College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions

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Departments and Degree Programs

Mission

The mission of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions is to prepare graduates who are able to assume leadership roles in the advancement of the practice of nursing, health information management, and dietetics. The faculty aims to prepare graduates who are responsive to the needs of culturally diverse consumers of health care. The College is committed to generating collaborative relationships with professional and technical colleagues and consumers to promote health and prevent disease. The College strives to articulate this mission through the provision of excellent undergraduate education, and through active participation in community service, research, and other scholarly activities.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Areas of Specialization

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions offers a B.S.N. degree program of studies which is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and fully approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. The four-year baccalaureate curriculum leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The graduate is eligible to apply for examination for licensure as a registered nurse. Please review requirements for eligibility to take the examination in Louisiana or other states in which you may wish to take the examination and/or practice as a licensed registered nurse.

The goals of the faculty of the Department of Nursing at UL Lafayette are to:

1. Provide a quality program of study to a diverse group of students which leads to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing.
2. Foster the development of sound clinical decision making skills relevant to practice.
3. Prepare nurses who can assume leadership roles in the provision of safe, high quality, cost-effective health care to diverse populations.
4. Create an environment which is conducive to the advancement of nursing research, scholarship, and practice.
5. Balance the integration of emerging technologies, evidence-based practice, and caring within the framework of professional nursing practice.
6. Promote an organizational culture that embodies the values of trust, respect, innovation, and lifelong learning.

Student Opportunities for Learning

The faculty accepts the responsibility to provide the student with opportunities to:

1. Utilize nursing theory in making decisions for nursing practice.
2. Use nursing practice as a means of gathering data for refining and extending that practice.
3. Synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge from the physical and behavioral sciences and the humanities with nursing theory and practice.
4. Assess health status and health potential; plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care of individuals, families, and communities.
5. Improve service to the client by continually evaluating the effectiveness of nursing intervention and revising it accordingly.
6. Accept individual responsibility and accountability for the choice of nursing intervention and its outcome.
7. Evaluate research for the applicability of the findings to nursing actions.
8. Utilize leadership skills through involvement with others in meeting health needs and nursing goals.
9. Collaborate with colleagues and citizens on the interdisciplinary health team to promote the health and welfare of the people.
10. Participate in identifying and affecting needed change to improve delivery of care within specific health care systems.
11. Participate in identifying community and societal health needs and in designing nursing roles to meet these needs.

Procedures

Admission Requirements and Specific Degree Requirements

See University regulations on admission and degree requirements.

Non-Resident Credit

Those seeking the BSN degree and desiring to validate credit must review general University policies under transfer credit.

General Requirements

The curriculum of the B.S.N. Program in Nursing has been structured within the University requirements for graduation; it meets or exceeds the University core requirements. The program is fully accredited by the Collegiate Commission on Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.

The program is eight semesters in length which may be completed in four years after successful completion of all courses as presented in the program of studies. The length of the program may be extended if fewer than the listed courses are completed per semester due to personal obligations. Tuition and fees are determined by the Board of Supervisors for full-time, part-time, and non-resident students. Tuition and fees are published in the newspaper schedule of classes and on the web (ULink) for semester and summer sessions. Additional clinical learning related fees such as uniform costs, transportation costs, etc., vary from semester to semester.

Minimum Continuing Requirements

Each student in the BSN Program in Nursing is required to:

1. Attain a minimum grade of “C” in each prescribed course in the nursing curriculum and a grade of “Satisfactory” in each nursing laboratory course or clinical component.
2. Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.800 for progression into 200 level nursing courses and the junior year.
3. In the junior and senior years maintain a 2.00 GPA or higher for graduation.
4. Adhere to policies prescribed by each clinical agency when involved in clinical nursing experiences at that agency. The institution’s policy may require random drug screening and/or drug screening for cause. Baseline drug screening is required for all students prior to entry to NURS 208 .
5. A Level I background investigation is required for all nursing students prior to admission to NURS 208 . For students who are licensed or if a certified caregiver, a Level II background investigation is required in lieu of Level I for admission to NURS 208 .
6. Clearance by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing to enroll in a clinical nursing course after ANY incidence of disciplinary action, arrest or impairment in ANY state.
7. Assume responsibility to stay informed of curriculum and departmental policy changes if planning to be inactive for one or more consecutive semesters.

