Frequently Asked Questions RN Program

Transcription

1 Revised March 2013 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. 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 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 available fr purchase n-line r n clsed reserve in the LRC. 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 ( Click n Future Students then Academics & scrll dwn the Health Sciences Department. ) 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. 1 P a g e

2 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 applicatin perid, the applicatin will be prcessed. Letters will be sent t all applicants t the mailing address that is listed n the applicatin. Admissin testing will be ffered t thse students wh meet all pre-admissin requirements. 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 at 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. 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) 2 P a g e

3 NUR 254* Dimensins f Prfessinal Nursing (2) 3. 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 is dne ONLY after meeting the pre-requisites t the Nursing Prgram & applying during the published applicatin perid. 4. What is my prgram f study befre I am accepted int the nursing prgram? Students are in the Health Science Certificate prgram until frmally starting cre nursing classes. 5. Is there a waiting list? There is n waiting list. Students that are nt accepted t the nursing prgram, may re-apply during the next published applicatin perid. 6. 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 Nursing & Health Science page f the PHCC website 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. 8. What degree is awarded frm PHCC fr the RN prgram? Graduates earn an Assciate f Applied Science Degree: Health Technlgy/Nursing (A.A.S) 9. Is there a separate applicatin fr the RN prgram? Yes, see abve infrmatin. 10. 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. 11. 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 AFTER a 3 P a g e

4 student has met the admissin requirements. Students will need t mark Transfer n their nursing applicatin and prvide cpies f fficial transcripts and cmpleted nursing curse syllabi. 12. Is there a pre-admissin test? Can I study fr this test? Yes, there is a timed pre-admissin test. Resurces fr review include but are nt limited t SAT/ACT Review guides and GED review bks. 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: Areas tested are: Vcabulary, Reading Cmprehensin, Chemistry, and Mathematics. 13. 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) 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 a felny t participate in clinical in their facility. This will prhibit the student frm entering r cntinuing in 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) Web Address: Any student wh has a felny cnvictin is advised t cme t the Nursing Office, Philptt 109, 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/$1200 Nursing Bks $127 AHA BCLS CPR certificatin $50-$75 Criminal Backgrund Check $40-$50 Drug Screen $390 Applicatin fr Licensure fees Graduatin Pin (cst depends n price f gld r silver 4 P a g e

5 Transprtatin t clinical agencies, seminars, etc., as required 17. 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. 18. 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. Optinal NCLEX review curses are ffered independently frm the cllege. Students may pt t take a review class t prepare fr the NCLEX-RN examinatin. 19. 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. 20. 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 the previus semester enrllment. The past 2 graduating classes that have tested (Spring 2012 and Fall 2012) 100% f each class passed NCLEX-RN n their first attempt. 5 P a g e