Division of Nursing Requirements

Admission to Union College and completion of the nursing prerequisites must precede acceptance to the nursing program. Students must apply for admission to the Division of Nursing by March 1 to be considered for the fall semester and by October 1 for the spring semester. Students who have "stopped out" must confirm eligibility to resume nursing courses by August 1 for admission to fall semester or December 1 for the spring semester.

Minimum criteria for admission in the nursing program are

• Acceptance into Union College
• Complete required prerequisite courses
• Complete the application process
  • Nurse entrance test (TEAS)
  • All college transcripts
  • Three references
  • Health policy requirements
• Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above on a 4.00 scale in general education and contextual courses
• Physical, mental and emotional capacity for functioning as a student of professional nursing
• For students whose native language is other than English, an internet score of 83 or above, or a score of 560 or above on the Union College administered TOEFL not including essay portion). A personal interview with the Program Director or a member of the Nursing Admissions and Academic Evaluation Committee may be required.

Criteria for progression in the nursing program are

• A grade of C (2.00) or above in all nursing and required contextual courses;
• Nursing courses are arranged in a progressive curriculum. Learning proceeds from the concrete and simple to the abstract and complex.  It begins with conceptualization then moves to application and, finally, to integration.  Students must successfully complete one semester before beginning any of the courses listed in the following semester;
• A cumulative GPA and nursing course GPA of 2.50;
• Passing grades in both theory and clinical portions of courses;
• No nursing course may be attempted more than twice;
• No more than two nursing courses may be repeated;
• Regular and prompt attendance at all classes and clinical laboratory appointments (students are responsible for personal transportation to clinical assignments);
• Health policy requirements (immunizations, annual TB tests, etc.) must be met and appropriate documentation to verify must be on file;
• All students who have been admitted to the nursing program are required to carry personal health insurance and are encouraged to carry personal liability insurance;
• Once a student is admitted to the Union College Nursing Program, all nursing courses must be completed at Union College;
• CPR certification (American Heart Association health care provider is preferred).

Criteria used for graduation and eligibility for State Board Licensure Examination are

• A cumulative GPA of 2.50 and nursing courses GPA of 2.50 with no grade lower than C (2.00).

Upon selection of nursing as a major, students will be assigned an academic advisor from among the Division of Nursing faculty to give guidance in planning their academic program.

All nursing students are required to take the ATI-Critical Thinking Entrance and Self-Assessment exam upon acceptance into the program. The ATI-Critical Thinking Exit exam is also to be taken during the final semester prior to graduation.