Program: AS-25615

The Polk State Nursing Program provides a curriculum that prepares entry-level professional nurses to practice in a variety of settings. The College’s 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 an individual without a current healthcare license. The Transition Track is for the individual who holds a current license or certificate as a Licensed Practical Nurse, Paramedic, or Respiratory Therapist, or who is a qualified military medic. A student who qualifies for the Transition Track by virtue of a previous healthcare license is not required to enroll in the accelerated Transition Track; he or she 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. The College reserves the right to change program and admission requirements as needs dictate.

As part of the program, each student is 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, a student needs individual and dependable transportation. For the required clinical experiences, the student may be assigned to a day shift (usually 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.), or evening shift (usually 1:00/2:30 p.m. to 9:30/11:00 p.m.), or a combination thereof, throughout the week or on weekends. The student is expected to acquire many skills and competencies in the program, and this 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 a non-class day. Assignments for clinical days, times, and facilities are made by the nursing faculty, and each program participant is expected to be flexible. Nursing classes and the associated clinical activities usually demand a minimum of two full days per week. Study time and practice time necessary to be successful are at least equivalent to the class and clinical requirements. A student interested in the program is encouraged to consider completing all the non-nursing course requirements prior to application (i.e., all program-related General Education courses).

Classes and clinical coursework may be presented via face-to-face or online format (or any combination thereof, as need demands). The student must have access to a computer with a camera or webcam and a stable Internet connection to participate in online activities. Some activities, such as online testing, also require a private space in which to work.

A graduate of the Nursing Program is awarded the Polk State Associate in Science (AS) in Nursing degree and is eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination-RN (NCLEX-RN) to become a licensed registered nurse. Completing the program and passing the licensing exam does not guarantee a license; each state sets the requirements of licensure. A Social Security Number is required to be issued a certificate or license by the Florida Department of Health, the state’s healthcare licensing authority.

Program Mission and Outcomes

The Nursing Program fulfills responsibilities to 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 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 a professional nurse, as well as the demeanor required for the job.

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

1. Function effectively as a provider of care who uses critical thinking, clinical reasoning, 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 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 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 for physical, psychological, sociological, cultural, and spiritual comfort and safety.
7. Exhibit a spirit of inquiry by utilizing evidence-based practice, quality-improvement processes, and research activities leading 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).

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: 404.975.5000
Website: www.acenursing.org

 

Florida Nursing Students Association (FNSA)

The Florida Nursing Students Association (FNSA) is a pre-professional student organization that is affiliated with the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA). A student who is interested in nursing as a career, but who is not yet admitted to the Nursing Program, is eligible and encouraged to join the association after successfully completing nine credit hours of program requirements. For further information, a student may contact an FNSA Advisor (i.e., Professor Ford at: nford@polk.edu or Professor Capper at: jcapper@polk.edu).

Admission Criteria

The Transition Track admits students only once a year. An application must be submitted to the Polk State College Admissions Office during the application period, May 15 to May 31, for an August admission date. Applications become available only during this period and are available via a link on the Nursing Program website (www.polk.edu/nursing). All transcripts, test scores, and any other documentation required in the admissions process must be on file at the time of submission of the application for it to be considered complete and eligible for consideration. A student should complete all prerequisite courses before applying (or be enrolled in final prerequisite course(s)). Anyone who applies but is not accepted for admission must reapply for consideration during future application periods. There is no waiting list.

The Transition Track is an advanced, accelerated option. A student with significant work or family responsibilities, or an individual who does not have recent acute care experience, is encouraged to consider applying for the Nursing Program Generic Track. To be considered for admission to the Generic Track, the individual must complete an application for that option in addition to, or in lieu of, the application for the Transition Track. A student admitted into the Transition Track must remain in the Transition Track unless approved by the Nursing Program Director.

