Pre-licensure Nursing programs lead to a Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) degree. There are two programs of study available to students: nursing traditional format (four year) and accelerated track degree. The undergraduate program prepares students for professional nursing practice and provides a foundation for advanced study in nursing. Following successful completion of the curriculum, students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) in Indiana or other states, subject to that state's guidelines and regulations.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
The Pre-licensure Nursing program is committed to educating professional nurses who are prepared to change their world of influence through nursing practices grounded in the Christian ethos. Guided by the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Indiana Wesleyan University Nursing develops culturally aware nurse professionals equipped to change the world as leaders, scholars, and servants within their communities.
The nurse is perceived as a purposeful, self-directed individual who assumes responsibility and accountability to God, society, self, and clients who, made in the image of God, have intrinsic worth and value. Modeling the example of Jesus Christ, nurses are to protect and promote health, especially for people lacking access to health care, through the just allocation of health resources and services throughout the world.
Outcomes of the Pre-licensure Nursing Program
The outcomes of the Pre-licensure Nursing program are to:
• Apply leadership skills to professional nursing practice.
• Integrate evidence-based knowledge into nursing practice.
• Exhibit cultural humility.
• Engage in inter-professional collaboration to ensure optimal client health.
• Plan nursing care from a Christ-centered perspective.
Pre-licensure Nursing Entrance Requirements
High school courses that provide a foundation for nursing are biology, chemistry, English, mathematics, speech, algebra, social studies, and writing. Students should submit the university application to the director of admissions at Indiana Wesleyan University. Acceptance will be in accordance with the established admission policies. Students are advised to declare nursing as their choice of major when applying for admission.
Admission and Progression in the Pre-licensure Nursing Major
The Admission and Progression Committee approves admission to the Pre-licensure Nursing major. The following criteria must be met for admission to the major at the sophomore level:
1. Completion of 29 credits.
2. Minimum GPA of 2.75.
3. Minimum grade of "C" in Foundations of Nursing, Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, Intro to Organic and Biochemistry, Intro to Microbiology, and Math 107 or higher (113 preferred).
4. Completion of health clearance form.
5. American Heart Association CPR certification.
a. Must be American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS)
b. Must be maintained throughout the program's course of study
c. Online courses are not accepted
6. Certified criminal background check.
7. The TEAS Test or HESI Admission Assessment (A2) is required for all students applying for acceptance into the Pre-licensure Nursing Program. The benchmark for passing the TEAS is 65% comprehensive. The benchmark for the HESI A2 is 75%. If the student meets the benchmark or higher, they have satisfactorily completed the TEAS or HESI A2 section of the application process. If the student does not meet the benchmark for the they will be required to do remediation. The Freshman Level Coordinator will determine the remediation depending on the Student’s area of weakness. Once remediation is completed, the student will have satisfactorily completed the TEAS or HESI A2 component of the application process.
Application forms for admission to the nursing major may be obtained from the IWU Pre-licensure Nursing Portal. All admission requirements must be completed by the end of May term for September admission into the nursing major or the end of fall term for January admission.
Once a student is admitted to the nursing program, he or she must complete all coursework within 4 1/2 years (9 semesters). Progression through the major requires a minimum cumulative and major GPA of 2.75, a minimum grade of “C” in all nursing courses, as well as, General Psychology and Developmental Psychology, ongoing health clearance, and current CPR certification. Progression is monitored by the Admission and Progression Committee.
Guaranteed Acceptance Pathway (GAP)
Select High School students are eligible to apply for the Guaranteed Acceptance Pathway (GAP) in the IWU School of Nursing (SON).
Guaranteed Admission – we save your spot so that when you are done with prerequisites as outlined below you can jump right in to clinical nursing.
Streamlined pathway into nursing clinical coursework
No requirement to apply to the clinical nursing program as all other students do between the Freshman and Sophomore years.
Eligibility for GAP
1. High School Seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
2. Fully accepted at Indiana Wesleyan University (not available to transfer students) as a fulltime, first-time Freshman
3. An ACT score of 22 or higher, of RSAT of 1110 or higher
4. High School course work that includes 4 years of English, 3 years of Math including Algebra, Natural Sciences including one chemistry and one biology course.
