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Associate Degree Registered Nursing Program 

 Imperial Valley College Admission and Selection Process

Students will be admitted to the IVC Nursing Program from the applicant pool using the following admission criteria:

For 2007 & Spring 2008 Admission Only:

• Qualifying GPA of 2.0 in all degree applicable courses.

• Complete ENG 101, BIOL 200 and 202 or BIOL 204 and BIOL 206, and BIO 220 with a grade of C or better.  Applicants with more than one (1) repeat of science courses may have difficulty entering the program.

• Meet the Reading Competency Requirement.  A successful score on the Accuplacer Test or ENGL 089 or higher with a grade of C or better.

• Meet the Math Competency Requirement.  A grade of C or better in Math 090 or higher or a successful score on the Accuplacer Test.

• Fulfillment of the TEAS (Test for Essential Academic Skills) Entrance Exam with a composite score of 60% or higher.

• Be at least 18 years of age at the time of admission.

• Be in adequate health to perform the duties of a nurse.

• Completion of a background check and drug screening after acceptance to the program.
   

NOTE:  Priority will be given to qualified applicants who are residents of the Imperial Community College District

Fall 2008 Admission and after:

• Qualifying GPA of 2.5 in all degree applicable courses.
• Complete ENG 101 with a grade of C or better; complete BIOL 200 and 202 or BIOL 204 and BIOL 206, and BIOL 220 with a GPA of 2.5 or higher.  Applicants with more than one (1) repeat of science courses may have difficulty entering the program.
• Meet the Reading Competency Requirement.  A successful score on the Accuplacer Test or ENGL 089 or higher with a grade of C or better.
• Meet the Math Competency Requirement.  A grade of C or better in Math 090 or higher or a successful score on the Accuplacer Test.
• Fulfillment of the TEAS (Test for Essential Academic Skills) Entrance Exam with a composite score of 67% or higher.
• Be at least 18 years of age at the time of admission.
• Be in adequate health to perform the duties of a nurse.
• Completion of a background check and drug screening after acceptance to the program.

NOTE:  Priority will be given to qualified applicants who are residents of the Imperial Community College District. Pending IVC Board of Trustees approval, students having completed 12 or more units at IVC will be given preference.

Students will be selected for admission according to the following process:

• Approximately 75% of the students who have applied and are qualified for admission to the Nursing Program will be admitted by the Academic Score Rubric below.
   
• Approximately 25% of the students who have applied and are qualified will be admitted to the Nursing Program by lottery.
   
• If there are not enough qualified applicants who are residents within the Imperial Community College District then applicants residing outside the District will be considered.
   

Academic Score Rubric (F07 and S08)

Core Science courses must be completed within seven (7) years.  For Science course repeats, including D and F grades and W’s, subtract the following points from the above matrix:

		1 repeat	-0
		2 repeats	-1
		3 repeats	-2
		4 or more repeats	-3

Fulfillment of the TEAS Entrance Exam with a passing composite score of 60% or higher. After Spring 2008, the score will increase to 67%.

Below are two samples of how points are determined when using the Rubric.

Sample Academic Score Rubric

 
Admission Criteria and Selection – Example #1

Admission Criteria and Selection - Example #2

Applying to the Program

Below is a step-by-step process that must be followed when applying to the IVC Nursing Program.    

Step #1

Thoroughly read the Imperial Valley College Catalog, especially the sections dealing with matriculation services, academic regulations, graduation requirements, and the Associate Degree Nursing Program. Catalogs are available for student review online at www.imperial.edu/catalog or in the Counseling Office and the Spencer Library Media Center. Catalogs are available for purchase at the Campus Bookstore.

Step #2

Make an appointment with a counselor by calling (760) 355-6246.  It is recommended that all Nursing majors meet with Nursing counselor, Stella Orfanos Woo.  Bring copies of ALL college transcripts to your appointment.  The counselors will determine the status of non-nursing courses completed elsewhere.  Matriculation testing should be taken as soon as possible so that English and Math placements can be determined and that any suggested remediation can be completed prior to entry into the program.  An Educational Plan and major sheet will be completed at this time.

 
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:  It is very important that all high school students wishing to major in Nursing meet with the Nursing Counselors to develop an Educational Plan prior to enrolling in College courses.

