Deadline to apply for the Spring 2012 class has now passed.  Please check back in November for updates to this web site.  Fall 2012 application period is May 1 – June 1. 

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Notes for applicants who applied for the Spring 2012 class. 

Status letters have been mailed to those who took the pre-admission exam for the Associate Degree Nursing Program.  Acceptance letters were mailed to generic students with 70% or more on the exam and to transition students with 73% with an 81% critical thinking score if they were clear in the Registrar's Office.  Letters cannot be mailed if there is a hold in the Registrar's Office. This semester there were quite a few holds - most of them due to the new Meningitis requirement.  If you do not receive your letter by Friday, November 11, check Campus Connect Demographics to see if you are eligible to enroll.  Get the hold taken care of and then as soon as you are clear, contact the nursing office at (940) 668-4264 or email egilpin@nctc.edu to let us know so that we can mail the letter.  Read the letter and information enclosed carefully.  There are quite a few things to be completed before the semester begins.

Students under the age of 30

The 82nd Texas Legislalture approved Senate Bill 1107, which requires all new North Central Texas College students under the age of 30 to submit evidence of being immunized against meningococcal meningitis.  If you will be a new NCTC student in the Spring 2012 and you are under 30 years old, you will need to submit a copy of your proof of meningitis vaccination to the Registrar's Office and if being accepted into the nursing program, you will also need to submit a copy to the nursing office as quickly as possible.  We will not be able to register you for classes until 10 days after the vaccination so get it done now and submit it immediately.  See the note on the college main page regarding further information about this requirement.

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SPRING 2012 ADMISSION INFORMATION

Applying for the Spring Class

If you will have completed Anatomy & Physiology I & II no later than Summer 2011 and Chemistry, Computer Literacy, and Elementary Statistics or College Algebra no later than Fall 2011 (all coursework must be completed with a "C" or better), you may apply for admission to the Spring 2012 class.    Courses taken during the fall semester will not be counted in the priority points. Completing Microbiology prior to the Spring semester is highly recommended.  (NCTC does not have a time limit on any of the required non-nursing courses except that Computers should have been completed after 1990.)   The GPA is figured on courses required for the nursing program - not the GPA listed on the Degree Audit. (Note: High School Chemistry and/or Computers will not show up on the degree audit. Just bring copies of your high school transcript with you when you come in to fill out the Associate Degree Nursing Application.)

Immunizations: 

The Hepatitis B vaccination series is administered over a 6 month time period.  The series of 3 vaccines requires that the first dose be given, then one month later the second dose is to be given.  The third dose is administered 6 months after the first dose.  The third dose must be completed prior to beginning the Fall Semester.  The first dose must be obtained no later than July 6th for Spring admission (February 15th for Fall admission) in order to have the series completed prior to beginning the program.  If you were planning to apply but did not have the first dose prior to the above dates, you will not be eligible to apply for the next class.  Check with your physician, pharmacist, or other health care facilities to obtain the series.  Hepatitis A is strongly recommended. If you have not yet had Hepatitis B, you may want to take the combination Hepatitis A & B at the same time as Hepatitis A may be required in the future.

If you have previously had varicella (chicken pox), a positive IgG serologic confirmation from a physician is required. If you have never had chicken pox, you will need two doses of varicella vaccine at least 6 weeks apart. Start on this now so that it will be complete prior to entering the program.

Most clinical sites now require serologic confirmation for immunizations so go that route rather than repeating vaccines (for MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B) if you cannot find records. Be sure to keep copies of all immunization records in a safe place as you will need them throughout your nursing career.

Note: Students have recommended the following places for some inexpensive places to try fpr physicals and titers:

Physicals: Primary Care Clinic North Texas, 570 S Edmonds Ln, Ste 111, Lewisville TX 75067 Approximately $30.

Varicella Titer: Tarrant County Public Health, Bedford-Northeast, 813 Brown Trail, Ste. 6, Bedford, TX 76022 (817) 285-4155. Must be there at 8:00am or 2:00pm. Call and listen to the message. Approximately $40.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS

(A social security number is required in order to process the criminal background check.) For eligibility to participate in clinicals, criminal background checks will be conducted. The instructions for this background check will be included in the acceptance letter. The following histories will disqualify an individual from consideration for clinical rotations:

• Felony convictions.
• Misdemeanor convictions or felony deferred adjudications involving crimes against persons (physical or sexual abuse)
• Misdemeanor convictions related to moral turpitude (prostitution, public lewdness/exposure, theft under $1500, computer crimes of fraud, etc.)
• Felony deferred adjudications for the sale, possession, distribution, or transfer of narcotics or controlled substances
• Registered sex offenders
• OIG, GSA and Medicaid Sanctions
• Terrorist Suspect List
• Pending charges and warrants for arrest

If a clinical facility does not allow a student in their facility due to convictions, the student would not be able to continue in the nursing program.

