Program: AS-25515

The purpose of the Nursing Program is to provide a curriculum that prepares entry-level professional nurses to practice in a variety of settings. The Polk State College faculty members are committed to the professional development of the student, the support of healthcare within the community, and the enhancement of the nursing profession.

Two program tracks are offered for nursing students. The Generic Track is for individuals without a current healthcare license. The Transition Track is for individuals holding a current license or certificate: as a Licensed Practical Nurse, Paramedic, Respiratory Therapist or qualified military medic. Students who qualify for the Transition Track by virtue of the previous healthcare license are not required to enroll in the accelerated Transition Track; they may choose to apply for the slower-paced Generic Track. The College seeks to provide as many qualified graduates as feasible, subject to the availability of clinical and academic resources, the existence of community need, and the number of qualified applicants.

Nursing is a limited admission program, and each applicant must first be admitted to the College and meet pre-admission requirements. Applicants with the best qualifications (according to the selection criteria) who meet and comply with all other admission policies, procedures, and requirements are eligible to apply for admission to the program. The College reserves the right to change program and admission requirements as need dictates.

As part of the program, students are assigned to clinical experiences in various healthcare facilities in Polk County, and to a limited extent, facilities in neighboring counties. Assignment to a specific facility or shift cannot be guaranteed. Thus, students need individual and dependable transportation. For the required clinical experiences, students may be assigned to a day shift (6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.), or evening shift (1:00/2:30 p.m. to 9:30/11:00 p.m.), or a combination thereof, throughout the week or on weekends. Students are expected to acquire many skills and competencies in the program, which necessitates individual time spent in the on-campus nursing laboratory outside of regular class hours. For most courses, the minimum requirement is two hours in the nursing laboratory per week on non-class days. Students are also advised that assignments for clinical days, times, and facilities are made by the nursing faculty, and flexibility is expected. Nursing classes and the associated clinical activities usually demand a minimum of two to three days per week. Study time and practice time necessary to be successful are at least equivalent to the class and clinical requirements. Students interested in the program are encouraged to consider completing all of the non-nursing course requirements prior to application.

Graduates of the Polk State Nursing Program are awarded the Associate in Nursing degree and are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination-RN to become a licensed registered nurse. Prospective students should be aware that a Social Security Number is required to be issued a certificate or license by the Florida Department of Health, which is the licensing authority for healthcare licenses in Florida.

Program Mission and Outcomes

The Nursing Program fulfills responsibilities to the students, the broader community, and the nursing profession by:

• Fostering and developing creative, innovative, and positive learning experiences that support the profession’s defined standards of care.
• Providing faculty who serve as role models and mentors for the students, the community, and the profession.
• Creating a learning environment in which students are provided the opportunity to develop the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills and professional behaviors necessary to assume the role of professional nurse, as well as the demeanor required of the job.

At the completion of this program, the graduate is expected to:

1. Function effectively as a provider of care who uses the processes of critical thinking, clinical reasoing, and the nursing process to make clinical judgements that provide safe and competent evidenced-based care across healthcare settings.
2. Function effectively as a coordinator of care who demonstrates leadership and uses effective delegation and management strategies to promote positive patient outcomes.
3. Function effectively as a member within the discipline of nursing who practices with integrity within the ethical, legal, and regulatory framework of professional nursing, and who models professional behavior including advocacy for the healthcare organization and the profession.
4. Interact with others as an effective, collaborative team member in providing holistic care that respects the patient as a unique human being who is a member of a family, a community, and a society.
5. Exhibit competent clinical decision making and safe performance of skills in implementing a patient-centered plan of care directed toward restoring, maintaining, or promoting the patient’s optimal health status.
6. Serve as an advocate for patients and families in promoting actions that provide physical, psychological, sociological, cultural, and spiritual comfort and safety.
7. Exhibit a spirit of inquiry that promotes participation in evidence-based practices, quality improvement processes, and research activities that lead to quality patient outcomes and system effectiveness.

Accreditation

The Polk State College Nursing Program is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326; telephone: 404.975.5000.

