Additional Information

Admission Requirements to the program

Admissions to the program are selective and competitive. To be considered for admission, applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

• Obtain regular full college admission and good academic standing
• Complete all learning support competency requirements in reading, writing and math
• Submit a completed Nursing Program application by March 1st for fall admission, February 1st for summer admission, and September 1st for spring admission. Summer admission is limited to the LPN-RN Career Mobility Track.
• Fulfill the following academic requirements:
• College cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Complete all required pre-requisite courses with a grade of "C" or above. Pre-requisite courses required for admission include English Composition I (ENGL 1010), Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOL 2010), Anatomy and Physiology II (BIOL 2020) and Introduction to Human Pathophysiology (HSC 190). Anatomy and Physiology II (BIIOL 2020) and Introduction to Human Pathophysiology (HSC 190) must have been completed less than five years from program enrollment.
• Submit official transcripts of high school and college work to the Admissions Office by the application
• Submit national ACT exam scores. Minimum subscale scores of Writing--18, Reading--19, and Math--19, OR acceptable placement test scores, OR completion of all learning support
• Report if any license in any health care field has been disciplined, suspended, revoked, or denied, and report any felony
• Program applicants who have earned two nursing clinical course grades of “D" or "F" during two or more terms in another collegiate-level nursing program are ineligible for admission unless Academic Fresh Start status has been granted.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all application materials are submitted by the application deadline date. Applications are available online at www.jscc.edu/nursing. Applicants who meet the deadline will be notified of their admission status in writing. If the number of qualified applicants falls below the maximum enrollment, applications of those students who will fulfill the above-stated requirements before entering the nursing program will be considered.

Application for admission is considered for one application period only. Applicants who wish to be considered for admission into the next entering class must submit a new application. Information regarding the ACT is available at www.act.org.

All applicants are evaluated based on their ACT scores and cumulative GPA. Cumulative GPA includes all undergraduate coursework and may differ from that listed on the JSCC transcript. Selection for admission is based on an evaluation point system, which reflects the applicant’s ACT scores and cumulative GPA at the time of application. Additional points may be earned by additional assessments, specific college-level coursework, and/or service-area residency. Qualified applicants are ranked according to the point system, and those with the highest summed scores are selected to fill the class. Up to 20 candidates are placed on an alternate list. Details of the evaluation point system are available from the Nursing Office. Because Jackson State is a state-supported institution and enrollment in the Nursing Program is limited, state residents will be given preference in the admission process.

Transfer Applicants:

• Must meet the Program admission requirements and be selected for the Program
• Must submit a written request for transfer and a letter of recommendation from the director of the previous nursing program verifying the student is in good standing and eligible to return or continue enrollment in nursing
• Must submit all transcripts and nursing course descriptions from previous school
• Should understand that courses from other accredited programs will be evaluated for individual transfer, and nursing coursework must be completed within 150% of the defined program.

Readmission Applicants:

• Must submit readmission request forms and clinical placement documentation by specified deadlines and must meet Program admission, enrollment, and continuation requirements.
• May attempt a nursing course twice, must be able to complete nursing coursework within 150% of the defined program length, and should understand readmission is not guaranteed. 
• May be required to submit evidence of remediation, counseling, or other activities to enhance academic success.
• Must be recommended by consensus of the faculty if dismissed from the Program due to unsatisfactory clinical performance or academic misconduct.
• Students should understand that Program requirements may change, and if re-admitted, they must meet the requirements in effect at the time of their readmission.

Policies Related to Enrollment and Continuation:

• Grades of "C" or above are required to enroll and progress. A nursing course may be attempted a maximum of two courses withdrawal after the date classes begin is included as an attempt. The student will be dismissed from the Program if two grades of “D” or below are earned in clinical courses.
• Academic requirements of the program include the achievement of performance competencies in real-world clinical settings, such as caring for hospitalized patients at affiliate partners. Program affiliate partners have established several requirements before permitting students to participate in clinical experiences at their site. A clinical affiliate partner may determine not to allow your presence at their facility, which could result in an inability to complete the requirements of this program.   Clinical affiliate partners may change or add requirements during a student’s program enrollment. Individuals should know that clinical placement and whether to admit an individual to a facility are those of clinical partners and not the college. Students must be 18 or older to participate in clinical and incur all costs related to clinical requirements. Transportation to and from clinical agencies is the student's responsibility, and travel outside of the Jackson area and/or on weekends or evenings may be required. Clinical affiliate partners require students to adhere to their facility protocols and procedures, which may include additional immunizations, health screening/ monitoring, and masking to prevent transmission of infection.

• Students are required to comply with program-specific enrollment and clinical placement requirements, including satisfactory completion of prerequisite courses, orientations, and clinical training, health verification and immunizations documentation, drug screening and criminal background checks, AHA CPR certification, and obtaining textbooks, uniforms, and specific supplies before enrolling in nursing courses. Students must attain specific academic and performance standards to progress in the Program and achieve a satisfactory score on a comprehensive exam to complete the Program. Details of these standards and requirements are available from the Nursing Office and are published in the Nursing Student Handbook, on reserve in the College library.
• The program's clinical affiliate sites may require background checks and drug screens before beginning clinical training. Based on the results of these checks, a clinical training site may determine whether or not to allow your presence at their facility. This could result in your inability to complete the requirements of this program. Clinical Agency placement requirements must be met. Additionally, a criminal background and some other background check findings may preclude licensure or employment in nursing. More information is available from the Nursing Program.

Career Outlook

Career and Salary Information

The following is a list of career choices that may be obtained upon completing an associate degree or higher in this discipline. Please visit the following website: http://www.onetonline.org or speak to an advisor for additional career opportunities, salary information, and education requirements. Salaries are not guaranteed.

Further education, such as a bachelor's or master's degree in Nursing, can unlock specialized career opportunities and advancement. Transfer opportunities to four-year colleges or universities provide a pathway for continued education and expanded career prospects in the dynamic field of Nursing.

Nursing Accreditation Information

Professional Licensure Disclosure: The program is fully approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, 3390 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326 phone 414-975-5000.

Jackson State Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).  As a member institution of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the college is regulated by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. Students who complete the program of study requirements will meet curricular requirements to apply for nurse licensure in Tennessee.  Requirements for other states may vary.  If you currently live in a state other than Tennessee or you intend to use the education completed at Jackson State Community College to seek professional licensure in another state, be aware there may be additional requirements for obtaining licensure.  Contact the Board of Nursing in the state where you intend to seek licensure regarding requirements in that state.