Nursing Degree AAS - Traditional Placement Option Information

The college offers an opportunity for recent high school graduates and other eligible adults to complete the associate degree nursing program in two years of full-time study in the TPO, beginning in August, following successful completion of pre-requisite courses. This is a rigorous and academically challenging program.

The following must be completed for consideration for the AAS Nursing Degree Program Traditional Placement Option:

• Requirements for general admission to the college, completed by February 15 for fall admission;
• An application to the college specifying an intent to be considered for admission to the nursing program. Completed applications for the ADN program are accepted until February 15 for fall enrollment. An application checklist can be found at www.nr.edu/nursing/pdf/admissioninfo.pdf. Applications completed after February 15 will be considered for fall admission the following calendar year. Documentation required for admission consideration should be hand-delivered or delivered via postal mail to the Nursing Admissions Advisor in the Admissions & Records Office in Rooker Hall and must include:
  • Official copy of high school transcript or certificate of a GED; 
  • Official copies of all college transcripts if you have attended a college other than NRCC (If your name has changed please notify the Nursing Admissions Advisor);
• Application to the Associate Degree Nursing Program by February 15 for fall admission;
• Participation in a general information session for students interested in the Associate Degree Nursing Program Traditional Placement Option; 
• One unit of high school chemistry, CHM 5 , or a college-level chemistry course completed prior to February 15;
• Mathematics readiness indicated in one of the following ways:
  • College-level math course (MTH 132   or higher) with a grade of C or higher within two years prior to application deadline;
  • MDE 10   with a grade of S
  • Virginia Placement Test (VPT) score demonstrating proficiency on Units 1-5 (the VPT score is valid for one year prior to the February deadline;
• Admission Test: Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) scores in the 45th national percentile or higher. TEAS assessments taken at NRCC must be completed by the last test date offered prior to the admission deadline for fall admission. A student may take the TEAS one time per year. The TEAS assesses knowledge and skills in reading comprehension, science, English, and math. Priority is given to students who score higher on the TEAS test.
• Attend an orientation program prior to the start of the first semester;
• Preference is given to applicants who are residents of NRCC’s service region (Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski Counties and the City of Radford).

Prospective students are responsible for all associated costs related to admission requirements.

Advanced Placement Option - LPN to ADN Information

The Advanced Placement Option is for LPNs who wish to earn an associate degree in nursing. The college values all levels of nursing education and is committed to reducing barriers to educational mobility. Students must complete all other courses in the curriculum. Please note that all criteria described under Application and Admission to the Clinical Component in the TPO information section are applicable to the Advanced Placement Option.

Students seeking admission to the Advanced Placement Option must complete the following:

• Requirements for general admission to the college completed by November 1 for spring semester admission;
• An application to the college specifying an intent to be considered for admission to the nursing program. Completed applications for the APO are accepted until November 1 for spring enrollment. An application checklist can be found at www.nr.edu/nursing/pdf/admissioninfo.pdf. Applications received after November 1 will be considered for spring admission the following academic year. Documentation required for admission consideration should be hand-delivered or delivered via postal mail to the Nursing Admissions Advisor in the Admissions & Records Office in Rooker Hall;
• Official copy of high school transcript or certificate of GED;
• Official copies of all college transcripts if you have attended a college other than NRCC (If your name has changed please notify the Nursing Admissions Advisor);
• Application to the Associate Degree Nursing Program by November 1 for spring enrollment;
• Participation in a general information session for students interested in applying to the associate degree nursing program Advanced Placement Option;
• Satisfactory completion of BIO 141 , prior to November 1;
• Hold a current unrestricted license to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) by November 1;
• Current professional-level CPR certification. CPR certification must be valid to begin clinicals as soon as the first week of class in spring semester and must be submitted prior to the start of the semester. Certification must be kept current throughout enrollment in the program. CPR certification courses must be either American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS). The certifications are specific to the healthcare provider;
• Mathematics readiness indicated in one of the following ways:
  • College-level math course (MTH 132  or higher) with a grade of C or higher within two years prior to application deadline;
  • MDE 10  with a grade of S
  • Virginia Placement Test (VPT) score demonstrating proficiency on Units 1-5 (the VPT score is valid for one year prior to the February 15 deadline);
• Admission Test: The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) assesses knowledge and skills in reading comprehension, science, English and math. Minimum scores are expected to be at least in the 45th national percentile. Priority is given to students who score higher on the admission assessment. A student may take the TEAS one time per year. 
• Preference is given to applicants who are residents of NRCC’s service region (Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski Counties and the City of Radford).

