Admission for Accelerated Option

The accelerated BSN option is a hybrid program available for students who have previously completed a baccalaureate degree. The didactic portion of the courses will be delivered primarily in an online format. The clinical component of the courses will be face-to-face and the student will be required to attend clinical at designated times and locations in Northwest Alabama.

Applicants will be admitted to the accelerated BSN option after completion of the BSN undergraduate program prerequisites as listed in the catalog. Applicants must be admitted to UNA and have all transcripts submitted to the Admissions Office by the application deadline. In addition, international applicants must have met all University requirements regarding TOEFL/English proficiency by the application deadline. A baccalaureate degree from another country is acceptable, provided a WES evaluation has deemed the courses as acceptable and the applicant is given credit for the degree through the University’s Office of Admissions. There is no time limit on prerequisite courses. The student must be aware; however, that they are responsible for the information in the prerequisite courses as the nursing curriculum builds on prior learning.

Applications will be available in February and due March 1 of each year for admission to begin in the May intersession. Application information will be available on the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions (ACONHP) website during this time. Decisions will be made and students notified by April 1 of each year.

Initial admission is based on requirements for admission to the University; however, admission to the University does not assure admission to the program of nursing.  Admission to the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions is competitive, and meeting all admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the BSN program.  Requirements for admission to the nursing program are:

• Completion of baccalaureate degree in any discipline other than Nursing, from a regionally accredited institution.
• Admission to the University of North Alabama.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in either the first degree or on the completed prerequisite courses.
• Possess a C or above in all required prerequisite courses listed in the general studies component for nursing majors.
• Students must be eligible to participate in rotations in all clinical facilities to be eligible for admission to the program.
• Students must be available to attend clinical at designated times and locations in Northwest Alabama.
• Submit a formal application to the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions which includes an application fee.  Application is available in February of each year and it is due in March.
• Letter of Eligibility:  Students previously enrolled in another nursing program must provide a letter of eligibility to return to the program without stipulation by the dean or director.  If ineligible to return to the program, student is ineligible to apply to the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions.
  • Students enrolled previously in healthcare related programs (other than nursing), must talk with their advisor.  An eligibility letter may be required.
• An admission cumulative index based on admission assessment exam scores, GPA, and completed coursework at UNA is used to determine admission to the upper-division nursing major.
• Complete a background check and have a negative drug screen as specified on the application for admission.

Progression/Retention

Accelerated Option

Retention in the traditional/accelerated program is based on continued satisfaction of health requirements, certification, liability requirements, and appropriate academic progress with a grade of C or higher in each nursing course.

• Appropriate academic progress with a grade of C (75) or higher in each professional nursing course and satisfactory in the clinical component of the course to receive a C (75) or higher.
• Students must be eligible to participate in rotations in all clinical facilities to be eligible for admission/retention in the program.
• Satisfactory completion of nursing courses done in sequence. When a student receives a grade of less than C (75) or a clinical failure, the student may not progress to any clinical course until the failed course is retaken and requirements are met. Progression to a nonclinical course will only be granted with permission of the department chair.
• Foundations of Nursing Accelerated (NU 341R) is the prerequisite and/or co-requisite for Community Health Nursing Accelerated (NU 342WR). A student withdrawing from Foundations of Nursing Accelerated (NU 341R) must also withdraw from Community Health Nursing Accelerated (NU 342WR) until Foundations of Nursing Accelerated (NU 341R) enrollment is resumed and/or completed.
• A student who has failed a nursing course may repeat the failed course only once. In the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions, no student will be permitted to use the Repeat/Recompute Policy or the Second Chance Provision for any nursing course (NU designation). A student in the nursing program can receive no more than one course failure throughout the nursing program. After two course failures, the student will be dismissed from the program.
• Students in the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions who have received 3 unsatisfactories in a clinical course for any reason (administrative or otherwise) will receive a clinical failure and get an “F” in the course. There are reasons other than three clinical unsatisfactories for which a student might fail clinical and these include critical incidents found in the Disciplinary Policies of the current Nursing Student Handbook. The clinical failure is an “F” for the course no matter when/if the student withdraws. This includes any time within the University’s withdrawal (“W”) period. Should this be a second course failure for the student, the student will be required to withdraw from all nursing courses at the time of the second course failure.
• Any student who withdraws from the first summer term courses (NU 341R, NU 342WR, NU 345R)  will be required to submit a formal application during a future application period, see the current Nursing Student Handbook.
• Once admitted into the ACONHP, a student with a failing average in any nursing course may not withdraw from the course to prevent course failure. This includes any time within the University’s withdrawal (W) period. Any student who drops a course with an average of less than 75 will receive a WF in nursing courses. A WF for any reason is considered a course failure. Students who are eligible to repeat a failed course will be readmitted to the course on a “space available” basis.
• After a second withdrawal from the same course (without extenuating circumstances), a student will be required to wait one semester (excluding the summer semester) before retaking the course. Extenuating circumstances are to be determined by faculty on an individual basis.
• Students eligible to return to a nursing course after a withdrawal or course failure “D/F” from a required nursing (NU) course will be readmitted to the course on a “space available” basis.
• Maintenance of 2.0 GPA throughout the nursing program.
• Once the student is “out of sync”, he/she/they must adjust to any curriculum changes occurring at that time.

