Nursing Program College Guidelines

Gateway Community and Technical College

The System Guidelines for admission will be followed except that:

1. Applicants to the Nursing Program must have a cumulative Nursing curriculum GPA of 2.5 or greater and must complete the pre-requisite courses with a grade of “C” or better on their official transcript and be active on the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry by the deadline indicated in the application packet.
2. Applicants are ranked by a selective admission preference points system based on criteria including, but not limited to the following:
   1. cumulative nursing (pre-requisite/co-requisite) curriculum GPA (Note: Coursework with less than a “C” will not be calculated into the GPA.);
   2. results of a nationally normed test (National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Exam [NLN PAX]);
   3. math and science pre-requisite courses;
   4. additional point-bearing items
      
      NOTE: Only approved nursing curriculum coursework that has been completed, graded and posted to the student’s academic record by GCTC’s Registrar’s Office by the selective admissions deadline will be included in the calculation of credit hours, cumulative nursing (pre-requisite/corequisite) curriculum GPA, and preference points.
3. Acceptance into the program will be based on rank order. All applicants not selected in the first round may be placed on an alternate list. Alternates will be notified for admission if positions become available prior to the start of the first semester classes. A new applicant and alternate list is started each application period; names do not move forward.
4. BIO 137 and BIO 139 must be completed within five (5) years of the first day of NSG 101. (Note: Only BIO 137 is required as a pre-requisite course.)

Prospective Students Who Have Been Unsuccessful in other Nursing Programs

1. A prospective student who has two (2) unsuccessful academic/clinical attempts, (defined as “C- or below”, “WF”, “F”, “E” or “W” or 77.99% or below) in any previous nursing course(s), in a nursing program other than GCTC, is not eligible to be considered for admission into GCTC’s ADN Program.
2. A prospective student who has one unsuccessful academic/clinical attempt, (defined as “C- or below”, “WF”, “F”, “E”, or “W” or 77.99% or below) in any previous nursing course, in a nursing program other than GCTC, is eligible to be considered for admission to the first semester of the GCTC ADN program. The prospective student should:
   1. meet all admission requirements of the GCTC Nursing Program;
   2. submit a letter to the Director of Nursing requesting consideration for admission to the GCTC ADN program and outlining planned changes for future success with nursing coursework;
   3. request two letters of recommendation written on official school letterhead, indicating the applicant’s good standing to be forwarded to the GCTC Director of Nursing from:
      
      1. the previous nursing program’s administrator; and
      2. a clinical instructor who taught the applicant; or
      3. a classroom instructor who taught the applicant;
   4. the prospective student should go through the GCTC ADN program application process.
3. The Nursing Selective Admissions Committee will evaluate the prospective student’s application on an individual basis utilizing information from the student letter, letters of recommendation and pre- nursing coursework. If it is determined that the student is eligible for admission, they will be placed in rank order within the applicant pool based on earned points according to the GCTC ADN admission ranking criteria.

LPNs Applying for Advanced Placement

Applicants may be awarded credit for NSG 101 – Nursing Practice I and considered for admittance into the second semester nursing courses if they:

1. have passed the National Council Licensure Examination – PN (NCLEX-PN);
2. hold an active, unrestricted Kentucky license for Licensed Practical Nursing/Vocational Nursing (LPN/LVN);
3. have been employed* full-time for at least one (1) full year within three (3) years of the semester they wish to enter GCTC’s ADN program;
4. can provide proof of employment (a form is provided to the student prior to taking the LPN Challenge Test);
5. have a cumulative (pre-requisite/co-requisite) nursing curriculum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale;
6. have completed, with a grade of “C” or better, all pre-requisite courses required for the second semester courses** of the ADN program; and
7. demonstrate NSG 101 competency by:
   1. achieving at least a Level II on ATI proctored exam, or passing with a score of 78% or greater passing, an exam equivalent to the NSG 101 comprehensive final exam;
   2. scoring a 90% or higher on a NSG 101 dosage calculation exam; and
   3. demonstrating competency in NSG 101 skills. These exams and the skills competency demonstration can be taken only once and the applicant must successfully complete each of the competency exam(s) and the skills demonstration(s) to be admitted into the second semester nursing courses. A specific date for the competency tests will be determined on an individual basis.

Applicants who are not successful with competency testing or skills demonstration can elect to enter the applicant pool for NSG 101 by following the application process for admission to the ADN program.

*LPN employment is defined as patient/client contact and must be verified by the employing agency/agencies using the standardized verification of employment form (provided by the Nursing Department).

**Successful completion of the biological sciences (BIO 137 and BIO 139) must have been completed within five (5) years of the first day of the NSG 101 course prior to the semester the student is trying to enter.

Paramedics Applying for Advanced Placement

Applicants may be awarded credit for NSG 101 – Nursing Practice I and considered for admittance into the second semester nursing courses if they:

1. have passed the National Registry for Emergency Medical Technicians for Paramedics (EMT-P);
2. hold an active, unrestricted national or state license for Paramedic;
3. have been employed for at least one (1) full year within three (3) years of the semester they wish to enter GCTC’s ADN program;
4. can provide proof of employment;
5. have a cumulative nursing (pre-requisite/co-requisite) curriculum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale;
6. have completed, with a grade of “C” or better, all pre-requisite courses required for the second semester courses** of the ADN program.

The Medic to Nursing Selective Admissions Committee*** will evaluate the prospective student’s application on an individual basis with the assistance of a rubric, utilizing information from the student’s admission interview, letters of recommendation and pre-nursing coursework, and Paramedic employment experience.

