Pre-Nursing Student Handbook Includes Information for Transfer Students

And Students with a Previous Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree

Department of Nursing Crisp Hall Room 213 Ph: (573) 651-2585 Fax: (573) 651-2142

E-mail: Nursing@semo.edu Nursing Website: www.semo.edu/nursing

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www.Facebook.com/NursingAtSoutheastMissouriStateUniversity Compiled & Written

By Tracie Clark Reviewed & Approved

By Student Affairs Committee Fall 2011 – Updated Spring 2013

Necessity for Pre-Nursing Handbook

The faculty and staff in the Department of Nursing at Southeast Missouri State University understand that the first couple semesters of university life can seem somewhat overwhelming. We’ve designed this handbook in an effort to guide you through your first two years as a “pre-nursing” student and give you a thorough understanding of the application and admissions process for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program. By working closely with Dr. Gloria Green (Nursing Department Interim Chairperson), Dr. Terri Woods (Chairperson of the Student Affairs Committee), Mrs. Linda Little (former College of Health and Human Services Academic Advisor), and Mrs. Sandra Hinkle (Registrar), this handbook has been written to ensure all students receive consistent information and are advised properly.

General Information As of the spring 2013 semester, Southeast Missouri State University has more than 800 declared pre-nursing students and nearly 500 active pre-nursing students from a variety of different backgrounds - Incoming freshmen, transfer students with numerous credits, students with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in another field who are seeking a career in nursing – and several international students who were practicing nurses in their native country – only to come here and realize that they need additional education and training in order to pass licensure exams. Despite your unique situation and background, we understand that pre-nursing students tend to be a largely diverse group, are often completely new to the college experience, and that keeping up with requirements and admission criteria can seem like a little. . .much. When a student applies and is admitted to Southeast and he or she declares a major in nursing or lists nursing as his or her area of interest on the admission application, the student is assigned a nursing faculty advisor. However – and this is important – the number of declared pre-nursing students outnumbers the faculty advisors by nearly 47 to 1. Because of this and because nursing faculty spend a large amount of time in clinical sessions off campus, attending training meetings and conferences, and teaching several lecture courses, it is impossible for them to advise you individually. If you are an incoming freshman, you will be advised in the Collaborative Advising Office during your first two semesters. If your overall college GPA is 2.75 or above at the end of that time you will then be transferred to the nursing department for advising, and for your remaining two semesters as a pre-nursing student, you must attend MANDATORY group advising sessions..

Pre-Nursing Group Advising Sessions Pre-Nursing Group Advising Sessions take place near the middle of each semester with 20-25 one-hour sessions scheduled during October (for spring schedule planning) and March (for fall schedule planning). The group advising sessions are part of the pre-nursing program and are required for all main campus pre-nursing majors. Pre-Nursing Students completing the general studies requirements at any of the outlying campuses (Kennett, Sikeston, Malden, Poplar Bluff, Perryville, Three Rivers, and so on) will meet with the advisor for their campus. Those advisors have all been provided a copy of the Guidelines for Advising Pre-Nursing Students developed by the nursing department. You will be notified of the group advising sessions in advance via Southeast e-mail. The communication will provide a list of available dates, times, and locations for the advising sessions. You should select a session that fits your schedule, sign up for the session by e-mailing Tracie Clark at tclark@semo.edu then be sure to keep the appointment. We make every effort to ensure you get word of the advising sessions by sending the original e-mail and several follow-up emails. In addition, flyers are posted campus-wide and announcements are listed on the student portal. Instructors in other departments also assist us in getting the word out. If you hear that the emails were sent and you did not receive one, you should immediately contact Tracie Clark in the main nursing office and confirm your email address so that you do not miss important announcements in the future. You will also find announcements on our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/NursingAtSoutheastMissouriStateUniversity.com and on the nursing website at www.semo.edu/nursing. Since classes fill up quickly, we have set up the advising schedule well in advance of the opening registration dates. If you miss your session or choose not to attend, it will be that much more difficult for you to get into the classes you need. Because we utilize every possible notification method available to us at the present time in order to make sure that all pre-nursing students know about the sessions - And because we’ve made the sessions mandatory for all main-campus students, you will not be advised by email or by phone, and we are not allowed to release your PIN number by

email or phone. If you do not sign up for and attend one of the mandatory sessions, you will have to wait to see if we get a large enough groups of students to hold a separate session – and this may be two to three weeks after registration opens.

