TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR HEALTH SCIENCE

The School of Health Sciences has specified the following nonacademic criteria (technical standards) which all applicants and enrolled students are expected to meet in order to participate in the programs of the School of Health Science and professional practice.

1. Working in a clinical setting eight to twelve hours a day performing physical tasks requiring physical energy without jeopardizing patient, self, or colleague safety.

2. Frequent bending, reaching, stooping, lifting, and the use of manual dexterity in the manipulation and operation of equipment, accessories, as well as for the use/creating of immobilization devices. This includes sufficient tactile ability for performing a physical examination, as well as, manipulating syringes, and inserting needles into an ampule or vial and removing the contents without contaminating the needle or solution.

3. Assisting in the transporting, moving, lifting and transferring of patients weighing up to 600 pounds from a wheelchair or stretcher to and from beds, treatment tables, chairs, etc.

4. Lifting devices (weighing up to 50 pounds).

5. Possess sufficient visual and aural acuity. This is necessary to report visual observations of patients and equipment operations as well as to read the patient’s medical records and medical information. Aural acuity must be adequate enough to hear the patient during all phases of care as well as to perceive and interpret equipment signals.

6. Ability to communicate clearly, monitor and instruct patients before, during, and after procedures.

7. To have sufficient problem-solving skills to include measuring, calculating, reasoning, analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing with the ability to perform these skills in a timely fashion.

8. Criminal background checks and drug toxicology are required by clinical facilities for most health science programs. Due to results of these checks, some students may be ineligible to participate in the clinical component of the program. Cost associated with these screenings will be paid for by the student.

DOCUMENTATION OF STANDARDS

*Items 1-5 are documented by physical exam.

*Item 6 is documented by satisfactory completion of SPCH 1101 (Public Speaking), ENGL 1101 (Literature and Composition) for degree level students, and by satisfactory completion of ENGL 1010 (Fundamentals of English I) for diploma level students. Satisfactory completion of these courses is documented by the attainment of a grade of C or better in the course.

*Item 7 is documented by satisfactory Admissions Placement Exams.

*Item 8 is documented by satisfactory criminal background checks and drug toxicology, as appropriate for the selected program.

ADMISSIONS FOR THE ASN PROGRAM

The Associate of Science in Nursing has limited enrollment and requires specific criteria for admission; however, compliance with admission criteria DOES NOT guarantee admission. When the student is ready to be considered for program acceptance the student is required to complete an admissions application that is available in the admissions office and online. The admission requirements and criteria used by the ASN faculty to select students for admission are discussed (see Selection Process for the ASN program).

Students preparing to enter an Associate of Science Degree in the School of Health Sciences program must complete prerequisite courses within two attempts. Anyone failing to meet the criteria will be counseled regarding a School of Health Science diploma program that will best fit their needs or for a degree program that does not require the failed prerequisite course(s). (See SRTC Catalog).

Students applying for the ASN Program must wait and apply to the nursing program three years from the last nursing course failure if they have failed the ASN/ADN /BSN program at another institution. The ASN Program will accept HESI entrance scores form other Colleges/Universities with a two year time limit. All nursing pre/co-requisite courses must be completed prior to starting the nursing program. No pre/co-requisite course may be taken more than twice to continue in the nursing program. (See SRTC Catalog & Student Handbook).

All Nursing courses must be taken in the designated sequence and time frame allowed.

All students must maintain a “C” (70%) or better in all courses. Nursing courses may be repeated one time only with the exception of RNSG 1960.(See below on RNSG 1960 failures.)

Generic nursing students who fail one course with a D or F have the option to apply for readmission into the course when it is offered again, as long as they will not exceed their 3 year time frame for completing their program of study. Generic nursing students who fail any two courses with a D or F will not qualify for readmission for three years after the last failure.

Generic students who do not wish to wait the three year period have the option of completing an LPN program and once licensed may apply for the LPN-RN Bridge option. (Student must meet all LPN-RN Bridge Option admission standards to qualify). LPN-RN Bridge Program students who fail one course (excluding RNSG 1960) with a D or F have the option to apply for readmission into the course when it is offered again, as long as they will not exceed their 2 year time frame for completing their program of study. Bridge students who fail RNSG 1960 have the option to apply for the Generic program. LPN-RN Bridge nursing student who fail any two courses with a D or F will not qualify for readmission for three years after the last failure. (Student must meet all Generic Program admission standards to qualify).

Generic students of Southern Regional Technical College who are unsuccessful in the generic option and qualify for the LPN-RN Bridge option (and has an active unencumbered LPN license) will receive exemption credit for RNSG 1960 as long as they have completed RNSG 1920, RNSG 1940, and RNSG 1950 with a “C” or above.

