2024-2025 Catalog
Nursing - Associate Degree (RN)
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 Return to: Instructional Divisions & Disciplines
Advisors in the Advising and Retention Center serve as advisers for the various pathways for students planning to pursue a Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) degree. After successful completion of the core courses and required electives, students will be eligible to receive an Associate of Arts degree from Northwest and can transfer to a four-year university or an accredited online program to complete the BSN.
*Note: Every BSN program sets its own requirements for graduation. It is the responsibility of the student to determine the requirements of the desired BSN program.
Nursing - Associate Degree Program
The Associate Degree Program in Nursing provides a foundation in general education and nursing. Upon completion of the curriculum, an Associate of Arts degree is awarded. Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for licensure by the National Council for Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®). Graduates are prepared to provide nursing services in beginning staff level positions and have potential for advancement on an individual basis. The traditional plan of study in the nursing program is four semesters in length, and classes are admitted each fall and spring semester. Clinical practice experiences are available in Memphis, northwest Mississippi hospitals, and other healthcare agencies.
Program Requirements
A minimum grade of “C” or better is required in every course outlined in the nursing curriculum for graduation. The Associate Degree Nursing Program reserves the right to recommend for continuation only those students who, in the judgment of the faculty, satisfy the requirements and aptitude for nursing. Nursing students who fail one required nursing course are eligible to repeat the course and will be readmitted within one calendar year, based on space availability. Failure of two required nursing courses will result in dismissal from the program. Students will be allowed one nursing course withdrawal throughout the program. A second withdrawal from a nursing course will result in dismissal from the program. An exception may be made for a medical or family crisis but only if the student is passing the nursing course at the time of the second withdrawal and the student has incurred no previous nursing course failures. NOTE: Students are only allowed to enroll in the same nursing course twice. Students dismissed for withdrawals or nursing course failures are eligible to reapply to the Associate Degree Nursing Program in three years OR after the successful completion of an accredited Practical Nursing Program and passing NCLEX-PN®.
Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester while enrolled in the nursing program. An exception to this requirement is the NUR 1316 LPN-RN Transition course during the summer term. Student schedules will be reviewed by nursing faculty at mid-term. Failure to maintain 12 credit hours will result in the student being withdrawn from the nursing course. The withdrawal will count toward the one withdrawal allowed. To satisfy scholarship and/or financial aid requirements, students may be required to enroll in 15 credit hours per semester. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure all requirements are met.
Background Checks
In compliance with the amended Section 73-15-19 from the 2017 Mississippi Nursing Practice Law (www.msbn.ms.gov), all students enrolled in the Associate Degree Nursing Program are among those subject to criminal background checks before admitted to the program. Applicants must provide a list of all prior arrests, convictions, and pending charges. Proof of disposition of charges must be provided upon admission to the nursing program. If at any time the determination is made that a student, as a result of the background check, is not eligible to be admitted/attend clinical, the student will not be allowed in the nursing program. The Mississippi Board of Nursing requires that graduates are also fingerprinted by the Mississippi Board of Nursing prior to sitting for the licensing exam (NCLEX-RN®). License or practice privilege denial, revocation or suspension:
Grounds for denying, revoking, or suspending license penalties for engaging in prohibited conduct.
- The Board shall have power to revoke, suspend or refuse to renew any license issued by the Board or to revoke or suspend any privilege to practice, or deny any application for a license, or to fine, place on probation and/or discipline a licensee, in any manner specified in this article upon proof that such person:
- Has committed fraud or deceit in securing or attempting to secure such license;
- Has been convicted of a felony, or a crime involving moral turpitude or has had accepted by a court a plea of nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude (see entire section at www.msbn.ms.gov).
All Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in the program who maintain an active license must have an unencumbered license and disclose any disciplinary action that is initiated while enrolled in the program. All licenses will be checked through Nursys® and/or the Board of Nursing. Disciplinary actions by the Board of Nursing are grounds for dismissal from the program.
