Associate of Science in Nursing (LPN-RN Bridge) (AD13) (513801)  Degree

ASN Program Effectiveness Data
ASN Student Handbook

The purpose of the Associate of Science in Nursing (Bridge), Associate of Science Degree program, is to prepare students as entry-level practitioners who can provide safe, effective nursing care, as well as promote healthy transitions for culturally diverse clients in a variety of settings. Furthermore, the program develops critical thinking, integrates accumulated knowledge from nursing, the sciences, and humanities; incorporates knowledge acquired from general education courses; and emphasizes the values of caring, accountability, responsibility, and professional ethics.

Program Outcomes:

• Licensure Examination Passage Rate: Expected Level of Achievement – 80% for all first-time test-takers during the same 12 month based on a calendar year (January to December). 3-year average 2020-2022 (80.6%)
• Program Completion Rate: Expected Level of Achievement – not less than 60% established by SRTC ASN faculty. The ELA was based on research from the program completion rates for the program over three years (AY2020-AY2022) which averaged 60%. After reviewing this data, the ASN Program adopted not less than a 60% completion rate for each cohort. Also, assisting in the decision to adopt the 60% was the program three year retention rate based on the Performance Accountability System (PAS) trend data acquired from TCSG, which was not less than 61.4% as the College Benchmark. The ASN Program retention rate average over the three years (AY2020-AY2022) was 60%.
• Job Placement Rule: Expected Level of Achievement – not less than 90% within 12 months of graduation. This ELA was established by the ASN faculty after reviewing the Perkins Local Application FY2021-2024, which cites the Local Level of Performance for Placement is at 99.10% for the College. The ASN Program’s three-year (2019-2021) placement rate average was 100%.

Associate of Science in Nursing End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes (EOPSLOs) are decided on by the ASN faculty and are learner-oriented expectations. The outcomes express the knowledge, skills, or behaviors that SRTC ASN students should be able to demonstrate upon completion of the program. SRTC has developed EOPSLOs based on established professional institutional TCSG program standards which encompass both the SRTC ASN Generic option (NC73) and SRTC ASN LPN-RN Bridge option (AD13). These Standards provide the guidelines and competencies to be used for instruction throughout the ASN program. The outcomes provide a framework for all curricular components and represent the change from student to entry-level practitioner at the ASN level.

End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes (EOPSLOs):

• EOPSLO #1 : Upon completion of the Program, the graduate will synthesize knowledge, skills, attitudes, safety, and quality of care competencies in order to provide patient-centered care incorporating teamwork, collaboration, evidence-based practice, and informatics. (Knowledge-Test-Subjective-Measured End of RNSG 2941).

Expected Level of Achievement (ELA): 60% of students will complete the program by individual scoring of a Level 2 or higher in overall performance of the program exit exam within three attempts.

ELA for the percentage of students is based on research from the Program Completion Rates for the Program over three years (AY2020-AY2022) which averaged 62.3%. The Level 2 proficiency achievement (scoring between 74.0%-78.0%) is based on the 94% predicted probability of passing the NCLEX-RN.

EOPSLO#1 is introduced in RNSG 1920/RNSG 1960 when students take their first ATI Content Mastery Assessment. It is reinforced in RNSG 1940 and RNSG 2930. Students are expected to master it by RNSG 2941.

• EOPSLO #2 : Upon completion of the Program, the graduate will achieve basic comprehension of pharmacological principles while utilizing knowledge relating to the safe administration, monitoring, and evaluation of client medications. (Knowledge-Test-Subjective-Measured during RNSG 2941).

Expected Level of Achievement (ELA): 75% of students will achieve a Level 2 score on the Pharmacology ATI proctored assessment given in RNSG 2941.

ELA of 75% based on the average percentage of students (71.7%) for graduating cohort (Spring 2023) receiving a Level 2 or higher on the Pharmacology content mastery assessment. The Level 2 proficiency achievement (scoring between 71.7% -86.6%) is based on the expectation of the student to readily meet NCLEX-RN standards in this content area.

EOPSLO#2 is introduced in RNSG 1931 where students are exposed to the basic principles of pharmacology. EOPSLO#2 is reinforced in the didactic and clinical setting throughout the ASN program. At the completion of RNSG 1931 students will take Practice A of the Pharmacology content mastery assessment and will remediate on the deficient topics prior to taking Practice B assessment at the end of RNSG 2930. Practice B assessment deficient topics will also be remediated on prior to taking the Pharmacology Proctored assessment in RNSG 2941. They are expected to master EOPSLO#2 in RNSG 2941 with 75% of students achieving a Level 2 on this assessment.

• EOPSLO #3 : Upon completion of the Program, the graduate will evaluate data using critical thinking skills to formulate appropriate action in response to changes in the health status of the client. (Knowledge-Skills and Attitude-Clinical-Objective-Measured end of RNSG 2941).

Expected Level of Achievement (ELA): 80% of students will score 20/20 points in section 5 (Clinical Decision-Making) of RNSG 2941 Clinical Evaluation Tool.

ELA of 80 % based on the average percentage of students (79.9%) for AY2022 receiving 20/20 points in section 5 of RNSG 2941 Clinical Evaluation Tool.

EOPSLO#3 is introduced in RNSG 1920 and RNSG 1960 during the clinical component of the course and reinforced in each RNSG course with a clinical component and mastered in RNSG 2941 capstone clinical evaluation.