W- This grade signifies that a student withdrew from a course prior to the last two weeks of term. No credit is given and no grade points are calculated. A grade of “W” is not included in the calculating the grade point average but is counted as coursework attempted in the nursing program.

All A.S.N applicants are required to take & attain the required score on the ASN Pre-Admission Assessment (HESI) exam, prior to being accepted into the ASN program. The ASN Pre-Admission Assessment (HESI) exam is composed of the following sections for the generic student: Math, Science (Anatomy & Physiology), English (Vocabulary, Grammar, and Reading Comprehension) and two Style/Profile sections. Applicants are strongly encouraged not to take the HESI exam until completing A&P I & II OR at least complete A&P I and some of A&P II before sitting for the exam. Applicants must also have a completed file prior to taking the HESI exam (excluding current college coursework).Applicants will be allowed two attempts to pass the English, Math and Science (Anatomy & Physiology) sections with a composite score of “75” on each section. Any applicant that is unsuccessful on the first HESI exam (in any section) will be required to remediate prior to re-taking that section(s) of the HESI exam. Several copies of the Evolve Reach ADMISSION ASSESSMENT Exam Review, 3rd Edition, book are on reserve in the SRTC Library for student use. However, the HESI review book is also available for purchase online at www.elsevier.com.

Any applicant that does not attain a composite score of “75” on one or more sections of the HESI assessment exam after two attempts, will not be considered for admission into the ASN program. However, applicants can re-apply to the ASN program after waiting one year before reapplying to the ASN program. At such time, the applicant will retake the ASN Pre-Admissions assessment exam and meet the required scores for entry into the ASN program. The applicant will again be allowed two attempts to meet the qualifying ASN Pre-Admission HESI Assessment exam scores.

All LPN - RN Bridge option applicants are required to take the following ASN Bridge Pre-Admission Assessment (HESI) exams, prior to being accepted into the LPN - RN Bridge program:

- Nursing Fundamentals
- Psychiatric/Mental Health

A composite score of 650 is required for the Fundamentals section of the exam and a composite score of 450 is required for the Psychiatric/Mental Health section of the exam. Applicants will be allowed two attempts to pass both the Fundamentals and Psychiatric/Mental Health exams. Any applicant that does not attain the required score on one or both of the HESI assessment exams after two attempts, will not be considered for admission into the LPN – ASN Bridge program. Applicants can re-apply to the LPN – RN Bridge program after waiting one year. At such time, the applicant will re-take the LPN – RN Pre-Admission assessment (HESI) exams. Applicants will again be allowed two attempts to meet the qualifying HESI exam scores.

HEALTH SCIENCE ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Any students preparing to enter (taking courses) for a diploma or associate degree program in the School of Health Sciences must

• Successfully complete with a minimum grade of “C” all core required in the major within two attempts. Grades of “D, F, and W” are considered unsuccessful attempts. All academic history within the last two (2) years, whether on campus or as a transfer student, will be considered when evaluating the number of attempts.
• Any student failing to attain a minimum grade of “C” in all core in the major within two attempts, will be withdrawn from the program and not be allowed to re-apply to that program in the School of Health Sciences for a period of two (2) years. Student will also be advised of program options that do not require the failed core course(s).
• All ALHS, science, and math courses required in the major must have been taken with three (3) years.

Any student accepted into a competitive portion of a program in the School of Health Sciences who

• Fails to attain a minimum grade of “C” in an occupationally or technically specific course required in the major within two attempts, will be withdrawn from the program and not be allowed to re-apply to that program in the School of Health Sciences for a period of three (3) years.
• Fails to attain a minimum grade of “C” in an occupationally or technically specific course required in the major in two separate courses, will be withdrawn from the program and will not be allowed to re-apply to that program in the School of Health Sciences for a period of three (3) years. (Due to the format of Practical Nursing courses, two block failures instead of two separate course failures will result in withdrawal from the program. One Block Failure equals failure in both a PNSG course and its matching PNSG clinical course.)
• This policy is inclusive of all transfer students also attempting readmission after a clinical failure at any other College. However, the student may apply to another program in the School of Health Sciences that does not require the failed courses.
• A student returning for a second attempt in a program in the School of Health Sciences will be admitted based on seat availability and meeting competitive admissions requirements.
• Please be aware that programs in the School of Health Sciences may have additional requirements or constraints placed upon them by accrediting or licensing agencies. Students will be made aware of any additional requirements or constraints by program faculty.