Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does the LPN/RN program last once you have been accepted?
Once you actually enter the LPN program, it is 3 semesters (approximately one year).
The ASN (RN) program is 4 semesters (approximately 16 months).
The Transitional (LPN to RN) is 2 semesters (if you graduated the PN program at Ivy Tech in 2008 and after. It is 3 semesters (if you graduated before 2008 from Ivy Tech OR you are coming from another college).
2. How long will it take to finish the program, including pre-requisites, co-requisites, and nursing courses?
This varies for each student, and whether that student needs any basic school courses prior to taking college level courses. It also depends on whether or not the student is going part time or full time to classes. It can take anywhere from 2 or 3 semesters and up to 4 or 5 semesters to finish pre-requisite and co-requisite courses for the ASN program. It is not mandatory that the co-requisite courses be finished before getting into the program, only that they are completed by the time you graduate from the nursing program. The only ones that are mandatory are the four pre-requisite courses. These CAN be completed over 2 semesters if the student is college ready. As you can see, this is a difficult question to answer. It could take between 2 years and 4 years total (depending on which program the student is applying to) from start to graduation. If a student has transfer credits, this will naturally shorten the time of completion.
3. What is the total cost of the LPN/RN program?
The LPN program is a total of 43 credit hours (including general studies courses) and the RN program is a total of 69 credit hours (including general studies courses). You would multiply the current cost per credit hour times the total number of credit hours to get the actual tuition cost. In addition to tuition cost, you can expect to spend another $3,000.00 - $4,000.00 for textbooks, lab fees, testing fees, uniforms, misc. items such as stethoscope and blood pressure cuff, etc. You should plan on an estimated $7,000.00 - $8,000.00 for the PN program and $10,000.00 - $12,000.00 for the ASN program. This is an estimation only…costs can vary somewhat.
4. What are the classes that are required to get into the nursing program?
The pre-requisites for the nursing program are the same, no matter what program you are applying for. You need to complete the following:
ENGL 111 – English Composition
PSYC101 – Intro to Psychology
APHY 101 – Anatomy and Physiology I
APHY 102 – Anatomy and Physiology II
The ASN (RN) program requires several co-requisite courses as well but it is not mandatory that these courses be completed before entering the nursing program. It is required that they be completed by the time you graduate the nursing program. We recommend that you do as many co-requisites as you can before starting your nursing courses, however, so that your work load will not be overwhelming once those classes begin.
5. What courses would transfer from my previous college?
We accept all courses from any accredited college that you attended. The pre-requisites and co-requisites must be equivalent of the required courses for the nursing program at Ivy Tech Community College. For example, ENG 131 taken at IUS is the equivalent to Ivy Tech’s ENGL 111. The Registrar will evaluate all transcripts to see which courses will be accepted.
6. Do Anatomy and Physiology credits still transfer after ten years?
As a general rule, credits do not transfer after ten years. In particular, any math or science course that is over ten years old. If you have a Bachelor’s degree, the transfer credits are good for fifteen years. In some cases, we will accept general education courses like English or Psychology if it is not too much over the ten year cut off and after 15 years if you have a degree. Courses like Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Chemistry, etc., would have to be retaken, if not. One thing we consider when transferring credits is whether or not you have been working in the field of your degree. If so, that is also taken into consideration and can possibly extend the length of time that credits will be accepted.
7. I received B’s and C’s in my pre-requisites. Should I retake these courses?
While we do not like to encourage the retaking of courses if you have passed them, in some cases you should. The four pre-requisites required for the nursing program are awarded points according to the grade you received. This, along with your TEAS test score, determines who gets into the program. If you have C’s, the chances of getting into the ASN program decrease greatly. One or two B’s can also limit your eligibility. However, we stress the importance of getting the grades you need the first time around. You can accumulate too many credits to complete an Associate’s degree if you take classes over or if you enroll and then withdraw from too many classes. There is a limit to how many credit hours you can accumulate and still be eligible to complete an Associate’s degree. For this reason, we discourage the retaking of classes. You can repeat a class once without permission. If you choose to repeat that class a second time, you must obtain permission from the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs.
