CATEGORY: School of Nursing
(Required committee for review/revisions: Undergraduate Faculty Council)

SUBJECT: Advanced Placement Policy & Procedure: Military Students

COORDINATOR: Associate Dean of Undergraduate Nursing & Student Affairs

Effective: February 19, 2021

POLICY

Individuals who have held military healthcare occupations in the areas including, but not limited to Basic Medical Technician Corpsmen, Army Health Care Specialist, or Air Force Independent Duty Medical Technician are eligible to apply for advanced placement (AP) in the nursing program at Loma Linda University. Evaluation of prior education, testing (if applicable), and recent work experience will be used to determine whether advanced placement is an option.

All military applicants for advanced placement must meet the same eligibility requirements and academic prerequisites as standard BS nursing applicants and complete the following:

  • Minimum passing score for the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)
  • Minimum passing score for the Critical Thinking Exam
  • Minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0
  • Submit proof of honorable discharge from the military (DD Form-214) or current active honorable service
  • Submit transcripts and documentation of military healthcare education and work experience qualifying them for specific military healthcare occupations. This education and experience must meet the equivalency requirements.

Additional Graduation Requirements

  • Must meet all current Catalog requirements for the BS in Nursing
  • Must take required religion units - See Catalog for details (approx. 4 units per year)

Academic Residency Requirements

  • Limit 105 credits from Jr College
  • Must take at least 45 units at LLU (with 32 units at the senior level)
  • Must take at least three clinical courses at LLUSN

PROCEDURE

Student Application Steps:

  1. Contact Student & Alumni Relations (StAR) at 909-558-4923 for an evaluation of prerequisites and state that student is inquiring as a potential military applicant for advanced placement. Have the following to refer to and submit when talking with StAR representative:
    1. A copy of unofficial transcripts in PDF format for review
    2. Proof of honorable discharge from the military (DD Form-214) or current active honorable service
    3. Joint Services Transcript (JST) and work experience qualifying them for specific military healthcare occupations
  2. Apply to LLUSN https://nursing.llu.edu/undergraduate-programs/bs-nursing
  3. Submit to University Records. Email transcripts to: [email protected] (follow directions on website: https://llu.instructure.com/courses/372171/pages/transcripts)
    1. Official transcripts
  4. Start the application process for financial aid.

LLUSN Faculty/Staff Steps:

  1. Follow the general admission protocol.
  2. StAR Department representative will discuss options with students, including availability of 7-quarter, 8-quarter AP Curriculum Plan, or alternate Individualized Curriculum Plan, as appropriate. The student will be given the opportunity to sign the “Advanced Placement Curriculum Plan Option Form” if they choose to enroll in all nursing courses at LLUSN.
  3. Military courses/transcripts/healthcare-related work experience:
    1. Credit will be given for the following equivalent nursing courses (NRSG 231 Foundations of Nursing and NRSG 232 Fundamentals of Nursing) if military healthcare equivalent courses were completed within the past three years or were completed more than three years ago with proof of equivalent military healthcare-related work experience within the past three years.
      1. If military healthcare equivalent courses were taken more than three years ago and military healthcare-related work experience is more than three years ago, the student will have the option to take NRSG 231 Foundations of Nursing and NRSG 232 Fundamentals of Nursing or take the challenge exam(s).
        1. Must pass *challenge exam(s) with a score greater than or equal to the level two benchmark percentile for the test given (for ATI testing) or 76% for other challenge exams.
      2. If applicable, other previously taken military healthcare equivalent course(s) within the last three years or completed more than three years ago, with documented military equivalent healthcare-related work experience completed within the past three years, will be evaluated by the content expert or course coordinator.
        1. If an equivalent course was taken more than three years ago and documented military equivalent healthcare-related work experience was completed more than three years ago, the student will have the option to repeat the course or pass a *challenge exam with a score ≥76%.
  4. *Challenge exams (if needed)
    1. The following is provided to the student:
      1. Course outline
      2. Detailed course objectives
      3. Bibliography and textbook list
      4. Style and format of the examination
      5. Review materials (if applicable)
  5. Admissions Committee evaluates the student for acceptance.
    1. Notify the student of acceptance, waitlist, or denial.

If the student is accepted:

  1. Follow-up emails/coordination with the student and faculty from the undergraduate office, Advising Coordinator, and StAR representative for coordination (ATI, holds, orientation schedule, orientation, ExamSoft, Canvas, parking, etc).
  2. Appropriate holds for Clinical Competency Skills Checklist Evaluation and Dosage Calculation Assessment placed by UG office.
  3. Develop a plan for completing all coursework including humanities, PE, and religion.
  4. The Dosage Calculation Proctored Assessment will be required for all students who are eligible for evaluation of course transfer credit for a prior nursing pharmacology course that has been approved by LLU.
    1. Student will be required to take the Dosage Calculation Proctored Assessment prior to student being cleared to start a nursing clinical course.
      1. The following is provided to a student who will take the Dosage Calculation Proctored Assessment:
        1. Study materials
        2. Style and format of the examination
      2. Passing score ≥ 90%
      3. The Dosage Calculation Assessment must be passed prior to the start of the first quarter.
      4. If a student does not achieve ≥ 90% on their:
        1. 1st attempt - they will be given the opportunity to review and retake within one week. If applicable, remediation with assistance will be provided.
        2. 2nd attempt - they will be required to retake NRSG 305 Nursing Pharmacology.
  5. Post-acceptance evaluation during the quarter:
    1. Skill Competency/Equivalency (Coordinated by Content Expert for Adult Health)
      1. All entering students will have a Clinical Competency Skills Checklist Evaluation during their first quarter with a faculty member or content expert from Adult Health.
        1. Students will be given the Clinical Competency Skills Checklist Evaluation to review.
        2. Faculty will use the Clinical Competency Skills Checklist Evaluation for their course to evaluate for proficiency.
          1. Students must pass all items “satisfactorily” before starting clinicals.
          2. Students will be given an opportunity to review and retake.
        3. Faculty will send the completed Clinical Competency Skills Checklist Evaluation form to the Undergraduate Office at LLUSN for the student file.

Advanced Placement Curriculum Plans

  • If the student is eligible for advanced placement, they may choose to be enrolled in:
    • Standard BS Curriculum Plan (Student will sign the “Advanced Placement Curriculum Plan Option Form”)
    • Standard BS (Advanced Placement 8-quarter) Curriculum Plan
    • Standard BS (Advanced Placement 7-quarter) Curriculum Plan (if space available)
    • Individualized Curriculum Plan for students who have met additional course requirements