Thread inspired by this one: https://allnurses.com/nursing-news/nursing-programs-asked-597381.html In addition, I am interested in becoming a nurse educator in an academic setting further on in my career, and I will most likely want to (or have to) sit on an acceptance committee.
One of the concerns brought up in the thread was the variance in admission requirements.
When I was researching brick and mortar schools in my area more than two years ago, the admission requirements varied greatly. For the most part, ADN programs required fewer pre-reqs than the BSN programs, the ADN programs often had residency requirements because they are locally funded, one ADN program required the CNA prior to applying but none of the BSN programs did, all programs had minimum academic competency tests (COMPASS or TEAS), some required letters of recommendation in varying numbers, etc.
What do you suggest for minimum admission standards and why? This is not a question about minimum education for entry to practice; this is a question about minimum admission standards for any prelicensure program, excluding LPN-to-RN programs.
Another thought: The NCLEX-RN is a national test. Should there be national admission standards to nursing education also? Each state has governance over the curriculum requirements for the schools in its jurisdiction, but the states do not currently have requirements for admissions, so this is a nonjurisdictional area for consideration.
For LPN program: GPA in pre-reqs, 3 letters of recommendation. For those that made that cut to top 60, there were interviews with two of the instructors.
ASN bridge (excluding LPN license): GPA in pre-reqs, med math exam, essay, three letters of recommendation.
[color=#008073]i just recently heard about the wonderlic test. oddly enough, it's also known as the nfl iq test.
[color=#008073]a friend of mine was recently tested during her interview with a very edgy, nationally known corporation. they had recruited her. but even so, supposedly, they have a certain score requirement and if you don't meet it.....too bad.
[color=#008073]the one sentence below that really stood out for me is "ability to cope with the complexities of any particular occupation".
[color=#008073]link contains sample questions which are fun.
[color=#008073]" the wonderlic personnel test is used to assess candidates for college placement or by a variety of employers, the wonderlic personnel test (wpt) is a general test of problem solving ability that many consider to be the best measure of intelligence. the wpt provides the individual's ability to cope with the complexities of any particular occupation. the general consensus among psychologists is that cognitive ability--as tested on the wonderlic--is the most reliable predictor of an individual's professional performance. see how well you do with this sample test."
I also think that givng extra points towards admission for people who served in the military is discriminatory. Why should anybody be discriminated against for holding the political view of pacifism?
I would gladly give any vet extra points for a nursing school admit, job, etc for fighting for and preserving my freedom.
Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.
1.A critical thinking exam
2.A basic algebra exam
3.A writing exam on site (an argumentative essay to see if the student can support his/her position).
4.Reading comprehension exam
5.A 12-hour field observation along with a written essay describing what was learned and their response to what a nurse actually does during a shift.
6.GPA – although I don’t think I would hold this with a lot of weight.
7.An interview.
I would stay clear of standardized exams. Research has showed they aren’t reliable in indicating future students’ performance which is why many schools are doing away with GRE’s ect…
1. Basic entrance exams like are currently being administered.
2. Some sort of psychological exam to show ability to multitask and deal with nursing demands.
3. Interviews. A lot of people test well but would make lousy nurses.
4. Multiple references from previous employers, and others who can describe what the applicant's work ethic is and why he might be good in patient care.
I'd also give extra credit for people in direct patient care now. Also for customer service jobs, e.g. waitress, flight attendant etc. I know I'm going to be flamed for this but I wouldn't give extra credit for military service unless in some sort of patient care role, sorry but no relationship to nursing requirrements.
Also to be considered would be prior work history or school attendance. No sense in training somebody with poor work ethic. I don't think I'd stress writing too much except that the applicant has to be able to string words into a sentence and communicate, but that would come out at the interview.
I wouldn't require experience in patient care. Sure it's a good thing but previous experience does not guarantee they will be good and lack of it doesn't mean they will fail as a nurse. Many here may not agree with this but even without patient care experience in the past a nursing student can succeed and become a good nurse.
2. Post secondary transcripts including necessary pre-reqs
Spots go to all those that meet requirements and priority goes to those that scored highest?
Nursing has become such an obsessed, glorified and weird cultural field lately....I mean, these students aren't running for president....
I do believe this should be the admitting criteria like any other Bachelor/ Associate Degree program. Why should nursing be different when no one needs an interview/ references to be a sociology, biology, psychology, political science major. To get into these field, its your SAT/ college entrance exam and then your taking the classes with your grades.
Now if we talk about medicine, pharmacy, law and any other graduate degree, then interview and references do make sense because these are all considered graduate/professional degrees.
Although GPA isnt everything (I admit) but then...
I agree with not giving any extra points for previous career choices, even patient care or military ( certainly not waitress or customer service rep, those are pretty unrelated to nursing). I don't think other candidates should be punished b/c they held jobs that weren't on "the list". Iwas never a waitress, cna, customer service rep, or in the military before nursing school and i excelled. Should i have been denied admission b/c i was in corporate HR? Seems silly, right?
I do believe this should be the admitting criteria like any other Bachelor/ Associate Degree program. Why should nursing be different when no one needs an interview/ references to be a sociology, biology, psychology, political science major. To get into these field, its your SAT/ college entrance exam and then your taking the classes with your grades.
Now if we talk about medicine, pharmacy, law and any other graduate degree, then interview and references do make sense because these are all considered graduate/professional degrees.
Although GPA isnt everything (I admit) but then...
Nursing degrees are more similar to medicine, pharmacy, and law than the other majors you mentioned because the skills and knowledge needed to practice as a nurse are very specific.
If the fact that medicine, law, and pharmacy are graduate programs make the difference to you, take a look at admission requirements to the College of Education or College of Fine Arts for four-year universities. Those who want to be teachers or artists are often asked to undergo more scrutiny for admission than those who declare other majors.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I am very thankful the way my school did it or I wouldn't be a nurse right now. You had to meet your pre-reqs (I had more then necessary due to another school having a different requirement.) They did not have a CNA requirement or entry test.
You were on a waitlist and you had to have a cumalitive 2.5 GPA on Pre-Reqs.
I got C's and a B on my Science Pre-reqs. I did not put a lot of effort into my pre-reqs and I stunk at science.
FF to Nursing School. I did good in Nursing school with minimal effort and a minimum 77% cut off. I recieved mostly B's (85%-93%) with 2 C's (one was an 84% and 2 A's. I did better in nursing school then I did in my pre-reqs with cracking a textbook once, I took my boards within days and passed with 75 questions and got a job offer with no experience 1.5 weeks later. Interviewed within days of graduating and taking boards.
I KNOW I am a good nurse and I will continue to excel in nursing. After my first week on orientation my Preceptor was bummed out because she said I excelled so much their wasn't much for her to do. I just jumped right in and took charge. I don't doubt for a second Nursing is for me and I will be wonderful at it. The critical thinking tests I WELCOMED. They were my kind of tests (besides some of the doozy questions). I stunk at the Pre-Req science tests that was memorization. I am a hands on person for learning.
So I can't say that people should have to jump through all these hoops and get perfect GPA's and letters of recommendations. I would have had no one to give me a recommendation. I had been an at home mom for years. I know people can not have the best GPA and excel in nursing school and nursing because I was one of them. Girls with 4.0's in pre-reqs failed out.
I don't know what the answer is though either. I had to wait 3.5 years on a wait list and a lot of people don't have the ability to do that. I did. I would agree with an interview that got to know the person and not just what a paper says. I know I would have done well in an interview.
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ShayRN
1,046 Posts
I am only half joking when I say, they should have to take an ink blot test.