Nursing AAS

Reynolds uses the HESI for all nursing admission testing. Please see Registered Nursing HESI Admission Test Information for more information. 

The summer application deadline (for Fall 2021 start) WILL REMAIN the 3^rd Monday in May. Instructions for remote HESI testing (For the RN program ONLY) can be found by clicking the “HESI Admission Test Information” link above and scrolling to the bottom of the page. There will be an additional $10 charge (Test $53 + Proctor U $10= $63 total to test). Please follow the instructions specifically. Applications MUST CONTAIN HESI scores or they will be considered incomplete and returned. Please check the nursing website (frequently) and your email account (daily) to ensure important information is not overlooked.

Associate of Applied Science

PURPOSE: The Nursing AAS program is designed to prepare diverse individuals to practice evidence-based nursing successfully as a professional member of the interdisciplinary health care team. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, the student is eligible to apply to take the licensing examination (NCLEX-RN®) required to become a Registered Nurse.

OCCUPATIONAL OBJECTIVES: To secure and sustain employment as a professional nurse providing nursing care to individuals, families, communities, and/or populations in a variety of health care settings

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: General college curricular admission and program-specific criteria

PROGRAM NOTES: The Virginia State Board of Nursing has the authority to deny licensure to any applicant who has violated any of the provisions of 54.1-3007 of the Code of Virginia. Any student convicted of illegal offenses other than minor traffic violations should discuss these matters with the coordinator of the Nursing AAS program prior to admission for clarification.

A criminal background check and drug screen are required of all incoming nursing students. Random drug screens and repeat background checks may be required for current or returning students at any time. A student with an unsatisfactory background check and/or drug screening will be dismissed from the Nursing AAS program.

A student who has an absence greater than 12 months within the Nursing AAS program must meet current admission and curriculum requirements. A student seeking to resume enrollment must meet with the coordinator of the Nursing AAS program prior to reenrollment.

A student accepted to the Nursing AAS program must sign an Assumption of Risk document that serves to provide a general outline of hazards encountered within nursing. This list includes, but is not limited to, exposure to infectious, biological, chemical, environmental/mechanical, and psychosocial hazards, as well as loss of personal property.

Student Outcomes for the AAS in Nursing:

A student who completes the AAS in Nursing will be expected to

1. Provide patient-centered care promoting therapeutic relationships, caring behaviors, and self-determination across the lifespan for diverse populations;
2. Practice safe nursing care that minimizes risk of harm across systems and client populations;
3. Demonstrate nursing judgment through the use of clinical reasoning, the nursing process, and evidence-based practice in the provision of safe, quality care;
4. Practice professional behaviors that encompass the legal/ethical framework, while incorporating self-reflection, leadership, and a commitment to recognize the value of lifelong learning;
5. Manage client care through quality improvement processes, information technology, and fiscal responsibility to meet client needs and support organizational outcomes; and
6. Demonstrate principles of collaborative practice within the nursing and interdisciplinary teams fostering mutual respect and shared decision-making to achieve stated outcomes of care.

Program Specific requirements are the following:

1. Selection of Health Science I CSC (plan code 221-190-01) on the Reynolds Community College general admission application. (Please Note: VCCS student email accounts are the only accepted email account for all correspondence)
2. BIO 141 , BIO 142 , BIO 150  or any BIO equivalent transfer courses for credit must be taken within 7 years of admission into the first semester of the program.
3. All prerequisite courses for the AAS Nursing Program (BIO 141 , ENG 111 , SDV 101 , and PSY 230 ) must be completed prior to the program application deadline.
4. Complete an English language proficiency test for ALL non-native English speaking students. The TOEFL iBT, Pearson Test for English (PTE) Academic, and IELTS are the only acceptable proficiency exams. For TOEFL iBT, a minimum total score of 84 and a minimum speaking score of 26 must be earned. For PTE Academic, a minimum score of 56 must be earned. For IELTS, a minimum score of 6.5 with no communicative skill below 6.0 must be earned. Any student that has completed 6^th grade through high school graduation in the United States will be waived from this requirement. Completion of ENG 111or ESL courses does not satisfy this requirement. These scores are based on recommendations from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing for the level of English proficiency required to perform entry-level nursing safely and effectively. Test scores are valid for up to two years.
5. Submission of official college transcripts to the Admissions office for consideration of transfer credit for courses is required by the Nursing AAS program. All decisions for transfer credit are determined by the Registrar’s office. The applicant is solely responsible for confirming transfer credits are posted by the Registrar.
6. Successful completion of the program admission test.
7. Applications are ranked based on admission scores. Anatomy and Physiology, reading comprehension, and math scores are each weighted 30%; the grammar score is weighted 10%.
8. Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher.
9. Curricular GPA of 2.5 or higher in the eleven (11) credits of general education prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or above (BIO 141 , ENG 111 , SDV 101 , and PSY 230 ).
10. A selected applicant must accept or deny admission electronically, via their Reynolds student email account, as directed, via the Accepted Student Response Form by the identified date or forfeit their seat.  To apply to the Reynolds Registered Nursing Program please follow these instructions.

