Ridgewater College ADN-RN Nursing Program Prerequisites & Reviews.

Nursing program

As a dual enrollment nursing program with Metropolitan State University, students can carry on coursework to conclude their bachelor’s degree upon the conclusion of associate degree requirements.

The program is planned as four years of full-time study, with the first two semesters dedicated to preparatory / prerequisite courses needed for admission to the nursing program.  The Successful completion of five semesters gets an Associate of Nursing degree (AS), awarded by Ridgewater College and qualified to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination.

The Bachelor of Science and Associate Degree Nursing curriculum carries on for three extra semesters leading to a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing (BSN) granted by a collaborating university. All courses, in different formats, will be accessible at a Ridgewater College campus. ​

The two options leading to the Associate in Science degree in nursing are:

The basic nursing program, “Traditional Track,” which entails the completion of the whole three-semester nursing course system and liberal arts prerequisites.

The Advanced Standing credit is granted to licensed practical nurses. Students are urged to continue through to a Bachelor of Science degree in n​ursing.

About the school

Ridgewater College is a technical and community college situated in Willmar and Hutchinson, Minnesota. It was established in 1996 as part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.

Tuition and fees are approximately $14,000

1. The following criteria are required for application to an Associate Degree And Bachelor Of Science Nursing collaborating college or university:

   General admission to an Associate Degree And Bachelor Of Science Nursing collaborating college or university.
   2. Submission of official transcripts from all institutions attended.
   3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 based on the first semester of the Associate Degree And Bachelor Of Science Nursing curriculum plan.
   a. Official transcripts will be used to calculate GPA.
   b. The most recent course grade will be used for the GPA calculation, whether it is higher or lower than previous grades.
   4. Each course of the Associate Degree And Bachelor Of Science Nursing curriculum plan must have been achieved with a letter grade of C or better.
   5. Identification of previous enrollment in a nursing program.
   6. Full acceptance to the Associate Degree And Bachelor Of Science Nursing collaborating college and university is dependent on successful completion of the second semester of the Associate Degree And Bachelor Of Science Nursing curriculum plan, maintaining a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75, including criteria in numbers 3 and 4 above.
   7. All applicants are required to complete the most current Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI), standardized Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) prior to application deadlines. (no max number of attempts)
   8. Advanced standing applicants, Licensed Practical Nurses, must demonstrate:
   a. Licensed practical Nurses (LPN) must maintain unencumbered licensure from any state in the United States.
   9. Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency via examination if (1) English is not their native language; and (2) the applicants have lived in the US fewer than 8 years at the time of application to the program. Applicants are exempt from taking an English proficiency exam if their native language is English or they have been in the US, as a nonnative English speaker, for more than 8 years.

   Minimum scores in the following exams are required to demonstrate English language proficiency:

https://www.ncsbn.org/NCLEX_technicalbrief_PTE_2010.pdf
https://www.ncsbn.org/TOEFL_iBT_Proficiency_Standard_Process.pdf
https://www.ncsbn.org/4554.htm

Selection Criteria for Acceptance/Admission to Associate Degree And Bachelor Of Science Nursing Ranking of applicants will be based on the following criteria:

1. TEAS composite score divided by a factor of 10 (Ex: Composite score of 72% = 7.2)
   2. First semester GPA of Associate Degree And Bachelor Of Science Nursing Program Plan (Ex: 2.75)
   3. The combined total TEAS and GPA score will be utilized to rank applicants for order of acceptance.
   4. In the event of a tied combined total TEAS and GPA score, the applicant with the highest TEAS science sub-score will advance in rank order for acceptance. If a further tie exists, the applicant with the highest TEAS math sub-score will advance in rank order for acceptance.
   5. All applicants, regardless of LPN or Paramedic/EMT status, will be placed into a common applicant pool based on numeric score as identified in criteria 1-3.

​Evidence of having completed the following criteria must be submitted to the Associate Degree And Bachelor Of Science Nursing collaborating college and university prior to the start of Associate Degree And Bachelor Of Science Nursing nursing courses and must remain current throughout the program. Requirements include, but may not be limited to:

1. Documentation of current CPR Healthcare Provider.
   2. Completion of current Minnesota Human Services Background Check
   a. If an applicant has been arrested, charged or convicted of any criminal offense, he or she should investigate the impact that the charge or conviction may have on his or her chances of employment or licensure as a registered nurse and the student’s chances to obtain federal, state and other higher education financial aid (by Minnesota Statute 135A. 157).
   b. If the applicant refuses, or is disqualified as a result of the background study, the applicant will be unable to successfully complete the requirements of the Associate Degree And Bachelor Of Science Nursing program.
   3. Completed health and immunization record, including proof of current immunizations and tuberculosis testing, and/or other requirements as defined by the clinical agency.

   Timelines for application and notification of admission status are as follows:

2. Application tim​eline:
   a. Fall semester start: Application deadline is February 1
   b. Spring semester start: Application deadline is June 1
   2. Notification to applicants by the college or university applicant applied to:           a. Fall semester start:
   i. March 15 applicant notification of accept, deny or waitlist status
   ii. April 1 notification deadline by applicant to respond to the college or university to accept or deny admission to the program
   b. Spring semester start:
   i. July 15 applicant notification of accept, deny or waitlist status
   ii. August 1 notification deadline by applicant to respond to the college or university to accept or deny admission to the program
   3. Application fees and /or deposit fees to accept admission to the Associate Degree And Bachelor Of Science Nursing program are determined by each Associate Degree And Bachelor Of Science Nursing collaborating college or university.
   4. Applications of students not accepted to Associate Degree And Bachelor Of Science Nursing will remain on file through the next admission cycle. If a student chooses to reapply for the next admission cycle, the student must
   a. Complete a new application form
   b. Update any materials needed to maintain currency of admission requirements
   c. Any successive applications will require the student to complete and submit all required information and documents as if applying to Associate Degree And Bachelor Of Science Nursing for the first time.

Contact/address

Ridgewater College

WILLMAR CAMPUS

2101 15th Avenue NW

Willmar MN 56201

(320) 222-5200

http://www.ridgewater.edu/

HUTCHINSON CAMPUS

2 Century Avenue SE

Hutchinson MN 55350

(320) 234-8500

http://www.ridgewater.edu/