Ira D. Pruitt Division of Nursing

All applications that meet the minimum requirements for admission are presented to the Nursing Faculty Committee for review and determination regarding admittance into the nursing program. Admission into the Division of Nursing is highly competitive.  The Nursing Faculty Committee uses an Admission's Scoring Tool to rank applicants (see Division of Nursing Student Handbook). Meeting all eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission into the nursing program. 

Applicants must first be admitted to the University of West Alabama. Additionally, applicants for admission to the Ira D. Pruitt Division of Nursing must meet the following criteria:

1. A cumulative academic grade point average of 3.0 on all high school coursework (for entering freshmen) or a 2.5 on all post-secondary coursework (for transfer students).

2. A cumulative 3.0 grade point average in the following required pre-nursing general education courses:

• EH 101. Written English I  or EH 104. Advanced Written English  
• *BY 231. Human Anatomy and Physiology I  or BY 232. Human Anatomy and Physiology II  
• *PY 100. General Psychology  or PY 310. Developmental Psychology  
• For admission purposes, a student is allowed to repeat only ONE of the above pre-nursing general education courses to earn a higher grade and improve their cumulative grade point average.
• *Anatomy and Physiology, Psychology, and Microbiology courses should be completed within five years of seeking admission into the Division of Nursing.  Special consideration will be given to those who work in the health care field or who hold a professional degree and completed these courses more than five years ago.

3. Make a minimum cumulative score of 75% on the HESI (Health Systems, Inc.) A2 (Admission Assessment) Reading Comprehension, Grammar, and Vocabulary modules.  The HESI A2 entrance exam can only be taken TWO times in one twelve-month period (January - December) to achieve a passing score.  All scores expire in December prior to the admitting year.
4. Submit a completed online Division of Nursing Application for Admission by the June 1st deadline.  Only completed applications will be considered for admission.
5. Submit a copy of the ACT composite score to the Division of Nursing by the June 1st deadline.
6. Successfully complete UWA 104. Freshman Seminar in Nursing  course with a score of 70% or higher. 

*Applicants may be admitted on a conditional basis pending official transcript receipt of fall grades.

All transfer students must meet the admission criteria of the nursing program.  Students may transfer credit from an accredited institution for general education course requirements for which a minimum grade of "C" was achieved.  All nursing course work must be completed at the Ira D. Pruitt Division of Nursing.

Transfer students who have failed to successfully complete a nursing program or programs elsewhere will be placed into one of the following categories in terms of admission status:

1. A student who has one failure in a nursing course at another institution with such failure occurring greater than five years prior to application to the Division of Nursing will be required to apply as a new admission. 

2. A student who has one failure in a nursing course at another institution with such failure occurring within five years of application to the Division of Nursing will be considered for admission.  The applicant must present a letter from the nursing program in which he/she was enrolled validating eligibility for readmission.  If the applicant is admitted to but fails to successfully complete the curriculum requirements of the Ira D. Pruitt Division of Nursing, the student will be ineligible for readmission.

3. A student who has twice failed a nursing course prior to applying to the Ira D. Pruitt Division of Nursing will be ineligible for admission.

The Division of Nursing offers a Clinical Exemption Plan for Licensed Practical Nurses.  Further information about the Clinical Exemption Plan for Licensed Practical Nurses is available in the Ira D. Pruitt Division of Nursing Student Handbook.

Admission into the Division of Nursing is highly competitive.  Meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission into the nursing program. Students will receive written notification of admission into the nursing program. 

The Division of Nursing is responsible for ensuring that students comply with healthcare agencies' policies and regulatory requirements prior to clinical rotations.

Any course that includes a clinical experience has mandatory health requirements in order to decrease health risks to students, protect patients and other healthcare providers, and comply with healthcare agency contracts.

All nursing students must submit documentation to the Division of Nursing for the following mandatory health requirements:  

1. Physical examination completed by healthcare provider (Documentation must be completed on the Division of Nursing's Physical Examination form).

2. CPR certification:  BLS/CPR Healthcare or BLS Provider (which includes CPR and AED).

3. Negative one-step Tuberculin skin test or chest x-ray required annually (less than one-year-old)(Documentation must be completed on the Division of Nursing's Immunization Certificate form).

4. Immunizations: 
   A. MMR and Varicella immunizations or titers to verify immunity.
   B. Hepatitis B series vaccinations or signed waiver.
   C. Influenza vaccine required annually (Taken between the months of September and December each year).
    
