Revised June 2015 Frequently Asked Questins RN Prgram 1. What are the pre-requisites t the RN prgram? The applicant must meet the requirements listed belw befre admissin t the clinical nursing curses required in the RN Prgram. (Clinical nursing curses include: NUR 111, 115, 118, 221, 222, 247, 254 & NUR 135*) *NUR 135 may be taken prir t admissin t the RN Prgram with advisr s cnsent ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS (Interested students shuld cntact the nursing ffice fr academic advising) Be accepted as a student t the cllege. Please nte: Admissin t the cllege des nt guarantee admissin t the Nursing Prgram Graduatin frm high schl r satisfactry cmpletin f the GED. Cmplete the Cllege Placement test, if n prir cllege curse wrk in English & Math. If scres indicate, the applicant will be required t successfully cmplete develpmental curses in English and/r math befre submitting a nursing applicatin. Develpmental Math requirements include cmpetency in Mdules 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 Cmplete tw units f high schl science (cllege prep level bilgy & chemistry) with n grade belw a "C." Deficiencies can be made up thrugh apprved develpmental r cllege level curses. Deficiencies must be cmpleted befre submitting a nursing applicatin. A cumulative cllege grade pint average f 2.5 r better in all related general educatin requirements cmpleted befre admissin int the nursing prgram curses. After meeting the abve criteria, submit an Applicatin fr Nursing Prgram frm alng with required paperwrk, i.e. high schl transcripts, cllege transcripts, etc. during the published applicatin perid. Pre-RN Admissin Examinatin: The Health Educatin Systems, Inc. (HESI) test r equivalent is the final step in the admissin prcess. Once yu have met the abve criteria and yur applicatin file has been apprved, yu will be scheduled fr this timed test. Applicants must have satisfactry scres in reading cmprehensin, vcabulary, chemistry and mathematics. This scre is based n a minimum percentile established by the VCCS. Tp scres frm each testing grup are admitted t the nursing prgram. There is an ptinal HESI Pre-Admissin Exam Review Bk ISBN 9781455703333 available fr purchase n-line r n clsed reserve in the LRC. There is als infrmatin available n the HESI website: http://www.testprepreview.cm/hesia2.htm and a HESI app available fr dwnlad. 1 P a g e
APPLICATION PROCESS Applicatins t the nursing prgram are prcessed during the specified applicatin perid. There is an applicatin perid each Fall & Spring semester. Specific dates are advertised n the Nursing & Health Science page f the PHCC website http://www.patrickhenry.edu/healthcareers r frm the HOME page g t the Quick Links tab & scrll dwn t Health Careers. Click n the Nursing-RN tab. Applicants are respnsible fr making certain that all applicatin materials are n file in the nursing department. The materials needed are: 1. The cmpleted nursing applicatin. 2. Official high schl transcript r GED. 3. Official transcripts frm all clleges ther than PHCC. Transcript request frms are available in the Admissins Office. Students wh have attended ther schls within the Virginia Cmmunity Cllege System (VCCS) need t sign a permissin t evaluate frm in the Admissins Office. As sn as the applicatin and all supprting materials are received in the nursing ffice, during the published applicatin perid, the applicatin will be prcessed. Emails will be sent frm the nursing ffice t all applicants at the PHCC email address listed n their applicatin. Pre-admissin testing (HESI) will be ffered t thse students wh meet all pre-admissin requirements. (see page 1) Students wh meet criteria, meaning scre within the state regulatin (45 th percentile ranking) will be given pririty. NOTE: When admissin must be limited because f the number f qualified applicants exceeding available space, admissin t the prgram will be given t applicants wh scred at r abve the 45 th percentile ranking, and are als residents f the cllege service area f Martinsville, Henry, Patrick, and Franklin cunties. If seats are still available, applicants wh scred at r abve the 45 th percentile ranking, wh live utside f the cllege service area will be ffered admissin starting with the higher percentile ranking, until all seats are filled. Applicants wh are nt accepted will be eligible t reapply during the next applicatin perid, at which time applicants meeting admissin requirements will be allwed t repeat the admissin test (reading cmprehensin, vcabulary, chemistry, and mathematics). The mst recent scres will be used fr admissin cnsideratin. 