CIP Code - 513801
Mission
The mission of the Associate of Science in Nursing Program at Louisiana Delta Community College supports the mission of the parent institution. The purpose of nursing is to offer an effective and efficient program of study that produces competent and safe entry-level graduates prepared to function within the roles of an associate degree nurse.
Program Description
The Associate of Nursing (ASN) program is structured for future nurses to have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) necessary for continuous improvement in giving caring, quality, and safe healthcare. The curriculum is organized systematically with the steps of the nursing process. Specific need-based priorities are established. Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs provides the organization for the needs sequence of priorities.
Accreditation and Membership
The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program at Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) is accredited by the Accreditation Commission of Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326. The ASN program at LDCC has full approval from the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN), 17373 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70810. The ASN program also holds membership in the National League of Nursing (NLN), a professional but non-accrediting agency, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20037.
Learning Outcomes
Adopted March 6, 2018
Graduates of the Louisiana Delta Community College Associate of Science in Nursing program will be able to:
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Organize patient-centered care across the lifespan with respect to patient’s values culture and beliefs.
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Demonstrate continuing competence, growth, and development in the practice of the profession of nursing to minimize risk of harm to patients.
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Identify the use of quality measures to improve performance and patient outcomes.
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Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team, (individuals, patients, families or communities), to achieve quality patient care.
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Utilize technology, resources and information systems to deliver safe, effective patient care.
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Demonstrate critical thinking and problem- solving skills in developing an evidence-based plan of care.
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Demonstrate accountability for legal, moral, and ethical consideration within current standards of professional practices.
Program Outcomes
Adopted February 6, 2018
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Eighty percent (80%) of the Louisiana Delta Community College nursing program graduates will successfully complete the Licensure examination on the first attempt.
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The Louisiana Delta Community College traditional student will complete the nursing program within 6 semesters and the LPN to RN students will complete the track within 4.5 semesters.
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The Louisiana Delta Community College nursing graduates will be employed as an RN within 12 months.
Admission
Admission to LDCC ASN program is granted on a competitive basis. Criminal background checks and drug screenings are required for all students applying to an RN nursing program as required by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN). Entrance into or continuation in a nursing program is dependent upon the LSBN’s action for each student. LSBN Rule 3331 (2012) provides for LSBN to have the duty to exclude individuals who pose a risk to public safety, and will now deny applicants who have been convicted (or similar plea) of felony crimes of violence, sex offenses, crimes involving the distribution, manufacture and production of drugs, and certain felony property crimes such as Medicaid Fraud and Identify theft. LSBN will deny applicants for a minimum of five (5) years following the final disposition of the criminal case for other felony convictions or for two or more misdemeanor crimes or following a misdemeanor conviction and the existence of aggravating circumstances which reflect the inability to practice nursing safety. Delay of admission to clinicals may result if there is a recent diagnosis or treatment for substance use disorders.
LDCC ASN program includes a traditional track and a transition track for current Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) to enter the ASN program and be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN testing to be a registered nurse (RN).
Admission Criteria are explained in the Curriculum information. (Admission is not based upon attainment of minimum requirements in the required pre-requisite courses). Application dates for the LPN – RN Track are March 1 – April 1. Application dates for the Traditional Track are August 15-September 15. Applicant packets are to be completed and submitted within the time-frame stated. No late applications will be accepted. All application forms may be obtained online.
Upon admission to the LDCC ASN Program or Traditional Track and LPN-RN Track, nursing students are required to submit a physical examination report to the Castle Branch. This requirement is for the protection of the student and to meet the requirements of clinical agencies. Students admitted to the ASN Program must meet requirements based on recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention for Health Care Workers. This includes providing proof of Tuberculosis Testing annually (Mantoux skin test), Hepatitis B immunization series, and other required immunizations and titers as required for clinical affiliation contracts.
Curriculum
The LDCC ASN curriculum consists of 37 credit hours of required co-curriculum courses and 33 credit hours of nursing program courses. This includes fine art, humanity elective, English compositions, mathematics, anatomy and physiology lectures and labs, microbiology lecture and lab, psychology, pharmacology, and introduction to nursing. Science courses cannot be over five (5) years old.