Application Deadlines for Full-time Day Program:

• Fall Semester start: 3rd Monday in May
• Spring Semester start: 3rd Monday in August

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS REQUIREMENTS: Students entering the Nursing program must possess the following functional skills:

• Sufficient eyesight to observe patients, read records, manipulate equipment, and visually monitor patients in dim light;
• Sufficient hearing to communicate with patients and members of a health care delivery team, monitor patients using electronic equipment, hear necessary sounds during operation of equipment, and hear a patient whispering;
• Satisfactory speaking, reading, and writing skills to communicate effectively in English in a timely manner;
• Sufficient bilateral finger dexterity to manipulate equipment;
• Ability to lift, stoop, or bend in the delivery of safe nursing care;
• Satisfactory physical strength and endurance to stand for extended periods, push equipment, and move immobile patients; and
• Satisfactory intellectual and emotional functioning to ensure patient safety and to exercise independent judgment and discretion in performing assigned care.

Nursing Program Curriculum Map

Course	Course Credit Hours	Didactic credits	Didactic contact hours	Clinical lab credits	Lab contact hours	Clinical contact hours	Simulation contact hours
Prerequisites
BIO 141 Anatomy and Physiology I	4	3	45	1	45	0	0
ENG 111 Composition I	3	3	45	0	0	0	0
PSY 230 Developmental Psychology	3	3	45	0	0	0	0
SDV 100 or SDV 101	1	1	15	0	0	0	0
Semester Total	11	10	150	1	45	0	0
Semester I
BIO 142 Anatomy & Physiology II	4	3	45	1	45	0	0
NSG 100 Introduction to Nursing Concepts	4	3	45	1	0	45	0
NSG 106 Competencies for Nursing Practice	2	1	15	1	45	0	0
NSG 130 Professional Nursing Concepts	1	1	15	0	0	0	0
NSG 200 Health Promotion and Assessment	3	2	30	1	35	6 (health screening)	4
Semester Total	11	10	150	1	45	0	0
Semester II
BIO 150 Microbiology	4	3	45	1	45	0	0
NSG 152 Health Care Participant	3	2	30	1	0	45	0
NSG 170  Health/Illness Concepts	6	4	60	2	10	70	10
Semester Total	14	10	150	4	125	51	4
Semester III
Elective (college choice)	3	3	45	0	0	0	0
NSG 210 Health Care Concepts I	5	3	45	2	0	80	10
NSG 211  Health Care Concepts II	5	3	45	2	0	76	14
Semester Total	13	9	135	4	0	156	24
Semester IV
NSG 230 Advanced Professional Nursing Concepts	2	2	30	0	0	0	0
NSG 252 Complex Health Concepts	4	4	60	0	0	0	0
NSG 270 Nursing Capstone	4	0	0	4	0	154	26
PHI 220 Ethics or PHI 227 Bio-medical Ethics	3	3	45	0	0	0	0
Semester Total	13	9	135	4	0	154	26
Curriculum Total	64	47	705	17	225	476	64

TRANSFER OPTIONS: Applicants seeking to transfer into the Nursing AAS program are required to meet all admission requirements. Transfer students from other nursing programs may be accepted on a space available basis.

1. The Nursing Student Affairs Subcommittee will review applications for students seeking transfer of nursing courses. Applicants must demonstrate that a nursing course, with corresponding credits, was completed within the previous 12 months.
2. Nursing transfer applicants must have a written statement from the dean or director of the nursing program the student is leaving, indicating that they are in good standing and eligible to return to the previous institution.

EXPECTATIONS: The student is required to complete a sequence of courses and learning experiences provided at the college and selected community agencies, such as acute care (hospitals) or long-term care facilities, clinics, or comparable agencies and facilities. During these experiences, the nursing faculty will observe, monitor, and evaluate the student’s ability to achieve program outcomes through direct patient care.

CLINICAL CONTRACTS: Individual contracts are in effect with each affiliate clinical agency, and these contracts differ in requirements for students. In general, contracts include the following:

1. Clinical agencies reserve the right to dismiss a student from their agency at any time. Student must wear the proper uniform, conforming to program and health care agency standards.
2. Student must follow published hospital policies.
3. Student must meet health, immunity, and immunization requirements.
4. Student releases the facility, its agents, and its employees from any liability for any injury or death to self or damage to personal property arising out of the clinical agreement or use of the facility. (Assessment of Risk document is signed and on file, once the student is accepted into the program.)
5. Student is financially responsible for any medical care required while in the clinical setting.
6. Student must have a current American Heart Association PR BLS for Health Care Provider Certification.
7. Demonstration of professional behavior is expected at all clinical learning experiences. Faculty will direct a student to leave the learning environment if unacceptable behaviors are observed.
8. The health care agency may deny a student participation based on results of background and drug screen.
9. Student must attend the health care agency’s orientation as scheduled to remain enrolled in a clinical nursing course.
10. Student must submit required clinical documents with each clinical rotation. A student who does not meet published deadlines for submission forfeits his/her enrollment.

