NURSING PROGRAMS    

The Department of Nursing offers programs in Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing.  Students may apply to the program level of their choice and progression through the levels is strongly supported by the curriculum, faculty and staff.  It is a balanced curriculum including general education and nursing courses which must be completed in sequence.  The Nursing Program prepares the students to sit for the NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN licensure exams.

The Nursing Program offers three (3) tracks for the admission of students.  The Practical Nursing Program is a three (3) semester program.  The students who have no background in nursing may be admitted to the two-year generic ADN track.  Five (5) semesters are required to complete the generic track.  Lastly, students who have completed an approved PN program and hold a PN license may be admitted to the career mobility track.  Students are admitted to the ADN Generic Track and PN Track during Fall and Spring semesters only.  Students are admitted to the Career Mobility Track during Summer Term only. 

Nursing applicants are encouraged to complete as many of the academic requirements (non-nursing courses) as scheduling will permit prior to admission to the Nursing Program.

PRACTICAL NURSING (PN)

Certificate

The Practical Nursing Program curriculum educates individuals to promote and maintain health, prevent illness and injury, and provide care utilizing standard procedures and the nursing process.  The curriculum addresses medication and treatments under the direction of a registered nurse, licensed physician, or licensed dentist.

Practical Nursing students may select either the day or evening program in Fall or Spring semesters.  The program can be completed in three semesters.   Students must progress through the curriculum in the prescribed sequence and allotted time period. 

In the Nursing Program, there may be policies and procedures that are different from or take precedence over general policies listed for other programs.  Students must refer to the Nursing Student Handbook for specific policies governing the Nursing Program.

The Nursing student shall comply with legal, moral and behavioral standards and laws established by the Department of Nursing and the Alabama Board of Nursing, as well as the College.  Failure to comply with these standards and laws may result in dismissal from the program and/or denial to take the National Council Licensure Examination given by the Alabama Board of Nursing.

Accreditation/Memberships/Approval

The Practical Nursing Program is approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing, P. O. Box 303900, Montgomery, Alabama 36130-3900, (334) 242-4060, and  is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, (212) 363-5555.

Admission Requirements

Entering students must complete the Alabama College System Nursing Program Application for Bishop State Community College located in the Nursing Office, Suite 210 on the Baker-Gaines Central Campus.  Completed applications must be submitted to the Nursing Office, Suite 210 by the specified deadline date.

Special Program Requirements

Students accepted into the Practical Nursing Program will have additional expenses for uniforms, testing, equipment, transportation to clinical sites, complete physical assessment and liability insurance, CPR certification, criminal background checks, drug screens and licensure fees.

HIV/HBV

As a member of the health care team, students are at risk of exposure to blood, body fluid, or needle sticks; these exposures are at the highest risk of infection to the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).  To date, no vaccine is available to prevent AIDS and no antiviral drugs are available to cure AIDS.

A Hepatitis B vaccine is available that is safe and effective in the prevention of HBV infection.  This vaccine is recommended for health care workers and can be obtained from the Public Health Department for a fee.

Clinical Affiliating Agency Policies on Drug Screening and Criminal Background Checks

Clinical affiliating agencies require Bishop State Community College nursing students to consent to a drug screen and criminal background check.  Nursing students enrolled in College nursing programs are required to abide by all policies of the assigned affiliating clinical agencies including, but not limited to, security checks, parking and smoking policies.  Clinical affiliating agencies have the option of denying clinical access to a student based upon criminal background check and drug screening.

Advisement

Students interested in Nursing education are required to seek advisement by the Nursing counselor located on the Baker-Gaines Central Campus in Room 106.  Once the student has been admitted to a Nursing program of study, academic advisement is mandatory by an assigned nursing advisor.  Advisors are assigned through the Department of Nursing according to the first alphabet of the student’s last name.

Course Sequencing, Prerequisites, Clinical and Laboratory Hours

Students interested in Nursing education may obtain information regarding course sequencing, course prerequisites, and course contact, laboratory, and clinical hours from the Student Development Services Office in Room 106 of the Baker-Gaines Central Campus.

Standard Practical Nurse Curriculum

First Term

*Prerequisite:  BIO 103 or Satisfactory Performance on ACS approved placement exam

Note:  PN students must complete NUR 101 or both courses BIO 201 and 202.  All sciences, including BIO 201, must have been completed within the last 5 years.

Second Term

 Third Term

**Must have acceptable COMPASS/ACT scores prior to enrollment (76 in Reading).

Program Totals

Credit Hours: 45 Hours

Contact Hours:  1095 Hours (73 X 15 wks.)

