Student Applying to NVCC For Nursing Program Starting in Fall 2013

SleeplessNVa · Jan 28, 2013

Hi Tricia, Don't remember any of that right now, but I know it's all posted in the NVCC class of 2013 discussion on here. I am in my LAST semester at NVCC and I wish you nothing but luck. You have a road ahead of you, but you will make many friends along the way. Nursing school has changed me to the core, but I wouldn't NOT do it. I have been empowered by the people I have met along the way.

Estimates?

GPA - Somewhere around 3.5

TEAS - Some sorta 90+ on everything

No certificaions, besides CPR when they made me do it.

Good luck to you and maybe I'll see you in the halls of the MEC as you take your TEAS.

Etrips · Jan 31, 2013

Hi Everyone!
I really wanted to begin a thread about NVCC's Nursing Program due to begin in Fall 2013 (Applications are due May 2013). I am starting my pre-reqs in January, because I have been in school elsewhere. I know it will be tight to get them completed in time to apply, but I want to be considered in time for the Fall 2013 program.
For anyone who has applied and been accepted to NVCC's nursing program, or for anyone who plans to in May, will you tell me what your credentials were (GPA, TEAS score, any certifications etc)? As in, if you could describe the perfect nursing school application, what would it include?
I want to do this right! Any support/insight is great.

For your prereqs, I highly suggest you DO NOT go the NAS 161/162 route, as you will be completely locked in NVCCs nursing program. Apply to other schools other than NVCCs. I'm currently in the program, and while it is convenient location wise, if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't come here.

But as of being accepted:

GPA: 4.0

TEAS: Passed the English and Math portion easily, Grammar I barely passed

Certs: CPR

Also it shouldn't matter, but I really think it does to help boost their ethnic / gender ratio: Asian Male

Sambreen · Feb 2, 2013

Hey Tricia!

I am also applying for NOVA's Fall 2013 program. I applying for the traditional pathway, what about you??

I will be taking my TEAS this coming Monday so I can't tell you that just yet (keeping my fingers crossed!). I've read so many things about the TEAS and how it's so hard for some people but rather easier for others, so I just don't know what to expect anymore but I'm going to give it my all. I am only using the ATI study guide for practice and I am hoping that is enough.

Anyway, I did all my prereqs at NOVA and graduated from there with a gpa of 3.6. A's in all my science classes though, so I'm hoping that'll help me out. I also applied for Mason's traditional BSN and I'm currently a student there, so I'm hoping I'll get into either one. Mason is definitely my first choice since it's a bachelor's degree, but I'll be happy with either one.

I was wondering...do you know anything about an essay? I looked online and on the application I don't see anything about one, too. I called and the man told me he doesn't know anything about an essay. I know someone who applied in 2011 and had to do an essay, so I'm not sure what to do about it? If someone could please let me know I'd greatly appreciate it.

Best of luck to everyone applying! :)

summer03 · Feb 6, 2013

Admission to NVCC Traditional Nursing is very competive, pretty much along the lines NVCC describes. I got in Fall 2010 with a 3.8, for example. I don't recall my TEAS scores, but do know I passed them the first attempt. I also am a Fairfax County resident and have a BS in another field. It is a lot of work once you are in the program and I graduated in Spring 2012 with a 3.4. I currently work at INOVA Fair Oaks as an RN1 and am making almost $70K/year because I get a differential for being on the night and weekend shift, which was the only placement available to me as an ADN. The hospitals seem to give prefence to BSNs, but demand has been sufficient for more people in my class to still have been hired by hospitals than for any other type of job. NOVA nurses seem to have very good reputations with hospitals and it was not much work for me to get a job in one. I hope you find this information helpful and wish you the best of luck. NVCC is a solid program and I am finding the work rewarding.

