Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program
(Gainesville Campus)
North Central Texas College’s ADN program is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and has full accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing Inc. (ACEN: 3343 Peachtree Rd., NE Ste. 850, Atlanta, GA 30326, Telephone: (404) 975-5000).
Essential Competencies of Graduates of Texas
I. Member of the Profession:
A. Function within the nurse’s legal scope of practice and in accordance with the policies and procedures of the employing health care institution or practice setting.
B. Assume responsibility and accountability for the quality of nursing care provided to patients and their families.
C. Participate in activities that promote the development and practice of professional nursing.
D. Demonstrate responsibility for continued competence in nursing practice, and develop insight through reflection, self-analysis, self-care and lifelong learning.
II. Provider of Patient-Centered Care:
A. Use clinical reasoning and knowledge based on the diploma or associate degree nursing program of study and evidence-based practice outcomes as a basis for decision making in nursing practice.
B. Determine the physical and mental health status, needs, and preferences of culturally, ethnically, and socially diverse patients and their families based upon interpretation of comprehensive health assessment findings compared with evidence-based health data derived from the diploma or associate degree nursing program of study.
C. Analyze assessment data to identify problems, formulate goals/outcomes, and develop plans of care for patients and their families using information from evidence-based practice in collaboration with patients, their families, and the interdisciplinary health care team.
D. Provide safe, compassionate, comprehensive nursing care to patients and their families through a broad array of health care services.
E. Implement the plan of care for patients and their families within legal, ethical, and regulatory parameters and in consideration of disease prevention, wellness, and promotion of healthy lifestyles.
F. Evaluate and report patient outcomes and responses to therapeutic interventions in comparison to benchmarks from evidence-based practice, and plan follow-up nursing care.
G. Develop, implement, and evaluate teaching plans for patients and their families to address health promotion, maintenance and restoration.
H. Coordinate human, information, and material resources in providing care for patients and their families.
III. Patient Safety Advocate
A. Demonstrate knowledge of the Texas Nursing Practice Act and the Texas Board of Nursing Rules that emphasize safety, as well as all federal, state, and local government and accreditation organization safety requirements and standards.
B. Implement measures to promote quality and a safe environment for patients, self, and others.
C. Formulate goals and outcomes using evidence-based data to reduce patient risks.
D. Obtain instruction, supervision, or training as needed when implementing nursing procedures or practices.
E. Comply with mandatory reporting requirements of the Texas Nursing Practice Act.
F. Accept and make assignments and delegate tasks that take into consideration patient safety and organizational policy.
IV. Member of the Health Care Team:
A. Coordinate, collaborate, and communicate with patients, their families, and the interdisciplinary health care team to plan, deliver, and evaluate patient-centered care.
B. Serve as a health care advocate in monitoring and promoting quality and access to health care for patients and their families.
C. Refer patients and their families to resources that facilitate continuity of care; health promotion, maintenance, and restoration; and ensure confidentiality.
D. Communicate and collaborate in a timely manner with members of the interdisciplinary health care team to promote and maintain optimal health status of patients and their families.
E. Communicate and manage information using technology to support decision making to improve patient care.
F. Assign and/or delegate nursing care to other members of the health care team based upon an analysis of patient or unit need.
G. Supervise nursing care provided by others for whom the nurse is responsible by using evidence-based nursing practice.
Gaining Admission
Being admitted* to North Central Texas College does NOT mean you are automatically admitted to the ADN program. (Refer to the note on the previous page and to more detailed information about admission on page 23.) To be officially admitted to the ADN program at NCTC, students must meet additional qualification requirements and carefully follow the step-by-step process described in Phase One and Phase Two to follow.
*North Central Texas College does not discriminate against or exclude from participation in any of its programs or activities, either in the student body or the staff, any person on the grounds of sex, race, color, religion, age, handicap, national origin or veteran status. Special emphasis will continue to be placed on correcting conditions which may inadvertently discriminate against any individual with a disability.
PHASE ONE
The following steps must be completed by ALL applicants before they will be considered for admission to the ADN program:
Step One: Apply for Admission to NCTC through Apply Texas or print the NCTC Admissions Application Application for Admission or print in PDF format. Please submit your application as far in advance of registration as possible. Complete the college admission process as outlined on the NCTC website. Fill out and submit a Degree Audit/Transcript Evaluation form to the NCTC Admissions Office. This should be done a minimum of two months prior to applying to the nursing program.