Step #3

Attend a nursing information session when available. Students will have an opportunity to ask questions about the program.  Information on the dates and times for these sessions will be posted on the Nursing website at www.imperial.edu/nursing. 

Step #4

When you are eligible and desire admission, complete an application form which is available here, or in the Nursing Office and turn it in to Nursing along with the required attachments listed below. Applications must be submitted by hand or mailed. Gaxed or applications sent by email will not be accepted. Submitting an application does not require making an appointment with the Nursing counselor or Nursing staff. 

The required attachments to the application include:

·         Copies of ALL transcripts, including high school transcript or diploma or 
    GED;

·         Copy of the major sheet completed with the Nursing counselors;

 
Official transcripts are not required until acceptance to the program is determined.  Transcripts of courses taken at other colleges AFTER submitting an application should be sent directly to the IVC Admissions Office.

Step #5

The Counseling Department and Admissions Office will evaluate applications to verify GPA and prerequisite courses.

Step #6

Qualified applicants will be ranked by academic score from the application pool; 75% of admissions will be selected by academic rank and 25% of admissions will be selected by lottery. Students will be notified by mail of their eligibility status between 4 to 6 weeks from the application deadline. This notifications is NOT an acceptance notice but only selections as an eligible candidate for the program until all requirements have been fulfilled.

Taking the TEAS exam:  Students selected as eligible candidates can schedule to take the exam. Appointments can be made with the IVC Nursing Learning Center by calling (760) 355-6530. This is an online test that is approximately 3-3.5 hours long. Study materials can be purchased through the Assessment Technologies website at www.atitesting.com or from the Campus Bookstore. Students who have previously taken the test must submit proof of passing. A composite score of 60% or higher is required to pass. Effective F08, a 67% score or higher will be required.  Students who do not pass will need to retake it after completing the required remediation.

Acceptance to the Program:  Once deemed eligible by the Nursing Program, students will be notified in writing of their admission to the program.  After receiving notification of acceptance, students must accept or decline admission within 2 weeks as indicated in the letter.  If a response is not received by a specific deadline, that student will be replaced by a student on the alternate list.

 
Eligible for Admission:  Applications will be eligible for consideration for admission when the following criteria have been met: 

1. Qualifying overall GPA.
2. Completion of the prerequisites with a C or better:  BIOL 200 and 202 or BIOL 204 and 206, BIOL 220, and ENG 101.
3. Meet the Math and Reading competency requirements.

 
Deadlines:  Applications will only be accepted during the following two applications periods:

April 1 through April 30 for Fall Admission

September 1 through September 30 for Spring Admission

 
If the last date of the application period falls on a weekend, the following business day at 5:00 PM will serve as the deadline.  Students NOT accepted to the program will need to resubmit another application as per Step 4.  A wait list is not maintained.

Should vacancies become available prior to the start of the term, alternates will be offered a space for that term only.  Alternates will be selected from the remaining list of eligible students based on the selection criteria stated in Step #6 and the number of vacancies available.  If not admitted into that term, alternates will need to resubmit another application as stated above.

Degree and Support Courses

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to take all courses listed in the associate degree nursing major.  This will allow for greater focus on the core nursing courses once the student has been admitted into the program.  After completing the pre-application requirements, the recommended sequence for completing the Associate Degree Nursing curriculum is as follows:

           PSY101 – Introduction to Psychology 

           SOC 101 or ANTHRO 102 – Introductory Sociology or Cultural Anthropology

           SPCH 100 – Oral Communication

           American Institutions requirement

           Humanities Elective

           PE 100 – Lifetime Exercise Science

           One-Unit PE Activity Course

Students who have completed all Associate Degree general education requirements and associate degree nursing requirements may wish to take the following recommended courses:

             NURS 100 – Medical Mathematics (w/permission of instructor)

            NURS 116 – Pharmacology for Nurses (w/permission of instructor)

            PSY 204 – Developmental Psychology:  Conception to Death

            AHP 100 – Medical Terminology

            VN 214 – Basic Arrhythmia Recognition

            NURS 126 – Physical Assessment

 
Students may also wish to take the following additional requirements to transfer to San Diego State University for a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree:

            A Critical Thinking Course (ENG 111, ENG 201, PHIL 106, SPCH 180)

            CHEM 140 – Integrated Chemistry

            MATH 120 – Introductory Statistics with Applications

            POLS 102 – American Government and Politics

            HIST 120 or 121 – United States History

            PSY 204 – Developmental Psychology:  Conception to Death

 
Background Checks and Drug Screening:

As of January, 2004, The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) added a new standard for its accreditations involving background checks. Any health care agency that requires employees to have personal criminal background checks must also require the same background check for students and volunteers involved in patient care.