Student Responsibilities for all Associate Degree Nursing Students

• An initial health form must be completed following acceptance and prior to beginning any clinical. The deadline will be communicated by the program director following admission to the program. To comply with clinical agency affiliation agreements, health screening, immunization documentation (including seasonal influenza vaccine), and a urine drug screen with negative results are required. Drug testing must follow specific date and procedural stipulations. Further information will be provided on actions to take following acceptance to the nursing program. A repeat health form must be completed annually thereafter.  It is the responsibility of the student to maintain current records throughout the program.  NRCC uses a third party vendor for maintenance of documents for the program. The student is responsible for all associated costs;
• The student is responsible for costs associated with textbooks, uniforms, accessories, lab supplies, supplemental resources, and required achievement testing;
• The student is responsible for transportation to and from clinical sites. Clinical experiences may be scheduled during day and evening hours, and weekday or weekends, depending on availability of clinical facilities and community experiences;
• The student must obtain and maintain current CPR certification throughout the program. Please note: CPR certification courses must be either American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) or Red Cross Basic Life Support. These certifications are specific to the healthcare provider;
• The student must have health insurance and is responsible for the cost;
• The student is responsible for the costs of personal medical care incurred as a result of accidents or incidents in the clinical or laboratory setting;
• The student is responsible for fees associated with the application to take the exam for licensure as a Registered Nurse;
• The student is responsible for fees associated with criminal background reports. Criminal background checks will be completed as part of the admissions process and prior to beginning the clinical component of any nursing classes. Background checks must follow specific procedural requirements. Information is provided on actions to take to complete the background check;
• The student is responsible for the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) fee, which is non-refundable;

Readmission Requirements to the Associate Degree Nursing Program

Readmission to the program is dependent upon clinical placement availability in the desired class. Prior to readmission the student must:

• Notify the program director in writing with readmission request as soon as possible in the semester prior to readmission. The formal letter must include a detailed plan for success should readmission be offered;
• Have a 2.5 curricular GPA at the time of readmission. Priority will be given to students with higher GPAs and higher TEAS scores.

Students applying for readmission who have been absent one or more semesters must validate dose calculation competency by completing the Dose Calculation Competency Assessment with 80% accuracy or higher prior to approval for re-admission.

Readmission to the program is not assured. The program director will contact the student with a determination on readmission status at the end of the semester before the requested readmission date. Preparation to pass the licensure exam is more than a mere collection of credits. The curriculum is designed in a synergistic manner, intended to be completed in four consecutive semesters. Therefore, students absent from the program for more than one semester will be required prior to readmission to audit one or more of the previously credited courses or demonstrate competency in nursing content areas in required curricular nursing courses satisfactorily completed previously. Students absent from the program for two or more semesters must repeat all nursing courses. Students returning to the program are responsible for all program requirements in place at the time of readmission.

Transfer Students Currently Enrolled in Another Nursing Program

Transfer students who are currently enrolled in another nursing program or have been enrolled in another program no more than a year prior to request for transfer are admitted on a space available basis, if they are currently in good academic standing and eligible to return to the nursing program, have satisfactory clinical evaluations, provide a positive recommendation from the program director, and meet all other admissions requirements. Nursing students seeking to transfer nursing credits to NRCC should contact the nursing admissions advisor. Students from other colleges who are transferring only non-nursing credits should apply through the usual means for new students. All transfer students must validate dose calculation competency by completing the Dose Calculation Competency Assessment with 80% accuracy or higher and demonstrate competency in nursing content areas in NRCC curricular nursing courses for which transfer credit is being evaluated.

Continuing Nursing Education Following Completion of an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing

Articulation agreements with senior colleges and universities facilitate the educational mobility of graduates of associate degree nursing programs into RN-to-BSN completion programs. Most RN-to-BSN programs require students to pass the licensure exam, complete additional general education courses, and enroll in upper division nursing courses. The specific requirements and length of BSN completion programs vary among senior institutions, and students are encouraged to contact senior institutions for advising.