D45660

Curriculum Description

The Practical Nursing curriculum provides knowledge and skills to integrate safety and quality into nursing care to meet the needs of the holistic individual which impact health, quality of life, and achievement of potential.

Course work includes and builds upon the domains of healthcare, nursing practice, and the holistic individual. Content emphasizes safe, individualized nursing care and participation in the interdisciplinary team while employing evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and informatics.

Graduates are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) which is required for practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Employment opportunities include hospitals, rehabilitation/long-term care/home health facilities, clinics, and physicians’ offices.

Practical Nursing Admission Requirements

In order to be considered for admission into the Practical Nursing Program, the applicant must have a current JSCC application on file, a separate nursing program application on file, and all admission criteria met by February 1st of each year for consideration for admission into the following fall semester. Twenty students are accepted into the program ranked according to scores on selection criteria. Applications submitted after the deadline may be considered if space is available. (Interested applicants should contact JSCC’s Health Education Department or refer to our website for a current Program Application Packet.)

Applicants may apply for only one of the Health Education Programs (ADN or PN). The academic admission requirements for the Practical Nursing Program will be as follows:

1. Applicants to the Practical Nursing Program must take the ATI-TEAS admissions test and score the current national average for reading comprehension, and essential math skills. The TEAS test may be taken only two times in a twelve-month period. Test dates must be a minimum of 60 days apart. Scores older than 5 years will not be accepted. (Contact Student Services for testing information.)
2. High school graduate or equivalent. Submit a copy of high school transcript and/or HSE scores and college transcripts if applicable. High School seniors may apply for provisional acceptance pending completion of high school requirements and graduation. High School students should contact the Health Education Department for information.
3. Meet the pre-admission procedures and general admission requirements of the college.
4. Be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.
5. Completion of high school biology within ten (10) years of the program start date with a grade of “C” or better or its equivalent. Equivalent means: (1) a college-level biology course; (2) BIO 090 at James Sprunt Community College; or (3) a comparable biology course at any other accredited educational institution.
6. Applicants may be required to take the RISE placement test. (See below.) Call Student Services at 910-275-6360 to register for the test (if needed). Applicants will need to take the RISE placement test if they have:
   • High school GPA older than 10 years, or
   • GED score < 170, or
   • HiSet score ≥ 15 for all sections and ≥ 4 on essay, or
   • Are a foreign student without a high school GPA, or
   • Some homeschooled students without a GPA

Additional exemptions for applicants who will not need to take the RISE placement test if they have:

• Transferable credit in math and English. (Submit official transcripts to the Admissions Office for transcript evaluation of your prior college coursework [see step #3 below].)
• SAT or ACT scores that meet the following criteria: ACT Reading 22 OR ACT English 18, SAT Writing 500 OR SAT Reading 500, ACT Math 22 OR SAT Math 500.
• High school GPA < 2.2 but ACT score is within 2 points of benchmark for Reading and English.

If placement tests were completed at another college, request that official scores be sent to the Admissions Office at P.O. Box 398, Kenansville NC 28349 (placement test scores will not be sent with the official transcript unless specifically requested).
Applicants must either be exempt from the specific program’s Basic General Education Courses or have completed all of the required Basic General Education Courses with a grade of ‘C’ or higher or ‘P’ pass grade, by the deadline to be eligible for admission consideration. The courses include:

• RED 090, ENG 090 or
• DRE 096-098 or
• ENG 002  (P2) or
• ENG 002  (P1) and ENG 011  or
• ENG 002  (P1) with ENG 011  corequisite
• MAT 050-070 or
• DMA 010-050 or
• MAT 003  (P2) or
• MAT 003  (P1) and MAT 043  or
• MAT 003  (P1) with MAT 043 corequisite

Placement test scores other than RISE and completed DRE and DMA courses are only good for ten (10) years unless a college level English and Math course is completed within the ten (10) year period. Rise placement test scores are good for ten (10) years.