Step Two: Attend a pre-nursing advisement/information session . Times and locations of information sessions are updated and posted as changes occur on the Information Session link of the nursing website. Applying for the Next Class has more detailed information regarding testing and a checklist of things to be gathered before entering the program. Attendance is encouraged, but not mandatory.
Step Three: Once all admission requirements are met, you will be notified by the Registrar’s Office of your acceptance to the College and will be ready to begin the process of registering for the prerequisite and support courses. See the associate Degree Nursing curriculum for a list of required courses.
PHASE TWO
The following procedure is to be followed by applicants who have met all the requirements of Phase One and are asking for clearance to enroll in the ADN program.
Step One: Once you have completed all items under PHASE ONE, you are ready to seek official admission to the ADN Program. First, you must complete and submit an Associate Degree Nursing Application to the ADN Program Office (in person) at the Gainesville campus. Copies of transcripts from all colleges other than NCTC and a copy of the degree audit must be provided at the time the ADN Application is completed. (The nursing office can print a copy of the NCTC transcript so it is not necessary to provide a copy). The application must be completed between:
- May 1 – June 1 for Fall Semester admission to the ADN Program OR
- Sept. 15 – Oct. 1 for Spring Semester admission.
These nursing applications do NOT “carry over.” If for any reason you are not admitted to the ADN Program after submitting your first nursing application, you must submit a new form in order to be considered again for admission.
Step Two : After you have completed Step One above, your transcript will then be evaluated to determine “priority points.” (refer to the Priority Point Chart below). Applicants will be ranked according to the priority points.
Step Three : All applicants who have submitted nursing applications will be notified of their enrollment status BY MAIL. Only a limited number of applicants with the highest Priority Point scores will receive letters stating that they are candidates to take the pre-admission exam (Kaplan).
Candidates with the highest pre-admission exam scores will be considered for admission to the Associate Degree Nursing Program. Candidates with the next highest pre-admission exam scores will be listed as alternates. If any of those who have been admitted are not able to begin the program for that particular semester, the next highest scoring alternate will be admitted. Minimum passing score is 70%. Any applicant (including alternates who did not get in) wishing to re-apply the following semester must go through this admission procedure again in order to be considered for the upcoming semester. (The pre-admission exam may only be taken one time in any given semester). Potential students may not take the exam more than twice. Those students accepted for admission to the ADN Program will be registered in the first semester nursing courses.
Step Four : Those students selected for admission will need to have the following items:
- Physical Examination form signed by a physician certifying that the applicant has been examined thoroughly.
- Proof of current CPR certification (American Heart Association Health Care Provider) and the following required Immunizations: Measles, Mumps & Rubella (2 MMR's or serological confirmation), Tdap, record of last 2 TB tests (at least 1 within past 7 months or Chest X-Ray within 2 years), Hepatitis B (series of 3 doses administered over a 6 months period--the first dose must be obtained no later than February 15 for Fall admission or July 6 for Spring admission in order to have the series complete prior to beginning the program), Varicella (chicken pox) (positive IgG titer or 2 doses as an adult), Flue vaccine.
- Proof of major medical insurance coverage or accident insurance coverage.
- Students must also purchase malpractice insurance (costing approximately $18). This is added to the tuition/fees bill at registration. Malpractice insurance must be renewed each fall semester. A student must have a valid social security number in order to enter the ADN program as clinical affiliations require valid Social Security numbers for Criminal Background checks.
- A Drug Test and a Criminal Background Check will be required of all students.
NOTE: Any student who has a history of mental illness or substance abuse must file paperwork with the Board of Nursing (BON) BEFORE applying to the ADN program. Any student who has ever been arrested for or charged with anything other than a minor traffic violation will need to submit a Petition for a Declaratory Order to the Board of Nursing and receive resolution from the BON prior to applying to the nursing program. See the Criminal Background Check link on the nursing web site contact the ADN Program Director for additional information.