E-mail: Practical Nursing

ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING (RN)

ASSOCIATE in APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE

The Associate in Applied Science Degree is awarded to the students who complete the Career Mobility or Generic Program.  The curriculum for the Career Mobility Program consists of three (3) semesters for graduates from the ACS PN Program, which includes several general education courses.  The curriculum for the Generic Program consists of five (5) semesters of Nursing course work which includes several general education courses after completion of prerequisites.  Upon successful completion of these programs, graduates may be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN).

In the Nursing Program, there may be policies and procedures that are different from or take precedence over general policies listed for other programs.  Students must refer to the Nursing Student Handbook for specific policies governing the Nursing Program.

The Nursing student shall comply with legal, moral and behavioral standards and laws established by the Department of Nursing and the Alabama Board of Nursing as well as the College.  Failure to comply with these standards and laws may result in dismissal from the program and/or denial to take the National Council Licensure Examination given by the Alabama Board of Nursing.

Accreditation/Memberships/Approval

The Career Mobility and Generic Programs are approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing, P. O. Box 303900, Montgomery, Alabama 36130-3900, (334) 242-4060 and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 61 Broadway, New York, New York 10006, (212) 363-5555.

Special Program Requirements

Students accepted into the Associate Degree Nursing Program will have additional expenses for uniforms, testing, equipment, name pin, transportation to clinical sites, complete physical assessment, CPR certification, criminal background checks, drug screens, liability insurance, and licensing fees.

Re-admitted or Continuing Students

Students who have interrupted their sequence of study in the Nursing Program for reasons of course failure, withdrawal or non-enrollment must comply with current Nursing curriculum requirements and policies in effect at the time of re-admission.  All students are responsible for obtaining a Nursing Student Handbook for current information (www.bishop.edu).

Advisement

Students interested in Nursing education are required to seek advisement by the Nursing counselor located on the Baker-Gaines Central Campus in Room 106.  Once the student has been admitted to a Nursing program of study, academic advisement is mandatory by an assigned nursing advisor.  Advisors are assigned through the Department of Nursing according to the first alphabet of the student’s last name.

Grading Information

The grading system in the Associate Degree Nursing Program is different than and takes precedence over the grading system for other College courses.  Letter grades are assigned according to the following system for all Nursing courses for which students have registered:

            A = 90-100
            B = 80-89
            C = 75-79
            D = 60-74
            F =  Below 59

A minimum grade of 75 is required in order to successfully complete a Nursing course and a grade of C (70% or above) in each general education course to progress to the next course.  No rounding of test scores is done (Ex. 78.6 is 78.6).  Only the final course grade is rounded: 0.5 or higher is raised to the next whole number.

Course Sequencing, Prerequisites, Clinical and Laboratory Hours

Students interested in Nursing education may obtain information regarding course sequencing, course prerequisites, and course contact, laboratory, and clinical hours from the Student Development Services Office in Room 106 of the Baker-Gaines Central Campus.

Career Mobility Program

There are options for the Licensed Practical Nurse.  The LPN-RN Mobility Track is designed for the Licensed Practical Nurse to complete the requirements to become an RN in 3 semesters.

The Alabama College System Nursing Program Applications for Bishop State Community College are located in the Nursing Office, Suite 210 on the Baker-Gaines Central Campus.

Mobility LPN to Associate Degree Nurse Curriculum

 Prerequisite Courses:

·         MTH 116  or Higher Level  Mathematical Applications (3 credit hours)

·         *BIO 201 Human Anatomy and Physiology I  (4 credit hours)

·         BIO 202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credit hours)

·         ENG 101 English Composition (3 credit hours)

·         **NUR 200 Nursing Career Mobility Assessment (6 credit hours)

*BIO 103 or Satisfactory Performance on an ACS approved placement exam is a pre-requisite for BIO 201 (4 credit hours).
** NUR 200 is required for those students who did not graduate from the Alabama College System standardized curriculum within the past two years.
** Only those students who did not graduate from our standardized curriculum will be given 15 non-traditional credit hours after completion of NUR 200.

Total Prerequisites:  20 credit hours

Third Term

Fourth Term

Fifth Term

Program Totals:

            Total Credit Hours:    57

            Total Contact Hours:  1320 (88 x 15)

            General Education:     30

            Nursing Hours:           27

Standard Associate Degree Nurse Curriculum

 First Term

*Prerequisite:  BIO 103 or Satisfactory Performance on ACS approved placement exam.  All sciences (BIO 201, 202, and 220) must have been completed within the last five (5) years.