• EOPSLO #4 : Upon completion of the Program, the graduate will be able to demonstrate effective communication using the SBAR technique (written and verbal). (Knowledge-Skills-Subjective-Rubric-RNSG 2930).

Expected Level of Achievement: 90% of the students will receive a score of 80% or higher on the SBAR assignment. Failure to meet the 80% will result in losing the privilege of preceptorship in the capstone course RNSG 2941. The ELA is based on the on the research article published 9/12/2017 Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert: Inadequate Hand-Off Communication. In this article, Joint Commission stated that in their research project, only 37 percent of the handoff reports were unsuccessful. That would mean only 63% of licensed nurses could give a sufficient report. The original ELA was set at 60%, however it was noted previous cohorts were meeting the ELA, thus prompting the increase of the ELA to 90%.

EOPSLO#4 is introduced in RNSG 1920 and RNSG 1960 during the didactic and clinical component of the course and reinforced in each RNSG course with a clinical component and mastered in RNSG 2941 capstone clinical evaluation.

Entrance Date: Prerequisite Courses open; however, all prerequisite/Competitive Admissions courses (which are listed as follows) must be successfully completed prior to competitive program admission deadline.

A TEAS Entrance exam is required to enter the ASN Program. Please see the Admissions Criteria Booklets linked below.”

Program Admission: Moultrie – Fall Semester Intake; Thomasville – Spring Semester Intake.

Bridge Option: BIOL 2113 – Anatomy and Physiology I, BIOL 2113L – Anatomy and Physiology I Lab, BIOL 2114 – Anatomy and Physiology II, BIOL 2114L – Anatomy and Physiology II Lab, BIOL 2117 – Introductory Microbiology, BIOL 2117L – Introductory Microbiology Lab, ENGL 1101 – Composition and Rhetoric, Any Degree Level Math – College Algebra, PSYC 1101 – Introductory Psychology, one Humanities Elective, and one additional General Education Elective.

LPN-RN Bridge Option Admission: All materials to be considered for the Thomasville ASN LPN-RN Bridge Option must be completed by the end of Summer (Thomasville) and Spring (Moultrie) semester.

Associate of Science in Nursing Competitive Admissions Criteria Requirements:

• Fall 2025 ASN Bridge – Moultrie
• Spring 2026 ASN Bridge – Thomasville

Entrance Requirements: Entry into this program is based on competitive admissions criteria. Contact the program advisor or admissions for details. Completion of prerequisite courses does not guarantee admission into the program. The bridge option must be completed within 2 years of successful completion of RNSG 1931. Click for Entrance Score Requirements.

General Information: Students who are unsuccessful in RNSG 1960 must apply for the Generic Option and are not eligible for the Bridge Option. Generic program students of SRTC who are unsuccessful in the generic option and qualify for the LPN-RN bridge option (must have an active unencumbered LPN License) will receive exemption credit for RNSG 1960 as long as they have completed RNSG 1920, RNSG 1940, and RNSG 1950 with a “C” or above. In addition to all program requirements, LPN-RN Bridge option students must have at least 6 months of in-field LPN work experience as well as have and maintain a current and unencumbered LPN license throughout the course of the ASN Program. Failure to maintain this document may result in dismissal from the program.

Students will not be eligible to apply for admission to the ASN Program if they have unsuccessfully completed any ASN, ADN, or BSN programs at another institution. Students will be considered for admission to the ASN Bridge option three (3) years after the last nursing course failure.

Age: Applicant must be 18 years of age or older prior to first clinical course.

Education: An applicant must be a high school graduate or the equivalent (GED). College transcripts will be evaluated on an individual basis. All pre-requisite and co-requisite courses in math and science must have been taken within five (5) years of program start/re-entry date.

Advisor: A Program Advisor should be consulted prior to enrolling in any course. An advisor will be assigned by admissions.

Additional Requirements: All students, both Generic and Bridge option, will be required to take and achieve minimum required scores on standardized and program-generated achievement tests. Physical Exam, Immunization record, drug toxicology screening tests, and Criminal Background Check are required upon start of the program. The student must also hold a current American Heart Association BLS Healthcare provider CPR card upon entry into and throughout the program.

Note: Those who have been arrested/convicted of a moral and/or legal violation of the law may not have access to clinical sites. If clinical placement is not available, the student may be withdrawn from the ASN Program. Successful completion of all program requirements does not guarantee student will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensing examination and/or receive a registered nursing license.

Program Policies and Procedures: Students are provided a copy of the ASN Student Handbook during their first semester. The ASN Student Handbook is to be used in conjunction with the College Catalog and Student Handbook and serves as a means of informing the students of specific policies and procedures as they relate to the ASN Program. The policies and procedures of the ASN Program may change during a student's period of enrollment in the program and students are expected to be proactive in obtaining information regarding these changes. The most current version of the ASN Student Handbook can be obtained on the College website under Other Resources/Policies & Procedures or the ASN Program pages.

Program Final Exit Point: Associate of Science in Nursing, ASN. Upon successful completion of all program requirements including passage of a standardized final exit exam, the student will be awarded an Associate of Science in Nursing and will be eligible to submit application to the Georgia Board of Nursing to register for NCLEX-RN licensure examination.Note: Upon successful completion of RNSG 1960, eleven (11) additional semester credit hours will be granted for RNSG 1920, RNSG 1940, and RNSG 1950.

Credits Required for Graduation: 61 minimum semester hour credits required for graduation.

Collaborative Graduate BSN Cohort: SRTC & University of Phoenix