Nursing: Core Performance Standards for Admission and Progression

Issue	Standard	Examples of Nursing Activities
Critical Thinking	Critical thinking sufficient for clinical judgment	Competent assessment of clients in a timely manner. Correct interpretation of assessment data, identification of necessary nursing interventions, design of appropriate nursing care plans, evaluating the effectiveness of interventions and revising planned interventions.
Cognitive	Ongoing capacity to learn new information and skills to provide safe nursing care. This includes the ability to comprehend, measure, calculate, analyze and evaluate diverse forms of information.	Learn new skills and rationales for nursing care in a timely manner. Learn and adopt new methods of providing nursing care to reflect the dynamic nature of health care provision.
Interpersonal	Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds.	Establish rapport and relate effectively with clients, their families, and colleagues. Work effectively with these individuals when they are stressed physically and/or emotionally. Provide care socially and culturally acceptable to clients
Communication	Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form.	Follow verbal and written instructions. Clearly communicate with other health care providers by appropriately documenting the nursing interventions provided and the clients’ responses. Provide effective client teaching. Consult with a health care provider in a professional manner
Mobility	Physical abilities sufficient to move oneself from room to room, along hallways, and in small or confined spaces. The ability to meet the physical demands of providing nursing care.	Lifting, moving, carrying, pushing, pulling, and supporting clients, equipment and other objects independently. Standing, bending, walking, and sitting while working directly with clients and co-workers, and documenting care
Motor Skills	Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care.	Perform vital signs, CPR, physical assessment, use equipment, hang IVs and tube feedings, draw up and give injections. Document nursing interventions and patient care in legible writing or accurate type.
Tactile	Tactile dexterity sufficient for physical assessment.	Perform palpation, functions of physical examination and/or those related to therapeutic intervention, i.e. insertions of a catheter, giving injections
Visual	Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care.	Reading charts, flow sheets, monitors, thermometers. Assessment of patient skin, color, pupils, wound healing. Drawing up and administering medications.
Hearing	Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.	Auscultation of blood pressure, breath sounds, bowel sounds. Hearing alarms, call bells, cries for help by clients and families and co-workers. Understanding mechanically reproduced voices such as on audiotape
Personal Behaviors	Maintains personal behaviors consistent with the American Nurses’ Association Code for Nurses.	Demonstrates personal responsibility, accountability, integrity and honesty. Demonstrates respect for self and others through their verbal and nonverbal behaviors. Avoids behavior inconsistent with professional standards such as chemical dependency and abuse, harm toward self or others, or engaging in or supporting criminal behavior.

Adapted from Core Performance Standards Required for Nursing, Board of Directors of the Southern Council on College Education for Nursing (SCCEN), 1993

Academic Progression Criteria

Minimum academic criteria have been established for all students in this degree program. Freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior level students are evaluated in the fall and spring semesters to determine whether or not they should continue in the nursing program. The criteria used for evaluation are as follows:

Students must show evidence of being able to successfully complete the professional program. This evidence includes a minimum cumulative grade point average GPA of 3.0.
Students entering in the fall of 2018 will be dismissed from the program if their GPA falls below 3.0 at the conclusion of either the fall or spring semesters.
Students who are dismissed from the program will receive a letter from the Admissions Progression and Graduation Committee (APG) and/or Chairperson.
Students who attain a GPA of 2.76-2.99 will be retained in the Nursing Program in a probationary status for one semester only.
Students are permitted to be on probation only once throughout the nursing program.
The students on probation will receive a letter from the Admissions, Progression and Graduation Committee (APG) or the Chairperson.
Students dismissed from the nursing program can re-apply when their GPA has increased to 3.0 and they have also achieved a C or better in all required courses. Readmission is not guaranteed.
Students must achieve a grade of “C” or better in all courses listed in the nursing curriculum plan which includes nursing and required courses. However, a "C" in all required courses does not guarantee progression since the minimum required GPA is 3.0.
Students who do not achieve a required progression grade of "C" or better in Nursing or required courses; the student is only permitted to re-take one course one time.
Students who do not achieve a required progression grade in two (2) nursing or required courses within the same semester will be dismissed from the nursing program.
Students who fail to achieve a passing grade in any co-requisite theory and clinical course must re-take both of the co-required courses, even if the student earns a passing grade in one of the co-requisite courses.
All “C-“ grades in the Nursing Curriculum, including Nursing and required courses listed in the curriculum plan needs to be replaced with a grade of "C" or better.

Revised: March, 2018

Rationale: Progression changes are needed to maintain NCLEX pass rate mandated by PA State Board of Nursing.

Clinical Nursing Course Requirements

Two months prior to beginning a clinical nursing course, students must submit evidence of current Act 34 clearance, FBI Fingerp and Act 151 child abuse clearance, current CPR certification, professional liability insurance ($1,000,000 per occurrence/$3,000,000 aggregate minimum coverage), appropriate immunizations and titers, and verification of good health, including a negative Mantoux test, or chest x-ray. Immunizations and titers include DT, measles, mumps, Hepatitis B, Rubella vaccine or titer showing immunity and a serology test (VDRL, RPR or STS). Students need to provide evidence of drug screening and yearly flu immunization.

All nursing students must purchase their own malpractice insurance and present evidence prior to enrolling in a clinical nursing course.

RN to BS students are also required to present evidence of current licensure in Pennsylvania. Act 34, FBI Fingerprinting and Act 151 clearance forms and health records indicating recent TB and Flu immunizations.

Additional Expenses

Additional expenses required of students as they progress through the Nursing Program are uniform costs, travel expenses to clinical sites, online testing packages used for NCLEX state board preparation, and application fees for licensure. All nursing students enrolled in clinical

Credit By Examination

Credit for nursing courses may be earned through credit by examination for those students with previous clinical experiences or coursework. Other methods of earning credit are explained in the Advanced Placement section of this catalog.

Eligibility for Licensure Examination

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science program are eligible to apply to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Examination for licensure to practice as Registered Nurses. Prospective students should note that there are restrictions on licensure due to felony convictions related to controlled substances. For additional information, contact the Nursing Department at 570-422-3474.

Student Organizations

Students are encouraged to join their professional organization, the Student Nurses Association. This is the local chapter of the National Student Nurses Association.

Grievance Procedure

The university’s grievance procedure can be found in the university’s Student Handbook.

Nursing Honor Society

Senior students who have achieved a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and who rank in the highest 35 percent of their class are eligible to apply for induction into the Xi Beta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, the nursing honor society.