Minimum Continuing Requirements for Clinical Courses

1. Arrange transportation to and from hospitals, nursing homes, public agencies, or any other area assigned for clinical laboratory practice.
2. Purchase full Department of Nursing uniform according to uniform policies for each course.
3. Participate in the HESI Test during the final semester.
4. Provide evidence of sound health yearly.*
5. Provide evidence of current CPR certification (Healthcare Provider Level)*.
6. Provide evidence of hospitalization insurance (included in UL Lafayette registration fee for full-time students). Sign certification that hospitalization insurance will remain in effect for the entire year. Please note that the university insurance policy is supplemental in nature and provides only limited coverage. It is highly recommended that students seek additional insurance coverage. Further information about student hospitalization insurance is provided through the Office of Housing and Auxiliary Services or your local insurance agent.*
   
   *Students who fail to provide evidence will not be allowed to remain enrolled in any clinical nursing course. Students must provide evidence by August 1 prior to the Fall semester and January 5 prior to the Spring semester clinical nursing courses. See Health Requirements Policy and Form for additional details.

Progression to Junior Nursing Courses

A minimum grade of “C” in all prescribed freshman and sophomore courses and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.800.

BSN Special Policies and Procedures

1. The B.S.N. Program in Nursing reserves the right to make such changes and adjustments in its curriculum as are educationally sound and are in keeping with the dynamic nature of its discipline and which do not extend the program of studies listed in the official University of Louisiana at Lafayette Catalog.
2. The B.S.N. Program in Nursing reserves the right to limit the number of students enrolled in nursing courses in order to make the most effective use of the educational resources available. In the event that enrollment in these courses must be limited, students to be admitted will be selected by their academic ranking based upon cumulative G.P.A.
3. Students who apply to take the licensure exam upon graduation to become a registered nurse, are advised that the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) will conduct a criminal background record check on all applicants for licensure as a registered nurse in Louisiana. Furthermore, the LSBN requires persons who have ever been arrested, charged with, convicted of, pled guilty or no contest to, or been sentenced for any criminal offense in any state, to petition the Louisiana State Board in writing for the right to practice as a student of nursing in Louisiana prior to enrolling in the first nursing courses. Students should review the complete LSBN document (available in Student Services office) related to requirements regarding criminal incidents, addiction, and impairment.
4. A grade of “A”, “B”, and “C” is given for satisfactory work. The grade of “D” is unsatisfactory. The grade of “F” is given for work failed. For the purpose of converting letter grades to a numeric expression, the following scale is used: A: 93-100; B: 85-92; C: 77-84; D: 69-76; F: 68 and below.
5. Unit examination grades will not be “rounded-off”, e.g., 84.9 will be recorded as a “C”.
6. Before entry into NURS 100  or enrollment in sophomore nursing courses, all generic and transfer students must meet the following requirements:
   
   1. English ACT greater than or equal to 18, and MATH ACT greater than or equal to 21.
7. All courses attempted will be included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA, with the exception of KNEA classes, of which only the first two are considered.
8. Students will be permitted to enroll in any required nursing course only twice. Students will be permitted to repeat no more than one required nursing course. On the second grade of “W”, “D”, or “F” in the repeated nursing course, the student will not be permitted to continue pursuing a major in nursing at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. This rule applies to courses with the department designation of “NURS”. The first nursing elective course is counted as a required course. Any additional nursing electives are not subject to this rule. Transfer students are subject to these rules.
9. Students will be permitted to repeat only one required non-nursing course after failing it with a “D” or “F.” A student who fails again in that course or from a second required non-nursing course will no longer be permitted to major in nursing in the UL Lafayette College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.
10. Students who have been enrolled in the B.S.N. Program in Nursing for six years prior to their anticipated graduation will follow the degree program followed by the normally progressing students enrolled in the same nursing courses. For example, a student enrolled for more than six years and presently enrolled in senior nursing courses will follow the curriculum of the other seniors who began their program of studies three years ago. Similar situations will apply to those in sophomore or junior level nursing courses. If a student drops behind an additional year, he/she will be required to take the additional nursing courses those normally progressing students have had or were required to take.
11. Students who transfer to the UL Lafayette Department of Nursing from another accredited institution are also subject to the rules listed above. Failure in nursing courses taken at another accredited institution will be treated in the same way as failures in required nursing courses at UL Lafayette.
12. All transfer/change of major/re-entry students must be enrolled at UL Lafayette during the semester of application for inclusion in the applicant pool for consideration for enrollment in NURS 208 /NURS 209 /210. If enrollment in nursing courses is interrupted for a period of three years, the student must repeat all required courses titled “Nursing”.

