Frequently Asked Questions

Transcription

1 NURSING DEPARTMENT Frequently Asked Questions APPLICATION: How do I apply to the nursing program? There are two(2) applications required to apply to the nursing program. First all applicants must apply for admission to Calhoun Community College. Official transcripts from every college attended must be submitted to the Admissions and Records Office for evaluation by a deadline noted on the nursing application. Second, all applicants must complete and submit the nursing program application found on the Calhoun Website Nursing Resource Page by the required deadline date. Can I fax in the application? No. Original documents must be received and verified by the deadline. What nursing programs do you offer? Calhoun offers the following nursing programs: ADN or Associate Degree Nursing (RN) is a two year program designed to prepare students for licensure as a Registered Nurse. At the completion of this program students will receive an Associate in Applied Sciences degree and will be eligible to write the National Council Licensure Exam: NCLEX-RN. Calhoun offers a Traditional Day track that admits a class in the fall and spring semesters and a Part-Time Evening track that admits one time a year fall semester only. Practical Nursing (LPN) is a one year certificate program designed to prepare students for licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse. At the completion of the program, students will receive a certificate in Practical Nursing and will be eligible to write the National Council Licensure Exam: NCLEX-PN. Admits a class one time a year fall semester only. Career Mobility Nursing the mobility program enables the LPN to complete a one year plan of study leading to an Associate in Applied Science (RN) degree. At the completion of this program, the student is eligible to write the National Council Licensure Exam: NCLEX-RN. Calhoun offers: Career Mobility Track 1 (Students who graduated 2 or more years ago) and Career Mobility Track 2 (Students who graduated within the last 2 years) descriptions available on Nursing Resource Page. CMB admits a class one time a year spring semester only. Paramedic to RN Nursing is a three (3) semester program that prepares licensed paramedics to obtain the Associate of Applied Science degree and upon completion, will be eligible to write the National Council Licensure Exam: NCLEX-RN. Admits one time a year spring semester only. What are the requirements to apply? Minimum admission requirements for both the RN and LPN programs are as follows: Unconditional admission to CCC Receipt of a complete nursing application by the deadline A minimum of 2.50 GPA for the last 24 hours of college credit for students with previous college work A minimum of 2.50 high school GPA for students without prior college work Meet the Essential Functions for nursing Submission of a Test of Essential Academic Skills-V (TEAS-V); taken within 3 years of nursing application deadline. There is no minimum score requirement.

2 Official transcripts from EVERY college you have attended must be submitted and evaluated by the Admissions and Records Office before the application deadline A nursing applicant must be eligibile to take: ENG 101 and MTH 100 as determined by college policy; MTH 116 or higher for PN BIO 201 during the first term of nursing courses Career Mobility Prerequisites: Proof of an unencumbered Alabama Nursing license ENG 101 English Composition I MTH 100 Intermediate College Algebra BIO 201 Anatomy and Physiology I BIO 201 Anatomy and Physiology II Paramedic to RN Prerequisites: Proof of an unencumbered Alabama paramedic license ENG 101 English Composition I MTH 100 Intermediate College Algebra BIO 201 Anatomy and Physiology I BIO 202 Anatomy and Physiology II BIO 220 Microbiology PSY 200 General Psychology The curriculum indicates I need a humanities elective. What course(s) will count for the humanity elective? The student may select courses from the following areas to satisfy the Calhoun humanities elective: Art, Foreign Language, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Religion, and Theatre. Three credit hours are required. How long will it take to finish the nursing program if I have already taken all the general education courses? The ADN Traditional Day program runs over the course of five (5) semesters starting in the fall or spring semester. The ADN Part-Time Evening program runs over the course of seven (7) semesters starting in the fall semester. The PN program runs over the course of three (3) consecutive semesters starting in the fall semester. The Career Mobility Track 1 runs over the course of four (4) consecutive semesters starting in the spring semester. The Career Mobility Track 2 runs over the course of three (3) semesters starting in the spring semester. The Paramedic to RN runs over the course of three (3) semesters starting in the spring semester. Do I have to take the Nursing classes in order? YES. The nursing courses must be taken in sequence as outlined in the curriculum (plan of study). Students must also take the corequisites that are required during the semeter they are enrolled if they have not previously been completed with a grade of C or higher. Individual curriculum plans for each program are located on the Nursing Resource page. What about my GPA? Applicants must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 based on the most recent 24 hours of undergraduate or graduate work. If you are uncertain about your GPA calculation, contact the Office of Admissions and Records. May I deliver my official transcripts by hand? The Calhoun Office of Admissions and Records will accept a hand carried official transcript in a sealed envelope from other colleges. One of the schools I attended closed. Do I still have to list that school on my applicaton and get a transcript from them?

