Nursing, Practical 6350, C.G.

A Certificate of Graduation

The Practical Nursing Program is accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The purpose of the program is to provide an approved educational program to prepare students to be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) to become Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN).

This program is two semesters and one summer session in length, admitting one class annually in August. Through theory and practice, this program is designed to enable students to develop “clinical problem-solving processes (the nursing process) to collect and organize relevant health care data, assist in the identification of the health needs/problems throughout the patient’s life span and contribute to the interdisciplinary team in a variety of settings” (NAPNES, 2007). Graduates provide nursing care to clients in situations of varying complexity under the direction of qualified health professionals (NFLPN, 2003).

Students receive laboratory instruction and guidance in college laboratory, acute and long-term care facilities and community agencies. Students are responsible for transportation related to clinical experiences.

Applicants are accepted to the Practical Nursing Program for the fall semester only. The Practical Nursing Program is accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Information on accreditation status may be obtained by contacting the ACEN. They may be contacted at the following address: ACEN, Inc., 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30326 (1-404-975-5000), or www.acenursing.org.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the Practical Nursing Program, graduates will be able to:

1. Coordinate care with members of the healthcare team using nursing informatics to achieve positive patient outcomes in a variety of settings.
2. Utilize nursing judgment to provide safe and qualify care for individuals across the lifespan under the direction of the qualified health professional.
3. Provide patient-centered care utilizing cultural sensitivity for diverse individuals within a family context.
4. Demonstrate professionalism and adherence to practical nursing standards.

Selection Process

The selection process for Vincennes University’s Nursing program is based on the premise that student selection is vital to student success in the program and on the NCLEX licensing exam. In order to complete this program successfully, students must be well motivated and have an academic background sufficient to succeed in the curriculum. A limited number of students will be accepted, with cancellations being filled from a waiting list. The number of students admitted to the nursing program is limited by the availability of instructional resources and clinical learning sites. Due to the high number of applicants for this program, selection is competitive in nature. Each applicant is reviewed individually and will be ranked based on a point system. The point system utilized for the program and application deadline information is available at www.vinu.edu/nursing.  

Any falsification of application information will result in denial of admission or removal from the program. Compliance with all criteria does not guarantee acceptance to the program.

Admission Requirements

1. Meet admission requirements of the University.
2. Qualify for placement into MATT 107 /MATT 109 , MATH 102 /MATH 022 , MATH 103 /MATH 023 , or higher or receive appropriate transfer credit.
3. Qualify for placement into ENGL 101  (with no corequisite) as determined by placement test scores (e.g. SAT, ACT, or other standardized placement tests as accepted by Vincennes University), or receive appropriate transfer credit.
4. Earn a high school diploma (students may apply to the program during their senior year of high school) or achieve a minimum average standard score of 500 on the High School Equivalency (HSE) test.
5. Possess physical and mental health acceptable for performance in the occupation as determined by the Department of Nursing and evidenced by examination from a licensed practitioner.
6. Hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.3. For students with previous college credit, the GPA utilized will be the most recent cumulative GPA with courses completed that are required or relevant to the program. A current semester GPA less than 2.0 will exclude a candidate from admission.
7. Submit a recent placement test if requested.
8. Hold no grade less than C in any required general education course. Applicants who have a current grade less than C in a required general education course are not eligible for admission. Required general education courses may only be repeated one time to raise the grade to a C or better. This includes pre-requisites to required courses.
9. Hold no grade of F in any nursing course.

Note: Applicants that are not admitted directly from high school must complete nine hours of college courses (100 level or above) with a 2.3 GPA, with no grade lower than a C. These nine hours must include English Composition I. HIMT 110 - Medical Terminology for Allied Health  may be used as part of the nine credit hours.

Note: Transfer credits: The registrar will determine if credit is to be granted for courses taken at other institutions of higher education.

Note: Time limit on previously completed courses: Only MATH; BIOL 111 - Anatomy and Physiology I  and BIOL 111L - Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I ; BIOL 112 - Anatomy and Physiology II  and BIOL 112L - Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory II ; and BIOL 107 - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology  and BIOL 107L - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory  taken less than seven years prior to admission to the Practical Nursing Program will be considered for credit.
a.Students seeking credit for a math course that was taken longer than seven years prior to admission to the Practical Nursing Program may elect to take the University math placement test and receive scores of QAS of 245 or higher or AAF 240 or higher on the Accuplacer Next Generation, or EA 46 or higher on the Accuplacer Classic.
b. Students seeking credit for a math course; BIOL 111 - Anatomy and Physiology I  and BIOL 111L - Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I ; BIOL 112 - Anatomy and Physiology II  and BIOL 112L - Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory II ; and BIOL 107 - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology  and BIOL 107L - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory  that was taken longer than seven years prior to admission to the nursing program may elect to enroll in the course and seek early completion. Exceptions will be made for applicants with previous college degree.
c. Only General Psychology taken less than fifteen years prior to admission to the Practical Nursing Program will be considered for credit.

Orientation Information

Applicants that are selected for admission should be aware that there will be mandatory orientation sessions that take place prior to classes beginning in the fall.   Applicants must be able to attend the appropriate orientation session in order to begin a nursing program. Students selected for admission will be provided additional detail.  More information can be found at www.vinu.edu/nursing.

