University of the District of Columbia
Department of Nursing and Allied Health
   
Nursing Program
  
Nursing Programs
Associate of Applied Science Nursing PDF Document
Licensed Practical Nurse to Associate of Applied Science PDF Document
Bachelor of Science in Nursing PDF Document

Student Policies
The University offers two undergraduate nursing degrees: the Associate in Applied Science in Nursing (A.A.S.N.) and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing designed for Registered Nurses (R.N. to B.S.N.) on the Van Ness Campus (Building 44, Telephone 274-5940). The Nursing Program also includes two non-collegiate programs for practical nursing and nursing assistant certification (Building 52, Telephone 274-6950). Information about the degree offerings in the Nursing Program presented at this site supersedes printed documents.The 2006-2008 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog (Volume 13, Number 1); Division of Student Affairs’ Student Handbook and Info at a Glance; Schedule of Classes for each semester; UDC Website www.udc.edu; and 2007-2009 Undergraduate Nursing Student Handbook for undergraduate students provide information regarding admission, progression and graduation policies. Nursing Handbooks are provided to all students admitted to the Nursing Program and Nursing students are responsible for using these public documents to enhance their academic experiences and are held accountable for policy adherence.

The A.A.S.N. and B.S.N. programs are approved by the District of Columbia Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The Associate in Applied Science in Nursing curriculum is designed to provide graduates with the necessary knowledge and skills to be eligible to attain licensure as registered nurses upon successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and allows graduates to provide nursing care in a variety of settings. The Licensed Practical Nurse Accelerated Curriculum (L.P.N. to A.A.S.N.) is designed for practicing licensed practical nurses to complete the associate degree in one academic year after completing pre-nursing requirements. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (R.N. to B.S.N.) curriculum is designed for registered nurses to complete the bachelor's degree by building on knowledge acquired through previous education and current nursing practice. B.S.N. graduates are prepared to provide leadership and management in the coordination of care to individuals, families and communities and pursue graduate studies in nursing.

NLNAC
61 Broadway 33rd fl.
New York City, N.Y. 10006
1-800-669-1656 ext. 153
212-363-5555
212-812-0390
website: www.nlnac.org
 
ADMISSION

APPLICATION PROCESS

The Office of Admission processes applications to the University. Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to the Nursing Program. Students are not automatically admitted to the Nursing Program by indicating an interest in nursing or declaring nursing as a major. Students must make application to the program and nursing admission is competitive.

Nursing students are admitted to the clinical nursing courses consistent with the established admission criteria and selection process. Students enrolled in UDC as regular unlicensed nursing students must complete pre-nursing courses; earn a minimum grade of “C” in each course on the program of study; and earn a UDC cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.5 or higher to be eligible to make formal application to the Nursing Program. Application packets for the Nursing Program are distributed by the Nursing and Allied Health Secretary (Building 44, Room 103C) in September and December and must be returned to the same location by the January and October deadlines respectively to be logged upon receipt.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) students must be graduates of NLNAC accredited programs and/or state approved programs and verify current LPN licensure. Registered Nurse (RN) students must be graduates of NLNAC accredited programs and verify current licensure in the District of Columbia. RN's educated in foreign counties must have academic records evaluated by the appropriate organizations and on file in UDC’s Office of Admission. Licensed nursing students (L.P.N.’s and R.N.’s) and nursing students transferring from other institutions are admitted for fall and spring semesters and the application deadlines are the third Friday in January for fall admission and the third Friday in October for spring admission. Transfer credits must be documented on the UDC transcript to be considered with the nursing application packet. Generic or non-licensed nursing students are admitted twice a year in the spring and fall semesters. The Admission, Progression, and Graduation (APG) Committee evaluates all nursing applications to verify that pre-requisite and admission requirements have been met. The APG Committee ranks students according to application evaluation criteria and assigns points for grade point averages, application components (demographic information, application-essay quality, recommendations), and admission examination performance. Committee recommendations are forwarded to the faculty and to the Director of Nursing. Applicants are notified in writing of the decision regarding their admission status. Selection among those who meet eligibility criteria for program admission includes but is not limited to the following minimum requirements:
  1. Cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.5 or greater
  2. Completion of all pre-requisite courses with a grade of “C” or better
  3. Completion of all science courses within seven years of admission*
  4. Completed application and essay received on or before the deadline
  5. Satisfactory recommendations
  6. Eligibility to obtain licensure as a registered nurse
  7. Completion of a standardized admission examination
* Does not apply to RN-BSN students.
Students may also be interviewed to obtain additional information. Students are informed in writing of their application status. Selected students are given detailed information on requirements for progression. Accepted students must verify completion of the following requirements prior to clinical agency assignments (a component of all nursing practicum courses):
  1. Valid Picture Identification
  2. Valid CPR (Health care provider) certification
  3. Proof of purchase of professional liability insurance
  4. Health clearance by the University Health Services
  5. Police clearance and drug screening (if required by clinical agency).
Students who are denied admission to the nursing program are informed of their rejection status and assisted to explore other career options. Applications of rejected students are not retained. When the selection process is completed, the list of remaining applicants is abolished. Students wishing consideration during the next application cycle must reapply.

