Admission Criteria
The associate of applied science in nursing (AAS) has a limited enrollment on the Morehead and Mt. Sterling campuses. The following criteria are used to determine conditional acceptance to the program.
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American College Test (ACT) score with a mandatory minimum composite of 20 or higher; or ATI Test for Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam with a mandatory minimum total score of 80% or higher. SAT scores will be converted to an equivalent ACT score using College Board, ACT, and NCAA concordance tables. Tests are to be proctored and taken at an institutional testing center.
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Applicants must meet the following:
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A GPA of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0 with a minimum grade of "C" in prerequisite courses required for the associate degree nursing program.
i. BIOL 234 Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology I
ii. ENG 100 Writing I
iii. Math Core - MATH 135 recommended (or MATH 131, MATH 152, MATH 174, MATH 175, or equivalent).
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Applicants with a grade less than "C" in two courses required for the AAS in nursing within the last two years from the term of application due date (last Friday in March, last Friday in October) are not eligible for admission.
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Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all work at Morehead State University.
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Applicants may be conditionally admitted to the program pending successful completion of prerequisite courses required for admission to the program.
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Final acceptance will be dependent on maintaining course grades and grade point average as well as meeting CPR and health requirements by established dates. Compliance with the Technical Performance Standards is also required.
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Clinical education is a mandatory component of the AAS. Due to accreditation requirements of the clinical education centers, students will be required to obtain a criminal background check and undergo drug testing prior to acceptance to the clinical assignment. The student is responsible for any cost incurred. Any student who fails acceptance to the clinical assignment will be unable to complete the program.
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Licensed Practical Nurses Requesting Advanced Placement:
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Licensed Practical Nurses who have (1) successfully completed a Licensed Practical Nursing Program, (2) hold an active, unrestricted license as a Licensed Practical Nurse in Kentucky, and (3) obtain a minimum score of 900 on the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) Fundamental Examination can apply for "K" credit for NURA 114: Fundamental Nursing Concepts - 7 hours.
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LPN's may attempt the HESI Fundamental Examination a maximum of two times. A six-week time frame is required between the first and second attempt. A score of 900 or greater on the Fundamentals HESI must be obtained within 6 (six) months of entry into the program.
Conditions for Enrollment
- Students may be assigned to clinical practice areas other than those in the immediate area, requiring traveling up to 1.5 hours from the assigned campus. Transportation to and from these settings is the responsibility of the student.
- Clinical experiences and formal lectures may be required during various hours of the day, evening and night.
- Students have the responsibility for the costs incurred by enrollment in the nursing program. These costs include CPR, immunizations, CastleBranch (CB), CB Bridges, My Clinical Exchange (MCE), identification badges, professional malpractice insurance, personal health insurance, criminal background check, drug testing, academic materials, testing fees, clothing, and equipment.
Application Deadlines
Admission criteria and procedures are reviewed on an annual basis. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify current application criteria and procedures prior to the application deadline.
- Application for fall admission into the Associate of Applied Science in nursing program is made in the spring semester prior to fall classes. The application deadline date is the last Friday in March.
- Application for spring admission is made in the fall semester prior to spring classes. The application deadline is the last Friday in October.
Program Competencies
The following section outlines the specific program outcomes of the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Program.
Graduates of the Morehead State University Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program will have demonstrated ability to:
- Provide and direct safe and effective client-centered care that:
- Protects clients and health care personnel by enhancing care delivery.
- Protects clients and health care personnel from health and environmental hazards.
- Provide and direct client-centered care using health promotion and maintenance strategies that promote optimal health.
- Provide and direct client-centered care in a manner that promotes emotional, mental and social well-being.
- Provide and direct client-centered care that:
- Promotes achievement of basic care and comfort.
- Includes effective use of pharmacological and parenteral therapies.
- Reduces risk potential.
- Includes effective nursing care for acute, chronic and life-threatening physiological alterations.
Assessment
The associate of applied science in nursing program uses a systematic plan of evaluation to evaluate and improve upon program outcomes. The standards used to evaluate the program include ACEN criteria, which includes the following standards:
- Administrative Capacity and Resources,
- Faculty,
- Students,
- Curriculum,
- Outcomes.
