Nursing Program LPN-RN Advancement Option

The degree of Associate in Science with a major in Nursing is awarded upon successful completion of the program.

The LPN-RN Advancement Option is designed for the Licensed Practical Nurse who wishes to advance to a Registered Nurse with an Associate Degree in Science. This program provides the opportunity, through additional education, to apply for Registered Nurse Licensure upon successful completion. All nursing courses must be completed within four years of the date of entry in the first nursing course. Students will be readmitted to the nursing program only once during the four years. Applicants must meet the admission requirements and receive a satisfactory score on the NLN Acceleration Challenge Exam I-Book I exam which is offered periodically throughout the year (see admission requirements below). Information regarding the admission test may be obtained from the Admissions Office at (603)271-7134.

Admission to the nursing program is very competitive. Selection is determined by a cumulative point system that is based on high school level prerequisite courses and grades, applicable college courses and grades and the Challenge Exam score. References are considered critical to the admission process and are evaluated.

As a pre-clinical requirement, students will be required to undergo a background check and drug and alcohol screening. No student will be exempt from this process. Students are provided with procedural and cost information subsequent to admission to the nursing program and are responsible for all costs associated with these testing procedures. In addition, the LPN must complete the following curriculum.

Transfer Information

• Transferring to other institutions
• Transferring to NHTI

Specific Admission Requirements

Fall 2012 Admission
Preference will be given to students whose applications are complete and received by the NHTI Admissions Office no later than July 20, 2012 for Fall 2012 admission.

Fall 2013 Admission
Preference will be given to students whose applications are complete and received by the NHTI Admissions Office no later than July 19, 2013 for Fall 2013 admission.

1. High school or college biology with lab and chemistry with lab, both with grades of “C” or higher;
2. College preparatory algebra I with a grade of “C” or higher or NHTI's MT 103 and MT 104 both with grades of “C” or higher;
3. Preference will be given to students who hold an active, unrestricted New Hampshire Practical Nursing license and are in good standing with the Board of Nursing; applicants must submit a copy of their license with their application for admission;
4. Submit, on NHTI nursing reference forms (PDF or contact Admissions at (603) 271-7134.), two references from professionals, supervisors or teachers.
5. “Decision Score” of 70 or better on the National League for Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam I - Book I.(PDF or contact Admissions at (603) 271-7134.). Information regarding this test is available from the Admissions Office at (603)271-7134 or (800)247-0179.

Internship Considerations

NHTI has developed excellent practicum opportunities for our students to foster hands-on learning while simultaneously receiving credit. Nonetheless, the college's first priority must be to ensure that patients/clients/children/families are not placed in jeopardy by students during learning experiences. Therefore, students in internship, externship, practicum, service learning, and clinical experiences must demonstrate sufficient emotional stability to withstand the stresses, uncertainties and changing circumstances that characterize patient/client/child/family responsibilities. Furthermore, the student is expected to have the emotional stability required to exercise sound judgment, accept direction and guidance from a supervisor or faculty member, and establish rapport and maintain sensitive interpersonal relationships and confidentiality with employees, customers, and/or patients/clients/children and their families.

Health, Character and Technical Requirements

Technical Standards
Standards have been established to provide guidance to students as to skills and abilities required to function successfully in the program and ultimately in the profession of nursing.

General Abilities: The student is expected to possess functional use of the senses of vision, touch, hearing, and smell so that data received by the senses may be integrated, analyzed, and synthesized in a consistent and accurate manner. A student must also possess the ability to perceive pain, pressure, temperature, position, vibration, and movement that are important to the student's ability to gather significant information needed to effectively evaluate patients. A student must be able to respond promptly to urgent situations that may occur during clinical training activities and must not hinder the ability of other members of the health care team to provide prompt treatment and care to patients.

Observational Ability: The student must have sufficient capacity to make accurate visual observations and interpret them in the context of laboratory studies, medication administration, and patient care activities. In addition, the student must be able to document these observations and maintain accurate records.

Communication Ability: The student must communicate effectively both verbally and non-verbally to elicit information and to translate that information to others. Each student must have the ability to read, write, comprehend and clearly speak the English language to facilitate communication with patients, their family members, and other professionals in health care settings. In addition, the student must be able to maintain accurate patient records, present information in a professional, logical manner and provide patient counseling and instruction to effectively care for patients and their families. The student must clearly communicate effectively verbally and in writing with instructors and other students in the classroom setting as well.

Motor Ability: The student must be able to perform gross and fine motor movements with sufficient coordination needed to perform complete physical examinations utilizing the techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation, and other diagnostic maneuvers. A student must develop the psychomotor skills reasonably needed to perform or assist with procedures, treatments, administration of medication, management and operation of diagnostic and therapeutic medical equipment, and such maneuvers to assist with patient care activities such as lifting, wheel chair guidance, and mobility. The student must have sufficient levels of neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination as well as possess the physical and mental stamina to meet the demands associated with extended periods of sitting, standing, moving, and physical exertion required for satisfactory and safe performance in the clinical and classroom settings including performing CPR if necessary. The student must possess the ability of manual and visual dexterity such as to draw up solutions in a syringe.