Sambreen · Feb 6, 2013

Summer03,

First of all, congrats on completing the programs and landing with a rewarding position :) A 3.8 cum? Do you happen to remember your GPA for the four prereqs? & if this isn't asking for too much (and I would completely understand if it's impossible) is there a way you could get your teas scores? I just really want more recent results to compare mine with (when I take my teas that is). I've heard hospitals around this area love hiring NVCC grad nurses since the school has a pretty good rep. So I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and hope that I'll be able to get a hospital position after graduation. I'm not going to be picky about hours whatsoever :| Thank you so much for sharing :))

MBAWkg2bNP · Feb 6, 2013

Admission to NVCC Traditional Nursing is very competive, pretty much along the lines NVCC describes. I got in Fall 2010 with a 3.8, for example. I don't recall my TEAS scores, but do know I passed them the first attempt. I also am a Fairfax County resident and have a BS in another field. It is a lot of work once you are in the program and I graduated in Spring 2012 with a 3.4. I currently work at INOVA Fair Oaks as an RN1 and am making almost $70K/year because I get a differential for being on the night and weekend shift, which was the only placement available to me as an ADN. The hospitals seem to give prefence to BSNs, but demand has been sufficient for more people in my class to still have been hired by hospitals than for any other type of job. NOVA nurses seem to have very good reputations with hospitals and it was not much work for me to get a job in one. I hope you find this information helpful and wish you the best of luck. NVCC is a solid program and I am finding the work rewarding.

Summer, how do you like working for INOVA? I've heard mixed things about them but they have such a large presence in this area that I am sure there are units/locations from horrible to great.

summer03 · Feb 7, 2013

I had a 3.8 in my prerequisites because that was all I took. I have no idea where my TEAS scores are, sorry, as it is almost 3 years ago now. I do recall I was high in one, pretty good in another, and not too much above the cutoff in another, but I cannot even tell you which was which, sorry again. I took them, passed, sighed with relief, applied, and forgot about them because from the moment you are accepted into the program, they keep you so busy.

Inova is a good employer in some ways, not as good in others. The compensation and benefits are top drawer. They offer a great deal of flexibility and opportunity, especially since they are so large. As a new nurse, I need a lot of hands-on training and mentoring and can get that here, too; As you said, differences among locations and whom you work with probably has a lot to do with my last point. Inova seems to be a demanding employer. They love it if you work more than your full schedule and could be easier about you taking time off. While at NVCC, I did more clinical rotations at Washington Hospital Center and Potomac Hospital, including my preceptorship, than I did at Inova. WHC and Potomac are smaller and were my first choices, but I got hired at Inova, so here I am. With a BSN, I could have been more choosey. Inova puts into its contract for all ADNs, like me, a clause saying we agree to get our BSNs within 3 years.

Hope you found this helpful.

amg1961 · Mar 5, 2013

Tricia328, I'm in the online hybrid program, last semester. My credentials where :

GPA - Somewhere around 3.7

TEAS - 96

No certifications, besides CPR when they made me do it.

Here's some advice I can pass on - it's easier to get into the program in the Spring class than the Fall. There is no perfect application -just be organized. The office and instructors can seem very disorganized and they can give conflicting information sometimes.

Also, there is flexibility in the pre-reqs. For example I took only one semester of chemistry because I needed to get into the microbiology course to meet the application deadline. I visited the assistant dean and she signed off since I was going into nursing and got a B+ in the chem class.

There is no essay in the NVCC application - just follow the checklist requirements (if there still is a checklist?!).

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

amg1961 · Mar 5, 2013

Summer03 - I'm graduating this May '13 and would love to get a job at INOVA. Any advice in applying?

hanoi98 · Mar 25, 2013

I am in the online-hybrid NVCC. My GPA is 3.6, My TEAS as 99. As long as you got all your paper work in according to their checklist, you should be fine. I applied once before for the tradiditional fall 2012, and because my foreign high school diploma was not properly evaluated, they returned my application, so I have to get in the spring 2013.

Thanks summer03 for your information, I was worried about ADN find jobs. This is a great relief. I always thought that the employers seem to like graduates from NVCC because of the reputation.

suzieschu · Mar 26, 2013

I just submitted my application to the Traditional program.

My GPA is 3.33 right now, but will go up at the end of April as I have 2 A's in courses and am confident I'll remain there.

My TEAS scores were 98, 92, 98 (first time)

I'm really worried because I just realized that I didn't send a manilla folder with my name and Student ID on it; I sent an email and will probably call them to ask if I should resubmit my application because I do have plenty of time. I wonder how strict they will be on that.

Sooooo nervous.