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Eligibility Criteria

Once selected for the program, students are required to provide the following: drug screen, background check, physical exam showing ability to meet essential functions, record of immunizations, and American Heart Association CPR. A laptop (not ipads or tablets) and internet access is required to complete the nursing program. A computer is not included in the expenses. Each student must maintain medical insurance. A medical insurance plan through Commercial Travelers Mutual Insurance Company is available. More information is provided once students are admitted to the program regarding the requirements.

HIV or HEPATITIS B REPORTING POLICY

Public law #102-141, Section 633, and “The Alabama Infected Health Care Worker Management Act” require HIV or Hepatitis B infected healthcare workers to notify the State Health Officer within 30 days of the time the diagnosis is confirmed.  Physicians caring for HIV or Hepatitis B infected healthcare workers are mandated to notify state health officials within 7 days of the diagnosis.  All students are required to comply with this law.

ESSENTIAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The Alabama Community College System endorses the Americans' with Disabilities Act. In accordance with College policy, when requested, reasonable accommodations may be provided for individuals with disabilities.

Physical, cognitive, psychomotor, affective and social abilities are required in unique combinations to provide safe and effective nursing care. The applicant/student must be able to meet the essential eligibility criteria with or without reasonable accommodations throughout the program of learning. Admission, progression and graduation are contingent upon one's ability to demonstrate the essential eligibility criteria delineated for the nursing programs with or without reasonable accommodations. The nursing programs and/or its affiliated clinical agencies may identify additional essential eligibility criteria. The nursing programs reserve the right to amend the essential eligibility criteria as deemed necessary.

In order to be admitted and to progress in the nursing program one must possess a functional level of ability to perform the duties required of a nurse. Admission or progression may be denied if a student is unable to demonstrate the essential eligibility criteria with or without reasonable accommodations.

The essential eligibility criteria delineated are those deemed necessary the Alabama Community College System nursing programs. No representation regarding industrial standards is implied. Similarly, any reasonable accommodations made will be determined and applied to the respective nursing program and may vary from reasonable accommodations made by healthcare employers.

The essential eligibility criteria delineated below are necessary for nursing program admission, progression and graduation and for the provision of safe and effective nursing care. The essential eligibility criteria include but are not limited to the ability to:

  • Sensory Perception
    • Visual
      • Observe and discern subtle changes in physical conditions and the environment
      • Visualize different color spectrums and color changes
      • Read fine print in varying levels of light
      • Read for prolonged periods of time
      • Read cursive writing
      • Read at varying distances
      • Read data/information displayed on monitors/equipment
    • Auditory
      • Interpret monitoring devices
      • Distinguish muffled sounds heard through a stethoscope
      • Hear and discriminate high and low frequency sounds produced by the body and the environment
      • Effectively hear to communicate with others
    • Tactile
      • Discern tremors, vibrations, pulses, textures, temperature, shapes, size, location and other physical characteristics
    • Olfactory
      • Detect body odors and odors in the environment
    • Communication/ Interpersonal Relationships
      • Verbally and in writing, engage in a two-way communication and interact effectively with others, from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds
      • Work effectively in groups
      • Work effectively independently
      • Discern and interpret nonverbal communication
      • Express one's ideas and feelings clearly
      • Communicate with others accurately in a timely manner
      • Obtain communications from a computer
    • Cognitive/Critical Thinking
      • Effectively read, write and comprehend the English language
      • Consistently and dependably engage in the process of critical thinking in order to formulate and implement safe and ethical nursing decisions in a variety of health care settings
      • Demonstrate satisfactory performance on written examinations including mathematical computations without a calculator
      • Satisfactorily achieve the program objectives Motor Function
      • Handle small delicate equipment/objects without extraneous movement, contamination or destruction
      • Move, position, turn, transfer, assist with lifting or lift and carry clients without injury to clients, self or others
      • Maintain balance from any position
      • Stand on both legs
      • Coordinate hand/eye movements
      • Push/pull heavy objects without injury to client, self or others
      • Stand, bend, walk and/or sit for 6-12 hours in a clinical setting performing physical activities requiring energy without jeopardizing the safety of the client, self or others
      • Walk without a cane, walker or crutches
      • Function with hands free for nursing care and transporting items
      • Transport self and client without the use of electrical devices
      • Flex, abduct and rotate all joints freely
      • Respond rapidly to emergency situations
      • Maneuver in small areas
      • Perform daily care functions for the client
      • Coordinate fine and gross motor hand movements to provide safe effective nursing care
      • Calibrate/use equipment 
      • Execute movement required to provide nursing care in all health care settings
      • Perform CPR and physical assessment
      • Operate a computer
    • Professional Behavior
      • Convey caring, respect, sensitivity, tact, compassion, empathy, tolerance and a healthy attitude toward others
      • Demonstrate a mentally healthy attitude that is age appropriate in relationship to the client
      • Handle multiple tasks concurrently
      • Perform safe, effective nursing care for clients in a caring context
      • Understand and follow the policies and procedures of the College and clinical agencies
      • Understand the consequences of violating the student code of conduct
      • Understand that posing a direct threat to others is unacceptable and subjects one to discipline
      • Meet qualifications for licensure by examination as stipulated by the Alabama Board of Nursing
      • Not to pose a threat to self or others
      • Function effectively in situations of uncertainty and stress inherent in providing nursing care
      • Adapt to changing environments and situations
      • Remain free of chemical dependency
      • Report promptly to clinical and remain for 6-12 hours on the clinical unit
      • Provide nursing care in an appropriate time frame
      • Accepts responsibility, accountability, and ownership of one's actions
      • Seek supervision/consultation in a timely manner
      • Examine and modify one's own behavior when it interferes with nursing care or learning

