Readmission Policy
Berkshire Community College
Associate Degree Nursing Program
Readmission Policy
Students applying for readmission into the Nursing program need to meet all requirements and follow the readmission procedures stated below. All students who fail or withdraw from the program at any time and wish to return to the nursing program must comply with the admission or readmission policy as published and current at the time the student seeks to return.
Students with two nursing prelicensure RN program failures, two withdrawals, or a combination of, one program failure and one withdrawal, (taken at another institution, at BCC, or in combination) will not be considered for admission or readmission to the program. If a student withdraws or unsuccessfully completes the program due to an unexpected urgent medical leave, with a health care provider’s written documentation at the time of withdrawal, they will be eligible to apply for readmission.
To be eligible for readmission, students must readmit within twelve months of leaving the program. The student must have been in good standing - rectifying any documentation of unprofessional behavior or clinical safety concerns before leaving the program for any reason or in any manner - failure versus withdrawal, in order to be considered for readmission.
Students whose dismissal from the program was due to unsafe clinical practice or unprofessional behavior(s), will not be considered for readmission to the program.
After a period of 10 years, qualified students with two nursing program failures/withdrawals will be considered for admission one time as long as they were in good standing when they left the program and had rectified any documented instances of unprofessional behavior or clinical safety concerns that occurred before they left the program for any reason or in any manner – whether by failure or withdrawal.
Readmission for NUR101
A student who wishes to reapply for NUR101 after a program failure or withdrawal may reapply as per the admission policy. The student may be eligible for immediate readmission for the next semester depending on space availability and if the student:
- Earned or withdrew with an average of “C” for the semester and;
- Scored >19 on the admission’s rubric score and;
- Agrees to enroll in tutoring and;
Eligible students will be ranked by the above criteria if depending on space availability. Students with the highest passing nursing course grade for the semester will be offered readmission first.
Readmission for NUR 102, NUR 201, NUR 202
The candidate for readmission will be required to demonstrate retention of prior nursing knowledge by:
- A student requesting readmission to NUR 102 must achieve an 850 or higher on the version 2 HESI RN Fundamentals exam (initial attempt) or an alternate version for a second attempt.
- A student requesting readmission into NUR 201 or NUR 202 must achieve an 850 or higher on the version 2 HESI RN Fundamentals and version 2 RN Maternity/Pediatric exams (initial attempt) or alternate versions for a second attempt.
- All readmission students are required to pass three formalized psychomotor skills testing: Skills include demonstration of a sterile procedure consisting of either a sterile dressing change or urinary catheterization and medication administration of an insulin mix and an IM injection.
Readmission Procedure
Step #1 - The student will provide a written petition to Dean of Nursing via email by Jan 1st for the spring semester and June 1st for the fall semester. Late petitions will not be considered. The student will complete a written petition form indicating their name, and the semester requested for readmission.
Step #2 - The Nursing Admissions Committee will review all petitions for readmission based on qualifications outlined in the above policy. The Committee will consist of the Dean, a nursing faculty member, representatives from admissions and advising offices and the nursing data analyst. Other members may be added as deemed appropriate by the Dean of Nursing.
Step #3 – Decisions will be made within 2 weeks of deadline. Student will receive an approval or denial letter via email from the Dean of Nursing based on the policy guidelines explaining the committee’s decision and rationale if the student is declined readmission. Students offered readmission to the ADN program are not eligible to defer.
If petition to begin the readmit process is approved, the Nursing Administrative Assistant will contact the applicant regarding scheduling of the HESI exam/exams.
- Students seeking readmission into nursing courses will take the required HESI Exam(s) the January prior to spring readmission term or the July prior to fall readmission term.
The HESI exam is considered a “secured” exam. Students may take each version of the HESI exam only once. There are two versions of the HESI exam for RN Fundamentals and two versions for the RN Maternity/Pediatric exam; therefore, only one attempt for each version is permitted.
Any HESI exams taken as part of the program or for prior readmission consideration are not acceptable alternatives.
A student failing the second version of any exam will need to take an alternate exam in the Testing Center after approval from the Dean of Nursing. The cost of the exam is non-refundable. Once the exam is scheduled, students will be charged the full cost of the exam(s), whether or not the exam is taken. Retake of a failed reentry exam may not happen in time for the requested semester and may delay readmission for an additional semester.
Step #4 - Upon successful scoring on the required HESI exam(s), students requesting readmission into NUR102/201/202, will be scheduled to complete the psychomotor portion of the readmission process. The student must respond to the Dean, in writing, via email, within three business days to confirm the testing appointment for the skill(s). If the student cannot accommodate the appointment date, an alternate appointment will be offered once only.
Evaluation is conducted with faculty and the applicant and is graded as pass or fail.
Students who are readmitted after an academic failure will be required to enroll in tutoring services throughout the nursing program. Failure to enroll in tutoring will result in a written academic warning.
After satisfying the HESI exam(s) and psychomotor skills assessment, students applying for readmission into the Nursing program will be accepted on a space available basis.
Readmit students are required to submit:
- Updated Verification of Student Health History & Physical Exam form completed by their health care provider prior to the first day of classes.
- Documentation of currency of all admission requirements for the program as stated in the Program’s Admission Policy e.g. - immunizations requirements, CORI/SORI, and current CPR certification.
Students accepted for readmission into the program will be subject to the program requirements stipulated in the semester of a student’s re-admission, and thereafter, while the student remains in the program.
Revised: ADN Faculty Committee, 5/22/19, 8/6/19, 11/19/19, 1/24/20, 11/4/20, 12/9/20, 2/25/21, 3/25/21, 6/28/21, 8/19/21, Reviewed 11/23/2021; Revised 02/09/22, 3/9/22, 5/18/22