Selective Admission Process

APPLICATION DATES:
We will be taking online applications from October 1, 2016 thru March 1, 2017. 

The first selection date will be March 15, 2016.


*Program Admission Requirements are subject to change each academic year.
**The Nursing Program reserves the right to make changes to the admission policies or process at any time.

 

PRACTICAL NURSING
The Practical Nursing (PN) curriculum provides individuals with the knowledge to function under the direction of a licensed professional in a variety of health care settings. To assist in assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of clients. Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which is required for practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Employment opportunities include a variety of health care settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics and physician’s offices.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS
The most qualified applicants who are residents of the Carl Sandburg College District or of community college districts involved in a cooperative agreement with Carl Sandburg College will be given preference for admission/readmission into the nursing programs.

 

ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPEAR IN PERSON AT CARL SANDBURG COLLEGE FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH A NURSING ADVISOR. Be sure to make an appointment early in the process. 

Steps 1-4 must be completed prior to making an appointment with a Nursing Advisor/Counselor.

 

Students must:

  1. Complete a Carl Sandburg College General Admissions Application.
  2. Complete College Compass test.
  3. Request official high school or GED scores be mailed to the Carl Sandburg College Admissions and Records Office. Official transcripts should be mailed from the institution(s) attended or be hand delivered in an envelope sealed by a representative of the school(s) attended.
  4. Request official transcripts from all colleges or schools attended since high school be mailed to the Carl Sandburg College Admissions and Records Office.
  5. Make an appointment to meet with Nursing Advisor/Counselor to review your compass scores; review your transcripts, high and/or college; and to determine if you meet all the nursing program admission requirements and course work pre-requisites.
  6. Schedule and take the TEAS pre-admission exam.  It is recommended you purchase the TEAS study guide book and review prior to taking the TEAS Exam.  You may take the TEAS exam before or after submitting your application.  However, you must complete the TEAS exam by March 1, 2017 to meet the selection date of March 15, 2017.  The applicant must have a cumulative TEAS score of 62% or greater to meet the nursing program admission requirements.  The TEAS Exam cannot be taken more than three times in a twelve month period.
  7. Steps 1 - 5 must be completed prior to completing the nursing program application online.  Complete the ONLINE Nursing Application and submit (October 1, 2016 - March 1, 2017).  When the selection committee meets and it has been determined that you have met the criteria for your program selection, you will be notified by e-mail of your conditional admission to that selection.  Students denied admission will be notified by mail.
  8. After submitting the online nursing program application, you need to pay the $50.00 application fee to the Carl Sandburg College Business Office.  The $50.00 application fee is non-refundable and will be applied to a scholarship fund for nursing.  Your application will not be reviewed for admission into the nursing program until your application fee has been paid.
  9. Selection date is March 15, 2017.  Applicants will be notified by e-mail of conditional admission into the nursing program.  You will then have 14 calendar days from the date of your conditional admission email to pay the $50.00 intent to enter (seat fee) to the Carl Sandburg Business Office to hold your place in the nursing program.  The $50.00 intent to enter (seat fee) will be refunded or applied towards your tuition if you enter into the nursing program.  Students who accept their seat and drop for any reason will forfeit their money.  Alternates who are not admitted will receive a refund. 
  10. Meet all other conditional admission requirements of the nursing program.  After you pay your intent to enter (seat fee) within the 14 calendar days, you will receive an e-mail with dates to attend a mandatory orientation session.  At this mandatory orientation session you will receive a packet with forms and a check-off sheet of nursing program requirements (such as CPR, Immunizations, Background Check, Drug Screen, Physical, ect.) that will need to be completed and proper forms submitted by set dates and prior to full admission into the nursing program.

*ALL FEES ARE TO BE PAID TO THE CARL SANDBURG COLLEGE BUSINESS OFFICE ONLY.

 

IT IS THE NURSING APPLICANT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE MET BY THE ESTABLISHED DEADLINES.  ALL NURSING DEADLINES, GUIDELINES, AND POLICIES APPLY EQUALLY TO ALL STUDENTS.

 

TEST OF ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC SKILLS (TEAS)
You are required to complete this pre-admission exam (TEAS) and your Adjusted Individual Score (AIS) needs to be 62% or greater to be considered for admission into the nursing program.  This exam is designed to determine the academic readiness of applicants entering nursing programs.  You will test in each of the following four (4) areas:  Reading, Math, Science and English.  Your TEAS (AIS) score is part of the point system (See Point Count Work Sheet) used for conditional admission to the program.  TEAS cannot be taken more than three (3) times within a twelve month period and must have been taken within the last two (2) years.  If a nursing applicant tests more than three (3) times within the same period, only the first three attempts will be considered in the yearly application process.  A study guide for the TEAS exam can be obtained from www.atitesting.com, as well as practice testing options.  Please go to the ATI website for frequently asked questions about TEAS and preparing to take the TEAS exam.