Online RN to BSN Program

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions (CONAHP) RN to BSN program is designed for, and targeted to, registered nurses (RNs) with an associate degree in nursing. The program is structured to meet the unique and specific needs of these nurses in terms of earning a baccalaureate nursing degree.

Students are expected to bring to the RN to BSN program knowledge and skills acquired in clinical experience and previous courses, namely, the ability to read and comprehend college level writing, proficiency in oral and written communication, basic concepts of mathematics, and principles of the behavioral and physical sciences. Each student is accountable for applying this knowledge base in all course-related learning activities included in the program. In addition, the student must have general computer proficiency including, but not limited to, the ability to keyboard, word process, send and receive email, file management, file attachment, search the Internet, download information from the web, create multimedia presentations, and use and participate in the University’s online community (Moodle). Students are solely responsible for adhering to all University and CONAHP policies.

Program Goals

RN to BSN Program goals mirror those of the “traditional” CONAHP baccalaureate nursing program that is delivered face-to-face.

1. Provide a quality program of study leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing to a diverse group of students.
2. Foster the development of sound clinical decision making skills relevant to practice.
3. Prepare nurses who can assume leadership roles in the provision of safe, high quality, cost effective health care to diverse populations.
4. Create an environment conducive to the advancement of nursing education, research, scholarship, and practice.
5. Balance the integration of emerging technologies, evidence-based practice, and caring within the framework of professional nursing practice.
6. Promote an organizational culture that embodies the values of trust, respect, innovation, and lifelong learning.

Criteria for Admission: Application Process

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s online RN to BSN program has specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll.

Applicants must meet the following requirements for admission to the online RN to BSN program:

1. Complete the online application at degree.louisiana.edu and submit the non-refundable $25 application fee.
2. Submit an active, unencumbered nursing license number issued within the US.
3. Have earned an associate degree in nursing (ADN) from an NLNAC accredited US associate-degree nursing (ADN) program, with a GPA of 2.8 or higher in all coursework related to the ADN and any non-nursing courses that transfer into the program.
4. Send official transcripts for each college or university you have attended to the Office of Admissions. Official transcripts must be mailed directly from the institution to UL Lafayette. Hand-carried copies are not considered official.

Note: Due to compliance regulations, all programs may not be offered in every state. Please check with the enrollment specialist to verify that your program of interest is offered.

Program Format

All courses in the RN to BSN Program will be offered online in an accelerated format in six (6) seven week terms.

Program Delivery

All courses in the RN to BSN program will be delivered online through Moodle, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette) Learning Management System (LMS).

Minimum Continuing Requirements

1. Students must make a grade of “C” or better in each nursing and non-nursing course.
2. Students will be permitted to enroll in any nursing or non-nursing course in this program only twice. On the second grade of “W”, “D” or “F” in a repeated course, the student will not be permitted to continue in the RN to BSN program.
3. NURS 354  - Transition to Professional Nursing for RN to BSN
   
   1. Upon successful completion of NURS 354 , 13 credits will be granted for NURS 100  (Nursing and Health Care Concepts 1 cr.), NURS 104  (Foundation for Professional Practice 3 cr.), NURS 204  (Teamwork, Collaboration, and Patient-Centered Care 3 cr.), NURS 208  (Fundamentals of Caregiving 4 cr.), and NURS 310  (Professional Values, Ethical and Legal Tenets of Health Care 2 cr.).
4. Students must maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA toward graduation. All courses attempted in the RN to BSN Program will be included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA. Note that enrollment in graduate nursing programs generally require a significantly higher GPA than a 2.0.
5. Students must complete a mandatory online orientation course and NURS 354  prior to progression to subsequent nursing courses. Students must complete STAT 214  or approved equivalent prior to enrollment in NURS 406 . Students will not be permitted to enroll in NURS 499  until all required courses (nursing and non-nursing) have been successfully completed.

Students must complete all requirements for the BSN within 3 years of admission to the program. Students will be dropped from the program for more than one consecutive term of non-enrollment. Further information about the RN to BSN Program can be found at http://www.degree.louisiana.edu.