8. If I do not get accepted into the ASN (RN) program, can I apply for the LPN program?
Yes. In order to be considered for the LPN program, you must submit an application separately at the time you are applying to the ASN program. You can apply to both programs at the same time. Seats to both programs are awarded numerically to the top scores with the highest scores going to those that applied to the ASN program and the next 40 going to LPN applicants.
9. Is there a waiting list for either program?
We do not keep a waiting list for the nursing programs. After we accept the students for the program, we keep an alternate list which we use to select students to take a seat if there are students who decline their seat. Once the program begins, the alternate lists are no longer valid. Each student who does not make it into the program must submit another application for the next program if they would like to be considered as an applicant.
10. What are my options if I do not get accepted into the program?
There are always options. First, you can wait for the next program and apply again. We accept students every January and every August. You can finish up any co-requisite courses while you are waiting for the next application process to begin. You can always retake the TEAS exam if you feel you can score higher, thus increasing your total points. If you did not pass the TEAS, you can try again (the test can be taken 3 times in a 2-year period). Not everyone will make it into the nursing program, so if you would like to pursue another avenue, we will gladly sit down with you and discuss other options. We have several wonderful programs in the health sciences division that may better suit your needs. Upon reviewing your transcripts, you may have acquired enough credit hours to complete an Associate’s degree in General Studies while waiting to get into the nursing program. This is an important option to consider so that you do not exceed the minimum amount of credit hours while your major is still listed as Undecided/Nursing.
11. What is the difference in the pay as an ASN and a BSN.
If you are working as a Registered Nurse, there is no difference in the pay scale, regardless if you hold an Associate’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree. The difference in the two is this: If you think you may want to move into the administrative area of nursing, then choosing to pursue your Bachelor’s degree would be recommended. If you want to teach, you need to continue your studies and obtain a Master’s degree. For these areas, you could make a higher salary, but not always. As a general rule, our credits transfer easily with cooperating universities that offer the ASN to BSN option, should you decide to further your studies.
12. What school can I transfer my credits to in order to continue my education as a BSN?
Most universities accept our credits. There are several one-year programs offered locally for the ASN – BSN program. If you think you may want to pursue a Bachelor’s degree at some point, we will advise you on some courses that may work better than others for transfer so that you do not have to repeat general studies courses at another university.
13. When should I take my TEAS test?
We will advise you when you need to test as you work towards completing your pre-requisite courses. Generally, if you are applying to the spring program, the deadline to apply is September 1st of the previous year. TEAS testing usually spans over a period from the month of June up to the September 1st deadline. For fall applicants, the deadline is April 1st. Testing runs from the first of December up to the deadline of April 1st. This test can be taken 3 times in a 2-year period so we recommend taking it early on in the testing dates so that you can take it again if you need to. Do not wait until the last minute to take the test. If you fail it, you won’t have a chance to take it again before the deadline because there is a 30-day waiting period between test dates.
14. I am a current student at another Ivy Tech campus and I am currently in their nursing program. I would like to transfer into the Sellersburg nursing program. Am I allowed to transfer in the middle of the program?
We do accept transfer students from other Ivy Tech campuses if we have seats available. Our returning students get first priority if a seat is available but we will consider transfer students as well. Since the curriculum is statewide mandated, it is usually is not a problem transferring to another campus if there is room in the class.
15. I am currently enrolled in a nursing program at another institution and would like to transfer to Ivy Tech’s program. Will I still have to complete the admission process for the program if I have taken program specific courses at another school?
Yes. Generally, nursing courses do not transfer from college to college unless it is within the Ivy Tech system. You can submit the syllabi and course descriptions of the courses you have completed, and the Dean of Nursing will evaluate these courses to see if they are equivalent of the same course given at Ivy Tech. If it is, then the student must take an exam to see if he/she meets the requirements of that course. If this is successful, the Dean will evaluate and make a decision as to whether or not the course will transfer. Even with this, a student transferring from another college must still go through the application and selection process. If that student does not have enough points for admittance, he/she will not be eligible for Ivy Tech’s nursing program.
