Asheville-Buncombe technical community college ~nursing programnew student information

FALL 2015 ADMISSION CYCLE

ABTCC Nursing Programs Info

This informational PowerPoint is intended to provide an overview of the Nursing Programs at A-B Tech.

All incoming students are responsible for the content of this entire presentation; please review it thoroughly in its’ entirety.

ABTCC Nursing Programs InfoIt is important that you understand there are additional admission requirements that you must

meet in order to become a nursing student….you will not be FULLY admitted until you complete all requirements.

◦ It is critically important that you complete the following prior to the on-campus orientation session that you will be attending in late spring.

◦ You will be required to attend an orientation session in person (sending someone in your place is not acceptable); please sign up for your session using the New Student Orientation link on this webpage.

ABTCC Nursing Programs Entry Info

Please bring copies of the following completed documents to your on-campus orientation session; you will be unable to make copies at the session.

◦ Current American Heart Association (ONLY AHA will be accepted) CPR card (for the Healthcare Provider); this course should include the following components:

◦ Hands-On adult, infant, child, one-man & two-man rescue, choking, use of mask/artificial airway/automatic external defibrillator (AED)

◦ Online CPR courses are not acceptable; there must be a face-to-face component.

ABTCC Nursing Programs Entry Info

(continued)◦ Hepatitis B (proof of 3 dose series, or proof that you are in the process of having them)◦ Tuberculin (PPD) verification OR proof of a chest x-ray if PPD is positive; an annual waiver is acceptable.

* This will be a yearly program requirement◦ MMR (2 doses) OR proof that you are in the process of having them OR a positive blood titer◦ Varicella (2 doses) OR proof that you are in the process of having them OR a positive blood titer

ABTCC Nursing Programs Entry Info

(continued)◦ Current Tdap: Administer Tdap to all other adults who have not previously received Tdap or for whom

vaccine status is unknown. Tdap can be administered regardless of interval since the most recent tetanus or diphtheria-toxoid containing vaccine (cdc.gov).

◦ One dose of Tdap vaccine is administered to pregnant women during each pregnancy (preferred during 27–36 weeks' gestation), regardless of number of years since prior Td or Tdap vaccination (cdc.gov)

ABTCC Nursing Programs Entry Info

The physical/mental examination form will be discussed at your on-campus orientation session. The deadline for completion and submission of this form will be discussed at the session. These may be turned in via the “blue box” (a locked blue box with an opening in the top; located in the Rhododendron building, 4th floor, outside of the Nursing department).

See photo of the blue box

Please time/date stamp ALL documents before submission; there is a time/date stamper next to the blue box.

Additional Vaccine Requirements …ALL students must receive the flu vaccine…

◦ Influenza vaccine must be administered after September 1st, 2015 but before October 31st, 2015.

Students requesting an exemption due to medical contraindications must provide proof of medical complications via a written letter from the ongoing personal primary care provider. The letter should include specific documentation of the vaccine reaction. The requests should be submitted to the ABTCC Clinical Liaison.

Per our clinical affiliates, there are no religious exceptions for faculty members or students.

Important Considerations…before the start of clinical…

Drug testing AND criminal background checks (CBC) are REQUIRED for clinical courses◦ Results of these could impact your ability to attend nursing clinical, and, therefore, your ability to

complete your nursing program.◦ ABTCC does NOT utilize this information for program admission, nor does the school have access to this

information; only clinical agencies view these screenings.◦ you will receive more information regarding completion of this at your orientation….

Important Considerations It is the students’ responsibility to view the results of these screenings, and to work with the company that facilitates the screenings to correct any errors that they may.

All Boards of Nursing have questions on the licensure exams, that may include: criminal history, substance abuse, malpractice judgments, and disciplinary action on previous licensure and certificates.

Allied Health Division Clinical Placement Policy-this is IMPORTANT

Please be aware of the Allied Health Division Clinical Placement policy:

LOSS OF CLINICAL PLACEMENT WHILE IN AN ALLIED HEALTH PROGRAM

At any time after acceptance into an allied health program, if clinical privileges are revoked for any reason, the student must withdraw from the allied health division.

Essential Functions for Nursing Students

Technical/Physical Standards for the Student Nurse

To enter into and to complete the nursing program, nursing students must be able to meet the emotional, cognitive, and physical requirements listed below:

Emotional Requirements:

The nursing program is rigorous, both in academic study and in the acquisition and practice of clinical skills. You must have sufficient emotional stability to perform under stress and provide safe nursing care to clients in the clinical setting while being observed by instructors and other health care professionals.

Cognitive Requirements:

You have sufficient cognitive ability to listen, speak, read, write, reason and perform mathematical functions (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, and fractions with or without a calculator) at a level that allows processing and understanding of materials and information presented either verbally or in written format.

Essential Functions for Nursing Students

Physical Requirements: Nursing students are required to travel to clinical facilities (i.e., outpatient, acute care settings, skilled facilities) and to have the endurance to adapt to a physically demanding program.

The following physical requirements are necessary for the nursing program: Strength: Sufficient strength to lift, move, and transfer most clients, to restrain and carry children, to move and carry equipment, and to perform CPR according to the American Heart Association guidelines.

