Practical Nursing Application and Admissions Process

• Below are the specific technical requirements that must be met and affirmed within the PN application: To successfully complete the nursing program, certain physical and behavioral capabilities must be demonstrated in course work, as part of your clinical experience, and/or as a professional working in this profession. Students must be able to satisfy these standards with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • General Ability
    • The student is expected to possess functional use of the senses of vision, touch, hearing, and smell so that data received by the senses is integrated, analyzed, and synthesized in a consistent and accurate manner. The student is expected to possess the ability to perceive pain, pressure, temperature, position, vibration, and movement to effectively evaluate patients. A student must be able to respond promptly to urgent situations.
  • Observational Ability
    • The student must have the ability to make accurate visual observations and interpret them in the context of clinical/laboratory activities and patient care experiences. The student must be able to document these observations accurately.
  • Communication Ability
    • The student must communicate effectively verbally and non-verbally to obtain information and explain that information to others. Each student must have the ability to read, write, comprehend and speak the English language to facilitate communication with patients, family members, and other members of the health care team. The student must document and maintain accurate records, present information professionally and provide patient instruction to effectively care for patients and their families.
  • Motor Ability
    • The student must be able to perform gross and fine motor movements with sufficient coordination needed to provide complete physical assessments and provide safe effective care for patients. The student is expected to have psychomotor skills necessary to perform or assist with procedures, treatments, and administration of medications, and emergency interventions including CPR if necessary. The student must have sufficient levels of neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination as well as possess the physical and mental stamina to meet the demands associated with extended periods of sitting, standing, moving, and physical exertion required for safe patient care. Students must be able to bend, squat, reach, kneel or balance. Clinical settings may require that students carry and lift loads from the floor, from 12 inches from the floor to shoulder height and overhead. The student must be able to occasionally lift 50 pounds, frequently lift 25 pounds, and constantly lift 10 pounds. The student is expected to maintain consciousness and equilibrium and have the physical strength and stamina to perform satisfactorily in clinical settings.
  • Intellectual – Conceptual Ability
    • The student must be able to develop problem-solving skills essential to professional nursing practice. Problem solving skills include the ability to measure, calculate reason, analyze, and synthesize objective and subjective data, and to make decisions in a timely manner that reflects thoughtful deliberations and sound clinical judgement. The student must demonstrate application of these skills and possess the ability to incorporate new information from peers, instructors, and the nursing and healthcare literature to formulate sound judgment to establish care plans and priorities in patient care activities.
  • Behavioral and Social Attributes
    • The student must have the emotional stability require to exercise sounds judgment and complete assessment and intervention activities. Professionalism, compassion, integrity, motivation, and concern for others are personal attributes required of those in the nursing program. The student must fully utilize intellectual capacities that facilitate prompt completion of all responsibilities in the classroom and clinical settings, the development of mature, sensitive, professional, and effective relationships with patients and other members of the faculty staff and health care team. The ability to establish rapport and maintain interpersonal relationships with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds is critical for practice as a nurse. Each student must be able to adapt to changing environments; display flexibility; accept and integrate constructive criticism given in the classroom and clinical settings; and effectively collaborate in the clinical setting with other members of the faculty, staff and healthcare team.
  • Ability to Manage Stressful Situations
    • The student must adapt to and function effectively in relation to stressful situations encountered in the classroom and clinical settings, including emergency situations. Students will encounter multiple stressors while in the nursing program. These stressors may be (but are not limited to) personal, patient care/family, faculty/peer, and or program related.
  • Background Check/Drug Screening
    • Clinical facilities require Metropolitan Community College to perform drug testing and background checks on all students before they can participate in clinical experiences. Therefore, students will need a background check performed and submit to a drug screening before being allowed into clinical practice. Students, may be subject to random and/or additional drug testing and/or background checks throughout the program.
• Successful completion of the following pre-entrance/admission courses (with a minimum grade of C; the most recent grade will be used in selection/ranking):
  • CHEM 1010 – College Chemistry (substitutions: CHEM 1210 and 1211; CHEM 1212; or CHEM 1220)
  • BIOS 2310 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I
  • ENGL 1010 – English Composition I
  • MATH 1312 – Intermediate Algebra (substitutions: MATH 1310; MATH 1315; MATH 1420; MATH 1425; MATH 1430; MATH 2410 or MATH 2411; or MATH 2510)
  • PSYC 1120 – Human Growth and Development
• Complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) with all four subcategories and an adjusted total score of 50% or higher. The test must be taken within three years of the application deadline. MCC policy allows the TEAS to be taken only twice in a three-year period. Note: There is a 30-day waiting period before a retake is allowed. Please read the TEAS information found on the Testing Services website for further explanation of the scoring process at mccneb.edu/Prospective-Students-Student-Tools-Resources/Testing-Services/Tests-Assessments-Available-By-Location.
• Submission of all official transcripts from all colleges attended, including MCC, demonstrating a minimum 2.0 GPA
• Submission of high school diploma/transcripts or GED
• Submission of official verification of active licensure/certification status:
  • Nurse Aide (CNA) OR
  • Certified Medical Assistant
  • For license look up use Nebraska.gov/LISSearch/search.cgi

Note: The above items that are required to be submitted, will need to be uploaded into the online PN application.

Meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee program acceptance.

F1 Students: If you are on a F-1 Student Visa, please ensure that you have current health insurance and that your financial status is current with the International Student Services office. If you are in the United States on a non F-1 Visa please ensure that your visa is and remains current and you maintain the necessary financial support for the duration of your current and/or intended program. If you are applying for an additional Health Professions program (i.e. CNA to PN, PN to ADN, or EMT to Paramedicine) you will need to reapply and repeat the appropriate steps. Do not assume your status will remain unchanged without additional action initiated by you.

Within approximately 30 business days of the application deadline, all candidates will be reviewed. Applicants determined to be eligible for admission will be ranked according to the below criteria. Applicants are notified of admissions status by email to the email address associated with their MCC account.

Selection criteria is based on the following weighted factors. Applicants are accepted in order of the highest points earned.

• Applicant’s GPA as of the application deadline date for the five required pre-requisite courses will be multiplied by 10 to arrive at the GPA value points (e.g., GPA of 2.9 multiplied by 10 equals 29 GPA value points). Required courses include:
  • CHEM 1010 – College Chemistry
  • ENGL 1010 – English Composition I
  • MATH 1312 – Intermediate Algebra
  • PSYC 1120 – Human Growth and Development
  • BIOS 2310 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I
  • NOTE: In order to utilize credits transferred from other institutions, official transcripts MUST be submitted and fully evaluated by the MCC Registrar’s office prior to the application deadline. Transcript evaluations can take four to six weeks upon receipt.
• The applicant’s TEAS score will be converted to a scale of 10 to arrive at the TEAS value points (e.g., score of 82 converted to 8.2 value points). Applicants must score 50% or higher in each of the four subcategories and overall total score.

Upon notification of acceptance, you will be informed of and expected to attend the mandatory orientation. At orientation, you will be directed by the Clinical Coordinator to upload documentation of the below items to CastleBranch. As there is minimal time between the start of the program and placement in clinicals, being able to complete and submit these items quickly will be important. You will receive more information in your orientation packet.

• Health History/Physical Exam
• Proof of Health Insurance (This is required by our clinical partners. If you don’t currently have insurance OneWorld or Charles Drew can assist).
• Copy of current BLS CPR Card: American Heart Association or American Red Cross BLS (basic life support) CPR cards are accepted (Contact Jenny Hank at jhank@mccneb.edu with any questions concerning this certification)
• Influenza Vaccination
  • Documentation of the influenza immunization (flu shot) administered during the current flu season. This is ONLY Required October 1 – April 1. If you cannot receive the flu vaccine due to medical or religious reasons, you must notify your clinical instructor, adhere to your clinical site policy regarding non-vaccination, and contact your program director.
• MMR – Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Rubella Vaccination
  • Documentation of 2 vaccines – OR – positive antibody titers for all 3 components (physician verification of results required). If any component of the titer is negative, you will need to repeat the 2-vaccine series.
• Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccination
  • Documentation of 2 vaccines – OR – positive antibody titer (lab report required) – OR – physician documented history of the disease, including dates of illness.
  • If the titer is negative, the student must receive 1 booster shot.
• Hepatitis B Vaccination
  • Documentation of the 3-vaccine series – OR – a positive antibody titer.
  • If the titer is negative, the student must repeat the 3-vaccine series.
  • If you are just beginning the series, provide documentation of all shots received thus far and provide subsequent documentation when other shots are received.
• TDAP - (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) Vaccination
  • Documentation of Tdap booster administered within the past 10 years.
• TB - Tuberculosis/PPD testing
  • Documentation of one of the following within the past 12 months:
    • Negative PPD skin test
    • Negative QuantiFERON Gold blood test
    • Negative T-spot blood test
    • TB questionnaire completed if there is evidence of previous PPD testing
  • If positive results, one of the following is required each year:
    • Clear chest x-ray report
    • Negative QuantiFERON Gold blood test
    • Negative T-spot blood test
• COVID-19 vaccination- (IF REQUIRED BY CLINICAL FACILITY)
  • NOTE: This is not required at MCC for entry into the program, but students must comply with the requirements of the facility where they attend clinical. This means that evidence of the vaccination must be uploaded as follows or the student must be prepared to vaccinate or provide waiver or exemption documentation depending on what is required by the clinical faculty.
  • Documentation of completed series of vaccination:
    • [Moderna / Pfizer= 2 injections; J&J= one injection]
    • Documentation from affiliated clinical partners of waiver or exemption.