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the regular college tuition and fees, the nursing program requires the following (these costs are approximate and subject to change):

Uniforms, Shoes, and Stethoscope	$350.00
Special Testing across the Curriculum	$650.00
Books and Supplies	$1,500.00
Physical Exam and Clinical Health Requirements (Titers, Immunizations, TB Testing, etc.) – varies depending on health insurance coverage	$500.00
NCLEX-RN® Fee, VBON Application Fee, and Fieldprint background check	$435.00
Castlebranch® Document Manager® Background Check, Drug Screening, and Re-checks	$225.00
Transportation and Parking for Clinical Rotations	Varies

PROGRESSION THROUGH THE PROGRAM: Reynolds relies on affiliation agreements with community agencies to provide clinical education opportunities for nursing students. The rapid changes in health care law, standards of practice, technology, content of credentialing examinations, and availability of qualified faculty increasingly necessitate sudden changes in the program’s course content, policies, procedures, and course scheduling. As a result, the college cannot guarantee every student continuous and uninterrupted clinical and course instruction as outlined in the printed catalog curriculum for this program. Circumstances beyond the control of the college may necessitate the postponement of course offerings or changes in the sequencing and/or location of scheduled courses or clinical assignments. Additionally, the college may have to change the instructor for courses after instruction has started.

CONTINUATION IN THE PROGRAM:

• A student must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.
• A student must achieve a course grade of “C” (80%) or better in ALL courses within the AAS curriculum.
• The clinical portion of designated nursing courses is evaluated as “Pass/Fail.” A student who does not meet the clinical learning outcomes will fail the course.
• A student who fails any two nursing courses or is not successful after two attempts (withdrawal and/or fail) in the same course may not continue in the Nursing AAS.
• A student may enroll only in the courses listed in his/her qualified semester.
• A student that is deemed ineligible to return to a clinical site will not be eligible for re-admission.

PROGRESSION STATUS: Reynolds has entered into an implied contract with all students accepted into the AAS Nursing program via the Reynolds catalog. The catalog indicates that once accepted into the Nursing program a student can complete the program within two years, assuming the student attends four consecutive semesters. (Summer is a session, not a semester.) Continuation in the program is conditional upon those factors identified in the “Progression through the Program” statement.

Progression 1 students are those who have never failed, dropped, withdrawn, or taken a leave of absence for any reason. Progression 1 students may register for any available space in a course for which they are eligible during the assigned registration period.

Progression 2 students have stopped program progress due to leave of absence, course withdrawal or failure. Re-enrollment into the program is based upon available seats. Students in Progression 2 status will be enrolled based on a random lottery drawing for available seats and will not participate in the online registration process. Progression 2 students will return to Progression 1 status after successful completion of the course from which they withdrew or failed.

NCLEX-RN First Attempt Pass Rate for Reynolds Nursing Graduates

Year	NCLEX Pass Rate
2021	73.1%
2020	69.5%
2019	85%
2018	93.9%
2017	92.6%

Nursing AAS Employment Data: Employment data is dependent upon graduate responses to surveys conducted. May 2019 Graduates - 100% reported employment or offers of employment upon program completion.

PROGRAM ACCREDITATION

Pursuant to United States Department of Education (US DOE) regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v), the Reynolds Community College Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program provides the following information for all prospective and current students:

The Reynolds Community College ADN program meets all Virginia Board of Nursing requirements for pre-licensure nursing education programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In addition, the Reynolds Community College ADN program meets all requirements for nationally recognized accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing.

The Commonwealth of Virginia participates with 32 other states in the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) National Licensing Compact (NLC) to allow nurses licensed in one state to provide nursing care across state lines in other compact states. The Uniform Licensing Requirements (ULRs) are found at https://www.ncsbn.org/NLC_ULRs.pdf

States currently in the NLC are found at: https://www.ncsbn.org/nlcmemberstates.pdf. Prospective and current students are strongly encouraged to evaluate all state requirements in jurisdictions where they intend to practice nursing. A list of all state requirements is found at: https://www.ncsbn.org/14730.htm

The Virginia State Board of Nursing may be contacted at, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233-1463, (804367-4515. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing may be contacted at 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite500, Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000). Reynolds Community College has not determined if the ADN program meets the requirements of any other states.