Readmission Policy
Berkshire Community College
Practical Nursing Program
Readmission Policy
Students applying for readmission into the Practical Nursing program will be accepted on a space available basis once all of the following requirements are met. 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 Practical Nursing 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.
Students, eligible for readmission, must have left the program, within twelve months of readmission. 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 - rectifying any documentation of unprofessional behavior or clinical safety concerns before leaving the program for any reason or in any manner - failure versus withdrawal.
Readmission to the program can occur only within twelve months regardless of the reason for leaving. The candidate for readmission will be required to demonstrate retention of prior nursing knowledge by:
- Passing a secured HESI computerized exam with a score of 850 or greater. A student requesting readmission to LPN 145 or LPN 152, must achieve an 850 on the HESI PN Fundamentals Exam.A student requesting readmission into LPN 162 must achieve an 850 on the HESI PN Exit Exam
- Passing formalized psychomotor skills testing: Skills include a sterile procedure consisting of either a sterile dressing change or urinary catheterization and medication administration including an insulin mix and an IM injection for readmission to LPN 145, LPN 152, and LPN 162.
Readmission Procedure
Step #1 - The student will provide a written petition to Dean of Nursing via email by Oct 1st for readmission into Intercession, spring, or summer PN courses. Late petitions will not be considered. The student will complete a written petition form indicating their name, and the semester requested for readmission. If the reason for a student leaving the program was medical in nature, a student must have a letter from their health care provider stating that student can perform the essential functions of the program.
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 PN 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 LPN 145 will take the HESI PN Fundamentals Exam the November and/or December prior to Intercession readmission.
- Students seeking readmission into LPN 152 will take the HESI PN Fundamentals Exam the November and/or December prior to spring readmission.
- Students seeking readmission into LPN 162 will take the HESI PN Exit Exam the November and/or December prior to summer readmission.
Students seeking readmission into LPN 142 will not have to take a HESI exam or psychomotor skills test but will have to follow all other parts of the Readmission Policy.
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 Fundamentals and two versions for the HESI PN Exit Exam; therefore, only one attempt for each version is permitted.
Any HESI exams taken as part of the program are not acceptable alternatives. A student needing to take the second version of either HESI exam, must notify the Testing Center of the need of the second version of the exam at the time of scheduling the exam. 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.
- Students requesting readmission into LPN 145 or LPN 152 must successfully pass HESI PN Fundamentals.
- Students requesting readmission to LPN 162 must successfully pass HESI PN Exit Exam. A score of 850 or above is considered passing.
Step #4 - Upon successful scoring on HESI, students requesting readmission into LPN145/152/162, 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 skill(s)’s testing appointment. 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: PN Faculty Committee, 1/30/19, 8/6/19; Reviewed: 11/20/19, 5/28/20; Revised: 11/5/20, 3/22/21, 6/28/21, 8/19/21, 11/22/21, 2/14/22, 3/21/22