Screening Criteria & Essential Functions

Required Items for Entry (Prior to acceptance and enrollment in the program): 

☐ Must be at least 17 years of age upon application to the program. 

☐ Must have an active unrestricted Nursing Assistant Certification through the California Department of Public Health.  

☐ Applicant must provide proof of graduation from (one of the following): 

          ☐ An accredited high school in the United States by transcripts (Transcripts must be an official SEALED document)
          ☐ Documentation of a passing score on the California High School Equivalency Exam (GED/HiSet)  
          ☐ Official evaluation of international diploma/degree.
          (Foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a recognized foreign evaluation service)**

  ☐ Students will need to be able to pass a physical, criminal background check, and drug screening. Please do not get these verifications until you are accepted into the program.

 

In addition to the required items above, the following criteria will be used to determine entrance into the program: 

Criteria

Possible
Points

Notes

Admission Assesment

Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) 

  • TEAS Test Version 7 must be taken within the last 3 years. Please refer to the SCE testing center to schedule test (TEAS composite score will not be rounded up).
  • Must score at least 61% to have points considered as part of the application. 
  • Students not achieving at least 61% will be referred for remediation before being able to retest for future cohorts.

10 points Maximum

Points Distribution

Score %           Merit Points

☐ 90-100%             10 pts

☐ 78-89%               8 pts

☐ 71-77%               6 pts

☐ 61-70%               4 pts

☐ <60%                  0 pts

Health Careers and Related Certifications 

☐ Certified Nursing Assistant (5 points) Required
*students will automatically receive points for a valid/current CNA license

Additional Points:

☐ Certified Medical Assistant (5 points)
☐ Medical Assistant (3 points)
☐ Medic, Corpsman (5 points) 
     o     Must be >12 months of bedside care.
☐ Emergency Medical Technician National Registry (3 points)  
☐ AA/AS/BS/BA/MS/MA = (1 point maximum) Must provide official sealed document with application to receive point*
☐ Others will be determined at the discretion of the Director of Vocational Nursing (2 points maximum).  

10 points Maximum

 

 

Health Related Work Experience

Health related work experience within the last 5 years.  

Examples: 

  • Patient Care Technician
  • ER Technician
  • Home Health Aide
  • Medical Assistant

5 points Maximum

 

Must include a dated letter from the employer(s) on company letterhead with application documents. Letters must list job title, duties, dates of paid employment, and must be signed by a company official.   

All health-related work experience will be approved by the Director of Vocational Nursing. Family-related care is excluded.

Interview: **Based on scores from the previous three categories, selected candidates will be invited to interview**     

Interview will be based on questions from Interview Rubric.
Possible Panel: Dean, VN Director, STV Counselor, STV Director, VN Faculty 

15 Points Maximum

 

Rubric will include Commitment to the field, Professionalism, Accountability, and Awareness of the Program 

Rubric

Life Experiences/Special Circumstances

**Will be completed during the interview process**

Personal Statement
Write a statement of between 350 – 500 words describing a situation or circumstances related to the personal statement topics.  The following are examples of circumstances that can be included: single parent, deployed spouse, family caregiver, death of family member within 6 months, medical problem, financial issues.  

For Veteran and Military – please provide either a copy of DD214 form (for Veteran) or valid Military ID. 

For the spouse of a Veteran – please provide a valid military dependent ID card.  

5 Points  Maximum 

Personal Statement Topics

a.    First-generation post-secondary includes college, career training, noncredit, or adult education. 
b.    Need to work (Need to work means student is working at least part time while completing                 academic  work) or low family income.  
c.    Difficult personal and family situation/circumstances  
d.    Veteran or Active-Duty Military  
e.    Spouse of Veteran  
f.     Cultural barriers  

Total Maximum Points= 45 Points

*It is the applicant’s responsibility to request/order official transcripts from high schools and post-secondary institutions attended.  Transcripts must be received in a sealed envelope. To be considered, all foreign transcripts must be translated and evaluated for United States equivalency by an official U.S. service.

Essential Functions

All applicants are required to meet the essential functions for success in the vocational nursing program.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

  • Perform prolonged, extensive, considerable standing/walking, lifting, positioning, pushing, and/or transferring patients.
  • Possess the ability to perform fine motor movements with hands and fingers.
  • Possess the ability for extremely heavy effort (lift/carry 50 lbs. or more).
  • Perform considerable reaching, stooping, bending, knelling, and crouching.

SENSORY DEMANDS:

  • Color vision: ability to distinguish and identify colors (may be corrected with adaptive devices).
  • Distance vision: ability to see clearly 20 feet or more.
  • Depth perception: ability to judge distance and space relationships.
  • Near vision: ability to see clearly 20 inches or less.
  • Hearing: able to recognize a full range of tones.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

  • Exposure to infections and contagious disease, without prior notification.
  • Exposure to blood borne diseases.
  • Exposure to hazardous agents, body fluids and wastes.
  • Exposure to odorous chemicals and specimens.
  • Exposure to products containing latex.
  • Subject to hazards of flammable, explosive gases.
  • Subject to burns and cuts.

COGNITIVE/PSYCHOSOCIAL DEMANDS:

  • Handle numerous interruptions.
  • Handle emergency or crisis situations.
  • Care of patients and family with different religious, culture, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, psychological and physical disabilities, and under a wide variety of circumstances.
  • Care of patients and family facing end of life situations.