Academics

Associate of Science: Nursing

Associate of Science in Nursing Program 

The Associate of Science in Nursing is offered in two tracks – a generic and bridge (LPN-RN).  Both tracks lead to eligibility to take licensing examination to be a Registered Nurse (RN).

Tracks:

  • Generic 
  • Bridge: Licensed Practical Nurse to Registered Nurse (LPN-RN)

Associate of Science in Nursing

The SGSC School of Nursing offers all ASN courses on the Douglas and Waycross campuses. The ASN program prepares students to evaluate general education content and critical thinking principles in decision making to provide therapeutic nursing care. Students will analyze principles of responsibility and accountability for professional nursing roles. The ASN program teaches students to use evidence-based practice for decision making, critical reasoning, and creative thinking to improve the practice of nursing. Students will integrate caring, compassion, and empathy in all aspects of nursing practice. Students collaborate in partnerships to promote, maintain, and restore health. This program asks students to analyze leadership principles in nursing practice. Finally, students in the ASN program will evaluate healthcare information in providing nursing care.

Licensed Practical Nurse to Registered Nurse Bridge Program (LPN-RN)

The SGSC School of Nursing LPN-RN Bridge program starts in the summer with the 10 hour NURS 1104 course. Students will take 8 hours of class time and 6 hours of lab time each week with this course. This course is designed to provide an advanced placement of the LPN in the ASN program. Once the Bridge course is successfully completed, the student will then be able to register for courses that start the second year of the ASN program in the fall.

Resources:

Nursing School application and deadlines for the ASN and LPN-RN Bridge Programs

Early decision deadline for the LPN-RN Bridge Program is January 15. Early decision deadline for the ASN Program is February 15th.   Additional qualified applicants will be reviewed following the early decision deadlines on May 15.

Program Resources for Current Accepted Nursing Students:

 All nursing students must complete the Clinical Health Information Packet before the first day of their first nursing courses and then annually before the first day of Fall semester nursing classes.

 

ASN Program Outcomes:

 

The School of Nursing wants you to have a successful experience at SGSC. Please explore the performance requirements below and also find out more information about clinicals. If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out to us at nursinginformation@sgsc.edu and we will be glad to help!

A minimum grade of “C” is required in all science and general education courses included in the curriculum for nursing.  A student who makes less than a “C” in more than one required science course, including a repeated course, will not be eligible for admission to, or progression in, the nursing program.  Grades of less than “C” in the required science courses taken at another institution will be considered the same as if taken at South Georgia State College.

After receiving a letter of conditional acceptance, the will student attend a mandatory Nursing Orientation Advisement and Registration (NOAR). The student will be required to submit additional paperwork including but not limited to Physical Examination, Proof or Health Insurance, CPR: Adult, Child and Infant (American Red Cross or American Heart Association), PPD or Past Positive PPD with follow-up per protocol, PSI Background Check and Urine Drug Screen. Additional requirements include a host of immunizations including but not limited to: MMR, Varicella, TDAP, Hepatitis B Vaccine injections and titer. Varicella (Chicken Pox) 2 shot series or blood titer, and Influenza Vaccine per clinical agency annually.

Performance Standards for Admission to and Retention in the Associate of Science in Nursing and RN-BSN Degree Programs
A candidate for the Associate of Science in Nursing and RN-BSN degree programs must have abilities and skills of four varieties: observation, communication, motor, and behavioral.  Reasonable accommodations may be made on an individual basis as directed by the Disabilities Coordinator; however, a candidate is expected to perform in an independent manner.  Please read the performance standards for admission and progression in the nursing program.

Motor Skills

Candidates should have sufficient motor function so that they are able to execute movements required to provide general care and treatment to clients in all health care settings.  (For example: For the safety and protection of the clients, the candidate must be able to administer intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous and oral medications; apply pressure to stop bleeding; open obstructed airway; and provide patient/client daily hygiene care; perform basic life support, including CPR, and function in an emergency situation.  The candidate must have the ability to safely assist a client in moving, for example, from a chair to a bed, or from a wheelchair to a commode.)

