Nursing - Mobility Track

Mobility Program Qualifications

Healthcare professionals who have been awarded an AAS Degree in a related field and are currently licensed as an Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic, Diagnostic Imaging (ARRT), Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Medical Laboratory Technician, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant, Respiratory Therapist or awarded a certificate and licensed as a Practical Nurse in the State of Alabama are eligible to be considered for admission into the nursing mobility program with advanced standing provided the following criteria are met:

1. The license to practice is issued by Alabama, is current, and has no stipulations restricting practice.
2. The applicant has met all the requirements for admission to the college and to the Mobility program.

Skill sets of the successful mobility applicant include proficiency in health assessment, medication administration including IV therapy and monitoring for therapeutic effects of pharmacologic agents, oxygenation modalities and competent care of clients across the lifespan with alterations in health. The mobility student is also expected to demonstrate proficiency in safety and infection control, basic care and comfort, and psychomotor skills.

Mobility Program Admission Requirements

1. Unconditional admission to the college – College application must be submitted by the mobility program application deadline.
2. Student must be in good standing with the college.
3. Receipt of complete nursing application accepted between March 15 and May 15 for fall entry only. Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space-available basis. The online application and instructions are located on the Wallace State Nursing Homepage at www.wallacestate.edu/nursing under the application section.
4. A minimum GPA of 2.0 cumulative at current native institution or 2.0 cumulative at institution from which student is transferring is required to be eligible to apply for the mobility nursing program.
5. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is necessary for nursing required academic courses.
6. Official transcripts from all colleges attended must be provided to the Admissions Office and all unofficial transcripts must be uploaded to the nursing application.
7. Maintain a grade of “C” or better in all general education and nursing courses.
8. The following general education requirements must have been successfully completed with a “C” or higher prior to application deadline for application points and if in progress, then must be completed prior to start of program: BIO 201, BIO 202, ENG 101, MTH 100, PSY 210, SPH 106.
9. Student must meet the essential functions and technical standards required for nursing as documented at www.wallacestate.edu/nursing - see Nursing Essential Functions under the Resources tab.
10. A minimum 18 ACT composite score (National or Residual) is required for admission consideration. Proof of score must be uploaded to the nursing application.
11. If the applicant has been enrolled in a nursing program previously, a letter of good standing must be sent to the program director from the previous nursing program. This includes ADN and PN certificate programs.
12. Applicants for the Mobility program must have been awarded an AAS Degree in a related field and are currently licensed as an Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic, Diagnostic Imaging (ARRT), Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Medical Laboratory Technician, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant, Respiratory Therapist or awarded a certificate and licensed as a Practical Nurse in the State of Alabama before application.
13. Students will be ineligible to apply for NUR 209 if they have experienced a withdrawal or non-progression in any previous mobility curriculum including, but not limited to NUR 200, NUR 201 or NUR 209. Students will be eligible to apply to the traditional nursing program. Admission is not guaranteed.

NOTE: It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure all applicable courses (including grades) from other institutions have been transferred to WSCC and to ensure the program application is complete prior to submission.

Selection and Notification

1. The Mobility Nursing Program admits a class each fall semester.
2. Admission to the Mobility Nursing Program is competitive; the number of students is limited by the number of faculty and clinical facilities available. Meeting minimal requirements does not guarantee acceptance. After meeting all requirements, applicants are rank-ordered using a point system based on grades achieved in ENG 101, BIO 201, BIO 202 and MTH 100, qualifying health care degree/certificate received at WSCC, minimum one year of experience, completion of nursing recommended information session, grade achieved in BIO 220, and minimum 18 ACT composite score.
3. The WSCC-DNE will notify students selected for admission. All students are conditionally accepted pending clearance of background check, drug screen, appropriate academic placement, and documentation of nursing essential functions. If the student has been enrolled in a nursing program outside of Wallace State Community College, a Letter of Good Standing will be required upon admission.
4. All accepted students must attend the required orientation session. Confirmation of intent to enroll must be submitted electronically by the posted deadline to the WSCC-DNE. Failure to attend the required nursing orientation may result in forfeiture of his/her place in the class.
5. All accepted students must submit a clear background check by the school-approved vendor. Any result other than clear will prohibit the student from enrolling.
6. All accepted students must submit to a drug screen by the school-approved vendor; date to be assigned by the WSCC-DNE. Any result other than clear will result in the student’s dismissal from the nursing program.
7. All accepted students must complete the WSCC-DNE physical form as well as provide proof of immunizations/immunity, health insurance and CPR by the published due date.

A student must adhere to professional, legal and ethical standards for a healthcare professional which determine acceptable behavior of the practical or registered nurse. The final determination for eligibility to take the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN is made solely by the Alabama Board of Nursing after review of the candidate’s application.  Proof of citizenship will be requested by the Alabama Board of Nursing.

It is important for prospective nursing students to know about the Alabama Board of Nursing’s regulations on the review of candidates for eligibility for initial and continuing licensure. Refer to the Nurse Practice Act and the Alabama Administrative Code located on the Alabama Board of Nursing website (https://abn.alabama.gov/).

Program Expectations

Students admitted into the Mobility Program are expected to comply with the Health Science Program Regulations and Expectations as published in the Programs of Study section of the Wallace State College Catalog.

Progression

In order to progress in the Mobility Nursing Program, the student is expected to meet specific requirements:

1. A student must maintain a grade of “C” or better in ALL general education and nursing courses and an “S” (Satisfactory) in the clinical component when appropriate. A minimum grade of 75 constitutes a “C” in nursing courses.
2. A student with a grade of less than “C” and/or an unsatisfactory clinical evaluation in the mobility course will be ineligible to continue in the Mobility Nursing Program.
3. If a student has a documented extenuating circumstance that should be considered related to a withdrawal or failure, the student may submit a letter to the Wallace State Community College Admissions Committee for a decision on repeating a course or readmission to the program after receiving a recommendation from the Program Chair.
4. A student must demonstrate competence in pharmacology theory as well as calculating drugs and dosages. Tests will be given to assess the student’s competence in calculating drugs and dosages within the nursing program.
5. A student must adhere to professional, legal and ethical standards for a healthcare professional. The nursing department reserves the right to determine behaviors that are inappropriate or that may cause harm to a client. Students who exhibit behaviors that violate standards of a healthcare professional are subject to dismissal. The WSCC-DNE reserves the right to permanently dismiss from the program any student who is refused the use of the facilities by a clinical agency.
6. A student must be in compliance with all clinical requirements for the duration of their enrollment in the program. 

The faculty reserves the right to review a student's progress at any time. Because of the nature of nursing, there are certain behaviors, interpersonal relationships, and affective standards that must be maintained. Failure of a student to meet these standards is cause for termination for the Nursing Program. 

NUR 209 Withdrawal or Failure to Progress

Students who have not successfully completed NUR 209, either by withdrawal or failure to progress, do not have a reinstatement option to the accelerated NUR 209 Mobility track. Students who fail to progress in NUR 209 are eligible to transition to the following spring NUR 112 course should space be available. 

A transition option to NUR 112 is available to NUR 209 students during the fall semester drop/add period, should the student feel that a traditional program would best serve their learning needs. 

NOTE: NUR courses at WSCC are offered in the hybrid format with on-campus requirements.