Drug Screening
All nursing students must be free of any chemical impairment. All students will have initial drug screening and are subject to additional drug screens according to the Associate Degree Nursing Program Drug and Alcohol Policy. Students with a positive drug screen will be advised to seek on-campus counseling services; however, they will be dismissed from the program, with eligibility to reapply in 1 years.
The Mississippi Board of Nursing states the board has the power to deny, revoke or suspend a nursing license upon proof of one of the following: Is addicted to or dependent on alcohol or other habit-forming drugs or is a habitual user of narcotics, barbiturates, amphetamines, hallucinogens, or other drugs having a similar effect (Section 73-15-29: Nursing Practice Law).
Student Health Record Requirements
Nursing students must be able to demonstrate certain essential functions noted in the Student Health Record in order to participate in clinical experiences and care for patients in the clinical area. The Student Health Record, including the essential functions, is available on the Northwest website (www.northwestms.edu) in the Nursing Student Handbook. Students with disabilities requiring special accommodations should register with the campus Disability Services officer. Approval of special accommodations while in the program will not guarantee approval for special accommodations for taking NCLEX-RN®.
All students are required to provide proof of negative tuberculosis (TB) status and negative COVID-19 (PCR test) status (based on clinical placement), immunizations or proof of immunity to MMR/varicella/hepatitis, proof of Tdap, polio, and influenza vaccines before attending the first clinical rotation. All documents submitted in support of an application or clinical requirements documentation become the property of Northwest Mississippi Community College and cannot be returned, copied or forwarded to another individual or school. No exceptions are allowed for this requirement. If a student is pregnant or breastfeeding and cannot have immunizations, they must withdraw before the first clinical rotation. They will be accepted into the next class without re-applying to the program if the requirements are met. The withdrawal for this reason is not counted toward the one withdrawal allowed. Specific information regarding health requirements including all immunizations can be found in the Nursing Student Handbook on the website.
Special Admissions Requirements
Due to the purpose and objectives of the Associate Degree Nursing Program, the requirements for admission to the program differ from the general admission requirements for NWCC. Meeting the minimum standards for admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the Nursing Program. The number of students admitted each semester is dependent upon educational resources available to the school. Two classes are admitted each year. The fall class is notified of acceptance in April, and the spring class is notified of acceptance in November each year. Application forms for admission to the Associate Degree Nursing Program are available online on the College’s website (www.northwestms.edu).
Applications are ONLY accepted between January 1-March 1 for the fall semester and between August 1-October 1 for the spring semester. Applications must be resubmitted each semester for reconsideration. Each applicant must ensure that his or her file in the Office of Admissions and Records is complete by the March 1 deadline for fall applicants and the October 1 deadline for spring applicants. This includes but may not be limited to: Application, high school transcripts, high school equivalency scores, ACT scores, and all other college transcripts. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the nursing office of any information changes.
Admission Requirements: College admission forms should be sent to the Office of Admissions and Records, and the application to the nursing program should be submitted online to the Associate Degree Nursing Program.
Admission Criteria
Students are chosen by the admission committee based on the following criteria and a competitive point system:
- An Enhanced ACT composite score of 18 or greater. ACT must have a science sub-score (SAT conversion is not accepted).
- Completion of College Algebra (MAT 1313) or approved higher-level math with a grade of “C” or better (If College Algebra is taken within the past three years, all attempts will be calculated into GPA. If College Algebra grades are four to seven years old, the highest College Algebra grade will be used to calculate GPA.)
- Completion of Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab (BIO 2513 and BIO 2511) with a grade of “C” or better within the last seven years (If A&P I with Lab are taken within the past three years, all attempts will be calculated into GPA. If A&P I with Lab grades are four to seven years old, the highest A&P I with Lab grades will be used to calculate GPA.) All required science courses that have been completed prior to entering the nursing program must have been taken within the past seven years.
- GPA of 2.5 on required pre-requisite courses noted above.
- Completion of the TEAS pre-admission test. Admissions points will be awarded based on the TEAS test scores. A student may take the TEAS one time per application period and will be good for one year.
- Students must be 18 years of age before entering the first nursing course (NUR 1109).
