Class of 05-07 

Registered Nursing Program

The Mendocino College Registered Nursing Program was approved in 2005 by the California State Board of Registered Nursing. Students that successfully complete the two-year sequence of RN coursework receive an Associate of Science degree in Nursing and are eligible to sit for the RN licensure examination in California (NCLEX-RN).

The Registered Nursing Program consists of a two-year, full-time course sequence after completion of prerequisite courses and general education requirements. Students are strongly urged to consult with an academic counselor early in their education if considering a nursing career.

Please read all of the information below as well as the "Nursing Frequently Asked Questions" before you attempt to apply.

RN Program Prerequisites

The following must be completed before starting any nursing coursework. The English requirement and at least two of the Science prerequisites must be completed before the semester in which you are applying. However, all prerequisites must be completed by the end of the Spring semester in which you are applying.

 Complete each of the following:

• BIO 230 Anatomy with Lab, 4 units minimum
• BIO 231 Physiology with Lab, 4 units minimum
• BIO 259 Microbiology with Lab, 4 units minimum

Anatomy, physiology and microbiology must have been completed within the last 5 years. A recency waiver can be individually evaluated based on experience, education or training.  An appointment with the program director can be requested if you would like to discuss this option. 

At least two of the three science prerequisites MUST BE COMPLETED prior to the application period. An applicant cannot have more than one science in progress at the time of application to the RN program

Complete 3 units (minimum) from the following: :

• HLH 114 Foods & Nutrition, 3 units
• HLH 115 Therapeutic Nutrition, 3 units

Complete 3 units (minimum) from the following: :

• PSY 205 Introductory Psychology, 3 units
• PSY 215 Psychology of Personal Growth, 3 units
• CDV 200 Psychology of Development -Infancy through Adolescent, 3 units

Complete 3 units (minimum) from the following: :

• SOC 200 Sociology 3 units
• SOC 201 Modern Social Problems 3 units
• SOC 202 Racial and Ethnic Relations 3 units
• ANT 201 Cultural Anthropology 3 units

Complete 3 units (minimum) from the following: :

• ENG 200 Reading Composition 3 units

Please note that English MUST BE COMPLETED prior to the application period in which you are applying.

Complete 3 units (minimum) from the following: :

• SPE 200 Intro Public Speaking 3 units
• SPE 210 Interpersonal Communication 3 units

 

           

• Successful completion of 12th grade education, as evidenced by high school diploma, or G.E.D. certificate, or equivalent as follows: A degree from any junior college, college, or university accredited by a state agency authorized to accredit such institutions
• Successful completion of prerequisite courses with a grade of "C" or better and cumulative college GPA of 2.5 or better. Courses taken credit/no credit or pass/fail will receive point value of a "C".
• All science courses must be within five years of application. A waiver of science recency may be requested based on experience, training, or education. Contact Nursing Department for an appointment to meet with the program director to discuss possible recency exemption.
• Completed application to Mendocino College Nursing Department within posted application period. Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission. It is the responsibility of each applicant to be sure their application is complete before turning it in.
• Include one official sealed transcript for any coursework taken outside of Mendocino College to Mendocino College Nursing Department at time of application.
• For those not already a student at Mendocino College: A completed Application for Admission to Mendocino College Admissions and Records, with one official sealed transcript will be needed after you are formally admitted to the nursing program.  The transcript sent directly to the Nursing Department will not fill this requirement.
• Students with high school and college transcripts outside the U.S. will need to have them evaluated for U.S. equivalency. All foreign student transcripts must be officially evaluated by one of the following agencies, and a letter of evaulation must be sent to the Nursing Department at time of application.

IERF, Inc.
P.O. Box 66940 .
Los Angeles, CA 90066

OR

ERES, Inc.
777 Campus Commons Rd., Ste.200
Sacramento, CA 95825-8309

Note: It is the responsibility of the applicant to obtain foreign transcript evaluation prior to application. This process can be lengthy, so plan accordingly. An official copy of the transcript(s) and evaluation must be submitted at the time of application to the Nursing Department as well as Admissions and Records.

Mendocino College will consider all applicants who meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Registered Nursing Program. The number of qualified applicants, however, usually exceeds the capacity of the class. In order to fairly select students for admission, the Nursing Department uses a grade based formula in addition to a lottery system. 

1. Each applicant's grades will be entered into a database for ranking according to a standardized formula. The formula is derived from the "Predicted Probability of Success" study by the CA Community College Chancellor's Office. The formula consists of weighting the following:
• Overall College GPA (all college courses attempted)
• College English GPA
• Biology Courses GPA (Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology)
• Number of course repetitions in Biology Courses (counts negatively if applicant has retaken a science course due to a grade of D or F.  If applicant has retaken a science to improve a passing grade of C or B the grades are averaged)
2. All applicants who score above 80 on the Predicted Probability of Success formula will be placed into a lottery draw in which computer generated numbers are used to choose applicants for admission.
3. Any applicant that has resided within the Mendocino-Lake Community College District for at least one year prior to application will be given preference for admission.
4. All those invited for admission will then be subject to a background screening, and will need to pass the TEAS test with a composite score of at least 67% (info available on line at www.atitesting.com)

Nursing Courses
The first semester of nursing coursework consists of eleven units of nursing theory and skills fundamentals, geriatrics, and medical surgical care, as well as introduction to pharmacology and nursing lab. You should expect four full days of classes per week.  See catalog for course descriptions for NUR 102 Nursing Concepts and Skills I, and NUR 105 Pharmacology I.  There is also a nursing lab NUR 52.

The second semester of nursing coursework consists of twelve units of nursing theory and advanced nursing skills in the area of community health, obstetrics and pediatrics as well as pharmacology and a nursing seminar. There are fifteen hours of clinical training per week and two days of lecture/lab courses. See catalog for course descriptions for NUR 112 Nursing Concepts and Skills II, NUR 115 Pharmacology II, and NUR 116 Intro to Nursing Seminar.

The third semester of nursing coursework consists of twelve units of complex nursing theory in acute care, community health, and outpatient mental health as well as leadership and management, pharmacology and a nursing seminar. There are twelve clinical hours per week and two days of lecture/lab courses. See catalog for course descriptions for NUR 122 Complex Med Surg Nursing I, NUR 121 Leadership and Management I, NUR 125 Pharmacology III, and NUR 126 Nursing Seminar I.

The fourth semester of nursing coursework consists of twelve units of complex nursing theory in critical care and mental health areas and a structured preceptorship experience. Additionally there are courses in leadership and management, pharmacology, and a nursing seminar course. See catalog for course descriptions for NUR 132 Complex Med Surg Nursing II, NUR 131 Leadership and Management II, NUR 135 Pharmacology IV, and NUR 136 Nursing Seminar II.

Clinical days and hours may vary on availability of clinical sites. The goal of the program is to expose each student to the most valuable learning experiences possible within our community as well as in surrounding communities.  All those accepted to the program are required to go to clinical sites outside the local area so reliable transportation and funds for gas/auto repairs are essential for program completion. 

Created: March 11, 2005 @ 12:00 AM
Last Modified: September 10, 2009 @ 08:50 AM