Bethany Files, Program Coordinator/Instructor
The Practical Nursing Program is a one-year certificate program. The program of learning is designed to teach the student basic nursing skills in the College laboratory and to care for patients in affiliated clinical agencies. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to apply to the Mississippi Board of Nursing to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Licensed Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN®), a national examination for licensure.
The Practical Nursing Program provides educational opportunities for personal as well as intellectual development to help meet the health care needs of the community. The Practical Nursing Program is accredited by the State of Mississippi Department of Education through the Mississippi Community College Board and by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia, 30326 Phone (404) 975-5000, www.acenursing.org. As of July 1, 2019, the Mississippi Board of Nursing will oversee Mississippi Practical Nursing Program approval and accreditation.
In addition to regular College tuition and fees, students have additional expenses for clinical apparel, standardized testing, books and insurance. A detailed cost sheet is available from the Program coordinator. Students are responsible for their own transportation between the College and clinical agencies.
Progression: A minimum grade of 80 is required in each course. Satisfactory clinical and lab performance is required for progression. Satisfactory demonstration of a pattern of responsible behavior is necessary for progression as outlined in the Practical Nursing Student Handbook. All program policies regarding attendance, curriculum requirements and behavior must be met for progression.
Minimum admission requirements (in addition to general admission requirements) must include one of the following:
Must have an ACT composite score of 16 (12 if taken before October 1989) with a subscore of 12 in Math and Reading;
Or
Score a 71 or higher on the Traditional ACCUPLACER Reading Section and a 61 or above on the Arithmetic Section; score 250 or higher on the ACCUPLACER Next Gen Reading Section and a 250 or above on the Arithmetic section or 231 or higher for QAS/Algebra Section;
Or
Complete the following courses within the last five years earning a grade of “C” or above: EPY 2533 - Human Growth and Development , BIO 2513 - Anatomy and Physiology I, Lecture /BIO 2511 - Anatomy and Physiology I, Laboratory , BIO 2523 - Anatomy and Physiology II, Lecture /BIO 2521 - Anatomy and Physiology II, Laboratory , and BIO 1613 - Nutrition or HEC 1253.
In addition to meeting one of the three options above, applicants must also:
Provide evidence of the equivalent to the requirements above, subject to the approval of the Registrar of the local community/junior college;
And
Have a cumulative grade point average (cGPA) of 2.00 (“C” average) on all previous college coursework;
And
Attend a PN information session and take a standardized admission assessment test. Students will receive notice from the Registrar’s Office about scheduling their Information Session and admission assessment test.
Legal Limitations for Licensure as a Practical Nurse:
Information related to applying for licensure to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse, upon completion of the Practical Nursing Program, is contained in the Mississippi Nursing Practice Law and Administrative Code. Graduates must apply to the Mississippi Board of Nursing to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Licensed Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN®). Practical Nursing Program applicants should be aware of the following restriction regarding who may qualify to write the NCLEX-PN®:
“The Board may, in its discretion, refuse to accept the application of any person who has been convicted of a criminal offense under any provision of Title 97 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as now or hereafter amended or any provision of this chapter.”* *Mississippi Nursing Practice Law
Mississippi Law requires health care professionals or Workforce Education students enrolled in programs whose primary purpose is to prepare professionals to render patient care services to submit to a criminal background check and fingerprinting prior to beginning any clinical rotation in a licensed health care entity. If such fingerprinting or criminal background check of the student disclose a felony conviction, guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere to a felony of possession or sale of drugs, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, sexual battery, sex offense listed in Section 45-33-23 (g), child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust, aggravated assault or felonious abuse and/or battery of a vulnerable adult which has not been reversed on appeal or for which a pardon has not been granted, the student shall not be eligible to be admitted to such health program of study, nor will he/she be eligible to participate in clinical training in a licensed entity. In addition, clinical affiliates have identified “other exclusions” or other criminal offenses that will preclude a student from participating in the clinical practicum. The student’s eligibility to participate in the clinical training phase of their health care program shall be voided if the student receives a disqualifying criminal record check; therefore, the student will be dismissed from the Nursing Program.
If a student currently enrolled in the Nursing Program is prohibited from participating in clinical experiences by any clinical affiliate of Meridian Community College (e.g., positive drug screen, egregious behavior, violation of patient safety, non-compliance with the College’s “Student Behavior Code,” etc.)” then the student will be dismissed from the program of study. The student is not eligible for program readmission unless the clinical restriction is removed.
The PN Admissions Committee will select each semester’s class from the pool of applicants who meet minimum admission requirements. Any application with incomplete records will not be considered for admission. The admission process is competitive, and completion of minimum requirements is not a guarantee of admission. Priority consideration for admission will be given as follows: 1) In-district students who have taken coursework at MCC; 2) Out-of-district students who have taken coursework at MCC; 3) Mississippi residents with no MCC coursework; 4) Out-of-state students. Check with the Health Education Advisor for selection details and deadlines.
After program admission and prior to enrollment, students must obtain American Heart Association CPR certification and a Mantoux Two-Step TB Skin Test. Students must provide proof of immunization for MMR. Drug screening will be scheduled after enrollment. Students must comply with vaccination requirements of clinical agencies.
All students admitted into the program will be required to pay for fingerprinting and a background check, which will be performed after admission and prior to clinical laboratories. These fees will be attached as registration fees. There are certain convictions that will prevent an individual being eligible to participate in clinical experiences. If a student is unable to participate in clinical experiences, he/she will be dismissed from the program. For additional information, please contact the Health Education Advisor.
Deadlines for submitting application information are October 1st for spring admission and March 1st for fall admission. The application information due by October 1st or March 1st includes submission of all official transcripts, national ACT score, ACCUPLACER score and MCC admission application for the semester admission is being sought.
Students in the traditional Practical Nursing Program must attend MCC full-time (12 or more semester credit hours).
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