Students with offenses: If a prospective student has ever had any kind of criminal offense (other than Class C misdemeanor traffic violations), it must also be reported to the Texas Board of Nursing. The student must get clearance from the Board before applying to the nursing program. Go to the Board of Nursing web site for additional information: www.bon.state.tx.us Click on Download Other Paper Applications and Forms. Under Candidates for Licensure, click on Declaratory Order Form. Read through all of the information listed and proceed with submitting forms as required. Do not apply to the program unless you have received a letter from the Board regarding the Declaratory Order stating that you are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN Exam. Keep this letter in a safe place for future reference.

Prior to August 25th, 2011:

If not enrolled at NCTC, fill out an Application to the College and submit it to the Registrar’s Office.  Note:  Granting of admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the Nursing Program.  (International students must see the International Advisor in the Gainesville Registrar's Office several months in advance to insure all paperwork is complete for acceptance into the college.) The Degree Audit will not be processed unless an application to the college is on file.

Have all official transcripts from other colleges sent to the Registrar’s Office and fill out a request for a Degree Audit preferably prior to August 25th.  (If currently enrolled at NCTC, you may request the Degree Audit earlier) This form may be filled out in the Registrar's Office at any of the NCTC campuses or click on the link below and print the form from the college's web site

North Central Texas College

(Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the words "degree audit" (in blue letters.) This is the form. Print it off and submit it to the Registrar's Office.)  The Degree Audit may take 6 - 8 weeks or more to process if transfer courses are involved so complete this step 2 months prior to applying to have it back before the application deadline. Degree Audits are processed on a first come, first served basis.   If you have previously requested a Degree Audit containing courses from other colleges and then took additional classes at NCTC, you may print an updated Degree Audit by accessing Campus Connect. You should be able to pull it up through MyNCTC.  (If you have not already filled out the degree audit, do so as quickly as possible so that it gets put in the stack to process and bring official copies of your transcripts with you when you come in to apply. Then, when you get the degree audit back, contact the nursing office to let us know that it is complete and we can pull up a copy and compare it to make sure that everything came across as expected.)

(Figure your priority points. Only applicants with 9 or more points should apply. For instructions on how to figure priority points, click on BACK and then on the link "Other Information" for instructions and samples.)

Applying for the Program – September 15 to October 1st, 2011

(These are standard dates each year. This year, October 1st falls on Saturday so the last date to apply will be September 30th.)

Bring a copy of your Degree Audit with all of your transcripts with you when you come to fill out the Associate Degree Nursing Application at the Gainesville Nursing Office (Room 202) between September 15th - September 30 for Spring Admission (May 1st - June 1st for Fall admission.) The nursing office does not have access to your transcripts in the Registrar's Office from other colleges; therefore, you will need to bring copies for your nursing file (including High School transcript if using High School Chemistry or High School BCIS Computer course - High School Chemistry and High School BCIS must be one full year with a "C" or better).  You will not need an appointment to fill out your Nursing Application.  The nursing office is open Monday through Thursday 8:00am - 4:30pm and Friday 8:00am - 3:00pm.  It will only take about 15 minutes to fill out the form while you are at the college.  We will attach your transcripts and degree audit to the form. 

Processing of Applications – October 1st - October 17th, 2011

Between October 1st and October 17th, all applications will be processed and ranked according to Priority Point Scores and Grade Point Average.  Points and GPA’s required to be allowed to test may vary semester to semester depending on the number of applicants and how their points fall. (Priority Point cut-off to test for Fall 2010, Spring 2011 and Fall 2011 fell at a minimum of 10 priority points for generic students. Priority Point Scores are figured as of October 1st.   If you are taking any non-nursing courses in the fall, those courses will not be figured in your Priority Point Score.

