The Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing is an outreach program of the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) School of Nursing. UAA and the UAF Tanana Valley Campus work together to administer the program locally. The Nursing program is approved by the Alaska Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensing Exam (NCLEX) and apply for licensure as a registered nurse in Alaska and nationally. Graduates are prepared to provide nursing care to individuals and families in hospitals and clinics.
About the program
The Nursing curriculum consists of four semesters of nursing classes which begin in January of the academic year. The curriculum combines theory and clinical practice. Nursing theory is taught via distance education utilizing computer based instruction and video-conferencing. Learning laboratories are conducted to closely simulate the clinical settings. The majority of clinical training is conducted at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital as well as other clinical settings to familiarize students with best practices and professional conduct found in the profession.
Instructors in the program are well qualified and experienced in their areas of nursing specialty. Most faculty members maintain an active clinical practice that allows them to bring current issues and experiences to the classroom.
The program classrooms and learning laboratory are located at the Tanana Valley Campus Center at 604 Barnette Street. The facilities are furnished with equipment to assist students in learning the skills necessary for competent, professional practice. Further training and hands-on experience is conducted at the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and other clinical sites.
Specialized Admission Requirements
Prospective students are encouraged to seek a nursing advisor and also attend a Nursing Information Session, offered once a month. Acceptance into the Nursing program is highly competitive and dependent on a ranking system that considers GPA, number of co-requisite courses completed, score on the Nurse Entrance Test, and specific work experience. The students with the highest numerical ranking will be offered positions in the class.
Students are encouraged to complete the preliminary co-requisite non-nursing courses, which will usually consist of an additional year of studies. The student will enroll at UAF as an Allied Health Non-Major for Nursing candidate. Then the student is strongly recommended to consult a nursing faculty advisor prior to registering for classes. Please call 455-2823 for an appointment.
The application process is twofold. First, the student must apply and be accepted to UAA General Enrollment. UAA General Enrollment requires a high school transcript if earned college credit numbers are less than 30. To be accepted as a pre-nursing major, the student must have successfully completed chemistry (100X or 103X), algebra, and biology (103X or 106X) at the high school or college level. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Completion of the ACT, SAT, ASSET or Compass is required for applicants with fewer than 15 college credits.
Next, the student must submit a School of Nursing application form to the UAA School of Nursing. The student must also take the Nurse Entrance Test. A completed application with all the required paperwork is to be on file by July 1 for the student to be considered in the admission candidate pool in the following spring semester.
Please visit the UAA School of Nursing web site for more information.
Information Sessions
Prospective students who have questions about the Nursing program should attend one of the scheduled Nursing Information Sessions. The sessions are held monthly at TVCC in room 443 at the times and dates specified on the intent form. The form can be filled out online and printed, or you may fill it out after it has been printed. Download the Intent Form here, after completing the form, call 455-2893 to make a reservation for a session, then return the form to the following address:
Shirley LaForge, RN, MSN
Associate Professor/Campus Coordinator
UAF Tanana Valley Campus
604 Barnette Street, room 424
Fairbanks, Alaska99701
Career Opportunities
The state of Alaska and the nation face a severe registered nurse shortage that is anticipated to worsen over the next twenty years. The employment outlook for nurses is excellent.
The Nursing program classrooms and learning laboratory are located at the Tanana Valley Campus Center at 604 Barnette Street. The facilities are furnished with equipment to assist students in learning the skills necessary for competent, professional practice. Further training and hands-on experience is conducted at the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and other clinical sites.
Instructors in the program are well qualified and experienced in their areas of nursing specialty. Most faculty members maintain an active clinical practice that allows them to bring contemporary issues and experiences to the classroom.
Visit the:
UAA School of Nursing web site for more information!
Contact Information:
Shirley LaForge, RN, MSN
Associate Professor/Campus Coordinator
UAF Tanana Valley Campus
604 Barnette Street, room 424
Fairbanks, Alaska99701
email: ffsl1@uaf.edu phone: (907) 455-2893