Success Indicators

The program completion rate for students is about 78%.  The NCLEX-RN pass rate for graduates consistently exceeds the state and national averages.  See polk.edu/nursing for the most recent results. All graduates were employed in health care upon graduation to the best of our knowledge.  The RN to BSN students do not take any additional licensing exams. They are predominantly employed when they start the program and maintain that employment.  We frequently receive communication from the graduates indicating they have been accepted into Master’s degree programs.

Florida Nursing Students Association (FNSA)

The FNSA is a pre-professional student organization that is affiliated with the National Student Nurse Association. Students interested in nursing as a career, but not yet admitted to the Nursing Program, are eligible and encouraged to join the association after successfully completing nine credit hours of program requirements. For further information, students may contact the FNSA Advisor, Ms. Phillips at gphillips@polk.edu or Ms. Schaak at lschaak@polk.edu.

Admission Criteria

The application for admission to the Nursing Program must be submitted to the Polk State College Admission Office during the appropriate application period. The two periods are:

• May 15 to May 30 for the August class.
• September 1 to September 15 for the January class.

Applications are not available until the application period. During the application period, applications are available in the Student Services Office at each campus and center, and on the Nursing Program website at www.polk.edu/nursing. All transcripts, required test scores, and any other documentation required in the admissions process must be submitted at the time of application for the application to be considered complete and eligible for consideration.

Anyone who applies but is not accepted for admission must reapply for consideration during future application periods. There is no waiting list. Students should have prerequisite courses completed or be enrolled in final prerequisite course(s) when applying.

Prerequisite Courses

The following prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better:

• ENC 1101 - College Composition I
• PSY 2012 - General Psychology
• BSC 2085C - Human Anatomy and Physiology I

    Mathematics (One Course)

• MAC 1105 - College Algebra (or a higher-level MAC course) or
• MGF 1106 - Topics in Mathematics or
• STA2023 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics 

Students are strongly encouraged to complete the additional courses listed below prior to program admission. These courses must be completed with a grade of C or better:

• BSC 2086C - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• DEP 2004 - Human Development
• MCB 2010C - Microbiology
• HUM 2020 - Introduction to Humanities
• ENC 1102 - College Composition II

Note: prerequisite courses and courses that can be taken prior to admission to a program can change. Students not yet admitted may be required to take additional or alternate prerequisites prior to admission to the program. All required science courses in this option must have been completed within seven years of the time of application and acceptance to the program. Exceptions to this policy can be granted only by the Director of the Nursing Program and are based on an individual’s education and experience. All students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of a 2.5 at the time of application for admission to either of the two program options.

Admissions Test

Students must achieve a satisfactory score on all tests required for admission. Currently the Department requires the Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATITEAS) with a minimum score of 70 required for application for admission. The Department reserves the right to change this requirement as need dictates.

Selection Criteria

The Nursing Selection Committee considers all eligible applicants and selects the most qualified applicants for admission based on a point system. This system considers factors such as scores on any required admission testing, overall cumulative GPA and cumulative GPA in program courses, and obtainment of a previous college degree at the time of application. This list is not meant to be all-inclusive; Polk State College reserves the right to make changes in the admission criteria as circumstances require.  Every reasonable effort is made to communicate changes in the program to interested students. Final acceptance and enrollment is based on the completion (with a grade of C or better) of required prerequisite courses that are in progress at the time of application, and the completion of other requirements listed below.

Transfer Students from Other Nursing Programs

A student who has started nursing classes at another institution and requests transfer into the Polk State College Nursing Program, whether as an advanced-standing student or a new student, must be in good academic standing in the nursing program from which transfer is desired and must be eligible to continue in that program. A student who is not eligible to continue in the nursing program where he or she is enrolled is held to the same academic standards and policies as a Polk State nursing student who is deemed ineligible to continue in the program.

Transfers are accepted on the basis of space availability as determined by the Program Director. Students are required to make an appointment with the Director as the first step in the transfer process. Course documents (or other materials) that outline in detail the content of courses completed must be available for the Director’s review to determine potential appropriate placement. Competency testing may be required for demonstration of proficiency in concepts and skills equivalent to the standards of Polk State College. Transfer students must meet all of the same requirements as other Polk State College students.