TRANSFER OF CREDIT

Transfer students from other colleges/universities must be in good academic standing, not on academic probation, not academically or administratively dismissed, and not barred from continuing enrollment in the nursing program(s) at previous institution(s). Transfer students from other institutions must be enrolled in UDC for at least one semester and meet all criteria for admission and pre-requisites to be considered for progression into clinical courses. Science courses can be no older than seven years and credit by examination can be used to validate prior learning for selected courses. Students will be numerically ranked based on the nursing program criteria for advancement into the clinical courses as space permits.

VALIDATION, ARTICULATION AND CREDIT BY EXAMINATION

The faculty is committed to validating prior education through the Credit by Examination (CBE) process and through the District of Columbia Educational Articulation Competency Model Validation Courses to facilitate advanced placement and promote smooth articulation through the nursing curricula. LPN Validation Courses (3 Credit Hours for theory and 1 Credit Hour for laboratory) are offered at UDC and Howard University and the RN Validation Courses are offered at Maryland Universities. The LPN may complete credit by examination for Nursing Pharmacology and Foundations in Nursing and the RN may complete credit by examination for nursing courses below the 400 level.

LPN students may complete the Credit by Examination process for any of the first year courses and/or may be awarded 13 credits after successful completion of LPN Validation Theory and Laboratory courses according to the District of Columbia Consortium for Nursing Education and Practice (DCCNEP) D.C. Educational Articulation Model. LPN students must make formal application to enroll in the LPN Validation courses by the third Friday in October deadline and may enroll in the University as special students for the semester. Completion of the LPN Validation, Nursing Pharmacology and pre-nursing courses does not guarantee admission to the Nursing Program. LPN students may apply for advance placement to progress to clinical nursing courses after:
  1. scoring at least C on the Excelsior College Examination for Foundations of Nursing (Test #403) or completing four (4) credit hours in LPN Validation Courses (3 Credit Hours for theory and 1 Credit Hour for laboratory) at UDC or Howard University and
  2. scoring at or above 75% (seventy-five percent) on a pharmacology departmental examination or completing 1425-105-Nursing Pharmacology with a grade of C or better and
  3. completing all pre-requisites in the LPN Program of Study.
Registered Nurse students without transfererable academic units may validate prior learning through the DC Educational Articulation Competency Model Validation Courses, Excelsior College Examinations for baccalaureate students, and UDC departmental credit by examination. Information and study guides for the standardized exams may be obtained on-line at excelsior.edu, by calling (888) 647-2388, or writing Excelsior College Test Administration; 7 Columbia Circle; Albany, N.Y. 12203. Exams are administered at designated Prometric Testing Centers.

ADVISEMENT

Nursing students are assigned to faculty advisors according to the first letter of the students' last names or status (LPN, transfer students from another nursing programs, or RN). New students (Freshman Level or Transfer) admitted to the University who indicate an interest in nursing should report to the nursing faculty for advisement. Students must be accepted as nursing majors or have permission to register for AASN or and BSN courses. Continuing students who are nursing majors enrolled in clinical nursing courses are to see their assigned advisor during the early registration period each semester for academic counseling. Students are encouraged to make appointments with their faculty advisor for academic counseling at least once per semester prior to the registration periods, to facilitate optimal progression through the program.

Academic advisor list are posted throughout the Department.
Nursing Faculty Name Office and Telephone
Stella O. Akpuaka

Bldg 44, 200-28
202- 274-6284

Maija Anderson
Bldg 44, 200-26
202-274-5942
Elmira T. Asongwed
Bldg 44, 200-27
202- 274-5909
Doris T. Caldwell
Bldg 44, 200-28
202- 274-5907
Susie M. Cato
Bldg 44, 200-26
202- 274-5914
Tracy Gantt
Bldg 44, 200-27
202-274-5881
Gloria J. Green-Ridley

Bldg 44, 104A
202–274-5914
Joanne D. Joyner
Bldg 44, 105
202- 274-5916
Donna Minor
Bldg 44, 104A
202-274-5880
Berthlyn Scoulios
Bldg 44, 200-25
202-274-5493

PROGRESSION ACADEMIC STANDING AND COURSE PERFORMANCE GRADING

The nursing program uses the University's grading system but has its own grading scale. Nursing grading scale is used in all nursing courses. A grade of "C' or better is required in all courses listed on the Program of Study. The following grades are used in all nursing courses to indicate the students' level of achievement:A (93-100) Excellent
B (84-92) Good
C (75-83) Satisfactory
D (66-74) Unsatisfactory (not passing)
F (Below 66) Unsatisfactory (not passing)

WITHDRAWAL/DISMISSAL

Students may register for nursing courses during the early registration period based on their status at the time of registration for continuing students. Students inappropriately registered or ineligible for nursing courses will be required to withdraw. Incomplete grade(s) in nursing courses must be removed before progressing to another nursing course. Pre and/or co-requisites must be completed for each nursing course prior to progression. Nursing students are eligible for progression if they achieve of a grade of "C" or better in all required courses listed on the Program of Study, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better, and demonstrate academic integrity. Students with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) below 2.0 and grades of less than "C" in required courses will not be retained in nursing. Only one nursing course may be repeated during a student’s progression through the nursing program. Students whose transcripts show two grades below "C", either D or F in nursing courses will not be retained in the program. Other reasons for dismissal include any incident where continuing in nursing would be detrimental to the health of the student or to others, verified academic dishonesty, code of conduct violations and unethical practices in classroom or clinical settings. While a student may be dismissed from the nursing program, she/he may not be dismissed from the University and can be assisted with identifying another major.


