Nursing Information Session
Hello – Please have a seat - clinical applications will be
handed out at the end of the session- each student
will sign in at the end of the session to receive a
clinical application
If you do not stay for the entire session, you will not
receive a clinical application
DO NOT take handouts from the tables– Please listen to
the information presented first to see if you are in need
of the handouts at the end of the session – they may
be things you already have
Nadine Larson
nadine.larson@raritanval.edu
908-526-1200 Ext. 8610 – Room H220
Email is the fastest way to contact me
Open office hours for admission criteria or clinical
nursing course questions
Spring 2016 as of 3.1.16
M, T, W 1:30p-2:30p
Qualities of a Nurse – words from
the RVCC Nursing Faculty
 Focused
 Self directed and self driven
 A life long learner
 FLEXIBLE
 Multi-tasker
 Humanistic
 Caring
 Able to critically think and problem solve
ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES
Skills needed to administrate good care to patients –
Observation, communication, motor skills, cognitiveintellectual, behavioral and social attributes, and hearing
and visual abilities
Clinical applications to be given
and sign in will be at the end of
the presentation
 If you leave early, you will not receive an application
and will need to attend another session to receive one
Where do I start?RVCC Application
 The application to the Associate Degree Nursing
Program at RVCC is a two-step process. First, you
must apply to RVCC with Pre-nursing (AS in Health
Science) as your intended major – you then are
considered a PRE- NURSING STUDENT. When you
have completed all prerequisites for the Nursing/RN
AAS, you may then apply to the clinical nursing
program.
 Students are only changed to the AAS, Nursing or
PNAD major after they are officially accepted to the
first clinical nursing course
 Have all college transcripts sent to RVCC admissions
office
 Send high school transcript/proof of GED to admission
office
 Accepted to the college – nursing packet of
information mailed to you
 Appointment with Advisor
What do I need?
 Prerequisites
 Residency – Hunterdon or Somerset
 Degree Requirements
 Clear Criminal History Background Check attached to
clinical application
Prerequisites
(Complete RVCC application on file (including HS transcript)
and all prior college transcripts have been evaluated by the
Registrar’s office; you are a Pre-nursing major (AS in Health
Science)
 Developmental and ESL courses complete-must place into ENG 111
 Math through Elementary Algebra
 Anatomy and Physiology I & II- 2 grades of D, F, AU after the 10th day
or W will disqualify you
 GPA of 2.75
 Technological Competency- test or course (within past 7 years)
 ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS Version V with all 4 parts of
test) – taken no earlier than 9.2014 for Fall ‘16 admission
 www.atitesting.com (this is a Nursing/RN prerequisite route only)
For RVCC admission, students can take TEAS test once
every 4 months, either at RVCC or another location.
We are currently administering TEAS Version V with all 4
parts of the test. If the test has been completed
elsewhere, scores may be submitted for review with
the clinical application. For 2016 admission, TEAS
results will only be accepted from tests taken
since September 2014.
ATI TEAS charges a 55.00 fee to test. The RVC testing
center will charge a 45.00 proctor fee. Total test fee
paid the day of the test is 100.00
ATI TEAS Version V will no longer exist as of Summer 2016.
A new test version will be given 9/2016 and beyond for
Fall 2017 admission criteria purposes. ATI TEAS Version V
results will not be used for Fall 2017 applicants
PNAD
85% (3.25 GPA) average from an accredited LPN
program
6 months full time work experience for new
graduates, 3 out of the last 5 years full time work
as an LPN if graduated from PN program more
than 5 years ago
NO TEAS, but will be required to take an ATI
Practical Nurse Predictor (ATI PNP Test – formerly
known as the LPN Step Test)
(Continue PNAD)
 The ATI PNP test is held twice every Fall for students applying
for the following summer.