All applicants will be notified by mail of their status. Letters are expected to be mailed by October 17th.  Please wait patiently for your letter.  If the web site has posted that letters have gone out but you have not received your letter by October 22nd, please contact the nursing office immediately. Top applicants will receive a letter stating when they are scheduled to take the pre-nursing entrance test.   (There were 84 Fall 2011 Generic Applicants with the top 66 scheduled to test with 10 or more points. There were 24 Transition applicants. Twenty-one were sent letters to test for Fall 2011. Spring 2011 had 88 generic applicants with 57 (with 10 or more points) scheduled to test and 19 transition applicants with 16 scheduled to test.)

Pre-nursing Entrance Test  - (end of October)

The pre-nursing entrance test for Spring Admissions will be administered end of October. If scheduled to test, your status letter will give you detailed information including the date and time you are to take the Kaplan Exam.

The Kaplan Admisssion Exam is a 91-question multiple-choice test which evaluates basic reading, math, writing, and science skills.

The Reading section (22 questions in 45 minutes) includes Reading passages for Comprehension, Extraction of Main Idea, Reading for Details, Vocabulary in Context, Inference.

The Math section (28 questions in 45 minutes) tests Ratios and Proportions, Fractions and Decimals, the 4 Mathematical Functions, Word Problems. Focus is math skills required for Dosage and Calculation.

The Writing section (21 questions in 45 minutes) includes Writing mechanics such as: Error Correction within the Context of the Sentence; Syntax; Word or Punctuation Misuse; and Logical development of passages.

The Science section (20 Questions in 30 minutes) tests students' knowledge of Physiology systems. Kaplan said to focus on these systems: Cardiovascular system, electrolytes, gastrointestinal system, immune system, neurology, renal system, hematological system, homeostasis, respiratory system, sensory system. Study these sections in your A&P book.

A Kaplan study guide is available in the NCTC bookstore. It was created for students looking at a variety of potential programs, however, students who used it to prepare felt it was not very helpful except that the math portion in the study guide more than prepared them for that portion of the exam. There are also reading comprehension practice questions in the Kaplan book. Students have suggested using the Little, Brown Handbook often used in English classes to help prepare for the Writing portion of the exam.

Hint: You do not want to leave a question blank while taking the test. Mark your best guess and move on if you are stuck on a question. The computer may not allow you to go back to a previous question.

Students will not be able to use test scores from exams taken previously at NCTC or other schools but will need to take the exam at the scheduled time.

Acceptance Into the Program - by November 21

Generally, the Associate Degree Nursing Program accepts 36 students in the Generic program and 12 in the Transition from Vocational to Professional Nursing at the Gainesville campus.

The Nursing Office will receive the KAPLAN test results and process all applicants who tested.  Letters are usually mailed by November 21st, if there are no unforeseen problems.     We appreciate your waiting patiently for your letters rather than calling and wanting your results as every interruption delays getting the results to you.  You will receive a letter as soon as possible. The cut-off score for the Generic students fell at 73% with an 69% on the Critical Thinking Score for the Fall 2011 class. The cut-off score for the Fall 2011 Transition class fell at 70%. Cut-off scores for the Spring 2011 generic students fell in the 71% range while the Transition cut-off fell at 69%. Watch the top of this site following the exam. We will try to post the cut-off scores as soon as we have them.)

Everyone who tested will receive a status letter. Applicants with the highest test scores will receive acceptance letters.   Several applicants will be placed on an Alternate List so that slots can be filled as openings occur.  Alternates will receive complete packets so that they will have everything they need if a space becomes available for them.  In Fall 2010, all 36 accepted generic applicants showed up for class. Eleven of the twelve original transition applicants enrolled so one alternate was admitted. Three alternates were admitted to the Spring 2011 Generic class and one transition student did not take their spot.

Acceptance letters will provide information regarding Orientation, CPR, Nursing Student Association, Physical Exam form, Degree Plan, Criminal Background Check instructions and an order form for your nursing kit.  The kit needs to be ordered as quickly as possible after receiving the acceptance letter in order to prevent the $10 late charge. 

Fall nursing classes will begin Tuesday, January 17th. Orientation is scheduled for Tuesday, January 10th. You will need to be here for orientation so do not plan out of area trips that include that day.

Good luck and we look forward to seeing you in our Associate Degree Nursing program. 

