Salem Nursing Application

Statement on Admission and Participation in the Nursing Program

1. This statement addresses some conditions for admission into the Nursing Program and for continued participation in it. Persons applying for admission are referred to as "applicants."  Persons admitted to the program are referred to as "students."
   
2. The Nursing Program is a fall term entry, limited enrollment program. Academic prerequisites for admission are outlined on the "Application Requirements" checklist. Admission to the program is based on a point system, with those applicants having the highest number of points being accepted into the program. (See Score Sheet.)
   
3. It is highly recommended that students have access to a computer with high speed internet access and a printer.  Electronic technology is used extensively in the presentation of content throughout the Nursing Program.  If students do not possess their own equipment, they should plan to spend at least ten hours per week utilizing on-campus computer lab and/or library resources.
   
4. Applicants and students must demonstrate a personal history compatible with obtaining a license to practice nursing in Oregon. Admission to and graduation from the Nursing Program does not assure eligibility for licensure. The Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) makes the determination about eligibility for licensure. OSBN may not license persons with certain criminal convictions or with a major mental or physical illness that could affect ability to practice safely. Applicants or students with questions about licensing regulations may want to call OSBN at 971.673.0685.
   
   1. Every Nursing Program applicant and student must answer questions to determine if there is a personal history of a.) conviction for a criminal offense or b.) physical or mental health problems that might interfere with the requirements of nursing practice. Failure to provide truthful and complete answers to these questions may result in denial of admission for applicants and dismissal for students.
      
   2. An applicant may be denied program admission if the Associate Dean of Health Sciences concludes that the applicant' criminal history would make it unlikely for the applicant to obtain licensure in Oregon. Applicants with criminal records may want to contact the Oregon State Police to determine if their records might be expunged and, if so, to accomplish expungement of their records.
      
   3. Before the first day of fall term, all students admitted to the program will be required to pass criminal background checks which fulfill the requirements of the clinical sites. Several clinical sites used for student experiences in the program reserve the right to deny placements for students with a record of certain criminal offenses. If a student is denied placement and if an alternative placement cannot be found for required student experiences, continuation in the program will not be possible. If a student is arrested during the time he/she is enrolled in the Nursing Program, he/she must notify the Associate Dean of Health Sciences of the arrest. The student's status in the program will be reviewed by the associate dean. A possible outcome of the review may be the student's inability to continue in the program.
      
   4. Students should be aware that they may be required to undergo drug testing before placement in a clinical facility.  If a student is denied placement as a result of this testing and an alternative placement cannot be found for required student experience, continuation in the program will not be possible. 
      
   5. Students with chronic or recurring performance limitations (physical or mental) that restrict ability to meet Program requirements, including the consistent delivery of safe Nursing care, may be asked to provide a statement from a qualified healthcare provider addressing the applicant's/student's abilities to perform procedures and make decisions required of an LPN or RN. Any performance limitations that cannot be accommodated while maintaining standards of competent and safe Nursing care will interfere with admission to and progression in the Nursing Program. (See attached statement of Nursing Program Technical Standards.)
      
   6. Failure to provide information requested to carry out the above policies may result in an applicant's being denied admission to or a student's dismissal from the program.
      
5. A student admitted to the program with a history of substance abuse will be monitored for indications of a recurrence of substance abuse according to College policy #2250. Any student whose behavior, appearance, or breath odor indicates inappropriate use of alcohol or other drugs will be placed on probation if not dismissed from the program. Any occurrence of this kind that does not result in dismissal may require the student to undergo substance tests to detect the presence of alcohol or other drugs.
   
   Testing required by the nursing program to corroborate or refute a suspicion of substance use will be arranged for and paid by the program.  Payment for any subsequent testing will be the responsibility of the student.  The test results will be reported directly to the Associate Dean by the testing facility.  A positive result will require that the student undergo evaluation by a qualified counselor.  Counseling shall be at the student's expense.  Failure to follow a counselor-prescribed treatment plan will result in dismissal from the program. 
   
