Summer Selection Process Information

Nursing is one of today's top careers – and there's high demand for professionals who can combine a mind for science with a passion for patient care. Our Practical Nursing program provides academic and occupational courses with a variety of clinical experiences so that graduates are prepared to enter the fast-paced world of medicine and healthcare immediately upon graduation. The program is designed to prepare graduates to successfully complete the NCLEX-PN for licensure as a practical nurse.

Our program has five prerequisite courses that must be completed with a minimum grade of C in each course before the student can go through the selection process. These courses include:

• COMP 1000 – Introduction to Microcomputers

• ENGL 1101 – Composition and Rhetoric (*ENG 1102)

• MATH 1013 – Basic Algebra (*MAT 1101, MAT 1111, MAT 1112, MAT 1113, MAT 1131)

• PSYC 1010 – Basic Psychology (*PSY 1101)

• ALHS 1011 – Anatomy and Physiology (* both BIO 2113 and BIO 2114)

*Acceptable course substitutions

COMP 1000 must be repeated if five (5) years or older at the time of admission to the college. ALHS 1011 must be repeated if five (5) years of older at the time of admission to the program and can only be attempted twice (withdrawal or failure).

GPTC has introduced a course to be completed by all new students within the first two semesters of attendance. This course, COLL 1500, must be taken but will not be used to calculate a student's GPA for entrance into the program.

All prerequisite classes are taught both on the DeKalb and Newton campuses and may be taken on either campus or online, if offered. After completion of the prerequisites, students are eligible to go through the selection process. There is no waiting list for the Practical Nursing Program.

The PN Department will be hosting an Informational Session prior to each Selection Process. They will be held in April and August, during this time we will share pertinent information regarding the Selection Process.

The PN Selection Process will be held in May and September of each year. Notification will be given via student email accounts and the college website. If selected, during the summer Selection Process the class start date will be in the fall semester (August). If chosen during the fall PN Selection Process, the class start date will be in the spring (January). In order to participate in selection, all prerequisite classes must be completed by the end of the semester before selection. For example, a student must have all prerequisites completed by the end of spring semester 2013 to participate in May 2013 selection.

We currently use the Test of Essential Academic Skills, or TEAS V. The TEAS is computerized and is not health care based but includes English, grammar, reading for comprehension, math, and high school level life science, physical science and chemistry. A study guide is available and may be purchased at www.atitesting.com. Go to www.atitesting.com, click on online store, click TEAS Products and select TEAS V materials. You can choose to purchase the book or the book and the online practice tests (2). The purchase of online practice tests is optional but recommended. You must set up an account with ATI. Please remember your logon and password; you will need them for taking the examination and possible future use. We are currently administering Version V. There are no limits to the number of times that the TEAS can be taken.

Step 1
Students who have completed the prerequisites may take the examination at the DeKalb or Newton B Campus in the Student Success Center during the month of May or September. It is the student's responsibility to make certain that all prerequisites are completed within the correct timeframes. Please see your PN Advisor if you have questions regarding your courses. The TEAS examination cost is $50.00. It can be paid by credit card, debit or gift card (with VISA logo).

Step 2
Students meeting or exceeding the national average score for the exam will go on to the next step of the selection process. It is the student's responsibility to bring all of the required documents to his/her PN Advisor. The required documents are:

• Banner Web Transcript

• Transfer students will need to bring their Transcript Evaluation Form (can be obtained in the Registrar's Office) in addition to the Banner Web Transcript

The will be a deadline date for submission of the above documents to your PN Advisor. No documents will be accepted after the announced date.

If the student scores below the national average he/she will not be considered for the PN Program at this time. The student may retake the TEAS examination. There is no limit to the amount of retakes. Please keep in mind that the national average may vary slightly with each test.

Step 3
Faculty will calculate GPAs of the students who pass the TEAS. GPAs are calculated using only the five prerequisite classes, not the overall GPA.

Guidelines for GPA Calculation:

• The highest grade earned in ENGL, MATH, and PSYC will be use for the calculation

• ALHS 1011 must be repeated if five (5) years of older at the time of admission to the program and can only be attempted twice (withdrawal or failure)

• The highest ALHS 1011 grade earned will be used for the calculation, except when the second attempt results in a withdrawal or a failure. Therefore, you will no longer be eligible for the nursing program

• Comp 1000 must be repeated if five (5) years or older at the time of admission to the college

The TEAS score is multiplied by the GPA for a total point value. This equation gives the TEAS score and GPA equal value.

For example, if a student's TEAS score is 78% and the student's GPA is 3.4, his combined score is 265.2.

Step 4
The nursing department will notify the twenty-six (26) candidates with the highest point scores of their acceptance into the program via email. Those twenty-five candidates will be invited to attend the mandatory orientation meeting. The student's presence and punctuality at the meeting signifies his or her desire to accept and maintain a seat in the nursing program. Students not in attendance or who are tardy for the meeting will forfeit their seat in the program.

If you are not selected during this process, you should contact your PN Advisor. If you choose to keep your TEAS score for the next PN Selection, then you must email your PN Advisor by the first week of July or November respectively.

For any other questions regarding the Practical Nursing Program, please contact the nursing faculty at 770-786-9522 or 404-294-9522.

For last names beginning with:

• A-F: Joy Jackson, ext. 5024, jacksonj@gptc.edu

• G-L: Kaye Henry, ext. 5047, henryk@gptc.edu

• M-S: Theresa Snagg, ext. 5045, snaggt@gptc.edu

• T-Z: Maria Rose, Ext. 5007, rosem@gptc.edu

*** Information subject to change without notice. Please keep in contact with PN Advisor.***