Northwest - Shoals Community College

Nursing Programs Offered

ADN Program Details

The Division of Health Studies offers a five semester
Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program. Upon satisfactory
completion, the Associate of Applied Science Degree is
awarded and the graduate is eligible to apply to take the
National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for
licensure as a Registered Nurse. Graduation from the program
however, does not guarantee Board of Nursing approval to
take the NCLEX-RN licensing examination. See Standards of
Conduct at the end of the ADN section.
The ADN program is approved by the Alabama Board of
Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: All applicants must meet
the following criteria.
1. Unconditional admission to the college: Admission to the
College does not guarantee admission to the ADN
program.
2. Apply to the ADN program: Complete a separate
application to the ADN program.
3. Grade point average: A minimum (GPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0
scale on all completed college work is required.

LPN Program Details

The Nursing Department at Northwest-Shoals will implement new criteria mandated by the Department of Post secondary Education for nursing admission beginning with the fall semester 2011-12. Students will be required to take a nurse entrance test- Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS V) created by Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI). The TEAS V will replace the COMPASS reading score as one of the components for calculation of admission scores. The COMPASS must still be given for academic placement for English and Math courses. The TEAS V score is good for three (3) years. A student may repeat the TEAS V once during the semester admission time frame. Students must wait six weeks between taking each test. There will be no cut off score for the TEAS V test. A copy of the TEAS V score must accompany nursing application.

Minimum admission standards for the Practical Nursing Program include:

Unconditional admission to the college.
receipt of completed application for the Practical Nursing Program by April 1 for the fall admission annually.
A minimum of 2.5 cumulative GPA on all college work attempted if a student has previous college work.
A minimum of 2.5 high school GPA for students without prior college work (GED acceptable in lieu of high school transcript).
Eligibility for English 101 and Math 116 or higher as determined by college policy.
Good standing with the college.
Completion of the TEAS V entrance test current within three years of application deadline.
Meeting the essential function or technical standards required for nursing (See Essential Functions in Registered Nursing section of the Northwest-Shoals Community College catalog.

Admission to the PN program is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

The College reserves the right to adjust requirements or use additional criteria to determine admission.