INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
of the INCOMING CLINICAL CLASS OF FALL 2014
to the
REGISTERED NURSE (RN) ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE (AAS)
at
RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CONTENTS
I.
OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM
II.
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE COLLEGE (PRE-CLINICAL)
III.
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO NURSING COURSES (CLINICAL)
IV.
ADMISSION TO CLINICAL NURSING COURSES
V.
OTHER INFORMATION
I.
OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM
The Registered Nurse (RN) program at Raritan Valley Community College is a rigorous 68-70
academic credit program involving non-nursing and nursing academic courses. Students completing
the program receive an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Nursing and qualify to take the RNNCLEX RN exam for Registered Nurse Licensure.
Applicants should be aware that the program:
 will require a substantial commitment of time and energy;
 makes holding a job (part-time or full-time) extremely difficult;
 necessitates significant changes in lifestyle and household responsibilities.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the volume of applications for Nursing Program, only applicants who live
or work in Somerset or Hunterdon County are eligible for admission at this time.
II.
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE COLLEGE (PRE-CLINICAL)
STEP I: To become a student at Raritan Valley Community College, applicants must submit all of the
following items to Enrollment Services:
A. Completed RVCC admission application indicating Nursing (Day or Evening/Weekend) as
the intended program of study
B. RVCC Application fee
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C. All OFFICIAL transcripts from:
1. Any prior college attended
2. High School showing graduation or proof of high school equivalency (GED)
D. Immunization record showing two doses of Measles, Mumps and Rubella and 3 doses of
Hepatitis B according to State of NJ Dept. of Health requirements (for full time students)
E. Signed Acknowledgement Form stating that they have read this packet- “Information for
Applicants to the Registered Nurse Associate Degree Program at RVCC”
*You cannot complete the next step until your application to the college is complete.
III.
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO NURSING COURSES (CLINICAL)
Applicants must have a complete RVCC application on file and meet each of the following
requirements in order to be considered qualified for admission to clinical courses:
A. Complete college-credited laboratory science courses in BIOL-124 & BIOL-125, with a grade
of “C” or better in each course. Each course must be four (4) college credits.
Nursing program policy states: “A student shall be dismissed from the Nursing
Program if they fail two required science courses, two nursing courses, or one science
course and one nursing course with a grade of D, F, W, or AU after the 10th day of
class.” This means that any two (2) D, F, AU or W grades in BIOL-124, BIOL-125 or
BIOL-133 disqualifies an applicant.
B. Complete any developmental course required in reading and writing, including ESL (English
as a Second Language) courses.
C. Complete mathematics through Elementary Algebra (MATH 020 at RVCC). Intermediate
Algebra is recommended, but not required.
D. Demonstrate computer literacy by successful completion of CISY 102, 103, 105 or
equivalent. Applicants may take the Technological Competency proficiency exam in the
Testing Center to satisfy this requirement. This requirement must have been completed within
seven (7) years prior to application, as per the Computer Science Department Policy. Older
courses will not be accepted for transfer.
E. Maintain an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher at RVCC. Applicants with prior college
experience only from a school other than RVCC must have an overall GPA of at least 2.75
from the last college attended. Those with a lower GPA may qualify by completing at least
six credits at RVCC with an overall GPA of 2.75 or above.
F.
Complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) by Assessment Technologies
Institute (www.atitesting.com) at RVCC or submit ATI TEAS Version V results if taken
elsewhere. Results must be from September 2012 or later and the ATI TEAS Version V test
must contain all four scores of the test (English, Math, Reading & Science) for Fall 2014
admission. TEAS may be taken once every 4 months.
G. Attend a Nursing Information Session to obtain an “Application to Clinical Nursing Courses”
form.
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When all of the above requirements are met, the applicant must submit the Application to Clinical,
including acceptable proof of residency and a clear criminal history background check done through
www.adamsafeguard.com, to the Nursing Office, (H-216).