Accessing your Degree Audit through Degree Works Through Internet Explorer go to www.semo.edu Click on My Southeast Campus Portal (top right) Sign in using your SE Key & Password Click on the Students tab (top) Look for the box entitled “Bookmarks Plus” (about midway down left side of page) Click on Degree Works Student Type in your Southeast ID number where indicated (top left) Click Enter and allow the page to populate Click the Print option within the application

Important Information – Please Note This handbook and your degree audit are the two most important documents you will use during your first two years as a pre-nursing student. At the beginning of each advising session we will quickly go over the degree audit and explain how to read it. The degree audit serves as a map to show you where you have been, where you stand, and where you need to go in order to meet all of the university requirements and nursing requirements for admission to the nursing program and ultimately graduation from the university. You should have a thorough understanding of BOTH.

Pre-Nursing Curriculum Pattern and Recommended Sequence of Courses The Pre-Nursing program at Southeast Missouri State University comprises the first two years of a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree during which the student completes all of his or her university studies requirements and nursing pre-requisites.

First Semester Second Semester

First Year Logical Systems* BS113/013 Anatomy & Physiology I CH180 Chemistry* or CH181/081/001 UI100/CL001/CL002 EN100 Register for MAPP1 through Testing Services Web site **Advised in First Step Orientation

3 4 3 OR 5 3 3 16 hrs.

First Year Artistic Expressions* BS114/014 Anatomy & Physiology II Social Systems* Oral Expressions* Written Expressions* CL003 **Advised in Collaborative Advising Office – University Center 209

3 4 3 3 3 16 hrs.

Second Year Economics Systems* Political Systems* Major Civilization* BS240, BS242 or BI200 Microbiology Literary Expressions* **Advised at MANDATORY Group Advising Session – MAKE SURE DEPT HAS EMAIL ADDRESS

3 3 3 3 3 15 hrs.

Second Year PY220 Growth & Development* FN235 Nutrition* Statistics++ UI300 course* (Trans & Assoc) UI300 course* (Trans & Assoc) **Advised at MANDATORY Group Advising Session – MAKE SURE DEPT HAS EMAIL ADDRESS **Students apply during this semester for admission to the upcoming semester. Coursework from previous three semesters must be completed with remaining coursework in progress.

3 3 3 3 3 15 hrs.

Special Seminars & Testing As part of the university studies program and to complete graduation requirements, all students are required to take the MAPP 1, MAPP 2, CL001 through CL004, and the Writing Proficiency Exam (WP003). The MAPP tests replaced the California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) that students previously completed near the end of the junior year. Every item on the degree audit must be completed in order to graduate.

Career Linkages CL001 and CL002 are most frequently taken in conjunction with UI100. Students generally register for these two requirements during their First Step Orientation. CL001 and CL002 are part of the UI100 class and are not separate classes. CL001 is a career survey and CL002 is a one-time meeting with a career counselor. Occasionally a transfer student with fewer than 24 hours will be required to complete CL001 and CL002. The recommended CRN for those sections can be obtained from Tracie. CL003 is also taken during the pre-nursing program and is done entirely online. The students complete a career assessment, learn how to improve their résumé and cover letter, are introduced to the mentoring program, and learn how to evaluate their own skills to decide whether the path they have chosen is appropriate for their particular skills set. CL004 is a co-requisite of NS491 and is taken in conjunction with that course during the nursing program. There may be some students who completed CL004 prior to deciding to pursue nursing. These students will not be required to repeat CL004 but will require an override from Tracie before the system will allow them to enroll in NS491. *Any questions about CL001 through CL004 should be directed to Christopher Hinkle, Career Linkages Coordinator (573) 651-2268 or chinkle@semo.edu

MAPP Tests

MAPP 1 is a test the student takes during the first semester. They go to the Testing Services Web site at www.semo.edu/testing and click on the link entitled TEST COSTS & REGISTRATION. They will be directed to a list of tests offered through Testing Services. Scroll down to the MAPP 1, click it and a page describing the test and who should take it will appear. After reading the instructions, there is a link for the students to register for the test. MAPP 2 is a test the student takes PREFERABLY during his or her second to last semester. Students in NS487 should be advised to register for the MAPP 2 via the same process as outlined above for the MAPP 1. *Any questions about the MAPP 1 or MAPP 2 should be directed to: Testing Services, (573) 2836 or testingservices@semo.edu

