Nursing Program Admissions Procedures

This page covers the admissions procedures, entrance exams, physical demands, background check requirements, the LPN to RN Transition Program, and transfer/readmission policies that apply across Camp’s nursing programs. For program-specific curriculum and cost information, see Nursing (156), Practical Nursing (157), and Pre-Nursing (221-156-02).

Admissions Procedures for Camp’s Nursing Programs

ADN/PN Program: Students interested in applying to the nursing programs must complete a Camp Community College (Camp) application and a nursing program application. This application is available at the Camp website. Complete application packets must be submitted prior to the deadline date for the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) and Practical Nurse (PN) programs.

Students who apply to Phlebotomy, Nurse Aide, Practical Nursing, or Registered Nursing, must take any developmental or co-requisite courses recommended in the evaluation of direct enrollment. All new students will complete the advising questionnaire to determine which English and Math class would be appropriate to both assist and guide the prospective student. Direct Enrollment English placement is based on high school GPA, GED, or SAT score. Direct Enrollment Math placement is based on GPA, GED, or SAT score, along with highest level math taken in high school, for students who have completed high school within five years of application to the nursing program.

For Practical Nursing, students must be ENG 111 ready, MTH 154 + MDE 54 ready with a 2.25 GPA. For Registered Nursing and Advanced Placement, students must have completed ENG 111 and MTH 154 or equivalent and a minimum cumulative and curricular GPA 2.5.

ADN/PN Program: Applicants must hand deliver the following documents on or before the application deadline posted on the nursing webpage for the college.

1. Students must complete online application: print off a hard copy
2. Provide all official high school (GED) and college transcripts
3. High school or GED diploma required
4. ATI Entrance Exam scores or HESI Entrance Exam, scores are accepted scores
5. Healthcare Provider CPR card
6. Attend mandatory advising session and submit an admit one ticket from the session.
7. Completed application checklist

Students must have completed high school Biology, Chemistry, and Algebra with a minimum grade of “C”, or the student must have successfully completed college-level Biology, MTH 154 or MTH 155, along with additional pre-requisite courses. These courses must be completed before the student applies to the nursing programs.

Entrance Exams

The ATI TEAS Entrance Exam is what we have available for students to take here at the Franklin campus. We are also accepting the HESI taken within the last 2 years. It is the student’s responsibility to submit their national average score sheet along with their full, hand delivered application. Both entrance exams will assess the student’s competency in high school level reading, high school level grammar, and high school level Math up through Algebra I, and high school level general sciences. If taking the ATI TEAS with CAMP, the student must create an account with ATI, register for the TEAS test, identifying Paul D Camp Community College as their testing site, and pay the registration fee. The cost is set by ATI and dates are made available online starting in September of each year. Students can take the entrance exam up to three times during an application cycle. Each attempt must be at least two weeks apart or approved by the dean in special circumstances.

Applications

RN/ADN and LPN Program (you can apply to both): Opens in January of each year.
LPN-RN Transition Students: Opens in October each year and closes at the end of January.
Priority will be given to students within the Camp’s service area (City of Franklin, City of Suffolk, Southampton County, Isle of Wight County).

If a student is not accepted or declines admission for the current application period, a student seeking admission in the following year must resubmit the entire package and follow the entire procedure over, which includes: submitting the entire application package (including transcripts), attending the mandatory information session, and completing the HESI Entrance Exam. Applicants that are not accepted should schedule an appointment with their advisor to discuss ways to improve their admission potential for the next application year.

Students who fail to submit any of the required material to the Camp Nursing Office by the deadline will not be considered for admission for the following admission semester. Upon admission into the program, students must comply with the rules and regulations as outlined in the Nursing Student Handbook.

Physical Demands

The typical physical demands of a nurse include the following: full range of motion including handling and lifting patients and/or equipment, manual and finger dexterity, hand and eye coordination. The job generally requires standing and walking for extensive periods. The registered nurse should be able to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds. The job settings may have stressful conditions and/or irregular hours. There is a potential for exposure to communicable diseases. Upon admission to the nursing program, the prospective student is provided with a Nursing/Allied Health Program Physical Examination form that must be completed by a physician or nurse practitioner prior to enrolling in nursing classes.

Criminal Background Checks

Criminal background checks are required for entrance into the nursing programs. Background check is to be completed at the time of application. Students must have a negative background check and drug screen to begin clinical nursing courses. Health care facilities may not employ individuals who have committed certain criminal acts. Information on Barrier Crimes is available online. Students who have positive results from these checks may be prohibited from clinical and will not be able complete the program.

