One of the major innovative changes introduced into the Basic and LPN-BSN nursing curricula, in 2002, is the concept of the “gate” system. Students enrolled in the RN-BSN curriculum are exempt from the “gate” system. Basic and LPN students enrolled in the nursing program are expected to meet the following levels of academic achievement in order to progress in the program. In the nursing program, four “gates” are introduced at critical junctures in the curriculum to ensure that the students know the course material related to the specific level before they are promoted to the next level of their professional education. The “gates” are designed to effectively monitor the students’ academic achievement, clinical competence, attitudes and behaviors required at the different levels of the nursing program.

GATE 1-Students enrollment is designated for the pre-professional nursing program. Freshmen and transfer students must comply with the general admission requirements into the University, complete the pre-requisite courses and attain the expected level of academic achievement prior to admission into the professional program.

GATE 2-Students admitted into the professional program and who pass all nursing courses during sophomore level will progress to the junior level.

1. Students with a nursing course grade of “D” or “F” must take and successfully pass Nursing-0920 (Bridge II) before being allowed to repeat the failed course.
2. An individualized program of study (IPS) will be developed for identified students with specific academic problems.
3. Students must receive a passing grade in Nursing-0920 (Bridge II).
4. Students who fail the Nursing-0920 (Bridge II) course will be dismissed from the nursing program and will receive individualized career counseling from the Chairperson.
5. Those students who fail a nursing course but pass Nursing-0920 (Bridge II) will be allowed to repeat the nursing course one time only.

GATE 3-Students who pass all end-of-course (EOC) examinations during junior level will progress to the senior level.

1. Students with a grade of “D” or F” in a nursing course must take and successfully pass Nursing-0930 (Bridge III) before being allowed to repeat the failed nursing course.
2. An IPS will be developed for identified students with specific academic problems.
3. Students must receive a passing grade in Nursing-0930 (Bridge III).
4. Students who fail the Nursing-0930 (Bridge III) course will be dismissed from the nursing program and will receive individualized career counseling from the Chairperson.
5. Those students who fail a nursing course but pass Nursing-0930 (Bridge III) will be allowed to repeat the nursing course only once.
6. Only students who pass the nursing courses will be allowed to complete the end- of-course (EOC) examinations.
7. Students who fail an EOC examination may retake the examination only once. If students fail the EOC examination(s), they must take Nursing-0930 (Bridge III).
8. Students who fail Nursing-0930 (Bridge III) will be dismissed from the nursing program and will receive individualized career counseling from the Chairperson.
9. Students who pass Nursing-0930 (Bridge III) but fail the EOC examination(s) for the third time will be dismissed from the nursing program and will receive individualized career counseling from the chairperson.

GATE 4 –Students who pass the nursing courses and EOC examinations during senior level are eligible to take the Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) comprehensive exit examination.

1. Students with a “D” or “F” grade in a nursing course must take and successfully pass Nursing-0940 (Bridge IV) before being allowed to repeat the failed nursing course.
2. An IPS will be developed for students with specific academic problems.
3. Students must receive a passing grade in Nursing-0940 (Bridge IV).
4. Students not passing the Nursing-0940 (Bridge IV) course will be dismissed from the nursing program and will receive individualized career counseling from the Chairperson.
5. Those students who fail a nursing course but pass Nursing-0940 will be allowed to repeat the course one time only.
6. Only students who pass the nursing course will be allowed to complete the EOC examinations.
7. Students who fail an EOC examination(s) may retake the exam only once. If students fail the EOC examination(s), they must take Nursing-0940 (Bridge IV).
8. Students who fail Nursing-0940 (Bridge IV) will be dismissed from the nursing program and will receive individualized career counseling from the Chairperson.
9. Students who pass Nursing-0940 (Bridge IV) but do not pass the EOC for the third time, will be dismissed from the nursing program and will receive individualized career counseling from the Chairperson.
10. Only students who pass all the EOC examinations will be allowed to complete the HESI comprehensive exit examination.
11. Students must successfully pass the HESI comprehensive exit examination with a minimum of 900 points in order to graduate. Students will not be allowed to participate in the University convocation and college commencement ceremonies if they have not passed the HESI comprehensive exit examination.
12. Students who fail the HESI comprehensive exit examination on their first attempt must participate in an IPS that is based on the content analysis of their performance on the HESI comprehensive exit examination results. Students must enroll in and pass Nursing-0940 (Bridge IV) before re-taking the comprehensive exit examination for the second time. The students must also take a live (Kaplan) review course.
13. If students fail the HESI comprehensive exit examination the second time, they must wait two months before re-taking the examination for a third time. An IPS that is based on the content analysis of their performance on the HESI comprehensive exit examination results will be developed. Students must enroll in and pass Nursing-0940 (Bridge IV) before re-taking the comprehensive exit examination for the third time. The students must also take a live (outside) review course prior to retaking the HESI examination.
14. If students fail the HESI comprehensive examination the third time, they must take a designated nursing course (N-0940 Bridge IV) before they can re-take the comprehensive exit examination for the fourth and final time. Students who fail the exit examination on the fourth attempt will be dismissed from the program.

