CHALLENGE & TRANSFER PROGRAM

Who is eligible for this option?

Individuals eligible for this program include LVN/LPN's, Licensed Psychiatric Technicians, and transfer students from accredited nursing programs.

What are the requirements for acceptance into the program?

• Possession of a current California LVN/LPN license.
• Possession of a current Basic Life Support CPR card
• Completion of the Nursing Drug Computation Test with a grade of 90% or higher. This test must be successfully completed prior to the nursing orientation meeting. The applicant may take the test a total of four (4) times. Instructions for taking the test are available in the nursing department.
• Pass the Mathematics Competency Test or complete the Math Placement Test with eligibility for Math 40 or higher. Contact the counseling center (310 660-3405) for information on available testing dates.
• Completion of the health requirements of the ECC Nursing Program prior to completing the first clinical course (N154).
• Completion of the following prerequisites with a minimum GPA of 2.5 prior to beginning the nursing courses.
• Anatomy 30 or 32 (4 units)
• Microbiology 33 (5 units)
• English 1A (3 units)
• Math Placement Test (or pass Math Competency Test)

The following ECC requirements may be taken while the nursing program. (Refer to the college catalog for course prerequisites.)

• Physiology 31 (4 units)
• PE 201 (2 units) (LVN's excepted)
• English 1B (3 units)
• Psychology 5 (3 units) 
• Communication and Analytical Thinking (3-4 units) See Section A, 4.B. in the college catalog for A.S. Degree Requirements.
• The student must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in IN ALL college work completed.

What can I do if my GPA is below 2.5?

Transfer applicants with a GPA of less than 2.5 or who are not eligible to continue in or return to the nursing program at their former institution will be referred to the Appeals Committee for determination of admission status.

If I meet these requirements, do I have to take the nursing courses in any particular sequence?

Yes, nursing courses must be taken in the following sequence, because the curriculum is designed to present content from simple concepts advancing to the complex. If you did not follow this sequence it would limit your ability to be successful.

• Nursing 149 - Advanced Placement - 2 units 8 weeks
• Nursing 154 - Nursing Process and Mental Health - 4 units 8 weeks
• Nursing 155 - Health Assessment -  1 unit 8 weeks
• Nursing 156 - Advanced Nursing Pharmacology - 1 unit 8 weeks
• Nursing 250 - Nursing Process and the Family I -5.5 units 8 weeks
• Nursing 251 - Legal and Ethical Considerations - 1 unit 8 weeks
• Nursing 253 - Intermediate Nursing Process II- 4.5 units 8 weeks
• Nursing 254 - Advanced Nursing Process I - 7 units 8 weeks
• Nursing 255 - Advanced Nursing Process II - 2.5 units 8 weeks
  
  Syllabi for all courses are available for purchase in the college bookstore.

Do I have to take ALL those courses?

Upon admission to the nursing program, the upward mobility student will be integrated into the generic program. However, the upward mobility student has the opportunity to receive credit by examination for the following nursing courses: N155, N156, N250, N251, N253, N254 and N255. Consult the Nursing Student Handbooks or the college catalog for the challenge process. The student must pass the entire course (both theory and lab) to obtain credit by challenge.

What happens if I am unsuccessful in the Challenge Process?

If you are unsuccessful at the challenge of a nursing course, then you are required to enroll in that course and successfully complete it in order to progress through the remaining course sequence. Admission to the course that was challenged unsuccessfully is based on space availability. If more than one student is eligible to enter a specific course and space is limited, the situation will be resolved by random drawing.

Will any of my courses be accepted for transfer credit?

Credit for nursing courses completed at an accredited college will be evaluated on an individual basis by the Director of Nursing or the Director's designee. Course credit can be achieved though the petition or challenge process.

Contact Information:

Email inquiries can be directed to:

Winifred Baldonado
(310) 660-3281
wbaldonado@elcamino.edu

Interim Director of Nursing:
Kim Baily RN, MSN, PhD.
kbaily@elcamino.edu