Shawnee State’s associate degree nursing (ADN) program began in 1969. For over 50 years, the ADN program has graduated quality nurses who have assumed multiple roles in health care facilities in the community, region, and across the nation.

The awarding of the ADN does not license one as a registered nurse. The board of nursing in the state in which the applicant wishes to be registered awards licensure after the successful completion of a separate examination (NCLEX-RN). The School of Nursing certifies completion of degree requirements, but meeting other requirements for licensure is the responsibility of each candidate.¹ After successfully passing this examination, graduates are licensed as registered nurses and are capable of providing nursing care at a beginning level in hospitals, nursing homes, doctors’ offices, clinics, and selected community agencies.

¹ Conviction of certain classes of misdemeanors or any felony conviction requires permission from the board of nursing of the state in which the applicant wishes to be registered.

Accreditation

The program is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

End of Program Student Learning Outcomes

1. Patient-Centered Care: Plan patient-centered care to individuals and families using principles of science (biological, behavioral, natural, and social) with integration of patient preferences, values, and needs. 
2. Teamwork and Collaboration: Practice within nursing and inter-professional teams to achieve quality patient outcomes through use of effective communication and decision-making.
3. Evidence-Based Practice (EBP): Prioritize nursing care using best practices reflecting current evidence, clinical expertise, and patient identified preferences.
4. Quality Improvement (QI): Connect data with improvement methods to develop and evaluate interventions to continuously enhanbce patient care systems.
5. Safety: Employ strategies to reduce risk of hamr to those within the health-care environment.
6. Informatics: Use information and technology to promote safety, support clinical judgment, and enhance communication.

Admission Requirements

Admission is determined on a competitive basis. The total number of students admitted to the program is based upon available facilities and faculty. Qualified applicants are admitted to the associate degree in nursing program annually for the fall and spring semesters; however, students may be required to complete designated courses the semester prior to the semester of official admission. Qualified applicants are selected beginning March 1 (Fall Class) or September 1 (Spring Class) and selection continues until all spaces in the class are filled.

There are no waiting lists.  Students not admitted for a designated semester must apply again to be considered for future admission periods.

 

If you apply with less than 20 hours of semester college credit:

• Official high school transcript denoting high school graduation or official GED test score transcript.
• A GPA of 2.5 or higher in high school and college credit.
• A minimum composite ACT score of 22 with an 18 or above in all other sections of the ACT or SAT Score 1100.

Note: Students who have met the above minimum requirements with an overall ACT score of 24 or better are eligible for automatic acceptance into the associate degree nursing program provided they meet the deadline for application.

 

If you apply with 20+hours of semester college credit:

• Official high school or GED test score transcript (along with partial high school transcript), and official transcripts from all colleges attended.
• A cumulative college grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale from all college and universities attended.
• 15 of the 20 college credits must be required non-nursing courses with a minimum of 8 of the credit hours in the required science courses (BIOL 1130, BIOL 1131, BIOL 3650, or BIOL 3750; CHEM 1121 will also be considered a science course through the Spring 2025 admission cycle)
  • Students may repeat any required science course only one time to achieve a grade of “C” or better. Science courses must be taken within 5 years of application to be considered during admission process.

 

To complete the admission process once a student has been accepted, the student must present to the nursing secretary prior to the first day of class:

• A completed Confidential Physical Form obtained from the School of Nursing.
• Current CPR Basic Life Support Certification
• State and Federal BCIs
• Drug Screening
• Other health records as mandated by the clinical agency
• Proof of influenza vaccination (submit proof during flu season)

For individuals with experience in the armed forces of the United States, or in the National Guard or in a reserve component, the SSU School of Nursing will:

(a) Review the individual’s military education and skills training;

(b) Determine whether any of the military education or skills training is substantially equivalent to the curriculum established in Chapter 4723-5 of the Administrative Code;

(c) Award credit to the individual for any substantially equivalent military education or skills training.

International students must demonstrate a minimum TOEFL score of 84, with a minimum English-speaking score of 26 or a Duolingo score of 120 to be considered for admission.