PN Selective Admission Process

PN Selective Admission Process

APPLICATION DATES:
Sept 1, 2011 THROUGH April 1, 2012
(Selection November/December 15 and April/May 15)
*Minimum Requirements are subject to change each academic year.
**The Nursing Program reserves the right to make changes to the admission policies or process at any time.

 

PRACTICAL NURSING
The Practical Nursing curriculum provides individuals with the knowledge to function under the direction of a licensed professional in a variety of health care settings. To assist in assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of clients. Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which is required for practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Employment opportunities include a variety of health care settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, and physician’s offices.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS
The most qualified applicants who are residents of a community college district or participating in a cooperative agreement with Carl Sandburg College will be given preference for admission/ readmission. It is the nursing applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all requirements are met by the established deadlines. Nursing deadlines, guidelines, and policies apply equally to all students.

 

ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPEAR IN PERSON AT CARL SANDBURG COLLEGE FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH A NURSING ADVISOR. Be sure to make an appointment early in the process.
Steps 1-5 must be completed prior to making an appointment with a Nursing Advisor/Counselor.

 

Students must:

1. Complete a CSC General Admissions Application.
2. Complete College Compass test.
3. Request official high school or GED scores be mailed to the Admissions and Records Office. Official transcripts should be mailed from the institution (s) attended or be hand delivered in an envelope sealed by a representative of the school (s) attended.
4. Request official transcripts from all colleges or schools attended since high school mailed to the Admissions and Records Office.
5. Complete the ONLINE Nursing Application and Submit.
   *Students may apply for more than one option.  You must rank your selection by order of preference.  You may only apply for two (2) options.  When the selection committee meets and it has been determined that you have met the criteria for your preference in order of ranking; you will be notified by email of your conditional admission to that selection and be removed from the admission list of the other option you have applied for. Student's denied admission will be notified by mail. You will have 14 calendar days to pay the $50.00 intent to enter (seat) fee to the business office to hold your place in the program.
   **The $50.00 application fee is non-refundable and will be applied to a scholarship fund for nursing. The 50.00 intent to enter (seat) fee will be refunded/or applied to tuition if you enter a nursing program. (All fees are to be paid to the Business Office only – do not return with your application)
6. Make an appointment to meet with a Nursing Advisor.
   Step 7 & 8 must be completed prior to review for conditional admission.
   Students must:
7. Schedule and take the TEAS test (You may take the TEAS test before or after submitting your application)
8. Meet all conditional admission requirements.

 

*Note: Check with your counselor/advisor to determine if prerequisites are required prior to signing up for courses (i.e., Biology)

 

TEST OF ESSSENTIAL ACADEMIC SKILLS (TEAS)
You are required to complete this test. This test is designed to determine the academic readiness of applicants. Teas cannot be taken more than 2 times in the same period and must have been taken within the last five (5) years. However, when a nursing applicant has tested more than twice within the same period, only the first two attempts will be considered in the yearly application process. If the TEAS test changes (ie., from TEAS IV to V) then all applicants may be required to take the current TEAS test to be eligible for admission. A study guide for the TEAS test can be obtained from www.atitesting.com; as well as practice testing options. Please go to the ATI website for frequently asked questions.

 

ADMISSION
Students must submit and meet admission requirements before their applications will be considered for review; once the review is complete the student is admitted conditionally, placed on an alternate list, or denied admission. Full admission status is given after the student registers for and attends an Informational session and completes all program specific paperwork by the designated deadline. Information regarding registration for Informational sessions will be contained in the letter sent notifying students of their initial program admission status. Conditionally admitted students and those on the alternate list must attend the informational sessions in order to receive required forms for full admission. Students who do not register for and attend an Informational session will forfeit their conditional admission and the position will be offered to an alternate. If an applicant is not admitted to the program and wish to apply for a subsequent academic year they must complete a new application and meet all requirement that are current at that time. No application files are carried over allowing the evaluation process to start anew each year.

 

Alternate to the Nursing Program

Applications are not kept from year to year. We do have an alternate list from the completed applications for the specific term in the event additional spaces become available. If someone is put on the alternate list and no spaces become available, their application is withdrawn and the student will need to complete the application/ admission process again to be considered for the next admission.

 

NURSING SELECTION PROCESS
The point system was implemented as an objective means for evaluating nursing applicants (see Point Count Worksheet)

 

Total point
Percentage points from the Teas test will be added to points from selected grades earned and documentation on Illinois Health Care Worker Registry completed prior to application deadline for a total point count. Those with the highest point total will be selected for admission first.
*See point count worksheet for details.

 

Points for Teas Test
Scores in all four (4) areas of the Teas test—English, Science, Math, Reading, and Adjusted Individual Score are used in calculating the total number of points in this section.

 

Points for Grades Earned
Selective courses required prior to or during the program as outlined in the college catalog with a “C” or better. Points apply if taken prior to the application deadline.

 

Points for Registry
Points will be awarded for documentation showing the student is in Good Standing on the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry as a CNA prior to application deadline.

 

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE
Accepted students and alternates will be notified of their admission status by Email (make sure you put a valid email address on your application). As space becomes available, students on the alternate list will receive a conditional admission Email. Letters of non-acceptance will be sent to those who were not accepted into a nursing program by mail. Forty (40) students may be conditionally admitted to the Day section of the Practical Nursing Program; 20 to the Evening section each Fall semester. Students will be assigned to a lab section and clinical section at the beginning of the semester. Day, evening and weekend hours for clinical may be required. Alternates are admitted to the program only if someone who was originally accepted declines the offer of admission, if someone who was originally accepted becomes disqualified, or seats are available after the 1st and 2nd selection. At which time students will be evaluated individually for selection into the programs. Students admitted and any alternates will be given a packet of information to complete for full admission at the informational session only. This will include specific instructions on when to complete the forms.

