Admission Requirements

The nursing program has enrollment limitations. This necessitates the screening of applicants, utilizing selection criteria that have been established for the program. General criteria for consideration are stated below. These requirements apply to all nursing applicants, including licensed practical nurses applying for the Career Mobility Ladder, Options A and B.

1. Meet all College general requirements for admission as a degree-seeking student as stated in the catalog.
2. Applicants must satisfy all mandatory assessment and placement requirements prior to submitting application to the Nursing Program.
3. ACT or SAT exam results are required of all applicants, regardless of educational experience or age. Exceptions to the ACT requirement may be made by the Nursing Program director when the applicant has an earned degree in a related field/major. Applicants should have a composite score of 19 or higher. A composite score below 19 will be accepted if all required remedial and developmental courses are completed.
4. Earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale for academic subjects. High school grade point average is used for students who graduated from high school during the year previous to admission in the Nursing Program.
5. Students without previous college experience must have completed:
   a. two years of high school mathematics; and
   b. two years of high school science.
6. If the applicant has been enrolled in another Nursing Program, the nursing courses will be evaluated for transfer credit on an individual basis.
   a. Earned a grade of “C” or better for all transferred nursing courses.
   b. Transfers accepted on a space available basis.
   c. Submit a letter of recommendarion from the program director.
7. If three or more years have elapsed since enrollment in a nursing program, all nursing courses must be repeated.
8. If five or more years have elapsed since previous college enrollment, the following requirements apply:
   a. Anatomy and Physiology courses must be repeated.
   b. All current application/enrollment requirements apply.
9. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, all applicants and admitted students must be, with reasonable accommodation, physically and mentally capable of performing the essential functions of the program outlined below in the Core Performance Standards of Admission and Progression developed by the Southern Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing and adopted by all Nursing Programs in the Tennessee Board of Regents system (TBR Policy 2:03:00:00 II B 6).
   

   a. Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal, nonverbal and written form.

   b. Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.

   c. Critical thinking ability sufficient for appropriate clinical judgment and utilization of the nursing process.

   d. Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces.

   e. Strength to perform patient care and assist with patient mobility.

   f. Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care.

   g. Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.

   h. Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary to provide safe and effective nursing care.

   i. Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and intervention.

   j. Ability to be responsive within appropriate time periods.

10. Once admitted, students are required to submit documentation of the following entry requirements prior to the first day of nursing classes. If the documentation is not completed prior to the first day of classes, students will not be permitted to start the Nursing Program.
    
    A. Health Requirements: All nursing students must submit evidence of good health by returning a completed Physical Examination form. Forms are given to the students once admitted into the Nursing Program. All students must have a:
1. Documented negative TB Skin Test and/or Chest X-Ray yearly. TB Skin Tests must be within three months of the start of the Program. Some affiliates require a two-step TB skin test within the past twelve (12) months as a condition of participation in clnical rotations. After the initial TB skin test another TB skin test is required within two (2) to three (3) weeks. If the second TB skin test is positive, a baseline chest X-ray will be required. Thereafter, TB skin tests are required annually.
2. Evidence of Immunity for:
   a. Rubella (positive titer).
   b. Varicella zoster (chicken pox) (positive titer).
   c. Rubeola titer (positive titer).
   d. Mumps
   e. Tetanus/diphtheria booster within the past ten years.
3. Some clinical facilties require proof of immunity to Hepatitis B or a waiver stating refusal to get the series of immunizations.

B. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) Requirements: All students must submit evidence of a current BCLS certification (must include two-person CPR) for the health care professional. BCLS certification classes are offered by Columbia State Community College or the American Heart Association.

C. Malpractice Insurance: Malpractice insurance is required for all clinical nursing courses. A group policy is available. The fee is assessed annually as a part of registration.

D. Health Insurance: Students are responsible for all costs incurred related to health problems, including injuries occurring during clinical experiences. Some clinical agencies require that students provide verification of health insurance. Students must show documentation that they are covered by health insurance OR sign a waiver that states they accept responsibility for health care costs should injury occur.

E. Criminal background checks are a requirement at most affiliated clinical training sites. Based on the results of the criminal background check, an affiliated clinical site may determine to not allow your presence at their facility. This could result in your inability to successfully complete the requirement of a specific course and your program. More information is available from your program director. Applicants who have been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation may be ineligible for licensure. For more information, contact the program director of nursing. Any felony convictions must be reported to the program director of nursing.

F. Routine drug screening is now required. The drug screen must be a nine-panel drug screen and it must be reviewed by a certified medical review officer at the facility where it is obtained. Drug screens will not be accepted from students. Negative drug screens must be mailed from the certified lab to:

Columbia State Community College
Nursing Program Records Clerk - Warf 109D
1665 Hampshire Pike
Columbia, Tennessee 38401

_______________________________________________________________
Return to the Nursing Program homepage for more program and contact information.