Nursing, AS

Curriculum

• Nursing, Traditional Option, AS (Asheville, Atlanta, Dallas, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Marietta, Nashville, Orlando)  
• Nursing, Traditional Option, AS (Pittsburgh)  
• Nursing, LPN/ASN Option, AS (Atlanta, Knoxville, Marietta, Nashville, Orlando)  

Program Mission

The South College Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program is designed to build a knowledge base and clinical expertise for the generalist in nursing practice. The faculty supports the commitment to lifelong learning in a dynamic and culturally and ethnically diverse health care environment, promoting client advocacy, achieving, and maintaining clinical competency, and providing service for the community and the profession. 

Program Vision

The South College Associate of Science in Nursing Program aspires to become an associate degree program of distinction through an integrated and student-focused curriculum. The program is committed to providing an education that values excellence in ethical patient care and professional growth and integrity.

Program Overview

The Associate of Science in Nursing program at South College is designed to promote a strong academic and clinical foundation including the fundamental skills required of a nurse generalist, including the basics of medical care, critical thinking, interpersonal skills, and technical competence required for taking required certification/licensure exams.

Participants in the ASN program will be provided opportunities to learn key aspects of collaboration, participation in interdisciplinary care, and patient communication. To deliver the highest-quality education, we use tools such as case studies, presentations, Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) resources, and other creative teaching approaches.

The knowledge gained in this program is foundational for registered nurses pursuing additional undergraduate and post graduate educational programs.

Program Outcomes and Student Learning Outcomes

The program outcomes for the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program are to provide undergraduate students with the:

1. Critical thinking, interpersonal, and technical skills of a nurse generalist.
2. Academic foundation necessary to pursue post licensure education.

Upon completion of the ASN program, the graduate will meet the following student learning outcomes:

1. Incorporate the principles of ethics, professionalism, practice accountability, and integrity as the standard of care in ASN practice.
2. Facilitate therapeutic communication effectively with diverse patients and members of the health care team to obtain the most favorable outcomes.
3. Analyze and evaluate nursing interventions to promote optimal patient outcomes across the continuum.
4. Utilize clinical judgment to support patient centered decision making and provide evidence-based nursing care.
5. Collaborate with patients and members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team to develop and implement holistic care.
6. Integrate evidenced-based practice and technology to teach individuals, families, and populations while providing holistic nursing care.

These End of Program Student Learning Outcomes are based on the ANA Code for Ethics for Nurses (ANA, 2015), National League for Nursing Core Values (NLN, 2021), Quality & Safety Education for Nurses competencies and essential concepts (QSEN, 2007).

Minimum Academic Requirements for Admission

All students must meet the requirements for general admission to South College in order to pursue core/general education courses. General admission to South College does not guarantee admission to the Associate of Science in Nursing degree program. Students who apply to the Associate of Science in Nursing program and fully meet the admission requirements but are not selected due to the unavailability of cohort spots may request to apply at another South College campus location. Application deadlines are available in the School of Nursing and the Admissions Department.

Admission decisions are made on a holistic review of academic qualifications, previous educational experiences, and standardized test scores. The School of Nursing reserves the right to update or modify admission criteria as deemed necessary. 

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be admitted without stipulation*:

• Meet General Admission requirements to South College.
• Complete the following prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better:
  • ENG 1201 English Composition  
  • MAT 1100 College Algebra  
  • SCC 1010 College Management  
  • SCC 1031 Computer and Information Literacy  
  • BIO 1110 Anatomy & Physiology I  
  • BIO 1120 Anatomy & Physiology I Lab  
  • BIO 1130 Anatomy & Physiology II  
  • BIO 1140 Anatomy & Physiology II Lab  
  • BIO 1160 Microbiology  
  • BIO 1170 Microbiology Lab  
  • PRN 1500 Nursing Success Seminar  
  • PRN 1510 Nutrition and Diet Therapy  
  • PRN 1520 Pathophysiology  
  • COM 1261 Effective Speaking  or COM 1262 Effective Communication  
• Submit a School of Nursing application by the application deadline.
• Entrance Exam:
  • Achieve a minimum ATI TEAS Assessment score at the academic preparedness level of BASIC or equivalent score on the HESI A2**. 
  • Scores below this threshold will not be considered for admission.
• After completion of all pre-requisite courses, students will be considered for admission into the nursing program if they meet the following criteria:
  • Achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.5 for science prerequisite courses (A& P I and II, Microbiology, and Pathophysiology).
  • Achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.5 for all required prerequisite courses.
  • Achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.5.

