Nursing Education

Registered Nursing Degree

  • Traditional Program Track
  • Evening Program Track
  • LPN Option

Anita Naramore, DNP, MSN, RN Associate Dean of Nursing
George Layton Building, room 107-Shelby Campus JMB 146
(205) 856-6028 • anaramore@jeffersonstate.edu

Jefferson Campus 

Cynthia Hill, DNP, RN Campus Chairperson/Advisor 
George Layton Building, room 160
(205) 856-6013 • chill24@jeffersonstate.edu

Shelby-Hoover Campus

Amanda Cabaniss, MSN, RN Campus Chairperson/Advisor
Judy Merritt Building, room 143
(205) 983-5210 • acabaniss@jeffersonstate.edu

Shelby-Hoover Campus Evening Track 

Jennifer Satterfield, DNP, RN Evening Track Chairperson/Advisor
Judy Merritt Building, room 332
(205) 983-5986 • jsatterf@jeffersonstate.edu

St. Clair-Pell City Campus 

Cristy Daffron, DNP, RN Campus Chairperson/Advisor 
St. Clair-Pell City Academic Building, room 324
(205) 812-2722 • cdaffron@jeffersonstate.edu

Chilton-Clanton Campus

Christopher Forbes, DNP, RN Campus Chairperson/ Advisor
Chilton-Clanton Academic Building, room 212F 
(205) 280-8204 • cforbes1@jeffersonstate.edu

Jefferson Campus 

Kathleen Johnson, Pre-Nursing Advisor
Allen Library, room 101P
205-856-7947 • ktjohnson@jeffersonstate.edu

Shelby-Hoover Campus

Kimberly Rigg, Pre-Nursing Advisor General Studies
Building, room 100
(205) 983-5949 • krigg@jeffersonstate.edu

MISSION

The mission of the nursing programs of the Alabama Community College System is to prepare graduates to practice safe, competent, patient-centered care in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing health care system. We seek to provide full and equal access to opportunities for educational success to meet the community needs.

PHILOSOPHY

We believe that nursing is a dynamic profession, blending science with the use of evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning and the art of caring and compassion to provide quality, patient-centered care. We believe learning is an interactive process in which faculty and students share responsibility to meet program outcomes. We believe in using educational methods that are current and supportive of students in the teaching and learning environment, with the presentation of information from simple to complex. Nursing is guided by standards of practice and standards of professional performance. Standards reflect the values and priorities of the nursing profession. Therefore, we have integrated competencies from the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) and National League of Nursing (NLN) into our philosophy as part of our core values.

COMPETENCIES
End of Program Student Learning Outcomes (EPSLOs)

NLN competencies for nursing are central to the conceptual framework. The related QSEN competencies for graduate nurses define the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that the graduate nurse should possess to continuously improve the quality and safety of the healthcare systems with which they work. (QSEN)

RN

  1. Human Flourishing – Advocate for patients and families in ways that promote their self-determination, integrity, and ongoing growth as human beings. (NLN, 2010)
  2. Patient-Centered Care – Recognize the patient or designee as the source of control and full partner in providing compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for patient’s preferences, values, and needs. (QSEN def)
  3. Nursing Judgment – Make judgments in practice, substantiated with evidence, that integrate nursing science in the provision of safe, quality care and that promote the health of patients within the family and community context. (NLN def)
  4. Safety – Minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance. (QSEN def)
  5. Informatics – Use information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making. (QSEN def)
  6. Professional Identity – Implement one’s role as a nurse in ways that reflect integrity, responsibility, ethical practices, and an evolving identity as a nurse committed to evidence-based practice, caring, advocacy, and safe, quality context. (NLN def)
  7. Teamwork and Collaboration – Function effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care. (QSEN def)
  8. Spirit of Inquiry – Examine the evidence that underlies clinical nursing practice to challenge the status quo, question underlying assumptions, and offer new insights to improve the quality of care for patients, families, and communities. (NLN def)
  9. Evidence-Based Practice – Integrate best current evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values for delivery of optimal health care. (QSEN def)
  10. Quality Improvement – Use data to monitor the outcomes of care processes and use improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care systems. (QSEN def)

