Nursing — Become a Registered Nurse (RN)

Nursing candidates must have earned a high school diploma or an equivalency diploma (GED/TASC). Applicants are required to submit all official high school and college transcripts, including records of any college coursework completed in high school, official AP exam scores, and any degrees earned (associate or bachelor's).

Nursing candidates must have a minimum cumulative GPA of:

• 85 in high school (if seeking high school direct entry)
• 2.5 in college (2.0 for those with a bachelor's degree)

All college coursework will be factored into the GPA calculation. Borderline candidates who have demonstrated recent academic success will be reviewed by the Nursing Department.

Algebra

Applicants must complete one of the following to fulfill this prerequisite requirement:

• High school algebra (grade 85 or higher required for high school direct entry)
• College algebra
• FLCC’s MAT 115 Mathematics for Health Care Professionals

Note: Students who have not completed a math course may be admitted provisionally to the Nursing program. However, they must successfully complete this requirement prior to starting professional nursing coursework.

Biology

Applicants must complete one of the following to fulfill this prerequisite requirement:

• High school biology (grade 85 or higher required for high school direct entry)
• College biology (grade C or higher)
• FLCC's BIO 171: Anatomy and Physiology I (grade C or higher)

Note: You must take BIO 171 Human Anatomy & Physiology I, BIO 172 Human Anatomy & Physiology II, and BIO 230 Microbiology within seven years of matriculation into the nursing program.

Chemistry

Applicants must complete one of the following to fulfill this prerequisite requirement:

• High school chemistry (grade 85 or higher required for high school direct entry)
• College chemistry
• FLCC CHM 105: Introduction to Chemistry

Note: Students who have not completed a chemistry course may be admitted provisionally to the Nursing program. However, they must successfully complete CHM 105 Introduction to Chemistry or an equivalent course before starting professional nursing coursework.

English

Any student required to take Basic Skills tests for English placement must be placed into ENG 101 to finalize acceptance into the Nursing Program.

If you have at least 12 college credits, admission to the A.A.S. in Nursing program is determined through a point system that considers your academic history, performance in required courses, and other relevant factors.

You must meet the following criteria for consideration:

• Complete all prerequisite requirements.
• Submit all necessary official documents.
• Earn at least 25 nursing admissions points to be eligible for review. Use our self-evaluation guide to calculate your points.

If you do not reach the 25-point minimum, you should take the TEAS exam. Applicants who score a minimum of 65% will be eligible for review.

Through appropriate testing, LPNs may be granted advanced standing in FLCC's A.A.S. in Nursing program. This option minimizes repetitive coursework for qualified students and can be completed in as little as 18 months.

You must meet the following criteria for consideration:

Complete these prerequisite requirements:

• High school or equivalency diploma
• Minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.5
• Algebra - high school algebra, college algebra, or FLCC MAT 115 Mathematics for Health Care Professionals
• Chemistry - high school chemistry or college equivalent (FLCC CHM 105 Introduction to Chemistry)
• General Education - earn a C or higher in the following FLCC courses or in approved transfer credits:
  • BIO 171 Human Anatomy & Physiology I
  • ENG 101 Composition I
  • PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology
• Submit current NYS LPN licensure (copy of the registration)
• Provide documented evidence of having either:
  • Graduated within the past two years from an ACEN-accredited LPN program with a B average (84 or 3.0 GPA) or better in nursing courses. If this condition is met, no examination will be required to validate learning equivalent to FLCC Health Concepts I (NUR 111). Upon admission and acceptance into the accelerated option, six credits will be granted for Health Concepts I (NUR 111). Contact the Nursing Department if you believe you meet this requirement.
• Achieved a 74 or higher (C+ grade) on the NLN Foundations of Nursing Exam (exam NACE FON v.1.2) using Proctor 360. 

Foundations of Nursing Exam Details

• NLN Foundations of Nursing Exam cost is approximately $86.
• Preparation: Exam prep and practice materials are available on the NLN site and cost approximately $55 (SKU NRF-PREP). We encourage you to review the NLN Exam Guide before you sign up for the NLN Exam. Proctor 360 also provides Online Exam Support Guides to review when preparing for the exam.
• Your test score remains valid for two years from the date of taking it.
• You can only take the exam once.
• You must pass with a 74 or higher to be eligible for the accelerated LPN to RN track.
• If you score between 65-73, you can be reviewed for the traditional track and have the TEAS exam score requirement waived. In this situation, the NLN Foundations of Nursing Exam points applied at application review are as follows: 65-69 = 40 points and 70-73 = 60.