 
Beginning Spring 2007, the IVC Nursing Program will require background checks on all students enrolled and/or entering the program.  Students who do not pass the background check may not be eligible to participate in clinical training, and may, therefore, be dropped from the program.  Students wishing to obtain more information on completing the background check can logon to the American Databank website at www.sdnsebackground.com. The minimum fee is $65.00. 

 
Prior Convictions/Misdemeanors:   

Students who are known to be actively involved in child, spouse, or elder abuse, or involved with drugs, WILL NOT be admitted to the program.  Students in the program who are found to be involved with the above, face dismissal from the program. 

Students who have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony are required to disclose this information on their application to take the RN licensure exam.  A conviction may affect eligibility to take this exam.  In the State of California, a convicted child abuser will never be allowed to obtain an RN license.  Students who have concerns about these circumstances should contact the CA Board of Registered Nursing at (916) 322-3350 before starting the program.  Students can log on to the Board’s website at www.rn.ca.gov or call (916) 322-3350 for more information about this and other areas of licensure. 

 
Course of Study

 
The following is the course of study that must be completed with a grade of C or better to progress to the next level: 

NOTE:  Students requiring a full-time load of 12 units per semester will need to register for additional courses.  NURS 089, Individual Studies, is a 1.0 unit course open to students.  The course can be taken up to four (4) semesters. 

Upon successful completion of the above courses AND degree requirements, students are eligible to obtain the Associate of Science degree in Registered Nursing from IVC and are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for RNs.  If performance on the exam is successful, students will be licensed as an RN.  Students must fulfill program AND degree requirements to be eligible to take the NCLEX RN as a graduate of IVC.

Additional Information:

Estimated Costs:  Students can expect to spend between $3,000 to $4,500 for the entire two-year program, which includes tuition and parking, textbooks, uniforms and supplies, assessment testing, insurance fees, licensure examinations, and graduation costs.  An estimated expense sheet is available from the Nursing Office.  Students are advised to contact the IVC Financial Aid Office to apply for financial assistance and scholarships that may be available.  More information on aid and scholarships can be found on their website at www.imperial.edu/financial_aid and the Nursing website at www.imperial.edu/nursing or by contacting (760) 355-6266.

CPR:  Students must have completed an American Heart Association BLS Healthcare Provider class and obtain the BLS CPR card BEFORE starting the program.  CPR classes are offered at any of the three local American Heart Association training centers in the Valley:  ECRMC, PMH, and IVC.  Check with the IVC Nursing Education Office for classes at IVC.  A fee will be required.

Advance Placement:  Students who have had previous nursing education or nursing work experience in the following areas will be considered for advanced placement when submitting an application:

      -         Accredited vocational nursing or practical nursing courses

-         Accredited psychiatric technician courses

-         Armed services nursing courses

-         Non-accredited practical nursing program courses

 
There are two options whereby students may obtain advance placement:

Transfer Students:  This option is available to students who have been enrolled in an accredited RN Program within the past two (2) years.  Courses will be considered for transfer depending on equivalency to the IVC nursing course.  Students apply following the same procedures and deadlines as a first-time student (See the “Applying to the Program” section of this brochure) but must include copies of course descriptions from previous nursing courses.  Students will be informed in writing of the status of their application. 

Challenge:   Academic credit by examination may be obtained by those whose prior education and/or experience provides the knowledge and skills required to meet the objectives of one or more courses.  Students who believe they may be eligible for credit by exam should contact the Nursing Division Office for more information.  For College policy regarding credit by examination, consult the “Credit by Examination” section of the IVC catalog.

 For more information, contact Division of Nursing Education at
(760) 355-6348 or by email laura.hartsock@imperial.edu