LPN

  1. Human Flourishing – Promote the human dignity, integrity, self-determination, and personal growth of patients, oneself, and members of the healthcare team. (NLN, 2010)
  2. Patient-Centered Care – Advocate for the patient and family in the provision of compassionate and coordinated care to support health, safety, and well-being of patients and families. (QSEN, 2012)
  3. Nursing Judgment – Provide a rationale for judgments used in the provision of safe, quality care and for decisions that promote the health of patients within a family context. (NLN, 2010)
  4. Informatics – Incorporate information and technology within own scope of practice to support safe processes of care. (QSEN, 2012)
  5. Safety – Demonstrate the effective use of strategies to reduce risk of harm to self or others. (QSEN, 2012)
  6. Professional Identity – Demonstrate awareness of good practice, boundaries of practice, and professional identity formation including knowledge and attitudes derived from self-understanding and empathy, ethical questions and choices that are gleaned from a situation, awareness of patient needs, and other contextual knowing. (NLN, 2014)
  7. Teamwork and Collaboration – Function competently within own scope of practice as a member of the health care team. (QSEN, 2012)
  8. Spirit of Inquiry – By collaborating with health care team members, utilize evidence, tradition, and patient preferences in predictable, patient care situations to promote optimal health status. (NLN, 2014)
  9. Quality Improvement – Utilize various sources of information to review outcomes of care identifying potential areas for improvement of the quality and safety of care. (QSEN, 2012)
  10. Evidence-Based Practice – Implement evidence-based practice in the provision of individualized health care. (QSEN, 2012)

Approvals and Accreditation

The Associate Degree Nursing Program is state-approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing:(RN/LPN)

Alabama Board of Nursing
770 Washington Avenue
RSA Plaza, Suite 250
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: 1-800-656-5318
www.abn.alabama.gov

The Associate Degree in Nursing Program (RN/LPN) is accredited by the: 

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: (404) 975-5000

 

Degree and Licensure

Completion of the Registered Nursing Program (5 semesters) leads to the awarding of the Associate in Applied Science Degree. Successful completion of 3rd semester of the RN program leads to the awarding of an LPN certificate, and students are eligible to submit an application to the NCSBN to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam. Following successful completion of 5th semester of the RN program, students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. Graduates take the licensure examinations using computerized adaptive testing on a date scheduled with the authorized testing service after receiving approval from the Alabama Board of Nursing. The testing and licensing authorities set fees for the examinations and the licenses.

According to the Administrative Code of the Alabama Board of Nursing, grounds for denial of a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse include, but are not limited to, conviction of a felony or certain other criminal offenses, chemical dependency, mental incompetence, and other reasons authorized by law or regulations.

Upon graduation, the following questions must be answered on the application for a state registered nurse license:

  1. Have you ever been arrested for, been charged with, been convicted of, entered a plea of guilty, entered a plea of nolo contendere or no contest for, received deferred prosecution or adjudication for, had judgment withheld for, received pretrial diversion for, or pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity or mental defect to any crime other than a minor Have you ever been arrested for, been charged with, been convicted of, entered a plea of guilty, entered a plea of nolo contendere or no contest for, received deferred prosecution or adjudication for, had judgment withheld for, received pretrial diversion for, or pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity or mental defect to any crime other than a minor traffic violation in any state, territory, or country? A crime related to driving while impaired or while under the influence of any substance is not a “minor traffic violation.”
  2. In the past five years, have you abused alcohol, drugs (whether legal or illegal, prescribed or unauthorized), and/or other chemical substances or received treatment or been recommended for treatment for dependency to alcohol, drugs (whether legal or illegal, prescribed or unauthorized), and/or other chemical substances?
  3. Have you ever been arrested or convicted for driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol?
  4. In the past five years, have you had, or do you now have, a physical or mental health problem that may impair your ability to provide safe nursing care?
  5. Has the licensing authority of any state, territory, or country denied, revoked, suspended, reprimanded, fined, accepted your surrender of, restricted, limited, placed on probation, or in any other way disciplined your nursing and/or any other occupational license, registration, certification, or approval?
  6. Is the Board of Nursing or other licensing authority of any state, territory, or country, including but not limited to the Alabama Board of Nursing, currently investigating you?
  7. Is disciplinary action pending against you with the Board of Nursing or other licensing authority of any state, territory, or country, including but not limited to the Alabama Board of Nursing?
  8. Have you ever been placed on a state and/or federal abuse registry?
  9. Has any branch of the armed services ever administratively discharged you with any characterization of service besides “Honorable” and/or court-martialed you?