*Criminal History Policy

Our nursing programs are committed to selecting students for admission who can be guaranteed placement in our affiliated clinical agencies.  As part of the admissions process, applicants selected for admission to the Associate of Science in Nursing Program, Practical Nursing Program, or ASN Completion Concentration for LPNs will be required to complete a criminal history report and drug screening. The criminal history report and drug screening results will be used as criterion for admission to and continued enrollment in the programs.  Applicants should be aware that any adverse criminal history report or treatment for substance abuse may result in denial of admission or dismissal from the program. 

Directions for submitting the criminal history report from Vincennes University’s approved vendor will be provided to applicants that are selected for admission to the program. Applicants are responsible for the cost of the criminal history report. Results of criminal history reports from our approved vendor automatically release to the Department of Nursing and may be shared with affiliated clinical agencies. 

Information will be shared with our clinical affiliates regarding any applicants with an adverse criminal history report. If a clinical agency deems an applicant ineligible for clinical placement, the student will not be eligible for admission/continuation in the program.

Any applicant or currently enrolled student in any of the nursing programs who has had an arrest or any change in their criminal history since the initial background check was completed must report the information to the Department of Nursing Nurse Administrator or Department Chair prior to the next nursing course day. Failure to report this information violates our clinical agency agreement and is grounds for immediate dismissal from the nursing program.

Drug Screening Policy

All applicants selected for admission to the Associate of Science in Nursing, Practical Nursing, or ASN Completion Concentration for LPNs are required to submit a 10 panel drug screening prior to beginning courses. The drug screening includes screening for Amphetamines, Barbiturate, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, Creatinine, Cannabinoids, Methadone, Methaqualone, Opiates, Phencyclidine, Propoxyphene, and PH. Drug screen results with a dilute negative will not be accepted. Applicants with a dilute negative result will be required to retest within 2 weeks of the original posted results.  A second dilute negative will result in the student either supplying a blood test or hair sample for drug testing.  Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program. Please note that use of CBD oil may result in a positive drug screen. A positive drug screen for any reason will result in denial of admission to the program. Instructions for the drug screening will be provided to applicants that have been selected for admission to the program.

The determination on eligibility to take the licensure exam will be made by the Indiana State Board of Nursing. More information about the Indiana State Board of Nursing Licensure Laws and Regulations may be found on the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency’s website at http://www.in.gov/pla. Please visit http://www.vinu.edu/nursing for the current criminal history procedures.

Standards for Progression and Graduation

1. Practical nursing students must achieve a minimum grade of C in each course for the current semester as a prerequisite for continuance in the program. Failure to meet this requirement will result in withdrawal from the Practical Nursing Program.
2. Students who receive a grade of F in a required practical nursing course will not be eligible for readmission to the program regardless of GPA.
3. All required courses must be completed with a C or better concurrently or prior to the recommended course sequence.
4. Anatomy and Physiology I and II and Laboratories or Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology and Laboratory must be completed with a C or better by the end of Semester I.
5. When students are enrolled in a nursing course that has a corequisite and withdraws from the nursing course, this results in withdrawal from the Practical Nursing Program and the student may not complete the remaining nursing corequisite during the current semester.
6. Required academic courses may only be repeated one time in order to achieve a grade of C or better.
7. The effective catalog for nursing students is the catalog of the year when the student was admitted and started the first semester of the program.
8. Students who do not pass the first 8 week nursing course have to choose one of the following options:

• Continue with the remaining nursing courses.  If the applicant does not pass the remaining class(es) with a C or better, the applicant will not be eligible to reapply to the program.
• Withdraw from remaining nursing courses during the semester and reapply to the nursing program for the appropriate semester.

Readmission Policy

The readmission policy refers to any student that was unsuccessful in passing or withdrew from a nursing course or nursing support course.

1. Applicants seeking to reenter the program at the point in which they withdrew, must reenter the program within one year. Otherwise, the student may apply for readmission to begin the program in its entirety.
2. Applications are reviewed on an individual basis by the Nursing Department. Factors that will be considered in the decision to readmit a student include, but are not limited to, space availability, course sequencing, and student performance, which includes grades, professional behavior, and clinical performance.
3. The effective catalog for students readmitted to the program in courses beyond the first semester will be the effective catalog at the time of the first admission.
4. Applicants for readmission must submit a readmission application by the deadline established by the Nursing Department.
5. Applicants that received a grade of F in any nursing course may not apply for readmission.
6. Applicants that have received a grade less than a C in more than one nursing course are not eligible to reapply for admission.
7. Applicants that are unsuccessful during the first semester of the Practical Nursing Program (NURP 100 , NURP 105 , NURP 110 ), must apply for admission at the NURP 100 level. NURP 100  applicants must meet all admission criteria (see Alternative Admission Requirements for applicants not meeting Direct Admission Requirements) and will be considered alongside all other applications for the Practical Nursing Program.
8. Applicants that do not remain actively enrolled at the University after withdrawal from the Nursing Program are required to submit a new application to Vincennes University via the Admissions Office in addition to the Nursing Readmission Application.
9. Applications are reviewed on an individual basis.
10. In accordance with the University Grievance Policy, applicants who believe they have extenuating circumstances to these readmission standards may submit a letter of appeal to the Chair of the Program to explain the situation.