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.
Specializes in ED, Telemetry,Hospice, ICU, Supervisor.
In summary, factors that will be useful in predicting the likelihood of an individual applicant's completion of program and passing of NCLEX are the principle relevant factors that should be considered.
So GPA in these really is relevant to probability of success in a nursing program.
- Points are only given to the scores you got in the listed category 4 classes. If you failed ART and its not in category four as a listed class then the ART grade will not be factored in your points. The only classes that will be factored are those listed. This prevents people padding their GPA with ART and PE.
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
I've been a stay at home mom for 10+ years and they want recs from people who know me professionally
I'm in the a similar boat and will be creating relationships with new people so that they can write me a reference. I will have to go out of my way to put myself in a (volunteer) positon where people who can write them will see me.
Specializes in ED, Telemetry,Hospice, ICU, Supervisor.
In summary, factors that will be useful in predicting the likelihood of an individual applicant's completion of program and passing of NCLEX are the principle relevant factors that should be considered.
RN working in the military services as commissioned officers are nominally in command of those lower ranks they incidentally contact, but that is where the line is drawn. Military command does not allow a commissioned RN to run onto the battlefield and start barking outorders. Such an individual would be dishonorably discharged in short order for not understanding that his authority was well defined and must not be exceeded. Learn a little more about military structure before you comment on it.
- RNs in the military are Officers, last I checked an E-7 obeys the lawful command of an O-3. Take the ARMY for example I saw this myself. A scuffle had occurred between an E-7 and a lower enlisted. The lower enlisted belonged to an O-3. The O-3 then diffused the situation by telling the E-7 to stand down. The E-7 refused and the O-3 pulled rank. The O-3 then said "Sargent are you refusing to follow the direct and lawful command of a Commissioned Officer of the United States ARMY !". The NCO then stood down, saying no would have been textbook career dive.
- RNs will not run into the battle field will not run around telling people how to fight an insurgency because they are not in the same chain of command as an infantry O-3. However in desperate and I mean desperate times when the chain of command has been so thoroughly devastated, the Nurse is still an Officer. As ranking Officer on site they will to the best of their abilities LEAD survivors to target/mission/retreat etc.
- There is a chain of command all soldiers follow, if any questions pop up about who should lead you can always refer them to the XO to start off with and work upwards.
- It takes alot to be dishonestly discharged, I have seen people fail urinalysis, skip out on child support, DUI, crash their car, and not a single Dishonorable. There were other than honorable discharge, and a couple failure to adapts.
Specializes in ED, Telemetry,Hospice, ICU, Supervisor.
Now that I have addressed your concerns let me explain to you the point scale justashooter.
-There are a total of 100 possible points total
-50 points alone come form category 4.
-30 points come from category 5.
-5 points from category 1
-5 points from category 2
-5 points form category 3
-2.5 points from category 6
-2.5 points from category 7
The emphasis is your academic work and NOT Social Engineering. My idea is based on how my school selects applicants. I scored high on my academics, I dont know any other languages, I dont have any licenses, and I don't have any medical field work with a license experience. Yes I am a veteran, but the majority of my points came from academics and scoring high enough.
I am sure there are other way more intelligent people out there that have LVN/CNA/RESP etc. experience and have great academic scores.
Specializes in ED, Telemetry,Hospice, ICU, Supervisor.
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?
My Tank Commander's Driver was a documented pacifist, he was interrogated by an inquiry board, he still got deployed to IRAQ with us. One of the nicest people I ever met and still did his year with his buddies. Yes his MOS was Tanker as in M1A2 Abrams SEP Main Battle Tank, he drove the commander while on missions.
I realize this type of system often can end up choosing some less than qualified candidates, but what in life is perfect?
i believe all of the current admissions processes, often choose less than qualified candidates.
nsg is supposed to be an art and a science.
to date, all the tests seek competency in the sciences.
not one cares to assess one's capacity to become proficient in the arts.
it is equally important, to perform one's duties, including critical thinking...
as it is to make a demanding, needy pt. at peace, to reassure a delusional and anxious spouse who hasn't left the icu, and how to persuade a cantankerous and inflexible dr. to adequately increase a measly dosage of mso4, so the pt doesn't moan anymore.
the art of nsg is critical to learn...but a genuine interest in comforting, with the associated sensitivity, needs to be a prereq...
and i've met many nurses who completely lack those qualities.
nevermind those who make us shake our heads and wonder, 'how the heck did s/he ever become a nurse????'
so while students can maintain an easy 3.8, it means squat if you neglect to acknowledge (or even care) about the psychological and emotional comfort of those you care for and work with.
the art of nsg requires core qualities of naturally being sensitive to what/how others are feeling...in and out of work.
i'd love to see an admissions exam that tests for that.
I'm not really sure uniformity in entrance requirements is that necessary. I'd like standardized prerequisites maybe, but different admissions criteria means different students will be ideal candidates for different programs. There were schools I wouldn't have stood a chance at and others I was a decent candidate for. Also, programs all have their own flavor so certain criteria might not really serve them in selecting students who will do well in the program.
The school I went to looked at transcripts only and weighed the last 60 credits more heavily. That was maybe a bit skimpy considering the routine loss of 25-30% of the class around the midpoint, but as a late starter, requiring CNA certification would have been a pretty big barrier considering the cost of local CNA programs (and the free one had aa months long waiting list and a schedule that would have made taking prerequisites difficult) ..
I'd love to see the required amount of clinical time increased tho. With preceptorships a national requirement.
kalevra, BSN, RN
530 Posts
So GPA in these really is relevant to probability of success in a nursing program.
- Points are only given to the scores you got in the listed category 4 classes. If you failed ART and its not in category four as a listed class then the ART grade will not be factored in your points. The only classes that will be factored are those listed. This prevents people padding their GPA with ART and PE.