign an authorization to allow the College faculty members to release health information to clinical sites. Students must submit completed medical and dental information prior to beginning nursing courses. Separate documentation will be required for Hepatitis B seroconversion, RPR, TB testing, and all immunizations and/or titers. Students who refuse to take the Hepatitis B vaccination series must sign a declination form and be aware that clinical practicum sites may refuse them an opportunity to gain clinical experience.
• Natural science courses older than 5 years will not be considered for program progression evaluation. Students will need to retake these courses to become eligible for program progression evaluation.
• Conviction of a felony or gross misdemeanor may prohibit employment in field and may make a student ineligible to take the licensing exam required for the profession. A background check and drug screen is required before a student attends a clinical practicum. For more information, contact the appropriate program advisor.
• Student activities associated with the curriculum, especially while students are completing his or her clinical rotations, will be educational in nature. Students will not be receiving monetary remuneration during this educational experience, nor will he or she be substituted for hired staff personnel within the clinical institution in the capacity of a nurse.
• The College does not offer a student health plan. At the present time, students are responsible for their own health care costs. We advise you to have coverage under a personal, family, or work health insurance plan.
• Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to clinical sites.
• Prior to participation in campus/clinical labs, students are required to show proof of current health insurance. Students who cannot show proof of health insurance need to be aware that clinical practicum sites may refuse to allow them the opportunity to gain clinical experience at their facility.

Guided Pathway

You may click on any course below to view the course description and prerequisite information.

Students who do not follow the Course Sequence listed below may not be able to complete the program in the number of semesters shown.

Augusta Day Program - Fall Semester Admission

PROGRAM NAME: Associate Degree Nursing

AWARD: Associate Degree Nursing

CAMPUS: Augusta Day Program

Year 1 Fall Semester

Year 1 Spring Semester

Year 1 Summer Semester

Year 2 Fall Semester

Year 2 Spring Semester

Year 2 Summer Semester

Year 3 Fall Semester

Accreditation

The Associate Degree Nursing program at Augusta Technical College at the Augusta Campus located in Augusta, Georgia is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326 (404) 975-5000.

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate degree nursing program is initial accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm

The Associate Degree Nursing Program is approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing (GBON), 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, Georgia 31217, 478-207-2440 or 844-753-7825. The web site is http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing/plb/45/contact_the_georgia_board_of_nursing.