Email this Page

Admission Requirements

Nursing Applications for the Fall 2010 entering class will be available in the Nursing Office beginning January 5, 2010.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Department of Nursing is based upon:

  1. reading proficiency at college level in comprehension and vocabulary;
  2. completion of a minimum of 33 semester hours of Level I designated core and support courses with a grade of C or better;
  3. grade-point average of at least 2.5;
  4. successful score on all entrance examinations;
  5. formal application for admission to the Department of Nursing;
  6. three letters of recommendation.

Admission to the Department of Nursing is competitive.

Due to the use of objective criteria in processing applications, attainment of minimum admission requirements does not ensure admission to the Department of Nursing.

Louisiana State Board of Nursing's Criteria for Denial of Enrollment in a Clinical Nursing Course or for Licensure as a Registered Nurse

Students with the following conditions are ineligible to enroll in a clinical nursing course:

  1. pending disciplinary action or any restrictions of any form by a licensing/certifying board in any state; or
  2. pending criminal charge that involves any violence or danger to another person, or involves a crime which constitutes a threat to patient care; or
  3. has pled guilty, nolo contendere, been convicted of, or committed a:
    1. "crime of violence" specified in LRS 14:2(13), or
    2. crime which involves distribution of drugs, or
    3. crime which reflects on the ability of the person to practice nursing safely and is currently serving a court ordered probation; or falsifies any documents submitted to the board or the nursing school.

A pardon, suspension or imposition of sentence, expungement, or pretrial diversion or similar programs shall not negate or diminish the above requirements.

Admission Policy for the R.N. Student for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (for R.N.s only)

  1. Formal application to the Department of Nursing
  2. Official transcripts for all college work
  3. Completion of a minimum of 28 semester hours of designated prerequisite courses
  4. Grade-point average of 2.2
  5. Three letters of recommendation
  6. Verification of a current unencumbered R.N. license in Louisiana
  7. Documentation of current work experience as an R.N. and continuing education.

Documentation of Work Experience of an R.N.

The R.N. student shall be in current clinical practice in an acute care, home health, or ambulatory care setting for at least 200 hours during the calendar year in which the student is planning to enter the nursing sequence, and in which nursing credit will be awarded.

Challenge or Transfer Credit for an R.N.

R.N. students may challenge or transfer credit for the following nursing courses taken in the collegiate setting: NSG 202, 203, 205, 300, and 308.

Louisiana State Board of Nursing's Criteria for Enrollment in a Clinical Nursing Course or for Licensure as a Registered Nurse

The Nurse Practice Act requires that students who enroll in a clinical nursing course or become licensed as a registered nurse by examination be of good moral character and have committed no acts which constitute ground for disciplinary action as defined in R.S. 37:921.

Students shall report to the Program Head and petition the Board for approval to practice as students of nursing in Louisiana prior to enrollment in a clinical nursing course in the following instances:

  1. any disciplinary action by any licensing/certifying board in any state;
  2. any arrest, criminal charge, or conviction;
  3. any addiction or impairment which may affect their ability to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety.

A pardon, suspension or imposition of sentence, expungement, or pretrial diversion or similar program shall not negate or diminish the reporting requirements. If a criminal record as a juvenile is expunged, then the applicant may answer "no" to the question, "have you ever been arrested?"

During the first clinical semester the nursing student are required to provide two sets of fingerprints for criminal background checks. The Louisiana State Board of Nursing will send one set of fingerprints to the Louisiana State Police, and a second set of fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Reporting of Any Subsequent Disciplinary Action, Arrest, Charge, Conviction, Addiction or Impairment

If a student is admitted to the clinical sequence of the nursing program, any subsequent disciplinary action, arrest, criminal charge or conviction, addiction, or impairment shall be reported IMMEDIATELY to the Program Head and the Board. All required documents shall be forwarded to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing for evaluation in determining the student's eligibility to continue in the clinical sequence of the program.

The Louisiana State Board of Nursing conducts a criminal background records check of all nursing graduates upon application for licensure to practice as a registered nurse in Louisiana.

10/09