Maintaining eligibility during the Freshman year
Students who are granted GAP admission must:
1. Transcript 29 course credit hours during the Freshman Year
2. Maintain a 2.75 or higher GPA
3. Complete four supporting science courses:
• Anatomy and Physiology I and II
• Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry,
• Microbiology
4. Must earn a minimum grade of C in all prerequisite courses
5. Complete Foundations of Nursing (NUR 145) with a minimum grade of C.
6. Complete the university Math requirement (one math course at or above MAT 107 – MAT 113 is preferred) with a minimum grade of C.
7. The TEAS Test or HESI Admission Assessment (A2) is required for all students applying for acceptance into the Pre-licensure Nursing Program. The benchmark for passing the TEAS is 65% comprehensive. The benchmark for the HESI A2 is 75%. If the student meets the benchmark or higher, they have satisfactorily completed the TEAS or HESI A2 section of the application process. If the student does not meet the benchmark for the, they will be required to do remediation. The Freshman Level Coordinator will determine the remediation depending on the student’s area of weakness. Once remediation is completed, the student will have satisfactorily completed the TEAS or HESI A2 component of the application process.
Students who do not meet the requirements for GAP are eligible to apply for admission to clinical nursing courses following the traditional process and will be given full consideration for admission. Not meeting those requirements may delay admission to Pre-licensure Nursing.
Fees
Fees are assessed annually and applied each semester after admission into clinical nursing courses. The fee is non-refundable after the last day of the drop period and is added to the student’s tuition automatically. Fees cover student malpractice insurance, administrative costs for clinical placement, skills lab accessibility, testing and other items.
Academic Requirements
NURSING ACADEMIC PROBATION
Nursing academic probation is a status resulting from failure to meet the minimum requirements of the Division of Pre-licensure Nursing. Course grades and/or GPA earned during any semester/term may result in a student being placed on nursing academic probation for the following semester/term. One probationary period is equal to one semester/term.
Minimum Nursing Academic Requirements
A student may progress through the Division of Pre-licensure Nursing program when meeting all three of the following requirements:
1. Achieving a C or higher in all NUR courses
2. Maintaining a Nursing GPA of 2.75 or higher (NUR courses only)
3. Maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher (all IWU courses)
Probation Criteria
An admitted Nursing student will be placed on Nursing probationary status when one or more of the criteria occur within a semester/term:
• Criteria 1: C- or lower in one or two NUR course/s (considered course failure)
• Criteria 2: NUR GPA of less than 2.75
• Criteria 3: CUM GPA of less than 2.75 (traditional students)
Two probationary periods are permitted during a student’s entire enrollment in the Division of Pre-licensure Nursing program.
REQUIREMENTS DURING PROBATION
A student on probationary status due to Probation Criteria 1 (C- or lower in one or two NUR course/s) must do the following:
First Probation
1. Register for the EQUIP course (NUR-211), unless previously completed. (traditional students only)
2. Register for the NUR course/s for which the student has obtained a C- or lower.
3. Meet with an advisor within the first two weeks of the semester/term and at midterm.
4. Complete or follow up on the Plan for Academic Student Success (PASS).
5. Meet regularly with the Nursing Educational Resource Specialist.
6. Attain a passing grade in the repeated NUR course.
7. Complete 1 credit hour of Professional Transitions (NUR-476) during the last year of study. (traditional students only)
Second Probation
1. Meet regularly with an assigned faculty mentor
2. Attain a passing grade in the repeated NUR course.
3. Meet regularly with the Nursing Educational Resource Specialist.
A student on probationary status due to Probation Criteria 2 (NUR GPA of less than 2.75) must do the following:
First Probation
1. Register for the EQUIP course (NUR 211), unless previously completed. (traditional students only)
2. Continue in NUR courses.
3. Meet with an advisor within the first two weeks of the semester/term and midterm.
4. Complete or follow up on the Plan for Academic Student Success (PASS).
5. Meet regularly with the Nursing Educational Resource Specialist.
6. Raise the NUR GPA to at least 2.75 by the end of the probationary semester/term.
7. Complete 1 credit hours of Professional Transitions (NUR-476) during the last year of study prior to graduation. (traditional students only)