Program assessment is ongoing with formative course assessment each semester and summative program assessment annually. The AAS nursing faculty participates in the development of levels of achievement for each standard, assessment methods, collection and analysis of data, as well as development and implementation of action plans.
AAS Academic Standards and Progression
Purpose
To outline for the student, academic standards to be met for progression in the associate of applied science in nursing (AAS) program.
Standards for Progression
The following academic standards are required for student progression in the associate degree nursing program:
The student will:
1. Complete each required course in the curriculum with a minimum grade of "C".
2. Achieve a "C" or higher grade in nursing and general education/support courses which are required at each semester level prior to progressing to subsequent nursing courses.
3. Achieve a satisfactory rating in clinical for nursing courses with a clinical component.
4. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all work at the University.
5. Cease to attend clinical immediately upon receiving two "U" grades at any time during a clinical rotation. Any student receiving a total of two unsatisfactory clinical evaluations during a clinical rotation will receive an unsatisfactory clinical grade for the clinical component of the course. An unsatisfactory clinical grade for the clinical component of any clinical based course will result in a grade of "E" for the course.
6. Repeat both theory and clinical components of a nursing course in which less than a "C" grade is achieved; or when the clinical component is evaluated as unsatisfactory.
7. Repeat required general education/support courses in which less than a "C" grade is achieved prior to progressing to the next nursing course.
8. If a course repeat is required, the student must submit a written request at the time of course failure to the coordinator of the AAS in Nursing program stating the desire to repeat the course. If a written statement is not received it will be considered an unofficial withdrawal from the program.
9. NURA 214 and NURA 215 are required to be taken consecutively during the final semester of the program to meet Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) requirements for the 120-hour direct patient care experience during the last semester of the program. If a student is unsuccessful in NURA 214, NURA 215 must be repeated regardless of previous successful grade earned to fulfill 201 KAR 20:320. A student who is unsuccessful in NURA 214 and NURA 215 will be dismissed from the program. Anecdotal Note: Kentucky Administrative Regulation KAR
10. For consideration for reinstatement in the nursing program the student may be required to complete an interview with the Admissions and Progression Committee.
11. Be reinstated in the nursing program providing:
a. Space is available in the nursing class.
b. Recommendation for reinstatement was made by the Admission and Progression Committee.
c. Submission of written request for reinstatement was made.
d. Required general education/support courses were successfully completed.
e. Course failures have not exceeded the limits as stated below. (See #16)
12. Complete the nursing program within six semesters after initial entry into the program.
13. Transfer students who enter the program in the second semester of required courses must complete the program within five semesters.
14. Maintain current American Heart Association (AHA) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification for Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers.
15. Present evidence of current liability insurance coverage payment before progressing into a clinical nursing course that requires learning activities within a health care facility.
16. Be dismissed from the nursing program for any of the following situations after admission to the nursing program:
a. Achievement of less than a "C" grade twice in the same course.
b. Achievement of less than a "C" in any two required courses in the curricular sequence.
c. Inability to complete the nursing program within six semesters after beginning the program.
d. Inability for transfer students or LPNs who have entered the program at the second semester to complete within five semesters.
e. Inability to transfer theory into practice.
f. Consistent lack of understanding of his/her limitations.
g. Inability to anticipate the consequences of action or lack of action.
h. Consistent failure to maintain communication with faculty and staff about client care.
i. Dishonesty about client care.
j. Commitment of a civil/criminal act in the educational area.
k. Breach of patient confidentiality.
l. Impaired behavior.
m. Academic dishonesty.
n. Unprofessional behavior (bullying/harassment) or acts of incivility that place a client or colleague in physical or emotional jeopardy. Examples of incivility include but are not limited:
- Using the silent treatment;
- badgering or back-stabbing;
- rude or obnoxious behavior;
- damaging someone's reputation;
- using humiliation, put-downs, and intimidation;
- failing to support a peer in collaborative relationships;
- setting someone up for failure;
- losing one's temper or yelling at someone;
- encouraging others to turn against a peer.
o. Failure of acceptance to a clinical site based on denial of the clinical placement due to failure to comply with all hospital policies and procedures.
p. Failure of acceptance to a clinical site based on unprofessional behavior.
