A student must earn competitive admission to the School of Nursing once prerequisite course work is complete. Applications are ranked according to qualifiers including GPA and deficits. Deficits are prerequisite courses which are not completed prior to application submission. Due to the competitive nature of the admissions process, deficits can significantly impact one's chances for admission to the nursing major.

Please note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Each application is holistically reviewed by faculty who recommend to the administrative corpus the student applicants who appear to be best qualified. A personal interview may be required. Admission may be offered conditionally based on overall ranking and pending completion of all requirements. Applicants shall be notified in writing of the admissions decision. Visit the School of Nursing website or contact the School of Nursing for more details on admission criteria.

The use of alcohol and illegal use of controlled substances, including alcohol, can seriously injure the health of students, impair their performance of their responsibilities, and endanger the safety and well-being of fellow students and members of the general public. Students who are engaged in clinical work at a practicum site may be required to submit to random tests for illegal use of controlled substances as provided by the law or regulations of the contracting agency. Just cause for student disciplinary action includes, but is not limited to, use or unauthorized possession of intoxicants, controlled or illegal substances, or materials dangerous to public health and safety. It is not acceptable to use alcohol or illegal drugs prior to or during class or clinical. Immediate disciplinary action will be taken.

Participation in clinical experiences, rotations or fieldwork is a required part of the curriculum and a requirement for graduation. All students will be required to have a background check and drug test upon admission. If the results of either requirement indicate that the student would not be eligible for placement at the school's practicum agencies, the student's admission will be rescinded. Students may be required to repeat either requirement should the practicum agency require more frequent testing. If at any time during the period of enrollment, the student's background check or drug test results preclude placement in a practicum agency, the student will be required to withdraw from the program. At time of application for licensure, students will be required to submit to fingerprinting and be reviewed for eligibility by the Kentucky Board of Nursing.

Applicants to the School of Nursing are expected to be capable of completing the entire nursing curriculum and of earning a B.S.N. degree. Nursing is a practice discipline with cognitive, sensory, affective, and psychomotor performance requirements. The school's technical standards provide an objective measure on which to base informed decisions about whether individual students will be able to participate in the nursing program. Technical standards also help students determine whether they will need accommodations or modifications in order to participate. Exemplars of technical standards can be found