NCK Technical College

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 into the first year of the program. Applications for the second year of the program will be accepted from September to April 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 ATI test of Essential Academic Skills Version V (TEAS V) is used with a required cut score of 58.7% as established by the test vendor. The TEAS V may be taken a total of 2 times with one month in between testing dates. An applicant may retake the TEAS V to improve his/her score even if a 58.7% cut score or higher was achieved initially. The individual adjusted total score will be used for ranking purposes for class selection. The testing fee is $45 each time.

On Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI’s) homepage you will find a link to create an account with ATI. You will need to do this before you can take the TEAS V. The link is www.atitesting.com
Click on create an account link. When asked to select an institution chose North Central KS Tech College Hays PN. For Student/Employee ID: put your birthday. For example, if your birthday is November 5th 1990 put 11051990. Check non-degree seeking.

Once registered you will be given an ID number. Write that number down or print it off and bring it with you to your testing appointment. Without that number you can’t take the test. Your test will be sent off to be graded. The college will mail your results to you. Expect about a 2 week turn around time.

The TEAS V was developed to measure basic essential skills in the academic content area domains of Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English and Language Usage. These entry level skills are deemed important for nursing program applicants by a panel of nursing program curriculum experts. The TEAS V is a 170-item, four option, multiple-choice timed assessment test. To prepare in an organized and efficient manner, you should know what to expect from the real assessment.

Two products are available to help as you prepare for the TEAS V Assessment: TEAS Study Manual and the Online Practice Assessment. For a complete student preparation package, the TEAS Online Practice Assessment and the TEAS Study Manual may be purchased at www.atitesting.com/onlinestore 
ATI’s toll free number is 1.800.667.7531.

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 - active in Kansas) 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 March 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 (first year applicants), and in April for second year applicants.

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