How to Apply to the Traditional BSN Program

1. Apply to the University

If you are not already enrolled at UIW, your first step is to apply to the university at www.uiw.edu/admissions. If you are reapplying to the university, go to http://www.uiw.edu/readmission/. Be sure to tell the university admissions office that you plan to apply to the UIW nursing program. Submit official transcripts to the the admissions office at this time.

When you apply to the university you will be assigned a UIW ID, please input that ID into the “Additional Information” section of the NursingCAS application.

Deadlines for application and acceptance to the university:

• by September 1st for Spring admission into the nursing program
• by February 1st for Fall admission into the nursing program

2. Apply to the Traditional BSN Program via NursingCAS

Applicants for the Traditional BSN program should apply through NursingCAS. This is an online, centralized application service for nursing programs which allows student to apply to UIW as well as other nursing schools. Visit http://www.nursingcas.org and click “Apply Here” to initiate your application and then click “Create Account” to start your application. View this short instructional video on how to complete a NursingCAS application or review this document.

Selecting UIW as a Designation

To apply to the Traditional BSN program at UIW, select UIW in the “Designations” section of the NursingCAS application. If UIW is the first school you are applying to, you will be charged $45 and if UIW is the second you apply to via NursingCAS then you will be charged $30.

Inputing Coursework

Be sure to have a copy of all college transcript(s) on hand in order to omplete that particular section of NursingCAS. All college level coursework (including in-progress coursework) must be entered into the application. This is the most time-consuming aspect of the application process. There is a short, instructional video posted here on how to accurately complete this section. And detailed instructions are posted here. If you would rather have the NursingCAS staff enter your coursework data on your behalf they you have the option on paying an additional fee to the Coursework Entry Service. Click here to learn more about the service.

NursingCAS Questions or Problems

For questions regarding the NursingCAS application please contact NursingCAS support via phone at 617-612-2880 Monday–Thursday (9:00am–7:00pm Eastern Time) and Friday (9:00am–5:00pm Eastern Time) and post questions via email to nursingcasinfo@nursingcas.org.

By following their Twitter and/or Facebook accounts. Detailed instructions and FAQs are available too. Instructional videos are posted on the NursingCAS YouTube channel.

Monitor the Status of Your Application:

The “My Messages” section of the NursingCAS application will include any messages that NursingCAS or a particular school has sent to you. Please check your “My Messages” to see if you have received any vital information about your application. Messages will be sent to the “My Messages” Inbox and your personal email address that you created your account with.

Use the “Quick Status Menu” options to check to see if your transcript(s), reference(s), and/or payment(s) have been received after you submit them. To check to see which designations you have selected by clicking on the designations option under the Quick Status menu. The GPA Calculations option under the Quick Status menu will display any GPA calculations NursingCAS has generated for you based on the coursework data you entered. Your application has been “verified” once your GPA Calculations are complete. Learn more about verification.

3. Send Official Transcripts

Send official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended directly to NursingCAS at the office below. NursingCAS processes the transcripts on behalf of UIW. Request your transcripts to be sent from the issuing institution’s registrar’s office as soon as possible. NursingCAS cannot accept transcripts stamped “Issued to Student”. In order to expedite the processing be sure to include the Transcript Request Form.

NursingCAS P.O. Box 9201 Watertown, MA 02471

Transcripts from international institutions must be evaluated by a transcript evaluation service, World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. Foreign evaluations should be mailed to NursingCAS at the address above

Reminder: The following is a list of prerequisite courses needed for admission into the Traditional BSN program. Candidates must have completed the course with a C or better or be currently enrolled in the following courses to be considered for admission into the program:

• English Composition I and II (not required for second degree seeking students)
  
• Speech Communication (not required for second degree seeking students)
• Biological Chemistry I with Lab
• Biological Chemistry II with Lab
  
• Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
• Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab
  
• Microbiology with Lab
  
• Nutrition
  
• Statistics
  
• Introduction to Psychology
  
• Child/Adolescent and Adult Development OR Lifespan Development
• Dimensions of Wellness (if new to UIW, may complete upon admission)
• Computer Literacy OR course credit earned for computer literacy through the following exams (Note: this completed and documented by the application deadline)
  • UIW Computer Competency Challenge
  • CLEP (Business) Information Systems and Computer Applications

4. Complete the Immunization Record

All students are required to meet recommended standards for immunizations for health professions personnel. Immunizations are required upon admission and updated periodically as required. Professional documentation is required for medical contraindication.

Download the Immunization Validation Form. This form must be completed by your healthcare professional.  After all parts of the form are completed, it may be submitted with the application. The following immunizations must be completed and appropriately documented and uploaded into the NursingCAS by the application deadline.

