Practical Nursing Info

Information Packet for the 2013 -2014 Academic Year
Deadline to Apply : Regular deadline Friday, 7/12/13; Priority deadline- Friday, 5/31/2013
Classes Begin : Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Class Schedule : Monday- Friday, 8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Clinical Hours will vary
Program Length : 12 months/1296 clock hours

Thank you for your interest in the Practical Nursing Program at the  Tennessee Technology Center at Jacksboro.  The school currently offers one full-time day PN Program, which has a September start date.  Please read this information in its entirety and keep it as a reference tool.  (Please review all information thoroughly and follow all instructions as they are written.)  This packet serves to provide potential applicants with baseline knowledge of the Practical Nursing Program and the admission process.  Also, plese keep the school informaed of any address or phone number changes, should the school need to contact you for additional information.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early for the program and for financial aid.  *And, remember, it is the applicant's responsibility to ensure all required documentation required for admission is received by the school prior to the application deadline.*

Admission to the PN program is competitive.  Simply passing the Compass/Asset test does not guarantee entry into the program.  A point system is used to aid the selection of applicants for each class.  A breakdown of this point system is located in this packet.  Being knowledgeable of the processes and application procedures may enhance your chances of being selected.  Please pay special attention to the Compass/Asset test dates, application deadline dates, and admissions requirements

General Information:

The Practical Nursing Program is a 12 month intensive program that will prepare you for a rewarding career in health care. The Practical Nursing Program is approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Graduates will obtain a diploma in Practical Nursing and may be eligible to tak the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN) used to obtain licensure in Tennessee.

Practical Nursing Profession:

Practical Nursing is entry level nursing. Graduates are prepared with the background and skills to provide competent, knowledgeable nursing care to patients with varying degrees of physical needs. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN’s) work under the supervision of registered nurses and doctors. Positions are available in hospitals, long-term care facilities, physicians’ offices, clinics, home health care agencies, industry, and in private duty settings.

Before you decide to apply for the program, please be aware of the following: the PN Program requires several hours of study time outside of classroom time. The program requires a full-time commitment, which means regular daily attendance in the classroom and clinicals  are essential for success. Students attend class for the first three months from 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, receiving lecture and laboratory instruction. Lab times will vary during the second month of attendance, as well as clinical dates and times when clinical rotations start. Students will begin clinicals in the fourth month, and this continues until completion of the program. (All applicants must pass a physical exam and submit proof of proper immunizations after being selected into the class but before clinical rotations begin.) There are requirements set forth by clinical sites that have to be met before students can attend clinicals, which include random drug screens and criminal background checks. Also- all nursing coursework must be completed with a grade of 81 or better.

Mandatory Admission Requirements:

An applicant for the Practical Nursing Program must meet the following admission requirements by the official deadline of July 12, 2013.  (It is highly encouraged that applicants submit all documentation at one time, and by the priority (early) deadines to receive extra points.)

• Be a high school graduate or submit proof of GED equivalency.
• Meet minimum acceptable scores on the Compass/Asset Test
• Complete the application packet by July 12, 2013, which includes the following:
  1. Provide offical sealed copy of high school transcript or GED scores
  2. Provide three (3) written work/character references (References completed by family members/relatives are invalid. No faxes accepted.)
  3. Complete a Practical Nursing Questionnaire. (All 6 questions need to be answered thoroughly and completely by the applicant.)
  4. Supply proof of current certification in CPR. (BLS for Healthcare Providers by the American Heart Association. The applicant is responsible for providing copy of this card.  (See page 4 for resources to learn about CPR classes)
  5. Attend one free, MANDATORY information session offered at the school. (See enclosed information for dates and times.)
  6. Submit additional documentation for coursework completed, certifications, work or volunteer experience so appropriate points can be awarded.

