Nursing, RN Technology

  What is Nursing, RN Technology?

Nursing, as defined by this program, is the art and science of human caring. It is designed to prepare graduates to care for people across the life span in a variety of settings. Nurses provide culturally competent, safe and effective care in a variety of settings including hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, hospice, adult day care or schools. 

The curriculum combines nursing courses with general education courses in the humanities and sciences. In addition to five hours of classroom instruction, each week students engage in clinical activity for nine hours or more in hospitals, long-term care facilities, community agencies, the home or the college laboratories.

The two-year associate of applied science nursing degree program at UC Raymond Walters College (UCRWC) is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing and is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses. 

When submitting the application for licensure, a candidate is required to indicate whether or not he or she has ever been convicted of a felony or other crimes. A positive response to this question may disqualify the applicant as a candidate for licensure. A complete criminal background check is also required as a part of the process of applying for licensure in the state of Ohio.

Many of our graduates choose to pursue their bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. Graduates of the UCRWC nursing program articulate easily into the RN-BSN program offered by the UC College of Nursing on the main UC campus. Professional advancement to administrative or clinical specialist positions requires further education at the bachelor's or master's degree levels.

  Success Factors

Students who succeed in the nursing program are individuals who have a strong science and math background.  They are effective time managers, adept at setting priorities, possess effective organizational skills, and demonstrate a willingness to work hard, think critically and communicate in a professional manner.

  Career Possibilities

Registered nurses are health professionals who perform a wide variety of functions. Nurses gather information in a systematic manner in order to determine the health-related needs of clients. Once the nurse is aware of the adult's or child's health needs, there are many ways to intervene in the healing process and to maximize the potential for good health. Some of the ways nurses intervene include: assisting in the rehabilitation process, teaching procedures and health practices, administering medication, assisting persons who are in pain, comforting the dying and supporting the families of those who are ill.

  Majoring in Nursing, RN Technology

Graduates of the program will be successful on the licensure exam; will be employed as registered nurses; and will express satisfaction with their education.

Graduates of the program will use critical thinking in the care of clients; will communicate effectively with peers and other team members in the care of clients; use therapeutic interventions safely and effectively; and meet the expectations of a professional nurse.

Prospective students who do not meet the academic requirements may be accepted into the pending nursing program, where they will be given the opportunity to make up deficiencies.

All students admitted to the nursing program are required to take the admission assessment test. This is a computer-based, standardized test used to measure the student's abilities in basic math, reading comprehension, biology, anatomy and physiology, vocabulary and general knowledge. It also assesses the student's potential for success within the academic rigor of the nursing program. Test results may require students to complete additional remedial work at the time of admission to clinical nursing.

Advanced standing, which allows credit for previous clinical learning experiences, may be available to licensed practical nurses who meet special entrance requirements. Complete details are available from Intake Services and the UCRWC Nursing Department.

All students must meet the health requirements specified by the UCRWC Nursing Department. Further, prior to admission to the nursing program, students must certify that they meet the essential functional abilities for students enrolled in the nursing program. Once a student begins the clinical component of the nursing program, the successful student will graduate in two academic years. All nursing courses include a theory component and a clinical component, as well as a summer medical-surgical practicum.

  Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this program. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently confirmed or enrolled, you can check your degree requirements online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the Course Applicability System (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

FRESHMAN YEAR

Fall Quarter
Nursing: Health and Wellness	8
English Composition 101	3
Adult Development	3
Anatomy and Physiology I	4

Winter Quarter
Nursing: Aging	8
English Composition 102	3
Anatomy and Physiology II	4
Pharmacology	3

Spring Quarter
Nursing: Acute Illness	8
Global Community I	3
Anatomy and Physiology III	4
College-level math	3

Summer Quarter
Medical-Surgical Practicum	4

SOPHOMORE YEAR

Fall Quarter
Nursing: Mental Health and Chronic Illness *	8
Adolescent Development	3
Child Development	3
English 289	3

Winter Quarter
Nursing: Family*	8
Microbiology	5
Elective	3

Spring Quarter
Nursing: Management	8
Electives**	9

*The nursing courses in the fall and winter quarters of the second year are alternately scheduled for either fall or winter quarter.

**The nine hours of electives must be chosen from humanities and social sciences.  Behavioral sciences (psychology, sociology, etc.) are not included in this category of electives.

Courses must be completed as shown in the program.  Nonclinical courses may be taken prior to, but no later than, the quarter in which they are shown. 