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   
• BSC 2086C - Human Anatomy and Physiology II   
• HUN 1201 - Principles of Nutrition  

    Mathematics (One Course)

• MAC 1105 - College Algebra  (or a higher-level MAC course) or
• MGF 1106 - Topics in Mathematics  or
• STA 2023 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics  

The student is 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:

• DEP 2004 - Human Development  
• MCB 2010C - Microbiology   
• HUM 2020 - Introduction to Humanities  

Note: Prerequisites to a program and admission requirements can change. A student not yet admitted may be required to take additional or alternate prerequisites prior to admission.

The seven-year limit on required Science courses within the Generic Option is waived for licensed or certified healthcare workers who have been actively working in the healthcare field. This waiver is in place whether the individual is applying for admission to the Transition Option or the Generic Option.

A Transition Option applicant must provide a copy of his or her unrestricted healthcare license or certificate in one of the approved fields with the completed Nursing Program Application. The student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 at the time of admission for either program option.

Admissions Test

The student must achieve satisfactory scores on all tests required for admission. Currently the Department requires a minimum score of 70 on the Assessment Technologies Institute Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) 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, cumulative GPA in program-required courses, and prior obtainment of a college degree. 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 are based on completion (i.e., 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

Once a student has started clinical nursing courses, it is difficult to transfer because of differences in placement of content and clinical experiences in 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.

A transfer student may be accepted based on space availability (as determined by the Program Director). The student is 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. Credit for nursing courses at Polk State can only be granted if it can be determined that the content and clinical experiences in completed courses at another institution equates to the courses at Polk State. Competency testing may be required for demonstration of proficiency in concepts and skills equivalent to the standards of Polk State College. A transfer student must meet the same requirements as any other Polk State College student.

Additional Program Requirements

These 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) 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 a national background check by a department-approved vendor within no more than one year of enrollment.
6. Completion of the Nursing Program Orientation.

An applicant with a felony charge or selected misdemeanor charge(s), or an individual with a positive drug screening, may be denied enrollment in nursing courses. The student must be free of offenses that would potentially disqualify an individual from working in a healthcare environment (cf. Florida Statutes 456.0635, 435.04, and 316.193). Pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 456.0635, the Florida Board of Nursing shall refuse to issue a license, certification, or registration and does not 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 Florida Statutes Chapters 409, 817, or 893; United States Code (USC) Title 21 Sections 801-970; or USC Title 42 Sections 1395-1396, unless the sentence and any probation or pleas ended more than 5-15 years prior to the application (specific required lengths are 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 program’s clinical agencies, and these agencies may require more stringent limitations than those outlined above; therefore, an applicant who is not acceptable to the clinical agencies is denied enrollment in Nursing Program courses. Hospitals may require a student to provide a Social Security Number (SSN), as well as a copy of the criminal background report, immunization record, and other such data before accepting the individual 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. Each admitted student should review the Associate in Science in Nursing Program Policy Manual for details.

Health Requirements

There are specific health requirements for admission and continued enrollment in the program. A student who does not already have the required immunizations is encouraged to get these early to avoid a large financial burden at the time of admission. The requirements are listed below. Failure to show appropriate documentation of these requirements results in denial of admission or dismissal from the program.

