Nursing

Program Description
The Associates in Applied Science (AAS) in Nursing prepares students for entry-into nursing practice. Once accepted, students can complete the program in four semesters and are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination  (NCLEX).  

Program Learning Goals
Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Use clinical reasoning in the provision of safe, quality, patient-centered, culturally competent nursing care for diverse patients and families.

2. Incorporate evidence-based, culturally competent nursing care throughout the nursing process.

3. Demonstrate communication skills within the interprofessional team that promotes culturally competent, safe care, self-determination, and growth of diverse individuals and families.

4. Assimilate management, legal, and ethical guidelines in practice as a culturally competent, professional nurse.

5. Integrate technology to provide safe, quality, culturally competent nursing care for individuals and families in diverse settings.

6. Participate in quality improvement processes for the goal of improving patient care outcomes via a culturally competent framework.

Applicants to the AAS Nursing Program must:

• Earn a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 

• Earn a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.9 in the Nursing pre-requisite courses below: 

  ENG 111 Introduction to College Writing 
  PHL 130 Introduction to Ethics (preferred*) or SOC 100 People and Society 
  PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology 
  BIO 150 Human Anatomy and Physiology 
  *NOTE: If a student has earned grades for both courses, the PHL 130 grade will be calculated in the prerequisite GPA. 

• Have completed BIO 150 within five (5) years of application and have earned a minimum grade of C 

• Good Academic Standing. Transfer students dismissed from a previous nursing program or on probation are ineligible for admission.

• Students must take a standardized admission test before they can apply and be accepted into the AAS Nursing Program. Please check the Nursing website for details

• Provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Residency Status 

• CSI Residency: Students must be matriculated in CSI during the semester before they apply for entry into the nursing program

Special Considerations 
Students may repeat one (1) pre-requisite course with a minimum grade of B once only. Pre-requisite courses include BIO 150, ENG 111, PHL 130/SOC 100 and PSY 100 

If the BIO 150 course was completed more than 5 years from the date of application, either in residence or at a previous institution, the course will need to be repeated to be considered for admission to the AAS Nursing Program. 

CSI Freshman Forgiveness 
CSI students who requested and received Freshman Forgiveness and do not meet the above admission criteria may appeal to the Admission Committee for consideration. A limited number of seats each semester will be assigned to students from Freshman Forgiveness on a competitive basis. 

Students should apply and then email the Nursing Department at AASnursingadmission@csi.cuny.edu for assistance. 

Transfer Students 
In addition to the Admission Requirements above, transfer students from other colleges must:

• Be in good academic standing  

Students who are on academic probation, or who have been academically/administratively dismissed from a Nursing or health professional program at CSI or another institution are not eligible for admission to the AAS Nursing Program at the College of Staten Island.* 
*Note: Nursing prerequisite courses taken outside of CSI must have transfer equivalency at CSI. The letter grades earned in prerequisite courses at other colleges are used in the calculation of the Nursing prerequisite GPA for transfer students. 

• Earn a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.9 in the Nursing prerequisite courses below: 

  ENG 111 Introduction to College Writing 
  PHL 130 Introduction to Ethics, preferred* or SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 
  PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology 
  BIO 150 Human Anatomy and Physiology 
  BIO 160 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (transfer students ONLY) 

Pre-College Coursework 
Students who have completed college coursework or college-level examination programs recognized by CUNY, as high school students, may repeat pre-requisite courses to be considered for AAS Nursing Program admission without prejudice (including but not limited to AICE, AP, CLEP, DLPT, DSST, UEXCEL, IB). 

AAS Nursing Program Application 
Application for Consideration for Admission 

Admissions Decision 
AAS Nursing Program candidates will be accepted on a rolling basis. Accepted students will receive an official notification through Navigate CSI.

Requirements for Matriculation and Enrollment in NRS 110
Admitted students will be enrolled in a Blackboard (Bb) organization titled “2023 Spring Clinical Onboarding (CSI)” and MUST upload all necessary clinical clearance requirements as per instructions on this Bb organization before they are given permission to enroll in NRS 110.    
All students who are admitted to the Nursing AAS Program are required to have a dedicated laptop that is working and available for all NRS course examinations. 
Admitted students must meet ALL matriculation clinical clearance requirements prior to enrollment in NRS 110. No student will be permitted to register without all required clinical clearance requirements! Students who have met all clinical clearance requirements will be given permission to self-enroll in NRS 110 on a rolling basis. Each semester, seats are limited! If classes are full, admitted students will be deferred to the Fall 2023 semester.  

Matriculation of Clinical Clearance Requirements 
Matriculation in the AAS Nursing Program is defined as enrollment in NRS 110.  Only students who are admitted to the AAS Nursing Program may enroll. Enrollment is predicated on clinical clearance requirements which are agency driven, and no exceptions can be made. Students are guests of the agencies and must comply with all agency requirements in real time. The requirements can change precipitously, and students must comply in order to participate in agency clinical experiences.  
NOTE:  Students may not contact the agencies directly at any time. 

Clinical Clearance Requirements 
Urine Drug Screen (UDS) 
All admitted students must create and maintain a Castlebranch account in good standing reflecting a clear criminal background check and negative Urine Drug Screen (UDS).  
The program will require a negative UDS within 90 days of the start of each enrolled course. Students who test positive at any point cannot attend clinical and must drop the class. 

• Spring Background Check and UDS 

Nursing Physical Examination Form (NPE) 
The Nursing Physical Examination (NPE) form must be submitted to and approved by the CSI Health Center. A copy of the Castlebranch Urine Drug Screen (UDS) along with the completed NPE must be emailed to the Health Center at healthcenternpe@csi.cuny.edu in PDF format or uploaded via CUNYfirst with an uploaded notification email to the Health Center. CSI students may call at 718.982.3045 to request an appointment with the CSI Health Center Nurse Practitioner to complete the NPE. The number of appointments offered is limited. Act early to reserve a space! Matriculation for students completing their NPEs after January 6, 2023, will be deferred to Fall 2023.  
NOTE: All students must submit proof of COVID-19 full vaccination including the booster. 

• NPE Instructions 

• NPE Form 

AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) Certificate 
A Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate valid for the duration of the clinical rotation. Only BLS certificates with hands-on skills sessions from the American Heart Association (AHA) are accepted. For more information and to enroll in the BLS, students can visit heart.org website 

Agency-Specific Clinical Requirements (Must complete after enrollment) 
In addition to the general matriculation clinical clearance requirements above, students may need to complete all agency-specific clinical requirements such as training and orientation, completing agency-specific forms, etc. Enrolled students are required to monitor the Blackboard organization titled “2023 Spring Clinical Onboarding (CSI) for more detailed instructions. Students who do not meet these agency-specific clinical requirements will be deregistered

Enrollment in NRS 110 
Enrollment in NRS 110 will be by permission only. Students who have met all matriculation clinical clearance requirements will be notified through Navigate CSI when they are permitted to enroll in NRS 110. 

NRS 110 Orientation 
All enrolled students are expected to participate in a required NRS Orientation. More information on the Orientation will be offered at a later time.