Kicking Off Your Nursing Career
As you begin your journey as a student nurse in our programs, you will learn to become an independent, critical thinker and develop a passion for lifelong learning.
While you work in healthcare settings and meet the needs of socially, culturally, and economically diverse individuals, you will learn team collaboration and conflict resolution. Because nurses touch the lives of individuals across their lifespan, you will gain clinical knowledge, skills, and abilities in acute care, critical care, obstetrics, and emergency nursing. Classroom, skills, and simulation laboratories, as well as clinical experiences in local facilities, help us to facilitate student learning.
Students admitted to the Division of Nursing are required to comply with the Alabama Infected Health Care Worker Management Act. This legislation mandates that any health care worker infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or the hepatitis B virus (HBV) who performs invasive procedures shall notify the State Health Officer, or his designee, of the infection.
Clinical Health Clearance Requirements
The DON is responsible for ensuring that students comply with healthcare agencies’ policies and regulatory requirements prior to clinical rotations. Any course that includes a clinical experience has mandatory health requirements in order to decrease health risks to students, protect patients and other healthcare providers, and comply with healthcare agency contracts. It is the responsibility of all nursing students to ensure their health clearance remains up to date. If health clearance expires, a student will not be allowed to enter any clinical site. If a clinical day is missed due to expired health clearance, this absence places the student at risk for course failure (refer to Absence Policy in the DON’s Student Handbook).
All nursing students must submit documentation to the DON for the following mandatory health requirements. Additional Clinical Health Clearance Policy information and forms can be found over the next several pages.
| Clinical Health Clearance Requirements |
| Physical Examination | Physical exams must be completed by a physician, certified registered nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant.Documentation must be completed on the DON’s Physical Examination form (found on the DON webpage.) |
| CPR Certification | American Heart Association (AHA) BLS (Basic Life Support) card (or eCard) is required.We do not accept any other CPR certification, as per clinical facility requirements.Copy of current CPR card or eCard must be provided.Students are responsible for renewal of CPR certification.BLS cards are valid for 2 years, but must remain current for the duration of the semester. If your card has an expiration date that falls during a semester, you must renew prior to the start of the term.Military issued CPR cards that use the AHA for healthcare workers curriculum will be accepted. |
| Tb Skin Test | Proof of negative Tb skin test, blood test, or chest x-ray must be provided on initial admission to the nursing program (must be within a year of admission).TB skin test renewals are required every 12 months from your healthcare provider; no special form is needed.If the skin test is positive, a chest x-ray will be required. |
| Immunizations | Immunizations must be documented on the DON’s Immunization Certificate (found on the DON webpage.)Required immunizations are outlined in the chart below and on the Immunization Certificate. |
| Health Insurance | Current health insurance is required by our clinical facilities. Health insurance must be effective for the entirety of the nursing program. Any changes to health insurance must be submitted to the DON.If you are covered under another person’s policy, you must submit a copy of that card, along with a letter from the insurance company stating you are covered under the policy.If uninsured, students are responsible for purchasing health insurance. |
| Liability | The DON purchases liability insurance on behalf of the student.A $25 liability insurance fee is due upon admission.Checks should be made payable to UWA Division of Nursing. |
| Drug Screen | Drug screenings are coordinated by the DON and should not be done in advance by the student (refer to Drug Screening Guidelines.) |
| Background Screen | Background screenings are coordinated by the DON and should not be done in advance by the student (refer to Background Screening Policy.) |
These requirements may differ from those posted by UWA, but they are REQUIRED for ALL nursing students.
Progression Requirements
The DON faculty will approve for progression only students who satisfy the requirements of health, conduct, and scholastic achievement as outlined in the (1) Criteria for Admission, Progression, Graduation, and Readmission, (2) General Catalogue, (3) Standards of Conduct Statement, (4) Drug Screen Policy, (5) Background Screen, (6) Course Overview, (7) Critical Skills Policy, and (8) Clinical Evaluation Tools. Failure to demonstrate good moral character as evidenced by any of the following merits immediate dismissal from the program: (1) conviction of a felony, (2) addiction to drugs and/or alcohol, (3) theft of drugs, (4) disciplinary action against a nursing license in any state.
In order to progress in the nursing program, students must:
ASN Program
- Achieve a minimum grade of “C” (80%) in each nursing course attempted.
- Achieve a minimum grade of “C” in each general education course.
- Achieve a clinical laboratory grade of “satisfactory” in each nursing course.
- Achieve a minimum grade of 80% on the dosage critical administered in NS 102, NS 103, NS 202, and NS 204.
- Meet all requirements of the Division of Nursing and its clinical agencies as stated in the DON’s Student Handbook.