3 YES. You must list ALL colleges attended and submit a copy of EVERY transcript. If the school you attended is no longer operating, please make sure to discuss your options with the Admissions Office. Oftentimes schools that are no longer in operation are absorbed by other colleges and may still be able to access transcripts. Contact the Admissions Office if you have problems obtaining transcripts. Remember incomplete applications will NOT be considered for acceptance into the nursing program. My last college transcript has transfer credit listed from other schools I attended. Do I have to send the other transcripts? YES. Official transcripts must be received from EVERY school attended whether the credit applies to nursing or not. For example, if you attended five (5) schools, you must request and have the five (5) separate official transcripts sent to the Admissions Office. What transcript do I submit with my nursing program application? All applicants must submit an unofficial copy of a Calhoun Community College transcript in the application packet which includes all coursework taken at CCC and accepted transfer coursework taken at other colleges. A copy of your transcript from MYCALHOUN is acceptable. The Admissions Office should be contacted with questions regarding the transfer of credit. Do not submit transcripts from other colleges with the nursing application. Coursework taken at other educational institutions must be evaluated and accepted by the CCC Department of Admissions and Records to be considered. It is the applicant s responsibility to make certain all relevant coursework is listed on the CCC transcript. Applicants must highlight courses and grades being claimed for points on the CCC transcript. No points will be awarded if courses & grades are not listed on the CCC transcripts. A copy of your transcript from MYCALHOUN is acceptable. How many students do you accept in the nursing program? Calhoun accepts 350 students a year. 275 ADN students, 32 LPN students,32 Career Mobility students and 12 Paramedic to RN students. The number of students accepted is determined by the number of faculty and clinical facilities available. How are students selected for enrollment in a nursing program? Nursing acceptance is competitive. The number of students who can be enrolled in nursing is limited. Meeting minimal requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Applicants that meet all minimum admission requirements are rankordered using the following point systems: Practical Nursing Application Points System TEAS-V Score: Max 100 TEAS-V Composite Score Course Grades: A=30, B=20, C=10 Max 60 ENG 101 English Composition I 0-30 MTH 116 Mathematical Applications or higher MTH (100, 110, 112) 0-30 Additional Points: Max 11 4 general education courses completed (ENG 101, MTH 116, BIO 201 & 202) 8 Calhoun Community College student at least 1 course completed at CCC 3 Associate Degree Nursing Application Points System TEAS-V Score: Max 200 TEAS-V Science Sub-Score 0-100

4 TEAS-V Math Sub-Score Course Grades: A=30, B=20, C=0 Max 90 College Courses BIO 201 Anatomy & Physiology I 0-30 BIO 202 Anatomy & Physiology II 0-30 BIO Microbiology 0-30 Additional Points: Max 12 All General Education Courses Completed 7 First Time Nursing Student 3 Attendance at a Nursing Programs Information Session 2 Will I get a letter even if I was not accepted? YES. It takes approximately 4-6 weeks after the deadline date to process the applications. Letters are mailed to every applicant at the provided address notifying them of the decsion of the Admission Committee. If I am not accepted, will I need to submit all the documentation the next time I apply? YES. A current application and and an up-to-date CCC transcript is required to apply to the nursing program. Retain copies of your submitted application as documentation will not be released from previous applications. TEAS-V: What is the TEAS-V? TEAS stands for Test of Essential Academic Skills-V. It is a required exam for application to nursing. Register online for the TEAS-V at: : where you will find information about testing locations, dates, cost and method of payment. To test at Calhoun, select Tanner, Alabama as the testing site. How is my score used? Your Math and Science sub-scores are part of the points calculated to determine your total points for acceptance into the ADN nursing program. The composite scored is used to calculate the practical nursing application point total. How soon can I get my TEAS-V results/score? Results are available immediately upon completion of the exam. Can I retake the TEAS-V? YES. You must wait a minimum of six (6) weeks to retake the TEAS-V. The exam results provide feedback and suggested areas of review and study before retaking the exam. If I have a college degree, must I still take the TEAS-V test? YES. The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS-V) is required prior to submitting the nursing application. It must be current within 3 years of the application deadline. The score will be available upon completion of the test. I took the TEAS at another location, can I still use that score? You may use the TEAS-V as long as it is current within 3 years of the program application deadline. You must order the official score by logging into your ATI account at clicking on the Online Store option and selecting and purchasing TEAS Transcript. HEALTH FORMS: Must I meet health requirements before I apply for admission?