16. How and when can I complete the online Nursing Information Session?
After you have applied for admission to Ivy Tech Community College, you will be given an email address and access to Campus Connect (the college’s website). You should automatically be able to access the information session on Blackboard (the online class area of Campus Connect). If you are not a student at Ivy Tech/Sellersburg, you will not be able to access it. If that is the case, you must make an appointment with Lorna Strojny to set up a time to be advised. You may make this appointment by contacting the Health Science’s Administrative Assistant, Angelia Morrow, at (812) 246-3301, ext. 4191 to request an appointment time.
17. What are the criteria for acceptance into the nursing program?
• Apply to the college. This can be done at our website at www.ivytech.edu/sellersburg or by coming into the college and submitting an application in the Office of Admission.
• Submit an official high school transcript or GED, as well as any college transcripts where you took courses.
• Take the COMPASS exam to determine whether or not you will need to complete any basic skills courses before enrolling in college level coursework. If you have attended college elsewhere, or you have taken your SAT exam, you can apply for a waiver instead of taking this exam. Student Services will advise you on how to do this.
• Enroll in classes. You can now begin taking courses at Ivy Tech. If you do not need basic skill courses, you can begin immediately enrolling in the pre-requisites and co-requisites required for nursing. Enroll early because classes are limited and fill up early!
• Take the nursing information session on Blackboard or meet with an advisor to get the information you need about the application process into the nursing program.
• Complete your four pre-requisite courses. These four courses must be completed one entire semester before the next nursing program begins in order to be eligible to apply.
• Take your TEAS exam. If you are enrolled in your last pre-requisite, it’s okay to go ahead and take the TEAS. The test score is good 2 years so if you take it and feel you have scored well enough, you will not have to take it again if applying within 2 years of the date you took the exam. The test fee is $35.00 each time you take it. It consists of 4 sections, and the following are the minimum scores you must get in order to pass the exam:
a. Reading Comprehension - 80%
b. Math - 60%
c. Science - 60%
d. English - 70%
If you do fail one category, you must take the entire exam again.
• Submit an application to the program. Applications are posted outside of office R13 during the time span of the application process for each program. You may submit applications for the spring program beginning June 1st. For the fall program, you may submit an application beginning December 1st. For the Transitional program beginning in May, you may submit an application beginning October 1st.
• In your application packet, you MUST include an unofficial copy of ALL college transcripts. For example, if you attended 3 colleges before attending Ivy Tech, you will need to submit unofficial transcripts from EACH college as well as your Ivy Tech transcript.
• If applying to the Transitional program, you must also include a copy of your unencumbered INDIANA LPN license.
• NO INCOMPLETE PACKETS WILL BE CONSIDERED!!!! NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!!
• Now wait for acceptance letters to be sent out. Do not call the office to inquire about the status of the application processing. You must wait until letters are mailed. All applicants will receive a letter regarding their application status.
18. What time are the classes for the nursing program? Is it a full-time program?
Any pre-requisite or co-requisite courses may be taken at the discretion of the student. Classes are offered day and evening (and some Saturdays). Once admitted to the actual nursing program, it is a full-time program. Students should be prepared to commit to Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. This will vary according to the courses you are enrolled in each semester. Sometimes you may be required to be here or at the clinical site until 7:00 p.m., but this is not often. Generally, you are in the classroom/lab setting 2-3 days per week and at the clinical site 2 days per week. On the days you are at the clinical site, the hours are generally from around 6:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. There are NO evening classes for nursing coursework. Any unfinished co-requisite coursework must be taken at times the student is not required to be available for nursing courses.
19. Will I be able to work while I am in the program?
Many of our students work while attending classes. However, we must stress that it is extremely difficult to work full-time and be successful in your coursework. We suggest that if you must work, try to limit yourself to less than 20 hours per week. This is a fast-paced program and very time-consuming. You will need all the time you can find to study and prepare. A sure way to set yourself up for failure is to try and work a full-time job and meet the demands of this program.