WP003: 75-Hour Writing Exam WP003 (often referred to as the 75-hour writing exam) is a two-part essay examination that is the initial step in fulfilling the University's writing proficiency graduation requirement. It is offered on-campus twice each semester on Saturday mornings and once during the summer on the Monday morning before the beginning of the 8-week session. It is also offered several times each semester at off-campus locations. One-hour review seminars are held in the Writing Lab before each on-campus examination. Unlike the MAPP 1 and MAPP 2, students do not register for the WP003 through Testing Services. Instead, they will do a class search for WP003 and register for it as though they were enrolling in a class. The test takes approximately two hours. The first part of the examination is a 50-minute expository essay on a general knowledge topic. The second part of the examination is a 70-minute argumentative essay on a topic related to the part one topic. In part two, the student is provided with source material and asked to incorporate those sources into his or her essays. *Any questions about the WP003 should be directed to: Center for Writing Excellence, (573) 651-2460 or writing@semo.edu

Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program Students often ask whether previous healthcare-related work experience gives them an “edge” when considered for admission – and the answer to this question is no. The mission of the Department of Nursing at Southeast Missouri State University is to educate baccalaureate and masters graduates to practice nursing within the context of “knowledgeable caring.” The department influences the health of this region and beyond by providing graduates who have demonstrated intellectual, personal, and professional growth and who can integrate theoretical knowledge, experiential learning, and an interdisciplinary foundation. The faculty members strongly encourage graduates to pursue a career of life-long learning. Therefore, the nursing education you receive at Southeast provides extensive clinical experiences and although previous healthcare experience may be helpful from a personal or professional standpoint, it will not have a bearing on your admission to the nursing program. There is no entrance exam. Please do not send a résumé or

letters of recommendation. These items are simply placed in your file and have no bearing on your admission. Because of the large number of applicants each semester, the department is not equipped to meet with each applicant for interviews or read essays – so none of this information is necessary. The Department of Nursing uses a completely objective mathematical process to determine admission to the program based on a combination score achieved by adding the top three science grades to the overall college grade point average (GPA). Studies have shown that students who do well in the science courses are much more likely to be successful in nursing school – so it is imperative that you understand the importance of the science grades in determining your admission. Below is an example of how a student with a much lower overall GPA can eliminate a student with a much higher overall GPA simply because of the science grades. Student #1 Student #2 Overall GPA = 2.755 Overall GPA = 3.500 A&P 1 (A) = 4.000 A&P 1 (B) = 3.000 A&P 2 (A) = 4.000 A&P 2 (B) = 3.000 Chem (A) = 4.000 Chem (C) = 2.000 Micro (B) = 3.000 Micro (B) = 3.000 TOTAL = 14.755 TOTAL = 12.500 Obviously a student with a 4.0 GPA would have an application score of 16.0. We place the applicants in order beginning with the 16.0 scores and work our way down the list to admit 35 students per semester. The highest cut-off score to date was 15.437 for spring 2013 admission. This score means that the 35th student admitted to the program had an overall college GPA of 3.437 with top three science grades of A-A-A. This particular group was an extraordinary group and was not the “norm.” In a pool of 125 applicants, there were 13 students with a perfect 4.0 GPA, 26 Honors Students and all 35 students had at least three A’s in the four required sciences. Because we have no way of knowing what the applicant pool will be, there is no way to determine a 100% accurate baseline score. To illustrate this, the cut-off score for fall 2013 admission was 14.735 in a pool of 80 to 85 applicants with only four students with a perfect 4.0 GPA. If you do not have at least two A’s in the four required sciences, then we strongly encourage you to retake the sciences for better grades. If you have completed A & P II, you will not be allowed to repeat A & P I. Also – and this is very important – if you apply to the program and are not admitted then decide to retake sciences, then do not apply for the next semester because we will not have the retake grades available on transcript prior to the deadline. If you apply for fall admission, are not admitted and retake science grades, you will have to reapply for the next fall admission. If this information seems a bit convoluted, please feel free to call the nursing department for clarification.

Applying to the Nursing Program

The most recent copy of the nursing application is posted to the nursing web site at http://www.semo.edu/pdf/Nursing_GenericBSNApplication_2011.pdf - or you can stop by the office at Crisp Hall Room 213 and pick up an application. All students must submit the most recent copy of the application so that all applicants have consistent information. Occasionally an old version of the application does not drop off the server correctly. If you submit an outdated version of the application, it will be returned to you.