Graduation Qualifications

To qualify for the A.A.S. in Nursing degree under the accelerated option for LPNs, you must have enrolled and satisfactorily completed a minimum of 32 credit hours (27 in nursing) and one-year residency requirement at FLCC. All Nursing Department and Admission Office policies apply to this option.

For those with less than 12 college credits, no nursing prerequisite credit, or no prior college degree, consider starting with our A.S in Health Care Studies (Healthcare track) program to complete necessary nursing prerequisite courses and general education requirements.

A.S in Health Care Studies (Healthcare track)

Connect with Admissions

Schedule an appointment or attend a Nursing Information Session to discuss your individual circumstances. There may be other alternate pathways to reach your academic goals and earn the credits required.

Schedule a Meeting

High school seniors interested in direct entry into the nursing program should send their official transcripts to the Admissions Office. We will review your educational background and goals and provide guidance on whether you need to take the TEAS exam.

You must meet the following criteria for consideration:

Complete these prerequisite requirements:

• High school or equivalency diploma
• Minimum cumulative high school GPA of 85
• Successful completion of high school algebra, biology, and chemistry (85% or higher)
• Successful completion of the TEAS exam (65% or higher)
• Submit all necessary official documents

A.S. Health Care Studies (Healthcare Track) students who meet the following criteria will be considered for direct entry into the nursing program:

• Completion of 18 credit hours in the Health Care Studies program
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
• Completion of high school or college algebra or MAT 115
• Completion of BIO 171 and BIO 172 (grade B or higher). Courses completed within 7 years.
• Completion of high school or college chemistry

Learn more about this entry option by reviewing our self-evaluation guide.

When you are ready to be considered for entry into the Nursing program, please complete the Healthcare Studies to Nursing Pathway Interest Form.

If you do not meet the criteria above, please refer to the points-based entry option. We encourage you to meet with your Academic Advisor to discuss your options.

Previous Attempts at FLCC

If you have already taken courses in the FLCC A.A.S. Nursing sequence, a grade of C or better is required in these courses to be eligible for admission into our nursing program.

Previous Attempts at Another College

• If you have made one attempt at nursing coursework in a program other than FLCC’s, you must request a Good Clinical Standing letter from the director of that previous program. Any student who is not in good clinical standing or who does not submit this letter will not be considered for admission to the FLCC Nursing program. It is your responsibility to follow up on the requested letter.

• If you have made two or more unsuccessful attempts at nursing coursework in two different semesters in a program other than FLCC's, you will not be eligible for admission to the FLCC Nursing program.

The following abilities and qualities, with or without reasonable accommodation, are necessary for success in the Nursing program. Reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment that enables an otherwise qualified individual with a disability to have the opportunity to attain the same level of performance or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges that are available to a similarly situated individual without a disability. A reasonable accommodation is defined on a case-by-case basis and must take into consideration:

• the specific abilities and functional limitations of the individual, and
• the specific functional requirements of the Nursing program.

Reasonable accommodations are directed toward providing an equal educational and/or employment opportunity for the disabled individual while providing for the safety of the individual, patient, and agency staff.

Physical Functioning

Complete physical examination and immunizations are required of those students admitted to the Nursing program. Student nurses must subscribe to the same laws as health facility employees which state, "no person is employed unless he/she is free from a health impairment which is a potential risk to the patients or which might interfere with the employee's performance of his/her duties, including habituation or addiction to depressants, stimulants, narcotics, alcohol, or other substances that may alter behavior."

