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 850
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.

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.