Applicants who must respond “yes” to these questions are advised to contact the Associate Dean of Nursing prior to submitting an application for admission to confidentially discuss any special requirements.

Clinical Facilities

In addition to campus laboratory facilities, nursing students are required to participate in clinical experiences in several health care agencies. The college does not provide transportation to off-campus facilities.

Admission Procedures/Requirements

Traditional and Evening Track

Students are admitted to the Nursing Education Program each term. Please contact the Pre-Nursing Advisors in Enrollment Services for information regarding application deadlines. Students should consult an advisor well ahead of the date they plan to apply for admission to the Nursing Program to allow time to meet admission requirements. Students who wish to major in nursing should first complete the application and admission procedures required by the college, take math and English placement tests, and then contact Enrollment Services for an appointment with a pre-nursing advisor at nursingadvising@jeffersonstate.edu to develop a plan to meet admission requirements.

Students are admitted based on their overall academic record. A minimum of 2.5 GPA for nursing-required academic core courses and a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA at the current, native institution or cumulative 2.0 in the institution from which the student is transferring is required. Students are ranked for admission based on a formula using the TEAS test, grades in selected college or high school courses, and other criteria. Minimum admission standards for the Associate Degree Nursing Program include:

  1. Unconditional admission to the college and be in good standing with Jefferson State Community College.
  2. Submit the “Application to the Nursing Program,” which is available online, from Enrollment Services on the Jefferson and Shelby-Hoover Campuses by the deadline.
  3. A minimum of 2.5 GPA or above (4.00 scale) for nursing-required academic core courses and a minimum of 2.0 cumulative GPA at the current, native institution or cumulative 2.0 in the institution from which the student is transferring. A minimum of 2.5 cumulative high school GPA for students without prior college courses (GED will be used if applicable). All required general education courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better for program admission and completion.

Applicants are required to have all previously attended colleges submit official transcripts to Enrollment Services by the application deadline for each semester. Eligible students may request implementation of the college Academic Bankruptcy Policy or the Health-Related Programs Academic Forfeit Policy. Students should consult an advisor for more information regarding these policies.

