NURSING ORIENTATION Golden West College School of Nursing
Welcome Thank you for your interest in the GWC Nursing Program This orientation provides a great deal of useful and important information about the Associate Degree Nursing Program While we strive to provide the most current and accurate information about the program, this information is not a substitute for the information published in the College Catalog All students are encouraged to read and be familiar with the information about the college and the nursing program that is found in the catalog, which can be accessed online
Purpose of this orientation To explain the requirements for participation in the clinical setting To explain the resources required to participate in the program To identify factors that help students be successful in the nursing program To explain a little about the process to obtain a Registered Nurse license in California
And then If you can meet all the requirements physical, mental and academic And you have resources to support you financial, family, work flexibility And you have the dedication, drive and passion to devote yourself to the nursing program for two years You are ready to file your application to the School of Nursing at GWC
Registered Nurses Have many opportunities to care for people, both sick and well. Work in hospitals, clinics and the community Are part of a health care team
Being an RN Is physically and emotionally demanding Is full of joy and caring Requires exposure to hazardous substances Is the best job ever
REQUIREMENTS FOR CLINICAL PARTICIPATION
Nursing Students Clinical Time Spend 12 15 hours in the clinical agencies (mostly hospitals) per week Have assigned time in the NEST (Nursing Education, Simulation and Technology) center -- about 4 hours per week Participate in Simulation experiences in the NEST multiple times in the semester 2 hours each Seek extra lab time and assistance with clinical performance in the NEST about 2 6 hours per week
Clinical time means Standing and walking for 10-12 hours Being part of a team Assisting patients to move Applying what you learned in class to providing nursing care to patients Exposure to blood and body fluids and diseases Communicating to patients and staff from varied cultural backgrounds
So to go to clinical, the Student Nurse must: (please refer to GWC catalog for details): 1. See and hear well enough to hear monitors and read small lines on syringes to give medications, using assistive devices as needed 2. Physically be able to perform CPR (you will take a course to learn how to do this) 3. Have sufficient mobility to respond rapidly to situations involving the safety of patients and yourself 4. Be free of substance abuse issues 5. Be free of physical, emotional or psychological issues that adversely affects your behavior
Contracts with the Clinical agencies require the student nurse to: Meet requirements for Immunizations Urine drug testing OK d for clinical by your healthcare provider Have a clear background check for the last 7 years you may not attend clinical while on court-ordered probation Have a valid Social security number to allow access to the electronic medical record Have student nurse malpractice insurance Provide proof of current American Heart Association CPR certification
Required items for Clinical Reliable transportation Uniforms Professional supplies and equipment
SUCCESSFUL NURSING STUDENT What we have learned over the years about the students who complete the nursing program
Personal Characteristics for Success Able to take what is learned from the book and use it in the clinical setting Accepts responsibility for their actions Accepts people and their diverse backgrounds without judgment Ability to be assertive doesn t simply follow orders without question Enjoys working as a team Good time management skills Excellent communication skills Likes to solve problems; figure out puzzles Inquisitive nature often asks why Possesses self confidence
Resources for Success Financial stability Financial problems are the #1 reason student leave the nursing program Students who work more than 12 hours/week are more likely to leave the program before completion To be successful have Savings Health insurance Emergency funds available Apply for financial aid first step is complete FASFA
Resources for Success Time program is a 40 hours/week commitment Many student underestimate the time needed for nursing coursework Need to develop/use time management strategies Minimal work commitment -- less than 12 hrs./ week to not working, at least during first semester
Resources for Success Family support you cannot keep doing all that you have done Stable family life Child care reliable, plans for care of sick children and not just for class and clinical time, but also for study time
BOARD OF REGISTERED NURSING (BRN) FACTS GWC School of Nursing prepares you to take licensing exam; the BRN determines if you may test and grants the RN license
Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) www.rn.ca.gov Must be at least 18 years old at time of admission Requires a social security number to take the licensing exam (NCLEX) Requires that people applying for their RN license to report all misdemeanor and felony convictions. Convictions must be reported even if they have been adjudicated, dismissed or expunged. The BRN will determine if the person applying may take the licensing examination. They may delay or deny taking the NCLEX. This determination is not made until you file an application to take the NCLEX
Background Any misdemeanor or felony conviction must be reported to the Nursing Program Director upon admission to the program. This is in addition to the information obtained from the background check done on admission to the program Students currently serving a court-ordered probation may not attend clinical at most hospitals, based on contractual requirements. This may prevent a student from completing the nursing program Students who complete the program are not guaranteed the ability to take the licensing exam that is determined by the BRN
So, after careful consideration and reflection on your personal readiness, are you ready to be successful in the nursing program? If you are not ready for any reason, visit this website next year. If you have the resources to be successful and are ready to apply, please continue to the next section
GETTING READY TO APPLY Gather this information to insure you are eligible to apply. Also, you will need to provide documentation for the multi-criteria.