   Refusal to provide specimens of body fluids for testing or failure to provide the necessary consents to implement this policy, including consent for direct reporting of test results to the Associate Dean, will be interpreted as an implied admission of substance use and grounds for dismissal. 
   
6. Applicants who hold a practice certificate or license issued by a State Board of Nursing must submit a copy of their certificate/license to the Associate Dean of Health Sciences on request.  Any applicant or student whose nursing assistant certificate or license to practice nursing, at any level in any state, has been suspended or revoked may be denied admission to or dismissed from the program.  Furthermore, if a student certified or licensed by the Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) engages in behavior defined by OSBN as "Conduct Derogatory to the Standards of Nursing," even if she/he does so as a student, the situation may need to be reported to OSBN.  As registered nurses, the Nursing faculty and the Associate Dean are responsible for the mandatory reporting requirements in OSBN regulations.
   
7. Before a final decision is rendered concerning an applicant's admission to the nursing program or the dismissal of a student from the program, the person shall be notified of the reasons for that decision and she or he shall be given an opportunity to respond. The appeal process for decisions made under this statement shall be the College Appeals Process outlined in the College Catalog.
   
8. In compliance with The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Chemeketa Community College releases only very limited information regarding students. All nursing students, including those who have filed a Request for Non-Disclosure of Student Information Form, should be aware that some confidential information may be posted/shared. Information includes posting of student name with physical location of campus and clinical assignments, and reporting immunization, TB testing, and CPR certification to some contracted clinical sites. The purpose of posting is for scheduling laboratory times and patient assignments. Posting of information occurs on campus in the nursing area of Building 8 and in the nursing units at clinical sites. Students' social security numbers may be shared with the Oregon State Board of Nursing when providing them information regarding eligibility for testing and licensure. Also, student transcripts are provided to the Oregon State Board of Nursing as part of the process of documenting for them that all requirements have been met and students are eligible for licensure. Every effort is made to limit access to confidential information to those who have a need to know. For more information regarding Non-Disclosure of Student Information, please contact Kathleen Campbell, Director of Enrollment Services at 503.399.2511 or 503.399.6596.
   
9. Applicants offered admission to the program are required to submit the following on or before registration: a.) a report of a physical exam, if requested; b.) the results of a current TB screening test; c.) documentation of immunity to chickenpox (varicella), measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (Tdap), and hepatitis B; and d.) documentation of current CPR (American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Level or American Red Cross "CPR for the Professional Rescuer") certification. TB and CPR reports are current if they are dated after July 1, 2009. Students who do not submit all of the reports by the due dates will be dropped from the program. Immunization requirements may be waived for medical or religious reasons. Documentation of reasons for a waiver request is required.
   
10. Continuation in the Program requires successful completion of all required courses with a grade of at least a "C."  Students must complete all first year courses before progressing to second year. Students aiming to progress into second year who have not completed the first year non-nursing courses by the end of spring term may be placed on the waiting list for NUR206 after they complete the first year requirements.
    
11. Required clinical experiences (in healthcare settings in Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties) are assigned during day, evening, and night shifts. Students must have a dependable means of transportation to meet this requirement and may need to adjust family and work responsibilities to be available for clinical assignments. Time to travel to clinical sites is in addition to the required hours of patient care. In spring term of the second year of the program, students are in a preceptorship experience that requires working 36 - 40 hours a week for four consecutive weeks, with work schedules matched to assigned preceptors. Students must be prepared to organize any employment or family obligations around the requirements of the preceptorship experience.
    
12. Nursing instructors assign clinical experiences for students based on course requirements and individual students' learning needs. Students are expected to accept patient assignments.
    
13. Students are required to demonstrate competency in a number of skills in Skills Lab checkoffs before performing these skills on patients. For some skills, it is necessary for students to have a partner for checkoffs. This includes checkoffs for injections. It is expected that all students will serve in the partner role during skills checkoff. Some checkoffs require partners to expose their upper body and/or lower extremities. Appropriate screening and draping are used to protect personal privacy during checkoffs.
    
    

Updated April 2008 by the Health Sciences Department.