Please READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS on the application form and make sure you are eligible to apply. First, you must have at least a 2.5 overall GPA to submit an application. Applications received from students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement will not be processed. You will receive an email stating that your GPA does not meet minimum requirements and that we will not process your application.

You must have applied and been admitted to Southeast Missouri State University so that your student information is available in the student records system. Transfer students and students with prior degrees should understand that applying to the university does not equal applying to the nursing program. It is a two-part process, and as such, it involves two sets of transcripts. The OFFICIAL copy is sent from the Registrar’s Office of your previous school in a sealed envelope to the Registrar’s Office at Southeast and does not get forwarded to the nursing department. When you submit your nursing application, you should include UNOFFICIAL copies of the transcripts (photocopies, computer print-outs, and so forth).

You should include your Southeast Student ID and provide your Southeast email address on the application form. If you submit an application with no student ID and with an email address from a personal account, we will assume that you are non-admitted student and your application will not be processed.

The application should contain the preferred mailing address where you wish to receive any correspondence from the Nursing Department. Since the admissions process typically takes place in October and in March, the students are often on fall break or spring break when notification letters are mailed. You should take this into consideration when providing the mailing address. ALL EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE DIRECTED TO YOUR SOUTHEAST EMAIL ADDRESS, SO IT SHOULD BE CHECKED REGULARLY. Upon receipt of your Southeast Key, you should make sure that it is working properly, that you make a note of your password, and that you can access your email and the student portal.

***EXTREMELY IMPORTANT***

At the time of application three of the four sciences must be completed and on transcript with all other coursework in progress at that time. Evaluators should be able to confirm enrollment in any remaining courses by pulling up a student’s Southeast degree audit or in the case of 2nd-degree students by reviewing unofficial transcripts. If you are enrolled in your remaining coursework do not drop any of those classes unless you plan to withdraw your nursing application as well. Before beginning any nursing coursework, you must have all university studies and nursing pre-requisite courses completed with the exception of UI412 – American Healthcare Systems.

The seven specific pre-requisite courses for nursing are Anatomy & Physiology 1, Anatomy & Physiology 2, Chemistry, Microbiology, Statistics, Nutrition, and Human Growth & Development (Across the Lifespan). A thorough understanding and regular review of your degree audit will help you determine any courses you may be missing so that you are not disappointed to receive email notification that your application cannot be processed due to missing coursework.

In the event you do not have all of the coursework completed or in progress at the time of application and you feel that your particular set of circumstances warrant special consideration, a formal appeal letter must be included with the application. It is important to understand, however, that circumstances that merit special consideration typically relate to catastrophic events beyond a student’s control. In other words, if you have only two sciences completed and are missing both of the UI300 classes but submit an appeal letter because you have a lifelong passion for nursing and promise to get your classes done you will not be given special consideration.

With that being said, if you truly believe that an appeal letter is warranted, it should explain the particular set of circumstances and provide a plan outlining how you plan to complete the remaining coursework BEFORE beginning any nursing classes. The letter should be addressed to the Student Affairs Committee (Attention: Dr. Terri Woods) and attached to the application. Do not send the letter under separate cover. **IMPORTANT: Despite your particular set of circumstances, it is important to understand that submitting an appeal letter does not guarantee you a conditional admission and students who followed all instructions and meet all requirements will be given first consideration.

Application deadlines are March 1st for fall semester admission and October 1st for spring semester admission. Any applications post-marked or fax-dated after 5 p.m. on the deadline date will not be considered and you will be required to submit a new application the following semester. Upon receipt of your nursing application, we will send you an email verification (unless you submit your application far in advance, which is not encouraged – if that is the case, you will receive your email verifying receipt of your application when we begin processing the next group – usually about 6 to 8 weeks out). The Student Affairs Committee will typically meet within a week following the deadline, make final decisions, and draft notification letters. The entire process could take as much as three weeks (but seldom does) and you are then notified in writing as to whether or not you are admitted. This letter will be sent via U.S. Mail, and if you have not received the letter by the last day of the deadline month, you should contact the nursing office at 573-651-2585.

