Nursing - Practical Nursing Diploma (D45660)

Admission Information

Students applying for admission to the Gaston College Practical Nursing Program MUST meet all Gaston College admission requirements for GENERAL ADMISSION to the college. 

To be eligible to participate in the competitive admission process, an applicant must complete the following application steps:

1. Submit a Gaston College Application
2. Complete Residency Determination for in-state tuition
3. Apply for financial aid
4. Meet with an advisor / Attend an information session
5. Submit official transcripts
6. Provide proof of course placement requirements:

Students must demonstrate readiness for College level reading and math. Students can demonstrate that readiness in the following ways:

1. Provide proof of unweighted US High School GPA of 2.8 or higher within the last ten years.
2. Provide proof of an associate or bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
3. Provide proof of satisfactory scores on ACT, SAT, GED, NCDAP, COMPASS, ASSET or ACUPLACER within the last ten years.

Students who do not have recent high school transcripts or test scores within the past 10 years should prepare to take the placement test and demonstrate:

Mastery on RISE (Reinforced Instruction for Student Excellence) English placement Tier 2 and RISE Math placement Tier 3; OR successfully complete ENG 002 through TIER 2 (grade of P2) and MAT 003 through Tier 3 (grade of P3).

To be eligible to submit an application to the Practical Nursing program, applicants must:

1. Attend a Practical Nursing information session.  Dates/times are listed online on the Practical Nursing webpage.
2. Submit a minimum composite score of 60 on the ATI TEAS examination. Must be taken within five (5) years of application deadline.  TEAS examinations must be taken at least 60 days apart to be eligible for admission criteria.
3. Must have grades of “C” or better in all required college courses listed as part of the nursing major (PNE).
4. The required courses in Anatomy & Physiology must be taken within the last ten (10) years of application deadline.
5. Students on academic probation or suspension, due to related course work, will be denied admission to the Practical Nursing Education Program. A student must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better for admission.                                                       

The final selection of applicants into the program is based on the following criteria, which has been approved by the Admissions Committee, made up of the nursing faculty. The final selection of applicants into the program is made by the nursing faculty.

Competitive Admission Criteria

1. ATI TEAS score.
2. Number of required courses completed by end of the Fall Semester prior to entering program.
3. Grade Point Average (GPA) in required courses only.
4. Completion of Gaston College Nurse Aide I or Nurse Aide II course.  (This is not required to be admitted to the PN program).
5. Completion of Gaston College Phlebotomy program. (This is not required to be admitted to the PN program).

Additional Program Requirements Upon Admission

• A Gaston College Health and Human Services Student Medical form, documenting satisfactory emotional and physical health, completed and signed by a health care practitioner.
• The documentation of additional non-academic criteria includes criminal background checks, urine drug testing, and proof of immunizations. Students are to complete these requirements by registering and paying a fee to a third party vendor. Instructions will be provided by the compliance specialist.
• Professional liability insurance (malpractice insurance) is arranged through the Gaston College Business Office.

Clinical agencies reserve the right to deny a student access to the facility based on failure to meet the above requirements. If a student is denied access to any clinical agency, the student will be not be allowed to continue in the nursing program. Detailed information regarding these agency requirements will be provided upon conditional acceptance into the nursing program.

Program Costs

In addition to tuition and textbooks, costs of this program include the following: uniforms, lab coat, stethoscope, clinical compliance fees and fees for application for licensure for NC State Board of Nursing and National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN). Students also must maintain current CPR certification and annual PPD testing and Flu Vaccination.

Individuals interested in additional information about the Practical Nursing Program should contact the Chairperson for the Practical Nursing Program at 704.748.5220 or 704.748.5221. Deadline for Practical Nursing Application: March 1 of each year.

Clinical Sites

Clinical sites for the Practical Nursing Program are:

• Caromont Regional Medical Center, Gastonia, NC
• Atrium Health-Lincoln, Lincolnton, NC
• Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC
• Frye Regional Medical Center, Hickory, NC
• Catawba Valley Medical Center, Hickory, NC
• Courtland Terrace, Gastonia NC
• Carolina Care Center, Cherryville NC
• Abernethy Laurels, Newton, NC

Additional clinical sites may be added in order to achieve student learning outcomes. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from all clinical, laboratory, and class activities. Clinical experiences may be scheduled afternoons, evenings, or weekends at various clinical sites. Clinical experiences that do not fall into these time frames will be scheduled with adequate notice given to students for planning purposes.

Fall

• PSY 150 General Psychology (3 Credit Hours)
• BIO 168 Anatomy and Physiology I (4 Credit Hours)
• NUR 101 Practical Nursing I (11 Credit Hours)

Spring

• ENG 111 Writing and Inquiry (3 Credit Hours)
• BIO 169 Anatomy and Physiology II (4 Credit Hours)
• NUR 102 Practical Nursing II (10 Credit Hours)

Summer

• NUR 103 Practical Nursing III (9 Credit Hours)

Total Program Hours: 44

Note(s):

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