 

Medical Records
All completed health/medical reports, including immunizations, must be received by the specified date noted at informational session. Physicals are good for three (3) years unless otherwise noted.

 

Drug Screen
A ten (10) panel urine drug screen is mandatory. Testing positive on the drug screening, or evidence of tampering with a specimen, will disqualify a student from participation from clinical assignment, thus result in dismissal from the program. Information on obtaining a drug screen will be provided at the Informational Sessions.

 

CPR
Students must submit documentation of current CPR certification. Certification must be a two-year certification good for the entire year you are in the program at the Health Care Provider Level.

 

TB Test
Documentation of two (2) step test . Must be renewed yearly prior to the start of program. Allow time for 1st test to be read and 2nd test to be given

 

Criminal Background Check
Clinical sites require a criminal background check prior to allowing students into the clinical setting.
Information to complete the criminal background check will be given during the Informational sessions only.
*Findings on the criminal background check, health evaluation and/or drug screening may void the
conditional admission and prevent entrance into the program.

 

Photo ID
All nursing student are required to have a photo ID before they can attend the nursing skills laboratory or clinical practicum (this is in addition to your College ID) Photo ID’s are completed after the student has received notice of admission to the program and prior to the start of the semester. Anytime a student is in the nursing skills lab or clinical agency they must have their student photo ID on them and visible to others.

 

Transfer Students
Transfer students who have been enrolled in an approved Illinois Nursing Program will be considered for admission to the program for Fall semester only after meeting all admission requirements. LPN to AD Student Articulation LPN students wishing admission to the 2nd year of the ADN program must be graduates of an Illinois Approved Program within the last 7 years with a current unrestricted LPN license with the State of Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Students must meet all admission requirements for the ADN program.  Student graduates of more than 7 years will be considered for admission after a personal conference with the Associate Dean of Nursing.

 

Re-Admissions
Students who have dropped/failed the program may apply for re-admission. Re-admission will be based on number of seats available at the time. Students will need to contact an Advisor or the Associate Dean of Nursing for current requirements for re-admission to the program. Students must apply for re-admission within one (1) year of leaving the program. After one (1) year the student must complete the entire admissions process again.

• Any student who withdraws, or fails the course must complete an Exit Interview form with the Associate Dean of Nursing in order to be considered for re-admission to the program. This must be done by the end of the semester in which failure or withdrawal occurred or within 6 weeks if the student exited at the end of the term.
• Any student who withdraws or who is dropped from the Program must reapply for admission for the appropriate semester during the regular application filing dates and comply with the current admission criteria for admission to the program.
• A student is allowed one readmission only.
• The most qualified applicants will be readmitted first.
• Students who were dismissed or permitted to voluntarily withdraw from this or any other program for reasons related to professional conduct and/or patient safety are not automatically eligible for readmission/transfer consideration. Applicants will be reviewed on an individual basis and admission must be approved by a majority vote of the Nursing Admission and Retention Committee.

 

Any determination by the Nursing program on an application for readmission to the Nursing Program is final and not subject to the College’s appeal procedures.

 

Progression Policy
NUA 100 and all BIO and NUP courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better by the end of the scheduled semester in order to progress in the program. All lab and clinical sections must be completed with a “Satisfactory” by the end of the scheduled semester in order to progress in the program. Student must complete all program requirements and all program courses with a “C” or better to meet requirements for graduation and completion of the program.

 

PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE EXPECTATIONS
Nursing is a practice discipline with cognitive, sensory, affective, and psychomotor performance requirements at all levels of nursing. For purposes of the nursing program compliance with the 1990 Americans with Disability Act, a qualified individual with a disability is one who, with or without reasonable accommodation or modification, meets the essential eligibility requirements for participation in the nursing programs. If a student believes that he or she cannot meet nursing program requirements without accommodations or modifications, the nursing faculty will determine on an individual basis, whether or not the necessary accommodations or modifications can be reasonably made.

 

DISQUALIFYING FACTORS
Students may be denied admission to or continuation in the nursing programs for any of the following reasons: (non-inclusive)
A. Physical or emotional health, which indicates impairment in ability to provide safe nursing care to the public.
B. Conduct not in accordance with the standards of a practical nurse.

1. Giving false information or withholding material information
2. Convicted or pleaded guilty to any crime which indicated that the individual is unfit or incompetent to practice nursing.
3. Has used any drug to a degree that interferes with his or her fitness to practice safe nursing.
4. Has engaged in conduct which endangers the public health

 

LEGAL LIMITATIONS OF LICENSURE
Students who enroll in the Practical Nursing program should be aware that the application for licensure at the completion of the program may be denied, or be restricted by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation: Illinois Board of Nursing.

 

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION: NURSE PRACTICE ACT
http://www.idfpr.com/dpr/WHO/nurs.asp : Nursing Act/Rules
Section 1300.100 Refusal to Issue a Nurse License Based on Criminal History Record
Section 1300.90 Unethical or Unprofessional Conduct
Section 1300.120 Impaired Nurse

 

PROGRAM INFORMATION CONTACTS:
If you have questions or concerns regarding the selective admission process, please contact :

 

ADVISORS/COUNSELORS
Galesburg: Phil Jennings pjennings@sandburg.edu or 309-341-5483
Megan Jones mjones@sandburg.edu or 309-341-5229
Carthage: Ellen Henderson-Gasser ehenderson@sandburg.edu or 217-357-3129 ext. 7247

 

College of Nursing Administrative Assistant
LaDonna Green lgreen@sandburg.edu or 309-341-5299

 

Associate Dean of Nursing
Rosemary O’Daniel rodaniel@sandburg.edu or 309-341-5456

 

7/1/2011 Rev. 7/21/11;8/21/12