Practical Nursing Diploma

3 semester program

Admission is based on weighted criteria.

Accelerated Program – most courses are accelerated and are completed in 8 weeks.

Applications Due:

March 15 of each year to apply for the following Summer semester (May) on the Grand Strand Campus and the following Fall semester (August) on the Georgetown campus.

Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed for admission.

To Apply for the Practical Nursing program you must:

1. Apply to and be accepted at HGTC, which includes paying the $30 application fee, submitting official high school and college transcripts and submitting the “Additional Admission/Placement Requirements Affidavit.”( The Affidavit is viewable on the next slide and may be printed from the “Forms” box on the Libguides page.)

2. Complete the requirements for one of the two options.

3. Have a 2.00 GPA in all prerequisite/core courses completed with C’s or higher and all courses within the required time limits.

Additional Admission Placement Affidavit

Practical Nursing Core Courses

ENG 101* – English Composition PSY 201 – General PsychologyMAT 155 - Contemporary Mathematics(10 year time limit)BIO 210 ***– Anatomy and Physiology IBIO 211 – Anatomy and Physiology II(5 year time limit)

*English Progression/dependent on test scores: ENG 032-ENG 100-ENG 101 **Math Progression/dependent on test scores: MAT 032-MAT 155

***BIO 210 has a prerequisite of BIO 101, BIO 112 or CHM 110 or the required placement test scores:

Compass: Reading – 85, Writing – 78, Algebra – 46SAT: Verbal - 480, Math – 440ACT: Reading -19, English – 19, Math-21

Option B: Must complete all 5 core courses with a 2.00 GPA, minimum grades of C,

and have BIO 211 in the last 5 years and MAT 155 in the last

10 years.

Option A: Must have a 2.00 GPA on core courses

completed with minimum grades of C, be eligible for ENG 101, MAT 155 and BIO 210 and score a 60+ on the TEAS. Time limits on math and BIO courses will apply.

Two options for applying for Practical Nursing

Option A: Taking the Test of Essential Academic Skills -TEAS V

Students with a score of 60 or higher on the TEAS may apply to the Practical Nursing program before completing the core courses. To do so students must have a 2.00 GPA, minimum grade of C in any core course completed, and be eligible for BIO 210, ENG 101 and MAT 155. Courses not within the required time limits will have to be taken while in the PRN program.

TEAS TEST INFORMATION

Pre - registration is required at www.atitesting.com

Cost : $61.00 Version: 5

170-question, multiple-choice test with a time limit of 209 minutes.

Reading Section is 58 minutes with 48 questions Science Section is 66 minutes with 54 questions English and Language Usage Section is 34 minutes with 34 questionsMathematics Section is 51 minutes with 34 questions (calculators are not permitted)

May retest every 3 months – retesting without waiting 3 months will make new score invalid.

Scores are valid for 2 years.

Your test is given on a computer and you receive your results immediately.

You may test at other colleges/locations and have your scores sent to HGTC.

Time: Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.Place: Bldg. 1000, Speir Building, Grand Strand Campus Dates: Please check www.atitesting.com for test dates.

TEAS Test Prep Resources @ the HGTC LibraryBooks (Available for 3-week checkout)**

CN GS GT

Complete TEAS V! : Test of Essential Academic Skills study guide and practice tests

1 1 1

McGraw-Hill's 5 TEAS practice tests 1

Reserves (Available for 3-hour, Library Use Only checkout)Study Manual for the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) Version V 2 2 1

Study Manual for the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) : Reading, mathematics, science and English and language usage

1

eBooks (Available for 3-week checkout) Teas Crash Course Book (1 copy)

McGraw-Hill Education 5 Teas Practice Tests (1 copy)

**When all HGTC books are checked out, please use PASCAL Delivers (a state-wide interlibrary loan service). When searching in the HGTC catalog, click the PASCAL icon to check the combined catalog of SC colleges and universities for TEAS titles. Learning Express Library (linked on the home page of the HGTC Library's website) is another online resource with practice tests and study materials for nursing and health science entrance exams in addition to the COMPASS exam. Both of these alternatives are FREE.Questions? http://libanswers.hgtc.edu/ Study Guides are also available for purchase in the bookstore, Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Option B: Must have a 2.00 GPA after completing the following prerequisites with grades of C or higher and within the required time limits.

BIO 210 BIO 112, BIO 101, or CHM 110 – BIO 210 BIO 211 (5 yr. time limit) ENG 101 ENG 032 – ENG 100 – ENG 101 PSY 201 MAT 155 (10 yr. time limit)

Math Progression: MAT 032– MAT 155

AHS 126 Health Calculations (also referred to as Dimensional

Analysis)

Students may take AHS 126 (Health Calculations) prior to Admission to receive extra points on their application. It is not a required class but highly recommended. Must have an A or B in the first attempt (excluding withdrawals) in the class to receive points. MAT 155, 101, or the appropriate test score is a prereq for AHS 126.

