Nursing, A.S.N.

Program Overview

The Associate of Science Degree in Nursing (ASN) is designed to prepare the graduate to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for registered nurses and to enter a career as a beginning practitioner of nursing. It is intended that the courses in nursing will provide the students with an awareness of the value and dignity of people and a view of the patient as an integrated, unique individual requiring nursing knowledge and skill.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Associate of Science in Nursing Program is to enhance the health status of the region by educating professional nurses for entry into practice as caring and competent nurse generalists.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the Associate of Science in Nursing Program, the graduate will:

Caring

1. Provide compassionate nursing care to patients regardless of different values, beliefs, culture, and lifestyles.

Communication

2. Demonstrate appropriate verbal, non-verbal, therapeutic, professional, and technological communication skills.

3. Facilitate collaboration among all health care team members and the patient(s).

Critical Thinking

4. Use knowledge of nursing science and disease process; critical thinking skills; and evidence based findings to demonstrate proficiency in planning safe and effective patient care.

Professionalism

5. Provide nursing care according to legal, ethical and professional standards while considering the impact of economic, political, social and demographic forces.

6. Demonstrate accountability for professional growth and lifelong learning.

Therapeutic Nursing Interventions

7. Demonstrate competency in the nursing process

8. Develop an individualized teaching plan based on assessed needs.

9. Manage the care of individual patient(s) across healthcare settings.

State Accreditation

West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses
101 Dee Drive • Charleston, WV 25311 • (304) 558-3596

National Accreditation

 

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE NURSING PROGRAM

Application Deadlines

The Nursing Program admits students in both the fall and spring semesters. Application is required the semester before admittance. Please note the application deadlines below. The application for admission to the Nursing Program must be submitted to the nursing office and all official high school and/or college transcripts must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the application deadline. Transcripts arriving after the application deadline will not be considered.   Admission decisions will be finalized by the decision date listed.

Semester to start nursing	Application deadline	Decision date
Fall	January 31	March 10
Spring	August 31	October 10

Pre-Requisite Courses

Applicants must have completed pre-requisite courses or be enrolled in the last of the pre-requisite courses during the semester they apply for admission to the nursing program.

• ENGL 101

• MATH 114

• PSYC 203

• CAHS 120, 121, 122, 123

• CAHS 125L or CAHS 127

• COMM 202

TEAS Test

When the nursing application is submitted to the nursing department, students will be given TEAS Test information and a voucher. Students are responsible for paying for this test and must take this voucher to the Blue Ridge CTC cashier to make payment. Once a receipt of payment has been received, students then take the payment receipt to the Testing Coordinator in 1400 to schedule the testing date. The TEAS test must be taken before the decision deadline. Students may only take the TEAS Test twice, with a 60 day minimum between tests. A composite score of 58.7 on the TEAS test is required to be eligible for admission. 

Decision Criteria and Process

Failure to fully complete the application, provide truthful information, send required documentation, or failure to report ANY felony or misdemeanor conviction, plea of nolo contendere or pending court cases in this application will result in immediate disqualification and/or dismissal from the Nursing Program and any subsequent application may not be considered. Information provided to the Department of Nursing is confidential and is used only for selection purposes. 

After application, transcripts will be reviewed by the program director. If an applicant does not meet all the academic pre-requisite courses they will not be considered for admission. Non-eligible students will be notified via the email provided on the application. Admitted students will be notified by mail. Applications for non-admitted applicants are held for one semester. If you are not accepted on the first attempt, you may reapply one more time. 

Criteria and scoring for admission decisions are available on the application form. Scores are ranked from highest to lowest, and the top 24 students are offered admission to the nursing program. Students must accept the admission within 14 business days of the mail date or their placement will be offered to the next qualified student. There is no waiting list for admission. Accepted students must attend nursing orientation scheduled before the end of the application semester.  

 

Download Application

Core Performance Standards

Because the Nursing Program seeks to provide a safe environment for nursing students and their patients, students will be required to demonstrate physical and emotional fitness to meet the essential requirements of the nursing program. Such essential requirements include freedom from communicable disease, the ability to perform certain physical tasks, and suitable emotional fitness.

Any appraisal measures used to determine such physical and emotional fitness will be in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, so as not to discriminate against any individual on the basis of handicap.

The essential requirements of the nursing program with examples of activities required of students during their nursing education are listed in the Essential Requirements of Nursing Programs document. This document is based on The Americans with Disabilities Act: Implications for Nursing Education. Southern Regional Education Board (March 1993), www.sreb.org.

Special Requirements for Nursing Majors

Submission of completed health data requirement prior to beginning of first semester following acceptance into the program • Submission of yearly PPD results (or chest x-ray, if appropriate) and evidence of CPR certification • Undergo a criminal background check and urine drug screening • Adhere to the policies and procedures in the Nursing Student Handbook and Policy Manuals • Special fees for standardized testing and clinical courses are required in addition to tuition • Obtain physical examination and proof of immunity to communicable diseases.

Progression

In order to progress and graduate, the student enrolled in the ASN program must:

• Receive a C or better in all courses required for the nursing program;

• Maintain a minimum of 2.0 cumulative grade point average;

• Complete all course work within three years of admission into the program.

Ratio Clock to Credit Hour

The ratio of theory clock hour to credit hour is 1:1. The ratio of clinical and lab clock to credit hour is 3:1. A clock hour equals 50 minutes.

Graduation

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply to any state Board of Nursing to take the NCLEX-RN examination. Each state has individual requirements of applicants for licensure for examination.

Eligibility for Licensure

The nursing law of West Virginia addresses criteria for application for licensure. The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses has the power to deny opportunity to procure licenses through testing if the applicant has willfully committed a felony under the laws of West Virginia.

Career Options

Our growing population yields a high demand for skilled nurses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that career opportunities for nurses are expected to grow 22% between now and 2018, giving nursing students peace of mind that they can secure jobs in settings including hospitals, clinical practices, nursing homes, home healthcare, or in military service.