Application Procedures:

• Interested applicants need to complete the regular school application. This supplies the school with contact information on each potential applicant should the need arise to mail additional information or contact by phone.
• All applicants must meet minimum acceptable scores on the Compass Test, which is not a timed test, or the Asset test which is the paper version test and does have a time limit. (Our 1 ^st option is to use the paper version of the entrance test, or the Asset. The Compass test, or internet version, will be used as the 2 ^nd option.) Both tests have two components: math and reading. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review basic math and reading skills prior to testing. Test rules are as follows:
• Applicants need to arrive 30 minutes prior to testing time and pay the testing fee of $15 to the business office. Payment is to be made with cash or money order only. No checks accepted.
• State or federal issued photo identification is required for testing.
• No cell phones allowed in room during testing.
• Applicants, who do not obtain the acceptable test scores on the first attempt, must wait 30 days before re-testing. 
• Compass scores are considered current/good for two years.  Test scores have to be valid through the application process. However, it is the applicant’s responsibility to notify the Technology Center if they have tested previously so that scores may be located and placed in their file. If the test was taken at another location, the applicant must ensure that the Compass/NET test scores have been received by Tennessee Technology Center at Jacksboro prior to the priority deadline date: May 31, 2013, or the regular deadline date of July 12, 2013.

  Resources available to help students study for the Compass test:

• http://www.act.org/compass/sample/pdf/reading.pdf
• www.achievementtech.com
• http://www.act.org/compass/sample/pdf/numerical.pdf

Applicants can also attend free tutorial sessions at the school  prior to testing or can use GED books for study aid tools.  Tutorial session will held every Monday evening from 5 PM to 7 PM beginning the week of January 28, 2013 and will continue thru June.  (Except for the week of 3/18/13, 4/22/13, and 4/29/13.)

• The school will offer Compass testing every month beginning in January. The last testing date available for the Compass to be considered for the Sept. 2013 class is 6/25/13; however, applicants are strongly encouraged to test early.  Waiting to test in May or June leaves limited time for completing the process. 

The following dates/times have been scheduled for Compass/Asset testing:

• *Last test date prior to priority (early) deadline.
• **Last test date prior to regular application deadline.

• Information sessions will be held periodically beginning in December through June. Attendance at one session is mandatory.  This allows interested applicants to learn more about the nursing program and allows time for questions, etc. Applicants do not need to schedule a time to come, just be present at the school on the appropriate date and time. These dates correspond to Compass test dates.

The following dates have been scheduled for information sessions:

* (By scheduling ahead of time, interested applicants can test and attend an information session on the same day.)

• After successfully completing the Compass, applicants must complete an application for the Practical Nursing Program and will be given a nursing application packet. (These packets are available to applicants at any time, but recommended after successful completion of the Compass.) This packet will contain:
  • Three reference letters that need to be completed by current/previous employers/ supervisors. For those applicants who have not worked in the last few years, the reference letter needs to be completed by a teacher, minister, associate, etc. Reference letters completed by family members WLL NOT be accepted.
  • Practical Nursing Questionnaire that needs to be completed by the applicant . All six questions need to be answered thoroughly. (Questions are listed on the front AND back of the form.) Please put some thought into answering these questions and answer all questions completely.
  • Information on Financial Aid and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA form) Applicants need to apply forfinancial aid as soon as possible. The Pell Grant application does not commit you to the Tennessee Technology Center. Applicants who will be sponsored by another agency (Workforce Network, Vocational Rehabilitation, etc.) need to communicate with those agencies regarding your application status.

This application packet must be complete and submitted by 4:00 p.m. on the regular deadline date: July 12, 2013 or the priority deadline date of May 31, 2013.  Additional required documents (other than those listed above) must be included:

• High school transcript or GED scores (Request this early so it will be in by 7/15/10)
• Current (passing) Compass/Asset scores
• Copy of current CPR Certification* - BLS for Healthcare Providers

Documents that are not required but helpful:

• Certifications from educational/training sessions
• College transcripts
• Documentation of work experience or volunteer experience
• Certificates/documentation of related coursework (Medical Terminology, CNA, Health Occupations, Phlebotomy, etc.

