GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

• Is El Centro College an accredited institution?
• Is the Associate Degree Nursing program accredited?
• What are the courses like?
• Where may I take courses besides El Centro College?
• May I transfer credit from a college or university outside the United States?
• What if I have coursework more than 10 years old?
• Is there a time limit on Science and Math coursework?
• Is there any provision for credit by examination or other alternatives to repeating a course?
• What if I plan to transfer to a four-year institution?
• How do I get to the clinical sites?
• When do the students begin clinical rotations?
• Does El Centro College have on-campus housing?
• What if I become ill during the program?
• Do I need a physical examination prior to entering the program?
• Do I need to be CPR certified?
• Do I need liability insurance?
• What are the physical demands of the profession?
• What about drug testing or background check?
• Are there any Board examinations?
• Are there any State licensing requirements?
• Are there any courses I should take in high school to help me prepare?
• Whom do I contact for more information?

The nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission and the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas.
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The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program is a full-time program comprised of lecture, skills lab, and clinical experience. You can expect to have clinical experience rotations involving both day and evening hours.

Nursing education includes classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience in hospitals and other health facilities. Students take courses involving anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences. Coursework also includes liberal arts classes.

Supervised clinical experience is provided in hospital departments such as pediatrics, psychiatry, maternity, and surgery. It may also include clinical experience in nursing homes, public health departments, home health agencies, and ambulatory clinics.

After completion of prerequisite courses and admission to the ADN Program, the courses are completed in four 16-week academic semesters. Each course involves 16 - 20 hours of class and clinical experience every week. A student needs to plan 2-3 hours of studying and preparation time for each hour of class and clinical experience. The demands of the nursing courses suggest that students may not be able to work full time while enrolled in these courses.

Students are encouraged to take all of the general education "support" courses (Biology, Microbiology, Psychology 2314, Speech, humanities elective, etc.) prior to entrance into the ADN Program, particularly if the student works or has significant family responsibilities. The program is rigorous and many students find that completing the "support" courses first enables them to successfully complete the nursing program while maintaining other responsibilities. Students are encouraged to plan their schedules to accommodate the time commitment that this program demands.

NOTE: Support courses completed at colleges and universities outside the DCCCD must be approved for transfer credit prior to the semester in which the course is required as stipulated in curriculum outline.

The curriculum of the Associate Degree Nursing program is available online.
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Consideration of courses for transfer credit from colleges and universities outside the United States will be limited to science and math coursework completed less than five years prior to program admission.

Before foreign credentials will be considered for transfer credit, the student must arrange the evaluation of transcripts and related documentation by a professional evaluation agency. After the professional evaluation is complete, the student must then submit the original documentation and a certified English translation to the Health Occupations Admissions Office. The student is responsible for all costs of the evaluation and translation of foreign credentials.

Evaluations of foreign credentials completed by individuals or professional evaluation agencies are subject to review and approval by the Director of Admissions and Registrar.
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Applicants with coursework more than ten years old who wish to have that transcripted work ignored under the "Academic Fresh Start" provision should petition the Registrar in writing for that consideration. If approved, the transcript need not be submitted, however, a copy of the Registrar's letter granting the "Academic Fresh Start" consideration should be submitted with the Associate Degree Nursing application.

NOTE: Transcripted coursework ignored under "Academic Fresh Start" cannot be used to claim exemption from TASP requirements.
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All science, math, and nursing courses submitted for program credit must be completed no more than five years prior to program admission to the nursing program. In certain circumstances a waiver of the time limit may be considered.

Students who wish to petition for the five-year waiver must present official transcripts, course descriptions as necessary, and a letter of petition ocumenting how they have updated or refreshed their knowledge in the particular science or math course in question (i.e., working in a healthcare field with specifice duties indicated utilizing algebra in their current employment arena, etc.).

The letter should also cite specific experiences and indicate individuals for references as needed (i.e., employers, instructors, etc.). Students petitioning for a five-year waiver for college algebra must also provide current assessment test scores with the petition. Please refer to assessment test details on the Admission Requirements webpage.