  1. Eligibility for the following courses:
    MTH 100 ..................................... 3 hours
    BIO 201 ....................................... 4 hours
    ENG 101 ...................................... 3 hours
  2. The Nursing Program is planned as a combined sequence of nursing and general education courses, and students may take all required general education courses once admitted to nursing. However, completion of certain courses prior to application to the program may result in a higher rank score and improve the chances of being admitted. Prior credit for general education courses does not shorten the length of the curriculum due to the required sequence of nursing courses.
  3. Current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the health care provider or professional rescuer level is required upon admission. Only American Heart Association CPR certification is accepted for the Nursing Education Program. Courses that lack performance validation of skills do not satisfy the CPR certification requirement.
  4. Students are expected to have and maintain a satisfactory level of health, including freedom from chemical dependency and communicable diseases. Students must be able to fully participate in the approved program of classroom studies and campus and clinical laboratory experiences and responsibilities. Medical examination forms indicating a satisfactory level of health must be submitted at nursing orientation. Students must test negative for drugs and alcohol during a screening conducted prior to assignment for clinical experiences. Random drug and alcohol screening will be required throughout the program.
  5. Applicants who have been treated for chemical dependency or mental disorders or who have been convicted of a criminal offense, including driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, should contact the Associate Dean of the nursing department to confidentially discuss additional information available in the Administrative Code of the Alabama Board of Nursing. The Board of Nursing requires complete disclosure of prior arrest and/or treatment records. Certain circumstances may affect placement for clinical experiences and therefore may affect progression in the nursing program.
  6. A background screen will be required prior to admission to the program. The cost of this screen must be paid by the student. Students who fail to complete the background screen by the established deadline will not be admitted. Students whose background screen is not acceptable to affiliate agencies will not be admitted to the program.
  7. Students enrolled in the nursing program are required to take achievement tests as scheduled. The student is responsible for paying for the cost of the achievement tests by the date specified by the program. Students who fail to pay fees by the specified date may not participate in course activities until all fees are paid.
  8. Upon admission and by the dates specified by the Nursing Program, students must:
    1. Purchase regulation Jefferson State nursing student uniforms and specified accessories;
    2. Pay required annual premiums for nursing student liability insurance by the specified due date;
    3. Submit annual medical examination forms by a specified due date evidencing a satisfactory level of health, which includes being free of and immune to certain communicable diseases (measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, Hepatitis B, TB), an annual flu shot, and freedom from chemical dependency. Contracts with affiliated clinical agencies require that students be physically fit and vaccinated to undertake patient care assignments.
    4. Submit evidence and signed verification of current, in-force hospital/health insurance. Certain affiliated clinical agencies require that students have hospital/health insurance before participating in lab assignments at the agency. Neither the college nor affiliated clinical agencies provide health care for students. Information about student health insurance is available through the College’s Office of Enrollment Services or through the Nursing Office at Jefferson and Shelby Campuses. Payment of insurance premiums or health care costs is the responsibility of the student.

NOTICE: The Alabama Infected Health Care Worker Management Act mandates that any health care worker who performs invasive procedures and who is infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B virus shall notify the State Health Officer, or his designee, of the infection.

The essential functions that have been deemed necessary by the Alabama Community College System nursing programs are the set requirements for students entering and participating in the Registered Nursing Program and LPN option. You will find a copy of the Essential Functions included here and also published on the medical form. If you have individual concerns, please contact the nursing campus chairperson at the campus where you are applying.

NOTICE: Your ability to comply with the ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS listed may be evaluated by nursing faculty at any time that your ability to do so is in question.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Alabama Community College System endorses the Americans with Disabilities Act. In accordance with College policy, when requested, reasonable accommodations may be provided for individuals with disabilities. Physical, cognitive, psychomotor, affective, and social abilities
Physical, cognitive, psychomotor, affective, and social abilities are required in unique combinations to provide safe and effective nursing care. The applicant/student must be able to meet the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations throughout the program of learning. Admission, progression, and graduation are contingent upon one’s ability to demonstrate the essential functions delineated for the nursing programs with or without reasonable accommodations. The nursing programs and/or their affiliated clinical agencies may identify additional essential functions. The nursing programs reserve the right to amend the essential functions as deemed necessary.

In order to be admitted and to progress in the nursing program, one must possess a functional level of ability to perform the duties required of a nurse. Admission or progression may be denied if a student is unable to demonstrate the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations. The essential functions delineated are those deemed necessary by the Alabama Community College System nursing programs. No representation regarding industrial standards is implied. Similarly, any reasonable accommodations made will be determined and applied to the respective nursing program and may vary from reasonable accommodations made by healthcare employers.

The essential functions delineated below are necessary for nursing program admission, progression, and graduation, and for the provision of safe and effective nursing care. The essential functions include but are not limited to the ability to:

  1. Sensory Perception
    1. Visual
      1. Observe and discern subtle changes in physical conditions and the environment.
      2. Visualize different color spectrums and color changes.
      3. Read fine print in varying levels of light.
      4. Read for prolonged periods of time.
      5. Read cursive writing.
      6. Read at varying distances.
      7. Read data/information displayed on monitors/equipment.
    2. Auditory
      1. Interpret monitoring devices.
      2. Distinguish muffled sounds heard through a stethoscope
      3. Hear and discriminate high and low frequency sounds produced by the body and the environment.
      4. Effectively hear to communicate with others.
    3. Tactile
      1. Discern tremors, vibrations, pulses, textures, temperature, shapes, size, location, and other physical characteristics.
    4. Olfactory
      1. Detect body odors and odors in the environment.
  2. Communication/Interpersonal Relationships
    1. Verbally and in writing, engage in a two-way communication and interact effectively with others from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.
    2. Work effectively in groups.
    3. Work effectively independently.
    4. Discern and interpret nonverbal communication.
    5. Express one’s ideas and feelings clearly.
    6. Communicate with others accurately in a timely manner.
    7. Obtain communications from a computer.
  3. Cognitive/Critical Thinking
    1. Effectively read, write, and comprehend the English language.
    2. Consistently and dependably engage in the process of critical thinking in order to formulate and implement safe and ethical nursing decisions in a variety of health care settings.
    3. Demonstrate satisfactory performance on written examinations including mathematical computations without a calculator.
    4. Satisfactorily achieve the program objectives.
  4. Motor Function
    1. Handle small delicate equipment/objects without extraneous movement, contamination, or destruction.
    2. Move, position, turn, transfer, assist with lifting, or lift and carry clients without injury to clients, self, or others.
    3. Maintain balance from any position.
    4. Stand on both legs.
    5. Coordinate hand/eye movements.
    6. Push/pull heavy objects without injury to client, self, or others.
    7. Stand, bend, walk, and/or sit for 6–12 hours in a clinical setting performing physical activities requiring energy without jeopardizing the safety of the client, self, or others.
    8. Walk without a cane, walker, or crutches.
    9. Function with hands free for nursing care and transporting items.
    10. Transport self and client without the use of electrical devices.
    11. Flex, abduct, and rotate all joints freely.
    12. Respond rapidly to emergency situations.
    13. Maneuver in small areas.
    14. Perform daily care functions for the client.
    15. Coordinate fine and gross motor hand movements to provide safe effective nursing care.
    16. Calibrate/use equipment.
    17. Execute movement required to provide nursing care in all health care settings.
    18. Perform CPR and physical assessment.
    19. Operate a computer.
  5. Professional Behavior
    1. Convey caring, respect, sensitivity, tact, compassion, empathy, tolerance, and a healthy attitude toward others.
    2. Demonstrate a mentally healthy attitude that is age appropriate in relationship to the client.
    3. Handle multiple tasks concurrently.
    4. Perform safe, effective nursing care for clients in a caring context.
    5. Understand and follow the policies and procedures of the College and clinical agencies.
    6. Understand the consequences of violating the student code of conduct.
    7. Understand that posing a direct threat to others is unacceptable and subjects one to discipline.
    8. Meet qualifications for licensure by examination as stipulated by the Alabama Board of Nursing.
    9. Not pose a threat to self or others.
    10. Function effectively in situations of uncertainty and stress inherent in providing nursing care.
    11. Adapt to changing environments and situations.
    12. Remain free of chemical dependency.
    13. Report promptly to clinicals and remain for 6–12 hours on the clinical unit.
    14. Provide nursing care in an appropriate time frame.
    15. Accept responsibility, accountability, and ownership of one’s actions.
    16. Seek supervision/consultation in a timely manner.
    17. Examine and modify one’s own behavior when it interferes with nursing care or learning.

Upon admission, an individual who discloses a disability can request reasonable accommodations. Individuals will be asked to provide documentation of the disability in order to assist with the provision of appropriate reasonable accommodations. The respective College will provide reasonable accommodations but is not required to substantially alter the requirements or nature of the program or provide accommodations that inflict an undue burden on the respective College.

In order to be admitted, one must be able to perform all of the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations. If an individual’s health changes during the program of learning, so that the essential functions cannot be met with or without reasonable accommodations, the student will be withdrawn from the nursing program. The nursing faculty reserves the right at any time to require an additional medical examination at the student’s expense in order to assist with the evaluation of the student’s ability to perform the essential functions.