 More information regarding registering for the next available
ATI PNP test can be found at www.raritanval.edu/nursing
 There is a minimum score to achieve, closely reflecting the
national average of the ATI PNP score
Residency Requirement
Somerset or Hunterdon County
 When you qualify for clinical you must provide proof of residency
(one document – attached to clinical application)
 Permanent Resident
 NJ Driver’s license, Rental Agreement, Mortgage Statement, Utility Bill,
Telephone Bill, NJ Resident Income Tax Return
 Permanent Employee
 Letter from employer on company letterhead
PNAD – applicants with the highest ATI PNP test scores and residency will get
priority placement
 The NJ Board of Nursing has regulations
regarding citizenship and eligibility for
taking the NCLEX exam. Our clinical
application will ask a question regarding
citizenship so any questions/concerns
can be clarified before a student is
accepted into the nursing program. The
RVCC student application also identifies
citizenship status. Some of our clinical
agencies require we track citizenship
status as well.
Criminal History Background
Check(CHBC)
 A completed criminal history background
check must be done through
www.adamsafeguard.com PRIOR to
applying to the clinical nursing program.
Results need to be attached to the clinical
application, along with the residency proof.
It can take 45-60 days for the background
check to be processed. Do the CHBC no
later than 45-60 days before the application
is due in
 Students with unfavorable CHBC results will
not be admitted to the nursing program at
RVCC.
Other Degree Requirements
Co-Requisites
 First Year - Fall
 ENGL-111 English I
 FITN-115 Dynamics of Fitness & Wellness
 First Year - Spring
 ENGL-112 English II
 PSYC-103 Introduction to Psychology
 Second Year - Fall
 Humanities elective
 BIOL-133 Principles of Microbiology
 SOCI-101 Introduction to Sociology
 Second Year - Spring
 Free Elective
How do I apply to the clinical
Nursing courses?
Submit an Application to Clinical after all prerequisites are
complete
Generic- Day or Evening/Weekend – you MUST only CHOOSE one or your
application will NOT be valid, and will be returned to you.
ANY info missing and the form will be returned to you – applications must be
submitted no later than the deadline to be evaluated
PNAD application – there is an additional requirement of work hx required
on this application – please read carefully.
Be sure the residency/employment proof is attached, as well as the clear
criminal history background check results
Application to Nursing Clinical Courses
 Early Admission Generic RN (RVCC and
transfer students) Must be received or
postmarked no later than February 1, 2016 fo
Fall 2016
 Late Admission Generic RN (RVCC students
only, no new transfer students, have taken 6+
RVCC credits)
Must be received or postmarked no later
than May 15,2016 for Fall 2016
 PNAD
Must be received or postmarked no later
than December 15, 2017for Summer 2017
Postal mail notification
regarding clinical application
 Candidates will receive notification as to the status of
their application into the nursing program via the US
Postal Mail system within 45 days after the posted
application deadline date
 Any concerns the nursing office has regarding your
status in the program/questions will be communicated
to the student through RVCC Office 365 email only –
the RVCC email address ends in @stu.raritanval.edu
 Please be sure your address is correct on file with
RVCC and make any necessary changes via the
LIONS DEN.
Continue Application to
clinical nursing courses…..
 Make sure you have completed ALL prerequisites –
prereq’s taken outside of RVCC must be shown as an
attachment on the clinical application. This goes for
outside ATI TEAS results too.
 Proof of residency required & CHBC results
 Read application so all documents needed are
attached
 Don’t lose it!
Admission to Nursing Clinical
Courses
 Generic RN Applications evaluated based on:
 A&P grades
 Most recent college GPA
 TEAS scores
What do I do if I’m not
accepted?
 Raise ranking score
 GPA
 Retake A&P
 Retake TEAS
 Reapply- Late Admission if you are an RVCC student
or next year
What do I do if I’m
accepted??
 Complete other required courses- maintain 2.75 GPA
 Nursing Program Response Form and deposit
 Attend Health Maintenance Meeting
 Study for Pharmacology Clinical Calculations placement test
 Complete health maintenance
 Register during the designated time
 Attend Camp I Can Orientation session
 Students who choose to not adhere to these strict deadline will
forfeit their seat in the nursing program. They will then need to apply
the following academic year or admission period
 ****CRUCIAL DEADLINES TO MEET******
Nursing Program Response
Form
 Must be returned to the finance office by the date
specified on the form – given to a student with the
acceptance letter
 $200 non-refundable deposit will be applied to tuition
If it is not returned by the deadline,
the student will lose their seat in
the program and will have to
apply for the next admission
period, and meet all admission
criteria
Health Maintenance
Meeting
 All health maintenance is an out of pocket expense
for the student.