READMISSION

Students in good academic standing, who have not been enrolled for one or more semesters in the Nursing Program, must submit a letter of intention by the third Friday in January for consideration for the following fall term and by the third Friday in October for the following spring term in order to be screened for eligibility to register for nursing courses. Students who withdraw from the Nursing Program and apply for readmission at a later date, including those students who have earned a "C" grade in nursing courses during a previous enrollment, may be asked to repeat some or all of the nursing courses previously completed and/or demonstrate clinical competence, especially if the time period between withdrawal and readmission is two years or longer and/or the program of study has changed. Readmission of nursing students is contingent upon recommendations of the APG committee and space availability. If a student is readmitted, he/she will be readmitted under the current program of study.


NURSING COURSE (CLASS AND CLINICAL) PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Students are expected to function as accountable, responsible and self-directed individuals. The course syllabi provide course details and serve as the student-faculty contracts for the course conduct. The course syllabi and modules identify objectives, teaching methods-learning activities, and evaluation criteria to guide students. Course schedules provide testing details, content and/or assignments.
Classroom attendance is expected and academic integrity is required. Absenteeism jeopardizes academic success.
Clinical and Laboratory attendance in nursing is mandatory. All planned learning experiences, whether on-campus or off-campus, are required to meet course objectives. Students are responsible for purchasing and maintaining uniforms and uniform accessories. Health clearance through the University Health Services is required annually and is a pre-requisite to clinical placement in accord with the healthcare agency policies and D.C. laws. CPR Certification (Healthcare Providers Card) must be maintained by all students enrolled in nursing courses
Student Release Form completion is are required to release the Nursing Program and the University from responsibility for any injury or illness to the student (or if pregnant, to the inborn baby) while attending hospital or other clinical(s) and to acknowledge that risks do exist and that students assume any and all risks involved. Health problems that could interfere with the student’s ability to meet program objectives will be considered on an individual basis. Student with health problems must have written documentation from their physician and sign a student release form prior to clinical laboratory experiences.
Professional Liability Insurance is required for each clinical nursing course and must be maintain throughout the nursing curriculum. Insurance for AASN students is purchased during the registration period at the beginning of the academic year in the cashier's office (Bldg. 39, 2nd floor) and receipts must be presented to faculty to verify coverage. RN students must maintain individual professional liability insurance coverage.

GRIEVANCE/COMPLAINT AND APPEAL PROCEDURES

Students have rights and responsibilities to express concerns regarding faculty-student matters and perceived problems. Students are encouraged to follow the chain of command and seek assistance from faculty members and academic advisors to resolve issues at the lowest level of authority. If the matter cannot be resolved at the level of occurrence, the student is to use the established policies for grievances and complaints. Grade appeals that cannot be resolved at the departmental level go to the College of Arts and Sciences Academic Appeals Committee. Complaints of discrimination can be filed with the UDC Office of Human Resources to address affirmative action, equal employment opportunities, disability-handicap-limitation accommodations, racial harassment, and sexual harassment.

CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS

Nursing students are expected to follow the National Student Nurses’ Association Code of Academic and Clinical Conduct, American Nurses’ Association Code of Ethics, and UDC Code of Student Conduct. Students at UDC assume the obligation to maintain standards of academic integrity. Violation of academic obligations includes: unethical practices and acts of academic dishonesty, such as cheating, plagiarism, falsification, and the facilitation of such acts. Academic integrity is expected and required for retention in the nursing program. Violations of the codes of conduct and ethics will result in dismissal from the nursing program.


GRADUATION
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

The Associate Degree requires 72 semester hours, 15 of which must be in residence in the second year level. University graduation clearance requirements include completion of all University-Wide and nursing requirements with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better. Additional nursing requirements for graduation include completion of all courses on the program of study with a minimum grade of "C" and performance on a comprehensive examination with a score based on not less than five percent below the national norms for the testing product. By the end of the AASN courses, students are required to have completed 10,000 NCLEX-RN style questions. The Baccalaureate Degree requires 120 semester hours, 30 of which must be in residence. University graduation clearance and a grade of "C" in each course on the nursing program of study are requirements for graduation. All graduation clearance requirements must be  met prior to participation in University Commencement and related activities.
   
University of the District of Columbia
Department of Nursing and Allied Health
Building 44, 102
Washington, DC 20008
202/274-5940