7. Satisfactory completion (with a grade of “C” or better) within ten (10) years of the program start date, of high school computer applications course or its equivalent is required for entry into the Practical Nursing Program. “Equivalent” means: (1) a college level computer course, (2) OST 080  at James Sprunt Community College, or (3) a comparable computer course at any other accredited educational institution.
8. Applicants will be notified of their selection and given provisional acceptance. The following will be required for students to complete by specified date after being provisionally accepted:
   1. Evidence of a physical examination completed on the institution form and dated within one year of acceptance. Evidence of sound physical and mental health must be validated on the form provided. Immunizations must be completed and documented as required on the medical form and based on the clinical agency requirements for the PN program.
   2. Completion of current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider level of CPR certification.
   3. Completion of required criminal background check and drug screening required for clinical agencies. NOTE: If a clinical agency denies student placement based on review on results, the student would be unable to progress in the program. (Information provided upon provisional acceptance.)
   4. Show evidence of current student liability insurance for clinical experience.

Transfer Students

Students who wish to transfer from another institution to James Sprunt Community College Practical Nursing Education program must:

1. Transfer from a state approved program;
2. Meet all the admission criteria as generic students;
3. Schedule a meeting with the Department Head at least two semesters in advance of desired transfer date;
4. Complete and submit Transfer Application to JSCC Nursing Program (this will be provided at scheduled meeting with Department Head);
5. Submit copies of course syllabi/outlines to Department Head for review, upon request;
6. Have letter of recommendation from clinical nursing faculty who taught student in last nursing course; Pass a comprehensive exam from the content of the course(s) prior to the one to which the student is requesting transfer with a minimum grade of 80 and demonstrate competency of skills.

All decisions regarding transfer will be made by the Health Education Admissions Committee after all required documents are submitted.

Progression Policy

1. Students must be enrolled in BIO 163  and ACA 115  concurrently with NUR 101  unless they have completed these courses previously.
2. Students must be enrolled in ENG 111  and PSY 150  concurrently with NUR 102  unless they have completed these courses previously.
3. A student must maintain a 2.0 (“C”) average or better in the general education courses in order to progress and graduate in the Practical Nursing Program. A grade of “C” or better must be obtained in BIO 163  in order for the student to progress to NUR 102 .
4. A grade of “C” or better is required in each nursing course in order for the student to progress and graduate from the Practical Nursing Program. A grade of “C” or better is required in NUR 101 , NUR 102 , and NUR 103 .
5. All nursing courses must be taken in the sequence as outlined in the Practical Nursing curriculum.
6. A student may repeat a nursing course only once and only upon the approval of the Health Education Admissions Committee.
7. Any student who is interrupting his/her nursing courses is encouraged to schedule an exit interview with the Department Head of the Health Education Department.

Grading

A minimum grade of “C” in each nursing course is required prior to entering the next nursing course, and a grade of “C” is required in NUR 103  prior to graduation.

Readmission Policy

A student who wishes to be considered for readmission to the Practical Nursing Program must complete the application for readmission to the PN program (provided upon request). This request for consideration of readmission must be received by the end of the next semester following the interruption of studies. Readmission to the nursing program will be limited to a maximum of one (1) time.

The student requesting readmission must complete the following readmission requirements:

1. Meet current admission criteria.
2. Meet all requirements of the Progression Policy listed above.
3. Submit a letter of recommendation from a faculty member for the clinical components of the course in which the student was not successful. Letter must be requested prior to the end of the next semester following the interruption of studies.
4. Pass a comprehensive exam from the content of the course(s) prior to the one to which the student is requesting readmission with a minimum grade of 80 and demonstrate competency of skills.
5. After provisional acceptance is granted, the student must complete the following before enrollment in the program:
   • Submit updated physical statement showing evidence of sound physical and mental health, including any required testing and immunizations required by clinical agencies.
   • Submit evidence of current American Heart Association BLS Provider Level of CPR certification.
   • Submit completion of current Criminal Background Check and Drug Screening required by clinical agencies.

Failure to complete any of these requirements will jeopardize re-admission to the PN program.

Involuntary Withdrawal from Health Education Programs

In the event that a health education student’s behavior represents a potential hazard to patient care in the clinical area and/or the student demonstrates unsafe practice in the clinical area, the student will be withdrawn by the faculty from the course. This may occur at any time during the semester. The student may be readmitted only on the recommendation of the faculty. See section on Academic Standards for Health Education Department DISMISSAL POLICY and PROBATION POLICY.