How Do I Get into Nursing School

Nancy James, MS, RN, CRNP Associate Dean of Nursing and Allied Health

Cherie Mathews & Stefanie Hopper

Nursing Counselors

Pre-requisites needed to apply

English 1A Psychology 100 Nutrition 10 Human Development 1 Math Anatomy (BIO 5 or 7a/7b) Physiology (BIO 6) Microbiology (BIO 8a/8b or 4)

*If you are using your AP courses from high school, the grade will correspond to your AP

score

Co-requisites required

Anthropology 2 or Sociology 1

Communication 1 – public speaking

**These must be completed before your second year of nursing program, therefore get them done before or during your first year.

What’s important to know

Grades are important Biology English Math

Volunteer experience Exposure Multi-criteria points

ATI TEAS – Test of Essential Academic Skills

Every program is different BSN programs – GPA, merit based ADN programs – mostly random selection Repeat policy, recency, other important differences

7 year recency….why?

Anatomy and Physiology

Microbiology

Nutrition

Conviction History

A person convicted of any offense other than a minor traffic violation, may not qualify to be licensed as a Registered Nurse – State Board of Registered Nursing, Regulation 480 Anything other than a minor traffic violation, including traffic

tickets over $1000 Includes sealed, juvenile and expunged offenses May not be allowed rotations in a clinical facility Visit: www.rn.ca.gov for more information

Criteria Explanation Point Distribution Required Supporting Documents

1. Academic degrees • AA/AS or higher __ Yes (5) __No

Maximum of 5 points 0 In progress degrees not accepted. Transcript from regionally accredited US College or university with degree posted.

2. Grade point average in relevant course work – *Science

• Minimum 3.0 GPA required in anatomy, physiology and microbiology

• __ GPA 3.8-4.0 (30) • __GPA 3.5-3.79 (25) • __GPA 3.3-3.49 (20) • __GPA 3.0-3.3.29 (15)

Maximum of 30 points 0

Official transcripts required. Any courses not taken at Sierra College, or not listed on the equivalency grid online, should have corresponding course descriptions from the institution where the courses were taken. The course descriptions cannot be cut and pasted, rather, they must be copied directly from the institution’s course catalog.

3. Grade point average in other relevant pre-requisites –

*Math and English • Minimum 2.5 GPA required in English

1A, 1B, 1C or equivalent and requisite mathematics course

• __GPA 3.5-4.0 (15) • __GPA 3.0-3.49 (10) • __GPA 2.6-2.99 (5) • __GPA 2.5-2.59 (1)

Maximum of 15 points

0 Official transcripts required. Only include transcripts where the remaining pre-requisites were taken. Any courses not taken at Sierra College, or not listed on the equivalency grid online, should have corresponding course descriptions from the institution where the courses were taken. The course descriptions cannot be cut and pasted; rather, they must be copied directly from the institution’s course catalog. *Please note that if using AP scores, the corresponding grade reflects the AP score per the College Board. AP score 5 = A AP score 4 = B AP score 3 = C

Multi-criteria form

4. Repeated classes in any science prerequisite

• Anatomy, physiology and microbiology that were repeated after withdrawal, failure or retake.

• __1 repeat (-5)

Maximum -5 0 Any additional repeats will not count against your score.

5. Relevant work or volunteer experience

• 200 hours or more working or volunteering within the last 2 years.

• __Licensed LVN or paramedic (10) • __RT, PT, CNA, EMT, Psych Tech, OT

Asst., Vet Tech, MA (5) • __Recent work or volunteer

experience with direct patient care in relevant jobs (5)

Maximum of 10 points (Items listed are examples only and not an exhaustive list of certification that MAY be accepted.)

0 License or certification copy required. Written proof of volunteer hours.

6. Life Experiences __choose from only one (5) • Disabilities • Low Income • 1st generation to attend college • Need to work • Disadvantaged social or educational

environment • Difficult personal and family

situations • Refugee

Maximum of 5 points choose only one from list

0

Provide brief description on a separate piece of paper, explaining situation or circumstances. Attach to this form.

7. Veteran Status • __Eligible veterans status or

pending separation (5)

Maximum of 5 points 0 Honorable Discharge. Submit copy of DD-214 and attach to this form

8. Proficiency or advanced level coursework in languages other than English

• __Yes (5) __No • Languages in addition to English.

Proficiency communicating or 4 semesters at college level.

Maximum of 5 points. Additional languages do not earn more points.