2. What is the Cllege Placement test? Hw is that different frm the Nursing pre-admissin test? The Cllege Placement test is a placement test fr the cllege (English and math) & will need t be taken prir t enrlling in any PHCC class.* *If a student has been awarded previus cllege credit in English and Math, the placement test may nt be required. The Nursing Pre-Admissin Test (HESI) is dne ONLY after meeting the pre-requisites t the Nursing Prgram 3. D I have t repeat Algebra if I had it in high schl? If the Virginia Placement Test results indicate that cntent frm Algebra in high schl was nt retained the curse, r curses, depending n the placement test scres, will have t be repeated. 2 P a g e
4. Hw lng is the RN prgram? The RN prgram is 4 semesters in length r tw years. Cre Nursing Curses* must be taken in the sequence listed in the catalg. General Educatin Requirements may be taken as listed r be taken prir t starting the prgram. See Sample Schedule listed belw: FIRST YEAR First Semester BIO 231 Human Anatmy & Physilgy (4) NUR 135 Drug Dsage Calculatins (2) *NUR 111 Nursing I (7) PSY 230 Develpmental Psychlgy (3) SDV 108 Cllege Survival Skills (1) *SDV 101 Orientatin t Careers (1) C-requisite t NUR 111 Secnd Semester BIO 232 Human Anatmy & Physilgy (4) NUR 247* - Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (3) NUR 118* First Level Nursing II (8) Ttal Semester Hurs: 69 SOC 200 Principles f Scilgy (3) SECOND YEAR Third Semester ENG 111 Cllege Cmpsitin I (3) HLT 230 Principles f Nutritin & Human Develpment (3) NUR 221* - Secnd Level Nursing Principles & Cncepts I (9) CST 110 Intrductin t Cmmunicatin (3) Furth Semester ENG 112 Cllege Cmpsitin II (3) NUR 222* Secnd Level Nursing Principles & Cncepts II (10) NUR 254* Dimensins f Prfessinal Nursing (2) 5. What is the Nursing (HESI) Pre-Admissin test? The Health Educatin Systems, Inc. (HESI) is a cmputerized and timed pre-admissin test. Areas tested are: Vcabulary, Reading Cmprehensin, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Simple calculatrs and scratch paper are prvided during the prctred testing. Resurces fr review include, but are nt limited t, SAT/ACT Review guides, GED review bks, and ther resurces n-line. There is a bk available t help review fr the test, but as with any cmprehensive test, it is just a review. The ISBN # fr this bk is: 978-1455703333 and is available fr review in the PHCC Learning Resurce Center r can be purchased ff-campus. 6. Is there a waiting list fr the RN prgram? There is n waiting list. Students wh are nt accepted t the nursing prgram, may re-apply during the next published applicatin perid. 3 P a g e
7. Why is it imprtant t see an advisr if I am interested in the RN prgram? Admissin t the RN prgram requires specific pre-requisites befre a student can apply t the prgram An advisr can help the student make curse chices that will make the best use f his/her time Advising hurs & cntact infrmatin are psted n the Health Career page f the PHCC website. www.patrickhenry.edu/healthcareers Click the Advising tab. 8. Is there a separate applicatin fr the RN prgram? Yes, see abve infrmatin. 9. Hw d I transfer credits frm ther clleges? Official transcripts shuld be sent t the Office f Admissins and Recrds at the time f applicatin t PHCC. These transcripts will be evaluated by the Crdinatr fr Admissins & Recrds and credit will be awarded based n that evaluatin. If a student has attended anther cmmunity cllege in the state f Virginia there is a frm t be signed by the student giving the Crdinatr fr Admissins & Recrds permissin t evaluate the student s transcript. 10. Can credits frm anther schl f nursing be transferred? Nursing transfer credits will be evaluated n an individual basis by the Nursing Prgram Head & Faculty IF a student is in gd standing in their current nursing prgram and AFTER a student has met the nursing admissin requirements. Students will need t mark Transfer n their nursing applicatin and prvide cpies f fficial transcripts and cmpleted nursing curse syllabi. Admissin is n a space available basis. 