Admission/Selection Criteria and Deadlines
Admission to the associate in science in nursing program is on a selective basis. Students are admitted
to the nursing course sequence twice a year with selection being made in August
and January.
The maximum number of students is 32 per campus (home campus and Lake of the Ozarks). This number is made up of a combination of non-LPN and LPN students.
Selection criteria
General education, mathematics and science courses selection criteria:
- All candidates for the nursing program must meet general admission requirements to the college. See Columbia College Evening Campus Undergraduate Catalog.
Nursing course sequence selection criteria includes:
- Completion of all general education, mathematics and science courses. Students may elect to complete one or more of the remaining prerequisites in the eight-week session(s) between the time of the submission of the nursing application and the start of the nursing classes.
- Minimum of an overall GPA of 2.0 for the general education, mathematics and science
classes is required.
This includes a grade of C or better in all required courses. The GPA for selection will be based only on the courses that are required for the nursing program. - Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Possess the necessary functional abilities to provide safe and effective patient care (see below).
- Achieve a minimum composite score of 64 on the Nurse Entrance Test (NET).
- LPNs only:
- Submit an official copy of practical nursing transcript.
- Submit a copy of your LPN license in the state of Missouri
- Must have a current undisciplined LPN license for the state of Missouri
- Completed and acceptable application packet.
Selection will be based on a composite of the following:
- GPA of prerequisite courses
- NET score
Additional requirements for those selected for the program:
- Urine drug test. Those selected for the program will be sent more information about the drug test.
- Physical forms, including documentation of immunizations/titers.
- CPR certification by the American Heart Association, Health Care Providers course. See CPR training locations.
Applicants taking the RN State Board Licensure Examination must have completed high school (or the equivalent) and have completed a professional nursing program.
Functional abilities
A candidate for the nursing program must possess essential abilities
in order to provide safe and effective patient care. Functional abilities
to fulfill
the role of the nurse include: behavioral/emotional, cognitive,
communication, professional conduct, psychomotor skills and sensory/perceptual
abilities.
- Behavioral/Emotional: Ability to maintain effective, therapeutic
relationships with patients, families, students, faculty, staff and other
professionals under all circumstances and settings, including highly stressful
situations. Possess the emotional health required for full utilization of
his/her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment and the prompt
completion of all responsibilities involved in the care of patients and families.
- Cognitive: Ability to evaluate and apply knowledge and engage in
critical thinking in the classroom and clinical settings.
- Communication: Ability to communicate effectively and therapeutically
with other students, faculty, staff, patients, family and other professionals
in both oral and written forms.
- Professional conduct: Ability to reason morally and practice nursing
in an ethical and legal manner. Be willing to learn and abide by professional
standards of practice. Be able to deliver safe, effective nursing care to
all patient populations, including, but not limited to children, adolescents
and adults with various emotional, developmental, and medical problems and
needs. Adapt to rapidly changing environments/situations while maintaining a
professional demeanor.
- Psychomotor Skills: Ability to maintain motor coordination,
strength, flexibility, dexterity, balance and sensory capabilities sufficient
for safe and accurate assessment of the patient and performance of patient-care tasks.
- Sensory/Perceptual: Ability to utilize vision, hearing and senses
of touch and smell to thoroughly analyze patient data and provide accurate
and safe treatment/care.
Missouri Nursing Practice Act
Successful completion of the program does not guarantee eligibility to take the licensure examination.
According to the Nursing Practice Act, licensure may be withheld or revoked due to controlled substance abuse, criminal prosecution and a variety of other offenses. A copy of the Nursing Practice Act is available at the Nursing Education Center and can also be accessed online on the Missouri State Board of Nursing Web site, or at the direct link below:
- The Missouri Nursing Practice Act, Section 335.066: Denial, revocation, or suspension of license, grounds for, civil immunity for providing information.
Questions regarding the relevance of this section to a particular situation should be addressed to the director/coordinator of the program.
Selection deadlines
- August 2:
- For non-LPN students who plan to start the nursing sequence courses in October and
- For LPN students who plan to start the nursing sequence courses in January
- January 2:
- For non-LPN students who plan to start the nursing sequence courses in March and
- For LPN students who plan to start the nursing sequence courses in June
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