Applicants to the nursing program will be informed of all the required documentation, and the timeframes for submitting the required documentation, for application to the program. When all nursing program application requirements have been completed and submitted by the applicant, and the applicant has signed the enrollment agreement, the completed application file will be submitted to the Nursing Program Admissions Committee for consideration. The Nursing Program Admissions Committee reviews each completed application file and makes a final determination on admission to the Nursing Program. A candidate for admission may be required to interview with a member of the Nursing Program Admission Committee, or another school official. Once the Nursing Program Admissions Committee makes its final decision regarding an applicant, the applicant will be notified.
In addition to the General Admissions Requirements, the following are additional admissions requirements for the Nursing programs:
- Applicants must submit to, and pass, a criminal background check administered by the school prior to starting the program, or prior to being readmitted and the results of the CBC must be in the student file prior to starting the program. The conviction for certain criminal offenses may bar an applicant from participating in certain externship/clinical training experiences, eligibility to acquire professional certification/licensure required to function in professional career fields and obtaining employment. Adverse results, to include but not limited to, any felony or misdemeanor identified on an applicant’s background report that may prevent the applicant’s completion of the program, acceptance to externship/clinical training facilities, achievement of professional certification/licensure, and attainment of employment in a particular field.
A candidate who has an adverse result on his/her background report is encouraged to seek approval from the certifying bodies of any applicable program to establish eligibility for certification/licensure and employment in that specific field. If an applicant with an adverse occurrence on his/her background chooses to participate in a program that requires a clear background for admission to externship/clinical sites, eligibility to acquire professional certification/licensure required for employment in specific career fields and obtaining employment, he/she will be required to sign a disclosure document accepting full responsibility for any and all costs associated with attending the career program, and does not hold the institution and its associates liable for being denied program completion, entrance to any and all externship/clinical training facilities necessary for the completion of the program, ability to achieve certification/licensure, or gain employment in the field of study.
Applicants to the Nursing program should note that a history of criminal convictions may prevent the student from attending or completing the clinical requirements of the program or may prevent his or her licensure by the State Board. If there are any questions regarding this process, the applicant should make an appointment with the Director of Nursing.
Students must report to the Director of Nursing in writing, any change in their criminal background or status within 24 hours of occurrence (including new citations and/or charges regardless of the pending or final adjudication). Students who fail to report any new citation or charge may be dismissed from the program. - The applicant must submit to and pass a drug screen and must be in the student file prior to starting the program. Inconclusive test results, to include a dilute and/or insufficient sample, will require the applicant to be retested within 24 hours at his/her expense at a School designated collection center. A second inconclusive test result, to include a dilute and/or insufficient sample will be considered a positive drug screen. Students will not be granted admission to the nursing program with a positive, insufficient, dilute, or inconclusive test result. Random drug and alcohol testing may be done throughout the program. Failure to comply or the inability to provide a sample within one hour of the requested random drug/alcohol test may result in program dismissal. A dilute or insufficient sample result on a random drug screen will be considered a positive result. The student may be dropped from the program as per the Alcohol, Tobacco, Drug Abuse, and Testing Policy.
- Students in the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program who have a license in Practical Nursing (LPN) must report to the Director of Nursing, in writing, any change in status of their practical nurse license within 24 hours of the occurrence. Reported adverse actions or failure(s) to report changes in the status of their practical nurse license may result in program dismissal.
- Students in the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program who have a license in Practical Nursing (LPN) must maintain the unencumbered license throughout the duration of the ADN program. Students must report to the Director of Nursing, in writing, any change in status of their practical nurse license within 24 hours of the occurrence. Failure to maintain an unencumbered license may result in dismissal from the program.
- The applicant must submit a signed Allied Health and Nursing Program waiver. Please note that some clinical sites may require that students have health insurance. The School does not provide health insurance.
- The applicant for a nursing program must be eighteen years of age or older to be accepted into the program. The 101Passport.
- Applicants must submit a current copy of the Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification card from the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.
- The applicant must submit a current, completed physical examination with immunizations as outlined in the Clinical Requirements Policy.
- The applicant must submit a completed enrollment packet along with official proof of high school graduation or GED, all official post-secondary education transcripts, and a personal statement.
- If an applicant attended and dropped from another nursing program but did not technically fail, the applicant’s transcript must be reviewed by the campus nursing applicant review committee and a decision will be made as to the applicant’s request for admission.
- No applicant will be admitted who previously failed to complete another nursing program.
Nursing Program
Applicants to the Nursing program who score a 22 or higher on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE) on their first attempt are eligible to move forward to complete an enrollment packet and be reviewed by the Nursing Admissions Committee. Applicants scoring 19-21 on the SLE will be eligible to move forward in the admissions process but are required to take the Evolve Reach Admission Assessment Exam (HESI/A2). Prior to taking the HESI/A2 examination, the applicant will be required to complete a minimum of one two-hour tutoring session provided by the school at no charge. Applicants are also provided a HESI testing information guide and suggested study resources to use in preparation for the exam. The applicant will be informed to select a date and time (maximum time for HESI/A2 Exam is four hours) when they will not have external time pressures for arrival or departure, be well rested, and not be accompanied by children or persons who need supervision.
The proctored examination must be monitored at a computer terminal in a quiet area by a staff person who does not report within the Admissions Department. The student may not bring paper, books, cell phone, or other electronics into the testing environment. Calculators are provided by the school, distributed prior to the exam, and collected at the end of the examination.
Applicants may be admitted to the nursing program with a HESI/A2 score of 80 or higher on (1) English Language Composite Score comprised of reading, grammar, vocabulary, and (2) math.
There is no fee to take the HESI/A2 exam. Applicants are allowed two attempts to take the exam. If a student passes one section on the first attempt, they do not have to retake that section on their second attempt. The second attempt must be made within 90 days of the first attempt. A third and final attempt is only allowed by an applicant submitting a formal written appeal that must be approved by the Campus President.
An applicant who has taken the HESI/A2 twice and was denied an appeal for a third attempt will be allowed to re-apply six months after his/her completion of the most recent HESI/A2 exam. The student will be required to submit evidence of having completed additional academic coursework that would demonstrate additional preparation for success (e.g., completed course work in science courses, certification, or documentation of having completed professional education or skills development from a community college adult education course/s or formal tutoring). If the third attempt to pass the HESI/A2 is unsuccessful, the applicant will no longer be eligible to apply for the nursing program.
Applicants with official documentation of having achieved a HESI/A2 score that meets or exceeds that required by St. Paul’s School of Nursing at another accredited academic institution within 12 months from his/her expected enrollment at St. Paul’s School of Nursing, will be considered for admission and not be required to repeat the HESI/A2 exam.