Licensed Practical Nursing Certificate

Casper College offers two options for an associate degree in nursing (ADN): an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) or an Associate of Science (AS). All options consist of non-nursing as well as nursing courses, and nursing students are integrated into all aspects of college life. In addition to the Casper College application for admission, a student desiring admission to the nursing program must complete and submit to the director a departmental application when all eligibility requirements are met.

The nursing department also offers a nursing assistant course that meets the Wyoming State Board of Nursing’s requirements for certification. For specific information, contact the Wyoming State Board of Nursing.

An additional resource for information regarding the program can be obtained from:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3343 Peachtree Road, NE
Suite 500
Atlanta, GA 30326
1-404-975-5000
www.ACENursing.org

Background check and drug/alcohol policy

Students enrolled in any of the health science programs will participate in clinical experiences in a variety of agencies. Prior to participating in the clinical experiences, students will be subject to that agency’s requirements for a background check, drug testing and/or drug abuse prevention policies. Students are then subject to the random drug testing policy of that agency.

Following graduation, several of the state and/or national licensing or certification (registry) boards, including the Wyoming State Board of Nursing, may refuse to allow a graduate to sit for the required exam or issue a license or certification to a person who has a prior felony conviction or proven history of drug or alcohol abuse. Applicants to whom this applies should consult the program director for further information.

Clinical accessibility policy

The nursing program utilizes a variety of health care agencies in the community for clinical experience for the students. If you have been employed in one or more of the agencies and are not eligible for rehire as an employee, the agency may not permit you to participate in the essential clinical component of the program.

Please contact the human resources department of the affected agency and request documentation that states the agency position on your participation in the clinical component of the program. If you receive a negative response from the agency, you are automatically ineligible to apply. A response indicating you will be permitted to attend clinicals in the agency will be given to the program director prior to the selection process for admission to the program. If you are unable to fulfill clinical requirements due to a previous employment issue and have not complied with the above, you could be dismissed from the program.

Core Performance Standards for Admission and Progression

Critical thinking: Critical thinking ability to exercise non-clinical and clinical judgment in a timely manner.

Interpersonal: Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact professionally and therapeutically with peers, faculty, staff, administrators, patients/clients, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.

Communication: Communication skills sufficient for interaction with peers, faculty, staff, administrators, patients/clients, families, and groups in verbal, nonverbal and written form.

Mobility: Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room, safely perform treatments/procedures, and assist patients/clients; lift and transfer patients/clients; manipulate equipment; walk and/or stand for extended periods of time.

Motor skills: Gross and fine motor skills sufficient to provide safe and effective patient/client care.

Hearing: Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and safely assess health needs.

Visual: Visual ability with or without corrective lenses sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in safe patient/client care.

Tactile: Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment of patient/client care.

Professionalism: The ability to understand and demonstrate sufficient respect for others in non-verbal, verbal, and written communications in the classroom, laboratory, clinical settings, in the Casper College community, and in related public settings. The ability to demonstrate sufficient understanding of the cumulative effect that behavior, appearance, and communication has on the health science professional image.

Associate Degree Nursing

This two-year program is approved by the Wyoming State Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the examination for licensure as registered nurses.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for admission into the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program, the applicant must:

1. Have graduated from high school or have earned a GED.
2. Submit a completed application form with all college transcripts to the Admissions and Student Records Office and a departmental application form to the nursing director by the admission deadline.
3. Hold a current certification as a nursing assistant in Wyoming. Please be aware that the certification process may take up to four (4) months following completion of the class.
4. Have a composite score of 18 or better on the ACT if out of high school less than two years, and have completed courses recommended by the test with a “C” or better, OR
5. Have taken the COMPASS test and have completed courses recommended by the test with a “C” or better. If students have successfully completed college-level math or English courses, they will not be required to retake them.
6. Have completed
   PSYC 1000
     with a “C” or better.
7. Have completed
   ZOO 2040
    /
   ZOO 2041
     (or their equivalents), and current within the last five years, with a “C” or better;
8. Demonstrate proficiency in medical terminology by completing
   HLTK 1200
     (or its equivalent) with a “C” or better, or by completion of a departmental competency examination. Students interested in taking the competency exam must notify the nursing director or academic assistant for consultation with the exam coordinator to establish eligibility to take the competency exam.
9. Have a cumulative college grade point average of 2.5 or higher for admission, progression, or readmission.
10. Test of Essential Skills (TEAS V ®) is required as part of the application process.
11. An essay is required for application. Essay requirements:
    
    1. Topic is: “Why I want to be a nurse.”
    2. Double-spaced, any typical font.
    3. 500 words or less.
    4. Do not use outside sources.
    5. Identifying information should only be on a separate cover sheet
       1. It will be removed to maintain anonymity.
       2. The essay will be reattached to the application packet after points have been awarded by a third party.
    6. Proven plagiarism is grounds for application denial.
12. Students are admitted twice a year.
13. Withdrawal from one or more courses without advisor input may delay program admission and/or progression.
14. There are several requirements (vaccinations, health exam, etc..) the first semester nursing students must meet. For specific information, see the academic assistant.
15. It is the policy of the H.E. Stuckenhoff Department of Nursing to minimize the risk of an allergic/anaphylactic reaction to latex, identify those at risk and provide a latex safe environment.