Each student prior applying to the clinical nursing program must complete a Criminal History
Background Check (CHBC). Any record containing serious charges will be evaluated and the student
will be contacted. The results need to be attached to the clinical application – background checks
should be done no later than 6 weeks before the admission deadline date to be able to have their
clinical application evaluated and processed. The CHBC must be done through
www.adamsafeguard.com
Early Admission applications for RVCC students and transfer students must be submitted by
February 3. Any RVCC student who completes prerequisite courses at RVCC in the Spring semester
may apply for Late Admission by May 15 to be considered for the remaining seats. Any student who
applied for Early Admission but did not get a seat will automatically be reconsidered for Late
Admission, as long as they are not a transfer student. New transfer students are NOT eligible for Late
Admission. To be an established RVCC student, the student must have taken 6+ credits here at RVCC.
If an Application is received incomplete or before all of the requirements are completed, it will be sent
back to the applicant.
IV.
PROCESS FOR ADMISSION TO CLINICAL NURSING COURSES (NURS 101)
A. All applicants who have submitted an Application to Clinical Nursing Courses and are
eligible (see section III) will be evaluated for admission. Applicants will be evaluated and
ranked based on selective criteria including overall GPA, grades in Anatomy and
Physiology I and II, and results from the ATI TEAS testing. If more than one student has
the same ranking score, the student’s date of application to RVCC as a nursing major will
be used to determine placement on the list. Applicants will be notified of their admission
status within 45 days of the deadline date.
B. Seats in NURS 101, Foundations of Nursing, will be offered to the highest ranking
applicants All applicants who are offered a seat must fulfill the admission requirements (in
section C, below) or they will forfeit the seat.
C. Admission Requirements
1. Health Maintenance Meeting- Any student who does not attend a mandatory health
maintenance meeting, after being prompted to do so, will automatically forfeit their
seat. Several meetings will be offered to provide incoming students with information
concerning the requirements before beginning clinical courses, such as:
 Professional Liability Insurance – the student must submit proof of malpractice
insurance
 Health Maintenance and Immunizations Form - the student must submit a
satisfactory and complete Health Maintenance and Immunizations Form
including urine drug screening, to the HSE Student Services Specialist by the
deadline given at this mandatory meeting
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2. Pharmacology Calculation Placement Test – the student must complete the test
before beginning NURS 101: Foundations of Nursing. Enrollment in a
Pharmacology Calculation course in the first half of the Fall semester is required for
students who do not pass with the required satisfactory score on the Pharmacology
Calculation Placement test.
3. Prompt Registration – Registration forms and information will be sent in May. The
student must register for FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING (NURS 101) in person
during the specified registration period. Anyone who does not register by the
deadline indicated in the registration mailing will forfeit their seat.
4. Maintain 2.75 GPA and adhere to nursing policy regarding 2 failures (D, W, F, AU)
in any required science courses. Any student whose GPA falls below 2.75 or who
earns 2 unsatisfactory grades may be removed from the Admission List.
5. Attend the mandatory nursing program orientation, CAMP I CAN.
D. Qualified students who are not offered a seat in NURS 101 at notification time will remain
on the admission list for the current year and will be offered admission if seats become
available, until the first day of Fall classes. If seats become available, students will be called
in sequence. If a student does not respond to an offer of admission within two weeks, the
student will be removed from the list and the next student will be called. Students may also
be removed if their GPA falls below 2.75, or they are placed on academic alert, suspended
or have any other college action taken against them while on the list.
E. Any student who is not admitted to NURS 101 may reapply to be considered for the next
admission year. Students may take steps to improve their ranking, such as taking courses
retaking the ATI TEAS Version V (with all 4 parts of test).
V.
OTHER INFORMATION
A. OUT OF COUNTY APPLICANTS: Qualified applicants who live or work in Somerset and
Hunterdon Counties have priority for admission to clinical at all times. Due to the high
volume of nursing applications, only applicants who live or work in Somerset or Hunterdon
County are eligible for admission at this time.
B. ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF RECORD: The College will use the address and
phone number of record listed on the student’s application. It is the student’s responsibility
to ensure that the Office of Enrollment Services receives a copy of the Change of Personal
Information Form if any changes occur.
Revised
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