Mobility: Sufficient mobility to bend, stoop, bend down to the floor, combination of strength, dexterity, mobility and coordination to assists clients, ability to move around rapidly, and move in small, confined spaces.

Essential Functions for Nursing Students

Fine Motor Movements:

Required to manipulate syringes and IV’s, to assist clients with feeding and hygiene needs, to write in charts and use computer keyboards, to perform sterile and other skilled procedures.

Speech:

Ability to speak clearly in order to communicate with staff, physicians, clients, and families, and to be understood on the telephone.

Communication:

Able to communicate in English both verbally and in the written format so that students can communicate nursing actions, interpret client responses, initiate health teaching, document observations, interactions, interventions, and nursing care. Document and understand nursing activities, interact with clients, families, staff, and faculty.

Essential Functions for Nursing Students

Vision:

Sufficient to make physical assessment of client and to accurately and safely use and apply client equipment.

Hearing:

Sufficient to accurately hear on the telephone, to be able to hear through a stethoscope to discriminate sounds, to hear cries for help, to hear alarms on equipment and emergency signals, and various overhead pages.

Touch:

Ability to palpate both superficially and deeply to discriminate tactile sensations.

(information taken from the ABTCC Nursing Student Handbook)

Pregnancy Pregnancy does not exclude you from participating in either Nursing program; this is an informed decision that must be made between a student and her health-care provider.

Pregnant students are discouraged from taking nursing courses during the semester of their due date, since attendance policies are not waived; these students may be eligible for readmission per handbook policy.

Caring for Clients with Infectious Diseases

Students must be willing to care for clients with infectious diseases, such as Hepatitis or HIV.

Students will be taught standard precautions to avoid exposure to these pathogens.

Responsibility for following standard precautions lies with the student.

If you are unwilling to care for such clients, please see an advisor to discuss the possibility of an alternate career plan.

Time Commitment The nursing program requires major time and energy commitments; most students that attempt to work full-time are NOT successful in our program.

◦ Contact hours (based on 16 wk courses); for example:◦ Lecture (8 hrs/week)◦ Labs (8 hrs/week)◦ Clinical experiences (up to 16 hrs/week)◦ Study time/assignments (anticipate that for every 1 hour of class, you may spend up to 3 hours outside of class, studying)

◦ Course schedules and assignment due dates will not be adjusted to accommodate work schedules, vacations, appointments, elective surgeries, personal plans, etc.

Time Commitment (continued) Clinical may start as early as 6:30 AM and some may end as late as 11:00 PM. Expect to have Saturday and/or Sunday classes, labs, and clinical assignments.

Make any child care or work arrangements now. It is unacceptable for anyone to arrive late to clinical due to child care issues.

Due to affiliation with multiple clinical agencies, the exact hours of clinical days may vary from the posted college schedule.

Students in ALL Allied Health programs, including Nursing, are required to attend 90% of course hours.

Mandatory orientation prior to clinical participation in some agencies is required and may occur during unscheduled class/lab/clinical time to meet agency schedules.

Transition to Practice Experience In the final semester of the nursing program, students must complete a 120-hour Transition to Practice (TTP) rotation. During this rotation, students are expected to work the shift of the preceptor that they are assigned to. This means that you may work 12-hour shifts, nights, weekends, or holidays.

Much planning goes into this process to secure your clinical sites and preceptors; there are no guarantees regarding a special schedule.

Reliable Transportation Students are expected to have reliable transportation for travel in and outside of Buncombe county.

Travel to clinical sites will vary every semester; students are encouraged to carpool when travelling long distances to clinical.

ALL students are required to park in the appropriately designated parking spots at the clinical sites, even if you are an employee of that clinical affiliate.

Program Requirements/Curriculum

The complete Nursing Program Student Handbook and the full curricula are posted on the ABTCC website, at: http://www.abtech.edu/nursing-programs

Please read through the student handbook…you will be responsible for the content throughout the program. Policies will be updated, periodically, and as deemed necessary.

Final Considerations Is Nursing Right for You?

Can you make this commitment?

Be honest with yourself and your significant others…this is a lifestyle and culture change.

Commitment to the Profession If you are:

◦ Squeamish or easily nauseated by blood, vomit, or bad odors◦ Easily flustered or easily angered◦ Afraid of responsibility◦ Resistant to change◦ Judgmental or impatient with others◦ Unorganized or dependent on others for direction◦ Not self-motivated or not self-reflective.....

Nursing may NOT be the right career choice for you!

Nursing Requires… Critical thinking

Ability to work in intense or highly stressful situations

Competence in Nursing skills

Highly developed communication skills

Self-direction, time management, and organization skills

Ethical & legal accountability to the patient

A broad knowledge base and lifelong learning

Compassion, patience, and the ability to accept people as they are without judging them

Does This Describe You??

If the answer is YES, then we will see you at your on-campus orientation session!!

MUCH more important information will be covered in the on-campus orientation session. Acceptance into either Nursing program is not considered finalized until you have attended an on-campus orientation AND submitted the required immunizations/proof of CPR, and you are fully approved to attend the clinical site(s).