Nursing Program Admissions Process

Admission is competitive and based on available space. The minimum cumulative GPA for all BSN applicants is 3.0. Students are eligible to apply to the nursing program when they have successfully completed a minimum of 41 semester credit hours. Transfer students should complete at least 12 credit hours in residence at Berry College before applying to the nursing program. One of the courses taken at Berry must be from the required science courses and all science courses required in the Nursing Foundations Core must have been completed within 6 years of the application date. Students must earn at least a C- grade in all biology, chemistry, mathematics and rhetoric and writing courses prior to beginning the nursing sequence, even following formal admission to the program. Students should complete the required prerequisite courses at the time of enrollment in the first clinical nursing course.

General education courses provide a foundation to the nursing program and serve as a basis for learning and applying nursing concepts. However, an additional program application is required prior to enrolling in nursing courses. A meeting with the Nursing Director or nursing faculty is required prior to submitting an application. At a scheduled appointment, the Director or nursing faculty will review the student’s academic record, explain the requirements and process for admission to the BSN Program, review the plan to complete the remaining prerequisite courses and provide access to the Nursing BSN application. The student submits the Nursing application and resume outlining healthcare interest/experience, campus/community involvement, leadership, and employment to the Division of Nursing Office by the application deadline of February 1 for the fall semester entry cohort and June 1 for the spring semester entry cohort.  Each cohort completes the 4 traditional semesters of course and clinical work and the cultural immersion program described below, with graduation in May for the fall entry cohort and December for the spring entry cohorts. All grades (Berry and other colleges/universities) from previous terms must be posted on the applicant’s Berry College transcript by the application deadline.

Admission decisions are competitive and based on the applicant’s academic record, supporting documents, and BSN application at the time of the application deadline. Applicants for admission will be ranked according to number of hours earned, overall GPA, and an adjusted GPA calculated from the math, science, and English, rhetoric and writing courses required in the BSN core. (MAT 111 , BIO 111 , BIO 206 , BIO 207 , BIO 201 /BIO 301 , CHM 108 /CHM 150  and ENG 101, ENG 102 or RHW 101 , RHW 102 ). Applicants will receive an admissions decision a minimum of four weeks after the application deadline of February 1.

Additional Program Requirements and Fees

Upon acceptance into the nursing program students will need to meet additional program requirements prior to enrollment in upper-division nursing courses. Students must demonstrate the following:

1. Clinical education is a requirement of the nursing curriculum and that the provision of such is obtained through Clinical Facilities such as Atrium Floyd and Advent Redmond Medical Centers. As we are guests at these facilities, we are required to meet their contractual requirements for nursing students which include:

a. Legal authorization to work in the United States;

b. Compliance with Medical Clearance and all vaccinations requirements as listed below;

c. Satisfactory completion of all background, criminal checks, and drug screening;

d. Maintenance of certification American Heart Association’s Healthcare Provider Course (Course C or BLSC); and

e. Maintenance of health and accident insurance.

2. Medical clearance is required prior to enrollment in all upper-division nursing courses. To be cleared, the following health documentation must be on file in the Division of Nursing prior to June 1:
   1. physical exam,
   2. TDAP,
   3. proof of varicella vaccine
   4. two doses of MMR vaccine or proof of positive immune titers
   5. Hepatitis B vaccine (series of two or three), AND positive immune titer
   6. Hepatitis A vaccine (series of two)
   7. Tuberculin Skin Test or TB blook serum test (MUST BE PROVIDED ANNUALLY)
   8. Varicella vaccine, history of disease with proof of immunity
   9. Covid vaccines current with CDC recommendations.
   10. demonstrate Core Performance Standards for Admission and Progression

 

Core Performance Standards for Admission and Progression: Nursing students must possess certain abilities and skills, deemed Core Performance Standards for the care of patients. Students must be able to meet all of the performance standards outlined below, with or without reasonable accommodation, in order to be admitted and progress in the program:

Observation: Applicants and students enrolled in the nursing program must be able to observe demonstrations and simulations required by the nursing curriculum established by the faculty and be able to participate in such activities with adequate vision and other sensory modalities, including the senses of hearing and smell. A student must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand.