To maintain ongoing enrollment in the nursing program, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Have evidence of a recent health examination completed by the applicant’s physician or advanced nurse practitioner upon starting the first semester;
2. Have evidence of immunizations/skin tests as required by agencies providing clinical experiences;
3. Test negative on any drug or alcohol screening required by agencies providing clinical experiences;
4. Provide evidence of current health insurance and maintain the health insurance while in the nursing program;
5. Complete fingerprinting during the first semester of the program;
6. Have evidence of American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification during the first semester of classes.
7. Must have a 2.0 or better grade point average for each semester and a “C” or better in all nursing, allied health, and laboratory science courses to progress in the Associate Degree Nursing Program.

Proficiency in medical terminology can be accomplished by completing

 , 3-credit, (or its equivalent) with a “C” or better, or by successful completion of a departmental competency examination. Regarding the   Medical Terminology challenge exam:

1. To qualify for credit by examination, the student must be accepted as a certificate or degree candidate at Casper College and enrolled at least part time in classes at Casper College during the semester in which the examination is taken and credit is awarded.
2. A student may not take the exam to remove a course failure or to raise a grade
3. A student may not earn credit by examination in a course if they have earned credit previously in a higher level course in the subject area.
4. A student who qualifies may take the examination only one time.
5. A student applying to the nursing program will have until the last scheduled exam date in January to take the exam.
6. A student applying to the nursing program will earn points on the admission ranking worksheet based on the letter grade they achieve on the challenge exam. Letter grade is based on nursing department standards.
7. Students interested must notify the director of nursing or the academic assistant for consultation with the exam coordinator.

Each applicant who is admitted to the ADN program will be sent  information concerning uniforms and other items necessary prior to entrance. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from clinical facilities.

Transfer into the Associate Degree Nursing Program is dependent upon space available and the congruence between the previous program and Casper College’s ADN Program. Transfer status will only be considered into the second or third semester of the nursing program. Students interested  in transferring must notify the director of nursing prior to April 30 for fall transfer and November 30 for spring transfer. The student evaluation will be sent to the student’s previous nursing program to be completed by the director or a nursing faculty member.

Generally, Casper College will accept  general education courses from accredited colleges. Refer questions about specific courses to the registrar. Nursing courses will be evaluated on an individual basis by the nursing faculty and director. Students interested in pursuing this option should submit course syllabi and outlines to the  director for consideration as early as possible. Applicants will be required to fulfill all recommendations made at the time of applying for transfer. This includes attaining the required score on the departmental transfer and math competency exams. Applicants not meeting the passing score on  either exam will not be eligible for transfer. Following successful completion of the transfer and math competency exams, applicants will be required to demonstrate proficiency of selected technical nursing skills.

Licensed practical nurses who wish to enter the ADN Program at the second level of  the program must submit their application to the Director of Nursing programs no later than May 1 for fall admission, and November 2 for spring admission.

Preference for advanced placement will be given first to qualified graduates of Casper College’s previous PN program, then to graduates of  other Wyoming programs.

Advanced Placement for LPNs

To be eligible for advanced placement, students must:

1. Have completed a state-approved practical nursing program;
2. Provide the director with a copy of their LPN license;
3. Be actively employed as an LPN for 12 months or longer;
4. Meet all of the admission requirements for the nursing program as listed in the current catalog;
5. Meet the departmental and community agency requirements as listed in the student handbook;
6. Have completed the following courses or their equivalents: ZOO 2040/2041, ZOO 2110, PSYC 1000;
7. LPN’s with a history of 2 failures in NRST or HLTK courses in the Casper College Nursing program will not be considered for admission as advanced placement;
8. Make arrangements with the Director of Nursing to take two tests:
   
   1. The first test is the ATI LPN-STEP which has an approximate fee of $35.00 for the practice test and the proctored test. If the LPN-STEP has already been taken, it will be accepted if less than one year old and the applicant is working in healthcare.
   2. The second is a departmental math competency exam which takes about one-half hour and is free.
   3. Applicants must attain a minimum score of greater than or equal to the national average on the LPN-STEP, and 80% on the departmental math competency exam.
9. Pass the Wyoming Medical Center drug and alcohol screen testing.

Admission to advanced placement standing is dependent upon space available in the third semester of the nursing program. Therefore, the number of applicants selected each year will vary.