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• To be retained in the nursing program, students must attain a semester and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above.
• Pre-requisite and co-requisite courses may be repeated only once when a grade of D or F has been achieved.
• Students are required to take standardized achievement tests as determined by the department. Students must successfully complete all nursing and co-requisite courses with a grade of C or better.
• Student must successfully complete all the requirements in the nursing curriculum within five years from date of entry into the professional program.

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• Failure in a required course for a second time will result in dismissal from the nursing program.
• Failure in a second nursing clinical course or a second nursing course will result in the dismissal from the nursing program.

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In the Department of Nursing, there are two major standardized tests used to determine the progression and retention of students. The first computer based standardized test used is the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) examination. The examination is administered all clinical courses. These examinations are aligned with the NCLEX-RN test plan and they assess the students comprehension of the nursing process, critical thinking ability, and knowledge of course content. The Department selected proficiency level 2 as the benchmark or expected level of academic achievement to pass the ATI examination.

If students are unsuccessful in their first attempt taking the ATI examination (i.e., they score lower than proficiency level 2), students will have a second opportunity to re- take the examination. If unsuccessful on the second attempt, students are required to enroll in a Bridge course for remediation.

The second standardized examination used in the Department of Nursing is the Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI). The HESI is administered to senior students at the end of the program. The Department uses the HESI because this standardized test has a good track record predicting students’ performance on the NCLEX-RN. The HESI is comprised of 160 multiple choice questions at the application and analysis level, and they simulate the NCLEX-RN test plan. The Department selected a score of 900 as the benchmark or expected level of performance to pass the HESI examination. The HESI booklet indicated that based on the validity studies conducted, students who score 900 points or higher have an “excellent” probability of passing the NCLEX-RN.

When nursing students score 80% or below on a quiz or course examination, they are required to meet with the course director who will provide for students with academic assistance. The Coordinator may refer them to the Academic Support and Counseling Centers within the University.

The students must complete the following University requirements before graduation:

• Successful completion of University required placement examinations in Mathematics, English and reading.
• Completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours of college level credit.
• Completion of the last thirty (30) semester hours at Chicago State University. Credit earned from proficiency examinations, with the exception of University proficiency examinations and/or military training, may not be used to satisfy this requirement.
• A minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) at the time of graduation.
• Successful completion of the state and federal constitution examinations.

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To graduate from the nursing program the students must successfully complete the following academic requirements: 6 hours of composition; 6 hours of mathematics /critical thinking; 19 hours of natural sciences; 9 hours of humanities (6 of which must be in a single foreign language); 12 hours of social sciences; 3 hours of nutrition; 81 hours of nursing courses [including required NURS 0910 (Bridge I) ; and successful completion of the state and federal constitution examinations.

All students must achieve a satisfactory grade of “C” or better in all nursing courses and co-requisite courses. Nursing courses can be retaken one time only. In addition, students must successfully pass all EOC examinations and the senior comprehensive exit examination in order to qualify for graduation.

 

Students who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better, for courses taken towards the bachelor’s degree, are given special recognition on their diplomas and on their academic records; and are recognized at the university convocation and college commencement ceremonies. The honors categories are: 3.50-3.79 (cum laude), 3.80-3.94 high (magna cum laude), and 3.95-4.00 highest (summa cum laude).

 

The Department of Nursing grading scale is:

A = 90 - 100
B = 83 - 89
C = 75 - 82
D = 65 - 74
F = 64 & below

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