* Pittsburgh Campus Only:

Applicants to the Pittsburgh Campus must also successfully complete the following high school units with a minimum grade of “C” (a unit is defined as 1 year):

• 4 units of English
• 3 units of Social Studies
• 2 units of Math (one must be Algebra)
• 2 units of Science with a Lab (Chemistry is preferred but not required)

College level courses may be substituted if high school requirements are not met.

** HESI A2 Entrance Exam will be accepted at as an equivalent passing score.

Applicants who are not in good academic standing from a previous nursing or allied health program (e.g., Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, EMT, etc.) or who have been dismissed from such a program must submit the required School of Nursing Mitigating Circumstances Form and provide supporting documentation of the mitigating circumstances to be considered eligible to apply to the South College School of Nursing. Admission is not guaranteed, and the School of Nursing may require a letter from the former program explaining the circumstances.

Applicants who are not in good academic standing from two previous nursing or allied health programs (e.g., Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, EMT, etc.) or who have been dismissed from two such programs will not be considered for admission or readmission to the South College Nursing program.

TEAS Assessment
TEAS Assessment requirements and procedures:

• Applicants are required to take the ATI TEAS Assessment as part of the application process*. The TEAS Assessment schedule and additional information is available in the Admissions Department, Student Services Department, and/or School of Nursing.
• Applicants have three attempts within 12 months to achieve the required score of BASIC or higher on the ATI TEAS entrance exam. 

* Applicants to the LPN/ASN program are not required to take the ATI TEAS Assessment. Applicants must meet the additional admissions requirements: proof of a current, unencumbered Licensed Practical Nurse license and proof of completion of other certification program for LPN license. Refer to the Additional Admissions Requirements outlined on the program page.

Readmission:

• For applicants seeking readmission, a retake of the entrance exam is not required.

Readmission eligibility will be assessed based on previous academic performance and adherence to the school’s policies.

Competitive Admissions and Ranking Criteria
Admission to the School of Nursing is competitive and dependent upon class size. Applicants will be ranked based on an approved ranking system that includes, but not limited to, GPA and TEAS score.

Requirements for Admission (Other Than Academic) 

Prospective students must meet the following requirements to be admitted without stipulation. Stipulations must be met as described below or the offer of admission may be withdrawn:

1. Complete the required drug test before the 1st day of class*.
2. Complete the background check application before the 1st day of class*.
3. Attend the nursing orientation on the scheduled date in its entirety.

*Prospective students who fail either the drug test or background check will be canceled.

In addition, each prospective student must provide proof of ability to perform the skills needed to practice nursing effectively. Health care facilities must meet federal guidelines, and students must also meet these requirements in order to be allowed to gain clinical experience. All nursing students must comply with communicable diseases/blood-borne pathogen requirements that the clinical agencies require. Therefore, proof of the following are minimum requirements for the nursing applicant (additional requirements may apply depending on clinical agency requirements):

1. Health history and physical exam certifying ability to function in the required capacity prior to admission to major courses dated within 12 months of program start.
2. Common communicable disease immunization or immunity, including MMR (2 in series if born after 1957), TDaP (booster required every 10 years), and varicella vaccine (2 in series).
3. Some clinical facilities may require titters for MMR, HBV, and Varicella even though you have proof of previous immunization.*
4. Hepatitis B immunization (3 in series) or the HEPLISAV-B, (2 in a series one month apart). A vaccine titer test showing immunity is also acceptable.
5. Annual Flu immunization or completed Medical Declination Form, located in the student compliance portal, for Influenza Vaccination depending on the requirements of the clinical affiliate. The Medical Declination Form can only be used for medical reasons and must be documented by student’s primary care provider.
6. Annual screening for tuberculosis.
7. Acceptable drug screen.** Students may be required to obtain more than one acceptable drug screen per year depending on the requirements of the clinical affiliate. In the event of a dilute or positive drug screen, the student will receive notification from the Medical Review Officer (MRO) with instructions for their next steps. The student will have five (5) business days to provide prescription validation to the MRO. The MRO will inform South College of an unresolved dilute or positive drug screen. Any costs associated with additional testing will be the responsibility of the student.**
8. Acceptable criminal background check for a minimum of past 15 years. Students may be required to obtain more than one acceptable criminal background check per year depending on the requirements of the clinical affiliate. If the background check reveals previous criminal convictions, admittance into the program will be made on a case-by-case basis. Students who are denied clinical experiences due to past convictions may be unable to progress in the program which will result in failure to complete the required courses for the program. A copy of the South College Background Check Acknowledgment Form can be found in the Nursing Student Handbook.
9. Proof of health insurance coverage throughout the entire nursing program.
10. Valid American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers Course Completion Card or Certificate. ***
11. Students must disclose if they are ineligible to perform clinical rotations at local healthcare entities due to previous employer termination or site denials. South College cannot guarantee alternate clinical rotations if a student is not allowed at affiliates.

