Gadsden State Nursing
Gadsden State’s Nursing Education Program has earned a reputation of placing successful nursing graduates throughout the community, state and nation. The department offers outstanding faculty, state-of-the-art equipment and comprehensive clinical sites and resources, such as the Simulation Center. There are four nursing campuses located in Etowah, Calhoun and Cherokee counties that utilize a multitude of healthcare resources to provide students a variety of comprehensive opportunities.
The Concept-Based Curriculum in the Nursing Department is a stackable credential for nurses. Upon completion of the third semester, nursing students can sit for the Practical Nurse licensing exam and work as a licensed practical nurse while they continue their education for the Registered Nursing degree.
Successful completion of the five-semester program leads to an Associate in Applied Sciences degree and entry into multiple practice settings. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing NCLEX-RN exam for licensure and practice as a registered nurse.
Gadsden State offers a Practical Nursing program that can be completed in three semesters. It offers students the opportunity to advance their education and proceed into the nursing workforce. Once the Practical Nurse licensing exam is passed, the new LPN can start their career in direct patient care then consider furthering their educational development with the Mobility Nursing Program to become a registered nurse.
The Mobility Nursing Program gives practical nurses and paramedics the opportunity to become a registered nurse. It is taught in three semesters with one nursing course each semester. In addition, Gadsden State offers progression pathways to students wishing to continue their nursing education by partnering with baccalaureate and master’s nursing programs at four-year institutions.
Background checks will be required upon admission into the program. Vaccine Notice for Clinicals.
For general information and admission requirements, reach out to Jarae Szydlowski jszydlowski@gadsdenstate.edu or 256-549-8478. You can also email nursing@gadsdenstate.edu
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Mission
The mission of the nursing programs of the Alabama Community College System is to prepare graduates to practice safe, competent, patient-centered care in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing health care system. We seek to provide full and equal access to opportunities for educational success to meet the community needs.
Philosophy
We believe that nursing is a dynamic profession, blending science with the use of evidence based practice and clinical reasoning and the art of caring and compassion to provide quality, patient-centered cared.
We believe learning is an interactive process in which faculty and students share responsibility to meet program outcomes. We believe in using educational methods that are current and supportive of students in the teaching and learning environment, with the presentation of information from simple to complex.
Nursing is guided by standards of practice and standards of professional performance. Standards reflect the values and priorities of the nursing profession. Therefore, we have integrated competencies from the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) and National League of Nursing (NLN) into our philosophy as part of our core values.
NLN competencies for nursing are central to the conceptual framework. The related QSEN competencies for graduate nurses define the knowledge, skills and attitudes that the graduate nurse should possess to continuously improve the quality and safety of the healthcare systems within which they work.
Advocate for patients and families in ways that promote their self-determination, integrity, and ongoing growth as human beings.
Recognize the patient or designee as the source of control and full partner in providing compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for patient’s preferences, values, and needs.
Make judgments in practice, substantiated with evidence, that integrate nursing science in the provision of safe, quality care and that promote the health of patient within the family and community context.
Minimizes risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.
Use information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision making.
Implement one’s role as a nurse in ways that reflect integrity, responsibility, ethical practices, and an evolving identity as a nurse committed to evidence-based practice, caring, advocacy, and safe, quality care for diverse patients within a family and community context.
Function effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care.
Examine the evidence that underlies clinical nursing practice to challenge the status quo, questions underlying assumptions, and offer new insights to improve the quality of care for patients, families, and communities.
Integrate best current evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values for delivery of optimal health care.
Use data to monitor the outcomes of care processes and use improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care systems. (QSEN def)
The Nursing Education Program is a concept based curriculum which is a stackable credential. To complete the Associate Registered Nurse Degree (ADN) the student must successfully complete the entire 5 semesters. If the student wishes to complete the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Degree only, the student must successfully complete NUR 114 and NUR 115. Once NUR 114 and NUR 115 are completed the student may sit for the NCLEX PN exam. Should the student wish to complete the ADN, they may continue and complete the last two semesters. Should the student drop out of sequence upon completing the LPN component, the student has 1 year in which to reapply to complete the ADN.
You must apply by one of the deadline dates and be accepted to the program. The date you should submit your application will depend upon when you meet the admission requirements and when you decide it is the right time for you to start the program.
Gadsden State does not teach nursing courses completely online at the present time; although computer testing, some hybrid courses, and web-enhanced courses are a part of the curriculum.
No, we are not currently admitting new students for evening nursing courses.
