Nursing Admission Requirements

Nursing Program Pre-requisites:

1. Complete an on-line application at www.ojc.edu. Student must be a high school graduate or have a GED/HSE certificate.

2. Complete required pre-admission courses (Pre-requisite Courses) with a grade of C or higher for each course and a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher for the four listed courses. A higher GPA will receive a higher admission score. GPA will be calculated with the four prerequisite grades and any general education classes required by the nursing program to receive a certificate or AAS. The science courses must be completed within seven years of the start date of the program.

Required Pre-Admission Courses (Pre-requisite Courses):

English composition I (3 credits)
Human Growth & Development (3 credits)
Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits)
Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4 credits)

For Beginning RN (ADN ) Program:

1. Apply to the nursing program on the OJC web site at www.ojc.edu. Provide official transcripts confirming completion of pre-requisite courses and GPA to the OJC Registrar.

2. Complete an Accuplacer Reading and Math test within 6 months of application to the nursing program. Minimum reading score – 80. Minimum Math score- Elementary Algebra 61. Contact student services to schedule your testing at 719-384-6831.

3. Evidence of permanent residence in the OJC Service area of Bent, Otero and Crowley counties is not required but will receive points toward admission.

4. Clear Criminal background check and urine drug screen (to be completed when instructed by the OJC Nursing Department). The list of Disqualifying Offenses is available in the Nursing Office or on the Nursing Department Web site.

To order the Criminal Background Check:
1.) Go online to cccs.castlebranch.com/.
2.) Select Criminal Background Check (Package #1)
3.) Follow the directions to complete the order and pay the $36 fee.
See the [Disqualifying Offenses] document for more information.

5. Attendance at a Pre-Nursing Information session with the Nursing Retention Specialist. Call 719-384-6878 to schedule an appointment. The schedule for the Pre-Nursing Information Sessions is located on the Nursing Application. Each person applying to the nursing program must attend one session to be considered for acceptance into the program. In this session, individuals will look at differences between pre-requisite classes and nursing classes. They will learn what it means to be a nursing student and should get the information they need to decide if nursing will fit into their schedules and lifestyles. Each session will last approximately 90 minutes.

It is each applicants responsibility to attend a session that best fits your schedule. There will not be any substitutions or sessions outside of the scheduled times above. It is not required to reserve a seat, drop-ins are welcome.

6. Evidence of Nurse Aide Certification (CNA) or honorable military service is not required but will receive points toward admission score.

7. Students must have the following, completed and submitted, to the OJC Student Services by the deadlines to be considered for admission:

On-Line application to OJC
On-line application to the Nursing Program
Official Transcripts - send to registrar's office or send electronically to the registrar at admissions@ojc.edu
Admission testing - Please contact Kim Juul at kim.juul@ojc.edu, phone 719-384-6948, Student Services.
Minimum admission score of 50 required.
Evidence of CNA Certification or proof of honorable military service should be sent to nursing@ojc.edu.
Attended a Pre-Nursing Information Session with the Nursing Retention Specialist.
Receipt of completed Criminal Background Check must be received by the OJC Nursing Office.

8. A deadline will be set and students who have completed all of the admission criteria will be admitted from the top score down to the minimum admissions score of 50. To fill any slots that have not been accepted a second and third deadline will be set. All remaining and newly qualified applicants will be considered and admitted from top score down to the minimum admissions score of 50 or until the fourth application deadline is past. To review your application status, you can select the Check Status button on the Nursing Application page. It is recommended that you do so often.

Application Deadlines:

1. Submission LAST WORKING DAY of MARCH for Selection on 3rd WORKING DAY of APRIL
2. Submission LAST WORKING DAY of APRIL for Selection on 3rd WORKING DAY of MAY
3. Submission LAST WORKING DAY of MAY for Selection on 3rd WORKING DAY of JUNE
4. Submission LAST WORKING DAY of JUNE for Selection on 3rd WORKING DAY of JULY

For LPN to RN Program:

1. Complete steps 1-5 listed above.

2. Provide a copy of your LPN license.

3. Provide official transcripts of your PN program courses. If your Practical Nursing (PN) program was completed more than ten years prior to application additional testing may be required.

4.If LPN license was earned prior to 2010 or was earned from an unaccredited college, it may be required to complete the NUR 189, LPN to RN Transition course with a grade of C or higher. To determine the necessity to complete this additional course contact the OJC Nursing Office. For the next scheduled NUR 189 course contact the OJC Nursing Office.

Graduation Requirements

A. The graduate must fulfill all requirements of the College for graduation.

B. The graduate of OJC's nursing program must pass all courses with a minimum grade of C.

C. The graduate must be competent in all critical nursing skills pertaining to the scope of practice for a registered nurse.

D. The graduate must be competent in calculations of medications. The student is required to pass a medication administration proficiency examination at 100 percent mastery in order to progress to the spring semester of the ADN program. (See the Nursing Student Manual for further information.)

E. All admission criteria must be submitted to OJC or the Nursing Office by the Nursing admission deadlines. For the full admission criteria and admission deadlines go to http://www.ojc.edu/AssociateNursing.aspx.

Legal Requirements for Registered Nursing Licensure

During application for licensure, the student must answer the following questions:

A. “Have you ever been convicted of a crime or have you ever accepted by a court a plea of guilty or nolo contrendre? Have you received a deferred judgment or deferred prosecution?”

B. “Are you now, or were you for the 12 months preceding the date of this application, addicted to any controlled substance; a regular user of any controlled substance without a prescription; and/or habitually intemperate in the use of intoxicating liquor?”

If any question is answered “yes,” the student needs to meet with the Chair of the Nursing Department for counseling because the Colorado State Board of Nursing has specific requirements for licensure.

NURSING ORIENTATION INFORMATION

Daytime Traditional Students

THURSDAY AUGUST 16th 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Location McBride 137

Non-Traditional Evening & Weekend Students

SATURDAY AUGUST 18th 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Location McBride 137