20. Do I have to have my pre-requisites completed before applying to the program or can I apply while still taking them?
You can apply while still enrolled in your prerequisites because our application deadline usually occurs well before the semester ends. Just make sure there is a semester gap between when you finish your pre-requisites and the program you are applying to.
21. What healthcare facilities does Ivy Tech contract with for clinical coursework?
This varies from semester to semester but we have affiliation agreements with almost all of the area hospitals and some of the long-term care facilities. You could possibly be sent to several different sites during your program or you could take two or three rotations at one hospital, but be in different departments each time.
22. Am I required to have a Certified Nursing Assistant’s license to be eligible for the nursing program?
No. We do not require that you have this training prior to getting into the nursing program. Once you are in the program and complete the first semester, you will have the option of taking the CNA exam to acquire your license if you so desire. This is NOT mandatory; we only offer it as a courtesy to our students if they would like to test for it.
THE DEADLINES FOR APPLYING TO THE NURSING PROGRAMS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
LPN and/or ASN for spring:
Applications accepted beginning June 1st. Deadline to apply is September 1st. Letters of acceptance will be mailed out by September 30th.
LPN and/or ASN for fall:
Applications accepted beginning December 1st. Deadline to apply is April 1st. Letters of acceptance will be mailed out by May 30th.
Transitional LPN – ASN
Summer: Applications accepted beginning October 1st. Deadline to apply is February 1st. Letters of acceptance will be mailed out by February 28th.
YOU MAY TAKE THE TEAS FOR THE PROGRAM YOU ARE APPLYING TO DURING THE DATES OF APPLICATION FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM. YOU MUST ATTEND AN INFORMATION SESSION OR VIEW THE INFORMATION SESSION ON BLACKBOARD VIA CAMPUS CONNECT PRIOR TO TESTING.
DO NOT CALL THE OFFICE INQUIRING ABOUT THE STATUS OF YOUR APPLICATION. ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY LETTER ONLY!
Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date to:
Lorna Strojny
Office R13
Or may be mailed to:
Lorna Strojny
c/o Ivy Tech Community College
8204 Hwy. 311
Sellersburg, IN 47172
MAKE SURE YOUR APPLICATION PACKET IS COMPLETE WITH ALL REQUIRED MATERIAL!
23. How do I begin the Admission process to Ivy Tech?
In order to apply for admission to become a student at Ivy Tech, the first step is to complete the application for admission online at www.ivytech.edu/sellersburg. There is no application fee to apply for admission. Specific admission requirements can also be found on our website.
Dean School of Health Sciences
Dean School of Public and Social Services
ext 4289
Kathy Nelson
Department Chair in Nursing
ext 4226
Susan Mayden
Instructor/Program Chair School of Respiratory Care
ext 4289
Pam Burton
Assistant Professor/Chair of Medical Assisting
ext 4198
Tonya Broughton
Assistant Professor in Nursing
ext 4223
Bonnie Clark
Assistant Professor in Nursing
ext 4177
BJ Freeman
Associate Professor in Nursing
ext 4229
Kelly Gibson
Instructor of Medical Assisting
ext 4297
Jan Gray
Instructor of Respiratory Care
ext
Betty Greaver
Instructor of Medical Assisting
ext 4316
Dana Heath
Instructor of Nursing
ext 4192
Sue Jewell
Associate Professor in Nursing
ext 4195
Bridget Kay
Instructor of Nursing
ext 4226
Kristy Lewis
Instructor of Medical Assisting
ext 4199
Kristen Needler-Hosmer
Instructor in Nursing
ext 4305
Deb Rawles
Professor of Medical Assisting
ext 4218
Brandy Royalty
Instructor of Nursing
ext 4193
Angela Sparkman
Instructor Medical Laboratory Technician
ext 4317
Kim Speth
Assistant Professor in Nursing
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Elizabeth Stockdell
Assistant Professor in Nursing
ext 4227
June Tackett
Assistant Professor in Nursing
ext 4196
Lorna Robin Strojny
Health Division/Faculty Assistant
ext 4191
Angela Morrow
Health Division Secretary
ext 4191