11. What is my prgram f study befre I am accepted int the nursing prgram? If a student chses nursing as their prgram f study they will be placed in the Health Science Certificate prgram until being frmally accepted t the Assciate Degree nursing prgram. Once accepted, the nursing ffice will then ntify the Admissins ffice t make the curriculum change A student wh tests n level fr Math and English may als chse Assciate f Arts & Science/Science: Pre- BSN as their prgram f study. 12. What is the Science: Pre-BSN degree? This prgram f study, an Assciate degree, differs frm the Assciate Degree in Nursing by 37 credits. This degree prepares a student t attend a 4-year cllege/university. This degree is intended fr: Assciate Degree Nursing graduate cmpleters (RNs) wh plan t pursue a Bachelr f Science Degree in Nursing (RN - BSN) at a 4-year cllege/university (2 + 1 +1 plan) Students wh are planning t apply t an Assciate Degree Nursing prgram (1 + 2 + 1 plan) This degree is als intended fr: Students wh wish t transfer and apply t a traditinal Bachelr f Science Degree prgram* (2 + 2 plan) 13. What degree is awarded frm PHCC fr the RN prgram? Graduates earn an Assciate f Applied Science Degree: Health Technlgy/Nursing (A.A.S) 4 P a g e
14. Why is my high schl transcript s imprtant? Pre-requisites t the RN prgram include tw High Schl Sciences curses (Bilgy & Chemistry). The State Bard f Nursing requires that the cllege have an fficial high schl transcript r GED fr each RN candidate t verify high schl pre-requisites & high schl graduatin r GED. 15. What if I have a plice recrd will I be allwed t be admitted t the nursing prgram? Hw d I knw if I will be able t be emplyed as a RN when I finish the prgram? Nursing curses have a mandatry clinical cmpnent and certain clinical facilities will nt allw a student with certain types f cnvictins t participate in clinical in their facility. This will prhibit the student frm cmpleting the nursing prgram. Criminal Backgrund Checks are required by every student entering the prgram. It is the student s respnsibility t research licensing restrictins with the Virginia Department f Health Prfessins State Bard f Nursing; Phne Number (804)367-4515 Web Address: http://www.dhp.state.va.us/nursing/ Any student wh has a felny cnvictin is advised t cme t the Nursing Office, Philptt 123, t speak with the Nursing Prgram Head, Amy Webster. 16. What fees are invlved ther than tuitin? Financial Requirements: In additin t the usual cllege tuitin and fees, this prgram requires additinal expenses. Apprximate csts include: $230 Unifrms $100 Physical Examinatin $700/$1400 Nursing Bks $540 Kaplan/NCLEX review $138 AHA BCLS CPR certificatin (1 credit) $48 (minimum) Criminal Backgrund Check $38 (minimum) Drug Screen $390 Applicatin fr Licensure fees Graduatin Pin (cst depends n price f gld r silver Transprtatin t clinical agencies, seminars, etc., as required 17. Can I receive financial aid fr the prgram? Qualified students are eligible fr financial aid. Yu will need t cntact the Financial Aid Office lcated in Walker Rm 245. Phne number is: (276)656-0317 18. When d classes meet? Can I take evening nursing classes? Cre Nursing classes are taught during the day, with sme clinical hurs in the evening. Graduatin requirements may be taken during the evening r n-line, if ffered. 19. What is meant by NCLEX- RN? Wh pays fr that? Is there a preparatin class fr that? NCLEX-RN (Natinal Cuncil Licensure Examinatin Registered Nurse) is the state licensing examinatin t practice as a registered nurse. It is the student s respnsibility t pay fr the exam. NCLEX-RN review is included with the Kaplan testing fee. 5 P a g e
20. Will a student wh passes the NCLEX Examinatin t becme a RN have t be re-tested if they pursue a Bachelr s Degree in Nursing (BSN)? N, nce a student passes the NCLEX Examinatin they will nt have t be re-tested if they cntinue their educatin track f RN-BSN. 21. What are the NCLEX Examinatin rates as cmpared t ther schls in Virginia? The chart belw reflects NCLEX-RN pass rates fr the past 5 years. Pass rates are calculated based n the first testing attempt & reflect tw graduate grups/year. NCLEX-RN Pass Rates YEAR Natinal State PHCC 2014 81.78% 82.9% 78.05% 2013 83.04% 83.06% 84.38% 2012 90.34% 90.43% 92.11% 2011 89.32% 89.5% 86.96% 2010 89.91% 86.26% 77.78% 6 P a g e