Additional Program Requirements

The listed items are not part of the application process but are required after a student is notified of program acceptance. These requirements must be completed (and current) in order to finalize the admission process and remain enrolled in the program.

1. Completion of the physical examination and evaluation of essential functions.
2. Completion of immunizations and submission of communicable disease screenings.
3. Attainment a current American Heart Association (or similar provider) CPR Certification for Healthcare Providers.
4. Completion of a drug screening by a department-approved vendor.
5. Completion of fingerprinting and national background check by a department-approved vendor within no more than one year of program enrollment.
6. Submission of a signed affidavit attesting to the non-committance of specific criminal acts.
7. Completion of the Nursing Orientation.

Applicants with felony charges and selected misdemeanor charges, or those with positive drug screenings may ultimately be denied enrollment in nursing courses. Students must be free of offenses that would potentially disqualify them from working in a healthcare environment (Florida Statutes 456.0635, 435.04, and 316.193). Pursuant to Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, the Florida Board of Nursing shall refuse to issue a license, certification, or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant has:

• Been convicted, plead guilty, or plead nolo contender (no contest) to a felony violation, regardless of adjudication, of Chapters 409, 817, or 893 of the Florida Statutes; 21 U.S.C. SS 801-970; or 42 U.S.C. SS 1395-1396, unless the sentence and any probation or pleas ended more than 5-15 years prior to the application (specific required lengths dependent upon the specific charge).
• Been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid Program, unless the applicant has been in good standing for the most recent five years.
• Been terminated for cause by any other State Medicaid Program or the Medicare Program, unless the termination was at least 20 years prior to the date of the application and the applicant has been in good standing with the program for the most recent five years.

Admission into the clinical portion of the Nursing Program is at the discretion of the clinical agencies, and these agencies may require more stringent limitations than those outlined above; therefore, applicants with any felony charges and selected misdemeanor charges may ultimately be denied enrollment in Nursing Program courses. Hospitals may require students’ Social Security numbers as well as copies of their criminal history background reports, immunization records, and other such data before accepting students for clinical experiences.

Note: Once admitted to the Nursing Program, there are program restrictions and requirements that must be met for the student to remain enrolled in the program. Admitted students should see the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Policy Manual for details.

Health Requirements

Potential applicants for admission should be aware that there are health requirements for admission and continued enrollment in the program. Students who do not already have the required immunizations are encouraged to get these early so as to avoid a large financial burden at the time of admission. The requirements are listed below. Failure to show appropriate documentation that the health requirements have been met can result in denial of admission or dismissal from the program:

• Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis) vaccination: Once received, this immunization is good for 10 years. Students should make sure the vaccine received contains Pertussis; a normal Tetanus immunization given to adults does not contain Pertussis. If a previous Tetanus immunization has been completed within the 10-year window and at least two years prior, the Tdap can be received. If a Tetanus shot was received within the past two years, reimmunization with Tetanus containing Pertussis cannot be given. Students must contact the Program Director regarding special clinical restrictions in this situation.
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccination: Individuals born before 1957 are required to have physician-documented evidence of disease or an MMR titer to verify immunity. Individuals born after 1957 must have documentation of having received MMR immunizations (a two-step process), and if that cannot be verified, then the MMR titer must be done. Once completed and immunity verified, additional vaccinations or titers are not needed.
• PPD Tuberculosis skin test: If an individual has never had a PPD or if it has been more than a year since a PPD has been completed, the initial testing is a two-step process with two tests performed one to three weeks apart. After the initial two-step PPD, a single PPD is required annually. The student must always maintain a current PPD to be allowed to participate in clinical experiences. Individuals who have had a positive PPD must have documentation of a negative chest x-ray within the past year, followed by continued annual screening with completion of a Health Questionnaire provided by the Department.
• Hepatitis B vaccination: This immunization is not required, but is strongly encouraged. It is a three-step process. Following the third injection, a titer for Hepatitis B surface antibody is required to verify immunity. The titer is a one-time procedure.
• Hepatitis C test: A titer is required no more than one year prior to admission. This is a one-time procedure. Individuals who test positive must meet with the Nursing Director to discuss any further requirements.
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) test: A titer is required. This is a one-time procedure. If the titer is negative, a Varicella immunization is required.
• Influenza Vaccination: An influenza vaccination is required annually.
• Physical Examination: Completion of a health examination is required no more than six months prior to admission. The examination must be documented on a Physical Exam Form provided by the Department of Nursing.