The Traditional Track requirements for admission includes a completed LDCC ASN Student Application Form, LDCC ASN Curriculum sheet/degree audit, Rubric Admissions Score Sheet, and an unofficial copy of transcript(s) with five (5) pre-nursing classes and grades highlighted (ENGL 101, MATH 110, PSYC 201, and BIOL 221 & 223); only three (3) attempts of each of these courses are allowed and the latest attempt is the grade considered in calculations.
Any student applying to LDCC ASN Program who has a previous degree from an accredited institution of higher education has to provide a transcript and a copy of the diploma noting the degree awarded.
The LPN – RN Track application must include successful completion of required thirteen (13) pre-requisite courses as listed on audit sheet; two copies of license verification obtained from the Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurses Examiners; and a letter from an employer as verification that one year of work experience has been completed.
Students accepted into the LPN – RN track will be awarded credit for nursing courses as mandated by the Louisiana Nursing Education Articulation Model (Adopted 2005, Revised 2014). Credit will be awarded when appropriate examination and skill return demonstrations are successfully completed.
ASN Policies
All students admitted to the LDCC ASN Program are responsible and accountable for their actions related to patient care. Clinical agencies affiliated with LDCC ASN program may require drug/alcohol screening prior to participation in the clinical setting or on the basis of reasonable suspicion. A positive confirmation by the Medical Review Officer (MRO) will result in denial of the student’s participation in the clinical experience, a dismissal from the program, and a report to LSBN. The student with a positive test may apply to re-enter at the beginning of the program only after LSBN approval.
Unsuccessful return demonstrations in any nursing course will require the student to remediate in preparation of repeating the skill return demonstration. Successful demonstration of a skill or assessment may have to be completed before progressing to a clinical experience.
Students must maintain current CPR/BLS certification for Health Care Providers from the American Heart Association. An annual TB Mantoux test result is to be documented and on file. These are due the first week of the semester.
Accurate dosage calculation skills are essential to safe clinical practice. Students are required to demonstrate a minimum of 90% accuracy in dosage calculation skills prior to entering the clinical facilities. This is a requirement for every semester in the ASN program. The first scheduled dosage calculation test is mandatory. Students are allowed three attempts to be successful at the 90% requirement. Remediation is required prior to the repeat of the dosage calculation exam. An unsuccessful third attempt will result in the student’s ineligibility to enter clinicals, and therefore the student will not be able to complete the nursing course learning outcomes for progression in the program. The student will be advised to follow through on withdrawing from the course and meeting with financial aid and other departments of LDCC as necessary.
Students must obtain a “C” or better grade to continue to the next level of nursing courses. This includes completion of course requirements for theory and lab/clinical. Clinical attendance is mandatory. Failure to earn a “C” or better in a nursing course will result in the student not progressing. Students are allowed to re-enter the nursing program one time only. When re-entering, the student must retake the entire course, didactic and clinical/lab portions that were not passed in the previous semester. A subsequent failure of a repeated course or any other clinical nursing course results in termination. An appeal is counted as an attempt.
Students who withdraw from a nursing course or who are terminated for academic, attendance, or other reasons must have an exit interview at the time of exit to be eligible for readmission. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule this interview with the Program Director. The exit interview is mandatory; no student will be considered for readmission unless a completed Exit Interview Form is on file. Readmission is not guaranteed and must be considered on an individual basis. Some things to consider include when the necessary course is being taught again and if there is adequate nursing faculty for the student to be readmitted. The Program Director must approve any student applying to repeat a nursing course. The decision is based on space availability, Nursing GPA, previous failures and/or withdrawals, and course faculty recommendations based on the previous record of student’s attendance, the following of any remediation plan requirements, and the student’s past behavior. Readmission is not automatic.
Partners
- Glenwood Regional Medical Center
- St. Francis Medical Center
- University Health - Conway
Pathways (Some or all credits transfer)
- University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM)
- Northwestern State University (NSU)
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