Second Probation
1. Meet regularly with an assigned faculty mentor.
2. Raise the NUR GPA to 2.75 or above by the end of the probationary semester.
3. Meet regularly with the Nursing Educational Resource Specialist.
A student on probationary status due to Probation Criteria 3 (CUM GPA of less than 2.75) must do the following: Normal
First Probation
1. Register for the EQUIP (NUR-211) course, unless previously completed. (traditional students only)
2. Continue in NUR courses, as desired.
3. Meet with an advisor within the first two weeks of the semester/term and at midterm.
4. Complete or follow up on the Plan for Academic Student Success (PASS).
5. Meet regularly with the Nursing Educational Resource Specialist (NERS).
6. Raise the CUM GPA to at least 2.75 by the end of the probationary semester/term.
7. Complete 1 credit hours of Professional Transitions (NUR-476) during the last year of study prior to graduation. (traditional students only)
Second Probation
1. Meet regularly with an assigned faculty mentor.
2. Must raise CUM GPA to 2.75 or above by the end of the probationary semester/term.
3. Meet regularly with the Nursing Educational Resource Specialist.
Plan for Academic Success for Students (PASS)
The purpose of the PASS is to identify and assist students who are at risk academically. Students are identified as at risk if the following conditions exist:
1. Placement on academic probation
2. Placement on the midterm list for failing grade(s)
Students placed on academic probation will receive a letter instructing them to contact their academic advisor in the first weeks of the semester/term to develop a PASS strategy.
Removal of Probationary Status
A student will be removed from probationary status for the next semester/term after all requirements are met as stated above and all other minimum academic requirements are maintained.
DISMISSAL CRITERIA
A student will be dismissed from Pre-licensure Nursing if one or more of the following criteria occur:
• Criteria 1: Failure (C- or lower) of three NUR courses (in one or more semesters/terms).
• Criteria 2: Failure (C- or lower) of the same NUR course twice.
• Criteria 3: Failure to meet the requirements to be removed from probation by the end of the second probationary period.
The Division of Pre-licensure Nursing reserves the right to dismiss any student who, in its judgment, fails to satisfy the nursing requirements of safety, responsibility, and accountability.
READMISSION
After dismissal, a student may be eligible to apply for readmission to the Pre-licensure Nursing Division after ALL of the following criteria have been met:
• Criteria 1: Three years have passed since dismissal
• Criteria 2: All sciences completed within 5 years of readmission or work in a field utilizing the sciences
• Criteria 3: Completion of twelve credit hours from an accredited college/university with a GPA of 2.75 prior to readmission
• Criteria 4: Interview with the appropriate School of Nursing and Health Sciences leader
• Criteria 5: May be required to audit or repeat courses according to IWU’s Repeating Course Policy
• Criteria 6: All other Pre-licensure admission requirement
Nursing Student Drug Screening Policy
Purpose: To provide a safe working environment, area hospitals and other institutions are requiring individuals who provide care to patients to undergo drug testing. For this reason, students in the Division of Pre-licensure Nursing will undergo similar testing to meet the criteria of clinical agencies.
Policy: Indiana Wesleyan University, Division of Pre-licensure Nursing enforces a zero tolerance for impairment due to alcohol and/or drug use while on campus or in clinical affiliation experiences. Infringement of this policy will cancel the offer of admission, and for those admitted to the nursing programs, be subject to disciplinary action up to and including academic dismissal.
Policy: Indiana Wesleyan University Pre-licensure Nursing Division enforces a zero tolerance for impairment due to alcohol and/or drug use while on campus or in clinical affiliation experiences. Infringement of this policy will cancel the offer of admission, and for those admitted to the nursing programs, be subject to disciplinary action up to and including academic dismissal.
1. Prior to Clinical and annually, a drug screen test is required with the result indicating no evidence of drug use or results consistent with a valid prescription. A drug screening result indicating dilution of the sample will require a repeat drug test.
2. The student is responsible for the cost of the drug screening which is part of the background check conducted for admission and the screening must be completed within 30 days prior to starting clinical.
3. Students may be permitted to take legally prescribed and/or over-the-counter medications consistent with appropriate medical treatment plans while on duty. However, when such prescribed or over-the-counter medications affect clinical judgment, the student’s safety or the safety of others, the student will be removed from clinical. The program Director will be consulted to determine if the student is capable of continuing to participate in academic and clinical programs. The Pre-licensure Coordinators Council may be consulted.