* Additional immunizations/titers may be required per clinical facility requirements.

The institution does not control the requirements established by clinical affiliates. Students who choose not to or are unable to meet the requirements of clinical sites will not be able to participate in clinical experiences as a student at those sites. This includes students who have received partial vaccinations but are not fully immunized. This may seriously impact ability to progress, graduate on time, or graduate at all.  Exemptions may be considered in the state of Florida based upon state regulations. Medical exemptions signed by a provider may be considered.   

** Marijuana, or its metabolite, is not an accepted substance in drug screens and will result in a positive drug screen. Prospective students whose drug test results are positive for marijuana, or its metabolite, will be offered one additional opportunity to reapply for admission into the next admission cohort after the initial positive results.  Prospective students whose repeat drug test results are positive for marijuana, or its metabolite, will be denied admission indefinitely. 

*** American Red Cross (ARC) Course accepted on select campuses based on clinical affiliation guidelines. It is the responsibility of the student to maintain continuous clinical compliance via the institution’s compliance tracking portal. Prospective students who do not meet clinical compliance requirements by add/drop day and accurately maintain their records in the institution’s clinical tracking portal will be cancelled or withdrawn.

Functional Capacities (Technical Standards)

Prospective students must demonstrate the following functional capacities. Prospective students who believe that they will not be able to meet one or more of these requirements without accommodation or modification must notify the Dean/Associate Dean of the School of Nursing, and a determination will be made on a case-by-case basis whether reasonable accommodation may be made. In no instance will an accommodation be made which will compromise nursing care, or that will put patients or other students at risk. Accommodation granted when a student is generally admitted to South College are not guaranteed to apply to admission to the nursing program. Students must maintain the functional capacities throughout the duration of the program.

Function	Requirement	Examples of Tasks For
Vision	Adequate to ensure safety of self and others in classroom and clinical settings.	Patient assessment; response to treatment; medication preparation and administration; reading of patient charts and physician orders.
Hearing	Adequate to allow effective communication with patients and others in person and by electronic means, and to ensure safety of self and patients.	Face-to-face communication with patients, families and the health care team; telephone consultations; heart tones; breath sounds; bowel sounds and other assessments.
Tactile Sensory	Adequate to allow effective evaluation and therapeutic intervention related to nursing care, and to ensure safety of self and others in providing care.	Palpation used in assessment; vital signs; medication administration, IV starts.
Gross motor strength and coordination	Adequate to ensure safety of self and others in class and lab sessions and clinical activities.	Patient positioning and transfer; walking, standing, bending, and/or stooping for extended periods involving patient care; moving of equipment/beds.
Fine motor strength and coordination	Adequate to allow mastery of activities requiring detailed movements.	Multiple skills in patient care; treatments; medication preparation and administration.
Critical thinking ability	Adequate to allow mastery of basic course content and to demonstrate sound judgment in simulated and real life nursing situations.	Effective use of nursing process; planning and implementation of the nursing care plan; identification of cause and effect relationship in order to modify nursing care plan; determination of unsafe situations; planning course of actions to meet needs of patient, family, community and nursing profession.
Interpersonal Skills	Adequate to allow establishment of effective working and/or therapeutic relationship with patients, families and professionals.	Establishing therapeutic relationship with patients and families; working with health care team; collaboration with other disciplines.
Communication	Adequate to allow completion of course work and effective verbal and written communication with patients, families, communities, peers, and others.	Class activities; therapeutic communication; writing/research at the bachelor’s level; documentation of patient care; education of patient/family/community.

Licensure

Upon completion of degree requirements, each student must make application to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Professional nurses are prohibited in all states from practicing nursing until the examination is successfully completed and licensure has been granted. Specific information regarding licensure will be provided to the student during the last quarter of the nursing program. State Boards of Nursing have the responsibility and right to deny licensure to persons who have been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation. Persons having a criminal record should consult the Rules and Regulations of the Tennessee Board of Nursing available online at https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/1000/1000-01.20210630.pdf or other applicable state nursing board.

Background Check: Students are required to sign an acknowledgment form that they understand that our school background check may not reveal potential barriers to licensure in each state. Each Board of Nursing conducts extensive background checks upon application for licensure with that state. Graduation from this program, does cannot specifically guarantee licensure in each state.