Students are not able to choose their schedules while in the nursing program. All students are assigned to classes and clinicals throughout the program. There are many factors involved, particularly in first semester, in the nursing department's decision of assigning sections. We have to take into consideration how sections fit together to accomodate all of the different labs, clinicals, transition student schedules since they also take some of the same classes, if Microbiology must be taken along with nursing, distance driven, etc. It is not possible to work around students' work or personal schedules. Students need to be flexible and be able to make arrangements to fit around college classes. Changes to clinical sites and times may need to be made even at the last minute due to problems that come up with clinical sites. There will be times when schedules are different from the norm, especially the first week or two of each semester when we have orientations to the hospitals. After the first semester, all students in the same level will be in the same lecture course. For clinicals, we try to take into consideration where students live. We try not to schedule a student from Ardmore, for instance, to a clinical in Carrollton or a student from Dallas to Gainesville if there are other sites available for that particular semester. (First semester, all generic students are tentatively scheduled to come to Gainesville for clinical. Transition clinical is still to be decided.) Your acceptance letter will list your particular schedule. This is the one you should go by. Faculty will be able to keep you informed of other changes through ANGEL once the semester begins (or just before the semester begins). Students will be required to go to the facility to pick patients and complete the prep work the day prior to the scheduled clinical day. Generic students who need to take Microbiology along with the first semester should enroll in the Tuesday afternoon or evening section or the hybrid on-line section with the Thursday lab if available. Transition students will have full days on Mondays and Tuesdays. Clinical days still to be determined. (You will need to pick patients and work up care plans the day prior to clinical.)

New Student Check List

(start gathering some of these items ahead of time - important and recent changes are listed in red)

If accepted, please be sure the following have been completed:

• Application to the college and official transcripts are on file in the Registrar's Office (including updated transcripts containing courses just completed).  Be sure major is listed as Nursing. (International students must see the International Advisor in the Gainesville Registrar's Office several months in advance to insure all paperwork is complete for acceptance into the college.)
• Copies of all transcripts (including updated transcripts containing courses just completed) have been turned in to the Nursing Office.
• Order Nursing Kit.  Form and instructions will be included in acceptance letter.  This kit contains items you will need when being checked off in the nursing lab such as gloves, syringes, catheters, IV tubing, bandaging material, etc. It does not include your stethoscope or bandage scissors.   
• Criminal Background check. There will be instructions included in the acceptance package for your Criminal Background Check. Follow these instructions carefully. Hospitals may not allow students to participate in clinicals at their facilities due to results of background checks. If a student is not able to attend clinicals, the student will be dismissed from the program. See information listed above regarding background checks.
• Personal Major-Medical Health and/or Accident Insurance.   A copy of the face sheet or insurance card must be submitted upon acceptance into the program.    If you do not have insurance, the college does have an inexpensive accident policy for students which will meet the requirements.   The nursing office will have copies of the policy and order form.   If you order the school policy on-line, print a receipt for the nursing office. The accident policy may be obtained at www.k12StudentInsurance.com Minimum requirement is the At-School Accident (Students & Employees) Without Extended Dental. It must be renewed prior to each Fall semester. On-line information for more optional insurance coverage may be obtained at http://www.nationalinsurancestore.com/student-insurance.
• CPR (must be American Heart Association Health Care Provider) certification.  The Student Nurse Association will offer a course for new students on the same day as the Nursing Orientation (the week before school begins).  Information will be included in the acceptance letter.  If accepted or on the alternate list, fill out the form included in the packet and submit it to the nursing office to reserve a slot for this class.  Do not take the on-line CPR class or the American Red Cross course as they are not accepted by the hospitals. If you have previously received a CPR card, the nursing office will need a copy of both the front and the back.

• A physical examination.   Form included in acceptance letter.   Have the facility providing the immunizations write in any immunizations you receive directly on the physical exam form. Attach a COPY of any records of immunization that you have received prior to receiving the physical exam form. Make copies of all immunization records and the physical exam form. You will submit the ORIGINAL physical exam form and a COPY of other records to the nursing office. The Physical exam form link is listed below if you wish to print it off and start collecting your immunizations on it. (The facility that completes the immunization or titer fills this part out - not the student.) Wait with having the physical exam side of the form completed until after you have been accepted.
  Physical Examination Form new

• Proof of TB test within one year or chest x-ray within 2 years. (Try to schedule the TB between semesters rather than during a semester as it is only good for one year. If it is due to expire at some time during a semester of nursing, it will need to be re-done prior to that semester.)

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR):   (including 2 doses of measles vaccine or serologic confirmation of measles immunity.)