0 Completed Certificate of Language Proficiency Form. Transcripts showing completion of 4 semesters at college level in same language with “C” or better.

9. TEAS score • __90.7-100 (30) • __78-90.6 (20) • __73.0-77.9 (10) • __62-72.9 (1)

Maximum of 30 points. <62.0 = not qualified

0 Submit copy of TEAS results and attach to this form.

ATI TEAS testing

Test of Essential Academic Skills Math, reading, writing, sciences Should be taken during the final year of pre-requisites Can be repeated for a better score but it’s recommended to wait 2-3

months in between attempts (Varies by program) Enroll at www.atitesting.com Testing sites include Sacramento State Plan accordingly, testing dates fill up quickly Have results sent to Sierra College nursing program

Application Cycle

Sierra College accepts once a year Application cycle: February 1-April 15 All pre-reqs must be completed by the end of previous fall semester TEAS transcript must be included in packet Other college official transcripts must be included in packet Minimum score of 70 on multi-criteria

Sacramento State accepts twice a year

Fall Applications to CSUS - Oct 1 – Nov 30 & Supplemental application required Feb 1 – March 1st Spring Applications to CSUS - Aug 1 – Aug 30 & Supplemental application required Sept 1 – Oct 1st

Sacramento City accepts once a year February 1st -28th for Fall and Spring cohorts

American River accepts twice a year February 1st-28th for Fall entry September for Spring entry

A Typical Week …

Mondays: Lecture, 08:00-11:30a Skills lab, 12:30-2:30p for the first 2 weeks, followed by Hospital prep for 2 hours

Tuesdays: Clinicals at the hospital, 8 hours, AM or PM shift

Wednesdays: Clinicals at the hospital, 8 hours, AM or PM shift

Thursdays: Lecture, 0900-12:30p

Fridays: Occasional skills lab days Saturdays and Sundays: study, study, study!!!

Curriculum

First Semester: NRSR 21 Nursing Fundamentals, Nursing Process & Foundational Concepts in Caring for the

Geriatric Clients

Second Semester: NRSR 22 Medical-Surgical Nursing I & Foundational Concepts in Caring for the Pediatric Client

Semester III: NRSR 23 Medical-Surgical Nursing II and Foundational Concepts in Caring for the Client with Mental Illness

Semester IV: NRSR 24 Advanced Medical-Surgical and Geriatric Nursing and Foundational Concepts in Caring for the Maternal-

Newborn Client

Semester Tuition* Books Other/Incidentals

1st Semester 11 units: $506 $800-900 Kaplan: $500 Incidentals: $200-300 Uniform: $100 Parking: $50

2nd Semester 11 units: $506 $50 Incidentals: $100 Parking: $50

3rd Semester 11 units: $506 $50 Incidentals: $50 Parking: $50

4th Semester 11 units: $506 $50 Incidentals: $10 Parking: $50

APPROX. TOTAL $2,024 $950-$1,050 $1,160-1,260

Several variables, such as occasional fee increases, student health plans and incidentals prohibit the ability to provide an exact financial figure. Based on current costs, students should expect to invest less than $5,000 for this program. The following are approximations:

*Tuition is subject to change due to mandatory campus-wide fee increases.

Program Costs

Allied Health 20 – Explore other Allied Health Careers: guest speakers & job shadowing Allied Health – General Option

What if I don’t qualify?

Meet with a Nursing Counselor to discuss other options

*Programs offered at Sierra College 16

ALLIED HEALTH

Course or Certification or Associates Degree

*Certified Nursing Assistant

*Human Services Home Caregiver

*Phlebotomist

*Dental Assistant

*Dental Hygienist *Licensed Vocational

Nurse *Occupational Therapy Assistant

*Physical Therapy Assistant *Medical Assistant

*Clinical/Medical Lab Technician Podiatric Assistant

*Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

*Respiratory Care

*Speech/Language Pathology Assistant

*MRI/CT Technician *Radiology Technician

*Registered Nurse

*Paramedic

*Veterinarian Technician

*Funeral Director

*Health Information Coding Specialist

*Emergency Medical Technician

*Surgical Technologist

Central Processing

Technician

*Pharmacy Technician

Radiation Therapists Dental Lab Technology Technician

Cardiovascular Technologist

*Local Program - See Counselor for program requirements

Follow up questions?

Sierra College Nursing Program nursingdepartment@sierracollege.edu

Cherie Mathews, counselor cmathews@sierracollege.edu

Stefanie Hopper, counselor shopper@sierracollege.edu