Additionally:

• Tolerate sitting, standing, bending, reaching, stooping, and walking for long periods of time
• Lift, carry, push, pull, or support objects, extremities, or persons (i.e., during ambulation, transferring from bed to chair, turning, moving and lifting patients in bed, supporting arms or legs during treatments or procedures, and lifting children onto chairs, beds, scales, or examining tables; 50-100 lbs. occasionally, 25-50 lbs. frequently, and 10-25 lbs. constantly)
• Moving efficiently enough to meet the needs of several patients in a timely fashion
• Demonstrate motor coordination and manual dexterity required to handle and operate equipment (i.e., wheelchairs, beds, IV pumps, blood pressure cuffs, computer keyboard, syringes, open packages, and perform procedures)
• Accurately hear physiological and environmental sounds (i.e., lung sounds, heart rate, blood pressure, bowel sounds, infusion pump alarms, etc.)
• Accurately distinguish colors, odors, body language, and body alignment (i.e., skin color, drainage, nonverbal communication, and position of a person)
• Maintain optimal physical well-being

Cognitive Skills

• Accurately calculate basic algebraic equations required to determine exact medication dosages, solutions, IV drop rates, and IV flow rates
• Collect and interpret data for purposes of planning and evaluation of patient care
• Accurately and efficiently interpret and communicate information in English, both written and spoken — for example, responding to physician's orders, reading and recording information, directing assistive staff
• Organize, prioritize, and plan work in a logical sequence

Psycho/Social Skills

• Cope effectively while working in a stressful environment using patience, tact, and flexibility
• Communicate therapeutically and effectively with others
• Respect persons of diverse cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds
• Demonstrate caring, empathy, accountability, honesty, and a neat, clean professional appearance
• Maintain an alert level of consciousness and orientation to time, place, and person at all times
• Maintain optimal mental well-being

The Nursing Department does not guarantee readmission to the Nursing program. There must be substantial evidence that a student plan is in place to address the applicant's circumstances or documented deficiencies so that academic and clinical success is likely. The following criteria needs to be met in order for readmission to be considered.

GPA and Coursework Requirements

All applicants for readmission should follow the same admissions requirements as outlined in the "Applicants with College Credit or a Prior Degree" section above, in addition to:

All applicants seeking readmission to NUR 111 are required to submit additional documents to the Nursing Department by February 1 (for the Fall Semester) or Sept. 15 (for the Spring Semester):

• Letter to the Nursing Department Chairperson
• Note: If the student's request for readmission is denied, and the student wishes to be considered for readmission the following semester, the student must complete the entire process outlined above by February 1 for the Fall Semester or September 15 for the Spring Semester to be considered eligible for readmission.

All requests for readmission to NUR 121, 231, 241, or 242 must be made in writing to the Department Chairperson by April 1 (Fall Semester) and October 1 (Spring Semester), and must follow current Nursing Department Guidelines and Procedures.

Note: An applicant seeking readmission to Nursing 121, 231, 241, or 242 must do so within two years of leaving the program. For example, if a student completes NUR 111 satisfactorily in 2021 and either doesn't continue on to NUR 121 or begins NUR 121 but does not complete it satisfactorily, the student may request readmission to NUR 121 for the spring of 2023 or 2024. If more than two years have lapsed, the applicant must either repeat or successfully challenge prior Nursing coursework.

Readmission Consideration Criteria

Evaluation for readmission will use, but will not be limited to, the following criteria:

• Personal letter that includes:
  • A detailed explanation as to why the student failed, withdrew, and/or was placed on clinical probation
  • An explanation of the steps the student has taken to change the situation
  • A thoughtful, reasoned plan for success
  • Justification for readmission
• Current GPA based on all college coursework
• Review of previous clinical/academic performance
• Nursing Department's evaluation of the likelihood of the applicant's successful performance
• Class space availability
• Note: If more than two years have lapsed, the applicant must either repeat or successfully challenge prior Nursing coursework. Any challenge exam may only be taken once.

Nursing faculty reserve the right to require the student to successfully demonstrate their theoretical knowledge and skill competency through selected exams before readmission:

• Students seeking readmission shall be given two attempts to be successful on selected skill competencies.
• Readmitted students are expected to use current required textbooks and materials for a repeated course.

Readmission Exclusions

• Any student who has had clinical problems (for example: probation, clinical failure, etc.) and left the program may not be considered for readmission.
• Students will not be admitted to the Nursing program more than twice (except in extremely rare and unusual circumstances that require individual consideration by the Nursing Department). However, a former student may be allowed a third admission into the program if the third admission occurs due to a change in status (i.e. changing from the traditional Nursing program to the accelerated option for LPNs).