Admission Requirements & Application Process

1. Applications will be available and need to be turned into the nursing department during the time frame of September 1st to January 31st for those anticipating admission the following fall.

2. The applicant shall have an application on file for the year that the class is being selected.

3. The applicant shall be a high school graduate or have a GED certificate upon entering into the program.

4. The applicant shall submit official transcripts for all secondary and post-secondary course work taken in order to be considered for class selection.

5. The first year applicant shall take the entrance examination for purposes of placement in the program. Entrance testing will occur during the months of September through the end of January. The Nurse Entrance Test (NET) is used with a required passing composite score (as established by the test vendor). The NET may be repeated a total of 3 times. If the applicant is unsuccessful in passing, the NET may be repeated two more times with one month between each testing time. An applicant may retake the NET to improve his/her score even if a 50% or higher composite score was achieved initially. The composite score will be used for ranking purposes for class selection. The applicant shall pay $27.50 each time the test is taken.

6. All applicants shall have a C or better in previously completed general education and other plan of study (non nursing) courses. The actual grade will be considered only in case of a “tie” in the scores of the applicants.

7. First year applicants must be a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) before they can be accepted into the program.  Admission points will be awarded to those applicants who are Certified Medication Aides (CMA).

8. Current first year students seeking a position at the second year shall submit a signed letter of intent to the nursing program director by January 31st. The grade requirement for first year nursing courses is an 87% or higher.  Those who do not meet this standard will be required to achieve a satisfactory score on a standardized examination (LPN Assessment Test) after a one-year time lapse during which successful practice as a practical nurse has been established.

9. For applicants who have graduated from a Practical Nursing Program in Kansas, guidelines of the Council for Nursing Articulation in Kansas will be followed. They are as follows:
 

0-5 years after graduation

• no validation of nursing credit is required

• no work experience is required

6-10 years after graduation

• no validation of nursing credit is required if, during the last three years, the applicant has worked as an LPN for a minimum of 1,000 hours

• validation, if necessary, will be achieved by receiving a satisfactory score on a standardized pre-entrance examination (LPN Assessment Test)
   

More than 10 years after graduation

• validation of nursing credits is required through the LPN Assessment Test

• a minimum of 1,000 hours of work experience as an LPN in the last three years is required

10. For those applicants who have graduated from an out-of-the-state practical nursing program, nursing credits will be evaluated individually by the nursing program director.

11. Associate degree (second year) applicants shall provide evidence of completion of a course of study equivalent to the first year of this program.

12. All required information shall be in the official file maintained by the nursing program director before the application will be reviewed. Responsibility for completing the required information rests entirely with the applicant.

13. The class will be selected by choosing the highest-ranking applicants. Alternates will be chosen to fill the remaining slots as positions become available.

14. Class Selection will be finalized and those selected will be notified in February.

15. Following the class selection, the application will be purged and the application process (meaning new application) will begin again.

16. There are specific abilities that are critical to the nursing student success. Students must demonstrate the ability to meet technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodations.

Physical: The nursing student shall be able to:

a. make appropriate observations required in providing nursing care.
b. manipulate equipment and supplies as required in providing nursing care.
c. use senses of hearing, seeing (color, vision, depth perception, near visual acuity), touch and smell to make observations regarding client conditions for the purpose of demonstrating competency to engage in nursing practice.
d. lift a minimum of 50 pounds unassisted and over 50 pounds assisted.
e. tolerate physically taxing workloads and function effectively under stress.
f. tolerate awkward positions, be able to grasp, handle, manipulate finger movement, reach, sit, stand, stoop and bend, twist, pull and push and have manual dexterity of both hands and fingers.

Communication: The nursing student shall be able to:

a. effectively communicate with members of the health care team, clients, peers and faculty. Skills include verbal, written/computerized and nonverbal abilities.
b. communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written form with all members of the health care team. The clinical rotations require independent reading of medical records and independent recording of nursing care plans and communication analysis.
c. use diplomacy and tact.

Emotional: The nursing student shall be able to:

a. demonstrate emotional coping skills necessary to provide nursing care as determined by standards of practice. Successful students possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities involved in the diagnosis and care of clients, and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with clients.
b. adapt to changing environments, display flexibility and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many clients.
c. carry out activities consistent with safe nursing practice without demonstrated behaviors of addiction to, abuse of, dependence on any drug that might impair behavior or judgment.
d. maintain a positive attitude.

Cognitive: The nursing student shall be able to:

a. problem solve with is a critical thinking skill that is demanded of caregivers. Critical thinking requires the following intellectual abilities: measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis and synthesis.
b. exercise judgment skills as required in providing nursing care.
c. identify, assess and understand client conditions to provide nursing care. Students must have visual and hearing acuity appropriate to work within demanding clinical settings.
d. determine appropriate conclusions and course of action necessary for providing client care.
e. demonstrate responsibility and accountability for actions as a student that are required by nursing practice.
f. organize materials and remember procedures and instructions.
g. pay careful attention to detail and concentrate on tasks.
h. handle multiple priorities and perform tasks during the limited time frame.
 

Criminal conviction may jeopardize eligibility for licensure.

For more information or questions you can contact: webmaster@ncktc.edu

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