*Paramedic employment is defined as patient/client contact and must be verified by the employing agency/agencies using the standardized verification of employment form (provided by the Nursing Department).

**Successful completion of the biological sciences (BIO 137 and BIO 139) must have been completed within five (5) years of the first day of the NSG 194 (Paramedic Transition into Nursing Practice).

***The Medic to Nursing Selective Admission Committee will be comprised of the Dean of Health Professions, Director of Nursing, Emergency Medical Services Program Coordinator, and Student Affairs Representative. The committee may also include program faculty/staff, and professional advisors.

Transfer

1. Applicants who wish to transfer from another nursing program must meet all admission requirements of the GCTC Nursing Program.
2. Students requesting a transfer must complete an application, apply at least three (3) months prior to the expected date of enrollment, and meet all admission and readmission requirements of the Nursing Program.
   1. If the applicant is unable to provide proof of presently having active status on the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry, the applicant may receive a waiver for NAA 100 credit by providing any of the following:
      1. Proof of having been on the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry within one (1) year of the semester for which the applicant is requesting admission;
      2. Proof of unencumbered, active LPN license within the last three (3) years of the semester for which the applicant is requesting admission;
      3. Syllabi for previously passed courses in an RN program. The course(s) must include a clinical component and should be no older than one and one half (1 ½) years of the semester for which the applicant is requesting admission.
3. Transfer into the program may be limited due to available clinical facilities in the community, as well as limited faculty and financial resources at the college.
4. Acceptance of transfer students will be dependent upon comparability of previous nursing courses.
5. Applicants must provide written notification to the GCTC Director of Nursing stating the anticipated entry date and reason for transfer. Additionally, the applicant should request two professional letters of recommendation written on official school letterhead, indicating the applicant’s good standing to be forwarded to the GCTC Director of Nursing from:
   1. the previous nursing program’s administrator; and
   2. a clinical instructor who taught the applicant; or
   3. a didactic instructor who taught the applicant.
6. Students requesting transfer for the second, third, or fourth semester must demonstrate competency by:
   1. achieving at least a Level II on ATI proctored exam(s), and or passing with a score of 78% or greater, an exam equivalent to the comprehensive final exam for each previously passed nursing course;
   2. scoring a 90% or higher on dosage calculation exam(s) reflective of previously passed nursing course(s); and
   3. demonstrating skills competency reflective of previously passed nursing course(s).
      
      These exams and the skills competency demonstration can be taken only once and the student must successfully complete each of the competency exams and the skills demonstration to be transferred. Students who are not successful with competency the requirements above may elect to enter the applicant pool for NSG 101.
7. The Nursing Transfer Committee will convene to review transfer applicants. This committee will include the Director of Nursing and Nursing Department faculty and staff.
8. Applicants will be notified in writing of their acceptance or denial of transfer into the Nursing Program with a projected start date within two (2) weeks of the Nursing Transfer Committee review and final decision.
9. A Transfer Contract must be signed outlining expectations for admission with a projected completion date.
10. If the applicant does not follow the Transfer Policy, request for transfer will be denied.

Readmission

1. Students who have been admitted into the college’s ADN program and who have not successfully completed the program may be readmitted to the program only once following academic failure or withdrawal from the initial admission. A grade of “W”, “D”, or “E” is considered a program attempt.
2. Applicants must not have failed two or more nursing courses within one (1) semester.
3. If more than one (1) year has elapsed since the last day of attendance in a nursing course, the applicant is not eligible for readmission, must reapply to the program, and repeat all nursing courses.
4. Readmission into the program may be limited due to available clinical facilities in the community, as well as limited faculty and financial resources at the college.
5. Applicants for readmission must:
   1. meet current admission guidelines;
   2. have completed, with a grade of “C” or better, pre-requisite courses required for the course(s) to which they wish to be readmitted;
   3. have a cumulative nursing curriculum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale;
   4. provide a letter requesting readmission to the Nursing Program to the Director of Nursing by the first day of the month following failure or withdrawal from a nursing course(s). Within said letter, applicant must state which course(s) readmission is being requested and what steps applicant will take to be successful.
   5. provide a letter of recommendation from one (1) current nursing faculty member by the first day of the month following failure of a prior nursing course(s). If applicant does not provide said letter by the first day of the month, the applicant is not eligible for readmission, must reapply to the program, and repeat all nursing courses.
6. Students requesting readmission will be expected to participate in a plan to maintain competency in previously passed nursing classes.
7. Students requesting readmission for the second, third, or fourth semester must demonstrate competency by:
   1. Achieving at least a Level II on ATI proctored exam(s), and or passing with a score of 78% or greater, an exam equivalent to the comprehensive final exam for each previously passed nursing course;
   2. Scoring a 90% or higher on dosage calculation exam(s) reflective of previously passed nursing course(s); and
   3. Demonstrating skills competency reflective of previously passed nursing course(s).
   4. These exams and the skills competency demonstration can be taken only once and the student must successfully complete each of the competency exams and the skills demonstration to be readmitted. Students who are not successful with the competency requirements above may elect to enter the applicant pool for NSG 101.
8. Required documentation must be submitted by December 1 for spring semester classes.
9. The Nursing Readmission Committee will convene to review readmission applications. This committee will include the Director of Nursing and Nursing Department faculty.
10. Applicants will be notified in writing of their acceptance or denial of readmission into the Nursing Program with a projected readmission date within four (4) weeks of the Nursing Readmission Committee review and final decision.
11. A Readmission Contract must be signed outlining expectations for readmission with a projected completion date.