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Application Deadlines and Admission Dates for Nursing

*All nursing admissions requirements must be met by the published deadline date. No applications will be accepted after the published deadline date.

Nursing
Associate of Applied Science Degree

Mary Vines • (901) 333-5425

Southwest Tennessee Community College offers courses leading to an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing. The Nursing Program is designed to prepare graduates for immediate licensure and employment. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Persons who have been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation could be ineligible for Registered Nurse Licensure in the State of Tennessee, even though they successfully complete the program.

The Department of Nursing is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

Website: www.nlnac.org

Address:

National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Telephone number (404) 975-5000
Fax number (404) 975-5020

The Southwest Nursing Program is approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing:

Tennessee Board of Nursing
Department of Health
227 French Landing, Suite 300
Heritage Place, MetroCenter
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Telephone number (615) 532-5166
Fax number (615) 770-7441
Website: http://health.state.tn.us/

Admission

The number of students admitted to the Nursing Program at any one time is limited; therefore, admission is very competitive, and preference is given to those who exceed the minimum qualifications. Applicants must meet the following general criteria for consideration:

1. Be accepted to Southwest as a regular admission student.
2. Submit a special application for the Nursing Program with required credentials no later than the deadlines published in the College Catalog. Special admissions applications for the nursing program must be obtained from the admissions offices on either main campus.
3. Applicants who have been enrolled in a nursing program at another NLNAC accredited institution must provide a letter of good academic standing from the director of the nursing program at that institution stating that the student is in good academic standing in that nursing program and is able to continue there should the student wish to do so. Applicants who have been academically dismissed from other nursing programs can apply to be admitted as a generic student in Southwest’s nursing program if they have been separated from the previous program for over five years. Any applicant who has been dismissed from any nursing program for administrative or disciplinary reasons is not eligible for admission to Southwest’s nursing program.
4. Have a minimum high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA on all college work completed.
5. Be eligible to enroll in English I and Probability and Statistics.
6. Have achieved at least the required minimum score on the Nursing Pre-admission Examination (the pre-admission test score is accepted for five (5) years*). In the event an applicant takes the Pre-admission Examination more than one time, the most recent exam score will be evaluated for admission consideration. To schedule the Pre-admission Examination, applicants should contact the Testing Center at (901) 333-5127 or (901) 333-4170.
7. A letter describing the candidate’s desire to enter the Nursing program must accompany the application.
8. The Nursing Admissions Committee shall consider the highest ranking index scores to the maximum number of qualified applicants as conditionally admitted to the next official class. (See section on Selection Criteria.)
9. Selected applicants will be notified of their admission status by telephone.
10. Selected applicants must formally accept admission, in writing, by the specified date. The applicant’s medical record, along with documentation of measles and Hepatitis B vaccinations, negative drug screen and a negative TB skin test must be submitted to the Department of Nursing prior to nursing orientation. Affiliated clinical agencies require nursing students to have a criminal background check before allowing participation in the clinical area. Detailed instructions will be given in the acceptance letter.
11. All admissions to the nursing program are conditional pending receipt of the above documentation. Failure to provide documentation as requested will result in forfeiture of admission status.
12. All selected applicants must attend a mandatory new nursing student orientation. Specific instructions will be given in the admission letter. Failure to attend the orientation will result in forfeiture of admission status.
13. If a selected applicant declines admission or fails to accept admission by the designated date, the applicant’s position in the class will be forfeited.
14. Eligible applicants who fail to gain admission to a given class may reapply for admission to the next official class. Those who do so will be evaluated and ranked in accordance with the above procedures and without consideration to previous evaluation and ranking. Rank in one admission process does not establish any right to the same rank or similar rank within another admission process.
15. It is the student’s responsibility to see that all application materials for admission to the college and the nursing program, as well as the qualifying pre-admission test scores are on file in the admissions office prior to the application deadline date.