The “SAVE Act” requires Tennessee Department of Health (including all Boards, Commissions, and contractors), along with every local health department in the State, to verify that every adult applicant for a professional license is either a U.S. citizen, a “qualified alien,” or a non-immigrant who meets the requirements set out at 8 U.S.C. 1621. 

Grading Scale

The grading scale used by the School of Nursing for all administered courses is as follows:

Letter Grade	Q.P.	Percentage Score Range
A	4.00	94-100%
B	3.00	87-93%
C	2.00	80-86%
D	1.00	73-79%
F	0.00	Below 73%

Academic Standards and Progression

The South College School of Nursing upholds high standards for academic integrity, clinical competency, and professional behavior. The following policies outline criteria for progression, grounds for termination and dismissal from the nursing program, and options for readmission.

To progress in the nursing program, students must meet academic, clinical, and professional expectations, which are reviewed each quarter.

Minimum Requirements for Progression

1. Exam Average Requirement: A minimum numeric exam average of 80% is required in all nursing courses to remain enrolled in the nursing program. The exam average is calculated based on written/online exams and the final exam, which are equally weighted. Students who do not achieve a minimum examination average of 80% will not have quizzes or assignments included in the calculation of the final course grade; in such cases, the examination average will be recorded as the final course grade based on the School of Nursing grading scale.
2. Overall Course Average Requirement: A minimum overall course average of 80% is required in all nursing courses to progress in the nursing program. The overall course average is calculated according to the grading criteria in each course syllabus. If a student fails to achieve both the minimum examination average of 80% and the minimum overall course average of 80%, the lower of the two averages will be recorded as the final course grade. Final course grades are not rounded.
3. Clinical and Lab Requirements: Students must successfully complete all required components of a nursing course, which may include didactic, clinical, laboratory, simulation, or other experiential requirements, as specified in the course syllabus. Failure of any required component of a nursing course requires repetition of the entire course. No course credit is awarded unless all required components are successfully completed.
4. Incomplete Grades: Students who request or receive a grade of incomplete (“I”) in a nursing course(s) may enroll and participate in the next quarter’s courses. Continued progression in the nursing program is contingent upon removal of the “I” grade and receipt of a passing grade by the drop/add deadline as published in the South College Catalog.

Drug Calculation Competency Requirement:

• Drug calculation proficiency is assessed as part of specific nursing courses. Students who fail this competency in any course requiring a dosage exam receive a course failure. After two attempts of any course requiring a dosage exam, a student is subject to dismissal (See Grounds for Dismissal Policy section).

Student Probation

Student probation in the School of Nursing is a formal status indicating that a student is not meeting required academic, professional, or progression standards. A student may be placed on probation for one or more of the following reasons:

• Academic reasons, including unsuccessful completion of a nursing course or failure to meet minimum requirements for progression as stated above.
• Conduct-related reasons, including receipt of a second occurrence for violations of professional, behavioral, attendance, or School of Nursing policies.

Students placed on probation will be notified and required to participate in remediation or success planning, as applicable.

• For academic probation, the student meets with the assigned Faculty Advisor for academic advising and is referred to the Financial Aid Department for financial counseling.
• For conduct-related probation, the student meets with the Program Coordinator or designee to review the occurrences and professional standards expectations and required corrective actions.

Compliance with all probationary conditions is required for continued enrollment.

Probation does not replace or supersede institutional Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policies. Failure to meet the terms of probation or an approved academic plan may result in dismissal from the nursing program in accordance with institutional and School of Nursing policies.

Dismissal Policy

Grounds for Program Dismissal

Students may be dismissed from the nursing program for any of the following reasons :

• Repeated Course Failures: Earning a failing grade (D or F) in two or more nursing courses, or the same course twice, whether in the same or different quarters. This includes failures due to exam average, overall course grade, clinical compliance, unexcused absence, or dosage calculation competency.
• Repeated Course Withdrawals: Voluntarily withdrawing from the same nursing course twice.
• Failure to Meet Financial Obligations: Nonpayment of tuition or fees.
• Violation of the Honor Code or Egregious Unsafe/Unprofessional Conduct: Results in immediate program dismissal (see below).​

Appeals for Readmission to the Nursing Program

The School of Nursing will consider readmission appeals from students who can provide documented evidence of significant mitigating circumstances that adversely affected their academic or clinical performance at the campus level. Students must also demonstrate engagement with available support resources, such as Nursing Academic Specialist services and faculty advising meetings, during the quarter in which they were unsuccessful. All appeals must follow the process outlined in the student’s dismissal notification email. The deadline for submitting a complete appeal, including all required documents as outlined in Appeal Contents below, is two (2) business days from the date of the dismissal notification. Appeals submitted after this deadline will not be accepted.

