Admissions

Program Accreditation

Cayuga’s Nursing program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and Registered by the Office of Professions, NYSDE

3390 Peachtree Road, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000
https://www.acenursing.org/

Office of the Professions
New York State Education Department
2nd Floor, West Wing, EB
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234
HEGIS Code: 5208.10

Admission Requirements

Admission to the nursing program is a selective and competitive process. Decisions are made by members of the nursing faculty working together with the admissions office. They are based on high school or college grade averages, grades in required science, chemistry, and math courses, a personal essay, and references.

The following prerequisites must be completed before applying to the Nursing program:

• High school or general equivalency diploma (GED/TASC)
• Official College transcripts (if applicable)
• Algebra math proficiency:
  NOTE: Math placement more than 5 years old or out-of-state, placement will be determined by the Math Coordinator
• Testing or placing into Cayuga’s MATH 102 (Intermediate Algebra) or higher or
• Completion of Cayuga’s MATH 099 (Elementary Algebra) or higher with a minimum grade of C (or 70%) or
• Completion of pre-calculus or higher in high school with a minimum grade of C (or 70%)
• Satisfactory completion (C or 70%) of high school or college biology
  NOTE: we do not accept CHEM 151 from Onondaga Community College (OCC) without the 1 credit lab component
• Satisfactory completion (C or 70%) of high school chemistry (Regents or General) or college Chemistry 101 (CHEM 103 or equivalent)
• Minimum cumulative GPA or overall high school average of 75% or 2.5
• Applicants must submit two professional references using the Department of Nursing’s Professional Reference Form
• English language proficiency as demonstrated by compliance with a minimum required TOEFL or NYSESLAT score, required if English is not the first language. Applicants whose native language is not English, click here for more information.
• May be required to consent to drug testing upon request by the College or affiliating clinical agency
• Background check required for clinical
• An interview may be required

Important Information

• Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend a Nursing Information Session.
• Technical standards are abilities and behaviors that a nursing student must be able to perform to function in a safe manner. It is essential that students of nursing possess and maintain the following functional requirements, with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Admission to the Nursing Program is a two-application process.
• Applicants must fill out the Admissions Application and a Nursing Admission Application. Completion of these two applications is free of charge and does not guarantee admission to the program. NOTE: If you have already attended Cayuga as a matriculated student, contact the Center for Student Engagement and Academic Advisement at 315-294-8523 or studenteng@cayuga-cc.edu before completing an additional Admissions Application.
• Send all official transcripts to the Auburn Admissions Office.
• Applicants will be notified of the acceptance decision in March for fall admission.
• Applicants not accepted may be placed on a waitlist; high school students (only) may receive a deferral option.
• Applicants not accepted must reapply to be considered for admission the following year.

Health Requirements

After being accepted into the Nursing program, the student must show evidence of the following by July 1:

• Completed physical exam and updated annually. The health record must show no physical condition which would limit the safe performance of Essential Functions and Abilities. See “Nursing Students – Health Report Form” to download the required form.
• Completed Mantoux test and immunization records
• Compliance with New York State health requirements

CPR Requirement

The student must hold CPR certification for the Professional Healthcare Provider throughout the program. We only accept courses taken through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross, which include Basic Life Support (BLS) for adults, infants, and children. Certification is valid for two years. Online certification or re-certification is accepted only if a competency demonstration is performed in person.

NOTE: “Heart Saver” and “Community CPR” do NOT meet the CPR requirement. An eCard or paper copy of CPR certification must be submitted to the Nursing Education office by August 1.

Transfer Into the Program

Students requesting a transfer from another Nursing program must:

• Satisfy the admission criteria stated under the Admission Requirements section.
• Submit a Nursing Transfer Request form to the Director of Nursing at driscollm@cayuga-cc.edu before October 31.
• The only nursing course that may be accepted for transfer is NURS 101 pending review of course syllabus. A minimum grade of C+ (77) is required for NURS 101 credit transfer. Nursing course must be completed within 1 year of transfer request.
• Apply for admission through the Admissions Office by October 31.
• Complete the Nursing Department Skill Competency Evaluation with a grade of satisfactory.
• Complete nursing clinical review course with a passing grade.

Transferring Into a Bachelor’s Degree Program

Cayuga Community College has articulation agreements with a number of baccalaureate nursing programs. For information on these, contact the Director of Nursing at driscollm@cayuga-cc.edu.

A prior felony conviction may hinder a student’s ability to enroll in a course or complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or meet the criteria for licensure required by certain professions.

Program Progression

• A minimum passing grade of 77 (C+) must be achieved in each Nursing course. A grade less than C+ is considered an unsuccessful attempt.
• A “Satisfactory” clinical grade must be achieved in each clinical Nursing course.
• A minimum passing grade of C+ is required in BIOL 203, 204, and 216 courses.
• A student is limited to one W or unsuccessful attempt in any clinical Nursing course (NURS 101, 102, 214, 215, 216, 217). A second W or unsuccessful attempt in any clinical Nursing course will result in dismissal from the program.
• All required Nursing courses (except NURS 101) must be taken at Cayuga Community College.
• The following grading system is used by the Nursing faculty:

  Letter Grade	Numerical Grade
  A	93–100
  A-	90-92
  B+	87–89
  B	83-86
  B-	80–82
  C+	77–79
  C	73-76
  C-	70-72
  D+	67-69
  D	63-66
  D-	60-62
  F	less than 60

• A student receiving a W or a grade less than C+ in NURS 101 must reapply for admission to the Nursing program in accordance with specified application deadlines.
• A student receiving a W or a grade less than C+ in NURS 102, 214, 215, 216, or 217 must apply for re-entry to the program through the director of Nursing (email Mary Driscoll, Director of Nursing at driscollm@cayuga-cc.edu). The student must schedule a meeting with the director of Nursing three months prior to the course start date. Academic counseling will be initiated to develop a success plan. Re-entry is granted on a space-available basis and upon compliance with the re-entry procedure.
• A student seeking re-entry to the Nursing program must meet program policies in effect at the date of re-entry.
• Nursing courses must be completed within three years of starting NURS 101

Nursing Degree Program Requirements

The following curriculum represents the Nursing course sequence and minimum requirements for the A.A.S. degree in Nursing (total of 64 credit hours).

Legal Limitations For RN Licensure

There is a requirement that the applicant for the licensure exam is of “good moral character.” Applicants should be aware that eligibility for licensure as a registered nurse in New York State by persons who have been convicted of a crime (felony or misdemeanor) or have charges pending in any state or country will be determined through an investigation by the New York State Education Office of Professional Discipline. Refer to www.op.nysed.gov/ for specific criteria.

Graduation Requirement

The candidate for the Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing must meet the following requirements:

• Completion of 64 credits
• A cumulative average of no less than 2.0 and a minimum grade of “C+” in each Nursing and Biology course.

Essential Functions and Abilities

These are abilities and behaviors that a nursing student must be able to perform to function safely. It is essential that students of nursing meet the functional requirements with or without reasonable accommodations. Download the Nursing Technical Standards.