Getting Ready to Apply Complete the (4) mandatory courses to calculate GPA Bio 220 Human Anatomy Bio 225 Human Physiology Bio 210 Microbiology English 100 Freshman Composition If you took any of the (4) mandatory courses outside of the Region 8 community colleges please list that on the application. A list of the Region 8 community colleges is on the GWC Nursing website. Recency eligibility: The above mandatory science courses must have been completed within the last 5 years.
Getting Ready to Apply TEAS V Visit the ATI website www.atitesting.com to prepare for the TEASV exam there are online questions and a study guide available for purchase (this is not required) You may take the TEAS V at any site. Prices vary by site. Occasionally, GWC School of Nursing offers the TEAS V exam; check the nursing website for dates and times. An unofficial copy of your exam must be attached to your application. After taking the exam print a copy of your TEAS V results. There is no need to pay to send an official copy from ATI until you are requested to do so.
Getting Ready to Apply Multi-criteria If you have current direct patient care experience in a healthcare setting, get letters from the organization on official letterhead stating the number of hours completed the length of time you worked/volunteered and the type of work performed and attach it to your application. If you have proficiency in a second language (speak, read and write) and are seeking points for it, you will need to attach a high school transcript showing 2 years of classes or 1 year of college classes or a score of 3 or higher on AP/SAT score to your application. If you are a veteran, you will need to attach a copy of your DD214 to your application. If you have any college degrees conferred, attach a copy of unofficial transcripts to your application.
Getting Ready to Apply -- other items Be at least 18 years of age at time of admission Be in adequate health to perform the duties of a Registered Nurse. These requirements are found in the online college catalog. You need a GWC student ID number to apply to the nursing program. If you are not a GWC student, complete an application to the college available on the website (www.goldenwestcollege.edu/admissions)
APPLICATION PROCESS Follow these steps to insure your application is complete. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
A complete application requires: Completed and signed nursing application (4 pages) plus attachments A GWC student ID number Multi-criteria point total and required documents An unofficial copy of TEAS V results with a score of 62% or higher on your first attempt. If you have waited 365 days to retake the TEAS then attach new score Confirmation page showing completion of current orientation If you do not have a college degree; provide a copy of HS diploma, unofficial transcript or GED Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended Copy of driver s license, or passport If applicable a copy of your DD214
Application Processing All complete applications that are submitted by the deadline are evaluated based on the multi-criteria. Incomplete, late or ineligible applicants will be notified of this status by a letter sent to the mailing address on the application. All qualified applicants are ranked by points earned, based on submitted documentation. If required documentation to support the points is not attached to the application, those points will not be added into the total points.
Incomplete/Ineligible applicants Incomplete One or more of the required items was missing from your application Required documentation was not attached to your application Current online orientation was not completed Ineligible Mandatory science courses were not completed Official transcripts from all colleges attended were not submitted to the Enrollment Center by the required due date Science classes were taken more than 5 years ago
Selection Process Students are selected based on points earned and documented. Then they are randomly selected for fall and spring semesters. If there are more students with the same point total than spaces in the program, random selection is used to determine who is admitted.
Accepted Students You will be notified of your acceptance into the program through an e-mail to the address on your application. There will be a timeframe in which you must accept your space in the program. If we do not hear from you in that timeframe, your space in the program will be offered to another applicant. After you accept your place, you will be e-mailed a link to a forms page, which will contain many items for you to complete. Again, the items must be submitted by the listed deadlines. There is mandatory orientation scheduled in either June/July for the fall semester and November/December for the spring semester students. Please plan your personal schedule accordingly.
Alternates A few students are offered this category If an accepted student does not accept the space, you will be offered a place in the program. You may be offered a space in fall or spring semester If you DO NOT want to be an alternate, please let us know. There is not a list and we cannot tell you if a space will open up for you. Each class is different. Sometimes we offer 20 alternates a space; some classes it is 5. When both classes are full, you will receive an e-mail telling you this and inviting you to apply to the program during the next application period.
Students who are not accepted You will receive a letter in the mail It will explain why you were not offered a space in the program: Ineligible Incomplete Students who do not accept status as an alternate Classes were filled with points higher than your score
POST TEST You must answer every question correctly to be able to print the orientation confirmation page. Click here to begin exam