Appeal Contents

Students seeking readmission following dismissal must submit the following:

• A completed Dismissal and Disciplinary Action Appeal Form available in the Student Portal.
• Supporting documentation of mitigating circumstances which must originate from an external source (documentation created by the student will not be accepted).
  Examples of mitigating or unforeseen circumstances may include, but are not limited to:
  • Documentation of significant medical issues for self or an immediate family member (e.g., hospital approved physician’s note).
  • Evidence of financial hardship (e.g., eviction notice, foreclosure documentation, utility shut-off notice).
  • Police report or insurance claim related to a motor vehicle accident.
  • Death certificate or obituary of an immediate family member.
  • Legal documentation (e.g., court order, subpoena, protective order).
  • Documentation of natural disaster impact (e.g., FEMA notice, insurance claim).
  • Military deployment or reassignment orders.

*No additional documentation may be added to the appeal after the original submission for the campus Nursing review.

Nursing Appeal Review - Campus Level:

The Admission, Progression, and Retention (APR) Committee at the campus level will review the student’s appeal, supporting documentation, and academic action plan. In its determination, the APR Committee will consider factors outlined in the Dismissal Appeal Rubric, including:

• Total number of unsuccessful nursing courses.
• Engagement with the faculty advisor and Nursing Academic Specialist(s).
• Documentation of mitigating circumstances and its validity.
• Student’s ownership of failure, accountability for academic performance, and the quality of the academic action plan.

The Associate Dean of Nursing for the campus will review the APR Committee’s determination and provide the student with a written decision within three (3) business days of the student’s appeal submission deadline.

Appeal Escalation

If an appeal is denied at the campus Nursing program level (APR Committee and Associate Dean of Nursing) and the student wishes to further escalate an appeal, the student may submit an appeal to the campus Dean of Academic and Student Services within two (2) business days of the denial notification following the same submission steps outlined above. The escalation review sequence following the Dean of Academic and Student Services followed by the Chief Academic Officer.

Repeated Dismissals

Students who are readmitted following academic dismissal and are unsuccessful again will receive a dismissal notification by the last day of the academic term and will be unregistered from any subsequent nursing courses. Students may not appeal for readmission to the School of Nursing a second time after a prior readmission. Additionally, students who have been dismissed on two separate occasions may not apply to another nursing program that prepares for the same or a higher level of licensure.

Grounds for Immediate Program Dismissal

Grounds for Immediate Program Dismissal from the nursing program include egregious acts or serious violations such as breaches of the Honor Code, or unsafe/unprofessional conduct, or cumulative noncompliance with college or program policies. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Falsification of Information: Submission of false or misleading information in applications, academic records, and supporting documentation of mitigating circumstance.
• Academic Dishonesty or Honor Code Violation: Cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized sharing or access to exams, misuse of AI, possession of unauthorized copies or images of exam questions.
• Unsafe or Unprofessional Behavior: Demonstrating unsafe, illegal, unethical, unprofessional behavior, or theft.
• Cumulative Occurrences: Exceeding two occurrences during program enrollment.

In any such circumstance, the student will meet with the Program Coordinator or Assistant Dean of Nursing within two (2) business days of the event. During this review period, the student will not be permitted to attend lecture, lab, or clinical. The student will be required to complete the Student Occurrence & Immediate Dismissal Form. This form provides the student with an opportunity to present their account of the circumstances, outline contributing factors, and include any supporting documentation.

Academic and Conduct Review Board, comprised of the Associate Dean of Nursing, Dean of Nursing, and non-nursing campus faculty and leadership (a minimum of three members), will convene to review the matter in accordance with the program’s established due process procedures. After careful consideration of all information, the Board will render a decision regarding Immediate Program Dismissal. The Associate Dean of Nursing will then notify the student to formally communicate the outcome within three (3) business days of the event.

Students who are dismissed will receive a formal notification, a final course grade of F and W for any corequisite courses, and are not eligible for readmission to the School of Nursing.

The student may appeal the determination to the campus Dean of Academic and Student Services within two (2) business days of the denial notification, following the same submission steps outlined above. The escalation review sequence following the Dean of Academic and Student Services is followed by the Chief Academic Officer.

Students may not appeal for readmission to the School of Nursing, including another nursing program that prepares for the same or a higher level of licensure, after receiving an Immediate Program Dismissal.