TRANSITION FROM

VOCATIONAL TO PROFESSIONAL NURSING

(FOR APPLICANTS WHO ARE ALREADY LVN'S)

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OPTION 1: TRADITIONAL PROGRAM

(Begins Fall & Spring of each year)

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 (Fall Admission dates in parentheses):

Preferably Before July 15th for Spring Admission (March 15th, 2012 for Fall 2012 Admission ) - 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 1st for Spring Admission (May 1 - June 1, 2012 for Fall Admission) - Submit copies of the Degree Audit and official copies of transcripts (including High School Transcript if Chemistry and/or BCIS Computers were completed in high school) to the Nursing Office at the Gainesville campus when you come in to fill out your Associate Degree Nursing Application between September 15 and October 1 for Spring Admission (May 1 - June 1 for Fall class)

End of October for Spring Admission (End of June for Fall Admission) A pre-entrance exam (Kaplan study guide available in the Gainesville Bookstore) will be scheduled end of October for Spring Admission (end of Junefor Fall Admission). Scores on these exams will determine which qualified candidates will be admitted.

November for Spring Admission (July for Fall Admission) Status letters will be mailed after results of the exams have been received and applications processed. Classes will begin in January (August for Fall Admission)

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 at least 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the semester.

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.

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(Latest information and important information listed in red)

Option 2: HYBRID ON-LINE TRANSITION

Apply for On-Line Transition between March 1 - April 1, 2012.

(Begins Summer only)

Summer Class Begins June 2012 - ends December 2013. For students living within 75 miles of the Gainesville campus. Most of the presentation of content for this program will be on-line; however, it will require several days where you will come to the Gainesville campus for testing, orientation, assessment check-offs or presentations. Course syllabi distributed at the beginning of each semester should delineate the days you will need to be available for classes. Clinicals are not on-line courses and will be in the North Central Texas area. The Fall 2012 will include one day per week of clinical and Spring 2013 and Fall 2013 will require 16 hours of clinical per week.) We are not able to be specific about which days you will be in clinical or have to come to campus as those will vary semester to semester depending on instructors and clinical facility availability. This is a full-time program and students must be willing to re-arrange their schedules to fit around nursing schedules. It is not possible for the college to make arrangements around students' work or child-care situations. Work hours should be decreased in order to spend a sufficient amount of time studying for this program.

*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. It is strongly recommended that Microbiology be completed prior to entering the program. 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. Students must 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.)

This option begins in the summer but allows LVN's to work more hours during the Fall semester. Begin Summer 2012 and complete in December 2013. 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 and Transition Clinical would be taken in the Fall along with Microbiology, Developmental Psychology and/or Composition I, if still needed. Psychiatric Clinical would likely be completed during Christmas mini-mester. Then, follow Traditional Second and Third Long Semester curriculum in Spring and Fall, 2013.

PHASE ONE (ON-LINE Transition)

Fill out an application to the college and follow all Phase One steps for college admission. Go BACK to the link Nursing Information for step-by step process.

PHASE TWO (ON-LINE Transition)

Step One:

1. Submit official transcripts to the Registrar's Office and fill out a form to request a Degree Audit. The form may be found at

http://www.nctc.edu/Student_Services/Admissions_registrar/degree_audit.html

Scroll down to the words degree audit in blue

Print it off, complete it and submit it to the Registrar's Office preferably by February 1, 2012. It may take 6 weeks or more to process the Degree Audit.

2. Submit copies of the Degree Audit and official copies of transcripts (including High School Transcript if Chemistry and/or BCIS Computers were completed in high school) to the Nursing Office (Room NRT202) at the Gainesville campus when you come in to fill out your ADN Application to enroll in the Summer ON-LINE Transition course March 1 - April 1, 2012. (The college will be closed during Spring Break.) If the degree audit is not yet complete, bring official transcripts with you when you come in to fill out the ADN Application Form and then call and let us know when you receive your Degree Audit in the mail so that we can print off a copy. Nursing Office hours are Monday through Thursday 8:00am - 4:30pm and Fridays 8:00 - 3:00. It will take about 15 minutes to fill out the forms while you are on campus.

4. You will need to do the Readi Assessment which gives us an indication of whether or not you would have the skills and competencies to be likely to be successful in an on-line program. Information regarding this test, will be posted on this site in March 2012.

After all applications have been processed according to Priority Points and Readi Assessment scores, emails will be sent (by mid April) to those who have applied. Top applicants will then be scheduled for pre-entrance (Kaplan) testing which will be scheduled for April ??, 2012. Scores on this exam will determine which qualified candidates will be admitted.

Late April or Early May, 2012 Status letters will be emailed after results of the exams have been received. Classes will begin early June.

Step Two: After acceptance, 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. Information regarding these items will be included in the acceptance package.

Testing for substance abuse 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.

Students must have a current email address in order to enroll in this program.

The majority of the lecture courses will be offered in the on-line format. There will be times when you will need to come to the campus, especially for Health Assessment. The expectation for clinicals would be that they would be held in the north central Texas area.

Immunizations:  (submit before August 1st)

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 February 15th in order to have the series completed prior to the Fall.  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.)

Students with offenses: If a prospective student has ever had any kind of criminal offense (other than Class C misdemeanor traffic violations), it must 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.

A background check is required for students to be eligible to participate in clinical rotations. The instructions for this background check will be included in the acceptance letter.

For eligibility to participate in clinicals, criminal background checks will review a person's criminal history. 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.

Kaplan Exam

The pre-nursing entrance test for Summer Admissions will be administered end of April. 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 areas: 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. Each section is timed but you may take a break between tests. While taking the test, do not hit END TEST until you are completely through with the test. After taking the test, do not discuss the test questions with other students. A calculator is available on the computer for the math portion.

Hint: You do not want to leave a question blank while taking the test.

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.

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.   
• There will be a form to complete the Background Check for clinicals at the hospitals. 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 (after August 1st). 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 in the Fall).  Information will be included in the acceptance letter.  Contact 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. (Do this in summer)

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR):   (including 2 doses of mumps (MMR's) vaccine since 1979 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 in order for the series to be complete prior to beginning the Fall semester. 

• 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 - You will sign a copy and return it to the nursing office. 
• Turn in all paperwork to the nursing office by August 1st. 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 (week before Fall semester begins).  You will receive information regarding uniforms at this meeting.  Uniforms will not be needed until Fall.
• 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 $18.00 in Fall (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.