 

ADMISSION
Students must submit and meet admission requirements before their applications will be considered for review. Once the review is complete, the student is admitted conditionally, placed on an alternate list, or denied admission. Full admission status is given after the student registers for and attends a mandatory orientation session and completes all program specific paperwork by the designated deadline. Information regarding registration for mandatory orientation sessions will be contained in the E-MAIL sent notifying students of their initial program admission status. Conditionally admitted students and those on the alternate list must attend the mandatory orientation sessions in order to receive required forms for full admission. Students who do not register for and attend a mandatory orientation session will forfeit their conditional admission and the position will be offered to an alternate.

 

If an applicant is not admitted to the program and wishes to apply for a subsequent academic year they must complete a new application and meet all requirements that are current at that time. No application files are carried over allowing the evaluation process to start anew each year.

 

ALTERNATES TO THE NURSING PROGRAM

An alternate list from the completed applications for the specific term is maintained in the event additional spaces become available.  If someone is put on the alternate list and no spaces become available, their application is withdrawn and the student will need to complete the application/admission process again to be considered for the next admission.

 

NURSING SELECTION PROCESS
The point system was implemented as an objective means for evaluating and ranking nursing applicants (see Point Count Worksheet).

Total Points

Points from the TEAS exam subject areas and selected required program courses are used to determine final point count for admission ranking.  Applicants with the highest point total will be selected for admission first.

"See Point Count Worksheet for details.

Points for TEAS Exam

The individual TEAS subject areas are used in calculating the total number of points in this section.

Points for Required Program Course Work Completed

Selective courses required prior to or during the nursing program as outlined in the college catalog for the current curriculum earn points based on if completed prior to application deadline.  (All courses must be passed with a "C" or better for consideration and graduation from the program.)

 

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE
Accepted students and alternates will be notified of their admission status by E-MAIL (make sure you put a valid email address on your application).  As space becomes available, students on the alternate list will receive a conditional admission E-MAIL.  Alternates are admitted to the program only if someone who was originally accepted declines the offer of admission, if someone who was originally accepted becomes disqualified or if seats are available after the selection date.  Letter of non-acceptance will be sent to those who were not accepted into a nursing program by.  No waiting list will be kept.

 

Thirty (30) students may be conditionally admitted to the Practical Nursing Program each Fall semester.  Students will be assigned to a lab section and a clinical section at the beginning of the semester.  Day, evening and weekend hours for labs and clinical may be required.

 

MEDICAL RECORDS
All completed health/medical reports, including immunizations, must be received by the specified date noted at the mandatory orientation session or the student will be disqualified for admission.  Physicals are good for three (3) years unless otherwise noted.  All immunizations must be accompanied by the lab printout results.

 

DRUG SCREEN
A ten (10) panel urine drug screen is mandatory. Testing positive on the first (1st) drug screen, or evidence of tampering with a specimen, will disqualify a student from admission into the nursing program.  Information on obtaining a drug screen will be provided at the Mandatory Orientation Sessions.

 

CPR

Students must submit documentation of current CPR certification at the Health Care Provider BLS Level.  Students must keep their CPR certification in good standing and current throughout the entire timeframe they are in the nursing program.  CPR Certifications are good for two years, thus it is the responsibility of the student to re-certify as needed.

 

TB Test
Documentation of a TB two (2) step test.  Must be renewed yearly prior to the start of program.  Allow time for first (1st) test to be read and second (2nd) test to be given.  (A one step will need to be repeated for 2nd year ADN students prior to starting their second year.)  The Quantiferon Gold TB Blood Test can also be used.

 

FLU SHOT

Documentation of the influenza immunization is required yearly (in the Fall) in order to allow students to meet criteria set forth by clinical agencies.  A waiver may be completed and the student will then need to abide by the clinical agencies policy during flu season and wear a mask as directed while performing clinical.

 

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK
Clinical sites require a criminal background check prior to allowing students into the clinical setting.
Information to complete the criminal background check will be given during the mandatory orientation sessions only.
*Findings on the criminal background check, health evaluation and/or drug screening may void the conditional
admission and prevent entrance into the program.