Refer to the admissions procedure and point calculation information on the Associate Degree Nursing Program page of the Northwest website (www.northwestms.edu) for detailed information. Refer to the Associate Degree Nursing Program page of the Northwest website for estimated costs for the program. A computer with internet access is required for electronic books, resources, and communication via CANVAS. Students may use computers at the Learning Resource Center (library); however, it is recommended that the student have a computer and internet access at home. It is important to note that iPads do not have the ability to operate all of the software required for the nursing program.
Acceptance Policy
Notification of acceptance must come from the Director of Nursing Instruction. Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to nursing. Places will not be held for admitted students. If the student is accepted to the nursing program but fails to apply and be admitted to the College, the student must reapply for acceptance for the next semester. There is no waiting list.
Transfer Students
All students desiring to transfer from another nursing program must consult with the Director of Nursing Instruction. All transfer applicants must be in good standing and eligible for continuation in the previous college and nursing program attended. Additionally, all admission criteria must be met, including the Anatomy and Physiology I and College Algebra requirements, prior to transfer into the program. Transcripts from the previous college must be submitted to the Director of Nursing Instruction for prior approval to be applied toward an Associate Degree in Nursing. The applicant will also be asked to submit proof of content for any courses considered for transfer. This may include but not be limited to: course outlines, course syllabi, skills check list, etc. All eligible transfer students are accepted on a space-available basis. Out-of-state students are eligible for transfer if accepted. Applicants who have failed a previous nursing program and are ineligible to continue in that program may apply three years from the date of the previous failure.
Advanced Standing for Licensed Practical Nurses
LPNs have the opportunity to seek advanced standing in the Associate Degree Nursing Program by successfully completing the LPN-RN Transition course (NUR 1316 ) completed during an eight-week summer term which allows entry into the final two semesters of the traditional plan of study. For further information, prospective students may access the information on the College’s website (www.northwestms.edu). LPNs in the Transition course must also maintain a current, active, unencumbered license while enrolled in the program.
Program Accreditation
The Associate Degree Nursing Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) located at 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30326 (phone number 404-975-5000, www.acenursing.org) and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, State of Mississippi located at 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211 (phone number 601-432-6198, http://www.ihl.state.ms.us/nursing/).
Associate Degree Nursing Program Contacts:
Lakeesha Grant, Administrative Assistant
Phone: 662-562-3283
Email: lgrant@northwestms.edu
Associate Degree Nursing Program Academic Advisers:
Rochelle Beaver
Phone: 662-562-3293
Email: rbeaver@northwestms.edu
Milissa Boyd
Phone: 662-562-5241
Email: mpayne@northwestms.edu
Brooke Clemons
Phone: 662-562-3285
Email:bclemons@northwestms.edu
Mandy Deshotels
Phone: 662-562-3286
Email: mdeshotels@northwestms.edu
Melissa Evans
Phone: 662-562-3284
Email: mevans@northwestms.edu
Darlene Hamblen
Phone: 662-562-3498
Email: rhamblen@northwestms.edu
Erin Harrington
Phone: 662-560-4212
Email: eharrington@northwestms.edu
Brittany Hill
662-562-4219
Email: bhill@northwestms.edu
Jennifer Jones
662-562-4197
Email: jejones@northwestms.edu
Austin Mabry
Phone: 662-562-3290
Email: aumabry@northwestms.edu
Courtney McMullen
Phone: 662-562-5208
Email: cmcmullen@northwestms.edu
Summer Putt
Phone: 662-560-5352
Email: sputt@northwestms.edu
Lisa Rogers
Phone: 662-562-3288
Email: lrogers@northwestms.edu
Leslie Russell
Phone: 662-562-3571
Email: lrussell@northwestms.edu
Stacy Taylor
Phone: 662-562-3982
Email: swtaylor@northwestms.edu
Lesley Thweatt, Director
Phone: 662-562-3981
Email: lthweatt@northwestms.edu
Abbey Ward
Phone: 662-562-3455
Email: award@northwestms.edu
Monica Williams
Phone: 662-562-3289
Email: mwilliams@northwestms.edu
ProgramsAssociateCoursesNursing
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