Nursing

The College of Nursing and Public Health admits two classes of students per year to each campus-based BSN programs. Application packets and deadlines are available on each campus. Fully completed application materials (including evidence of completion of all prerequisite courses) are due by the posted deadline, usually the first day of the quarter before admission (ex., first day of summer quarter for fall quarter program start). Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Students will be tested at various intervals integrated throughout the nursing program to assess math proficiency as a method to promote safe medication administration practices. Students are required to pass math examinations each quarter in order to participate in clinical practice courses and to remain in the nursing program. Students are encouraged to prepare for the math competency test using their textbook, the ATI dosage calculation programs, standardized testing resources or a South University tutor prior to the first day of each quarter.

Assessment through Standardized Tests

Achievement Examinations and NCLEX-RN Preparation

The South University Nursing Faculty is committed to assisting students to achieve success on the National Council Licensing Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). Successful completion of this examination is required for entry into the practice of professional nursing. In addition to faculty prepared examinations, nursing students take a series of achievement examinations throughout the various courses in the nursing program to prepare for taking the NCLEX-RN. The examinations are used to measure student nursing knowledge, acquired nursing skills and competencies. Students failing to achieve the national average on any achievement test must provide evidence of remediation to their faculty advisors.

South University provides students with ample educational resources including library resources, CDs, DVDs, computer software programs, and access to a variety of nursing education websites such as atitesting.com. Students are required to attend NCLEX-RN review courses during the final quarter of the program.

Standardized Testing Policy

The following standardized testing policy describes the use of the standardized testing products such as the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) A2 and the Assessment Technologies Inc. (ATI) Comprehensive Assessment and Review Program (CARP) as a component of admission, progression, and graduation in nursing program at South University. This policy has been developed to establish guidelines to prepare students for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination and to identify at-risk students. All students have the opportunity for review and remediation to enhance their success in the program and on NCLEX-RN after graduation.

1. Admission

The Health Education Systems Incorportated (HESI) A2 or ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is a requirement of the admission process. The HESI and TEAS exams are used to determine academic preparedness of pre-licensure nursing students in Reading, Math, Science, and English and Language Usage.  Students must achieve a passing score of at least 75 on each section of the HESI exam. Students must achieve a "Proficient" level to be considered for admission to the nursing program. Applicants are limited to testing twice within a 12 month period with a minimum of 60 days between testing dates for the HESI exam and a minimum of 30 days between testing dates for the TEAS test.

2. Comprehensive ATI Program

Students have access to and are assigned to utilize the comprehensive ATI package. ATI Resources are listed below along with corresponding courses.

 3. ATI Testing

A. Content Mastery Series

The ATI review and remediation Content Mastery Series is used as a component of formative and summative academic assessment in the BSN program. Students must provide documentation of completion of assigned non-proctored ATI Content Mastery and/or Targeted Medical Surgical Assessment Series exams with a score of 85% prior to taking proctored examinations. Practice exam results are administered with rationales disabled.

Students are required to take the Proctored Assessments listed below. A minimum score of Level 2 is the goal.

Practice Assessments:

Students are required to take practice assessments A and B. Remediation will be completed based on the first attempt on both of the practice assessments. An overall score of 85% is required on both practice assessments Rationales will be enabled after the first attempt for each practice assessment. Students must upload evidence of remediation and practice assessment results for both exams into the Bright Space course by no later than 11:59 pm on the day prior to the scheduled proctored assessment in order to take the exam.

Proctored Assessments:

Remediation is required for the Proctored Assessment regardless of the level achieved for any areas with a score less than 70%. Students are required to complete remediation for the Proctored Assessment prior to taking the final examination.

Retesting is required for any student not achieving a minimum grade of Level 2 on the proctored assessment. A different test version will be utilized for retesting. ATI assessment activities are valued at 5-10% of the course grade. Grades will be assigned based upon the results of the first attempt on the Proctored Assessment. See table below for grading:

A student not achieving a Level 2 on retesting is strongly encouraged to complete additional remediation.

B. Remediation

Remediation provides an opportunity for students to review, study and acquire additional knowledge. Remediation is intended to help students recover important information that was missed when taking the initial assessment.

Remediation is required for all ATI Practice and First Attempt proctored assessments. Remediation templates are available on the ATI student homepage. Students must utilize their test results to complete remediation. Content areas with a score equal to or less than 70% require remediation. Additionally, remediation may be completed on the ATI website under focused review. Faculty assign students with remediation activities based upon student test results. Remediation strategies may include but are not limited to the following:

ATI Active Learning Templates

• Review assessment results and determine appropriate template to use. Use the templates to perform detailed remediation of assessment content. Students may type into the template or print and handwrite. Completed remediation documents are to be submitted to the faculty member by the required due date.

Short Answer Remediation

• Individualized attention to those areas missed on a test can be addressed through short essays. To be considered remedial, a student must print out the ATI test results listing those items and topics missed.  Using the review manuals provided by ATI, the student must then address each of the areas with a score less than 70%, writing a short paragraph discussing the essential content, and identifying the appropriate reference area in the book.

C.  Comprehensive Predictor Exam

The proctored ATI RN Comprehensive Predictor Exam is a component of NSG4071. Students must pass the examination within two attempts during this course with a score commensurate with a 90% probability of passing NCLEX-RN on the first attempt. The first and second attempts must be completed by the scheduled deadline date. If student fails to achieve a 90% prediction to pass NCLEX on the first attempt, remediation will be required prior to the second attempt.

The faculty member will determine when the student is ready for re-testing.

Grading for the Comprehensive Predictor Exam (calculated as 10% of grade in NSG4071) is provided on the table below:

4. NCLEX-RN Reviews

Two ATI NCLEX-RN reviews are provided for all nursing students.

1. ATI Live Campus Review

The Comprehensive Live NCLEX Review is an all-inclusive, live study session covering essential nursing content that aligns with the NCLEX test plan. Led by a master's-degreed nurse educator, the engaging, interactive format reviews all content areas and includes test-taking strategies, critical-thinking exercises and Q&A practice.

South University provides access to ATI live reviews on campus or students may be referred to an alternate location.

2. Virtual ATI Review

"The Virtual-ATI NCLEX review is an innovative, online partnership that provides a

12-week access to interactive online review resources to prepare nursing graduates for NCLEX success. The review is guided by a Master's-prepared nurse educator and is individualized to each graduate.  The program directly aligns with the current NCLEX ® test plan, and takes place in an online classroom that provides access to a variety of on-demand resources including online learning activities, NCLEX test-taking strategies, content-based case studies, concept maps, NCLEX subscale-specific quiz questions, and alternate item format quiz questions that are all accessible by computer, tablet, and mobile devices." (ATI website).

• Students will begin the V-ATI during WEEK 6 of Quarter 7
• Participation and successful completion of VATI from the Beginning of the Review through Stage 4 will represent 10% of the NSG4071 course grade.
• Ongoing engagement is expected for the 45 days prior to graduation. Continued engagement is recommended post-graduation until the Green Light is achieved.
• Students may pay for an extension if more time is needed to complete the review.
• Students are advised to take the NCLEX within 3 weeks of receiving the Green Light.

Failure to comply with the ATI testing policy may result in a course failure.