  UC Advantages and Special Opportunities

The nursing program at Raymond Walters College was established in 1967. Since the graduation of the first class in 1969, the program has been approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. 

An advantage of Raymond Walters College is the opportunity to complete this career-oriented program in a small college environment. Most classes are small to moderate in size. The nursing department has a low student-faculty ratio, giving students many opportunities for personal contact with their professors. Clinical experiences occur in a wide variety of acute care and community settings. Faculty are well qualified. Many have advanced certificates in specialty areas of practice.

Graduates of the nursing program may apply for admission to the RN-BSN educational mobility program at University of Cincinnati College of Nursing. The College of Nursing offers its BSN courses at the main UC campus location, as well as on the Raymond Walters and Clermont College campuses.

The nursing program is rigorous and requires students to study/prepare outside of the clinical or classroom setting.  Though many students must work, some students find it difficult to be successful in this program while working. A student is expected to spend a minimum of two-three hours per credit hour on outside study for each college course taken. Clinical courses require additional on-site preparation.

Nursing Program Policies

When students enter the nursing program, they receive a student handbook. Students are expected to know and follow the policies discussed in the handbook.

  Admission Requirements

Admission to the College

Students may enroll in UC Raymond Walters College (UCRWC) if they graduated from an accredited high school or preparatory school, or have a GED certificate (minimum composite score of 45). The college's rolling admissions policy allows students to start any quarter: fall, winter, spring or summer.

High school students who are considering RWC should take either the SAT or ACT college entrance examination for use in guidance and counseling. All students entering a degree program must also take the college's placement test(s) prior to registering for classes. These tests are given on the RWC campus.

Admission to the Nursing Program

In addition to meeting the requirements for admission into the college, a student must meet several additional criteria for admission to the nursing program.

Step 1.  Apply for admission to either Raymond Walters or Clermont College.

Step 2.  Request high school transcripts/GED and college transcripts (if applicable) to be sent to Enrollment Services at Raymond Walters College or to Student Development at Clermont College. If a student is applying directly from high school, ACT or SAT scores should be sent to RWC or Clermont College. If a student is not applying directly from high school, the SAT or ACT is not needed.

Nursing Prerequisites

Step 3.  Take the college's numerical skills placement test. If a student scores lower than 40 on this basic calculations test, the student is required to take Preparatory Math, achieving a grade of "C" or better. The college math placement test must also be taken to determine which math courses are required prior to taking a college-level math course. To be eligible for admission to the program, a score of 40 or above on the numerical skills portion of the test or Preparatory Math with a grade of "C" or better, and prerequisites for college-level math must be completed.

The college's English placement test(s) must be taken to determine English skill levels. All preparatory English courses required are based upon the results of this test. To begin the fall quarter in clinical nursing a student must qualify for English Composition I.

Step 4.  Meet with a pending nursing adviser to determine what courses must be taken to meet the program's prerequisites. It is imperative that the student works with a pending nursing adviser in completing these prerequisites.

High School Courses or College Work

-- Complete high school biology with a grade of "B" or better within six years of application to the UCRWC nursing program.  If it has been longer than six years since completing high school biology with a grade of "B" or better, a student must take the first quarter of Fundamentals of Biology with lab at UCRWC or General Biology with lab at Clermont College. If a student did not take biology in high school or received a grade less than "B," the student must take Fundamentals of Biology I and II. Grades of "C" or better are required. (Students who are completing prerequisites at Clermont College should be aware that prerequisites for Anatomy and Physiology may include Biology 104 and 105 with labs.)

-- Complete high school chemistry with a "C" or better within five years of application to the UCRWC nursing program. If it has been longer than five years since completing high school chemistry with a grade of "C" or better, a student must take the first quarter of General Chemistry with lab. If a student did not take chemistry in high school or received a grade below "C," the student may take two quarters of Preparatory Chemistry or the first quarter of General Chemistry including the lab.

Step 5.  Due to the demand for the nursing program, it is necessary to maintain a waiting list for admission into the clinical nursing program. Students will be placed on the waiting list after they have completed the prerequisite requirements (chemistry, biology, math and English) and have a 2.8 GPA or better in all prerequisite and nonclinical required courses. Please note that in calculating the 2.8 GPA, only those courses required as prerequisites or required in the nursing program are included in this GPA calculation. In addition, a grade of "C" or better is needed in all courses required in the nursing program.

