Associate Degree Nursing Accelerated Program for Licensed Practical Nurses - Associate of Applied Science

The Associate Degree Nursing Accelerated Program for Licensed Practical Nurses and Paramedics is designed to move the practical nurses and paramedics through four semesters of nursing courses in 3 semesters of full-time study. A student’s success is predicated upon two conditions:  that he/she completes some of the required general education courses before enrolling; and, that the faculty of the College effectively measures the student’s beginning abilities and knowledge. A transitional semester assists students in mastering those first-year ADN objectives that have not been previously achieved. Successful completion of this term allows students to begin the regular second-year ADN program.

Legal limitations for licensure as a registered nurse:

Information related to applying for licensure to practice as a registered nurse, upon completion of the Associate Degree Nursing Program, is contained in the Mississippi Nursing Practice Law and Rules and Regulations, amended through April 1, 2008.  Graduates must apply to the Mississippi Board of Nursing to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN)®. Applicants to the Associate Degree Nursing Program should be aware of the following restriction regarding who may qualify to write the NCLEX-RN®:

“The Board may, in its discretion, refuse to accept the application of any person who has been convicted of a criminal offense under any provision of Title 97 of the Mississippi code of 1972, as now or hereafter amended, or any provision of this chapter.”*

*Mississippi Nursing Practice Law, 2008, page 9.

The program includes a balance of general education and nursing courses along with planned experiences in patient care. Students learn basic nursing techniques in the college laboratory and care for patients in affiliated hospitals and other clinical agencies.

Mississippi Law now requires healthcare professionals or Career Technical Education students enrolled in programs whose primary purpose is to prepare professionals to render patient care services, submit to criminal background checks, and fingerprinting prior to beginning any clinical rotation in a licensed healthcare entity. If such fingerprinting or criminal background checks of the student discloses a felony conviction, guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere to a felony of possession or sale of drugs, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, sexual battery, sex offense listed in Section 45-31-3 (I), child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust, aggravated assault or felonious abuse and/or battery of a vulnerable adult which has not been reversed on appeal or for which a pardon has not been granted, the student shall not be eligible to be admitted to such health program of study or will not be eligible to participate in clinical training in a licensed entity. The student’s eligibility to participate in the clinical training phase of their healthcare program shall be voided if the student receives a disqualifying criminal record check; therefore, the student will be dismissed from the nursing program.

In addition to regular college tuition and fees, students will have additional expenses for clinical apparel, standardized tests, background checks, drug screening, organizational dues, books and insurance. A detailed cost sheet is available from the program coordinator. Students are responsible for their own transportation between the College and clinical agencies.

Progression: A grade of “C” on each nursing course listed in the nursing curriculum (NUR courses plus general education courses) and a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (“C” average) or higher on all college courses are necessary to progress and to graduate from the Associate Degree Nursing Program. In addition, students must demonstrate a satisfactory pattern of behavior according to the “Criteria for Responsible Behavior,” published in the Associate Degree Nursing Student Handbook. An additional graduation requirement is that the student must earn an established score on a standardized exit exam.

Minimum admission requirements (in addition to general admission requirements):

Attain an 18 composite score on the ACT (if taken prior to October 1989, a composite score of 15 is acceptable);

Or

Attain a 17 composite score on the ACT, complete Anatomy and Physiology I and II with a “C” or higher in each course and complete 16 additional hours of general education courses, as listed in the AD Nursing curriculum, with a 2.00 GPA;

And

Complete at least 23 semester hours with a “C” average or above at an accredited college or university.  Of these hours, four must be Microbiology (with lab), eight must be Anatomy and Physiology I and II (with lab), three must be English Composition I and three must be Human Growth and Development;

And

Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 (“C” average) or higher on all previous college coursework and a grade of “C” or better in all ADN curriculum courses;

And

Have an unencumbered MS or interstate compact license as an LPN or unencumbered paramedic registry.

                                                                        And

Have one year of experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse or Paramedic.  This requirement must be validated with a form that will be mailed to the student by the Admission Office;

And

Have a written recommendation from a former immediate supervisor;

And

Participate in a mandatory on-line ADN Information Session and pass a short numerical skills test. The mandatory on-line session will be scheduled for the prospective student only after all other requirements have been met. Students will receive notice from the Admissions Office about scheduling their Information Session and their numerical skills test.

The ADN Admissions Committee will select each semester’s class from the pool of applicants who meet minimum admission requirements.  Any application with incomplete records will not be considered for admission.  The admission process is competitive and completion of minimum requirements is not a guarantee of admission.  Priority consideration for admission will be given as follows: 1) In-district students who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework at MCC; 2) Out-of-district students who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework at MCC; 3) Mississippi residents who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework elsewhere; 4) Out-of-state students.  The nursing website contains details related to the points awarded for variables in the competitive selection process.

 

After program admission and prior to enrollment, students must receive CPR certification.  Students must provide proof of immunization for MMR.  A Mantoux Two-Step TB Skin Test is required prior to admission. Drug screening will be scheduled after enrollment.

All students admitted into the Program will be required to pay for fingerprinting and background checks, which will be performed after admission and prior to clinical laboratories.  These fees will be attached as registration fees.  There are certain convictions that will prevent an individual being eligible to participate in clinical experiences.  If a student is unable to participate in clinical experiences, he/she will be dismissed from the Program.  For additional information, please contact the nursing advisor.

Deadlines for submitting admissions application are March 1^st  for Fall admission and October 1^st for Spring admission.

Students in the Associate Degree Nursing Accelerated Program must attend MCC full-time (12 or more semester credit hours).  Students admitted in August must be eligible to participate in the Rural Health Program which includes being a Mississippi resident upon admission and contractually committing to work in a rural area of the state, for a limited time, after graduation. Currently, rural areas of the state are considered all parts except Metro Jackson.