Upon admission, an individual who discloses a disability can request reasonable accommodations. Individuals will be asked to provide documentation of the disability in order to assist with the provision of appropriate reasonable accommodations.  Coastal Alabama Community College will provide reasonable accommodations, but is not required to substantially alter the requirements or nature of the program or provide accommodations that inflict an undue burden on the College.  In order to be admitted one must be able to perform all of the essential eligibility criteria with or without reasonable accommodations.  If an individual's health changes during the program of learning, so that the essential eligibility criteria cannot be met with or without reasonable accommodations, the student will be withdrawn from the nursing program. The nursing faculty reserves the right at any time to require an additional medical examination at the student's expense in order to assist with the evaluation of the student's ability to perform the essential eligibility criteria.

Requests for reasonable accommodations should be directed to: Mr. Lee Barrentine: Lee.Barrentine@coastalalabama.edu

For Applicants Information:

The Alabama Board of Nursing will require applicants to answer the following questions when applying to take the licensure examination at the conclusion of a nursing program of study. Eligibility to take the examination is the decision of the ABN; graduation from an accredited school does not ensure eligibility.

  1. Have you ever been arrested for, been charged with, been convicted of, entered a plea of guilty to, entered a plea of nolo contender or no contest for, received deferred prosecution or adjudication for, had judgment withheld for, received pretrial diversion for, or pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity or mental defect to any crime other than a minor traffic violation in any state, territory, or country? A crime related to driving while impaired or while under the influence of any substance is not a “minor traffic violation.”
  2. In the past five years, have you abused alcohol, drugs (whether legal or illegal, prescribed or unauthorized), and/or other chemical substances or received treatment or been recommended for treatment for dependency to alcohol, drugs (whether legal or illegal, prescribed or unauthorized), and/or other chemical substances?
  3. Have you ever been arrested or convicted for driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol?
  4. In the past five years, have you had, or do you now have, a physical or mental health problem that may impair your ability to provide safe nursing care?
  5. Has the licensing authority of any state, territory, or country denied, revoked, suspended, reprimanded, fined, accepted your surrender of, restricted, limited, placed on probation, or in any other way disciplined your nursing and/or any other occupational license, registration, certification, or approval?
  6. Is the Board of Nursing or other licensing authority of any state, territory, or country, including but not limited to the Alabama Board of Nursing, currently investigating you?
  7. Is disciplinary action pending against you with the Board of Nursing or other licensing authority of any state, territory, or country, including but not limited to the Alabama Board of Nursing?
  8. Have you ever been placed on a state and/or federal abuse registry?
  9. Has any branch of the armed services ever administratively discharged you with any characterization of service besides “Honorable” and/or court-martialed you?

A “yes” answer will not necessarily prevent you from eligibility but will require submission of an explanation accompanied by certified documents.

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