*CPR Certification has to be through American Heart Association.  Applicants can check with area resue squads, fire departments, or the American Heart Association website - www.americanheart.org for class dates and times.  Also - classes are offered at CPR choice.com in Knoxville (865-548-1500) or through Allie Henson in Scott County (423-215-2071).

Applicant Selection Process:

Admission to the Practical Nursing Program is not automatic even though applicants have submitted the required documents and may be academically qualified. Applicants are selected by the use of a point system, which awards points for academic and health-related work/volunteer activities. Final approval for admission is based upon attending a mandatory orientation 3-4 weeks prior to the class start date and receipt of the physical exam form signed by a physician on the first day of class. (When acceptance letters are mailed, included will be the date/time of the mandatory orientation and a physical form. All physicals have to be completed on our form.)
 

Points will be awarded in the following categories:

* Applicants must provide documentation (certifications, transcripts, and letters). Include documentation even if classes were taken at this center.

Applicants with the highest total points are selected in descending order until all available student spaces are filled. All applicants will be notified by mail of acceptance status the week of August 1, 2013.

Please keep the school notified of any address/phone # changes. Please do not call the school to get acceptance information.

Before you decide

Before you make your decision to apply for admission to the Practical Nursing Program, you should consider the following:

Attendance requirements:

Regular attendance in class and clinical is essential to successful completion of the program. The Center maintains strict attendance requirements that must be followed. Excessive absenteeism/tardiness can and will result in termination from the program. Each applicant needs to have dependable childcare (if applicable) as well as reliable transportation. The program moves at a very fast pace, so any time missed will place the student behind.

Academic requirements:

All nursing coursework must be completed with a grade of 81 or above. The student must pass each subject, as well as clinicals, in order to progress in the program. Theory grades and clinical grades are not averaged together. A final grade below 81 in any area/subject will result in termination from the program. According to the Tennessee Board of Nursing, each applicant is only allowed two attempts at successfully completing the program.

Financial aid:

Students should apply as early as possible for financial assistance, if needed. The student services office can be of assistance with all financial aid questions or concerns. The FAFSA form needs to be completed to determine eligilibility for federal assistance as well as for lottery scholarships. Early completion of this form may allow for additional funding to qualified applicants.

The nursing program has additional required items- such as nursing packs/supplies, uniforms, malpractice insurance, drug screens, background checks, etc.

Clinical Requirements:

Each student is required by the clinical agencies to complete a thorough criminal background check and undergo a random drug screen prior to the start of any clinical rotations. If either/both result with a positive finding, it is the clinical site’s right to refuse a student access to their facility for training purposes. This would result with a clinical failure.

Personal commitment:

Students enrolling in the nursing program need to be aware of the amount of time outside of class that will be required to be successful. It is very common for nursing students to spend 3- 5 hours of study time every night for the first several months of class. Most nursing applicants have to sacrifice family activities and/or social activities while enrolled in the program. All interested applicants are instructed that the academic portion determines 50% of success and the personal commitment/motivation makes up the other 50%.

Physical Job Requirements:

All applicants must pass a physical and show proof of adequate immunizations before beginning the nursing program.  These include proof of 2 MMR's; proof of varicella vaccine or hx of chicken pox; recent TB skin test within the last 12 months; proof of Hep. B series; and a current tetanus shot.  This physical form will be mailed out with acceptance letters. Applicants must be physically able to bend, stoop, squat, carry/lift from 10-24 lbs., assist with patient transfers, possess good verbal and written skills, be exposed to blood/body fluids, etc.

This packet serves to provide potential applicants with baseline knowledge of the Practical Nursing Program and the admission process. Please review all information thoroughly and follow all instructions as they are written. Also, please keep the school informed of any address or phone number changes, should the school need to contact you for additional information. If, after reading this you have any questions, please contact the school at (423) 566-9629.  Thank you for your interest in the Practical Nursing Program at Tennessee Technology Center at Jacksboro.