Communication: Students must be able to speak intelligibly, and to hear sufficiently to allow for an adequate exchange of information with patients, family members, and other health professionals. A student must be able to read and write English effectively in order to fulfill academic requirements and to maintain accurate clinical records on patient care.

Motor: Nursing students are required to possess motor skills sufficient to elicit independent information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other manually based diagnostic procedures. Students should be able to conduct laboratory and diagnostic tests and carry out physical assessments. Students must possess motor skills required for their scope of practice, as determined by the relevant accrediting organization. The student must also be able to coordinate fine and gross muscular movements to treat patients in emergencies. Emergencies include any circumstance requiring immediate remedy.

Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: These abilities include an aptitude for rapid problem solving, the capability to assess and interpret medical files independently and evaluate physical examinations, and to formulate a logical plan of care. Students must possess good judgment in patient assessment and the ability to incorporate new information, describe relationships, and retain and recall pertinent information in a timely fashion. The student must also be prepared to provide in-depth rationale for the plan of care.

Behavioral and Social Attributes: Students must possess the physical and emotional health required for the application of his/her intellectual abilities and the use of sound judgment in an appropriate and prompt manner. Students must be able to function effectively under physically taxing workloads and in times of physical and mental stress. Students must display compassion, sensitivity, and concern for others, and maintain professional integrity at all times.

Reasonable Accommodations
If an applicant or student self-reports that he or she cannot meet one or more of the core performance standards without accommodations, the nursing program in consultation with the Academic Success Center, will determine what accommodations can reasonably be made. Applicants and students are responsible for making disabilities known and formally seeking accommodations. The Division of Nursing is committed to accommodating the needs of students with documented disabilities and will do so to the extent possible without compromising the essential components of the curriculum.

 

Address any questions or concerns regarding these Core Performance Standards to the Director of the Program.

Program Fees

A nursing program fee is charged to all enrolled nursing students. The program fees cover assessment testing, computer learning programs, and standardized exams. In addition to the program fees, as part of the nursing admission process, the student can expect to incur fees for a background and drug screening, physical examinations, immunizations, and the cost of obtaining CPR certification. A detailed list of expenses related to uniforms, shoes, stethoscope, graduation cost, and NCLEX fees may be found in the Berry College Nursing Program handbook.

Cross-Cultural Immersion

A two-week study will be required of all nursing students during the summer or winter break between their junior and senior year. Students will earn three semester hours of credit while advancing their understanding of world cultures, uniqueness, and similarities. The REQUIRED 2-week cultural immersion trip in Summer (typically May-June) will cost approximately $4000-5000. Final costs will not be known until fall semester of Junior Year so price is approximate but includes tuition for NUR 410. If international travel is precluded with acceptable documentation, a limited domestic experience will be arranged in the month of July. Regardless of international or domestic experience, dates cannot be changed, and the costs and expectations for participation apply to both.

Dismissal Policy

Failure to achieve the established academic standards shall constitute reason for the student to be dismissed from the program. The faculty and administration of the Division of Nursing reserve the right to dismiss any student enrolled in the program from the program for unethical, dishonest, unprofessional, or illegal conduct that is inconsistent with the ANA Code for Nurses.

Academic Appeal Process

Undergraduate students who wish to appeal an academic-related decision are referred to the Academic Appeals Process  of Berry College.

Nursing Program Readmission Policy

The Division of Nursing acknowledges the responsibility of readmitting to the program those students who, in the judgment of the faculty, satisfy the requirements of scholarship, health, and professional suitability for nursing. Students requesting readmission to the program must apply in writing to the Nursing Admissions and Progression Committee. Each student’s situation is reviewed on an individual basis. Requests for readmission for fall must be submitted 2 weeks prior to term start. Readmission is not guaranteed to any student. Students following the curriculum plan without interruption have priority for course enrollment. Specific guidelines for readmission include the following:

1. Course repetition policies:
   1. Only two nursing course may be repeated, each only 1 time.
   2. The course must be repeated successfully with a grade of B or better (3.0) prior to taking other nursing courses.
   3. The course must be repeated within the next academic year following the original course.
   4. Students may appeal decisions based on course repetition policies in writing to the Division of Nursing Admission and Progression Committee with the concurrence or recommendation of the academic advisor or course instructor. Decisions on appeal requests are the responsibility of the Admission and Progression Committee and may be approved or denied based on individual circumstances and an evaluation of the request.
2. Any student readmitted to the program will be required to:
   1. Meet Berry College readmission criteria.
   2. Demonstrate a satisfactory level of knowledge from nursing courses in the previous successfully passed semester as determined by all course level faculty and with the approval of the Director of the DON. This demonstration of knowledge must be done prior to beginning the repeated course and can be repeated three times to achieve success (see 1d).  If additional expense is incurred during the process of demonstrating knowledge, the student will assume the additional costs.
   3. Successfully validate prior medication calculation competency and clinical skills.
3. A readmitted student must meet graduation requirements in effect at the time of readmission and follow the baccalaureate degree nursing policies in effect for that academic year.
4. Students must complete all program admission requirements prior to readmission.

Sequential Progression Policies

1. Enrollment in entry level nursing courses will be permitted only if the student:
   1. Completes all pre-requisite courses and earns a grade of C- or above in all required science, English, rhetoric and writing, and mathematics courses; and
   2. Maintains a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
2. Students may continue to progress according to the curriculum plan if they:
   1. Complete all pre-requisite courses prior to enrollment in any senior nursing course; unless an exemption is made by the Director;
   2. Earn a grade of C- or above in all nursing major courses;
   3. Report a cumulative GPA of 2.5 prior to enrolling in 400 level nursing courses;
   4. Demonstrate satisfactory performance of designated nursing skills (with or without accommodation);
   5. Earn a satisfactory grade in both the theory and clinical components of the nursing courses; In the event that the earned clinical grade is unsatisfactory, the course grade assigned will not be higher than the letter grade of D;
   6. Pass the medication calculation competency test at 90% accuracy each semester;
   7. Demonstrate full compliance with all standards of the nursing profession as defined by the ANA standards of practice, the ANA Code for Nurses, and Georgia Nursing Practice Act; and
   8. Maintain current health requirements/CPR.
3. If a student fails or withdraws from any nursing course, he or she must petition the Admission and Progression Committee of the Division of Nursing to be re-admitted.
4. Students having withdrawn from or earned less than a C- in a nursing course may be evaluated to be readmitted to the program one time only.
5. Students are accountable to follow all policies in the current handbook.
6. All program requirements must be completed within five (5) years of first enrollment of the nursing program. Due to curriculum changes, a student not progressing in the program in a continuous manner may be required to complete additional courses.

Baccalaureate program policies that describe standards for progression are listed in detail in the Division of Nursing Student Handbook. The handbook is distributed at the beginning of each academic year and is also available in an online format. It is the students’ responsibility to obtain a copy of the policies and to be familiar with the policies. The policies are a guide as the student progresses through the program.

Graduation

Admission to and graduation from the Berry College Division of Nursing does not guarantee eligibility for licensure (see Board of Nursing Policies). Prior to Division of Nursing approval for the candidate’s licensure (NCLEX) application, an exit interview with the Division of Nursing is required. Additionally, all student financial accounts must have a zero balance.

Board of Nursing Policies

After completion of the program and graduation, students are eligible to apply for licensure by examination (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses - NCLEX-RN). Licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse is granted by the Board of Nursing in the state of intended practice (See Georgia Board of Nursing Rules & Regulations 410-6-.02 http://sos.georgia.gov/plb/rn/). Beginning April 15, 2009, all new graduates must submit to a background check process as required by Georgia Law §46-26-7-4-(4) when applying for licensure in Georgia. An applicant who passes the licensing examination and is under investigation for possible violation of the Nurse Practice Act (arrested or convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation) may not be issued a license until the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of the Board. If the charges are substantiated, the license may be denied or sanctioned despite the applicant meeting all other criteria for licensure. The Georgia Board of Nursing has the right to refuse to grant a registered nurse license to any individual regardless of his/her educational credentials under circumstances of:

1. Falsification of application for licensure.
2. Conviction of a felony or crime of moral turpitude.
3. Other moral and legal violations specified in Georgia Law.