Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN)

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the ASN program will

1. Utilize clinical judgment within the framework of the nursing process to provide safe, quality, patient-centered care.
2. Evaluate information from knowledge sources to provide safe, quality, patient-centered care.
3. Determine how quality improvement initiatives impact patient care outcomes.
4. Collaborate with healthcare disciplines to deliver effective nursing care that meets the dynamic healthcare needs of patients.
5. Incorporate professional standards in the delivery of evidence-based practice.
6. Prioritize, manage, and provide safe quality patient-centered care. 

Approval and Accreditation

The ASN program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326, telephone 404-975-5000, www.acenursing.org.

The most recent decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the ASN program is Continuing Accreditation.

The ASN program is approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN), 17373 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810, telephone 225-755-7500, www.lsbn.state.la.us. The most recent decision made by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LBSN) is full approval.

Admission Requirements

Applications to the ASN nursing program are accepted in the fall and spring semesters. The School of Nursing accepts a pre-determined number of students for Spring and Fall admission. If the last and next to last students have the same cumulative GPA, then both students will be admitted into the nursing program.

To be eligible for admission, the applicant must meet the following criteria:

1. Be unconditionally admitted to LSUA with Nursing declared as major (see Categories of Admission  for admission procedures).

2. Be enrolled in courses at LSUA during the semester of application.

3.     a. Have attained a grade of “C” or higher in each of the required prerequisite courses.

b. ASN student must have completed all prerequisite courses by the end of the semester of application. (Fall admission will remain conditional on completion of summer coursework).

c. BIOL 1161  and BIOL 1162  must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher within five years of application to the ASN program. Transfer credit will be awarded if the courses are completed with a grade of “C” or higher within five years of application to the ASN program.

4. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.65 or higher at the time of application and maintain a 2.0 or higher throughout and by the end of the term of the semester of application. First- time freshmen without a GPA are required to maintain a 2.65 or higher throughout the semester of application.  There is no rounding for GPA calculation. Students may choose to have their admission to the program based on their cumulative GPA at the time of application or the GPA of the four (4) prerequisite courses (ENGL 1001, MATH 1018 or MATH 1021, CHEM 1001 or CHEM 1201, and BIOL 1161). If applicants choose to have their admission based on their GPA for the prerequisite courses, they must indicate that choice on their application. The most recent attempt for prerequisite courses will be used for the GPA calculation.

5. Students are advised to regularly check LSUA email for information related to the application process. Applications will be available two weeks prior to submission deadline established by the nursing program. Late applications will not be accepted.

7. Be approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) to enter clinical courses.

Students who are not admitted to the program may reapply by the next scheduled application date; if they do, they must resubmit all required documentation to the School of Nursing. Students who reapply will be considered among all other applicants using the same selection criteria. Students who are unsuccessful or withdraw from NURS 1030 /NURS 1031   or NURS 1019   but remain eligible to return to the program may also reapply during the next scheduled application period for admission consideration using the same selection criteria..

Applicants who have ever been arrested, charged with, convicted of, pled guilty or no contest to, or been sentenced for any criminal offense in any state or foreign country should access the Louisiana State Board of Nursing website at: http://www.lsbn.state.la.us/ for information regarding how to proceed for application to clinical courses.

Students who hold or have held licensure in any healthcare discipline and who have had disciplinary action against that license must petition the LSBN for review and action regarding approval to enter the clinical nursing practice area.

Students dismissed from a nursing program at another university will not be eligible to enter the LSUA nursing program until three years after the date of dismissal. Students who have been placed on probation or who have been dismissed for academic reasons or professional misconduct from another university are ineligible for admission to the LSUA nursing program. Nursing course grades and credits from other universities are nontransferable.

Criteria for Enrollment in Subsequent Nursing Courses (Continuing and Re-entry Students)

If a student’s progression in nursing courses is interrupted for any reason, for any ASN program option, the student must apply to re-enroll in a clinical nursing course. Re-enrollment applications will be accepted in the next regular semester. When completing the application for re-enrollment, the student must also:

1. Submit the “Application to Re-Enter Nursing” by December 1 for spring courses or by May 1 for fall courses. (Example: a student who fails or withdraws from a fall semester clinical nursing course may re-apply by December 1 for spring re-entry.) 
2. Meet all academic requirements in effect at the time of re-enrollment:
   1. Students who have interrupted their enrollment for two consecutive regular semesters must complete any new curricular requirements in effect at the time of their reentry. 
   2. Students who have interrupted their enrollment in nursing courses for a period of three years must repeat all required courses titled Nursing. 
   3. Students who have interrupted their enrollment for more than one semester will be required to complete a drug screen at their own expense within 30 days prior to reentry. Drug screen results are sent directly to the Director of the School of Nursing from the screening agency.

Course placement of students meeting criteria for re-enrollment will vary and may be altered according to resources available each term/semester. If the number of students applying for re-entry exceeds the number of openings, re-entry applicants with the highest overall GPA will be given preference.

Degree Requirements

1. Students must complete all of the requirements pertaining to associate degree as prescribed in Degree Requirements . 
2. Students are required to make a grade of “C” or higher in all non-nursing and nursing courses applied to the ASN curriculum.