In addition to the immunization requirements, potential applicants should be aware that nursing is a physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding profession. In order to be admitted and retained in the program, all applicants and students must be able to demonstrate the ability to independently perform the following essential cognitive, affective, and psychomotor functions expected during nursing duties. These functions are:

• Sufficient visual acuity, such as is needed in the accurate preparation and administration of medications, for reading written instructions, and for the observations and skills necessary for safe patient assessment and nursing care.
• Sufficient auditory perception to receive verbal communication from patients and members of the health team, including occurrences where face masks are worn by personnel (which precludes lip reading), and to assess health needs of people through the use of monitoring devices such as cardiac monitors, stethoscopes, infusion pumps, fire alarms, and other equipment with alarms or auditory signals.
• Sufficient gross and fine motor coordination to respond promptly and to implement the skills required in meeting health needs, including the manipulation of equipment and supplies.
• Sufficient communication skills in speech, reading, and writing in the English language to interact effectively and safely with individuals, and to communicate patient needs promptly as may be necessary in rendering patient care.
• Sufficient tactile ability to conduct physical assessments, to distinguish significant temperature differences, and to determine the safe use of objects in a person’s environment.
• Sufficient physical abilities to quickly move from room to room, to maneuver in small spaces and in spaces containing numerous pieces of patient care equipment, and to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other life-saving skills in typical patient care situations.
• Sufficient interpersonal abilities to interact therapeutically and professionally with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds, as well as with individuals with emotional or psychological illnesses.
• Sufficient coping and communication skills to handle stressful situations in a calm and professional manner.
• Sufficient intellectual and critical-thinking skills to make safe and rapid clinical decisions, identify cause and effect relationships, and to develop safe and effective nursing care plans.
• Sufficient stamina to provide patient care and related responsibilities for extended periods of time (8-12 hours or more), including prolonged periods of standing or walking.
• Sufficient ability to quickly and safely implement written or verbal medical and nursing plans of care.
• Sufficient ability to effectively handle multiple priorities in a stressful situation.

Program Cost

The approximate cost of the Nursing Program is $14,000. This includes everything from the prerequisite courses and lab fees, to program courses, uniforms, physical examinations, immunizations, nursing course materials, application for licensure, and the Polk State College Nursing Pin, which is awarded upon successful completion of the program and graduation. This figure does not include the cost of any Developmental Education courses.

Students are strongly encouraged to investigate financial aid eligibility (e.g., Pell grants, scholarships, etc.) at the time of application to the College and/or to the program. Students who wait until the time of registration or until acceptance to the program are generally too late to qualify for funds for that term. Students need to be aware of financial aid limitations regarding minimum credit hours taken per term so that plans can be made to accommodate any adjusted financial resources. Information regarding assistance is available through the Financial Aid Office. In addition to the tuition and fees, there are additional expenses such as textbooks, other course materials, and uniforms, which may not be covered by financial aid.

Licensing Exam

Graduates of the Nursing Program are awarded the Associate in Science in Nursing degree and are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination-RN to become a licensed registered nurse. The Florida Board of Nursing has the authority to deny licensure as a registered professional nurse to applicants with a conviction, a plea of no-contest, or guilty plea, regardless of adjudication, for any offense other than a minor traffic violation. Applicants for admission with any record of a criminal charge who are accepted for admission must report this information to the Program Director in order to finalize acceptance. Any charges that arise after admission to the program must also be reported to the Program Director. Prospective students should be aware that a Social Security number (SSN) is required to be issued a certificate or license by the Florida Department of Health, which is the licensing authority for healthcare licenses in Florida.