Each program has a set of minimum of "Admission Requirements." Please see the program info tabs for more information.
Not necessarily. Admission is competitive; all applicants are rank-ordered according to their test scores and grades. Those applicants with the highest scores will be on the top of the list.
Please see the program info tabs for nursing program application specifics.
No, original documents must be received by given deadlines. Faxed or mailed applications are not accepted; all applications are submitted online. You will be given information on handling health records at orientation, if accepted into the program.
Gadsden State does not have a “Waiting List.” Students must apply for the program to be included in the rank order for acceptance. The top students are admitted and a number of students are placed on a temporary alternate list in case we have an opening available before the program begins.
The “alternate list” is temporary, it is used until the beginning of the program following the application deadline. Students must reapply if they are not admitted.
You will receive a letter 4-6 weeks after deadline date. The letter will be emailed to the Gadsden State student email account.
Admission to the nursing program is not based on the applicant’s cumulative GPA. The admission is based on a combination of a test score and grades in certain courses.
Yes. The Admissions office requires hand delivered transcripts be sealed, stamped "OFFICIAL," and delivered to:
Room 140, One Stop Center, 401 Korner Street, Gadsden, Alabama
If the transcripts are opened, or appear tampered with, the Admissions Office will not accept the documents.
Do not bring or send official transcripts to the Nursing Education Department.
I received an email stating my transcripts were not received in the Admissions Office by the deadline. I requested them from my previous school over 2 (or more) weeks ago. Why was my application denied?
The nursing program has deadline dates published well in advance and those dates do not vary. It is the applicant's responsibility to know about the deadline(s) and abide by the requirements. The admission process cannot be delayed because an applicant did not allow enough time for all records to be received. It is recommended that transcript requests be made not less than 30 days prior to the deadline. It is the applicant's responsibility to contact the Admissions Office in advance to ensure that transcripts have been received. Neither Gadsden State, nor the Nursing Program, can be responsible for the speed of the U.S. mail or the speed with which another institution mailed the transcripts.
A variety of clinical agencies are used within a 65-70 mile radius of the Gadsden State Campuses. You may attend different sites during the same semester.
No. Efforts are made to accommodate students’ needs when possible. However, nursing education requires a broad variety of clinical experiences that can only be attained by attending various clinical sites.
Physical and mental requirements for performing the duties of a particular health science program. See: Essential Functions Policy
No. Only students who are accepted into the program will complete the form.
Your health records will need to be turned in AFTER admission to the program. You will receive forms in your acceptance packet and detailed information will be given at orientation, after you have been accepted into the program.
No, most clinical contractual agreements require American Heart Association, Health Care Provider level with Basic Life Support (BLS).
No. You can register for the co-requisite academic courses, but not the NUR courses*. Students who are accepted into the program and do not complete the health requirements by the deadline given to them in the acceptance letter will lose their place in the program.
The clinical agencies have certain requirements to guarantee the health and safety of their patients. Students are required to meet those stipulations so that they can attend the clinical settings for their education. These requirements will be necessary for anyone in a healthcare field while in school and later during employment. Please keep a copy of your records because Gadsden State does not keep those after you leave the program.
Most courses from Area II of the Alabama General Studies Curriculum (AGSC) can be used to satisfy the humanities elective requirement. Some of the courses taught at Gadsden State that can be used for the elective are as follows:
- ART 100: Art Appreciation
- MUS 101: Music Appreciation
- THR 120: Theater Appreciation
- PHL 206: Ethics in Society - (Strongly recommended by our clinical affiliates)
- HUM 101: Introduction to Humanities
- REL 151: Survey of Old Testament
- REL 152: Survey of New Testament.
Please note there are additional courses offered that satisfy this requirement, depending on individual interest and schedule.
If you are transferring from other colleges or universities, check with Health Science Outreach Coordinator Amanda Martin (amartin@gadsdenstate.edu) regarding transfer of your course(s)
Dr. Cynthia Mullinax, Nursing Program Director and Instructor
256-549-8452
The Registered Nursing Education Program is approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing. The Registered Nursing Education Program at Gadsden State Community College with campuses in Gadsden, Centre, and Anniston, Alabama is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Alabama Board of Nursing
RSA Plaza, Ste. 250
770 Washington Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36107
334-293-5200
www.abn.alabama.gov
ACEN
3390 Peachtree Road NE
Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000
www.acenursing.org
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Registered Nursing Education Program is continuing accreditation. View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program HERE.