Practical Nursing

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) provide bedside patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse, physician, or dentist. While providing direct patient care, the LPN is in a strategic position to observe the patient's response to treatment and care. As an effective and contributing member of the nursing team, the LPN assists in implementing the patient's care plan. In some settings, the LPN may be responsible for supervising nursing care delivery to a group of patients. The LPN may administer medications and treatments to assigned patients while supervising nursing assistants performing basic nursing functions.

The Practical Nursing program at George C. Wallace Community College in Dothan, Alabama is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30326
(404) 975-5000
www.acenursing.org

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

The Practical Nursing program is approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing. The Alabama Board of Nursing can be contacted at:

Alabama Board of Nursing
RSA Plaza, Suite 250
770 Washington Avenue
PO Box 303900
Montgomery, Alabama 36104
Telephone (800) 656-5318 fax (334) 293-5201
Website: www.abn.alabama.gov

Application for Alabama licensure is completed on-line at the Alabama Board of Nursing website (www.abn.state.al.us).  Students who desire to be licensed in a state other than Alabama must obtain NCLEX-PN information and application from that state or apply for a multistate license. Refer to the Alabama Board of Nursing website for regulations regarding initial licensure.  Application to sit for the licensing examinations may be denied on the basis of the review of the regulatory questions answered by the candidate. Applicants who have an arrest record should be aware that they may not be permitted to sit for the licensing examination.  This determination is made AFTER an individual’s application to take the NCLEX-PN for licensure is submitted to the board of nursing in the state in which they wish to be licensed.

Admission

Program requirements for health programs offered within the Alabama Community College System may be reviewed and revised between publication deadlines for this and future College Catalog and Student Handbook documents. Admission requirements below were in effect at the time this document was published and may or may not be current. Prospective students should contact the program office to obtain requirement updates. 

Minimum admission standards include the following:

1. Unconditional admission to Wallace Community College.
2. Receipt of completed application for the Practical Nursing program.
3. Minimum GPA of 2.3 on a 4.0 scale based on the last 24 credit hours for students with previous college coursework OR a 2.3 cumulative GPA at Wallace Community College.
4. Eligibility for the following courses on or before the program application deadline:
      1.  ENG 101 and MTH116 or higher level math as determined by College policy
      2.  BIO 201 through successful completion of BIO 103 or satisfactory performance on The Alabama Community College System Biology                              Placement Exam.     
5. A status of good standing with Wallace Community College.
6. Ability to meet the essential functions or technical standards required for nursing.
7. Completion of the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills, ATI TEAS, within three years of the program application deadline.

Contractual agreements between the College and clinical agencies impose additional requirements on students enrolled in health programs. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the areas of attire, confidentiality, criminal background check, liability insurance, and substance abuse screening. Health insurance coverage is strongly recommended as the expense for treatment of injury suffered during training is the responsibility of the student. Any student denied clinical privileges or having clinical privileges revoked by a healthcare facility due to positive background findings or clinical misconduct is not eligible for program admission or readmission.

Admission to the Practical Nursing program is competitive. The number of students accepted may be limited by the number of available faculty members and clinical facilities. Meeting minimal requirements does not guarantee acceptance. 

Grading Scale

NUR-Prefix courses will be evaluated using the following grading scale:

A             90-100       
B             80-89             
C             75-79             
D             60-74             
F             59 and below   

Grading Policy

A minimum grade of "C" (75 or above) is required to successfully complete nursing (NUR) courses within the Practical Nursing curriculum.

No rounding of test scores is done (for example, 78.6 is 78.6). Only the final course grade is rounded (0.5 or higher is raises to the next whole number).  WCC nursing programs will carry all grade computations within a course (exams, quizzes, comprehensive tests, outside activity grades, etc.) to the hundredths place with no rounding applied to intermediate steps.  Final course averages will be rounded to the nearest whole number.

