Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN)

Overview

   The two-year ASN program at Jewish Hospital College is designed to prepare registered nurses for the care of patients and their families in hospital settings. At the completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to take the NCLEX (licensing exam for RNs).

   The program consists of 66 credits hours: 36 credit hours of nursing courses and 30 credits of general education courses. Nursing courses are usually offered in 8-week terms, although the medical-surgical nursing courses are offered in a 16-week option per semester. General education courses are held in the evening at University College at Washington University and are offered in a 16-week format only.

   Most clinical practica are conducted at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, except Patterns of Children's Health which is held at St. Louis Children's Hospital. However, several medical-surgical clinical sections and specialty courses (Patterns of Childbearing and Patterns of Mental Health) are held at other health care facilities in the greater St. Louis area.

ASN PROGRAM GOALS:

To prepare graduates:

1. To assume professional roles in a variety of settings by integrating general education with discipline-specific course work.
2. For advanced education and to be committed to professional values, lifelong learning, scholarship, and community service.
3. Who can collaborate with other members of the health care team to improve the quality of health care for individuals.
4. To contribute to the continuum of patient care.
5. Who are accountable for patient assessment, intervention, and outcomes.

ASN PREREQUISITES

In addition to the Undergraduate Admission Criteria, the following criteria are considered when reviewing an application to the ASN program:

• 2 units of high school Algebra or Intermediate Algebra proficiency
• 1 unit of high school Biology
• 1 unit of high school Chemistry
• ACT of 21 or SAT of 1000
• 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) cumulative high school and/or college grade point average
• Graduation from high school or passing the GED examination
• Successfully complete the Nurse Entrance Test (NET)   with a score above the national average passing rate.

ASN CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

General Education Requirements (30 credits)

ASN Sample Full-Time Course Sequence

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

ASN NURSING COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

   In the ASN program, one unit of credit is assigned for 16 instructional periods of 50 minutes each. For clinical practica, one unit of credit is equal to 48 practicum/laboratory contact hours. In an 8-week term, there are two 50-minute class periods per week and two 6-hour laboratory/practicum periods per week.

N 1121 - Introduction to Nursing
2 credit hours (.5 didactic/.5 lab/1 practicum)
Prerequisites: N 1141
Concurrent Enrollment: Anatomy and Physiology I, English Composition I
Focuses on technological and assessment skills and concepts required to build a foundation for holistic care of patients. The student gains a beginning understanding of the nurse's responsibilities as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team.

N 1141- Foundations of Nursing
2 credit hours (2 didactic)
Concurrent Enrollment: U29-120, U11-101
Prerequisite: HS 1141 or its equivalent
Introduces basic concepts related to nursing and professionalism. The student gains beginning understanding of the nurse's role and responsibilities as a member of the health care team. Focus is on a holistic approach to patient care to understand human needs.

NUR 1230 - Principles of Nursing Practice
4 credit hours (2 didactic/2 practicum)
Prerequisites: N 1121, N 1141 or their equivalents
Prerequisite or Concurrent: U29-120, U11-101
Focus is on developing the student's understanding of nursing as an art and science. The student's knowledge of the nurse's role and responsibilities as a member of the health care team is expanded. The nursing process, selected nursing concepts and principles related to patient are introduced and applied in laboratory and health care settings.

NUR 1600 - Patterns of Oxygenation
4 credit hours (2 didactic/2 practicum)
Prerequisites: U29-121, NUR 2110, NUR 2300, and NUR 2400
Study of the concepts and processes related to altered patterns of oxygenation. Emphasizes use of the nursing process to assist individuals to meet self-care needs and attain optimal levels of health. Practicum experiences focus on the integration of general education and nursing knowledge and skills when providing nursing care for individuals with altered patterns of oxygenation.

NUR 2200 - Patterns of Metabolism
4 credit hours (2 didactic/2 practicum)
Prerequisites: U29-121, NUR 1500, NUR 1700, and NUR 1900
Study of the concepts and processes related to altered patterns of metabolism. Emphasizes the use of the nursing process to assist individuals meet self-care needs and attain optimal levels of health. Practicum experiences focus on the integration of general education and nursing knowledge and skills when providing nursing care for individuals with altered patterns of metabolism.

NUR 1500 - Patterns of Protection and Regulation
4 credit hours (2 didactic/2 practicum)
Prerequisites: NUR 1230, U11-101, U29-120
Prerequisite or Concurrent: U29-121
Study of the concepts and processes related to altered patterns of functioning in protective and regulatory mechanisms. Emphasizes the use of the nursing process to assist individuals meet self-care needs and attain optimal levels of health. Practicum experiences focus on the integration of general education and nursing knowledge and skills when providing nursing care for individuals with altered patterns of protection and regulation.

NUR 1700 - Patterns of Mental Health
4 credit hours (2 didactic/2 practicum)
Prerequisites: NUR 1230, U11-101, U29-120
Prerequisite or Concurrent: U09-100 (if concurrent, NUR 1700 must be taken the last half of the semester), U29-121
Study of mental and emotional dimensions of the individual. Emphasizes use of the nursing process to assist individuals attain optimal levels of mental health. Practicum experience focuses upon the development and use of interpersonal skills within the context of a therapeutic relationship. Incorporated into the experiences are opportunities for student introspection and increased self awareness.

NUR 1900 - Patterns of Childbearing Families
4 credit hours (2 didactic/2 practicum)
Prerequisites: NUR 1230, U11-101, U29-120
Prerequisite or Concurrent: U29-121
Study of normal and altered patterns of functioning of childbearing individuals and families. Emphasizes use of the nursing process to assist the childbearing family to attain optimal health. The practicum focuses on providing nursing care to the childbearing family.

NUR 2500 - Patterns of Children's Health Needs
4 credit hours (2 didactic/2 practicum)
Prerequisites: U29-121, NUR 1500, NUR 1700, and NUR 1900
Prerequisite or Concurrent: U09-230 (if concurrent, NUR 2500 must be taken the last half of semester)
Study of normal and altered patterns of functioning of children's health care needs. Emphasizes use of nursing process and theories of growth and development to help children and their families attain optimal health. Practicum experience focuses on nursing care of children and their families.

NUR 2920 - Nursing Synthesis
2 credit hours (0.5 didactic/1.5 practicum)
Prerequisites: All nursing and general education courses.
Integrates previous knowledge and skills with selected concepts of leadership, management, and delegation of provide care for individuals with altered patterns of functioning. Emphasizes professional role development of the new graduate and preparation for state licensure

Advanced Placement
Patient Care Technicians, LPNs, corpsmen/medics and transfer students from other programs may be eligible for advanced placement. Each candidate will be evaluated on an individual basis. See suggested readings.  

Nursing Care Plan Template
Template for Patterns courses and N1230