PN Admission Criteria

Disclaimer

In accordance with college policy as stated in the College Catalog, this publication is not to be construed as a contract between the student and the Practical Nursing Program. All programs within the Division of Allied Health reserve the right to make changes at any time in individual courses, the curriculum leading to a degree or certificate, as well as policies contained in the PN Information Packet, PCCUA College Catalog, student handbooks, and Web. Students must be familiar with, observant of, and subject to all rules and regulations of PCCUA.

Admission

Students are admitted to the Practical Nursing Program (PN) every third semester on the Helena-West Helena and DeWitt campuses. Students who wish to be considered for admission to the PN Program must meet the following criteria:

  1. Fulfill all college admission requirements
  2. Be at least 18 years of age
  3. Submit official high school transcript documenting graduation from high school or official Arkansas High School Diploma/GED certificate and official transcripts from all previously attended colleges to the Registrar's office and PN Program Coordinator. These documents must be received in the Nursing Department on the DeWitt campus  by the application deadline date.
  4. Document a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average in all courses taken at PCCUA
  5. Complete EH 113 (ENGL 1013), Composition I, and MS 143, Technical Math, or MS 1123, Intermediate Algebra, or higher with a grade of "C" or better. Applicants who repeat EH 113 (ENGL 1013) or MS 1123 more than one (1) time in the past five (5) years to remove a grade of "D", "F", "W", or "EW" will not be considered for admission.
  6. Document a total 9th grade reading level on the Nelson-Denny Reading Test by the application deadline. The Nelson-Denny Reading Test must be taken at PCCUA within three (3) months of: (1) the PN program application deadline for regular applicants, or (2) submission of a late application to the program. Students on the Helena-West Helena campus should contact the Advising Center to schedule a time to take the Nelson-Denny Reading Test. Students on the DeWitt campus should contact the PN Program Coordinator on the DeWitt Campus to schedule a time to take the Nelson-Denny Reading Test. The Nelson-Denny Reading test may only be taken once per application year.
  7. Document a minimum score of 47 on the ATI Critical Thinking Exam by the application deadline. This exam must be taken at PCCUA within three (3) months of: (1) the PN program application deadline for regular applicants or (2) submission of a late application to the program. Students on the Helena-West Helena campus should contact the Advising Center to schedule a time to take the ATI Critical Thinking Exam. Students on the DeWitt campus should contact the PN Program Coordinator on the DeWitt campus to schedule a time to take the ATI Critical Thinking Exam. The ATI Critical Thinking Exam may only be taken once per application year.
  8. Submit a completed PN Program application to the PN Program Coordinator on the DeWitt campus. The application must be received in the Nursing Department on the DeWitt campus by June 1st for admission to the fall semester and October 1st for admission to the spring semester.
  9. By 154 and BY 164 with a grade of C or better taken within the last five (5) years may be substituted for PNP 103 prior to admission to the PN program.
  10. Students who speak English as a second language must also take the NG ACCUPLACER ESL exam to prove proficiency in English. The following scores are required in each category:
    1. Listening: A minimum score of 106
    2. Reading: A minimum score of 116
    3. WritePlacer ESL: A minimum score of 5
  11. Rare exceptions for individuals seeking admission may be made by the Faculty Committee.

All students who meet minimum admission criteria will be accepted unless the number of qualified applicants exceeds space available. This means MEETING THE MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION OR TAKING courses REQUIRED for the nursing certificate DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMISSION TO THE PN PROGRAM.

Selection Process

  1. Qualified applicants will be ranked from highest to lowest by the score earned on the ATI Critical Thinking Exam.
  2. When two or more applicants have an equal score on the ATI Critical Thinking Exam, applicants will be admitted according to the date and time the application was received in the Nursing Department Office on the DeWitt campus.
  3. Students initially not selected, will be placed on a waiting list from highest to lowest by the score earned on the ATI Critical Thinking Exam, and the date and time the application was received. Spaces that become available before the first day of classes will be filled from the waiting list.
  4. Applicants not selected for admission and/or applicants who elect not to enroll in the Practical Nursing Program must repeat the application process which includes but is not limited to: submitting a new application to the Practical Nursing Program as well as repeating the Nelson-Denny Reading and ATI Critical Thinking exams within three (3) months of the application deadline.

Admission After Application Deadline

When space is available, qualified applicants who apply after the deadline will be considered for admission on a first-come, first-served basis.

Enrollment Process

Before enrolling in first semester practical nursing courses, the student must provide the following documents:

  1. Completed Health Statement
  2. Proof of immunization compliance
    • Current Td or Tdap
    • Two (2) Varicella or positive titer
    • Two (2) MMRs, if born after 1957 or positive titers
    • Initiation of Hepatitis B series  or positive titer  
  3. Proof of a TB skin test within the last year
  4. Signed Communicable Disease Statement
  5. Current US federal or state issued photo ID, examples include:
    • US passport
    • US military ID
    • State driver's license
  6. Proof of professional liability insurance
  7. Attend scheduled mandatory orientation session for nursing the week of fall or spring registration

No late enrollment is allowed. Students are expected to furnish their own transportation to and from the clinical area.

After Enrollment

Proof of influenza (flu) immunization is required by November 1st of each academic year.

To comply with clinical affiliation agreements, every student must fulfil these expectations BEFORE attending orientation for affiliated clinical agencies:

  • Have a negative RT-PCR Test for COVID-19 within fourteen (14) days of the student’s scheduled orientation to the clinical facility 
  • Complete a PCCUA COVID-19 education seminar
  • Demonstrate correct donning and doffing of personal protective equipment
  • Demonstrate correct handwashing technique

Any student who does NOT meet each expectation will NOT be allowed to attend clinical in an affiliated agency and may NOT be able to meet respective course requirements. This policy is effective for students enrolled in fall 2020 allied health and nursing courses until further notice.

Any student testing positive for COVID-19 will follow PCCUA’s and the clinical agency’s protocol BEFORE being allowed to return to class and the clinical setting.

Students admitted to the PN program on the distance Helena-West Helena campus are expected to come on occasion to the DeWitt campus to participate in scheduled program activities.