TRANSITION FROM VOCATIONAL TO PROFESSIONAL NURSING

OPTIONS:

Definition of Terms regarding length of program:

Traditional = Fall, minimester Psych, Spring & Fall ..........OR .........Spring, Maymester Psych, Fall & Spring (16 months but no classes in summer)

Summer Fast Track = Summer, Fall, minimester Psych, Spring (12 months)

Expanded Traditional = Summer, Fall, minimester Psych, Spring, Fall (18 months - allows more time to work)

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Option 1:

TRADITIONAL GAINESVILLE CAMPUS TRANSITION CLASS (may be working as an LVN in a non-Hospital setting)

This option is the regular one and a half year Traditional Transition from Vocational to Professional Nursing Class which begins in Fall and Spring of each year.

TRADITIONAL PROGRAM

Students with prior vocational nursing experience and training may apply for admission to RNSG1227: Transition from Vocational to Professional Nursing.   Students will also take RNSG1300 Health Assessment Across the Lifespan, RNSG1262 Clinical Nursing for Transition Students, and RNSG2504 Integrated Care of the Client with Common Health Care Needs during their first semester. All students seeking admission to the transition course are expected to be competent in basic nursing skills.

Students should also understand that they must complete all academic courses required of other ADN students. Completing the majority of all non-nursing courses prior to entrance will be to the student's advantage for acceptance into the program.

After successful completion of this first semester, Transition students would then take the Minimester Psychiatric clinical and the Second Year courses as listed above. Traditional Transition students should be able to complete the program in one and a half years.

For Spring Admission:

Before August 1st, 2008 - Submit official transcripts to the Registrar's Office and fill out a form to request a Degree Audit. It may take up to 6 weeks or more to process the Degree Audit. The Degree Audit will be mailed to you when it has been completed.

September 15th - October 1, 2008 - Submit copies of the Degree Audit and unofficial copies of transcripts (including High School Transcript if Chemistry or BCIS Computers were completed in high school) to the Nursing Office at the Gainesville campus when you come in to fill out your Declaration of Intent Form between September 15 and October 1.

End of October, 2008 A pre-entrance exam will be scheduled end of October or early November. Scores on these exams will determine which qualified candidates will be admitted.

November 2008 Status letters will be mailed after results of the exams have been received and applications processed. Classes will begin in January.

Step Two: Turn in proof of current CPR certification, a completed Physical Exam form, immunizations, photo for ID, and proof of major medical insurance to the Associate Degree Nursing office by January 7th.

Testing for substance abuse and criminal background checks will be conducted. Documentation of current licensure as a vocational/practical nurse is required.

Admission Process: Transition students must follow the same admission process as beginning students. See Applying for the Next Class.

Note: You will need a computer with internet access and a printer (with paper and ink) for the Associate Degree Nursing program.

Option 2:

SUMMER FAST TRACK TRANSITION CLASS (must be working as an LVN in an acute care hospital setting)

*Courses marked with a single asterisk may be taken prior to the semester indicated but no later than the semester in which they are listed. All coursework must be completed with a “C” or better.  

Failure to successfully complete the Clinical Math Exams will result in a clinical failure and dismissal from the nursing program.  An External Exit Exam must be passed within two attempts in order to graduate from the program. Students must also complete a state mandated jurisprudence exam with a score of 75 in order to take the NCLEX - RN.

**Since there is a possibility that some courses may not transfer, be sure to have all transcripts sent to the Registrar's Office and request a Degree Audit.   (Example:  The NCTC Associate Degree Nursing Program does not accept SCIT1407 & SCIT1408 as equivalent courses for BIOL2401 & BIOL2402.)

Option 3:

EXPANDED TRADITIONAL GAINESVILLE CAMPUS CLASS (may be working in non-Hospital setting)

This tentative option begins in the summer but allows LVN's to work more hours during the Fall semester. Begin Summer 2009 and complete in December 2010. Prerequisite courses must have been completed prior to beginning the program. Students would take Transition lecture and Health Assessment in the Summer. Integrated Care of the Client with Common Health Care Needs would be taken in the Fall (on Mondays and Tuesdays) along with Microbiology, Developmental Psychology or Composition I, if needed. Transition Clinical will probably be scheduled during the Fall rather than in the summer as was done in 2008. Psychiatric Clinical would be completed during Christmas mini-mester. Then, follow Traditional Second and Third Long Semester curriculum in Spring and Fall, 2010.

PHASE ONE (EXPANDED TRACK Transition)    

Fill out an application to the college and follow all Phase One steps for college admission.

PHASE TWO (EXPANDED TRACK Transition)

Step One:

Before February 15th, 2009 - Submit official transcripts to the Registrar's Office and fill out a form to request a Degree Audit. It may take 6 weeks or more to process the Degree Audit.

March 1 - April 1, 2009 - Submit copies of the Degree Audit and unofficial copies of transcripts (including High School Transcript if Chemistry or BCIS Computers were completed in high school) to the Nursing Office at the Gainesville campus when you come in to fill out your Declaration of Intent Form to enroll in the Summer EXPANDED TRACK Transition course.

By April 8th, 2009 if possible - After all applications have been processed, letters will be mailed to those who have applied. Top applicants will be scheduled for testing.

April 2009 A pre-entrance exam (HESI) will be scheduled in April. Scores on this exam will determine which qualified candidates will be admitted.

• The HESI exam consists of English, Math, Reading, Vocabulary, and Anatomy and Physiology. A study guide is available in the NCTC Bookstore. (We will NOT be testing on the Chemistry or Biology portions of this exam.)

May, 2009 Status letters will be mailed after results of the exams have been received. Classes will begin in May or early June.

Step Two: Turn in proof of current CPR certification, a completed Physical Exam form, immunizations, photo for ID, and proof of major medical insurance to the Associate Degree Nursing office.

Testing for substance abuse and criminal background checks will be conducted.

Documentation of current licensure as a vocational/practical nurse is required.

Transition students must follow the same admission process as beginning students.