Requests for reasonable accommodations should be directed to:

Jefferson State Community College
ADA Accommodations Office
Room 305, Fitzgerald Student Center
2601 Carson Road
Birmingham, AL 35215
(205) 856-6077

Transfer Credit or Previous Credit – General Education Course

Students who have transfer credit should request the evaluation of transcripts from other colleges attended by Enrollment Services.

Transfer Credit or Previous Credit – Nursing Course

Any student who has previously attended another nursing education program is considered to be a “transfer student.” Students who are eligible and interested in transferring into Jefferson State’s Nursing Program should call or write the Associate Dean of Nursing for information on admission criteria and required procedures. Students wishing to transfer must:

  1. Meet the entry and progression requirements of the institution and the nursing program.
  2. Provide evidence that all required general education and nursing courses taken at another institution were completed with a grade of C or better and a GPA of 2.00 or better.
    1. Alabama Community College System Standardized Nursing Curriculum courses will be transferred without review of the course syllabus.
    2. Nursing courses from any other institutions are not accepted due to differences in curriculum.
  3. Be a student in good standing and eligible to return to the previous nursing program.
  4. Provide a letter of recommendation from the Dean/Director of the previous program.
  5. In order to be transfer student, the student must be admitted to the program. Students must complete at least 25% of the required NUR courses at Jefferson State for an associate degree.
  6. Validate skills and knowledge as necessary to determine program placement.

Acceptance of transfer students into nursing programs is limited by the number of faculty and clinical facilities available. Meeting minimal requirements does not guarantee acceptance. The Alabama Community College System allows two attempts to be successful in the nursing education program. Students who have had two unsuccessful attempts in a nursing program are not eligible for transfer but may apply as a new student. Nursing courses may not be audited.

Progression Requirement

Students are referred to the “Nursing Education Program’s Progression Guidelines” as published in the Nursing Student Handbook, and additional information is published in the “Admission to the College” section of the Catalog and Student Handbook. All students admitted to nursing are responsible for information contained in the Handbook.

Letter grades for all NUR courses are assigned according to the following system:

A – Excellent (90–100)
B – Good (80–89)
C – Average (75–79)
D – Poor (60–74)
F – Failure (below 60)
W – Withdrawal
WP – Withdrawal Passing
I – Incomplete
AU – Audit
RW – Required Withdrawal

No rounding of test scores is done (e.g., 78.6 is 78.6). Only the final grade is rounded: 0.5 or higher is raised to the next whole number.

In order to complete the Nursing Program successfully, the student must fulfill all of the following requirements:

  1. Maintain a grade of C or better in all required general education and nursing courses and maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
  2. Complete all required general education courses according to The Alabama Community College System Nursing Education curriculum unless completed prior to admission. Any exceptions must be approved by the Associate Dean of Nursing.
  3. Maintain ability to meet essential functions for nursing with or without reasonable accommodations.
  4. Successfully complete the program within 7 semesters from admission to the Nursing Program.
  5. Maintain current CPR at the healthcare provider level; maintain health insurance throughout the program, and
  6. Complete all nursing courses in the prescribed sequence of the curriculum. If a student withdraws or makes a D or an F in a nursing course, the student cannot progress in the nursing course sequence until the course is repeated successfully. Course repetition will be based on instructor availability and program resources.

Reinstatement: Students whose progression through the nursing program is interrupted and who desire to be reinstated in the program must schedule an appointment with a nursing faculty or Associate Dean of Nursing to discuss reinstatement. In order to be reinstated, a student must:

  1. Apply for readmission to the college if not currently enrolled.
  2. Submit a letter requesting reinstatement to the appropriate nursing program personnel.
  3. Submit a letter of request in a timely manner so that reinstatement would occur within one year from the term of withdrawal or failure.
  4. Demonstrate competency in all previous nursing courses successfully completed.
  5. Successfully remediate foundational knowledge and skills with an assigned faculty mentor.
  6. Adhere to nursing curriculum or program policies and procedures effective at the point of reinstatement.

Students who withdraw or are unsuccessful in a fundamental course in the first semester must reapply to the program and meet all admission criteria. 

Reinstatement to the nursing program is not guaranteed.

Degrees and Certificates