Nursing, Paramedic to ASN

Licensed Paramedics pursuing an Associate of Science in Nursing may elect to enroll in the Paramedic-ASN program option/degree track. The goal of the track is to facilitate educational mobility from a licensed Paramedic to Registered Nurse at the associate degree level.

The paramedic will be able to enter into the nursing program, after meeting all pre requisites and admission criteria and receiving seven hours of course credit from previous knowledge and skill as a licensed paramedic, for NURS 1030  (Clinical Nursing 1 Theory), NURS 1031 , (Clinical Nursing I Clinical), and NURS 1032  (Pharmacology I), and two hours of course credit from previous knowledge and skill for PNUR 1013  (Introduction to Nursing). Nine hours of nursing credit may be awarded after successful completion of the Paramedic-ASN transition courses, NURS 1150  (Paramedic-ASN Theory), NURS 1151  (Paramedic-ASN Clinical), and NURS 1152  (Paramedic-ASN Pharmacology). These courses are designed to bridge the gap in knowledge and competency from the paramedic role to that of the registered nursing student entering into third semester of clinical courses of the LSUA ASN program. Successful completion of the Paramedic-ASN transition courses will allow the student to progress into the third level of clinical courses in the nursing program following the same course sequencing and progression as the traditional ASN student. Should the Paramedic-ASN student be unsuccessful in completion of the Paramedic-ASN transition courses, the student will enter into the nursing program at the second level of clinical courses following the same course sequencing and progression as the traditional ASN student.

Student Learning Outcome

1. Graduates will utilize clinical judgment and critical thinking within the framework of the nursing process to provide safe, quality, patient-centered care.
2. Graduates will evaluate information from knowledge sources to provide safe, quality, patient-centered care.
3. Graduates will participate in quality improvement initiatives that improve patient care outcomes.
4. Graduates will collaborate with healthcare disciplines to deliver effective nursing care that meets the dynamic healthcare needs of patients.
5. Graduates will incorporate professional standards in the delivery of evidence-based nursing practice.
6. Graduates will demonstrate the ability to prioritize, manage, and delegate 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, and 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.

Admission Requirements

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

1. Hold a current, unencumber Paramedic license with at least one year work experience.  
2. Be unconditionally admitted to LSUA and have declared Nursing as major.
3. Must be enrolled in courses at LSUA during the semester of application.  
4. Attain a grade of “C” or higher in each of the required prerequisite courses. 

CHEM 1001  or CHEM 1201  

MATH 1018  or MATH 1021  

MATH 2011  

ENGL 1001  

ENGL 1002  

PSYC 2070  

BIOL 1161  

BIOL 1162  

5. Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher at the time of application for clinical. A student with a previous baccalaureate degree or higher may choose to have their admission to the program based on their cumulative GPA  at the time of application or the GPA for the prerequisite courses. If applicants choose to have their admission based on their GPA for the prerequisite courses, they must indicate that choice on their application.
6. 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. Submit all official grades from other universities by May 1st for fall selection, and by December 1st for spring selection. Students may not be enrolled at another university during the semester of application.
8. Be approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing to enter clinical courses.

Students who are not accepted the semester of application may re-apply the following semester. All required paperwork will need to be resubmitted for the student to be considered among all other applicants using the same selection criteria. Students who are unsuccessful or withdraw from NURS 1150/1151/1152 but remain eligible to return to the program may be considered for re-entry if a seat is available (refer to Re-Entry Students). If there are not available seats, the student may re-apply the following semester and are considered among all other applicants using the same selection criteria.

Students dismissed from a nursing program at another university will not be allowed to enter the LSUA nursing program for three years. 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 into the LSUA nursing program. Nursing course grades and credits from other universities are non-transferable.  Students transferring from another nursing program are required to submit a letter of good standing. 

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, 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^st for spring courses or by May 1^st for fall courses. (Example: a student who fails or withdraws from a fall semester clinical nursing course may re-apply by December1st for spring re-entry.)
2. Meet all academic requirements in effect at the time of re-enrollment:

    a. Students who have interrupted their enrollment for two consecutive regular semesters must complete any new curricular requirements in effect at the time of re-entry.

    b. Students who have interrupted their enrollment in nursing courses for a period of three years must repeat all courses titled Nursing.

    c. 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 re-entry. Drug screen results are sent directly to 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 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. 

A student whose enrollment is interrupted for two or more consecutive regular semesters must complete any changed curriculum requirements in effect at the time of re-enrollment. A student whose enrollment in nursing courses is interrupted for a period of three years must repeat all required courses titled Nursing.

Degree Requirements

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