4. If at any time faculty or an administrator suspect a student is impaired due to drug or alcohol use while in the clinical, the student will be removed from the area and required to undergo immediate testing for drug and alcohol use at the student’s expense. Impaired students will not be permitted to drive and must bear the cost of transportation. The student will be suspended from all clinical activities until the investigation into the situation is complete.
5. In the event of medication administration/handling discrepancy (i.e., in the case of the improper documentation of narcotics) or in the event of a medical error, accident or injury, testing will be conducted according to the policy of the clinical agency.
6. Referrals for evaluation and counseling for drug and/or alcohol use will be a part of a plan for a student with a positive screening or incident related to drug or alcohol use.
7. In the event of a positive drug screening of a student currently enrolled in the nursing program, the student will be dismissed from the program. Duty to Report: if the student is a licensed/registered health professional, a report will be made to the Attorney General and Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (or in the state(s) in which the applicant holds a license).
Random drug testing or drug testing based on reasonable suspicion can be implemented at any time. Students who do not comply will be dismissed from the program.
Doctoral Programs
The School of Nursing and Health Professions has two doctoral level programs:
Occupational Therapy Doctorate
Within the College of Arts and Sciences, doctoral programs comply with CAS policies unless otherwise stated here or in their doctoral handbooks. Please note that doctoral students are expected to abide by Community Standards and University Policies when they are on campus, in IWU housing, in the presence of IWU undergraduate students, or while attending IWU-sponsored events.
Academic Calendar
CAS Doctoral programs abide by the academic terms of the residential campus but may have unique calendars to account for the doctoral curriculum and participation in national professional organizations. Calendars are posted in advance and available to students on the student portal page and information provided from each program.
Academic Catalog
Students who maintain continuous enrollment, who make standard progress toward a degree, and who earn their degree within the time frame established by their designated program must meet the graduation requirements as stated in the catalog under which they enrolled. Students who withdraw from Indiana Wesleyan University for more than one or more terms, may be required to re-enroll under the catalog of the graduation requirements stated in the catalog under which they resume enrollment.
Academic Standing
Students enrolled in CAS doctoral programs are regarded as members of the academic community of Indiana Wesleyan University and are responsible for fulfilling all requirements within the standards of conduct as required by doctoral residential students and their program handbook. Continued enrollment in the program is at all times subject to review of the student's academic record and of the student's actions with regard to observance of university policies and regulations. Policies and regulations can be found in the student handbook of the student's respective program and/or IWU Catalog.
Admission
Indiana Wesleyan University welcomes applications for admission from any academically qualified person whose motivation is in keeping with the university's purposes. Admission is based on the careful review of all credentials presented by an applicant, but in no case is admission denied due to race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or gender. Applications for CAS Doctoral programs are managed by the Centralized Application System for each program.
Admission decisions are made without regard to disabilities. All prospective students are expected to present academic credentials that meet or exceed the minimum requirements for admissions. Prospective students with disabilities are not required to identify themselves to Admissions or Disability Services. However, those interested in receiving academic accommodations are encouraged to connect with Disability Services at 765-677-2257 or ADARequest@indwes.edu as early as possible to allow for a review of documentation and the formulation of an accommodation plan.
Students are admitted in one of the following categories:
• Admitted - Students who satisfactorily meet all requirements will be granted standard admission with no restrictions.
• Provisional Admission – Students who are missing an admission requirement may be accepted on a temporary basis pending final documentation. Final documentation must be submitted prior to student matriculation and/or the date indicated in admission materials.
International/Non-English Speaking Students
Students who do not speak English as their first and primary language must submit satisfactory scores from one of the following prior to admission to the university:
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A score of at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based) is required for regular academic admission.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For graduate students a score of at least 6.5 is required; for doctoral students a score of at least 7.0 is required for regular academic admission.
Program Progression
CAS Doctoral students are required to earn a specified GPA to qualify for graduation. Refer to each program’s catalog section and program handbook for specific details concerning academic probation, suspension, and dismissal policies.
Registration
Registration occurs at the beginning of the student's program and before the start of each term of study. Students will be continuously registered in classes for each subsequent term unless the student submits notice of their withdrawal from the program. Students' enrollment in courses will also be dropped or withdrawn and inactivated if they do not maintain their academic standing in the program or dismissed from the institution. Students are responsible to notify The Center for Student Thriving if they do not want to be registered for future terms, otherwise, they are responsible for all potential incurred costs and may fail their registered courses.
