Nursing

Department of Nursing
College of Health and Human Services

Neff Hall B50 ~ 260-481-6816 ~ www.ipfw.edu/nursing

The Associate of Science with a Major in Nursing and the Bachelor of Science with a Major in Nursing Programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC), 61 Broadway 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006, telephone 1-800-669-1656; and the Indiana State Board of Nursing Health Professions Bureau.

As graduates of a pre-licensure nursing program, students will have attained the knowledge and skills needed to provide quality healthcare and the academic credentials required to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Upon successful completion of this examination, the student will be eligible to practice as a registered nurse. The associate degree graduate is prepared to provide nursing care within structured healthcare organizations. The baccalaureate degree graduate is prepared at the professional level to function in a leadership role with other team members in varied and complex healthcare settings.

The RN-B.S. curriculum is uniquely designed for associate degree or diploma registered nurses, working full or part time, who wish to step up to bachelor’s degree. It is designed to meet the student’s professional goals in a flexible environment. Included in the program are two clinical practicums in a variety of acute, longterm, and community settings. Advising is personalized.

Students are responsible for current nursing policies found online at www.ipfw.edu/nursing/handbooks/default.shtml.

Prenursing

Admission to the nursing program from prenursing is limited and competitive. Prenursing applicants must meet the following requirements:

Be admitted to IPFW as a degree-seeking student (see Part 8)
Complete 16 hours of prenursing curriculum with a grade of C or better in each course. Courses may be repeated only one time. The prenursing curriculum includes:

PSY 120
ENG W131
CHM 104 or CHM 111
BIOL 203
COM 114

Students must have completed courses in biology and pharmacology within five years of application.
Students must have completed courses in chemistry and nutrition within 10 years of application.
Have a minimum IPFW grade-point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale in the prenursing curriculum. The GPA is calculated on only the 16 hours of prenursing curriculum taken at IPFW or at other Purdue University or Indiana University campuses. Applicants are ranked based on this GPA. This GPA does not include transfer courses.
A minimum GPA does not guarantee admission. The actual GPA necessary for admission varies with the GPA distribution of the applicant pool and the number of available seats for admission.
Applicants are required to take a preadmission examination.The examination is administered on specific dates and times. Applicants pay a testing fee.
All transfer grades will be reviewed and evaluated in the admission process.
First-priority consideration for program admission will be given to students who have completed 9 or more of the 16 prenursing curriculum hours at IPFW or at other Purdue University or Indiana University campuses. Three credit hours of a required science must be taken at a Purdue University or Indiana University campus for admission consideration.
If additional seats are available, the second priority is given to students who have completed less than 9 of the 16 prenursing curriculum hours at IPFW or at other Purdue University or Indiana University campuses. Three credit hours of required science must be taken at a Purdue University or Indiana University campus for admission consideration.
If additional seats are available, the third priority is given to students who have none of the 16 prenursing curriculum hours at IPFW or at other Purdue University or Indiana University campuses. In this case, the transfer GPA of the prenursing curriculum will be used for admission.
Should a tie in applicants’ GPAs occur, rank ordering will be based upon the number of repeated courses at IPFW, grades earned in science courses at IPFW, and scores earned on the preadmission examination.
Students will apply to enter the A.S. or B.S. degree program.
Students are admitted for a specific semester and are expected to enter that semester. Students who do not enter that semester must reapply for competitive program admission. Students who decline admission two times will no longer be considered.
Students must apply by the following deadlines: May 1 (fall semester) or Dec. 1 (spring semester).
LPN admission is conducted once per year with a Dec. 1 (spring semester) application deadline.
Student must accept or decline admission by returning the IPFW program admission form by the defined deadline.
Students who have not been accepted, but who are qualified, may reapply for admission.
Credits in developmental courses (ENG R150, R151, R152, P131. W130, or MA 109) do not apply toward either the prenursing or nursing curriculum.

All Current nursing policies are online at: www.ipfw.edu/nursing/handbooks/default.shtml.

Transfer Students from Other Nursing Programs

Transfer students from other NLNAC or CCNE accredited RN nursing programs may be considered for admission based on availability of space. Students must have completed 24 credit hours with a GPA of 3.5 (4.0 scale) or higher.

Applicants are required to take a preadmission examination. The examination is administered on specific dates and times. Applicants pay a testing fee.

Criteria for Dismissal from Prenursing/ Ineligibility for Admission to Nursing

A student who earns two grades below C in the same or any combination of two courses required in the prenursing curriculum will be ineligible for program admission for a period of five years after earning the last grade below C.
A student who is dismissed may appeal the decision to the Department of Nursing. If the student is dismissed for failure to meet the university’s minimum academic standards, application for readmission must follow the procedures established by the university. The Department of Nursing recognizes the Academic Renewal option.
Dismissal from the nursing program may result from professional misconduct policy: www.ipfw.edu/nursing/handbooks/default.shtml.

Criteria for Dismissal from Nursing

A student who earns two grades below C in the same or any combination of two courses required in the nursing curriculum will be dismissed from the program.
A student who has been dismissed from the nursing program is ineligible for admission into the nursing program for a period of five years from the date of dismissal.
Dismissal from the nursing program may result from professional misconduct policy: www.ipfw.edu/nursing/handbooks/default.shtml.
A student who is dismissed may appeal the decision to the Department of Nursing. If the student is dismissed for failure to meet the university’s minimum academic standards, application for readmission must follow the procedures established by the university. The Department of Nursing recognizes the Academic Renewal option.

Special Academic Regulations for Students in Nursing

Physicals, Immunizations, TB, CPR and Drug Screen

Policy is available online at: www.ipfw.edu/nursing/handbooks/default.shtml.

Degree Requirements

Students are expected to complete the A.S. within four years after admission to the program.
Students are expected to complete the B.S. within five years after admission to the program.
Students are required to complete the degree under the requirements specified in the Bulletin, Requirements for Degrees (see Part 8), and College of Health and Human Services (see Part 4), in effect at the time of admission to nursing.

Validating Previous Knowledge and Experience

Previously acquired knowledge/experience may be validated by challenge examination(s). Contact a nursing or prenursing advisor for specific information and department guidelines.
In all cases, eligibility for a challenge examination; the type of examination; testing procedures, date, time, and location; and evaluation of the performance will be determined by the IPFW Department of Nursing faculty. Decisions made by the department faculty with respect to the above are final. Only one attempt at an authorized challenge examination may be made.
RN–B.S. students who are certified by a recognized nursing organization may seek credit towards a nursing elective. Certain certificates may be used as credit for required nursing courses.

Academic Advising

Opportunities to talk to nursing faculty are available during office hours, via e-mail, or by appointment. Advising is personalized. Make an appointment to have your transcripsts and nursing experience evaluated.

Participation

Nursing students have the opportunity to impact decisions within nursing and on the campus by committee participation. Committee openings are announced in classes and posted on the nursing Web site. The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee is an example of one committee that invites and names a student representative and an alternate.

Eligibility for Licensure

Upon successful completion of the B.S. program, the graduate is eligible for licensure as a registered nurse (RN). Any person who applies for examination and registration as a registered nurse in Indiana shall submit to the Health Professions Bureau of the Indiana State Board of Nurses written evidence, verified by oath, that he/she

has completed an approved high school course of study or equivalent as apporved by the appropriate educational agency
has completed the prescribed curriculum in a state-accredited school of nursing and holds a diploma or certificate from there
has not been convicted of any act that would constitute grounds for disciplinary sanction under the state board rules and regulations or of any felony that has direct bearing on the individual’s ability to practice competently.