Prelicensure BSN Program
- Achieve a minimum grade of “C” (80%) in each nursing course attempted.
- Achieve a clinical laboratory grade of “satisfactory” in each nursing course.
- Achieve a minimum grade of 80% on the dosage critical administered in NS 102, NS 103, NS 202, and NS 204.
- Meet all requirements of the Division of Nursing and its clinical agencies as stated in the DON’s Student Handbook.
Post-licensure RN to BSN Program
- Achieve a minimum grade of “C” (70%) in each nursing course attempted.
- Achieve a clinical laboratory grade of “satisfactory” in each nursing course.
- Meet all requirements of the Division of Nursing and its clinical agencies as stated in the DON’s Student Handbook.
Failure to meet progression requirements will result in academic dismissal from the nursing program. In addition to academic dismissal, the student’s enrollment in the nursing program may be terminated at any time if, in the judgment of the nursing faculty, the student demonstrates behaviors inappropriate to nursing practice. Students whose health status and/or clinical performance jeopardize the clients assigned to his/her care may also be dismissed from the nursing program. The DON reserves the right to require a student to submit to: (A) drug screening and/or other professional evaluation for chemical addiction*; (B) psychological testing and/or counseling; (C) physical examination by a licensed physician at the student’s expense and to submit a report of the outcome to the Division of Nursing. Results of such reports will be reviewed by the nursing faculty to determine the progression status of the student. Progression in the nursing program may also be terminated if the student has falsified information submitted on the application for admission to the University and/or the DON. Dismissal for misconduct will be handled according to the UWA Code of Student Conduct as outlined in the University of West Alabama Student Handbook and the Progression Policy of the Division of Nursing.
*Guidelines established by the Alabama Board of Nursing and guidelines established in the chemical abuse policies of affiliating clinical agencies are utilized by faculty in determining probable cause for requiring professional evaluation for substance abuse. Drug screening is required by health agencies prior to students participating in clinical experiences.
Reinstatement Information
The following reinstatement guidelines apply to prelicensure students:
- Students who fail to meet the progression requirements or withdraw can apply for ONE reinstatement into the nursing program.
- Students must complete the Reinstatement Request Form https://eforms.uwa.edu/index.aspx within seven (7) days of the the withdrawal/failure date.
- Students who are unsuccessful in the final semester of the program may be approved for one additional reinstatement.
Students who are unsuccessful in NS 101 or NS 102 must re-apply for admission into the nursing program. Students who are unsuccessful in any other nursing course must apply for reinstatement into the nursing program.
*Students re-applying must retake the HESI A2 and achieve the minimum admission score.
Reinstatement to the Nursing Program is not guaranteed. All decisions regarding reinstatement are made by the Nursing Faculty Committee. Items considered include: completion of requirements established by the faculty, availability of space, the student’s application, prior performance record in the nursing program, other information submitted by the student, and other applicable information.
All students must abide by the policies in the DON’s Student Handbook at the time of reinstatement. In order to be reinstated to the ASN program at the UWA Division of Nursing, students must complete an online Reinstatement Request Form. This form must be received within 60 days from the withdrawal/failure date. Questions about progression, reinstatement or readmission should be discussed with your faculty advisor.
Graduation Information
Candidates for graduation must have met the DON’s progression requirements as well as all UWA’s graduation requirements as outlined in the General Catalogue. A candidate for either an associate or bachelor’s degree must complete 25% of their total hours at UWA. For nursing degree candidates, all nursing coursework must be earned at UWA for degree completion. An exception is made for Post-licensure RN to BSN transfer degree candidates who require only 27 credit hours to complete the bachelor’s degree at UWA.
Degree Application
Candidates for graduation must apply for graduation. A degree application should be submitted the semester before you intend to complete your degree.
NCLEX-RN Registration
When you are ready to register to take your NCLEX-RN exam, you should visit the NCSBN webpage. Follow the two-step registration process at the top of the page. You will first be asked to register with your state governing body, choose the state you plan to begin working in. Next, you will be instructed to register to take the exam through Pearson VUE. Start by creating an account and then sign-in to your account to schedule and pay for the exam. Make sure you provide them with a valid email address, all correspondence from Pearson VUE will be via email. Good luck with your exam and be sure to let us know when you pass, we look forward to hearing from you.
Progression in the nursing program may be terminated if the student has falsified information submitted on the application for admission to the University and/or the UWA Division of Nursing. Dismissal for misconduct will be handled according to the Code of Student Conduct as outlined in the UWA Student Handbook and the Progression Policy of the UWA DON Student Handbook.
UWA Division of Nursing Program Codes
ASN Code: US78407900
BSN Code: US78509600