All of the above materials must be submitted to the Health Occupations Admissions Office at El Centro College for processing. Once the review has been completed, the student will be notified in writing of the outcome of the review.
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CLEP, DANTES, and Credit by Examination may also be completed in lieu of repeating a course. CLEP, DANTES, and Credit by Examination are available to a student enrolled at a DCCCD campus, but may not be requested for courses in which the student is currently enrolled.

Credit for a CLEP, DANTES, or Credit by Examination will be considered only if a documented letter grade or numerical score is presented for evaluation. For more information regarding the acceptance of CLEP, DANTES, and Credit by Examination, please contact the Health Occupations Admissions Office.

The CLEP exam for English 1301 is not accepted by the Dallas County Community College District, however, credit for previous work may be considered. For more information concerning English 1301 credit, contact the Communications/Math/ Developmental Studies Division at El Centro College.
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Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.
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Students are responsible for providing their own transportation. It is necessary to consider transportation costs to the college, as well as hospitals throughout the city. Students are responsible for any parking fees.

El Centro students enrolled in at least 6 credit hours during the Fall and Spring semesters and at least 4 credit hours during Summer semesters are eligible for a free DART bus and light rail pass during those semesters.
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El Centro students begin their hospital rotations the first semester after admission to the program. Students rotate through metroplex hospitals, participating in a wide variety of procedures.

Students also have access to the college Associate Degree Nursing labs for additional practice time.
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A pre-entrance medical examination form will be sent with acceptance letters. Results of the medical examination must be reported on the designated program medical examination form which is submitted at the registration seminar for that accepted class.

The form documents a medical history, physical examination, and current record of the following immunizations:

• Tuberculin skin test within the last 6 months (if positive, chest x-ray required within last 2 years)
• Tetanus/diphtheria current within 10 years
• Measles/mumps/rubella ("MMR") including 2 doses of measles vaccine required either separately or in combination (MMR)
• Hepatitis B series
• Varicell disclaimer

Students must have completed the first injection of the Hepatitis B series prior to registration for the ADN program and are responsible for submitting documentation verifying subsequent completion of the second and third injection to the Health Occupations Admissions Office. Health situations (i.e., pregnancy, allergies, and nursing mothers) that may prohibit the use of the hepatitis B vaccine must be documented by a physician, and a waiver signed by the student.

You may visit a private physician, clinic, health maintenance organization (HMO), or medical center for the medical examination. The immunizations are available for students through the El Centro College Health Center at a reduced cost. Please call 214.860.2113 to make an appointment. Chest x-rays and physical exams are not provided at the El Centro College Health Center.
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All Health Occupations students pay liability insurance fees for coverage in the clinical setting. The cost to the student is less than enrolling in an individual professional liability policy with comparable coverage. Students are not allowed in the clinical setting if their tuition and fees have not been paid.

The student blanket professional liability policy covers students while they are participating in clinical activities that are a part of, and a requirement of, the student's curriculum. The student professional liability insurance does not cover students when employed in the hospital. The student liability insurance policy expires upon date of graduation.
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The nursing program's clinical experience requires that students be physically able to care for sick patients. A medical release may be required. Caring for patients involves lifting an adult patient of average size, moving, bathing and transferring patients into and out of bed. Students will be on their feet for at least eight hours each clinical day. Students must be able to read fine print for medication administration purposes and be able to auscultate (hear) heart and breath sounds. Manual dexterity is required for skills such as starting IV's, administering injections, etc. Students will be exposed to patients with infectious diseases.

Essential requirements, as distinguished from academic standards, refer to those cognitive, physical, and behavioral abilities that are necessary for satisfactory completion of all aspects of the curriculum. In considering Associate Degree Nursing as a career, applicants should be aware of the following:

• Students will be required to lift and move patients, heavy instruments, heavy and bulky equipment and supplies, and stand and walk for long periods of time.
  
  
• In emergency situations, a student may be required to move very quickly.
  
