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Nursing Department Admission Policy

Applicants Seeking Entrance to Spring 2009 or Fall 2009 Nursing Classes

      Students seeking admission to the nursing program must be admitted to Hesston College and must also apply for admission to the Associate Degree nursing program. Please note that acceptance to the college does not automatically ensure admission to the nursing program.
      The Nursing Admissions Committee reviews all applications for students with an educational interest in nursing. The committee determines admission eligibility for the nursing program and counsels admitted students in the direction of a one-year (LPN-to-RN), two-year (ADN), prenursing (2.5 or three-year) or four-year BSN transfer program.
      The Kansas State Board of Nursing approves the number of applicants admitted each year, guided by the student/faculty ratio and the availability of clinical facilities. The nursing program grants admission once a year, with approximately 48 applicants accepted to the first level each fall.

STEP ONE: THE APPLICATION PROCESS

      In order to be admitted to the college, an applicant must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have passed the GED examination. The first steps in the admission process follow. All information must be submitted to the Hesston College Admissions Office.

  1. Complete and submit the Hesston College Application for Admission.
  2. Complete and submit the Hesston College Department of Nursing application.
  3. Provide names and addresses of two references. If employed in health care, one reference must be from current employer. References may also come from other employers, supervisors, teachers, coaches, pastors, etc. References from personal friends or relatives are not accepted.
  4. Submit official high school transcripts or GED scores.
  5. Submit official ACT, SAT, or COMPASS test scores.
  6. Submit official transcripts from all colleges, universities, and other schools attended.

      For priority admission, all information must be received by March 1.
      If the number of qualified applicants with admissions files completed before the priority deadline of March 1 does not fill the available spaces (or if additional spaces become available), files completed after March 1 will be reviewed as completed and considered for admission

STEP TWO: DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Two-Year Nursing Track: Applicants must meet ONE of the following options:

Option #1

  1. Completion of Anatomy & Physiology by the beginning of the Nursing I semester;
  2. High school GPA of 3.25 or above;
  3. ACT composite score of 22, or combined score of 1030 on the two-part SAT or 1540 on the three-part SAT; and
  4. If an international student, a TOEFL score of 550 or CBT of 213.

Option #2

  1. Completion of three courses that fulfill program requirements, including Anatomy & Physiology, by the beginning of the Nursing I semester;
  2. GPA of 3.0 in college courses that fulfill program requirements;
  3. ACT composite score of 19, or combined score of 910 on the two-part SAT or 1365 on the three-part SAT, or COMPASS score of 60 in Writing/85 in Reading; and
  4. If an international student, a TOEFL score of 550 or CBT of 213.

LPN-to-RN Track:

  1. Have no more than three remaining general education/support courses to complete that fulfill program requirements; all three required sciences (A&P, Chemistry and Microbiology) must be completed;
  2. GPA of 3.0 in college courses that fulfill program requirements;
  3. GPA of 3.0 in practical nursing educational program;
  4. ACT composite score of 19, or combined score of 910 on the two-part SAT or 1365 on the three-part SAT, or COMPASS score of 60 in Writing/85 in Reading;
  5. If an international student, a TOEFL score of 550 or CBT of 213;
  6. Evidence of current Kansas LPN licensure; and
  7. Meet Kansas Statewide Nursing Articulation Plan criteria, or validate currency of nursing knowledge base.

Prenursing Track:
      To be assured a space in the nursing program (Nursing I) the following fall semester, Hesston College prenursing students must meet the following academic criteri.

Three-Year (Students Entering Hesston College in the Fall)

  1. Meet with the nursing program director prior to fall midterm to file an intent to enter nursing coursework;
  2. Successfully complete a minimum of 9 credit hours at Hesston College each semester that fulfill nursing program requirements, including one required science course (Intro to Chemistry, A&P, or Microbiology) per semester (unless these courses have been previously completed);
  3. Achieve a passing grade (“C” or above) in each science course taken (fall and spring);
  4. Achieve an overall 2.75 GPA in other (non-science) Hesston College courses that meet nursing program requirements;
  5. Successfully complete A&P by the beginning of the Nursing I semester; and
  6. If an international student, present a TOEFL score of 550 or CBT score of 213 by March 1.

2.5 Year (Students Entering Hesston College in the Spring)

  1. Meet with the nursing program director prior to spring midterm to file an intent to enter nursing coursework;
  2. Successfully complete a minimum of 12 credit hours at Hesston College that fulfill nursing program requirements, including one required science course (Microbiology), unless this course has been previously completed;
  3. Achieve a passing grade (“C” or above) in the science course taken;
  4. Achieve an overall 3.0 GPA in other (non-science) Hesston College courses that meet nursing program requirements;
  5. Successfully complete A&P by the beginning of the Nursing I semester; and
  6. If an international student, present a TOEFL score of 550 or CBT of 213 by March 1.