5 NO. It s expensive! We do not ask applicants to go to the expense of all of the Health Requirements before being accepted into a nursing program. Only AFTER you get a letter of acceptance into the nursing program will we ask for this documentation. You will not be allowed to register for nursing classes until all documentation is received. Do not submit any immunization or health records with your application. I don t have the money to complete the health requirements. Why does Calhoun require so many? The health facilities that Calhoun contracts with to provide clinical education opportunities to student have requirements to guarantee the health and safety of their patients. Students are required to meet those stipulations including proof of immunization to certain commuicable diseases. These requirements are necessary for anyone working in healthcare, so keep a copy of your health records for future reference. What type of CPR certification am I required to have? American Heart Association - Healthcare Provider with AED, or American Red Cross - CPR for the Professional Rescuer, or American Safety & Health - CPR Pro What are essential functions? Professional behaviors, physical and mental requirements for performing the duties of a particular health science program. Must I have the Essential Functions form signed by a physician when I apply for nursing? NO. Students must acknowledge the professional behaviors, physical and mental requirements of the program before they apply. A physician s signature is required to confirm your ability to meet the Essential Functions after acceptance. What if I have been enrolled in a nursing program at another college? Students who have been enrolled but not finished a nursing program at colleges other than CCC must contact that nursing program and request that a Letter of Good Standing is sent to the CCC Nursing Department by the nursing application deadline date. Without a letter of good standing the application cannot be considered. Why do I have to have a background check and drug screening? The health facilities that Calhoun contracts with to provide clinical education opportunities to students have requirements to guarantee the health and safety of their patients. Students are required to meet those stipulations. BACKGROUND CHECK-GENERAL GUIDELINES CCC Health Sciences students will be accepted to participate in a clinical rotation if their background check reveals: No history of criminal offenses Misdemeanors for expired or failure to obtain a hunting or fishing license Misdemeanors for traffic or moving violations (excluding DUI) Any single misdemeanor over 2 years old Students will not be allowed to attend clinical rotations if their background check reveals:

6 Any misdemeanor less than 2 years old that is related to crimes against the person (such as assault and battery), crimes based on dishonesty or untruthfulness (such as theft or embezzlement), or drug and other substance abuse related crimes. A felony conviction less than 5 years old. A felony conviction that is a crime against a person such as battery or assault. A student will be considered for clinical rotations on a case by case basis if their background check reveals: Any felony that is crime based on dishonesty or untruthfulness (such as theft or embezzlement) or drug and other substance abuse related crimes AND more than 5 years old (all decisions made by the review committee are final and may not be appealed.) Multiple misdemeanors regardless of length of time since offense (all decisions made by the review committee are final and may not be appealed). Should I be concerned about things in my background? Requirements for licensure as a practical or registered nurse include being of good moral character. Individuals who have been found guilty of certain offenses may be denied licensure. State boards of nursing have the power to deny licensure to those found guilty of fraud or deceit, convicted of a felony, those guilty of a crime involving moral turpitude or gross immorality, those unfit or incompetent due to the use of alcohol or addiction to the use of habit-forming drugs; persons convicted of any violation of a federal or state law relating to controlled substances; those mentally incompetent; and individuals guilty of unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud or injure the public in matters pertaining to health. Legal requirements for licensure may be found in the Alabama Board of Nursing Administrative Code ( Any questions regarding this matter should be directed to the ABN. CLINICAL: If I am accepted, how many days per week will I be in class, lab, or clinial? On average, students in the first two semesters of the program will be in class, lab, or clinical four (4) days per week. After the second semester, the average is 3-4 days per week depending on the semester and nursing track. If you are taking general education courses along with nursing courses, you may be in class more often. Where will I attend clinical and may I choose the facilities? NO. Clinical agency assignments are based on the learning needs of the student and the availability of experiences to the nursing department. Students are expected to have the necessary flexibility in their personal schedules and the willingness to commute to clinical sites in the north Alabama region. Transportation is the responsibility of the student and assignments are not made based on your zip code. Further, you may be assigned to different sites during the same semester. Every effort is made to keep clinicals within a 50 mile radius of our Decatur campus. Will I be able to work and attend the nursing program? Nursing school requires commitment. Successful students report studying approx. two hours for each contact hour of lecture classes per week. Sound study skills and time management are critical to achievement. Therefore, it is recommended that students do not work more than 20 hours per week. Classes and clinical experiences may be scheduled during the day Monday through Friday and student attendance is required. See the CCC Catalog for Attendance Policies. The Catalog says the grading policy for nursing is different. Why is that? The nursing programs grading policy is more stringent than the general college grading policy. In order to pass a NUR course the student must receive a grade of 75% or greater. Students who do not receive a minimum of 75% as a final grade in a course will not be allowed to progress in the program. It is the belief of the faculty that having a strict grading

7 policy will help to better ensure student knowledge and competency. Nursing students must also meet professional standards of conduct in order to progress in a nursing program. MISCELLANEOUS: Does the Calhoun Nursing Department have a job placement office? NO. During the program, students are attending clinical agencies where they make contacts with potential employees. Also, during the final semester, local employers recruit students on campus. The nursing programs at Calhoun Community College are approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing P.O. Box Montgomery, Alabama (800) and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850 Atlanta, Georgia (404)