Criminal background checks will be completed on all applicants to the program. The following histories will disqualify an individual from consideration for clinical rotations: 1) felony convictions, 2) misdemeanor convictions or felony deferred adjudications involving crimes against persons (personal or sexual), 3) felony deferred adjudications for the sale, possession, distribution, or transfer of narcotics or controlled substances, and 4) registered sex offenders. Applicants with these histories will not be accepted into the program. Applicants with these histories will not be accepted into the program. If a clinical agency does not allow a student to attend clinicals at their site, the student may be dropped from the program since they may not be able to meet the objectives of the program.
Priority Points
Non-Nursing Curriculum Coursework
Grade Point Average
|
4.0
|
3 priority points
|
|
3.5
|
2 priority points
|
|
3.0
|
1 priority point
|
Non-Nursing Coursework Completed With a “C” or Better:
|
24 hours
|
3 priority points
|
|
16 hours
|
2 priority points
|
|
8 hours
|
1 priority point
|
BIOL2401 Anatomy & Physiology I Grade:
|
A
|
3 priority points
|
|
B
|
2 priority points
|
|
C
|
1 priority point
|
BIOL2402 Anatomy & Physiology II Grade:
|
A
|
3 priority points
|
|
B
|
2 priority points
|
|
C
|
1 priority point
|
NOTE: Non-Nursing Coursework includes: 3 hours Math Statistics, 4 hours Anatomy & Physiology I, 4 hours Anatomy & Physiology II, 4 hours Microbiology, 3 hours Developmental Psychology, 3 hours Composition I, 3 hours Humanities or Fine Arts
About Transfer Credit
Admission by Transfer is considered on a space available basis. Applicants must meet all requirements of the nursing program in addition to those of North Central Texas College. All college credits from other institutions will be evaluated on an individual basis to determine their possible application to the nursing curriculum requirements. A letter of "C" (75) or better is required for transfer for all previous nursing courses and academic support courses. Students who have not been academically successful in other nursing programs will not be considered for transfer. Previous nursing courses must be from a regionally accredited program of nursing. A transfer will not be considered if the student has missed a full semester of enrollment in a nursing program. The student must submit
- A letter stating the reason for transfer
- Course descriptions and/or course syllabi for previous nursing courses
- Resume of previous clinical experience to include documentation of skills provided by the faculty of the transferring school.
- Letter of recommendation from the Department Head of the school from which the applicant is transferring.
- Students will be evaluated on an individual basis by the Program Director to determine their level of entry.
To Earn Your Associate Degree
To successfully complete the ADN program, earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree and apply to take the state licensing exam for Registered Nurses, students at NCTC must complete a total of 60 semester credit hours — 36 in Nursing courses and 24 in prerequisites and required support courses. Transition students complete fewer hours due to credit given for LVN license. Remember that nursing courses are grouped in progressive levels of complexity, and students must successfully complete all course work in one level before progressing to the next. If students remain on the prescribed track, completing all coursework and clinicals required to graduate normally takes two years from the time they enroll in the first clinical course. Failure to successfully complete the Clinical Math exams will result in clinical failure and dismissal from the nursing program.
Succeeding in the ADN Program
Progression Criteria: To remain in good standing and progress within the ADN curriculum, students must:
- Make a grade of “C” or higher in all required courses and maintain an overall grade point average of 2.0;
- Have already taken the support courses required in the degree plan for that level or be enrolled concurrently;
- Maintain current CPR certification and immunization status.
Any student not satisfying these criteria will not be allowed to continue enrolling in ADN courses. However, when deficiencies are corrected, the student may be readmitted to the appropriate courses but ONLY on a space-available basis.
Grading Policy
Grades in classroom (non-clinical) work are based on numerical average with corresponding letter grades. A grade of “C” or higher is required in ALL courses in the ADN curriculum.
90-100 = A • 81-89= B • 75-80 = C
66-74 = D • 65 or lower = F
Students must also complete a state mandated jurisprudence exam with a score of 75 in order to apply to take the NCLEX - RN. Graduates may apply to write the National Council Licensure Examination administered by the Texas Board of Nursing. After passing this exam, they are ready to begin their careers as Registered Nurses.
About Clinicals
Applicants to the ADN Program should understand that clinical courses require students to travel to sites off the College campus. Clinical sites include, but are not limited to, hospitals and other health care facilities in Gainesville, Denton, Flower Mound, Muenster, and Corinth. Students must be prepared to drive to ANY of these locations for clinicals; sites close to your home are not always available.
