Dec 05, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Nursing, A.S.N


Program Page

The program is designed to prepare graduates for a challenging and satisfying career as an Entry-level Registered Professional Nurse. The curriculum includes a balance of nursing, Core curriculum, and support courses. Students have the opportunity to apply nursing theory and skills in the campus skills and simulation laboratories, in clinical settings which may include hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools, clinics, and physicians’ offices. Students are expected to provide their own transportation to all clinical experiences.

Fairmont State’s Associate of Science in Nursing program is designed to produce a graduate who is able to

  1. Provide patient- centered care to patients in response to their changing health needs.
  2. Advocate for patients in ways to promote their self-determination and ongoing growth.
  3. Apply evidence-based practice, and clinical judgment in the provision of patient centered care.
  4. Use the nursing process, information management systems, teamwork and interprofessional collaboration to provide safe, effective, quality care aimed at promoting the patients’ health.
  5. Provide compassionate patient-centered care through roles of care provider, manager, educator, leader, and advocate.
  6. Communicate professionally and collaboratively with patients and members of the healthcare team.
  7. Demonstrates responsibility and accountability for professional nursing practice and lifelong learning.
  8. Integrate current best practices to deliver safe and effective patient-centered care aimed at improving quality of care and care outcomes.

Applicants are admitted to the nursing major as they complete the admission process and meet the admission requirements of Fairmont State and the Associate of Science in Nursing Degree Program. Accepted students will be admitted into the next admission class for the Traditional ASN, ASN Hybrid/Weekend, and LPN-ASN programs. As classes are filled, a waitlist is established. Applicants remaining on the waitlist must reapply for the next semester and/or academic year. Application and admission requirements can be found on the website at https://www.fairmontstate.edu/schoolofnursing/academics/asn-admissions-requirements

To progress in the nursing program, a student must receive a grade of “C” or higher in each nursing and required support course. Failure to meet either of these requirements will result in a student being re-sequenced in the program according to the College of Nursing Readmission Policy. A student may only be re-admitted to the nursing program two times. To graduate from the nursing program, a student must have a grade of “C” or above in every nursing and support course and a cumulative 2.0 grade point average.

Graduates of the program are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) for licensure as a Registered Professional. For licensure in West Virginia, candidates must meet the following legal requirements delineated in the West Virginia Code, Chapter 30, Article 7, Section 11.WV Code 30-7-11. Denial, Revocation Or Suspension of License; Grounds For Discipline.

The Board shall have the power to deny, revoke or suspend any license to practice registered professional nursing issued or applied for in accordance with the provisions of this article, or to otherwise discipline a licensee or applicant upon proof that he or she:

  1. Is or was guilty of fraud or deceit in procuring or attempting to procure a license to practice registered professional nursing; or
  2. Has been convicted of a felony; or
  3. Is unfit or incompetent by reason of negligence, habits or other causes; or
  4. Is habitually intemperate or is addicted to the use of habit-forming drugs; or
  5. Is mentally incompetent; or
  6. Is guilty of conduct derogatory to the morals or standing of the profession of registered nursing; or
  7. Is practicing or attempting to practice registered professional nursing without a license or registration; or
  8. Has demonstrated abnormal prescribing or dispensing practices pursuant to 30-3A-4 of this code; or
  9. Has willfully or repeatedly violated any of the provisions of this article.

The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program at Fairmont State University located in Fairmont, WV 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 of Science in Nursing program is continuing accreditation.  View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSerach.htm.  This accreditation applies to the traditional ASN, hybrid/weekend ASN, and LPN-ASN programs. 

The ASN nursing program is accredited by the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WVBOERN).

WVBOERN
90 MacCorkle Avenue, SW
NE, Suite 850
South Charleston, WV 25303
(304) 744-0900
www.wvrnboard.wv.gov
 

Students who plan to pursue initial licensure outside of West Virginia should be aware that state licensure requirements may vary and are subject to changes. Each state and territory have different professional licensure and certification requirements. The programs at Fairmont State University have been designed to meet relevant requirements for programs in the State of West Virginia. Students who are considering an academic program that may allow them to pursue professional licensure in another state or territory are strongly encouraged to check their state’s or territory’s information and contact the appropriate licensing agency to seek information and additional guidance before beginning a program outside of their state.  Information can be found on the School of Nursing website entitled “Licensure Disclosure.”

