College Catalog Programs of Study 2017-2018

Purpose: 

Note: The Division of Nursing will be adopting the VCCS Common Nursing Curriculum in the Academic Year 2018-2019

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.

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 151 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.

• Complete PSY 230 with a "C" or higher.
• Complete BIO 141 and BIO 142 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. 3 sections of the ATI-TEAS tests® are necessary to complete with minimum scores of 78% or higher on each section: English, Mathematics and Reading. Students may take the test three times only. The latest result must be within three years of admission to the Nursing Program.
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 a grade of "C" (78% 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. First year students must complete BIO 150 no later than the second semester/LEVEL 1 nursing as co-requisite to NSG 100, NSG 106, NSG 130, NSG 200; General Education elective no later than third semester/LEVEL 2 nursing, as co-requisite NSG 152 and NSG 170 respectively; CST elective (229 or 110, 115, 126) must be taken no later than the fourth semester/LEVEL 3 nursing, as co-requisite NSG 210 and NSG 211 respectively; and HUM elective no later than the 5th semester/LEVEL 4 nursing, as co-requisite NSG 230, NSG 252 and NSG 270 respectively.

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.

NOTE: the VCCS Common Nursing Curriculum has been fully approved by VBON and ACEN in Spring of 2017.

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.

NOTE: All students applying to the Nursing Program for Academic Year 2018-2019 will be required to meet all admission requirements and take all of the prescribed nursing courses in the Common Nursing Curriculum.

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.

Special Notation for 2017-18 Admission: The curriculum outlined below reflects the courses to be taken by the students accepted for the academic year 2017-2018.