Upon graduation, students are awarded the Associate of Science in Nursing degree or the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Graduates are encouraged to take a review course to assist in preparing to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Upon successful completion of the NCLEX-RN exam, the state Board of Nursing (BON) grants the privilege to practice as a RN. The BON uses the NCLEX-RN to measure minimal competency for entry-level practice for graduates of approved programs of nursing education. Students should begin the application process with their state of residence during their last semester in the program. Students are responsible for completing and submitting the required documents to the BON. The Chair of Pre-Licensure Programs will submit graduation verification information, test accommodation forms, and other forms as required by the BON.
Nursing students are required to maintain CPR certification while enrolled in a HSON pre-licensure program. All nursing students are required to take the certification course for Healthcare Professionals through the American Heart Association.
Students must have admission criteria met including TB, CPR, NA I (class or certification), all immunizations (except flu vaccine), and drug screen that are required for clinical.
The Clinical Coordinator will conduct clinical orientation days on campus to review clinical information and will run reports in AmericanDataBank to determine students with missing orientation material. Students without a “Green Checkmark” indicating the orientation requirements have not been uploaded and/or approved, will be required to remain in the session until modules are completed. Students will then need to meet with the Clinical Coordinator to prove requirements were uploaded.
Students who fail to complete the requirements by the due date will receive -20% for the clinical grade and will not be allowed to attend clinical until the requirements are met in AmericanDataBank. This could result in clinical failure for absences (refer to attendance information in clinical syllabus). The Clinical Coordinator will schedule a meeting with the student as soon as the due date passes to inform them of delinquency and inability to attend clinical, however the student will remain enrolled in nursing courses this semester and incur absences.
The Clinical Coordinator will keep track of continuing clinical requirements. Students with outstanding requirements later in the semester (flu vaccine, CPR expired, etc.) will not be able to continue with nursing the upcoming semester. AmericanDataBank sends emails with approaching due dates so students will be aware. The Clinical Coordinator will notify students when the due date has passed and will remove nursing courses from the student’s schedule for the upcoming semester. The student will be placed back in nursing courses when all requirements have been met, however, the student is not guaranteed the same schedule if other students have registered for the open seats.
Once the semester ends, any students wishing to change clinical section for the upcoming semester must contact the Clinical Coordinator to request this change so appropriate paperwork can be sent to the facility.
All students must maintain CPR, TB, flu vaccine, and any other out-of-date immunizations to remain in the nursing program. Students must maintain all clinical requirements regardless if out of clinical for a semester. An exception may be made at the Clinical Coordinator’s discretion for a student who will not be in clinical again prior to graduation (e.g., repeating one nursing class prior to graduation).
Satisfactory physical and mental health is required for admission and progression through the pre-licensure program. Prior to admission, the student’s health status must be documented on the form provided by GWU along with other supplementary materials as indicated. Satisfactory health is defined as that which does not present a health hazard to the student, patient, or others. It encompasses the emotional and physical ability to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care of individuals for whom nurses are professionally responsible. Students with known or suspected communicable or other serious illnesses are ethically and legally obligated to consider their health status in light of patient safety. In addition, they must present a healthcare provider’s statement documenting that the disease state is cured or adequately controlled. Failure to manage or report such conditions may result in dismissal from the program, ineligibility to take the NCLEX-RN, and possible legal action by others.
Completion of a health form is required for admission. In specific circumstances, students may be required to provide additional validation of physical and/or emotional health at any time before admission or while in a pre-licensure program. Students are required to meet technical standards for performance in the HSON. Any alteration in health status that occurs during the time a student is enrolled in a pre-licensure program, which requires limitations of activities or alterations in clinical or campus lab assignments, must be reported immediately to the Chair of Pre-Licensure Programs and instructor(s) of the nursing course(s) involved. Documentation from the health care provider identifying the limitation(s) and ability to perform technical standards will be required for continued enrollment.
Students on a prepaid 15 or 21 meal plan at GWU may receive reimbursement for missed meals. upon the completion of the Student Nurse Meal Refund Application.
After successful completion of NURS/NUR 115/342 and NURS/NUR 116/343, students are eligible to be placed on the North Carolina registry for NA II certification through the North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON). The Chair of Pre-licensure Programs will enter students into the NA II database after final grades have been posted. Any questions regarding the NA II certification process should be directed to the appropriate ASN or BSN Licensure and Program Coordinator, or the Chair of Pre-licensure Programs.
To be eligible for a NA II certification students must meet the following criteria:
Students are responsible for arranging their transportation to clinical facilities and other required learning activities.