Intellectual, Conceptual, and Quantitative Abilities: The student must be able to develop and refine problem-solving skills that are crucial to practice as a nurse. Problem solving involves the abilities to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, and synthesize objective and subjective data, and to make decisions, often in a time urgent environment, that reflect consistent and thoughtful deliberation and sound clinical judgment. Each student must demonstrate mastery of these skills and possess the ability to incorporate new information from peers, teachers, and the nursing and medical literature to formulate sound judgment in patient assessment, intervention, evaluation, teaching, and setting short and long term goals. Students must demonstrate arithmetic competence that would allow the student to read and understand columns and/or writing, tell time, use measuring tools, and add, subtract, multiply, and divide.

Behavioral and Social Attributes: Compassion, integrity, motivation, effective interpersonal skills, and concern for others are personal attributes required of those in the nursing programs. Personal comfort and acceptance of the role of a nurse functioning under supervision of a clinical instructor or preceptor is essential for a nursing student. The student must possess the skills required for full utilization of the student's intellectual abilities; the exercise of good judgment; the prompt completion of all responsibilities in the classroom and clinical settings; and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and other members of the health care team. Each student must be able to exercise stable, sound judgment and to complete assessment and interventional activities in a timely manner to assure patient safety and well being. The ability to establish rapport and maintain sensitive, interpersonal relationships with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds is critical for practice as a nurse. The student must be able to adapt to changing environments; display flexibility; accept and integrate constructive criticism given in the classroom and clinical settings; effectively interact in the clinical setting with other members of the healthcare team; and learn to function cooperatively and efficiently in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical practice.

Examinations: Certain courses in the nursing programs require students to take timed and/or online examinations. Students may be required to take timed, online and/or other types of examinations in a proctored, secure setting that is acceptable to the program.

Ability to Manage Stressful Situations: The student must be able to adapt to and function effectively in stressful situations in both the classroom and clinical settings, including emergency situations. Students will encounter multiple stressors while in the nursing programs. These stressors may be (but are not limited to) personal, patient care/family, faculty/peer, and or program related.

NOTE: The health care environment contains substantial amounts of latex. Applicants with latex allergies place themselves at risk of reaction. The Nursing Department does not recommend that individuals with a latex allergy pursue a career in health care.

Program Comments
Applicants must be in good physical and mental health in order to qualify for RN or PN licensure. In addition, State Boards of Nursing may have specific requirements regarding prior convictions of offenses and licensure. Please contact the Board of Nursing in the state in which practice is planned regarding licensure requirements. Satisfactory completion of program does not guarantee RN or PN licensure.

Standards have been established to provide guidance to students as to skills and abilities required to function successfully in the program and ultimately in the profession of nursing. Applicants who think they may not be able to meet one or more of the technical standards should contact department head or faculty to discuss individual cases.

1. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend a group information session; please call the Admissions Office at (603)271-7134 for details.
2. Prior to the start of the clinical nursing courses, students are required to have on file in the Health Services Office ((603)271-7153) documentation of: current medical insurance; a complete physical examination; current immunizations; current CPR certification for one and two person adult, infant and child. Professional liability malpractice insurance is arranged by the College and will automatically be charged to the student's account.
3. All students enrolled in a clinical nursing course will be charged a $350/semester Nursing Clinical Surcharge. The following courses carry this charge: NU 115, NU 116, NU 117 and NU 215.
4. College level science and technical courses (i.e., Anatomy & Physiology, etc.) taken more than five years prior to desired entry into nursing program must be either repeated or challenged; final decisions will rest with the Department Head of Nursing.
5. All nursing courses integrate theory and clinical experience. Failure to receive a satisfactory grade in either theory OR the clinical experience portion of the course will result in a failing grade. All nursing major field courses must be passed before proceeding to the next level. A grade of “C” or higher is required in BI 195, BI 196 and BI 202 and math elective to enter or progress in the nursing courses.
6. All students may be required to do an alternate clinical rotation depending on clinical/faculty availability, i.e., students may be asked to do an evening rotation.

Licensed Practical Nursing Program Clinical Sites
Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, NH
Concord Hospital, Concord, NH
Elliot Hospital, Manchester, NH
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, Concord, NH
Lakes Region General Hospital, Laconia, NH
New Hampshire Hospital, Concord, NH

# Indicates major field courses.
* Includes six (6) credits awarded from Challenge Exam; transfer credit will be evaluated on an individual basis and may result in six (6) nursing credits being awarded.
** Fall 2012 Applicants Only: Any course with a prefix of MT 124 or higher will be accepted for credit in the nursing program. MT 251 is strongly recommended.
** Fall 2013 Applicants Only: Any course with a prefix of MT 124 or higher, with the exception of MT 129, will be accepted for credit in the nursing program. MT 251 is strongly recommended.
+ A $109 per semester testing fee will be assessed for all students taking NU 115, NU 116, NU 117, NU 177 & NU 215. This fee will cover costs associated with remediation testing, detailed individualized remediation plans, and end of program testing to prepare students for licensure testing.
Please Note: All students enrolled in a clinical course will be charged a $350 per semester clinical surcharge. Does not apply to NU 177, first semester only. Please Note: Students who wish to continue their education and pursue a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Nursing are encouraged to complete MT 251.

Revised: 26 Jan 2012

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