Revised Fall 2013

 The tips on the next few slides should be helpful to you in your nursing educational journey. o Remember to seek the advice of your nursing advisor as she will be your guide through your individual Model Plan of Study beginning with enrollment the first semester after your acceptance to the program in NURS 3005 and NURS 3010 right through to graduation.  Registration: o Check the dates on the academic calendar on the GSW Homepage link for pre-registration, and contact your advisor during these times.

Ms. Beth Webb For last names beginning with A-C Ms. Ellen Elder For last names beginning with D-G Ms. Mary Anne Shepherd For last names beginning with H-L Picture coming soon

Dr. Pie Hulsey For last names beginning with M-R Dr. Teresa Teasley For last names beginning with S-Z

 RN-BSN Nursing Student Handbook ◦ Read this valuable document! ◦ It contains important information for you as it explains policies that pertain to you as a nursing student at Georgia Southwestern State University. ◦ Policies do change; however, a current copy of the RN-BSN Nursing Student Handbook is available on the School of Nursing website:

 Certain requirements must be met upon acceptance to the program, and kept up to date in order to progress through the program. ◦ RN students must purchase the CertifiedBackground.com tracker package code GE06rn consisting of the following:  Immunization record (some tests/vaccines required annually)  CPR certification  RN licensure  Liability insurance coverage for nursing students (renewed annually)  Physical exam (required annually)  Background Check  Drug/Alcohol Screening (required annually)  (Health Insurance-either private or through GSW-is required for off-site clinical courses but is not recorded on CertifiedBackground tracker program) ◦ Contact Mrs. Jo Ann Davis, Student Services Coordinator, if additional information is needed -

 Required Nursing courses for the RN-BSN  5 Non-Clinical Courses and 3 Clinical Courses  Clinical Courses: ◦ Require a precepted clinical experience  The student is responsible for arranging their precepted experiences with guidance from the Clinical Services Manager.  The Clinical Services Manager will facilitate this process by ensuring that required contracts are in place between facilities.  It is imperative to contact the Clinical Services Manager well in advance of taking a clinical course if there is a possibility that a new contract must be initiated. (New facility contracts may take up to 8 weeks to finalize.)

 Clinical Services Manager: ◦ Ms. Heather Kemp, RN    If relocating outside the state of Georgia while enrolled at GSW, you must notify the Undergraduate Department Chair, Dr. Teresa Teasley, This is a federal

 Clinical Course Notes Preceptor should be BSN prepared and have worked in area of nursing where preceptorship occurs for one year. ◦ NURS 3200 Health Assessment: 30 hour lab component. Will have to demonstrate a head to toe exam. Student will record and submit video as well as documentation of the history and exam. ◦ NURS 4400 Community Health: May occur in facilities such as public health, school health, occupational health, correctional care, rural health, or migrant health care (approximately 70 hours at the clinical sites). Approximately 20 hours of other educational projects are required making a total of 90 clinical hours. ◦ NURS 4900 Practicum: Taken AFTER all core & GSW requirements completed. Requires 135 hours in a nursing unit other than where the student is employed.

 Testing in the School of Nursing ◦ Online exams will be proctored using ProctorU. ◦ Information will be provided by the course faculty.  Be familiar with the most current edition of APA. This is the required format for class papers.  US History and US Constitution requirements must be met – a Georgia Board of Regents Policy. These requirements must be met before taking NURS This tip is especially important for those of you who did not receive your ASN degree in the state of Georgia.

 Graduation ◦ Application for graduation takes place approximately one year in advance of projected graduation date. The application fee must be paid before the application is reviewed. Contact GSW Student Accounts to pay fee. ◦ Deadlines for graduation applications are posted on the University Academic Affairs Calendar and GSW Student Handbook. ◦ Nursing pins, caps, and gowns may be ordered through the GSW bookstore one semester before the student plans to graduate.

 Uniforms for Clinical Courses ◦ Uniform  Depending on the clinical area  Scrubs with name tag  In Community Health, it may be appropriate to wear a labcoat with name tag. ◦ Nametag – must state:  Name, RN  GSW BSN Student  White nametag with black lettering  GSW Student ID tag may also be used as nametag More information is available in RN-BSN Nursing Student Handbook.

 reminders :  Check your radar frequently – radar is the official of the GSW campus.  Your faculty of instruction may contact you prior to course beginning through your radar address.

We hope that these tips will be helpful to you in your educational journey. Thank you!