 Immunizations and tb testing
 Liability Insurance
 CPR certification (AHA BLS for health care provider)
 Blood tests and titers
 Physical clearance
 Pharmacology Clinical Calculation test info
UDS – URINE DRUG SCREEN
Student will be prompted to do this after being admitted to the clinical
nursing program
 Urine drug screen – Student is responsible for out of
pocket payment for drug screen.
 Urine drug screens must be negative/clear for a
student to continue in the nursing program – a
clinical agency will not accept a student for
rotations with a positive drug screen. Student will be
given specific time frame to go and must go within
those dates. Student will forfeit their seat in the
program for not following drug screening policies.
 Students with positive drug results will not be
permitted to be admitted or continue in the nursing
program.
Camp I CAN
(Can Achieve Nursing)
 Required. Mandatory nursing orientation
held by faculty
 Program information
 Library search engines
 Study skills
 Time management
 ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute)
 Self assessment
 Critical thinking inventory
A Walk Through the Program
 Cost
 Schedule
 Progression
 Exit exam
 Graduation
 NCLEX
How Much Does it Cost? There
are deadlines that must be met
for payments!!
 First semester
 Health maintenance
 Cost varies
 Background check
 $ 65+
 ATI
 $ 600
 Uniform
 $ 150
 Tuition- 137/credit
 $1242(9 credits)
 RVCC fees
 $200+
 Books
 $ 1100 (or 1337)
 Nursing fee
 $ 440
 Nursing Kit
 $100
 Drug testing
 $70
 Approximate total
 $4000
Financial Aid
 www.fafsa.ed.gov
 RVCC Financial Aid
 Nursing scholarships
 Employers
 Community groups
Foundations of Nursing & all clinical nursing
courses
 Rigorous Schedule & may not fit everyone’s lifestyle and
schedule
 Day or Evening/Weekend- NO Part-time students – this is
not a work-study program or part time workload!
 20 hours/week – physical presence
 Additional 20-30+ hours/week (2 hours for every
classroom hour)
Preparing for learning lab
Preparing for class
Preparing for clinical experience
*Students who were unsuccessful in nursing courses
admitted to working 30+ hours/week
Clinical Facility Sites
First choice of clinical sections are not always possible.
 Carrier Clinic, Center for Autistic Children
(Princeton), Children’s Specialized
Hospital, Eric B. Chandler, Kessler (East
Orange & Chester), JFK, Lyons VA
(Liberty Corner), Matheny (Peapack),
Morristown Memorial, Overlook (Summit),
RWJ, SPUH, SMC, Warren Hospital
(Phillipsburg), HMC & Princeton Hospital,
Willow Creek (Somerset NJ)
Progression in the Nursing
Program
 Progression Policy
 Fall
 Two failures (D, F, W, AU after the 10th day) – not eligible to apply
to the program with 2 required science courses previously failed
 Foundations of Nursing
 Spring
 Fall
 Nursing of Adults I
 Nursing of Adults II
 Psych/Mental Health Nursing
 Spring
 Nursing Care of Families with Children (Peds)
 Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family (OB)
 Trends in Nursing
Exit Examination
ATI Comprehensive Predictor
Minimum score required – the
score needed to achieve is
equivalent to the student having a
95% pass rate on the NCLEX.
Graduation and Licensure
 Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
 Eligible for Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN)
 Pass/Fail
 Passing NCLEX-RN = you becoming a Registered Nurse!
Email me with any questions
regarding clinical nursing
courses or the admission criteria
nadine.larson@raritanval.edu
 If you are not applying until Fall 2017
or later, come back next year to a
nursing information session to get the
most accurate information regarding
the admission process or stay up to
date by viewing the nursing/health
science website –
http://www.raritanval.edu/nursing