Associate Degree Nurses are qualified to work in hospitals, nursing homes, physicians’ offices and clinics. Graduates may also continue in higher education toward Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in nursing and related fields.

ASN Degree Requirements


Core Curriculum and Support Course Requirements


Basic Skills #2 Written Communication


Basic Skills #3 Written Communication


Critical Reasoning in the Disciplines #9 Social Science with Critical Thinking


Critical Reasoning in the Disciplines #8 Natural Science with Critical Thinking


Personal Development #11 Fitness and Well-Being


LPN to ASN Accelerated Tracks


Once admitted to the Associate of Science in Nursing Program, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) are eligible for one of two matriculation processes.

  1. An LPN student can chose to matriculate through the Traditional or hybrid/weekend program starting in the second semester of the first year of the ASN program. LPN students receive credit for NURS 1101  (7 credits) based on possessing a current and unencumbered LPN license. Thus, the nursing courses can be completed in 3 full-time semesters. Core Curriculum and support course requirements will need to be taken prior to and/or concurrently with the nursing courses.
  2. An LPN student can choose the LPN-ASN program track. The classes are offered asynchronously and the clinical component is conducted two days each month and must be comlpeted in West Virginia. Students must complete pre-requisite courses prior to the start the program, which include: ENGL 1101 , ENGL 1102 PSYC 1101  , NUTR 1110  , BIOL 1180  and BIOL 1181  .

BIOL 1180 /BIOL 1181 , Anatomy and Physiology and NUTR 1110 - Nutrition  may be taken for credit hours or the credit hours may be awarded by competency examinations.

Licensed practical nurses who are interested in the Associate of Science in Nursing program should review the application process on the College of Nursing  webpage.

Transfer Students


Students wishing to transfer into the ASN program must first meet the admission standards for the ASN program. Upon admission, transfer students will be required to provide a transcript from their previous school of nursing and submit, in writing, a request for transfer credit for specific nursing courses. Students must submit with the request, course descriptions, course outcomes, course syllabi or any other materials requested. If a nursing course is determined to be equivalent to a Fairmont State SON course, the student must then demonstrate competency regarding the course content by scoring an 850 or above on the corresponding HESI exam. Courses must be less than five years old. The full transfer policy is available in the ASN Student Handbook.

Special Requirements for Nursing Students


  1. Submission of completed clinical agency/health data requirements prior to August 1 following acceptance into the program for fall semester and January 1 following acceptance into the program for the spring semester.
  2. Submission of yearly PPD results (or chest x-ray or QuantiFeron Gold with TB clearance letter, if appropriate) and evidence of American Heart Association Basic Cardiac Life Support for Healthcare Professionals CPR certification prior to August 1 of each year if admitted in the fall and January 1 if admitted in the spring.
  3. Adhere to the policies in the College of Nursing Student Handbook.
  4. Undergo a criminal background check and drug screen, according to the procedure specified by the College of Nursing.
  5. Complete all course work within three years of admission into the nursing program.
  6. Pay a required special fee for standardized testing, if enrolled in the ASN program.
  7. Meet the core performance standards of the College of Nursing.

Transportation


As most of these programs require considerable student attendance at off-campus locations, it is the student’s responsibility to provide transportation to all clinical agencies. The utilization of car pools, when appropriate, is encouraged to help meet the expense of those providing transportation.

Liability Insurance


Group liability insurance is provided to the students in all Nursing programs; the liability insurance is handled by the State of West Virginia. Students may be obligated to obtain additional liability insurance based on clinical agency requirements.

Laptop Computers


Students are required to have a laptop computer for the program. Computer requirements are listed at here.

Degree Total = 60 Credit Hours