Nursing, A.S.

The Goodwin University Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) consists of class work and clinical practice in a variety of healthcare facilities, which will provide nursing graduates with the skills to function effectively in today’s healthcare industry. It includes the opportunity for personal growth through the inclusion of liberal arts and science courses. The general education courses are supportive to the nursing courses.

This program is an organized program of study that combines general education courses from the biological, social and behavioral sciences and the humanities, with courses in the theory and practice of nursing. The program develops the student in the process of nursing, promotes critical thinking, fosters the development of moral and ethical professional behaviors, and promotes continued self-development and personal and professional growth.

The program is designed as a progression of courses of increasing complexity that build upon one another. Therefore, the courses must be taken in the prescribed sequence. If a student fails a nursing course, (s)he may repeat it one time. However, only one course may be taken twice. If a student’s clinical attendance and/or performance are deemed unsatisfactory by the faculty, (s)he is at risk for failing the course. A positive drug screen will preclude admission consideration unless justified through physician documentation as being “medically necessary”.

Admission Requirements and Process

These admission requirements are in effect for students applying to the nursing program.

Only students admitted to the program may enroll in nursing courses (NUR). It is important to note that not all qualified candidates can be offered admission to the nursing program due to the limited number of seats available. Prospective nursing applicants are strongly advised to attend a Health Science Information Session conducted by the university. Please call the Admissions Office at 800.889.3282 for dates and times of upcoming sessions. Students may enter the university at any time to complete the prerequisites required for admission.

Consideration for admission is based upon completion of nursing prerequisites. All prerequisites must be completed before enrolling in Nursing 100. Final selection is based on a Selection Point System described at the end of this section. Students may apply to the nursing program for a total of six (6) attempts. Any submitted applications that do not meet the minimum required GPA and the required score on the examination being utilized as the pre-admission exam will not be considered.

Process to follow for Program Admission

1. Complete the application for admission into Goodwin University. Applicants to the nursing program must first meet the prerequisites for admission and be accepted into Goodwin University.
2. Complete the Nursing Program Application.
   1. Official college transcripts are required with the application if the applicant has courses from another institution that will need to be transferred in to meet the prerequisite courses required for admission or to use as proof of level of education for the admission point system. If the transcripts have already been provided to the Registrar, the nursing department will retrieve copies.
   2. Take the examination being used for pre-admission. This examination is administered off campus three times a year, (January, May and September). The cost of the exam is the responsibility of the applicant. Students may only register for the exam when they are submitting an application or reactivating an application that is already on file. It is the student’s responsibility to follow the deadlines and instructions posted on the application. All questions regarding exam registration dates and deadlines must be directed to the Nursing Department or are accessible in the Goodwin University associate degree in Nursing application. Students may only attempt the pre-entrance examination one time per semester for a total of six (6) attempts. Students must attain the pre-determined minimal score for whichever exam is being utilized at the time the student applies to be considered for admission. Students must complete or have already completed BIO 212  (A&P II) in the semester (s)he registers for the pre-entrance exam.
   3. Earn a minimum GPA of 2.7 in the most recent course work (college). College GPA is based on a minimum of 12 completed credits at Goodwin University. GPA’s are not rounded.
   4. Complete the following prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of “C”, prior to applying:
      1. MATH 125  (Goodwin University) or higher or score into a college level math on the university placement test. This course fulfills the Math Competency general education graduation requirement.
      2. Chemistry - CHEM 101  (Goodwin University) or equivalent.
   5. Complete the following prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of “C+” or better:
      1. Biology - BIO 211 - Anatomy & Physiology I , (Goodwin University), or equivalent completed within the last five years.
      2. Biology - BIO 212 - Anatomy & Physiology II  (Goodwin University), or equivalent completed within the last five years.
      3. Biology - BIO 235 - Microbiology  (Goodwin University), or equivalent completed within the last five years.

Any prerequisite courses transferred from another college must be equivalent to Goodwin University courses and must meet the grade requirement of C+ as previously stated.

Applicants will be notified of acceptance in advance of the registration period for the following semester.

Point System

Nursing applicants who have satisfied all of the admission criteria will be selected according to the point system as specified below:

Previous College Education		Score
Associate Degree or >60 Credits		2
Bachelor’s Degree		3
Master’s Degree		4
Completion of courses taken at Goodwin University
1 course		1
2 courses		2
3 courses		3
4 courses		4
5 courses		5
6 courses		6
7 courses		7
Cumulative GPA (applicable for Goodwin University courses only, based on a minimum of 12 credits)
2.7 - 3.0		1
3.1 - 3.4		2
3.5 - 3.8		3
3.9 - 4.0		4
Composite Score on Pre-Admission Test
58.7% - 62.9%		1
63.0% - 67.1%		2
67.2% - 71.3%		3
71.4% - 75.5%		4
75.6% - 79.7%		5
79.8% - 83.9%		6
84.0% - 88.1%		7
88.2% - 92.3%		8
92.4% - 96.5%		9
96.6% - 100%		10
Total Possible Points		25