• Tetanus-diphtheria toxoid (Td) within 10 years.

• Hepatitis B vaccine series - This series of 3 doses is administered over a six month period.  First dose must have been acquired by February 15 (July 6th for Spring admission) in order for the series to be complete prior to beginning the program. 

• Varicella (chicken pox). 

  If you have had varicella (chicken pox) as a child, a positive IgG serologic confirmation from a physician is required. If you have never had chicken pox, you will need two doses of varicella vaccine at least 6 weeks apart. Start on this now so that it will be complete prior to entering the program.

• Photo for file - Submit a clear, fairly recent photograph with name on the back.  If there is more than one person in the photo, be sure to mark which one is you.  (No hats or obstructions next to your face, please.)
• Signed Degree Plan - Two copies of your degree plan will be included in your acceptance letter.  You will sign the white copy and return it to the nursing office. 
• Turn in all paperwork to the nursing office at least 5 days prior to the first class day. (Transition students should turn in all paperwork at least 3 weeks in advance as they will begin clinicals immediately at the beginning of the semester.) The original copy of the physical form and a copy of your immunization information must be submitted to the nursing secretary.        
  Note:      Please place all of your immunizations, insurance card, CPR card, etc. on a copier or scanner and copy everything on as few sheets of paper (front and back, sideways, if necessary), as possible.   A copier is available for student use in the library.   Keep the originals of all of your immunizations and your copy of the physical form in a safe place.   You will need them again later.   Turn in everything at once, if possible, rather than a piece at a time.
• Attend the nursing orientation as listed on the flyer in the acceptance letter. Read both sides of the flyer.  If an emergency arises and you do not attend orientation, we will make an effort to contact you to determine a legitimate reason for your absence and if it is determined that you are no longer interested in the program, your slot will be filled with the next alternate. You will receive information regarding uniforms at this meeting.  (Note: Lab jackets should be fingertip or mid-thigh length - not too short but not below the knee as they get in the way.)
• Beginning reading assignments are usually posted about 2-3 weeks prior to the beginning of the semester for all levels of nursing under Current Students link on the main Nursing Web Page. (Usually ANGEL is closed out after each semester and does not come back up until just a couple of days before the semester begins so we post it on the nursing web site so that it is accessible to all students.) If you do not yet have all of your syllabi but you have textbooks, you will still be able to get a head start on reading. 

Other Items   

•  Malpractice insurance of $12.00 for Spring Admission (added to your tuition and fees bill).   (Renewable in the Fall of each year  - $18.00)

•  A Drug Screen will also be conducted ($39 fee added to your tuition and fees bill).

The nursing office will take care of making arrangements for these items.  You do not have to do anything at this time.

•  Testing Package fees will be added to your tuition and fees bills. These include Integrated Testing with Remediation, exit exams, practice tests, case studies and an NCLEX-RN Review Course. Total cost of the Kaplan package is $450 and a portion of this fee will be paid each semester.

APPROXIMATE COSTS

Required textbooks for the first semester appear to be approximately $1200?? at the Gainesville NCTC Bookstore.   Most of these books will be used throughout the nursing program with only a few additions in other semesters.    It is best to not buy optional textbooks until you speak with an instructor or you are certain that you really want them. 

• Estimated cost for first nursing semester (including tuition, fees, nursing books, uniforms, physical, immunizations, CPR, background checks, nursing kit, testing package, etc.) should be between $3500-$4200. 
• 2nd Semester - Approximately $1250 - $2075.
• Mini-mester Psych - Approximately $100 - $150 (tuition, fees)
• 3rd Semester - Approximately $1125 - $2300.
• 4th Semester - Approximately $1375 - $1925.

This is an approximate cost from the time you are admitted to nursing. The first number is the approximate cost for nursing and the second number includes tuition and fees for co-requisite non-nursing courses. In addition, prerequisite courses may cost up to approximately $2500 for tuition and books, depending on the number of courses that have not been previously completed.

Dislocated Workers and those with Low Income:

Check out the Workforce Solutions website for your area. They may be able to provide some

financial assistance while attending college. For those in Cooke, Fannin or Grayson counties, the web site is www.workforcesolutionstexoma.com

For those who live in other counties, do an internet search for Workforce Solutions and the name of the county in which you live.

NOTE: You will need a computer with internet access and a printer with ink and computer paper while you are in the nursing program.

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