The student must achieve a final grade of 75 in the theory component of all nursing courses.  In addition, students enrolled in courses containing lab and/or clinical components, must achieve a "Satisfactory" evaluation in order to successfully complete the courses.  Course grades will reflect the numerical theory grade, as long as lab and/or clinical components receive satisfactory evaluations.  Unsatisfactory lab or clinical components will constitute receipt of a course grade of “D,” regardless of a numerical theory grade average.

Progression

 A minimum grade of "C" (75 or above) is required to successfully complete nursing (NUR) courses within the Practical Nursing curriculum.

Students must successfully complete all NUR courses with each semester listed in the curriculum prior to progressing to the next semester. NUR courses are sequential and cannot be combined.

The following policies apply to situations in which a student fails to progress according to the defined Practical Nursing curriculum:

1. A total of two unsuccessful attempts in two separate semesters (D, F, or W) in the nursing program will result in dismissal from the program.
2. A student may be  reinstated to the nursing program only one time. The reinstatement  is not guaranteed due to limitations in clinical spaces. All nursing program admission standards must be met.  Reinstatement must occur within one year from the semester of withdrawal or failure.
3. A student must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the current institution for reinstatement.
4. If a student has a documented extenuating circumstance that should be considered related to a withdrawal or failure, then this student may submit documentation for the extenuating circumstances to the Practical Nursing Admission Committee for a decision on repeating a course or readmission to the program.

Definitions

Reinstatement: Students who have a withdrawal or failure in a nursing course (non-progression) and are eligible to return to that course will be considered for reinstatement to the program.

Readmission: Students not eligible for program reinstatement (two semesters with grades of D, F, or W in NUR-Prefix courses) may apply for program admission as a new student. If accepted as a new student, the student must take or retake all nursing (NUR-Prefix) program courses.

Reinstatement

Students who experience non-progression in the nursing program and who desire reinstatement in the program must apply for reinstatement to the program. A student must request reinstatement within one year from the term of non-progression to be eligible for reinstatement. Students dismissed from the program for disciplinary reasons and/or unsafe client care in the clinical area will not be allowed reinstatement to the nursing program. Reinstatement to the program will be allowed one time only. Reinstatement to the nursing program is based on space availability and is not guaranteed. Selection for reinstatement is based on GPA in nursing program required courses. Students must adhere to nursing curriculum and program policies and procedures in effect at the time of reinstatement. Reinstatement can be denied due to, but not limited to, any of the following circumstances:

1. Space unavailability;
2. Refusal by clinical agencies to accept the student for clinical experiences;
3. Twelve months have elapsed since the student enrollment in a nursing course.

Criteria for Reinstatement

1. Demonstrate a 2.0 GPA in nursing program required courses.
2. Have no more than one non-progression since program admission.
3. Demonstrate acceptable skills proficiency.
4. Meet acceptability criteria for placement at clinical agencies for clinical experiences.
5. Demonstrate ability to meet essential functions for nursing with or without reasonable accommodations.
6. Demonstrate current CPR at the health care provider level.
7. Reinstatement must occur within one year from the semester of withdrawal or failure.

Process for Reinstatement

1. Schedule an appointment with a nursing faculty member or advisor to discuss eligibility for reinstatement.
2. Apply for reinstatement to the nursing program and submit the application by published deadlines.
3. Apply for readmission to the College if not currently enrolled. College readmission must be accomplished by published deadlines.
4. Update all drug testing and background screening according to program policy.

Audit

Effective September 12, 2012 there shall be no auditing allowed for any Health Science classes.

Transfer Policy

The transfer policy applies only to students desiring to transfer among Alabama Community College System institutions. It does not apply to students who want to transfer from other institutions.

Criteria for Transfer

1. Meet minimum admission standards for the nursing program.
2. Possess a grade of C or better in all nursing program required courses taken at another institution and possess a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative GPA at time of transfer.
3. Provide a letter of eligibility for progression from the dean or director of the previous nursing program.
4. Comply with all program policy requirements at accepting institution.
5. Complete at least 25% of the nursing program required courses for degree /certificate at the accepting institution.
6. Meet acceptability criteria for placement at clinical agencies for clinical experience.
7. Have no more than twelve months elapse from the last clinical course, in which student was successful.
8. Acceptance of transfer students into nursing programs is limited by the number of faculty and clinical facilities available. Meeting minimal standards does not guarantee acceptance.
9. Student selection for transfer is based on GPA in nursing program required courses.