 

PHOTO ID
All nursing student are required to have a photo ID before they can attend the nursing skills laboratory or clinical practicum (this is in addition to your College ID).  Photo ID’s are completed after the student has received notice of admission to the program and prior to the start of the semester.  Anytime a student is in the nursing skills lab or clinical agency they must have their student photo ID on them and visible to others.

 

TRANSFER STUDENTS
Transfer students who have been enrolled in an approved Illinois Nursing Program will be considered for admission to the program for Fall semester only after meeting all admission requirements.

 

RE-ADMISSIONS
Students who have dropped/failed the program may apply for re-admission. Re-admission will be based on number of seats available at the time. Students will need to contact a nursing advisor or the Dean of College of Nursing & Health Professions for current requirements for re-admission to the program. Students must apply for re-admission within one (1) year of leaving the program. After one (1) year the student must complete the entire admissions process again.

  • Any student who withdraws, or fails the course must complete an Exit Interview form with the Associate Dean of Nursing in order to be considered for re-admission to the program. This must be done by the end of the semester in which failure or withdrawal occurred or within 6 weeks if the student exited at the end of the term.
  • Any student who withdraws or who is dropped from the Program must reapply for admission for the appropriate semester during the regular application filing dates and comply with the current admission criteria for admission to the program.
  • A student is allowed one re-admission only.
  • The most qualified applicants will be re-admitted first.
  • Students who were dismissed or permitted to voluntarily withdraw from this or any other program for reasons related to professional conduct and/or patient safety are not automatically eligible for re-admission/transfer consideration. Applicants will be reviewed on an individual basis and admission must be approved by a majority vote of the Nursing Admission and Retention Committee.

 

Any determination by the Nursing program on an application for re-admission to the Nursing Program is final and not subject to the College’s appeal procedures.

 

PROGRESSION POLICY
All BIO and NUP courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better by the end of the scheduled semester in order to progress in the program. All lab and clinical sections must be completed with a “Satisfactory” by the end of the scheduled semester in order to progress in the program. Student must complete all program requirements and all program courses with a “C” or better to meet requirements for graduation and completion of the program.

 

PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE EXPECTATIONS
Nursing is a practice discipline with cognitive, sensory, affective, and psychomotor performance requirements at all levels of nursing. For purposes of the nursing program compliance with the 1990 Americans with Disability Act, a qualified individual with a disability is one who, with or without reasonable accommodation or modification, meets the essential eligibility requirements for participation in the nursing programs. If a student believes that he or she cannot meet nursing program requirements without accommodations or modifications, the nursing faculty will determine on an individual basis whether or not the necessary accommodations or modifications can be reasonably made.

 

DISQUALIFYING FACTORS
Students may be denied admission to or continuation in the nursing programs for any of the following reasons (non-inclusive):
A. Physical or emotional health, which indicates impairment in ability to provide safe nursing care to the public.
B. Conduct not in accordance with the standards of a practical nurse.

  1.  Giving false information or withholding material information.
  2. Convicted or pleaded guilty to any crime which indicated that the individual is unfit or incompetent to practice nursing.
  3. Has used any drug to a degree that interferes with his or her fitness to practice safe nursing.
  4. Has engaged in conduct which endangers the public health.

 

LEGAL LIMITATIONS OF LICENSURE
Students who enroll in the Practical Nursing program should be aware that the application for licensure at the completion of the program may be denied, or be restricted by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation: Illinois Board of Nursing.

 

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION: NURSE PRACTICE ACT
http://www.idfpr.com
Section 1300.100 Refusal to Issue a Nurse License Based on Criminal History Record
Section 1300.90 Unethical or Unprofessional Conduct
Section 1300.120 Impaired Nurse

 

PROGRAM INFORMATION CONTACTS:
If you have questions or concerns regarding the selective admission process, please contact :

 

ADVISORS/COUNSELORS
Galesburg: Jennifer Holmes:  jholmes@sandburg.edu or 309-341-5338
                     Megan Jones:  mjones@sandburg.edu or 309-341-5229
Carthage:   Ellen Henderson-Gasser:  ehenderson@sandburg.edu or 217-357-3129 ext. 7247

 

College of Nursing Administrative Assistant
LaDonna Green:  lgreen@sandburg.edu or 309-341-5299

 

Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions
Mischelle Monagle:  mmonagle@sandburg.edu or 309-341-5456

 

Rev. 7/21/11;8/21/12; 7/29/13; 10/21/13; 10/1/15