Nursing is a rewarding profession that combines technology with caring to assist people in obtaining and maintaining optimal health.

The associate degree nurse (ADN) practices in a variety of settings: hospitals, long-term and extended-care facilities, clinics and other health care agencies. The ADN graduate functions in three primary roles: provider of client care, manager of client care and member within the nursing discipline.

Using the methodology of the nursing process, the associate degree nurse formulates clinical judgments, collaborates with clients and other health care professionals, and practices within legal, ethical and social obligations.

Stark State College’s ADN program consists of four semesters and a summer of academic coursework and hands-on learning experiences in the classroom, learning laboratory and clinical settings. The program prepares the individual to qualify for the licensing examination for registered nurses.

Applicants must fulfill the following requirements to be eligible for admission to the ADN program:

• Be a high school graduate with a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale within the last five years; or have obtained a GED certificate within the last five years; or have a college GPA of 3.0 or better in 12 hours or more of course work. The SSCT transcript will take precedence once 12 or more credit hours have been completed at SSCT.
• Have completed one year of high school chemistry and biology with a grade of “C” or better within the past five years, or show equivalency. A high school course in Algebra is essential for those attempting to test out of Introduction to Algebra.
• Complete Stark State's pre-admission test and take any courses recommended as a result of that test.
• Score 60% or higher on the National League for Nursing preadmission examination for registered nurses. See the Information Packet for Nursing regarding specific guidelines for achievement of grades in pre-nursing and non-nursing courses.

An evening/weekend program is currently being offered to students who meet the listed admission requirements as well as having completed the following courses:

• BIO121: Anatomy and Physiology I,
• BIO122: Anatomy and Physiology II,
• CHM121: General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry Part I,
     AND
• CHM122: General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry Part II with a grade of “C” or better by June 1 of the admitting year. Meeting requirements for admission for the evening/weekend program does not guarantee admission to the evening/weekend nursing program. This program covers the same sequence in the same time frame as the weekday program.

A licensed practical nurse (LPN) admitted to Stark State College’s ADN program with advanced standing admission (ASA) obtains 77 semester hours of credit at graduation.

LPNs must earn 22 hours of credit in specified courses before admission to the program. Upon satisfactory completion of the ACE test with a decision score of 70 in both sections of the test, and satisfactory completion of NUR 201: Transition for the LPN (a five-credit hour course), LPNs will receive 20 hours of credit for first-level nursing courses. In addition, LPNs must complete the
one-calendar-year curriculum plan RN completion for LPN sequence.

According to Section 4723.28 of the Ohio Revised Code, nursing students are responsible for informing the department chair/director of nursing, early and during the program, of any misdemeanor related to alcohol or drugs, or felony convictions so that students may be informed of the steps the Ohio Board of Nursing will take before considering their application to sit for the licensing examination.

According to Ohio HB327: anyone previously convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or had a judicial finding of guilt for an egregious felony will be precluded from initial licensure. Egregious felonies are: aggravated murder, murder, voluntary manslaughter, felonious assault, kidnapping, rape, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition, aggravated arson, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary.

Stark State College’s associate degree of nursing (ADN) program has full approval by the Ohio Board of Nursing and is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). NLNAC can be reached at: 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006 • 1-800-669-1656.