Accurately calculating drug dosages and droplets is a major component of Nursing classes. Course specific math tests are given in NUR 101, and throughout your semesters in the Nursing program, to assess your calculation skills. One question missed in your NUR 101 math test could result in a failure on the test. Not completing the NUR 101 test with 100% accuracy within three attempts may result in removal from the program. Therefore, a thorough understanding in your AHS 126 class is very important to future Nursing success.

The scoring criteria in the previous slide is used to determine which applicants will be accepted into the Practical Nursing program. 80 students with the highest number of points are selected to begin the program. Some will begin summer semester on the Grand Strand Campus and some will begin Fall semester on the Georgetown campus.

Every year scores vary. Based on prior years students with 9 points or higher are most often admitted. Obtaining these points does not guarantee acceptance. Acceptance depends on your points vs. the points of the other applicants at that time. Therefore admissible points may change each review period.

Acceptance into the PRN program is limited and competitive. There is no guarantee of acceptance. Your grades are very important. Even though the minimum GPA requirement is 2.00 you should strive for a much higher GPA.

Be the Best Applicant You Can Be!

Applying with the highest number of points you can obtain is important!!!You may increase your points by:

Retaking the TEAS – Your score is not high enough for points or you want to obtain more points for your score? You can retake it – just be sure to wait three months in between each time you take it.Taking 8 credit hours of your prerequisite/General Ed courses at HGTC or Coastal Carolina University. This will give you two more points on Option B.Obtaining an A in AHS 126 - Haven’t taken AHS 126? An A or B in the course will give you extra points on your application. Please keep in mind that points will only be awarded for the first attempt in the course (excluding withdrawals). Strive for an A for two extra points and to be prepared for the math tests you will face in the Nursing program. Applying for and obtaining residency status – go to http://www.hgtc.edu/admissions/residency.html for a residency application. Obtaining a South Carolina driver’s license and car registration (if the car is in your name) are normally an important part of this process. Read the application and instructions carefully.Applying with the best grades possible! When applying with Option B your grades in your prereq courses play a large part in Nursing acceptance. Have a C in MAT 155? Consider retaking it or even taking a higher level math. Achieving an A in either may increase your GPA high enough to get another point on your application. You can use the calculator on the Libguides page to see how much your GPA will increase by retaking or taking a different course in the same prereq category (such as math) and receiving a higher grade. Always check with financial aid before retaking courses as it may affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress if you retake too many or already have W’s, F’s or D’s in other courses.

These requirements must be completed AFTER being accepted into the program. The college will provide you with the instructions about when to complete these requirements in your notification of initial

acceptance into the program. Please plan ahead to cover the costs of these items. Failure to complete

these requirements within the designated time frame will prohibit your progression into the program.

• Submit $500.00 deposit to reserve your seat. This is an out of pocket expense – not covered by financial aid.

• Pass Certified Background Check and Drug Screening – cost to you is $106.00. The return of an unfavorable CBS and/or UDS may result in student being removed from desired program. Clinical sites/facilities determine applicant’s eligibility to participate in clinical studies based on their policies. If you complete the background check before being instructed to do so you will have to redo it and pay the $106 again. The Background Check and payment of $106 will be required every semester while in the program.

• Complete a Health Physical and submit proof of required immunizations. (Physical cost is your responsibility so plan ahead financially.)

• Show proof of current Health Care Providers CPR. You may take a class through HGTC’s Workforce Development Department. Register at www.hgtc.edu/jobtraining. This course costs $69 and in addition will require the purchase of a book and mask.

Other expenses for which you are responsible may include, but are not limited to, the items listed here. Costs are approximate and may vary slightly.

Practical Nursing is a 3 semester program which begins in the Summer semester (May) on the Grand Strand Campus and in the Fall semester (August) on the Georgetown campus. Classes and clinicals associated with this program are during the day. Once accepted you will attend year round, including summer. Please plan ahead financially as you may not receive financial aid for the summer.

 

Of course, if you have already completed the core courses such as PSY 201, SPC 205, etc. you do not have to retake them in the program.

Clinicals will vary by semester but may require 1-2 days a week. Students may have to travel up to a 50 mile radius to fulfill clinical requirements. Completion of your Associate in Science with Health Science Emphasis is recommended if planning to obtain a BSN at CCU. MAT 120, PSY 203, and AHS 108 are required to obtain a BSN at CCU. For more info about Coastal Carolina’s Nursing program go to http://www.coastal.edu/healthsciences/nursing/

Thank you for completing the Power Point STEPS session.

Please view the checklist underneath the STEPS session on the Libguides page and submit it to receive credit for the required session.

You will need your H number (Student ID number) to submit the checklist.