Please note: The Virginia State Board of Nursing can deny admission to any license or certification examination and refuse to issue a license or certificate to any applicant who has filed false credentials, falsely represented facts on an application for licensure, or has been convicted of any felony or any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. See Virginia Department of Health, Barrier Crimes for additional details.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to RN Transition Program

The LPN to RN Advanced Placement program provides an opportunity for the LPN to enter the nursing program to advance their careers and at the same time recognize the skills and knowledge they have already obtained through the Practical Nursing program. Those who apply for this program must have graduated from an accredited practical nursing program, have a current unrestricted license to practice as a practical nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia or compact state, and have completed BIO 141-142, HLT 143, ENG 111, SDV 100, and PSY 230. In addition, BIO 142, BIO 150, ENG 112, and PHI 220 are strongly recommended to be completed prior to applying or entering into the transition semester. These additional courses are required for the completion of the degree. The candidate must meet all criteria for the nursing program, including maintaining a minimum grade of 80% in all nursing courses and a “C” in all required general education courses. A transition course (NSG 115 and NSG 200) is required for all LPNs admitted in the program.

Students may be required to minimally attend 4 days a week – lecture twice a week and skills laboratory or clinical twice a week. Classes are scheduled between 8:00AM and 5:00PM. On-campus Skills Labs are scheduled between 8:00AM and 4:00PM. Clinical times vary and may be nine or twelve hour shifts and can be day, evening, or night, depending on the site’s availability. Clinicals are typically set for Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays. Tuesday and Thursdays are typically set for lecture/skills lab days. Preceptorships will follow preceptor’s schedules and may include all shifts at the hospital.

The LPN to RN Bridge program is for current Licensed Practical Nurses an advanced track for the associate degree program. This track adheres to the same admission standards as the traditional RN track. There are pre-requisite courses needed to complete prior to applying to the LPN to RN Bridge program in addition to the LPN licensure. The pre-requisite courses needed to complete prior to applying to the LPN to RN program are the following:

Notes: Program requirements may change in accordance with federal, state, or industry standards. Contact the program director or division chair for the most current information.

**Credit for prior learning is based on official transcripts from accredited programs who meet the criteria for the courses to which the student has received credit. This is determined by the college registrar. Once the pre-requisites have been completed, students may apply to the LPN to RN Bridge Program. (Please see the admission procedure for the nursing program for details.)

Students must complete the semester with an 80% or better to progress to the third semester of the associate degree program for nursing.

Transition students who successfully complete the transition semester will enter into the third semester of the associate degree program. It is strongly suggested for students to take ENG 112 and PHI 220 prior to entering into the program, although it is not required.

LPN to RN Program total: 67 credits. Total DCC hours: 429.

* LPN Transition students should take NSG 115 (5 credits) instead of NSG 100, NUR 106, NSG 130, NSG 152, and NSG 170. Upon successful completion of NSG 200 and NSG 115, LPN students will be awarded credit for these classes. * LPN transition students that complete the program will be awarded up to 150 hours for the above credits for the noted first and second semester of the traditional program. They will receive a total of 117 clinical contact hours credited toward their required 500 direct client care hours for the RN program. Traditional ADN students must complete a minimum of 500 direct contact hours and pass the above curriculum with at least an 80% in all didactic components to be awarded their ADN and to be able to apply to take their NCLEX-RN.

Transfer of Previous Nursing Credits

Students seeking to transfer credits received from nursing courses at other institutions will be considered on an individual basis by the Program Dean. The student may be asked to provide course descriptions, course syllabi, preadmission testing or achievement test scores, official transcripts, and selected data from the course instructor in order to determine placement in the nursing program. This option is subject to space availability. Since there are frequently differences among nursing programs, students desiring to transfer should be aware that there might be an interruption in their program progression depending on placement in the Camp Nursing Program. Students must schedule an appointment with the Dean of Nursing and Allied Health (asheaffer@pdc.edu). Students who have failed two attempts in a nursing program will not be permitted to enroll in Camp’s nursing program for five years.

Withdrawal/Readmission

An exit interview with a nursing faculty member or the Dean is required of all students who withdraw. In addition, the student must complete a withdrawal form. Students who withdraw because of academic failure may not enroll more than once. Any student wishing to enroll in nursing courses must have at least a 2.5 cumulative and curricular grade point averages at Camp to be considered. Readmission must occur within one year to maintain nursing course credits. A student who wishes to enter the nursing curriculum must follow the procedure outlined in the Nursing Student Handbook. The student may be required to enroll in and satisfactory complete specific courses before admission. Students will also have to demonstrate certain competencies and meet health and clinical requirements to be considered for enrollment. Students will be required to meet the requirements of the current ADN curriculum.

The Dean and nursing faculty will consider each student’s request for readmission and the decision to readmit will be based on additional data, prior performance in the nursing program, and space availability. Students who fail a nursing course or withdraw for any reason from the nursing program may be readmitted to the nursing program only once. Students who have failed two attempts in the nursing program will not be permitted to enroll within five years. All readmissions are at the discretion of Program Dean and nursing faculty.