Associate Degree Program

OVERVIEW OF THE ASN PROGRAM

Fairmont State University's School of Nursing offers 3 program options for a student to obtain the  Associate of Science Degree in Nursing (ASN).

Traditional ASN (4 full time semesters- fall and spring) is best suited for students who can attend classes and clinicals through the week. We are currently accepting applications for fall-spring 2018-2019.

Nontraditional LPN-ASN (3 full-time semesters - fall to fall) is for LPNs who can attend class over the computer 2-3 evenings a week and clinicals two days a month. We are currently accepting  applications for fall 2018.

Weekend Part-time ASN (6 part-time semesters- fall and spring) is designed for individuals who cannot attend regular classes due to personal or professional obligations. Classes and clinincals are held Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays with general education and support courses being offered online, during the week in the evenings, or during the summer. We are currently accepting applications for fall 2018.

Upon graduation, the student receives the associate of science degree in nursing and is eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The associate degree nurse is prepared as a nurse to care for clients with common health problems in structured settings. The associate degree nurse's practice is defined by the roles of care provider, client teacher, communicator, manager of client care and member within the profession of nursing.

The mission of the Fairmont State Associate Degree Nursing Program is to provide quality nursing education to students in West Virginia and beyond.

The faculty of Fairmont State’s ASN Program believes that a quality education should be based on current professional standards and sound educational theory. The following documents and standards serve as a guide for the curriculum:

  • National League for Nursing (NLN) Competencies for Nursing Education
  • Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) Competencies
  • ANA (American Nurses Association) Code of Ethics
  • WV Board of Examiners of Registered Professional Nurses (WVBOERPN) Standards and Scope of Practice
  • Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) Standards

To guide the approach to teaching and learning, the faculty adopted Malcolm Knowles’s Theory of Andragogy for theory application and David Kolb’s Theory of Experiential Learning for clinical application. The faculty believes that adult nursing students should be active in their own learning at all stages of the teaching/learning process, build on personal experiences, focus on solving patient and healthcare problems, and exhibit characteristics of professionalism. Students learn best through experience and reflection. The process of teaching and learning is as important as the content delivered.

GRADUATE OUTCOMES (ASN)

Upon completion of the Associate Degree in Nursing Program, the graduate will be able to:

  • Promote human flourishing for patients of all ages.
  • Utilize nursing judgment to provide quality nursing care.
  • Demonstrate attributes of a professional identity consistent with core nursing values.
  • Demonstrate characteristics of a spirit of inquiry to improve health care quality.

Dual Admission to the ASN and BSN Degree Programs

  • Students who have an ACT of 22 or higher, or a New SAT of 1100, or an Old Sat of 1020 and a GPA of 3.0, may be concurrently admitted to the BSN and ASN Degree programs.
  • Students who are in good standing in their 3rd and/or 4th semesters of their ASN Program, may seek permission for concurrent admission into the BSN program.

TRANSITION INTO THE BSN-RN PROGRAM

Students who are currently enrolled in the Associate Degree Nursing Program who plan to continue their education through the BSN-RN track may transition into the Bachelors of Science Nursing (BSN) Program in the second year of their Associate Degree classes. Students are eligible to enroll in Nursing 3320 Health Assessment and in Nursing 3340 Nursing Care of the Older Adult with the consent of the instructor. Since it is important for students to progress from the normal to the abnormal, it is strongly recommended that Nursing 3320, Health Assessment, be the first class taken. ASN students are still held responsible to meet all of the requirements to graduate with the Associate Degree at the end of their second year of nursing. Students must also successfully complete their licensing exam to continue in the Bachelors of Science Nursing Program.

After graduation from the ASN Program, students who wish to pursue the BS in Nursing must change their degree to BSN in the Registrar’s Office. See a BSN faculty member for current information regarding program requirements.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Graduates of the Associate Degree Nursing program must pass the national licensure exam to be a registered nurse (NCLEX-RN). Employment opportunities are at an all-time high in West Virginia and nationwide.

  • Registered nurses constitute the largest healthcare occupation, with 2.4 million jobs.
  • More new jobs are expected to be created for registered nurses than for any other occupation.
  • Job opportunities are expected to be excellent.
  • Almost 3 out of 5 jobs are in hospitals, in inpatient and outpatient departments. Others work in offices of physicians, outpatient clinics, nursing care facilities, home healthcare services, employment services, government agencies, and outpatient care centers.
  • Graduates of the Associate Degree Nursing program who are licensed as registered nurses can continue their education in our Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

Model Schedules

 

Additional Resources