Selection Criteria

To be eligible for consideration for admission, the applicant must:

1. Have earned a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 or a minimum GPA of 2.5 on any college courses attempted. (High school GPA will be used for applicants without prior college courses.)
2. Have earned a grade of “C” or higher in any previously completed college-level nutrition and science courses required for the program. Science courses must have been completed within the past five (5) years.
3. Be eligible to enroll in English Composition I and Statistics.
4. Have taken the Pre-admission Examination and attained the required minimum score*.
5. Affiliated clinical agencies require nursing students to have a criminal background check before allowing participation in the clinical area. Based on the results of these checks, an affiliated clinical site may determine to not allow a student’s presence at their facility. This action by the clinical affiliate would result in the student’s inability to successfully complete the requirements of this program. Additionally, a criminal background may preclude licensure or employment.

Since applicants are ranked according to the Admission Index, it is highly recommended, but not required, that Anatomy & Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, and Microbiology, be completed with a grade of “C” or better prior to entry into the Nursing Program.

*Applicants are required to attain a minimum score of 100 on the current Pre-admission Examination.

¹ High School GPA may be substituted if no college courses have been taken.

Grade Point Average Equivalency:

Note: Science courses must have been completed within 5 years prior to the admission date and prior to the qualifying application deadline date to be included in the index score. In the event an applicant has taken these courses more than once, the most recent grade will be calculated into the index.

Applicants admitted into the LPN Mobility Track must:

1. Have satisfied all the requirements listed previously in Admissions requirements, items 1 through 15 and in Selection criteria, items 1-5.
2. Have completed within the previous 5 years, and prior to the qualifying application deadline date, Anatomy and Physiology I and II and Microbiology, with at least a C grade in each course.
3. Have a current, valid, unencumbered Tennessee or compact state LPN license.
4. Submit evidence of current CPR certification.
5. Applicants for the LPN Mobility Track do not need a preadmission examination score.
6. Applicants can be admitted to the LPN mobility track only once.

Acceptance Procedures for the Nursing Program

The applicant must accept or decline the admission, in writing, by the deadline specified. Applicants denied admission will be notified in writing by the admissions office and the reason for the denial will be stated in the letter.

Progression Requirements

1. Students must receive a satisfactory performance rating in the clinical nursing courses and at least a “C” grade in each theory nursing course.
2. A 2.0 cumulative GPA is required in all nursing courses attempted.
3. Students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Microbiology, Probability and Statistics and Principles of Nutrition.
4. Any student failing the same nursing course twice, or two separate nursing courses, will be academically dismissed from the Nursing Program.
5. Any student withdrawing from a nursing course in good standing must re-enter the nursing program within one year. Students absent from the program for longer than one year will be required to reapply for admission to the program and will be required to repeat all previously taken nursing courses. Students withdrawing from Foundations of Nursing must reapply for admission to the nursing program and be ranked according to the published admissions criteria.
6. Students must maintain current certification in Adult and Infant and Child CPR, and be covered by malpractice insurance every semester while in the Nursing Program.
7. Any student withdrawing from a nursing course with an average of less than a “C” grade will be considered as having failed that course. If the student withdraws twice with an average of less than a “C”, the student will be dismissed from the Nursing Program. Any student withdrawing from the Foundations of Nursing courses must reapply for admission to the nursing program and be ranked according to the published admissions criteria. Any student withdrawing from Foundations of Nursing with a failing average and subsequently selected for readmission, will be readmitted on probation and the published progression rules will apply.
8. Requirements for completing the Nursing Comprehensive Exit exam: Students must pass a nursing comprehensive exit exam with a score of at least 950 prior to receiving a grade in the last nursing course. An incomplete “I” grade will be assigned to that course until the student achieves a score of at least 950. A student who does not achieve a score of at least 950 on the exit exam must show evidence of completing a prescribed remediation plan before retaking the exam. Specific information regarding completion of the exit exam is found in the specific course syllabus and the nursing student handbook. Students achieving a 950 on the exit exam must file application for the NCLEX-RN within 30 days of the exit exam. Students not filing the application within 30 days will be required to repeat the exit exam and again attain the required score. The Department of Nursing reserves the right to change the percentage required based on recommendations or requirements from the national exam scoring center. It is the student’s responsibility to pay all fees related to taking the examination(s). All fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
9. An approved NCLEX-RN review course is required of all graduating nursing students prior to filing the application for the NCLEX-RN.
10. Students unsuccessful in NURS 1914 Professional Nursing Transition  and/or NURS 1926 Professional Nursing Transition Clinic  cannot progress to the next nursing course and must apply for admission as a generic student meeting all criteria as listed for the generic track, including a qualifying score on the Pre-admission Examination.