AAS Standardized Testing and Remediation Policy
Students in the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Program will be provided with a series of standardized and custom online tests and remediation resources designed to evaluate and enhance the nursing knowledge of students in an undergraduate program. The tests serve as nationally normed formative and summative evaluation tools for use during the program. In addition to testing basic nursing content, these tests evaluate students' clinical judgment skills. The exam results enable faculty to identify at-risk students with knowledge and learning deficits in specific content areas in a timely manner so that early intervention may be provided. It also enables the student to identify areas of weakness that need remediated prior to progressing to the next course. This program also includes an admission test to evaluate students' baseline reading, math, writing, and science knowledge and skills.
Remediation is required by students following the completion of any standardized or custom examination based on the identified areas of weakness. Students will receive a HESI score with a conversion score upon completion of a HESI exam. Students are considered on track with HESI scores of 900 or above. All students are encouraged to remediate areas of weakness; however, students scoring less than 900 for any standardized exam are required to be accountable for remediation as outlined by faculty in the table below.
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HESI Score
900 or above
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HESI Score
800 – 899
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HESI Score
750 – 799
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HESI Score
700 – 749
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HESI Score
Less than 700
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On Track
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Below Acceptable Performance
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Below Acceptable Performance
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Needs Further
Preparation
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At Risk
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Remediation is strongly recommended in areas scored < 900.
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Remediation is required.
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Complete all Essential packets of HESI Remediation
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Complete all assigned Case Studies in HESI Remediation with a score of 80%
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NCLEX EAQ-Adaptive quizzing assignments with a score of 80% (one 30 question quiz targeted to identified areas of weakness on exam)
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Any additional activities as assigned by faculty
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Remediation is required.
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Complete all Essential packets of HESI Remediation
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Complete all assigned Case Studies in HESI Remediation with a score of 80%
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NCLEX EAQ-Adaptive quizzing assignments with a score of 80% (Two 30 question quizzes targeted to identified areas of weakness on exam)
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Any additional activities as assigned by faculty
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Remediation is required.
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Complete all Essential packets of HESI Remediation
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Complete all assigned Case Studies in HESI Remediation with a score of 80%
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NCLEX EAQ-Adaptive quizzing assignments with a score of 80% (Three 30 question quizzes targeted to identified areas of weakness on exam)
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Any additional activities as assigned by faculty
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Remediation is required.
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Complete all Essential packets of HESI Remediation
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Complete all assigned Case Studies in HESI Remediation with a score of 80%
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NCLEX EAQ-Adaptive quizzing assignments with a score of 80% (Four 30 question quizzes targeted to identified areas of weakness on exam)
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Any additional activities as assigned by faculty
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If a student scores less than the 900 benchmark on the standardized or custom exams, it is a requirement that they perform identified remediation activities and/or assignments as determined by faculty by the last day of the semester. It is the student’s responsibility to provide evidence of remediation by completion of the HESI Test Analysis and Remediation Conference Sheet (located on course Blackboard site) and uploading the signed document on the course Blackboard (Bb) site. Failure to complete a plan of remediation may negatively impact the student’s success in courses throughout the AASN Program curriculum, as well as success on the NCLEX-RN (licensure exam). If the required remediation is not completed by the end of the semester, the student receives a grade of “E” for the course and will not be permitted to progress to the next semester of the program. If this results in two course failures, the student will be dismissed from the program.
AAS Program Requirements
A minimum 61 credit hours is required for the AAS degree, which includes 25 credit hours of general education and additional courses and 36 credit hours of nursing courses. The student will be required to complete the course sequence approved by the University and in place at the time of admission to the AAS in Nursing. The AAS in Nursing policies on challenge examination, transfer credit, academic standards and progression, and criteria for taking the National Council Licensure Examination can be obtained from the Department of Nursing.
General Education
Refer to the associate degree general education section for a complete listing of general education requirements for the University. Program requirements that are also general education requirements will count in both places (as applicable).
AAS Core Requirements
AAS Additional Requirements
| BIOL 234 | Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 |
| BIOL 235 | Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 3 |
| PSY 154 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |