Catalog and Student Handbook 2023–2024 > Degree and Certificate Programs > Academic Program Divisions, Pathways, and Departments > Division of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Health Sciences > Health Sciences Pathway > Department of Nurse Education > Additional Information > Program Tracks > General Admission Guidelines (Certificate–VN; AAS–RN; LVN/Paramedic to RN)

General Admission Guidelines (Certificate–VN; AAS–RN; LVN/Paramedic to RN)

The following are required prior to applying to the program:

• All applicants must be Del Mar College students and meet the general admission requirements of the College.
• Completion and minimum required scores on standardized ATI® TEAS Exam. Please refer to the ATI TEAS Guidance Document (PDF) (https://delmar.edu/degrees/nursing-education/_resources/ati-teas-guide-march23-accessible.pdf) for additional guidelines and fees. Please refer to the ATI TEAS section of the Del Mar College website (https://www.delmar.edu/degrees/nursing-education/ati-teas.html) for the latest schedule of exam dates.
• Students are no longer required to repeat BIOL 2402 (Anatomy and Physiology II) if the course is beyond five (5) years of application to the Nursing Program.
• A grade of "C" or higher is required in all of the following general education prerequisite courses. These prerequisites must be completed prior to submission of application to the nursing program or upon submission of the application:
  • ENGL 1301
  • BIOL 2401
  • BIOL 2402
  • PSYC 2301
• A grade of "C" or higher is required in all of the following general education co-requisite courses. These co-requisites can be completed prior to admission or concurrent with nursing courses upon admission:
  • SPCH 1311, SPCH 1315, or SPCH 1321
  • PHIL 2306
  • BIOL 2420 (Note: CHEM 1406 is a prerequisite to BIOL 2420 per the Natural Science Department)
• Students pursuing the AAS Registered Nurse Education degree plan must take Chemistry 1406N for CEUs (Continuing Education Units) prior to the corequisite BIOL 2420 (Microbiology and Clinical Pathology) to comply with program requirements. The Chemistry 1406N CEU course may not meet the criteria for financial aid assistance; please check with the Financial Aid Office. If the student chooses to have the Chemistry 1406N CEU course converted to semester credit hours, a petition to record credit form must be completed by student.
• Program Grade Point Average (PGPA) of 2.5.
• Due to our selective admission criteria, the most recent grade and not the highest grade is used in the calculation for the PGPA.

Students must apply to the nursing program online at the NursingCAS website (https://nursingcas.org). Additionally, students must submit documentation of the following immunizations (or other acceptable proof of immunity) in the NursingCAS application:

• Hepatitis B Vaccine

  Students are required to have completed the Hepatitis B vaccine series prior to admission. This series takes six (6) months to complete; therefore, documentation of at least the first dose is required at the time of application. The entire series must be complete before the start of classes.

• Tetanus-diphtheria Vaccine

  One dose of a tetanus-diphtheria toxoid (Td) is required within the last ten years. The booster dose may be in the form of a tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis containing vaccine (Tdap).

• Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine

  Two doses of varicella vaccine are required. If a student previously had the varicella disease, the student will need to submit verification of immunity or complete and submit the form Documenting History of Illness: Varicella (Chickenpox) (PDF) (https://www.dshs.texas.gov) to the nursing office.

• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccines

  If a student has their immunization record and this record reflects two doses of MMR vaccine, then the student is in compliance with all of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella requirements. If a student does not have two documented doses of MMR, they will need to ensure that they meet the minimum requirement:

  • Measles: Students born on or after January 1, 1957 must show acceptable evidence of vaccination of two doses of a measles-containing vaccine administered since January 1, 1968 (preferably MMR vaccine).
  • Mumps: Students born on or after January 1, 1957 must show acceptable evidence of vaccination of one dose of a mumps vaccine. Serological lab showing proof of immunity is acceptable.
  • Rubella: Students must show acceptable evidence of one dose of rubella vaccine.

PLEASE NOTE: Satisfactory compliance with the previously listed minimum requirements does not guarantee admission in the nursing program.

Upon conditional acceptance to the program, students must submit the following:

• Physical Examination

  Evidence of good physical and mental health through a health screening documented on the standard departmental physical examination. Failure to reveal prior or present physical or emotional illness will place a student as subject to dismissal. While information will be held in confidence, there are certain circumstances that, for the student’s protection as well as others, make health information disclosure a necessity.
• Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) Test

  Negative PPD or chest x-ray within the last 12 months or other acceptable documentation of negative tuberculosis (TB) status.

  • Students with a positive PPD and a negative chest x-ray on admission into the program must complete a TB screening questionnaire annually while enrolled in the program.
  • Students whose responses indicate possibility of TB infection must submit documentation of medical evaluation and treatment, if applicable.
  • Students with a negative PPD on admission who convert to positive while enrolled in the program must submit documentation of medical evaluation and treatment.
  • Other acceptable blood tests for documentation of TB health status include QuantiFERON-TB In-Tube test (QFT-GIT) and T-Spot TB test (T-SPOT).
    • Positive IGRA: A positive test suggests that TB infection is likely. Additional testing is necessary and includes checking for signs and symptoms suggestive of TB disease, a chest x-ray, and when indicated, examination of sputum or other clinical samples for the presence of TB.
    • Negative IGRA: A negative test suggests that infection by TB bacteria is not likely. No additional testing is necessary.
  • Negative PPD, or other acceptable test documenting negative TB health status, is required yearly thereafter by each student while enrolled in the program.
• CPR Certification

  Document submission of American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider or American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers certification prior to admission. CPR Certification must be kept during the entirety of the nursing program.

• Drug Screen

  Students are required to pass a random drug screen prior to the beginning of clinical rotations. Details regarding the drug screen will be provided after students are accepted to the nursing program.

• Final acceptance into the program is contingent upon satisfactory Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background check (completed through the Texas Board of Nursing).
  • The Texas Board of Nursing (TBON) may require an applicant to complete a declaratory order if the background check is not clear or there are questions surrounding a mental illness or chemical dependency. This process may take up to six months to a year, and students must have a clearance from the TBON before enrolling in nursing courses.
  • Prospective applicants who question their eligibility are encouraged to contact the Texas Board of Nursing or program to further discuss their situation on the Texas Board of Nursing website (https://www.bon.texas.gov) or at (512) 305-7400.