      Current Hesston College prenursing students (2.5 or three-year) who have not met the progression criteria above, but still want to be considered for Nursing I, will be required to meet the program’s minimum scores on the ACT, SAT, or COMPASS (Reading and Writing sections). Those earning scores equal to or above the minimum will be ranked for possible acceptance into the nursing program, leading to either an available space or ranking on a waiting list. Successful completion of the college math competency requirement will also be considered when ranking candidates.

Transfer or Readmission Track (for Applicants Previously Enrolled in an RN Program):

  1. Meet the nursing program guidelines regarding prerequisite and number of general education/supporting courses that have been successfully completed (grades of C or above);
  2. Submit an official transcript and reference from the nursing director at each nursing program previously attended (if other than Hesston College);
  3. If difficulties were previously encountered within previous nursing coursework, submit a statement describing how these difficulties have been remediated;
  4. Have a GPA of 3.0 in college courses that fulfill general education/support course program requirements;
  5. Present an ACT composite score of 19, or combined score of 910 on the two-part SAT or 1365 on the three-part SAT, or COMPASS score of 60 in Writing/85 in Reading;
  6. If an international student, present a TOEFL score of 550 or CBT of 213; and
  7. If not enrolled in nursing coursework for more than two semesters, validate previous nursing knowledge to determine advanced standing.
  8. Readmission students may also be required by contract to comply with additional expectations or standards while in the nursing program.
  9. No transfer students from other nursing programs are accepted into the final semester of the nursing program.
TECHNICAL STANDARDS

      To qualify for admission, successfully progress through the nursing curriculum, and function as a practicing nurse upon graduation, an individual must be able to perform certain physical and mental activities. Technical standards address the following:

  1. Visual acuity;
  2. Hearing, olfactory, and tactile ability;
  3. Fine motor skills;
  4. Strength, mobility, and physical endurance;
  5. Ability to speak, comprehend, and write English;
  6. Emotional stability; and
  7. Cognitive ability.

       A document describing in detail the Nursing Technical Standards adopted by the program is available from the Admissions Office and on the nursing web site.

LEGAL STANDARDS

      Legal infractions may negatively affect admission to the nursing program, as well as the eligibility for RN licensure following graduation. Therefore, applicants are asked to report any convictions (misdemeanors or felonies) as part of the application process. Legal qualifications for licensure in the state of Kansas are available from the Admissions Office and on the nursing web site.

STEP THREE: SELECTION PROCESS

      Students will be admitted annually to the various tracks of the nursing program, based on available space. Once students have met the minimum academic, technical and legal standards outlined earlier, they are selected according to the following criteria:

  1. First priority for admission will be given to currently-enrolled Hesston College students.
  2. First priority for admission will be given to currently-enrolled Hesston College student:
    • Full-time students who plan to reside on campus will be admitted and counseled into an appropriate track when file material is complete.
    • Commuting applicants with completed admission files will be considered for admission after the March 1 deadline.
  3. Factors which are considered in the ranking and selection of qualified applicants follow, and are supported by the Hesston College Admission Policy which states, “Hesston College admits those students who will benefit from the educational environment and who will contribute to the shared life of the campus communit.... Admission is granted after careful review of the candidate’s academic promise, social character, and potential for success at Hesston College.
    • GPA based on review of official transcripts;
    • Number of general education and support courses successfully completed;
    • Standardized test scores;
    • References; and
    • Applicant’s interactions and communication skills which reflect potential for success in the nursing program and ability to contribute to the shared life of the campus community.

      Applicants not selected for admission by the March 1 deadline will be sent a letter of denial or placed on a waiting list:

  1. Applicants on the waiting list may include those who meet all eligibility requirements, as well as those who do not fully meet each requirement.
  2. Late applicants (after March 1) may be added to the waiting list.
  3. All applicants on the waiting list will be selected for admission according to their ranking on the eligibility standards and selection criteria, and not by date of application.

STEP FOUR: NOTIFICATION OF ADMISSION DECISION

      All selected and non-selected applicants who complete their admissions files will be notified in writing by the Hesston College Nursing Department. Admitted students will also be informed regarding any admission contingencies (i.e., successful completion of a prerequisite course).
      Any applicant placed on a waiting list for an available position will also be notified of this status.

REAPPLICATION:Applicants who are placed on a waiting list and are not selected for admission will be required to reapply should future nursing admission be desired. Waiting list status does not guarantee any priority for a position in subsequent nursing classes. To be considered for a future academic year, the Admissions Office should be contacted to reactivate the admissions process.

EXCEPTIONS: Exceptions to this admission policy will be granted only by decision of the nursing faculty or the Nursing Admissions Committee.

 

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