Minors

The College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, and the College of Liberal Arts, Department of Modern Languages offer interdisciplinary minor programs to qualified candidates who are majors in one of the disciplines offered by the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions. Candidates may select a minor in Spanish or French. Both minors complement the national and international trends in employment for health care professionals ensuring a ready market for individuals with the ability to perform professionally in more than one language, both within North America and globally.

Pre-Dental Hygiene Two-Year Transfer Program

The College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions provides a two-year pre-professional program in Dental Hygiene. The two-year program coordinates with the baccalaureate degree programs in dental hygiene in the state of Louisiana offered at the Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSUHSC) School of Dentistry in New Orleans and at UL Monroe.

Goals of the Pre-Dental Hygiene Program

1. Provide to students general knowledge in mathematics, natural sciences, behavioral sciences and the humanities
2. Utilize current educational methodologies and information to ensure an educationally sound pre-professional curriculum in dental hygiene
3. Review the curriculum to ensure it is relevant and current relative to admission standards at LSUHSC School of Dental Hygiene and UL Monroe Dental Hygiene degree programs

Transfer Information

1. The LSUHSC School of Dentistry and UL Monroe expect all applicants and students of the program in dental hygiene to possess certain technical and ethical standards and be able to demonstrate certain physical skills, attributes and qualities, without unreasonable dependence on technology or intermediaries.
2. Students should refer respectively to LSUHSC School of Dentistry and UL Monroe information regarding regulations on admission and degree requirements for dental hygiene.
3. The student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 61 semester hours of prescribed pre-dental hygiene academic coursework for transfer to the LSUHSC School of Dentistry. Students should refer to the UL Monroe Dental Hygiene program for completion of pre-dental hygiene curriculum prior to application for transfer.
4. Students are enrolled in baccalaureate programs once a year in the fall semester. If a student is not accepted for a program, a new application and related material must be submitted each year in which consideration for admission is desired.
5. Admission to the baccalaureate program is by competitive application.
6. Admission to the LSU Health Science Center Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree program will be limited to Louisiana residents as defined by the LSU Health Science Center.
7. Prior to enrollment at the LSU Health Science Center School of Dentistry or the UL Monroe Dental Hygiene program, students will be required to submit to a variety of medical tests and demonstrate seronegativity for HBV, HCV, and HIV prior to enrollment.
8. Upon acceptance into the LSU School of Dentistry and the UL Monroe Dental Hygiene curriculum, the student will be required to purchase instruments, uniforms, and pay additional clinical fees. Estimated costs are provided at the time of acceptance into the upper division curriculum at LSU Health Science Center School of Dentistry and UL Monroe Dental Hygiene program.

Bachelor of Science in Dietetics

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Didactic Program in Dietetics is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-0400 ext. 5400. After the completion of a baccalaureate degree, completion of DPD Requirements, compliance to the Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics, completion of the DPD Student Exit Survey and the RD Mock Exam, an ADA Verification Statement is issued to each student enabling them to apply for any of the CADE Approved Accredited Dietetics Internships (DI) in the United States. A Dietetic Internship takes an average of 9 to 12 months to complete. Upon completion of a DI, students are eligible to take the “registration examination” to become a registered dietitian (RD). Dietitians provide nutrition education and prescribed diets in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and health clubs. They may also work as college educators, food brokers, equipment specialists, management specialists, and in nutrition related professions.

Procedures

Academic Requirements:

• A student must assume responsibility to stay informed of current and departmental policy changes.
• The student must take all prerequisite and corequisite courses listed in order to advance successfully in the program.
• The student must attain a minimum grade of “C” in all required courses.
• A required dietetics course may not be repeated more than three times in order to remain classified as a major in dietetics.
• A student will be required to achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.500 to apply to enter into DIET 314  in the junior year. The adjusted cumulative GPA of a 2.75 may be considered when enrollment limitation is not an issue.

Transfer Students

Students who transfer to the UL Lafayette Dietetics program are subject to the rules listed above.

Admission Requirements

Admission to Junior Dietetic Courses

• All courses listed in the freshman and sophomore years of the curriculum, except electives, must be completed.
• A minimum grade of “C” must have been earned in all required courses taken.
• Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.500.
• Application to enter the junior year (DIET 314 ) must occur by April 1st of the second semester of the student’s sophomore year.