  
• Fine hand-eye coordination skills are needed in certain situations while gross hand-eye coordination skills are needed in others.
  
  
• Students will be required to anticipate quickly and adequately the needs of the patient, physician, and other health workers.
  
  
• Students will be required to develop and utilize interpersonal relationship skills and be able to function in highly stressful situations.
  
  
• The nursing setting can be a high-risk area for contracting human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and hepatitis B (HBV). Students are taught protective and precautionary procedures which must be followed in the clinical setting.
  
  
• Sufficient upper and lower body coordination to safely handle equipment, as well as assist in transferring and transporting patients and performing CPR.

Other characteristics and physical demands required include:

• Willingness to work in stressful situations
• Able to work accurately and safely under stress, e.g., work under time constraints; read and record numbers accurately; perform repetitive tasks; concentrate in distracting situations; and make subjective evaluations and decisions where mistake may have a high impact on patient care.
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems
• Ability to listen to physicians' orders and do what they requested
• Frequently listen to doctors and other medical workers
• Ability to understand and use words when speaking to others
• Ability to operate medical equipment with precision
• Frequently use arms and hands to reach for and handle medical
  equipment
• Ability to move the hands easily and skillfully
• Ability to move the fingers quickly or accurately
• Frequently use fingers to pick up small items, such as needles
• Occasionally use fingertips to feel a particular area of the patient
• Occasionally lift and move patients
• Occasionally stoop while working on patients
• Occasionally need to see nearby objects clearly, as when reading a medical chart
• Occasionally need to see the difference between colors
• Conscientiousness and respect for the confidential nature of medical information are required
• Possess attributes that include integrity, responsibility, and tolerance
• Show respect for self and others
• Essential abilities in information acquisition - the ability to master information presented in the course work in the form of lectures, written material, and projected images
• Cognitive abilities necessary to master relevant content in basic science and clinical courses at a level deemed appropriate by the faculty.

Latex Advisory: Latex products are used in health care professions. They occur with universal precautions and in environments such as, but not limited to, Health Occupations classrooms and labs, hospitals, nursing care facilities, laboratories, clinical areas, and medical/dental offices. Individuals with latex allergies should seek expert advice from their health care provider to receive information necessary for an informed decision regarding their exposure to latex in the health care professions.

All clinical facilities require all students attending their facility have a current Drug and Background Screen. The prescreening requirements are the same as those required of employees. All screens must be conducted after admission to the clinical program, but within 30 days prior to the start of the agency rotation. Verification of the satisfactory results must be received by the participating hospital prior to the student's rotation start date, and will be honored by all hospitals for the duration of the student's enrollment in the clinical program if the participating student has not had a break in the enrollment at the college.

The student is solely responsible for payment of all fees at the time of the screens (approximately $80). All reports and findings from the Background and Drugs screens will be reported directly to El Centro College Health Occupations Administration. The results of the screening can prevent clinical placement.

The rationale for the screening is that of due diligence and competency assessment of all individuals whose assignments bring them in contact with patients or employees. Competency extends beyond technical skills to an individual's criminal and substance abuse history. This approach ensures uniform compliance with Joint Commission standards pertaining to human resource management.

The drug screen follows National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) guidelines and screens for ten substances as designated in the Substance Abuse Panel 10 ("SAP 10"). These substances are:

SAP 10 test results which fall outside of any of the acceptable ranges are considered positive test results and are automatically sent for a separate confirmatory test by a Gas Chromatography Mss Spectrometry (GCMS) method. If these results remain positive, the test results are sent to a Medical Review Officer ("MRO") which will entail an additional cost of $25 - $75 to the student. The MRO will then contact the student to determine if there is a valid prescription for the drug in question. If a valid prescription exists and is verified, the test result will be deemed to be negative and acceptable.

