FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1.	What is a bi-level program?
	Our program offers two levels of nursing. During Level I, you will have three (3) semesters: fall, spring and summer. After the third semester, you may apply for licensure as a practical nurse in the state of your choice, and get an appointment to take the NCLEX-PN®. This is a national licensing exam. If you choose, you may exit after Level I and practice as an RN for a while, and then apply for readmission to Level II at a later date, though there is no guarantee that you will be readmitted, due to limitation of spaces available. If setting out for one year or more you will be required to complete an application as an Articulating LPN. Level II consists of two semesters, after which you may take the NCLEX-RN®.
2.	What is the difference between an RN and an LPN?
	Licensed practical nurses provide nursing care in structured settings under the supervision of a registered nurse. LPN’s cannot administer IVs until they are Intravenous Certified. Registered nurses practice in a wide variety of settings.
3.	What is the difference between Associate and Baccalaureate nursing degree?
	Graduates who have earned an Associate in Applied Science with a major in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing take the same national nursing licensure exam (NCLEX-RN®) and are registered nurses after they pass the exam. A generic BSN degree takes 4 years to complete, and requires more general education credits, and credits in nursing theory, research, leadership, management, and community nursing. Kansas has an Articulation Plan (CNAK) in place, which affords mobility in transferring nursing courses into higher degree programs. Many BSN completion programs are available, and some quality ones are on the Internet. Most can be completed in 1.5-3 years part-time while you are working fulltime. Though frequently there is no additional pay for nurses with BSNs, having the degree may increase your marketability and chances of promotion into management and education positions. It is also required for specialization on a master’s degree level, for students desiring to become nurse practitioners; nurse educators, clinical nurse specialists, or nurse anesthetists.
4.	How do I specialize in one area of nursing, such as OB, ER, or Pediatric nursing?
	All you need to “specialize” is a license as an LPN or RN. After you have been hired into your position of choice, your employer typically pays for or provides specialized training for that position, such as EKG interpretation, working with ventilators, fetal monitor interpretation, etc.
5.	What is the job market for LPN’s and RN’s like, and how much money will I make?
	We are projected to experience a nursing shortage within the next 10-15 years, as many nurses retire. In southeast Kansas, LPN’s are paid $12-14 per hour. RNs in SEK earn $18-$20 per hour as a beginning wage. These wages are low compared to what can be earned in area cities such as Joplin, Tulsa, and Wichita. As the nationwide nursing shortage evolves, an increase in pay will accompany the trend. The average age of an RN in the U.S. is 46 and 50% will be retiring within the next 20 years. Even more critical is the current and projected shortage of nurse educators. This typically requires a master’s degree in nursing. Ninety-five to one hundred percent (95-100%) of our PN and RN graduates secure employment in nursing.
6.	What are your prerequisites, and how do I know what order to take the general education classes?
	Prerequisites (Anatomy & Physiology and College Applied Math OR College Algebra) must be completed or in the process during the semester the applicant is submitting application with a “C” or better. The other general education courses can be taken in any order. All students must have completed all general education courses required by each level before moving to the next. {Example: all Level I (PN) general education courses must be completed in order to move to Level II (RN)}.
7.	Who must take the COMPASS Test?
	Any student wishing to enroll in an English or Math class at LCC must take a placement test. LCC does accept the SAT scores for placement. Students need to take the COMPASS test if their score is below 20 on the ACT Math. For the English/Verbal Sections, students need to take the COMPASS if their score is below an 18 on the ACT. All applicants must take the Reading Compass if their score on the ACT Reading Section is below 17or the Compass test is below 75, to comply with the Policy for Reading Competency in Nursing.
8.	What grades are required to pass?
	To insure a quality program and to maximize your chances of passing the national nursing licensure exams (NCLEX-PN® and NCLEX-RN®), a minimum “C” is required in all of the general education courses, and a minimum “B” is required in all of your nursing courses. A “B” in a nursing course at LCC is a grade in the range of 80% to 89.99%.
9.	I am an LPN graduate from another school. Can I finish my RN at Labette?
	The bi-level program affords flexibility for students desiring to complete an approved PN program, work for a while, then return at a later date to finish the degree in an accredited RN program. It has been our experience that students who are LPN’s who have been working full-time in a hospital setting since graduation from PN school are most likely to be successful in articulating into the second level of the LCC program. Completion of the 1-credit Bridge Course is required upon acceptance into the LCC Nursing Education Program. Availability of spaces for admission is extremely limited. As an LPN applying to the program you must also be IV Certified and pass the calculation exam.
10.	How do I know if I will pass my boards if I go to LCC?
	Historically, 95-100% of LCC graduates pass the NCLEX-PN® on the first attempt. The NCLEX-RN® first attempt pass rate has varied from 75% to 96%. In fall 2005, LCC adopted the Comprehensive Review and Assessment Program of Assessment Technologies, Inc. This program provides standardized testing at the end of each course, plus a wealth of review and remediation materials that will facilitate NCLEX® success. In fall 2008 Virtual ATI, an NCLEX-RN® review course, was added to the curriculum. You will maximize your chances of passing the NCLEX-RN® if you maintain grades in your nursing courses at 80% or above, and put your up most effort into participating in every learning opportunity presented to you. The fact that you can be employed part-time as an LPN during your sophomore year is a big plus in providing you with additional clinical experience. The cost of the NCLEX-PN® and NCLEX-RN® is currently $200 each, in addition to the cost of applying for your state PN or RN licenses. You will find that our nursing instructors are very willing to help you attain your goal of being licensed as an LPN or RN. However, the quality of your learning experience is dependent upon your study skills, management of family and personal stressors, and balancing the amount of study required with the amount of time you are employed.
11.	What hours will I be in class?
	With the advent of dual entry, which involves admission of 40 generic students every August and 35 generic students every January, there is a maximum of 150 nursing students on campus every week. Therefore, class days and times will vary according to classroom space. Weekend, evening, and sometimes night hours will occasionally be required for clinical, but you will know in advance to schedule childcare and work arrangements.
12.	Where are our clinicals sites?
	Clinical sites are contracted based upon availability of sufficient patients and qualified clinical faculty. All medical centers and hospitals in southeast Kansas, northeastern Oklahoma, and southwest Missouri may be used for clinical. Occasional weekend clinicals will involve staying in cities such as Wichita and Tulsa. Students are responsible for the cost of housing and food during clinicals. We also utilize the campus nursing skills lab for teaching basic nursing skills. Completion of community experiences in area agencies, such as schools, healthcare clinics, home health, hospice, etc., is a requirement of most of the nursing courses. You are responsible for having a reliable personal vehicle. Reliance on carpooling is not permitted. You cannot be assured you will be assigned to the same clinical schedule as your carpool partner.

13.

Can I work while I go to school?

Past history indicates that students who work more than 20-24 hours per week may be placing themselves at a severe disadvantage in terms of time available for study. If you have family obligations in addition to work obligations, you may compromise your chances of success in the program. Experience with years of nursing students has proven that it is virtually impossible for a student to work full-time, pass each nursing class with an 80% or better, and pass the NCLEX-RN® the first time it is taken. To maximize your chance of academic success, we strongly encourage you to contact the Financial Aid Office for advice regarding support available, so that you can plan your financial arrangements to relieve you from having to work full-time. Displaced workers and single mothers can apply for assistance from the Kansas Works. Information about this is available in the nursing education office.

07/20/2010