Special Requirements for Nursing and Allied Health

Admission procedure for Nursing and Allied Health Programs:

1. Submit to the Office of Admission
   1. A completed Triton College Application.
   2. An official transcript of high school graduation or GED certificate. Neither a high school diploma or GED certification is required for admission into the Nurse Assistant Program.
   3. An official transcript of completed college course work.
   4. Documentation of completed program prerequisites for the Nursing and Diagnostic Medical Sonography program(s).
2. Attend an information session for the program of interest.
3. Take college placement tests for math, reading and writing; except when college transcripts show successful completion of Math and English courses. Take the pre-entrance test for Nursing. The Admission Committee of the specific program determines acceptable scores.
4. Receive acceptance letters from the Admission Committee of the specific program chosen. Priority is given to qualified in-district residents. The Admission Committee of each program establishes criteria for program acceptance. Admission is based on completion of program prerequisites, when required, and ranking on a rating scale. Points are given for grades in completed course work for prerequisites, general education and support courses, and science courses taken in high school or college. For admission into selected Allied Health programs points are also given for documented/related health care experiences and military service. The Nursing program requires a 2.5 cumulative GPA for college-level program prerequisites (RHT 101, PSY 100and BIS 136 or BIS 240).
5. Attend orientation and registration session.
6. Part-time students may complete program prerequisites and general education requirements before seeking admission into Nursing or Allied Health programs. Students are expected to seek advising to plan course work each semester.
7. Students who were admitted to the Practical Nursing or Associate Degree Nursing program(s) prior to fall 2000 and were later terminated may be considered for admission into the first semester of the Revised Nursing Program provided they have completed all Revised Program prerequisites. The Nursing Department, in collaboration with the student, will develop a remediation plan prior to admission. The plan will include completion of NUR 105 with a grade of "B" or better. Ongoing remediation may be required if admission is granted into NUR 115 and NUR 125. No advanced placement will be offered.
8. Submit a completed physician's history and physical form with required documentation of functional physical condition and required immunizations, and proof of valid health insurance to the College Health Services prior to the first clinical course. (The Nursing and Nurse Assistant program(s) require that all documentation be complete prior to the first day of the first class.) Continued health insurance coverage and documentation of valid health status is the responsibility of the student and must be maintained throughout the period of enrollment in any Health Career program. Students are responsible for any incurred medical expenses. Additional health requirements may be needed to comply with clinical agency policies.

NOTE: Any applicant to the clinical portions of Health Career Programs who is afflicted with epilepsy or any other condition that causes loss of consciousness or otherwise may impair his/her ability to perform will furnish the Office of the Dean of Health Careers and Public Service Programs with a verified statement from a licensed physician to the effect that the applicant's condition does not pose a direct health or safety threat or significant risk to the student, patients, hospital staff or others in the Health Career program or clinical facility. In addition, the applicant will agree to remain under the care of a physician and follow treatment as prescribed.

Furthermore, each applicant's physician must report immediately to the College any change in the applicant's ability to function safely in the clinical portion of the program. Any default in this agreement will constitute cause for the removal of the student from the clinical portion of the program.

Advanced Placement

1. Proficiency examinations, if available, for beginning courses, must be taken before enrollment in the course according to specific departmental or program requirements and subject to approval by the Dean.
2. Clinical proficiency examinations may be required prior to acceptance of credits for clinical courses.
3. All program requirements for acceptance to selective admission programs will be required of the student applying for advanced placement.
4. The Admission Committee of the specific program, using established program criteria, will evaluate requests for advanced placement on an individual basis.
5. Advanced placement students are admitted only after currently enrolled students have been placed.

Transfer Students

1. Transfer students must complete admission procedure for Health Career programs no later than 30 days prior to the semester in which they seek admission.
2. All required math, science courses and courses in program majors will be considered only if completed within the last five years with "C" grades or better. Comparable achievement in terms of course objectives and content must be documented.