• Tdap Vaccination (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis): Once received, this immunization is good for 10 years. The student should make sure the vaccine received contains protection from Pertussis (i.e., whooping cough); a normal Tetanus immunization given to adults does not contain Pertussis. If a previous Tetanus immunization was completed within the 10-year window and at least two years prior, the Tdap can be received. If a Tetanus shot has been received within the past two years, reimmunization with Tetanus containing Pertussis cannot be given. The student must contact the Nursing Program Director regarding special clinical restrictions in this situation.
• MMR Vaccination (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella): Any individual born before 1957 is required to have physician-documented evidence of disease or an MMR titer to verify immunity. An individual born after 1957 must have documentation of receiving MMR immunizations (a two-step process), and if that cannot be verified, then the MMR titer must be done. If the titer is negative, the immunizations must be received. Once completed and immunity is verified, additional vaccinations or titers are not needed.
• PPD (Tuberculosis Skin Test): If an individual has never had a PPD test or if it has been more than a year since a PPD has been done, the initial testing is a two-step process, with two tests one to three weeks apart. After the initial two-step PPD, a single PPD is required annually. The student must maintain current PPD status to be allowed to participate in clinical experiences. An individual who has had a positive PPD must have documentation of a negative chest x-ray within the past year, followed by continued annual screenings with completion of the Health Questionnaire provided by the Nursing 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. Because of the time required to complete the series, the student can complete a form declining this immunization to be compliant with the clinical requirements, while also pursuing the steps required to be immunized. 
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigen: This is a titer which must be done no more than six months prior to admission. An individual who tests positive must meet with the Nursing Program Director to discuss any further requirements.
• Hepatitis C Titer: This test is required no more than six months prior to admission. This is a one-time procedure. Any individual who tests positive must meet with the Nursing Program Director to discuss any further requirements.
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) Titer: This test is required and is a one-time procedure. If the titer is negative, a Varicella immunization is required.
• Influenza Vaccination: An annual influenza immunization is required. This immunization is not done until a designated time during the year. Each student accepted for admission is given information as to when to get the immunization.
• Physical Examination: Completion of a health examination is required within six months prior to admission. The examination must be documented on the Nursing Program Physical Examination Form.

In addition to the immunization requirements, a potential applicant should be aware that nursing is a physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding profession. To be admitted and retained in the program, the student must be able to demonstrate the ability to independently perform (with appropriate accommodations, as needed), the following essential cognitive, affective, and psychomotor functions as expected during nursing duties. Further information regarding these expectations is available from the Nursing Program Director.

The Nursing Program student must have:

• Sufficient visual acuity for 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 preclude 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 ability 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 (e.g., 8-12 hours or more) that include 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 Transition Option of the Nursing Program is $13,000. This includes prerequisite courses, lab fees, program courses, uniforms, physical examinations, immunizations, nursing course materials, licensure application, and the Polk State College Nursing Pin (awarded upon successful completion of the program and graduation). This figure does not include the cost of any Developmental Education courses.

The student is strongly encouraged to investigate financial aid eligibility (e.g., Pell grants, scholarships) at the time of application to the College and to the program. If the student waits until the time of registration or until acceptance into the program, this is generally too late to qualify for funds for a given term. Additionally, there are financial aid limitations regarding minimum credit hours taken per term; the student should be aware of any change to the number of credits taken each term and plan 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

A program graduate is awarded the Polk State Associate in Science in Nursing degree and is eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination-RN (NCLEX-RN) to become a licensed registered nurse. The Florida Board of Nursing has the authority to deny licensure as a registered professional nurse to any applicant with a conviction, a plea of no-contest, or a guilty plea (regardless of adjudication), for any offense other than a minor traffic violation. An applicant for admission with any record of a criminal charge who is accepted for admission must report this information to the Program Director to finalize acceptance. Any charges that arise after admission to the program must also be immediately reported to the Program Director. A Social Security Number (SSN) is required to be issued a certificate or license by the Florida Department of Health, the state’s healthcare licensing authority.

A graduate of the Polk State Associate in Science (AS) in Nursing degree program is eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination-RN (NCLEX-RN) in Florida or in one of 27 other nursing-compact states. The student must apply for a multi-state license under the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC). A list of states in the current compact can be located on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website (https://www.ncsbn.org/nurse-licensure-compact.htm). If a student is not a Florida resident or a resident of one of the compact states, the College cannot confirm whether the Polk State AS in Nursing degree meets the educational requirements for professional licensure in the student’s particular state. Since the Polk State AS in Nursing degree program is nationally accredited, the curriculum should meet the requirements of other states; however, some states have additional requirements mandated within their curricula. If a student wishes to take the NCLEX-RN in a non-compact state, he or she must contact the state board of nursing in that specific state to determine whether the Polk State degree meets eligibility requirements for licensure.