Dismissal 

After two course failures, the student is dismissed from the program. A situation in which the student places the client’s life in danger or shows severe behavioral misconduct toward the client and family, clinical facility staff, faculty or other students will result in immediate Administrative Dismissal of the student from the program. In such cases, the student's transcript will reflect the University's grade system as outlined in the University catalog.  Behaviors for which the ACONHP have zero tolerance and result in dismissal from the program are listed in the appropriate nursing student handbooks.

Readmission 

The student who has failed two nursing courses may petition the appropriate Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions Admissions, Readmissions, and Progressions Committee Chairperson for readmission after being dismissed from the program. Students may seek readmission to the ACONHP only one time, after the second course failure. Any readmitted student who earns a grade below "C" in a nursing course will be permanently dismissed from the program. Guidelines for readmission may be found in the Nursing Student Handbook that is specific to the student.

BSN Accelerated Option Requirements

*See required course sequence under Plan of Study Tab

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Completion of a baccalaureate degree in another field
Accelerated nursing majors must complete (or have completed) the following General Education Courses:
BI 241 & BI 242	Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BI 307	Microbiology
or BI 302	Clinical Microbiology
CH 101	Introductory Chemistry
CNH 342	Nutrition
ED 299	Human Growth and Development
PY 201	General Psychology
or SO 221	Introductory Sociology
MA 147	Elementary Statistics
NU 203W	Nursing Concepts
or NU 203WR	Nursing Concepts
NU 238	Pathophysiology for the Professional Nurse
or NU 238R	Pathophysiology for the Professional Nurse
Core Courses
NU 341R	Foundations of Nursing Accelerated	6
NU 342WR	Community Health Nursing Accelerated	6
NU 344R	Adult Health Nursing I Accelerated	6
NU 345R	Health and Physical Assessment Accelerated	3
NU 346R	Mental Health Nursing Accelerated	6
NU 348R	Pharmacology in Nursing Accelerated	3
NU 440R	Pediatric Nursing Accelerated	3
NU 446WR	Foundations of EBP in Nursing Accelerated	3
NU 447R	Adult Health Nursing II Accelerated	6
NU 449R	Maternity Nursing Accelerated	6
NU 451R	Leadership and Management in Nursing Accelerated	6
NU 454R	Senior Internship and Review Accelerated	6
Total Hours		60

¹

Foundations of EBP in Nursing Accelerated (NU 446WR) fulfills computer literacy requirement

²

Online “R” courses are subject to online nursing fees. (See Expenses section)

BSN Accelerated Option Plan of Study-Required

The following semester-by-semester Plan of Study is required for the Accelerated BSN option:

Completion of a baccalaureate degree in another field

Accelerated nursing majors must complete (or have completed) the following General Education requirements:

1. Human Anatomy and Physiology I (BI 241)
2. Human Anatomy and Physiology II (BI 242)
3. Microbiology (BI 307)/Clinical Microbiology (BI 302)
4. Introductory Chemistry (CH 101)
5. Human Growth and Development (ED 299)BI
6. Nutrition (CNH 342)
7. General Psychology (PY 201)
8. Elementary Statistics (MA 147)
9. Nursing Concepts (NU 203W)/Nursing Concepts (NU 203WR)
10. Pathophysiology for the Professional Nurse (NU 238)/Pathophysiology for the Professional Nurse (NU 238R)

 Core Courses

Plan of Study Grid

Junior
Summer Term		Hours
NU 345R	Health and Physical Assessment Accelerated	3
NU 341R	Foundations of Nursing Accelerated	6
NU 342WR	Community Health Nursing Accelerated	6
	Hours	15
Senior
Fall Term
NU 344R	Adult Health Nursing I Accelerated	6
NU 346R	Mental Health Nursing Accelerated	6
NU 348R	Pharmacology in Nursing Accelerated	3
	Hours	15
Spring Term
NU 446WR	Foundations of EBP in Nursing Accelerated	3
NU 447R	Adult Health Nursing II Accelerated	6
NU 449R	Maternity Nursing Accelerated	6
NU 451R	Leadership and Management in Nursing Accelerated	6
	Hours	21
Summer Term
NU 454R	Senior Internship and Review Accelerated	6
NU 440R	Pediatric Nursing Accelerated	3
	Hours	9
	Total Hours	60

¹

Foundations of EBP in Nursing Accelerated fulfills computer literacy requirement

²

Online “R” courses are subject to online nursing fees. (See Expenses section)