A student may also be dropped or withdrawn from courses if they fail to make arrangements for the payment of tuition for registered courses. Students may be dropped or withdrawn due to non-attendance.
Students will be continuously enrolled with their program cohort. Students who deviate from the course of plan, need to contact their program director and RAS to determine their plan of study moving forward.
The last day for CAS Doctoral students to drop a course from their transcript is the first day of each term, after that date, students will be withdrawn and receive a "W" on their transcript.
Attendance Policies
Students enrolled in CAS doctoral programs are expected to attend all sessions of classes for which they are registered. Absences may be excused through written documentation for absence related to a documented diagnosis, illness requiring hospitalization, death of a first-degree relative, or other emergencies. Written documentation must be provided to the course instructor prior to planned absences and as soon as possible after an unexpected absence.
A pattern of unexcused absences is considered unprofessional and will be addressed early. A plan of action will be created after two unexcused absences. If the pattern continues, unexcused absences could result in course failure and/or dismissal from the program. The student is responsible directly to the instructor for all classes missed and to see that all work is made up. A student failing to attend classes and not withdrawing officially will receive a grade of "F."
Students may be administratively withdrawn from any registered class that is not attended by the last day to drop a class in any term.
Incomplete Grades
Students are to complete the course requirements by the last class session. However, extenuating circumstances may prevent the student from completing the course requirements in a timely manner. In these rare situations, to prevent grade penalization, a student may request an incomplete grade ("I") if he/she has met the course attendance requirements and completes the following process:
• Via email communication, the student must request an "I" from the instructor.
• The instructor must obtain approval from the appropriate Program Director
The due date of the incomplete grade is selected by the instructor/Program Director, but cannot be later than the end of the next term. Refer to the incomplete policy and each program’s handbook for additional details. A student who received an “I” has until the date decided on by the instructor/Program Director up to the beginning of the next term to complete the work and receive a grade.
Graduation
Graduation Ceremonies - IWU graduation ceremonies (Commencement) are held two times a year. Degrees are conferred and posted to the student's transcript on these dates. Four additional conferral dates are available in between the graduation ceremonies in which degrees may be conferred and posted to the student's transcript should all requirements be completed.
Each student must complete an Application for Graduation to the Registration & Academic Services one year before their intended date of graduation. They are responsible to work with their Faculty Advisor to ensure that is submitted. This application indicates the student's intent to graduate and initiates the final evaluation of the student's academic record.
Students are also asked to inform the University as to whether they will be attending the ceremony. This allows the university to determine the number of tickets available for students who are attending. If a student cannot attend graduation due to unforeseen circumstances, the degree is still conferred; however, attendance at future graduation for that degree is not an option.
Graduation Requirements - Doctoral students must have all requirements complete to participate in a graduation ceremony. 'IWU-Marion doctoral students with outstanding assignments, clinical rotation days, course incomplete, or any other outstanding requirements are not eligible for participation in graduation ceremonies.
Diplomas - Diplomas are mailed after the conferment of degrees. Diplomas indicate degree earned and date of degree. A student's financial account must be settled to receive a diploma.
Late Policy
Policies for tardiness, patterns of tardiness and late work submission can be found in course syllabus.
Grade Appeal
A grade appeal involves only those situations in which a student believes that an instructor (a) has not followed fair grading practice or (b) has not followed his or her published grading policy. Refer to program handbooks for policies and procedures.
Transfer Credit Policy
The doctoral programs at IWU-Marion do not accept credits transferred into the programs. Displaced students may petition for special consideration and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Withdrawal/Change in Status
If a student officially withdraws after a course has started, a grade of "W" will be assigned. An "F" will be assigned to a student who stops attending but does not officially withdraw. Students who never attend a class and do not withdraw will be administratively withdrawn from the course and from all subsequent courses. Students must then go through the normal readmittance process to return to class.
Undergraduate and Graduate Crossover Policy
The design of the doctoral residential programs is that all courses are required to be taken within the designated program according to the order and progression of the stated program.
Accreditation
The occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD, 20814-6519. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-6611 and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org. The OTD program’s graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.