Students are admitted to the School of Nursing by April 30th of each year. All inquiries for admission should be addressed to:

Ohio Valley General Hospital School of Nursing
25 Heckel Road
McKees Rocks, Pa. 15136
412-777-6204

The Ohio Valley General Hospital School of Nursing complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which requires educational programs to keep educational records private and to allow students to view their records upon request. Student records are subject for review by the accrediting agencies. The faculty reserves the right to select only those candidates who demonstrate evidence that they will be able to fulfill all the requirements and meet the standards of the School of Nursing. The School reserves the right to make changes without notice in the calendar, curriculum, tuition, fees, policies, procedures, and regulations.

Application
There is a $50 application fee (non-refundable) that is required to be sent with the application. The application includes employment history, names and addresses of three references, three reference forms, and secondary and post-secondary educational history. It also includes questions regarding misdemeanors/felonies. An essay is included in the application. In the essay the applicant is expected to address his/her experiences/activities since last attending school (if more than 6 months has lapsed), accomplishments, reasons for selecting nursing as a career, special reasons for choosing Ohio Valley, and plans for the future.

Applications to the School should be completed as early as possible, since space is limited.

High School Transcript
An official transcript (bearing the seal of the school) must be sent. A minimum QPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale is preferred. The transcript must reflect passing marks in each of the following:

• 4 units of English
• 3 units of Social Studies
• 2 units of Math (one must be Algebra with a “C” or better)
• 2 units of Science (one must be Biology with a lab, one must be Chemistry with a lab, and both must have a “C” or better)

If Algebra, Chemistry, or Biology is missing from the transcript, the applicant can take the approved courses at a local community college. The courses may also be taken online at an approved site. Any applicant not meeting the preferred minimum 2.5 QPA may receive special consideration in regard to their high school QPA and class rank based on faculty consensus of other admission criteria.

A GED is accepted. The Algebra, Biology, and Chemistry requirements, if not obtained in high school, may be taken at a local community college prior to entrance into the program having received a “C” or better in each course. The courses may also be taken online at an approved site.

An applicant who is completing high school at the time of application should have a transcript submitted that is up to date and that reflects the cumulative QPA and required course work that is either completed or in the process. Upon graduation (prior to entrance) an official final high school transcript should be sent to the School of Nursing.

High School Rank
The official high school transcript must note the ranking of the student at the time of graduation. It is preferred that the applicant applying to the School of Nursing rank in the top 2/5 (60 percentile) of his/her high school class.

College Transcripts
Credits obtained for science courses within the past ten years are considered eligible for transfer. All other non-science courses will also be considered for transfer. Both science and non-science credits will require that an official transcript is submitted with the application. If there is a question about the transferability of a particular course, a course outline or syllabus from the course in question is submitted to Ohio Valley or affiliating college as well as a request regarding whether the course is acceptable.

Transfer Credits
The School of Nursing accepts credits from an accredited college provided that the student achieved a grade of “C” or better. An official transcript must be submitted for consideration of credits transferred. The School does not accept any transfer credits for any college course once a student has officially begun the program.

Note: Anatomy and Physiology I with a lab and Anatomy and Physiology II must be taken at the same academic institution to receive credit. The School of Nursing does not accept CLEP scores for any course in the curriculum.

Reference Letters
Three forms are sent out with every information packet; they should be submitted directly to the School of Nursing from the person completing the form. References should be submitted by authority figures who can attest to the applicant’s work ethic, academic ability and character. Examples of appropriate references may include a teacher, principal, guidance counselor, employer, or supervisor. Friends, neighbors, or relatives may not be used as references.

Signed Disclosure Letter
The signed disclosure letter should be returned to the School of Nursing and filed in the applicant’s file; indicating that the applicant has been informed of the retention rate, pass rate, and employment rate of recent graduating classes.

Pre-Admission Examination
The applicant is responsible for scheduling the pre-admission test. There is a $40 fee to take this test, payable by check or cash. The minimum composite score for entry into the program is 60%. This puts the applicant in the 50th percentile. In the event that an unsatisfactory score is achieved, the applicant may retake the test one more time at the discretion of the admissions committee. Review books are available.

Act 33/34 Clearance
All candidates admitted to the program must submit official Act 33 & Act 34 clearance prior to contact with patients in the clinical setting. Date on the clearances must be no longer than one year prior to the start of the first clinical experiences.

Pre-Admission Drug Screen
Any candidate accepted to the School of Nursing must undergo a pre-admission drug screening prior to entry into the program. Drug screens are performed through the hospital’s lab. Any individual with a positive drug screen is directed to follow the policy set forth by the School and Ohio Valley General Hospital.

Formal Interview
Once all of the application materials have been received and the pre-admission exam is completed, a formal interview is scheduled.

Previous Nursing School Education
An applicant with previous nursing school education must complete the application process including an official transcript from the previous school of nursing and a letter of recommendation from the Director of that school. Evaluation of nursing competence will be required on an individual basis as determined by the Faculty Organization Committee.

Competence may be determined by testing, comparison of curriculums, supervised clinical, or a combination of all three.

LPN Advance Standing
An applicant who possesses previous education and/or experience in nursing will be given consideration, on an individual basis, for advanced standing in our RN-diploma program. An official academic transcript from the accredited school of nursing, trade and/or technical school must be submitted with your application. Please include course descriptions with your academic transcript to be evaluated for comparable content hours and subject matter, as taught here at Ohio Valley General Hospital School of Nursing.

Licensed Practical Nurses applying for advanced standing must meet the following conditions:

• Be a graduate of a NLN Accredited practical nursing program with a minimum Q.P.A. of 2.5, verified by official transcripts from the school.
  
  
• Have verification of active licensure in the United States.
  
  
• Have at least one year of experience as an L.P.N. within two years of application for admission.
  
  
• In addition to the required three (3) letters of reference for admission, have a favorable professional reference form the most recent employer.
  
  
• Have successfully met the required admission scores (90%-ile of better for Full Scholarship; 80%-ile or better for Partial Scholarship; 60%-ile or better for Self-pay) on the ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) and ATI critical thinking (50%-ile or better) for entrance into the program.
  
  
• Must sit for the final examination of Introduction to Nursing and successfully pass with a minimum of 75 % or better; and complete the Math Competency exam and successfully pass on the first attempt. The student is not permitted to take either exam (Introduction to Nursing Final and Math Exam) more than once. All scores are final.
  
  
• Must meet all other stated admission requirements for entrance into the School of Nursing program.
  

Admissions Committee
Once all application materials, testing, and the interview is completed, the admissions committee reviews the applicant’s folder. A decision is made regarding admission, and a letter of acceptance or denial is sent to the applicant.

Felonious Act
The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing shall not issue a license or certificate to an applicant for licensure who has been:
Convicted (convicted includes a judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere) of a felonious act prohibited by the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L. 233, NO. 64), known as “The Controlled Substance Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act”.

Convicted of a felony related to a controlled substance in a court of law of the United States or any other stat, territory or country unless:
A.a minimum of ten years has elapsed from the date of the conviction;
B.the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates to the Board significant progress in personal rehabilitation since the conviction such that licensure should not create a substantial risk of further violations;
C.and the applicant otherwise satisfies the requirements of this act.
A person convicted of any felonious act may be prohibited from licensure by the Board of Nursing at any time.