Readmission
Students who have an interruption in the normal progression of their nursing studies—whether by withdrawal from a nursing course or earning a grade lower than a “C” in a nursing course - will no longer be enrolled in the Associate Degree Nursing Program. The ADN Admission, Progression, Advisement Committee (APA) considers appeals for readmission on an individual basis. Refer to the NCTC Associate Degree Nursing Student Handbook for more detailed information about this procedure.
Grades for clinical courses are based on performance in the clinical area. Failure to successfully complete the Clinical Math Exams will result in clinical failure and dismissal from the nursing program.
Cost Considerations for ADN Students
Summary of Costs : The total per-semester cost of enrolling in the ADN Program at North Central Texas College is the sum of: (1) tuition; (2) “combined” student fees; (3) laboratory fees; (4) textbooks; (5) supplies & incidentals; and (6) nursing kits. Except for items 5 and 6, charges are figured just as they are for all other students. However, ADN students should be aware that, due to the special nature of the program, expenses in categories 3-6 will probably be considerably higher than those paid by students in most other majors. Estimated cost for the entire Associate Degree Nursing program is approximately $10,000. Most of these expenses occur at the beginning of the program so expect the first semester to cost around $3500.
Laboratory Fees: These are extra fees charged for all courses requiring a lab (in addition to the classroom lecture). For ADN students, a lab fee of $24 will also be charged for each clinical course. Lab fees for other non-nursing science courses are normally $24.
Textbooks: Nursing textbooks are highly specialized medical books and can be expensive — You will spend as much as $1100.00 for books for the program. You will buy all of your nursing books during the first semester. For students not yet officially admitted to the ADN Program and who will be taking general education courses, textbook costs will vary depending upon courses taken.
Supplies & Incidentals: Once admitted to clinicals, ADN students will need to buy uniforms, patches, a lab coat, shoes, stethoscope, and skills kit. A good wristwatch with second hand is essential. Also, the student will need normal school supplies, and other costs will include such items as major medical insurance, physical examination (including immunizations), Hepatitis B vaccine, CPR training, assessment test fees, graduation fees, state board fees and school pin. Additional fees for Malpractice Insurance and Drug Screening will be added to the tuition/fees bill. Additional costs may include Criminal Background Testing and a State Board Review Course. A computer with internet access, printer, ink and computer paper are a necessity during the nursing program.
NOTE: All tuition rates, fees and other elements of expense for attending North Central Texas College are subject to change by the NCTC Board of Regents.
Graduation : ADN students completing requirements for their Associate of Applied Science Degree are highly encouraged, as are all graduates, to participate in the College’s formal commencement ceremonies.
Graduates may apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), which is administered by the Texas Board of Nursing. Graduates must pass the state-mandated jurisprudence exam with a minimum grade of 75 before applying for the NCLEX-RN. Graduates become Registered Nurses after passing the exam. NCTC ADN graduates are encouraged to continue nursing education toward a bachelor's degree or higher.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Pathway
Texas supports the Institute of medicine (IOM) goal established in 2011 to increase the number of RNs holding a bachelor's degree in nursing to 80% by the year 2020. Students who are enrolled in a BSN program after obtaining RN licensure will have an advantage when searching for jobs. With this in mind, NCTC has partnered with major universities to offer students the opportunity for a smoother transition from ADN to BSN. Difficulties in the past have included problems such as limited slots available in the universities, differences in courses required from college to college, students needing many additional courses when they transfer to the university, etc. With the BSN Pathway, the curriculum has been standardized and students who complete all of the courses listed in the pathway, graduate with an Associate Degree in Nursing from NCTC, and pass the state board licensing exam, will be able to complete the BSN program with an additional 30 hours of on-line courses at one of our partner universities. In addition to the courses required for the Associate Degree Nursing Program, the following core courses would be needed for the BSN Pathway: CHEM1413 Chemistry for Health Science or CHEM1411 General Chemistry, ENGL1302 Composition II, BIOL1322 Basic Nutrition, PSYC2301 Intro to General Psychology, HIST1301 US History to 1865, HIST1302 US History from 1865, GOVT2305 American National Government, GOVT2306 American State & Local Government, a two-hour elective and an additional Humanities or Creative Arts course (BSN requires one course from Humanities and one course from Creative Arts).