Progression and Retention

1. A grade-point average of 2.0 is required for progression in all programs.
2. A "C" grade or better within the last five years is required for progression in all required science, math and major health-career courses (including Early Childhood Education) to count towards graduation requirements.
3. All clinical components or clinical courses must be completed with a minimum grade of "P," "C" or "S," regardless of theory grade.
4. Students admitted to the Nursing program are allowed to repeat only one course in each of the 100 and 200 level NUR courses following withdrawal or earning a failing grade ("D" or "F"). A failing grade, or withdrawal from a repeated course, or any subsequent NUR course in the same level (100 or 200) will result in termination from the program making the student ineligible for readmission or graduation from the same program. Students in the Nursing program achieving a "D" or "F" in any Nursing course and who are seeking readmission will develop a remediation plan in collaboration with the Nursing Department prior to being considered for readmission. The remediation plan may include completion of NUR 105 or NUR 180.
5. Students who achieve a course grade of "C" in NUR 145, NUR 155, or NUR 165 are strongly encouraged to complete NUR 180 before progressing to the second year nursing courses. Students choosing the Practical Nurse exit option are strongly encouraged to complete NUR 180 and may do so concurrently with NUR 190.
6. A failing grade ("D" or "F") in a repeated Allied Health program course or Public Service program course will result in dismissal or termination from the program, making the student ineligible for readmission or graduation from the same program.
7. Students returning to the clinical following a major illness or delivery must provide written documentation from their physician stating that they may be involved in all clinical activities without physical restrictions.
8. Requirements stated in the catalog at the time of admission or readmission to a Health Career/Public Service program must be met for graduation.
9. Nursing students are required to earn a grade of "C" or better in all general education courses.

Readmission

(for students who withdrew, are repeating a course or were terminated prior to program completion)

1. All students seeking readmission should submit completed "Request for Readmission to a Health Career Program" form to the Health Careers Information Specialist no later than 30 days prior to the start of the semester in which they seek readmission.
2. All students petitioning for readmission will be evaluated and readmitted depending on availability of seats or clinical spaces after currently enrolled students have been placed.
3. Any student who has withdrawn ("W") and/or was terminated twice in a single Health Career/Public Service course will be subject to individual review of academic performance by the program Admission Committee prior to granting of permit to register for the same course.
4. Students seeking readmission into Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Ophthalmic Technician, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care, and Surgical Technology, who for any reason, have not taken any program specific courses in the two years prior to the readmission date, will be required to retake all previously completed program specific course requirements.

NOTE: A remediation plan will be developed by the Nursing Department in collaboration with a student who is seeking readmission after achieving a "D," "F," or "W," in a Nursing course. The plan must be completed prior to being considered for readmission.

1. Students who were unsuccessful in NUR 101 may be considered for readmission into the Nursing program after completion of NUR 105 and all prerequisites of the Revised Program. Students granted readmission to the Nursing program will be required to complete the general education requirements of the Revised Program which became effective fall 2001. The student who has not completed eight credits of Anatomy and Physiology equivalent to BIS 136/BIS 137 or BIS 240/BIS 241 will be required to complete BIS 137 prior to, or concurrent with, NUR 145/NUR 155/NUR 165.
2. Students who withdrew or did not achieve a minimum grade of "C" in NUR 120 may be considered for readmission into the Nursing program in the status of advanced placement into NUR 145 provided they complete NUR 105 with a minimum grade of "B," meet Revised Program prerequisites, achieve a grade "C" or better on the NUR 115 and NUR 125 proficiency exams and achieve a score of 100 percent on a dosages and calculations exam. The student who has not completed eight credits of Anatomy and Physiology equivalent to BIS 136/BIS 137 or BIS 240/BIS 241 will be required to complete BIS 137 prior to, or concurrent with, NUR 145/NUR 155/NUR 165. Students granted readmission to the Nursing program will be required to complete the general education requirements of the Revised Program, which became effective fall 2001.
3. Students who completed two or more semesters of the Associate Degree Nursing Program and achieve a grade "D," "F," or "W" may be considered for readmission into the Nursing program in the status of advanced placement into NUR 145/NUR 155/NUR 165 upon completion of the Revised Program prerequisites. The student who has not completed eight credits of Anatomy and Physiology equivalent to BIS 136/BIS 137 or BIS 240/BIS 241 will be required to complete BIS 137 prior to, or concurrent with NUR 145/NUR 155/NUR 165. Students granted readmission to the Nursing program will be required to complete the general education requirements of the Revised Program which became effective fall 2001. Students who choose the Practical Nurse exit option of the Revised Program must also complete NUR 190.
4. Students who were terminated from the program with a "D," "F," or "W" twice in the same second year Nursing course or in two different second year Nursing courses may be considered for readmission into the Nursing program in the status of advanced placement into only the Practical Nurse exit option of the Revised Program upon completion of the Revised Program prerequisites. Students will be required to complete NUR 145, NUR 155, NUR 165, and NUR 190. The student who has not completed eight credits of Anatomy and Physiology equivalent to BIS 136/BIS 137 or BIS 240/BIS 241 will be required to complete BIS 137 prior to, or concurrent with, NUR 145/NUR 155/NUR 165. Students granted readmission to the Nursing program will be required to complete the general education requirements of the Revised Program, effective fall 2001. Following Licensed Practical Nurse licensure, students may be considered for the Upward Mobility Track of the Revised Program.