Nursing is one of the most rewarding and challenging careers an individual can choose. The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program prepares graduates to provide and manage client care and to become members within the discipline of nursing. Intrinsic to the three roles of the nurse – provider of care, manager of care, and member of the discipline – are the eight core components of nursing practice. The eight core components are:
These core components are introduced, developed, and built upon through the curriculum. The Associate Degree Nursing curriculum is organized around a clearly defined conceptual framework and combines general education and nursing courses. The nursing courses correlate classroom and clinical instruction in a variety of community agencies. Transportation to the community agencies is the responsibility of each student.
Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Once licensed, Registered Nurses work in a variety of healthcare settings, ranging from but not limited to, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, hospice care facilities, physician/doctor offices, and/or rehabilitation facilities. Nursing is a portable career. Careers may be found throughout the country. Graduates may pursue additional education avenues (bachelor’s and master’s degrees or certifications); as they do so, more focused opportunities will become available, such as a Nurse Practitioner.
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Gateway Community and Technical College (GCTC) Edgewood campus. However, pre-requisites and general education classes may be offered and taken at other GCTC campuses.
Application is available during the fall term, typically in September, for a spring admission.
Associate in Applied Science degree
Associate degree: One to two semesters of pre-requisite coursework and two years of nursing coursework. This estimate is based on a full-time schedule of 12 or 15 credit hours per semester and after successful completion of all required developmental coursework. Progression in the Associate Degree Nursing program is contingent upon achievement of a grade of “C” or better in each biological science, nursing and mathematics course and maintenance of a 2.0 cumulative grade point average or better (on a 4.0 scale).
Nursing Advising Sheet (PDF) Pre-Nursing Advising Sheet (PDF)
Applicants to the nursing program must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater and must complete the following pre-requisite courses with a grade of ‘C’ or better on their official transcript before applying to the nursing program:
Applicants are ranked on a point system.
Requirements are as follows:
Applicants are ranked on a point system based on two criteria, Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) and Math and Science Coursework. Acceptance into the program will be based on rank order. All applicants not selected in the first round will be placed on an alternate list. Alternates will be notified for admission if positions become available prior to the start of semester classes. A new applicant and alternate list is started each application period; names do not move forward. A new application and all required documentation must be submitted for each admission period. All application materials and requirements are published on the nursing webpage at Gateway. During the admission application period, mandatory Admission and Ranking Criteria Conferences are held. Attendance is required in order to apply for admission to the Nursing program. Applicants who have previously been admitted to another nursing program, and who have earned a failing grade (D, E, F or WF) in a nursing course or program, may not be accepted for admission to the GCTC Nursing Program. Please contact the Nursing Division for more information. For Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN): LPN students have the option to go into the applicant pool for first semester or possibly earn advanced standing and be admitted into the second semester.
LPN’s who wish to apply for admission into the second semester of the nursing program must also successfully complete and submit all the following requirements in order to be eligible to apply:
Current employment is defined as one full year of full-time employment as an LPN/LVN within the last three years. The employment in nursing is defined as patient/client contact and must be verified by the employing agency/agencies using the standardized verification of employment form that can be obtained from the Nursing Administrative Assistant, Becky Hall, Room 207A, in the Nursing and Allied Health Science Center at the Edgewood Campus.
LPN’s Applying for Advanced Placement Licensed practical nurses who have practiced full-time for at least one full year within the past three years and hold a current unrestricted license for practical nursing may apply for admission to the second semester of the ADN program. LPNs applying for advanced placement must: a. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale b. Have completed, with a grade of ‘C’ or better, all pre-requisite courses required for the ADN program c. Demonstrate NSG 101 competency by: (a) passing, with a score of 78% or greater, an exam equivalent to the NSG 101 comprehensive final exam (b) scoring a 90% or higher on a NSG 101 dosage calculation exam and (c) demonstrate competency in NSG 101 skills.
These exams and the skills competency demonstration can be taken only once and the applicant must successfully complete each of the competency exams and the skills demonstration to be admitted into the second semester nursing courses.
A specific date for the competency tests will be announced during each application period. Applicants who are not successful with competency testing or skills demonstration can elect to enter the applicant pool for NSG 101 by following the application process for admission to the ADN program.
Clinical facilities utilized by the Gateway Nursing Program require students to have clear background checks and drug screens and can deny student participation in clinical rotations at their facilities. Since clinical participation is required to meet the nursing course outcomes, if a facility denies a student admittance to clinical, the student will not be able to progress in the nursing program. GCTC does not accept responsibility for any student being ineligible for clinical participation based on background checks or drug screens and continued enrollment in the ADN program. If a student does not have a clear background check and/or clear drug screen, the clinical facilities have the right to deny the student from participating in clinicals. The clinical facilities have the right and are responsible for determining the background check and drug screen guidelines and requirements. Clinical participation is required for students to progress in the nursing program; if a clinical facility denies admittance to a student then they will not able to progress in the nursing program.
Note: The Kentucky Board of Nursing may deny a nursing graduate admission to the NCLEX-RN Exam if an individual has been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony which involves acts that bear directly on the qualifications of the graduate to practice nursing. Applicants are encouraged to visit the KBN website at: http://kbn.ky.gov for more information.
Becky Hall, Nursing Administrative Assistant Office: Edgewood Campus, NAHSC - Room 207A Phone: (859) 442-4189 Email: becky.hall@kctcs.edu