On-Site Online Nursing Program

Application requests will begin September 30 with a deadline to apply of March 31.

Please do not apply until you have completed ALL General Education Requirements*

Applicants must also pass TEAS and have a clean background check before applying any nursing program.
TEAS test must be taken through Ocean County College and cannot be transferred from another school.

Previous applicants who were not accepted must re-apply every semester.

Applications can be requested by e-mail to advorak@ocean.edu. Please include your medical background with the request.  Example:  LPN, CNA, ER Tech, EMT, PCT

• For background check information, please visit the OCC Castle Branch portal.

Application, letters and transcripts must be sent to Registration and Records by March 31.
Once accepted, a drug test and physical will be required.

About this Program

This is a hybrid course with classroom/clinical components and online components, both of which are vital to the student learning process and success in the course. The program runs for 4 semesters—fall and spring.  This is a selective program with the class chosen by a committee of nursing professors.

The program allows individuals to complete the program by studying at home and attending a one day clinical/colloquium with the faculty member 12-14 hours per day per week.  The course content (didactic) is provided through web-assisted instruction which is a minimum 40 hours of self-study.  It is strongly advised that students do not work full time due to the course load.

The day of the week will change with the semester:  Nursing 1 is on a Friday, Nursing 2 is Monday, Nursing 3 is Thursday, Nursing 4 Tuesday.  The school has the right to make changes to these days.

In order to qualify for this program you must have:

• Applied to Ocean County College via application on website
• All General Education courses completed*.  The courses are:
• ENGL 151 and 152:  English I and II
• PSYC 172:  General Psychology
• CHEM 180: Intro to Chemistry or CHEM 181: Gen. Chemistry I
• BIOL 130 and 131:  Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II (face to face preferred)
• One Math course (except MATH 151) from the list of approved gen. ed. courses
• (MATH 156 recommended)
• One Humanities course from the list of approved gen. ed. courses
• *BIOL 232 Microbiology:  must be completed before Nursing 3.
• General Education classes completed with a minimum grade of “C” and a Cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 2.7 or Bachelor’s Degree*.
• Currently employed for at least 6 months with a “hands-on” patient assessment experience in a hospital or sub-acute (not office) setting:  LPN, CNA, EMT, ER Tech, or PCA only.  You will be asked to provide a copy of License and/or Certification.  Patient experience and GPA weigh heavily for acceptance.
• Proficiency grade (minimum 58.7) on the TEAS test (Test of Essential Academic Skills) which must be taken via the OCC Testing Center.  (We will not accept scores from other schools).
• A “clean” criminal background check from CastleBranch.  That means no criminal offenses on record.  Clinical sites will not allow students with any “hits”, they must be expunged.
• Physically able to attend to bedside care with no restrictions. (see below)

• Excellent knowledge of Word, Excel and Power Point and own your own computer.

Supplemental Applications (by request to advorak@ocean.edu) and requirements must be fully completed by the deadline of March 31^st.  Applications that are incomplete after that date will not be considered for the program*.  TEAS cannot be taken after the deadline and transcripts must be received after applying.

Accepted students will be notified via e-mail in early to mid June.

*If a student is taking one (1) pre-req. course during the spring semester, the application can be submitted pending passing the course.

For course transfer credits:  Any college transcripts must be submitted electronically to Registration and Records in order for classes to be considered for transfer.  A cumulative college GPA of 2.7 or higher is required.  All previous college transcripts (10 years or less) are considered in this grade point average calculation.  Applicants must also provide High School Transcripts.  We do not accept any other school’s nursing courses for transfer. 

*Students with a Bachelor Degree from a regionally accredited college or university must submit official transcripts (electronically preferred) to the Registration and Records Department along with their application.  Applicants must also provide High School Transcripts. 

Although it is not recommended, applicants with a degree can take pre-reqs concurrently with nursing classes, however, A&P I & II must be completed before applying.

We accept a class, every fall semester with an application deadline of March 31.  The class of 20 is chosen usually by June by a committee of hybrid nursing professors.  All applicants will be notified of acceptance via e-mail.

             *****Remember, even if you meet the qualifications, you may not be accepted based upon the committee’s selection and seating availability*****

Clinical will run from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  You must be able to arrive at least 15 minutes before your start time.  Please consider travel time before you apply. 

There will be times when you may have to come to the campus for testing on days other than your clinical day and do practicing in the lab.  Faculty will inform you of this in a timely manner.

Some things to consider before applying:

• Distance.  You must be able to travel to our clinical sites which will include, but is not limited to Monmouth Medical Center, Jersey Shore, Ocean Medical Center, Community Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, Southern Ocean Medical Center, Barnabas Behavioral Health.  Applicants should reside within 1 hour of Ocean County in order to commute to clinical sites and be on time.
• Physical ability.  Students must have no physical restrictions.  For example:  students must be able to lift and turn patients, place them on bedpans, change bedding, help patients into chairs, etc.  Students must be able to perform the work required in the program without limitation.  Students will not be permitted to attend clinical if any illness or injury would interfere with patient safety. 
• Physical requirements.  Students will need a physical exam and be up to date
  on all required vaccinations.  An annual drug test through CastleBranch is also required.
• Study time.  You will be required to self-study a minimum of 30 hours per week.  You must also allow for practice time in the labs which may involve evenings and weekends.  Computer knowledge is a must.  It is strongly advised that students do not work full time.
• Piercings.  All piercings must be removed before clinical. 
• Cost.  The cost of the entire nursing program is approximately $32,000 (tuition, course fees, lap top, uniform).  At this time, books are included in the cost of tuition.
• Acceptance.  Once you are accepted into the on site on line (Hybrid) program, you cannot transfer to the Traditional program in subsequent semesters.  An exception to this would be if you were unsuccessful in the program.  Then you would re-enter in a Traditional seat if available.  If you are out of county, you will be charged that tuition rate.

Previously unsuccessful in program.  If you are applying to re-enter the program after being unsuccessful in nursing the following is the OCC policy #5156:

• Students may apply for readmission one time only.  Readmission requires a student to start the Nursing Program over again.  Applicants for readmission to the Nursing Program must satisfy all new and/or additional admission requirements prior to acceptance, including achieving the minimum grade point average.  Upon acceptance   into the program, students must repeat all NURS courses, regardless of any prior successful grades.  Applicants have two options for readmission:

• Option I:  Retake Anatomy & Physiology I (Biol 130), Anatomy & Physiology II (BIOL 131) and a student success course, all as Ocean County College face-to-face courses.
• Option II:   Successfully achieve an LPN license. The application and letter of employment should be submitted to:

 Ocean County College
ATTN:  Registration and Records
1 College Drive
Toms River, NJ  08754

If you have any questions about your classes transferring, please contact Academic Advising.

PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT THE APPLICATION UNLESS ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE COMPLETED.

If you are not currently and OCC student, you must also complete the college application.