Sensory/Observation

A candidate must be able to acquire the information presented through demonstrations and experiences in the basic and nursing sciences.  He or she must be able to observe a client accurately, at a distance and close at hand, and observe and appreciate non-verbal communications when performing nursing assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation.  The candidate must be capable of perceiving the signs of disease and infection as manifested through physical examination.  Such information is derived from images of the body surfaces, palpable changes in various organs and tissues, and auditory information (client voice, heart tones, bowel and lung sounds).

Communication

The candidate must communicate effectively and sensitively with other students, faculty, staff, clients, family, and other professionals.  He or she must express his or her ideas and feelings clearly and demonstrate a willingness and ability to give and receive feedback.  A candidate must be able to: convey or exchange information at a level allowing development of a health history; identify problems presented; explain alternative solutions; and provide education.  The candidate must be able to communicate effectively in oral and written forms.  The candidate must be able to process and communicate information on the client’s status with accuracy in a timely manner to members of the health care team.  The appropriate communication may also rely on the candidate’s ability to make a correct judgment in seeking supervision and consultation in a timely manner.

Cognitive

A candidate must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate and synthesize in the context of undergraduate nursing study.  The candidate must be able to quickly read and comprehend extensive written material.  He or she must also be able to evaluate and apply information and engage in critical thinking in the classroom and clinical setting.

Behavioral/Emotional

A candidate must possess the emotional health required for the full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, and the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of clients and families.  In addition, s/he must be able to maintain mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with clients, students, family, staff and other professionals under all circumstances including highly stressful situations.  The candidate must have the emotional stability to function effectively under stress and to adapt to an environment that may change rapidly without warning and/or in unpredictable ways. The candidate must be able to experience empathy for the situations and circumstances of others and effectively communicate that empathy.  The candidate must know that his or her values, attitudes, beliefs, emotions, and experiences affect his or her perceptions and relationships with others.  The candidate must be able and willing to examine and change his or her behavior when it interferes with productive individual or team relationships.  The candidate must possess skills and experience necessary for effective and harmonious relationships in diverse academic and working environments.

Professional Conduct

Candidates must possess the ability to reason morally and practice nursing in an ethical manner.  Candidates must be willing to learn and abide by professional standards of practice and of the South Georgia State College’s School of Nursing policies.  S/he must possess attributes that include compassion, empathy, altruism, integrity, honesty, responsibility and tolerance.  Candidates must be able to engage in client care delivery in all settings and be able to deliver care to all client populations including but not limited to children, adolescents, adults, developmentally disabled persons, medically compromised clients, and vulnerable adults.

 

Students in nursing obtain clinical experience in the campus skills laboratory, simulation laboratories and selected community clinical facilities. The student must assume responsibility for travel to clinical agencies. Students will provide care to assigned clients regardless of diagnosis, age, sex, race, creed, sexual orientation, or ethnic origin. Major clinical facilities utilized by South Georgia State College require a background check and a drug screening prior to attending clinical. Based on the results of these screenings, the agencies may choose to disallow a student to attend clinical at these sites. To complete the nursing curriculum, students must be able to attend clinical at these sites. Failure to do so would result in the inability of the student to complete the program of study. Students must meet the facilities’ requirements related to the PSI Background Check and Urine Drug Screen.

Once a student begins nursing courses in the ASN generic program, he/she has a maximum of 36 months (6 academic semesters) to complete the program and meet requirements for graduation. Once a student begins Nursing 1104 (Career Mobility for LPNs to RNs), he/she has a maximum of 24 months to complete the program and meet requirements for graduation. The College reserves the right to certify that courses presented for program completion are current. Students may be required to retake courses to update their skills and/or their knowledge in the field. Additional NCLEX review may be required before program completion.