Transfer Students and Students with an Associate’s Degree (ALWAYS CHECK THE DEGREE AUDIT FOR CONFIRMATION)

There has been considerable confusion in the past concerning course waivers for transfer students and students with a conferred previous degree (either associate’s or bachelor’s). Students with 24 or more transfer credits usually receive a waiver for UI100. You must complete all other courses or have transfer credits for the equivalent. If you complete a course that you feel should count as an equivalent but is not picked up by the registrar’s office during analysis of your transcript, you must supply copies of syllabi for the course. If the Student Affairs Committee is in agreement, a Course Substitution Form will be completed and submitted to the Registrar’s Office for approval. Many transfer students do not understand that the upper level interdisciplinary courses (300 and 400-level UI courses) are requirements that are unique to Southeast Missouri State University, and must be taken here. Therefore, you must have the two 300-level university studies courses completed or in progress at the time of application to the nursing program in addition to the seven pre-requisite courses. Students with an associate’s degree often encounter this same type of situation, so it is important to understand that you must meet all university criteria in addition to nursing criteria. Many students will complete the seven pre-requisite courses for nursing, submit an application, and then be upset when denied admission – only to learn that they have several more classes to take. If you have questions about transfer credit, you can use the Transfer Course Conversion link on the portal or contact the Registrar’s Office. Students who have earned an Associate’s Degree, particularly if it is from a community college within the State of Missouri typically receive course waivers for all lower level general studies courses, as well as CL001 and CL002. However, you are also required to complete the upper level interdisciplinary courses here at Southeast. IMPORTANT: Students who have earned an Associates of Applied Science degree (regardless of the field) do NOT receive the waiver for lower level general studies courses. This is because the coursework completed is directed more toward a chosen career track and very few (if any) general studies courses are completed with the occasional exception of EN100, Oral Expressions, and Logical Systems. What few general studies courses included usually transfer in to meet general requirements, but you will still have a large number of general studies to complete. The Department of Nursing requires the student to take UI412-American Healthcare System as their 400-level interdisciplinary course. Many students choose to take this course prior to admission to the nursing program in order to meet financial aid needs or to fill a slot in their schedule. However, this course is incorporated into the nursing curriculum and can be taken once admitted to the program. You will not be penalized if you have not completed the 400-level requirement prior to submitting your application.

Students with a Previous Bachelor’s Degree Finally, students with a previous Bachelor’s Degree typically receive course waivers for all general studies courses, as well as CL001, CL002, and CL003. These students are not required to complete the 300 or 400-level University Studies courses prior to admission, though many will complete UI412 as part of their pre-requisites instead of taking it as part of the BSN curriculum. A review of the degree audit will determine whether the MAPP 1 is required. IMPORTANT NOTE: If a student has a previous bachelor’s degree from an institution other than Southeast, the degree audit is not the best guide for determining particular needs. The Office of the Registrar evaluates the 2nd-degree transcripts based on university requirements and whether the degree was from an accredited university. Many times the degree audit indicates that a student is missing pre-requisite coursework when in fact a review of the student’s transcripts indicates that the coursework is complete. If there is a question about a course, the student should plan to submit a copy of the syllabus to verify content. If the previous course meets program requirements, Dr. Brenda Johnson, faculty advisor for all 2nd-degree students, will complete a Course Substitution Form, which will then be reviewed by Dr. Green and submitted to the Registrar for approval. 2nd-degree students are still considered pre-nursing students while completing supporting coursework and may attend the group advising sessions. HOWEVER, STUDENTS WITH A PREVIOUS BACHELOR’S DEGREE ARE NOT ASSIGNED A REGISTRATION PIN.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF NURSING

Non-English Speaking Student Policy

Any student whose native language is not English and who wishes to declare a major in nursing is required to take the TOEFL.

• The TOEFL score cannot be more than two years old • Minimum scores for admission to the Department of Nursing at Southeast Missouri State University are: 100

cumulative score and no less than 20 on individual scores for speaking, writing, reading and listening • Students with less than this required score are encouraged to obtain information about remediation at the

International Center at 573-651-6895 • Students, whose native language is not English, who wish to transfer from another academic institution must

show evidence of the required scores or take the TOEFL prior to making application to the Department of Nursing for admission.

• The student whose native language is not English is required to meet all other requirements as other students applying for admission to the nursing program.

Approved by Nursing Faculty: 01/23/13 Approved by Office of Equity and Diversity Issues: 03/14/13