Step 6.  The student with a waiting-list number will take the admission assessment test. This test does not delay admission. Based on the test scores, a student may be required to satisfactorily complete additional work during or immediately prior to entry into the Nursing: Health and Wellness course. The additional work is designed to enhance the student's likelihood of being successful in the program. The test may be taken only one time.

If scores are:

• <80 in math - the student is required to complete two math review sessions the summer prior to entering the clinical nursing program.
• <80 in reading and comprehension - the student is required to take College Study Skills I (pass with "C" or better) concurrently with the first nursing course.
• <80 in vocabulary and general knowledge - it is recommended that the student take a college reading course or a medical terminology course.
• <80 anatomy and physiology - the student is required to complete the online anatomy and physiology review.

Students who have met the prerequisites can begin taking the appropriate nonclinical, required courses while waiting to be admitted to the clinical course.

Step 7.  Once the prerequisites have been completed and a place becomes available, students will be notified of their acceptance into the nursing program for the fall quarter. If a student wishes to delay acceptance for one year, the student may do so with placement guaranteed for the following year contingent upon maintaining the required admission criteria. Once the student is accepted into the nursing program, a nursing adviser will assist the student with registering for all nursing and non-nursing courses.

High School Graduates

Each year, five spaces in the Nursing: Health and Wellness clinical course are reserved for graduating high school students. Students who meet the high school prerequisites in chemistry, biology, grade point average and required ACT/SAT scores should apply to the nursing program no later than November 30th of their senior year. Qualified students who test into college-level math and freshman English composition, receive a numerical score of 40 or above, and receive satisfactory scores on the admission assessment test may be admitted directly into the clinical program. Students who do not meet all of these criteria will be required to meet these requirements in order to be placed on the waiting list. Please note that students who begin the program from high school will be taking a full-time course load (16-18 credit hours).

Clermont Students

Each year, the University of Cincinnati Raymond Walters College offers admission to 30 UC Clermont students who meet the program requirements. All nursing theory and lecture courses are completed at the Blue Ash Campus. All prerequisite and non-nursing courses may be completed at the Clermont Campus.

RN Completion Track for Licensed Practical Nurses

Applicants to the registered nurse track for licensed practical nurses who wish to receive advanced standing for work already completed must meet the following criteria: 

1) Meet the prerequisites for the program. 
2) Have 12 credit hours of Anatomy & Physiology I, II, III; 3 credit hours of Adult Development; 3 credit hours of college-level mathematics; 6 credit hours of English Composition 101 & 102; 3 credits of Global Community; and 3 credit hours of Pharmacology, for a total of 30 credit hours. 
3) Have a minimum GPA of 2.8 based solely on prerequisite and program-required courses. 
4) Hold a current pharmacology certificate from an approved course. Approved courses include the Ohio Organization of Practical Nurse Educators (OOPNE), Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN) and National Association of Practical Nurse Education and Services (NAPNES). 
5) Hold a current, unrestricted LPN license.

For further information about this program or other programs at UC Raymond Walters College or UC Clermont College, contact:

Raymond Walters College
Enrollment Services
9555 Plainfield Road
Cincinnati, Ohio  45236-1096
(513) 745-5700
www.rwc.uc.edu

or

Clermont College Admissions
4200 Clermont College Drive
Batavia, OH  45103-1785
(513) 732-5202
www.clc.uc.edu

  International Student Requirements

For international student requirements, contact the Enrollment Services Office at 513-745-5700.

Students who did not graduate from a high school in the United States of America must take an ability-to-benefit test and achieve the minimum specified score to be eligible for admission to a degree or certificate program at Raymond Walters College. The scores will be used for placement in English courses and general advising for all courses.

  Graduation Requirements

To qualify for the associate of applied science in RN technology degree, students must fulfill the requirements of the program and must have at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. It is the student's responsibility to take the courses necessary for graduation.

  Application Deadlines

Students may apply to the UCRWC nursing program at any time. The clinical courses must be taken in sequence, and the first course always begins in the fall quarter. There is usually a waiting list for students to begin the clinical courses of the nursing program.

  Accreditation

The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

The University of Cincinnati Raymond Walters College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The UCRWC nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 500, Atlanta GA 30326 (www.nlnac.org).

The UCRWC nursing program is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing, 17 South High Street, Suite 400, Columbus, OH  43215 (www.nursing.ohio.gov).