College Catalog Programs of Study 2018-2019

NURSING

Associate of Applied Science Degree

Offered through MEC

 
 

CIP Code: 51.1601

 

Purpose: 

The program is designed to prepare students to participate as contributing members of the healthcare team, rendering direct care to patients in a variety of healthcare facilities and agencies. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN®) leading to state licensure as a registered nurse (RN) and are qualified to assume registered nurse positions in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, physicians’ offices, HMOs, and other community-based settings.

NOVA has adopted the VCCS Common Nursing Curriculum which was fully approved by VBON and ACEN in Spring of 2017. The nursing program is a 5 semester program: first semester students take the pre-requisite course work to prepare the student for applying to the program and for the study of the nursing courses. Then there are 4 semesters of nursing course work (LEVELS 1-4). Information about the nursing program and the application process can be found online. Admission to the Nursing program is competitive.

Transfer Information: 

Transfer is not the primary purpose of an A.A.S. program; however, NOVA has articulation agreements that facilitate the transfer of this and other career-oriented programs to selected senior institutions. Students interested in transfer should contact a counselor or their academic advisor early in their program.

Admission Requirements: 

  • Admission Requirements (Starting academic year 2018-2019):
    • Be admitted to NOVA.
    • Be 18 years of age or older.
    • Comply with all general admission requirements for Allied Health and Nursing Programs listed for the Medical Education programs section.
    • Complete an online Nursing information session.
    • Meet the specific requirements for admission to the Nursing Program.

    The program admission process is competitive. To be considered for admission, applicants must

    • Hold a high school diploma or General Educational Development Test certification (GED®).
    • Have completed one unit of high school-level algebra and two units of science (1 unit of biology and 1 unit of chemistry) with a grade of "C" or higher.
    • Qualify for MTH 154 through acceptable scores on the College math placement test. This requirement must be met prior to the student sitting for the Nursing Pre-Admission Test.

    This requirement must be met prior to the student sitting for the Nursing Pre-Admission Test.

  • Complete PSY 230 with a "C" or higher.
    • Complete BIO 141 with a "C" or higher.
    • Complete ENG 111 with a grade of "C" or higher.
    • Complete SDV 101 Orientation to Healthcare or SDV elective with a grade of "C" or higher. (grades for these courses must be posted prior to applying)
    • Have minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.
    1. Successfully complete and achieve satisfactory scores on the Nursing Pre-Admission Test. Students must take all 4 sections of the ATI-TEAS tests®: Reading, Math, Science and English.

      • Total Score of 68% with a minimum Reading Score of 76%.

      • TEAS Exam can only be taken twice in an application cycle and must ONLY be taken at NOVA MEC Testing Center.

    2. Successfully complete the American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR course prior to registering for the first nursing course.
    3. Submit a completed health examination/physical form signed by a licensed physician or nurse practitioner with all required immunizations prior to beginning the Nursing Program.

Special Notation for Admission: The state of Virginia may prohibit anyone from sitting for the Nursing Licensing Examination who has been convicted of a felony or of crimes(s) involving theft, drug offenses or physical harm to another, or misdemeanors as designated by VBON, therefore NOVA will not consider persons convicted of the above offenses for admission to the NOVA Nursing program.

Special Program Requirements: Once enrolled in the Nursing program all students must maintain 80% or higher in all nursing courses to continue in the program. This includes lecture, nursing lab and clinical components. In addition, students must achieve a "C" or higher in all general education courses.

Accreditation & Approval Status: The NOVA Nursing Curriculum is fully approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing (VBON) Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, Virginia 23233 and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3343 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia, 30326. Telephone 404-975-5020. View NCLEX-RN pass rates for the last five years go to online.

Licensure Requirements: The Virginia Board of Nursing reserves the right to deny licensure to any candidate who has been found guilty of a misdemeanor or felony.

LPN to RN Transition: The NUR 115 LPN Transition and NUR 116 Selected Nursing Concepts: Skills courses will no longer be offered.

Readmission: Students who leave the Nursing program and wish to be re-admitted must meet the current Catalog’s requirements for admission. Any developmental studies that were prescribed at the time the student left the program must have been satisfactorily completed. Students wishing to be re-admitted to NOVA’s nursing program will be required to seek approval of the Dean or their designee. Readmission is competitive and based on space availability.

Transfer from Other Institutions: Nursing credits earned at other institutions are reviewed by the Dean or their designee to determine if the courses in question apply to the curriculum and/or if substitutions may be made within the curriculum. Students who transfer to NOVA with prior nursing courses may be required to demonstrate skills competencies.

NURSING PROGRAM: Common Curriculum Program
Classes are taken on campus and via a combination of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (anytime) online activities including in-person nursing laboratory and clinical practice. Nursing courses must be taken in the order outlined below for classes entering in 2018-2019.

  Credits
Prerequisites
1,2BIO 141 Anatomy and Physiology I 4
3___ General Elective 3
ENG 111 College Composition I 3
PSY 230 Developmental Psychology 3
SDV 101 Orientation to Healthcare or SDV 100 College Success Skills 1
Total   14
Two Years Credits
1st Semester
1,2BIO 142 Anatomy and Physiology II 4
NSG 100 Introduction to Nursing Concepts 4
NSG 106 Competencies for Nursing Practice 2
NSG 130 Professional Concepts 1
NSG 200 Health Promotion and Assessment 3
Total   14
2nd Semester
BIO 150 Microbiology 4
NSG 152 Health Care Participant 3
NSG 170 Health/Illness Concepts 6
Total   13
3rd Semester
4CST 229 Intercultural Communication 3
NSG 210 Health Care Concepts I 5
NSG 211 Health Care Concepts II 5
Total   13
4th Semester
NSG 230 Advanced Professional Nursing Concept 2
NSG 252 Complex Health Care Concepts 4
NSG 270 Nursing Capstone 4
5___ Humanities/Fine Arts Elective 3
Total   13

Total credits for the Nursing A.A.S. =67 (includes 14 prerequisite credits)

1 Students entering in academic years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 only, may substitute NAS 161 and NAS 162 to meet the BIO 141, BIO 142 requirements. Students who have taken the NAS sequence will be required to take BIO 150.

2 Students may use one of the following course sequences to meet the BIO 141/142/150 requirement: BIO 141, BIO 142, and BIO 205, or BIO 231, BIO 232, and BIO 150, or BIO 231, BIO 232, and BIO 205.

3 Suggested courses include: ENG 112, HLT 250, MTH 154.

4 Students may select from CST 110, CST 115 or CST 126.