Program Options

Day Program: Sequence of four clinical nursing courses that can be completed in four semesters over two academic years. A new day class is accepted each fall.

Night Program: Sequence of five clinical nursing courses that can be completed in five semesters over two and one-half years. A new night class is accepted in the fall of each odd year.

To be eligible for enrollment into the nursing programs, the student must meet the following prerequisites:

• All Learning Support courses based on college placement testing must be completed successfully.

Additional prerequisites for the night program include:

• Math 1530
• English 1010
• Psych 1030 and Psych 2130
• BIOL 2010 and BIOL 2020 or equivalent
• BIOL 1430 or equivalent
• BIOL 2230 or equivalent

If some of the prerequisites have not been completed at the time of class selection decisions following the application deadline, a conditional acceptance will be made. All prerequisites must be completed prior to enrollment in the first nursing course.

Academic Advising Information

As a pre-nursing student scheduling classes, take the following into consideration:

• Since all nursing program prerequisites must be met prior to enrollment in the first nursing courses, complete the prerequisites first.
• A minimum grade of “C” is required for all general education and nursing curriculum courses to graduate.
• Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology must have been taken within five years of enrollment in the first nursing course.
• PSYC 1030 (General Psychology) must be completed prior to PSYC 2130 (Lifespan Psychology), if taken prior to entering nursing.

Transfer Students

• Applicants seeking to transfer from an accredited nursing program should be aware that such requests are considered on an individual, space-available basis.
• Contact the nursing program office for more information.

Additional Requirements and Expectations

Schedule

• Day program students will register for seven credit hours for the first semester and a med-surg course and specialty course the last 3 semesters, each 10 credits, the last semester has an additional leadership course for 2 creadit hours four semesters in the program.
   
• Night program students enroll for a seven credit hour course first semester and a med-surg course and specialty course the next 4 semesters, each 8 credits, Each course includes both a class/theory and clinical practice component. Students can expect to have nursing class / clinicals scheduled four days each week in the day program and three evenings each week in the night program.

Computer Requirement

Because of the integration of computers in education, nursing students must have access to a computer with Internet service to meet program requirements. Students must access the eLearn course Web page at least 3-4 times each week for course updates, submit written assignments and monitor examination and other course grades.

Night Program: Since laptop computers are used as a part of the instructional methodology in night program classes, all night students must have a laptop computer for use in class.

CPR Certification Requirement

Following acceptance into a nursing program, students must provide proof of current American Heart Association CPR certification for health professionals. Certification must be maintained throughout enrollment in the nursing program. American Red Cross courses or the AHA basic community CPR course do not meet program requirements.

Health Verification

Once a student is accepted to the nursing program, students must provide evidence through a health verification form and all required tests, including a drug screen, that they are in good health and free from communicable diseases. The Hepatitis B vaccination series is required for all health career students. Seasonal flu shots are required by many affiliating agencies.

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen

Criminal Background checks and drug screenings are required for clinical practice by institutions used by the nursing program for clinical experiences associated with all nursing courses. Following acceptance into the nursing program, each student must undergo a criminal background check and drug screen in order to comply with policies of affiliating clinical practice agencies. It is the student’s responsibility to comply with instructions provided upon acceptance and provide the results from a designated vendor by a designated date. The background check and drug screen will be at the expense of the student. Students whose results do not meet agency standards will not be able to complete the clinical requirements of nursing courses. Additionally, a criminal background may preclude licensure or employment. Individuals with a question concerning this should schedule an appointment with the nursing program director.

General Expectations

Because the College seeks to provide, inasmuch as possible, a reasonably safe environment for its students and clients in the clinical practice setting, students enrolled in the Nursing program may be required during the course of the program to demonstrate their physical and/or emotional fitness to meet the essential requirements of the program. Such requirements may include freedom from communicable diseases, the ability to perform certain physical tasks and suitable emotional fitness.