Nursing, A.A.

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 and in Northwest Mississippi hospitals and other healthcare agencies. All prospective students should be advised by an associate degree nursing adviser on the Senatobia campus from the list provided.

Program Requirements

A minimum grade of “C” or better is required in every course outlined in the nursing curriculum for graduation. The Department of Nursing 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. 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 Failure to maintain 12 credit hours will result in the student being withdrawn from the nursing course.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. Students may be required to enroll in up to 15 credit hours to satisfy scholarship and/or financial aid requirements. 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 being allowed to provide patient care. 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 attend clinical, the student will not be allowed to remain 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.

1. 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:
   1. Has committed fraud or deceit in securing or attempting to secure such license;
   2. 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 Nursing Department Drug and Alcohol Policy. Students with a positive drug screen will be dismissed from the program, with eligibility to reapply in 3 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 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 Support 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, 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 March, and the spring class is notified of acceptance in October 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-February 15 for the fall semester and between August 1-September 15 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 February 15 deadline for fall applicants and the September 15 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 if 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 Nursing Department. ONLY Mississippi residents are admitted to the 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 19 or greater (students who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher and Licensed Practical Nurses are considered for admission with a composite ACT score of 18). ACT must have science sub-score (SAT conversion is not accepted).
• Completion of College Algebra (MAT 1313) or an approved higher-level math with a grade of “C” or better (If College Algebra is older than seven years, the highest grade will be used for GPA calculation.).
• 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 PAX pre-admission test. Applicants who score at least 102 are given first consideration for admission. The PAX exam may be repeated as needed to achieve a score of 102.
• Students must be 18 years of age before entering the first nursing course (NUR 1109).
• Students must be a Mississippi resident upon entering the first nursing course (NUR 1109).
• 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.

Refer to the admissions procedure and point calculation information on the Nursing Department page of the Northwest website (www.northwestms.edu) for detailed information. Refer to the Nursing Department page of the Northwest website for estimated costs for the program. 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. 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.

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 register, 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 II 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). Acceptance in the LPN Advanced Placement option requires completion of the pre-requisite courses or acceptable substitute courses as listed in the LPN-RN Transition plan of study. LPNs in the Transition course must also maintain a current, active, unencumbered license while enrolled in the program.

Program Accreditation

The Nursing Department is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) located at 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, 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/).