Nursing Program Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a resident of the District to apply to the nursing program? No, however, preference is given to eligible applicants who have been residents of the Mendocino-Lake Community College District for one year prior to application.
Do you keep a waiting list? No. If an applicant is not accepted into the program, the applicant must re-apply for the next class if they want to be reconsidered for admission.
Do you have a part-time or evening program? No, nursing courses are generally during the day, Monday through Thursdays. Clinical hours can extend beyond these hours and may include evenings and weekends.
How long does the Nursing Program take to complete? It is a 4-semester program with summers off for the full RN program. For the LVN to RN program it is three semesters.
How long does it take to complete the program from starting the prerequisites and general education courses to finishing the nursing program? It could take from three and a half years to six years (or more) depending on how quickly you progress through the prerequisite and general education courses.
Should I work while I am in the program? There is no restriction against working while enrolled in the Nursing Program. It is not wise, however, to work more than 16-20 hours a week as it can interfere with your success in the nursing program. There are many hours per week of reading/studying in addition to course and clinical hours. You will not be permitted to leave early or arrive late to clinical or class because of your job. There are attendance requirements that are strictly adhered to.
Can I send in an application now? Applications are accepted only during application periods (each November for LVN to RN Bridge Program, and each February/March for 2 year RN Program). You can check for dates for the next application period on the nursing web pages. It is your responsibility to submit an application at the appropriate time.
How do you select your students for the program? Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements are chosen by a grade based formula which takes into account a student’s overall grade point average, the grade point average for Anatomy/Physiology/Microbiology courses, and the English gpa. We do not accept letters of recommendation or take experience into consideration. For those that meet a minimum cut score on this grade based formula they are then chosen via a random lottery for admission.
How many students do you accept? Currently, we accept up to 18 students per class, and then fill the class to a maximum of 24 with LVNs (who enter with advanced standing) in the second year of each class.
How can I find out if the courses I am taking at another college are equivalent to the prerequisite courses at Mendocino College? Students should have a counselor at the college that they have attended evaluate inquiries regarding course equivalency for courses taken. Mendocino College will make the final determination of course equivalency at the time of application.
I took a combined Anatomy and Physiology course with a lab. Will that count? If you took a combined Anatomy and Physiology course, you will need to have completed a 2nd combined Anatomy and Physiology course with a lab. Mendocino College requires at least 8 units of combined Anatomy and Physiology with labs, or a separate 4-5 unit Anatomy course with lab and 4-5 unit Physiology course with lab.
Will someone in the Nursing Program go over my transcripts with me to see if I am missing anything? No, the Nursing Program office cannot evaluate individual transcripts. Please seek the assistance of the Counseling Department (707-468-3048) and Admissions and Records for transcript evaluation.
I was educated in another country. Will my coursework transfer to Mendocino College? You will need to have a professional evaluation of your foreign transcript completed. The evaluation is not simply a translation of the courses, but rather it consists of a careful analysis of the actual content of the coursework you took in your country’s college or university. This is often a costly process, and it is your responsibility to have this done well in advance of application. There are several different agencies that can do this evaluation. Seek assistance from the Counseling Department, or view the nursing application for acceptable agencies.
How much will the program cost? The approximate cost of the 2-year program is $4000.00. This includes tuition fees, books, uniforms, shoes, medical/dental examinations, in-program and NCLEX-RN testing fees, and background check/drug screen clearance. The advanced-standing student (LVN to RN student) can expect to pay approximately $2000.00, inclusive of testing fees and background check/drug screen clearance.
Why do I have to have a background check? Hospitals are now requiring nursing students to have a background check prior to coming to the hospital for clinical experience. The one-time cost is currently around $45.00. You may also need to take a drug test prior to clinical experience in some facilities.
My coursework is old. Do I have to re-take any classes? There is a five year recency requirement for Anatomy, Physiology and Microbiology. There is a recency waiver available that you can request to be exempt from this requirement if you have had training/education or continuing education in these subject areas since taking the course. You will need to have documentation of training or education and discuss the possibility of the waiver with the Nursing Director on-campus (call for an appointment).
What do you use for clinical experience? Hospitals include Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital (Willits), Oakland Children’s Hospital and Research Center (Oakland), Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital (Santa Rosa), Sutter Lakeside Hospital (Lakeport), Ukiah Valley Medical Center (Ukiah). In addition many clinics and offices are utilized for clinical experience. These are mostly within the Mendocino-Lake College District but some require driving long distances and this should be taken into account when considering the program.
Do you offer transportation to the clinical sites? No, transportation and lodging are the responsibility of the student. You will need dependable transportation throughout the nursing program and should figure transportation and lodging costs into your financial planning for nursing school.
Do I have to take the TEAS test? As of Spring 2009 applicants will be required to take the TEAS test which is an assessment of math, science, english and language skills. Those offered tenative admission will be given the TEAS test and must pass with a minimum composite score of 67% (as determined by the Chancellor's Office for Community Colleges). For those that do not pass they will have one year in which to remediate and retest to be considered for admission the following year. Information can be found on this exam at www.atitesting.com and it is recommended that applicants prepare in advance for this test utilizing the available study guide (see online link).
Where can I take an IV Certification Course?
HLH 173 or IV Certification. For IV certification contact one of the following:
Created: April 17, 2006 @ 02:56 PM
Last Modified: September 10, 2009 @ 09:04 AM
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