Accepted Students

• Once accepted, students are required to submit a $500 non-refundable tuition deposit to hold their place in the class. Students must obtain their own malpractice insurance and also become members of the National Student Nurse Association (NSNA).
• Admitted students must submit a medical examination report by a health care provider which describes the student’s physical and emotional health prior to starting the program. All required immunizations must be completed before the start of the first Nursing course excluding the Hepatitis B vaccine series which may be in progress. If a student elects to not have the Hepatitis B vaccine series, a signed declination form must be in his/her file. All students in the program must receive a flu shot annually.
• Students are required to become certified in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (Health Provider or Professional Rescuer) by the American Heart Association or the Red Cross before entering the Nursing program and must maintain certification throughout the nursing program. The cost related to obtaining and maintaining CPR certification is the responsibility of the student. Proof of certification must be submitted annually.
• All students accepted to the Associate Degree in Nursing program must submit to a background check and drug screening. Fees cover the cost of both. However, if the drug screen result is “negative dilute”, the student must assume the cost of a second drug screen. A positive drug screen, not substantiated by a physician, will prevent the student from entering the program. Students will be notified if the background check reveals any criminal record that might interfere with future licensure. In the event that a background check is positive, the department will make two additional attempts to place the student in an alternative facility. If neither of the two further attempts yield a placement for the student, (s)he will not be permitted to enter with the program. Students are advised to take this into consideration upon initial receipt of the results of their background check.

The Connecticut Articulation Model

The Connecticut Articulation Model, developed by the Connecticut League for Nursing (CLN), provides the mechanism for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) to continue their education.

LPNs who currently hold an unencumbered CT license and are accepted into the Goodwin University nursing program may take a 3-credit “Bridge” course developed by the CLN and administered through Charter Oak College via distance learning. This is followed by a 1-credit course at Goodwin University to validate clinical and other skills. The LPN who successfully completes both these courses is awarded 12 credits and will begin the nursing courses with Nursing 200. LPN applications are accepted for the Spring and Summer semesters. Check the application due dates on the Nursing page of the website. LPNs adhere to the same admission point system as other applicants. LPN’s may not apply in May for acceptance in the September semester. No more than eight (8) candidates will be accepted for admission to the January and May semester.

The LPN student’s license must remain unencumbered for the duration of the time (s)he is in the program. It is the student’s responsibility to immediately report any change in the status of his/her LPN license to the program director. If a student’s license becomes suspended or terminated, (s)he must take a leave of absence from the program until the license is reinstated or as determined by the program director.

*Microbiology must be completed before applying to the program.

For more information on the Connecticut Articulation Program and how it is implemented at Goodwin University, please contact the Nursing Department.

Nursing Department Policies

Policies specific to the Associate Degree in Nursing program may be found in the Associate Degree in Nursing Student Handbook.

Requirements for Graduation

The following requirements must be met in order to graduate from the nursing program:

1. Completion of the course requirements. Prerequisite courses must be completed with a “C” or better except for specific science courses which require a “C+” or better.
2. Completion of ADN coursework with an academic average of at least 2.3 (C+) within the maximum time frame (no greater than six (6) semesters);
3. Fulfillment of all financial obligations to the University;
4. Completion of a final math calculation exam with a score of 100%;
5. Pass the clinical component of NUR 220 ;
6. In order to be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN®, the student must meet the current exit/graduate policies as stipulated in the ADN Student Nursing Handbook.

*Graduation from the program does not guarantee passing the NCLEX-RN® licensing exam. If a student in the program has a felony record, the Department of Public Health will determine their eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN® when the student applies to take the exam. The university has no responsibility for making this decision. Students may access the State Board of Nursing website for additional information.

Time Required to Complete the Associate Degree Program

As a full-time student (12-15 credits/semester) or a part-time student (6-8 credits/semester), five semesters are required to complete the prerequisite science courses. The University permits students to take one (1) science course per semester unless approved by the Program Director or designee. The full-time students will take additional required general education courses with their last two (2) science courses that are applicable to the BSN program in order to maintain their full-time status. Part-time students must pair a general education course with each science course in order to be eligible for Financial Aid. The nursing courses are only offered on a part-time basis, one (1) per semester for each of the five (5) courses. As a result whether the student is full-time or part-time it will require ten (10) semesters to attain the Associate Degree in Nursing which equates to three (3) years and four (4) months.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates will be able to:

1. Practice within the ethical, legal and regulatory frameworks and scope of practice for registered nurses;
2. Utilize critical thinking and information technology, to plan and implement culturally appropriate client care which is safe and holistic;
3. Engage in therapeutic and professional communication skills with all members of the healthcare team including the client/patient/family to meet client/patient/family centered goals;
4. Utilize a process of self-evaluation that fosters personal and professional growth and contributes to lifelong learning;
5. Demonstrate the ability to use evidence-based practices and quality-improvement methods to facilitate the delivery of safe and appropriate client/patient care; and
6. Articulate their role and responsibility in the larger system of health care.