Dismissal from the Nursing Program

1. Violation of classroom procedures, clinical procedures or personal misconduct will result in disciplinary actions and can result in immediate dismissal from the nursing program. Disciplinary actions are warranted by behaviors that include, but are not limited to, conduct dangerous to others; falsification of, or discrepancies in, forms or records; disorderly conduct; threatening or verbally abusive behavior toward faculty, staff, or other students; misuse of or damage to property; misuse of documents or identification cards; violations of state or federal law; unsafe clinical conduct; or a positive drug screen. Procedures for disciplinary action and/or dismissal from the nursing program and appeal procedures are listed in the Nursing Student Handbook.
2. Any student failing the same course twice or two separate nursing courses will be academically dismissed from the nursing program.
3. Students dismissed from the Nursing Program for disciplinary actions, as outlined above and in the Southwest Nursing Student Handbook, will be ineligible for readmission into the Nursing Program.

Readmission to the Nursing Program for Southwest Nursing Students

Southwest Nursing students desiring readmission to the nursing program after an academic dismissal must, at the time of request for readmission:

1. Have been separated from the nursing program for 2 complete semesters from the date of dismissal (The complete summer semester is one semester).
2. Apply for admission to the nursing program, meeting all the current criteria for admission as a generic student, including a cumulative GPA of 2.5, and required science courses and Nursing Pre-admission Examination scores within 5 years.
3. Applicants will be ranked within the current generic applicant pool.
4. During separation from the program, the students must complete prescribed learning enhancement activities in the nursing learning enhancement center.
5. Provide a letter stating the reasons for previous academic failure and what adjustments have been made to help assure success on this attempt.
6. After being ranked within the applicant pool, if selected for admission, the student will take a series of placement tests to determine placement within the nursing program. All students will start placement testing with the Foundations of Nursing theory and clinical courses. Students will progress in course sequence until the point of previous academic dismissal or until the student fails to attain the required score on a particular placement exam. To successfully complete a placement test for a particular nursing course the student must attain a score of at least 850 (or its equivalent) on each test attempted.
7. Students will be placed within the nursing program according to the last successful placement test score. All expenses incurred during the testing process are the responsibility of the students. All fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
8. Former Southwest Nursing Students who have been out of the nursing program for more than 2 complete semesters are not eligible for the placement test option and must apply for admission as a regularly admitted generic student according to the current published criteria.
9. Once readmitted to the nursing program, students must abide by the published progression and retention policies in effect at the time of the student’s readmission. These policies govern all admitted nursing students.
10. A student who is again academically dismissed from the program is ineligible for further admissions to any track of the nursing program.
11. Any student who has been dismissed from any nursing program for administrative or disciplinary reasons is not eligible for admission to Southwest’s Nursing Program.

Students Academically Dismissed from Other Nursing Programs

Students who have been academically dismissed from other nursing programs are not eligible to apply to Southwest’s Nursing program until five (5) years from the date of dismissal from the previous nursing program and must meet the following criteria:

1. Have satisfied all the requirements listed previously in items 1-15 of Admissions Criteria, and in Selection Criteria, items 1-5.
2. Applicants dismissed from other nursing programs are not eligible for the placement test option.
3. Once admitted under this option, a student who is academically dismissed is ineligible for further admissions to any track at Southwest’s Nursing Program.
4. Any student who has been dismissed from any nursing program for administrative or disciplinary reasons is not eligible for admission to Southwest’s Nursing Program.

The Southwest Department of Nursing reserves the right to make changes as required in course offerings, curricula, academic policies, progression requirements and other rules and regulations affecting students. These changes will govern current and formerly enrolled students. Enrollment of all students is subject to these conditions.

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