5. Current health insurance.

In addition to the mandatory health requirements, nursing students are required to:

1. Purchase liability insurance at a cost of $25.00 (Payable to UWA Division of Nursing in January).
2. Complete a drug screen on campus at specified times (refer to policy in the Nursing Student Handbook).

1. Achieve a minimum grade of "C" (80%) in each nursing course attempted.

2. Achieve a minimum grade of "C" in each general education course.

3. Achieve a clinical laboratory grade of "satisfactory" in each nursing course.

4. Achieve a minimum grade of 80% on the dosage critical administered in NS 102 , NS 103 , NS 202 , and NS 204 .

5. Meet all requirements of the Division of Nursing and its clinical agencies as stated in the Ira D. Pruitt Division of Nursing Student Handbook.

Failure to meet any of the above admission and progression requirements will result in academic dismissal from the nursing program.  In addition to academic dismissal, the student's enrollment in the nursing program may be terminated at any time if, in the judgment of the nursing faculty, the student demonstrates behaviors inappropriate to nursing practice.  Students whose health status and/or clinical performance jeopardize the clients assigned to his/her care may also be dismissed from the nursing program.  The Division of Nursing reserves the right to require a student to submit to: (A) drug screening and/or other professional evaluation for chemical addiction*; (B) psychological testing and/or counseling; (C) physical examination by a licensed physician at the student's expense and to submit a report of the outcome to the Division of Nursing.  Results of such reports will be reviewed by the nursing faculty to determine the progression status of the student.  Progression in the nursing program may also be terminated if the student has falsified information submitted on the application for admission to the University and/or the Division of Nursing.  Dismissal for misconduct will be handled according to the Code of Student Conduct as outlined in the University of West Alabama Student Handbook, Tiger Paw, at http://tigerpaw.uwa.edu/ and the Progression Policy of the Division of Nursing.

*Guidelines established by the Alabama Board of Nursing and guidelines established in the chemical abuse policies of affiliating clinical agencies are utilized by faculty in determining probable cause for requiring professional evaluation for substance abuse.  Drug screening is required by health agencies prior to students participating in clinical experiences

1. Have previously completed, with a C average as calculated by the Division of Nursing, each of the following: NS 101 , NS 102 , and NS 103 *.

2. Have previously achieved a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in courses (nursing and general education) required for the Associate of Science in Nursing.

3. Complete the Reinstatement Request For.  All students must, also, submit a letter detailing the circumstances of their failure and reasons to be considered for reinstatement.  The Reinstatement Request Form and reinstatement letter must be received within sixty (60) days of the withdrawal/failure date.

*A student who fails to achieve a "C" average in each of the NS 101 , NS 102 , or NS 103  courses will not be eligible for reinstatement, unless the student can demonstrate extenuating personal circumstances, as determined by the Nursing Faculty Committee, that have inhibited the successful completion of these courses. Students who experience failure in NS 101 , NS 102 , and NS 103  may request special consideration from the Nursing Faculty Committee by detailing in their reinstatement letter the extenuating personal circumstances of their failure. The reinstatement letter must be received within sixty (60) days of the withdrawal/failure date.  Documentation may be requested to support the reinstatement letter.

Students who fail to meet the requirements of a nursing course OR withdraw from a nursing course with an average below a "C" during the last two semesters of the curriculum will be considered for one reinstatement to the nursing program.  The Nursing Faculty Committee will determine reinstatement eligibility.  Reinstatement may require repeating nursing courses to ensure that knowledge is current.

Students must abide by policies in effect at the time of reinstatement in the Ira D. Pruitt Division of Nursing Student Handbook.

Reinstatement to the Nursing Program is not guaranteed by meeting the above criteria. Completion of requirements established by the faculty, availability of space, the student's application, prior record of performance in the nursing program, other information submitted by the student, and other applicable information will be reviewed by the Nursing Faculty Committee to determine reinstatement.

1. Students who are not eligible for reinstatement or meet academic eligibility may apply for admission to the nursing program as a new student.

2. Students who were dismissed for academic reasons or withdrew for a period of more than one academic period must apply for readmission.

3. If accepted as a new student, the student must take all nursing courses.

4. If the student is accepted as a readmission, but fails to successfully complete the program after one attempt, the student will not be eligible for reinstatement at any time during the program, including the final semester. 

5. Readmission is not guaranteed.

Candidates for graduation must have met the progression requirements of the Division of Nursing as well as all University graduation requirements as outlined in the General Catalogue.  In addition, a minimum of one academic year in residence and completion of 28 semester hours of credit in nursing must be earned at UWA.