Above are the standards for most all of our clinical partners. There may be a variation of requirements, depending on clinical location.

Complete required Background Checks electronically, using the secured links that will be emailed, once student has been registered in the program.

• Students under age 19 MUST have a parent or guardian's signature on all Background Check forms.
•  Students will receive two background check links. Any student under the age of 19, will be required to have a parent/guardian signature on the documents. One background check link is to OneSource, which uses an electronic signature and the other will be from DHHS which will require a parent/guardian's notarized signature.
• Students accepted to one of MCC’s Health Profession’s programs may present history of a felony, open misdemeanor, or positive drug test result. While students with such a history may be accepted, “acceptance” into one of Metropolitan Community College’s (MCC) Health Professions Programs (“Program”) is not a guarantee of acceptance into the required clinical experience, nor that you will be allowed by the state and/or a credentialing agency to sit for the licensure or certification exam, nor future employment in the field being pursued. Various factors, including but not limited to, a student’s drug screening, criminal, sex offender, OIG-SAM and/or abuse registry history, may affect a student’s eligibility to progress through the Program and gain licensure/credentialing and employment. Facilities offering practical experiences to students make their own determination as to which students they will accept based on that organization’s standards, including review of a student’s drug screening, criminal history, sex offender registry, OIG-SAM and abuse registry records, over which MCC has no control. Failure to be accepted into and successfully complete a clinical rotation will result in failure to complete the course and/or degree. Similarly, MCC has no control over whom the state and/or credentialing agency allows to sit for the licensing or credentialing exam, or what factors potential employers may determine disqualify an individual from employment. Acceptance into an MCC Health Professions Program is not a guarantee of program completion, future licensure or certification, or ultimate employment in the field of study.
• The Nebraska Abuse Registry Check through DHHS, requires an Identity Verification form be completed by any student under the age of 19. The ID Verification form will appear after the student has submitted their personal data to DHHS. This form MUST be taken to a Notary of the Public, to be signed by the Parent/Guardian in front of the Notary after showing photo ID. The Notary will fill out the form, request the parent/guardian signature; then sign, date, and stamp the form making it a legal document. Please upload the fully signed document into the DHHS portal using the Request Number (from the form), the 4-digit Pin number that the student created when starting the process, and the instructions provided in the DHHS email. NOTE: Minors are not the only students subject to the ID Verification form. If you are not a minor and receive the ID form upon submission, follow the same steps mentioned for the minor. Since you are an adult, you can take the form to get notarized yourself. Any questions, contact Brenda Ballou at bmballou1@mccneb.edu. The DHHS link will expire, so complete the link as soon as possible from a computer/laptop/tablet, NOT FROM A CELL PHONE. Accuracy matters, so make sure all information is entered in correctly so another link does not have to be requested, as a fee may be assessed to your student account.

General Education Courses

• ENGL 1010 English Composition I 4.5
• MATH 1312* Intermediate Algebra 4.5
• PSYC 1120 Human Growth and Development 4.5
• CHEM 1010 College Chemistry 6.0
• BIOS 2310 Human Anatomy and Physiology I 6.0
• BIOS 2320 Human Anatomy and Phsiology II 6.0

*MATH 1312 is the current general education math requirement for nursing.

Please note, financial aid may not cover multiple math courses within the same course level. Example, if 1310 has been taken, 1312 may not be covered. The most recent required course grade will be used in the calculation of points for admissions into the program.

Major Core PN Courses

• NURS 1110 Adult Nursing I 6.0
• NURS 1120 Adult Nursing II 6.0
• NURS 1130 Adult Nursing III 6.0
• NURS 1200 Professional Role of the Nurse I 1.0
• NURS 1300 Mental Health Nursing I 1.0
• NURS 1400 Family Nursing I 3.0
• NURS 1510 Concepts of Health Assessment and Therapeutic Interventions I 3.5
• NURS 1950 Pharmacology 4.0

All course grades must be a C or higher.

For a complete description of courses, visit mycatalog.mccneb.edu.

Remember that official transcripts must be on file at the MCC records office and the evaluation must be completed by the application deadline.

All students interested in transferring to a BSN program after successfully completing the PN and ADN programs at Metropolitan Community College should work with a Health Professions embedded advisor. They can help advise you as to what other courses may be transferrable into a bachelor's program, such as statistics. Note, not all BSN programs have the same requirements.

Contact Information for questions:

Metropolitan Community College
Health Professions
South Omaha Campus
Mahoney Building, Room 519
PNNursing@mccneb.edu

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