Transient Student Policy

The transient policy applies only to students desiring to transfer among Alabama Community College System institutions. It does not apply to students who want to transfer from other institutions. 

Criteria for Transient Status

1. Meet minimum admission standards for the nursing program.
2. Possess a grade of C or better in all nursing program required courses taken at another institution and possess a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
3. Provide a letter of eligibility for progression from the dean or director of the previous nursing program for progression in previous nursing program.
4. Secure permission, if enrolled at another institution, from that institution by submitting an Application for Admission to the College and a Transient Student Form completed by an official (nursing program dean or director) of the primary institution.
5. Complete a Transcript Request Form at the end of the term before a transcript will be issued to the primary institution.
6. Comply with all program policy requirements at accepting institution.
7. Meet acceptability criteria for placement at clinical agencies for clinical experience. 
8. Acceptance of transient students into a nursing program is limited by the number of faculty members and clinical facilities available. Meeting minimal standards does not guarantee acceptance. 
9. Student selection for transient status is based on the grade point average in nursing program required courses.

ADN Transfer to LPN Program

Associate Degree Nursing program students may apply for admission to the third semester of the Practical Nursing program after they have completed the first two semesters of coursework— BIO 201 and 202, ENG 101, MTH 100, and NUR 102, 103, 104, 105, and 106—with a grade of C or better. Students who elect to transfer to the last semester in the Practical Nursing program will be required to meet the current program admission and/or readmission requirements. Students will be admitted on a space available basis to the Practical Nursing program. To be eligible for this option the student must meet the following criteria:

1. Complete a transfer/readmission form.
2. Have a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative grade point average at current institution.
3. Meet clinical and health record requirements.
4. Have no more than 12 months elapse from the last clinical nursing course, in which the student was successful. 
5. Students will be ranked on cumulative grade point average for the purposes of transfer to the PN program. 
6. Students who have two attempts in the Associate Degree Nursing program are only allowed one attempt in the Practical Nursing program. 
7. Students who are successful may apply for the LPN-to-RN Mobility program as outlined in the College Catalog.
8. If unsuccessful in the Practical Nursing transfer option, the student must meet current admission and progression requirements.

Student Nurse Apprentice Program

The nursing Apprenticeship program provides participants the ability to work and receive pay while advancing their learning.

The following is information regarding application to an apprenticeship:

1. Must be an active, current student of Wallace Community College.
2. Submit a Wallace Community College nursing program application during appropriate application periods and be accepted to the Practical Nursing program.
3. Students accepted into a Wallace Community College Nursing Program are provided the opportunity to submit an apprenticeship application. Applications are provided during the first semester in the nursing program.
4. A list of students who meet the minimum qualifications for apprenticeship is given to participating healthcare facilities.
5. From that list, participating healthcare facilities select and hire apprentices, based on the number of open positions they have available. Current employees may be selected for the apprenticeship. All apprentices sign an apprenticeship agreement.
6. Student apprentices must commit to work for the healthcare facility and participate in on the job learning at the healthcare facility during the nursing program.  Included in working days are clinical days students are performing for nursing program clinical requirements. Apprenticeship clinical days begin in with second semester Practical Nursing Program courses.
7. Student apprentices must apply to the Alabama Board of Nursing for an apprentice permit.
8. Student apprentices are not paid for on-campus classes, labs, or simulation. Student apprentices are paid for clinical hours, not to include simulation.
9. Student apprentices will work one on one with a licensed nurse from the healthcare facility. Students will be held accountable to the same clinical requirements as non-apprentice students in the program.
10. Nursing Program applications are posted on the Wallace Community College website.

Graduate Options

Licensed Practical Nurses, after successfully passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses, may apply for advanced placement in the Wallace Community College Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program. Contact the ADN Program Office for details of the LPN-to-RN Mobility program.