Lab and Practicum Requirements:

• Students must purchase a white lab coat and name tag.
• Additional fees for labs and practicum will be added to tuition costs.
• Students must arrange personal transportation to and from labs and practicum rotation sites.
• Students must provide evidence of hospitalization insurance ($16,750 maximum aggregate policy included in UL Lafayette registration fee for full-time students or comparable policy). Please note that the university insurance policy is supplemental in nature and provides only limited coverage. Students may want to seek additional insurance coverage. Further information about student hospitalization insurance is provided through the Office of Housing and Auxiliary Services (Room 240 of the Student Union) or your local insurance agent.
• Professional Liability Coverage. Students must purchase professional liability coverage through Maginnis and Associates; 332 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605 www.proliability.com advertises liability insurance for student dietitians at a cost of approximately $20.00/year
• History and physical exam, clearance of Level I background investigation check required by health care agencies, drug/alcohol testing, a health care level CPR certification and a TB test must be completed at the senior level.

Dietetics Special Policies and Procedures

• Additional fees for Dietetic courses, Dietetic Labs and Dietetic Distance Learning Courses will be added to tuition costs.
• Students are encouraged to join the American Dietetic Association (ADA) at a student rate of $50.00 per year.
• After the completion of a baccalaureate degree, completion of DPD Requirements, compliance to the Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics, completion of the DPD Student Exit Survey and the RD Mock Exam, an ADA Verification Statement is issued to each student enabling them to apply for any of the CADE Approved Accredited Dietetic Internships (DI) in the United States.
• After graduation of the dietetic program, a student must apply to an accredited post graduate Dietetic Internship (DI) program to become a Registered Dietitian.
• Dietetic Internship programs may charge application fees, tuition, and/or program fees.
• Application to DI program must be submitted according to each DI program’s established deadlines. Most program deadlines are either September 25th or February 15th. These dates are subject to change.
• When applying to a DI program, a D&D Digital matching card must also be mailed by the student. The D&D card identifies the student’s DI program choices in priority preference order. A fee accompanies this matching process.
• Successful completion of the DI permits the student to take the registration exam to become a Registered Dietitian.
• Due to limited dietetic internship slots nationwide, enrollment is competitive. A student may reapply as many times as they desire.

Health Information Management

The College offers a fully-accredited professional degree program in this field; its graduates are prepared for careers managing the collection, analysis, and use of records and other information vital to the health care industry. Clinical experiences and a senior management internship are important components of the program.

Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration

A bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration (HSA) is desirable and often required for entry-level positions in various types of smaller healthcare facilities, at the department level within larger healthcare organizations, and in health information management. Primary job responsibilities for health service administrators include developing, planning, and managing/coordinating medical and health services and operations within and across healthcare systems. The BS in Health Services Administration provides graduates with clinical focused experiences and academic preparation for entry into master’s degree programs in health services administration, long-term care administration, health services, public health, public administration, or business administration.

Goals of the Health Services Administration (HSA) Program

1. Providing qualified allied health professionals to fill market demand for entry and mid-level administrative/management job positions,
2. Creating a mechanism for career mobility for individuals currently working in the health services sector who do not possess a bachelor’s degree or who desire to earn a secondary bachelor’s degree

Procedures

Admission Requirements and Specific Degree Requirements

See University regulations on admission and degree requirements.

Non-Resident Credit

Those seeking the HSA degree and desiring to validate credit must review general University policies under transfer credit.

General Requirements

The curriculum of the HSA Program has been structured within the University requirements for graduation; it meets or exceeds the University core requirements.

The program Is eight semesters in length which may be completed in four years after successful completion of all courses as presented in the program of studies. The HSA Program is accredited by SACS-COC via the University.

Minimum Continuing Requirements

Each student in the HSA Program is required to:

1. Attain a minimum grade of “C” in each prescribed course in the HSA curriculum.
2. Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 for progression into the junior year.
3. In the junior and senior years maintain a 2.00 GPA or higher for graduation.
4. Assume responsibility to stay informed of curriculum and departmental policy changes if planning to be inactive for one or more consecutive semesters.

Admission Requirements

Admission to Junior HSA Courses

• All courses listed in the freshman and sophomore years of the curriculum must be completed.
• A minimum grade of “C” must have been earned in all required courses taken.
• Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000.
• Application to enter the junior year (LCHI 473 ) must occur by April 1st of the second semester of the student’s sophomore year.

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