Note: A clinical agency reserves the right to remove a student from the facility for suspicion of substance use or abuse, including alcohol. The clinical agency will notify the El Centro College Health Occupations administration to faacilitate immediate removal of the student and request that the student submit to a repeat drug screening porcedure at the student's expense on the same day of removal from the clinical agency. Failure to comply will result in immediate expulsion from the clinical agency. Further, regardless of testing or test results, the agency reserves the right to expel any student form their facility. The agency will provide El Centro College Health Occupations administration with written documentation of the student's behaviour(s) by tow or more agency representatives.

The criminal background check reviews a person's criminal history seven (7) years previous to the date of program application. The check will include all cities and counties of the person's residency during that time period. The following histories will disqualify an individual from consideration for a clinical rotation:

• Felony convictions
• Misdemeanor convictions or felony deferred adjudications involving crimes against persons (physical ro sexual abuse)
• Misdemeanor convictions related to moral turpitude (prostitution, public lewdness/exposure, etc.)
• Felony deferred adjudications for the sale, possession, distribution, or transfer of narcotics or controlled substances
• Registered sex offenders

Exceptions:

• If a licensing/registry body approves the individual to take the licensing/credential exam, the individual may participate in the clinical rotation
• The college may reuest an exception form the first clinical agency for a student with a felony deferred adjudication and no alternate recourse through a licensing/registry Updated and Maintained byity, i.e. Boaard of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas. Following approval from the first clinical agency, the student may progress as stated above.

Note: Should a student accepted to a health occupations program be prohibited from attending a clinical rotation experience due to findings of a criminal baackground check and/or drug screening, the student may be dismissed form the health occupations program.

For more information regarding the cirminal background check and drug testing requirements, please contact Ms. Charlotte Green, Associate Dean of Nursing by phone at 214.860.2269 or email (csg5541@dcccd.edu).
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In all 50 States, students must graduate from a nursing program and pass a national licensing examination (NCLEX) to obtain a nursing license. Nurses may be licensed in more than one State, either by examination or endorsement of a license issued by another State. Licenses must be periodically renewed. Some States require continuing education for licensure renewal.

Students are required to answer questions on the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas application for Registration by Examination (to become licensed as a registered nurse) regarding criminal convictions, mental illness or chemical dependency, or prior disciplinary action by a licensing Updated and Maintained byity for nurses. Students answering "yes" to those questions must submit the required documents with an explanation to the Board of Nurse Examiners at least six months prior to graduation. The Board of Nurse Examiners will consider these documents and reach a decision regarding eligibility to write the licensing examination. An applicant may request a Declaratory Order (a decision by the Board of Nurse Examiners regarding an applicant's eligibility to take the licensing exam) prior to entering a program of nursing. For further information, contact the Associate Dean of Nursing or the Dean of Health and Legal Studies. These questions are:

• Have you ever been denied licensure by a licensing Updated and Maintained byity for nurses (RN/LVN/LPN)?
  
  
• Have you ever had disciplinary action taken against you by a licensing/certifying Updated and Maintained byity (LVN/LPN/Nurse aide)?
  
  
• Have you ever been convicted of a crime other than minor traffic violations?
  
  
• Is your ability to safely practice Professional Nursing adversely affected by a physical or mental disability/illness which may endanger the health and safety of persons under your care? (You may answer "no" if you have completed and/or are in compliance with TPAPN for mental illness.)
  
  
• Have you been hospitalized or treated for chemical dependency within the past five (5) years? (You may answer "no" if you have completed and/or are in compliance with TPAPN for substance abuse.)
  
  
• Are you currently an intemperate user of drugs or alcohol?
  
  
• Have you ever been issued a Declaratory Order by this Board?
  
  
• Have you ever taken the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), or the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE), and/or the Canadian Nurses' Association Testing Service Examination (CNATSE)? [If yes, list state(s)/ province(s) and date(s).]

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Some courses that you will find helpful are:

We have a list of contacts available.

You may also download an infomation packet. The file is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader software, downloadable free from www.adobe.com

NOTE: The El Centro College Health/Legal and Continuing/Workforce Education Division reserves the right to make changes in program enrollment capacity. Program guidelines are subject to change. Students are advised to obtain the latest program information from the Health Occupations Admissions Office (Room A-140).