• Hepatitis B vaccine series, Hepatitis A/B vaccine series (at 0, 1, 6m schedule) OR Hepatitis A/B vaccine series (alternative schedule with booster at 12m)
  • NOTE: Laboratory evidence (titer) is not accepted in lieu of vaccine documentation
• Varicella vaccine (2 dose series) or laboratory evidence of immunity (titer).
  • NOTE: History of chickenpox is not accepted in lieu of vaccine documentation
• MMR vaccine (2 dose series) or laboratory evidence of immunity
• Seasonal Influenza (1 dose) annual fall/winter vaccine. Required annually.
• Tdap (1 dose) following completion of primary series with Td.
  • NOTE: Tdap (Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis) is the adult/older children vaccine. It is not to be confused with Td (Tetanus-Diphtheria vaccine) or DTaP (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis vaccine, intended for children).
• TB screen (PPD). Required annually. Alternately, a medical plan for follow-up if PPD contraindicated.
• Bacterial meningitis (1 dose)
  • NOTE: Beginning January 1, 2012, Texas law requires all students under the age of 30 to provide proof of immunization against bacterial meningitis in the preceding five years prior to registering for classes. The law, which applies to students at all higher education institutions, both public and private, is meant to protect the health and well being of all on campus. This documentation must be submitted to the Health Services Office at the University. Information and submission instructions are be found at http://www.uiw.edu/health/meningitischange.html

5. Complete the HESI Admissions Assessment™ Test (A2)

Completion of the HESI Admission Assessment™ (A2) s a part of the requirements for admission to the Traditional BSN Program. The assessment results are used to determine an applicant’s readiness for admission. The exam consists of academic content and a personality profile that identifies the individual applicant’s learning style.

Spring 2014 applicants must enroll and take the examination during the following exam window June 3 thru August 28, 2013.

A minimum score of 75 on each of 7 tests on the HESI Admission Assessment™ (A2) is required for admission to the nursing program.  Tests sections include reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, math, biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology. Applicants are encouraged to use the HESI Admission Assessment™ Test Study Guide when preparing for the exam. The guide may be purchased at the Elsevier website. Applicants may also use the UIW Study Guide.

Registering for the HESI Admission Assessment (A2) Exam

In order to take the HESI Admission Assessment (A2) exam you will need to create a student account with Elsevier by going to the Elsevier/EVOLVE website. When you log into your account and go to the link to request the HESI Admissions Assessment (A2) exam, you will be asked to enter a prospective school’s ID. The identification code for UIW is 198802. After registering you will receive a confirmation that your request was submitted successfully. 

Within 2-3 working days, expect an email that will have information and a link to schedule the exam appointment.

IMPORTANT:  Applicants are responsible for ensuring their exam scores are submitted to the UIW School of Nursing on or before the admission deadline.  Applicants may repeat the exam once during this testing period, but only one set of HESI exam scores may be submitted for the application period.

Exam scores taken previously may be submitted if they were completed within one year of the application.

6. Complete Criminal Background Check from Texas Board of Nursing

The following information was obtained from the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). See www.bne.state.tx.us for further information or contact Texas Board of Nursing at 512-305-7400 or submit questions to webmaster@bon.texas.gov

Applicants should be aware that a declaratory order may be required from the Texas Board of Nursing if the applicant has a reportable criminal offense, history of alcohol or drug abuse, or a history of serious mental illness. The applicant will need to petition for a declaratory order. A petition for Declaratory Order is a formal disclosure to the BON of an outstanding eligibility issue that may prevent an applicant from taking the NCLEX examination upon completion of a nursing program. The Declaratory Order process permits the BON to make decisions regarding a petitioner's eligibility for licensure prior to entering or completing a nursing program.

The applicant should be aware that answering “yes” to any of the following will require the applicant to petition for a declaratory order.

• For any criminal offense, including those pending appeal, have you:
  • been convicted of a misdemeanor?
  • been convicted of a felony?
  • pled nolo contendere, no contest, or guilty?
  • received deferred adjudication?
  • been placed on community supervision or court-ordered probation, whether or not adjudicated guilty?
  • been sentenced to serve jail or prison time? Court-ordered confinement?
  • been granted pre-trial diversion?
  • been arrested or have any pending criminal charges?
  • been cited or charged with any violation of the law?
  • been subject of a court-martial; Article 15 violation; or received any form of military judgment/punishment/action?
• Within the past five (5) years have you been addicted to and/or treated for the use of alcohol or any other drug?
• Within the past five (5) years have you been diagnosed with, treated, or hospitalized for schizophrenia and/or psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder?

Additional questions and details on required documentation may be found at http://www.bon.state.tx.us/olv/pdfs/DOapp.pdf

Applicants who believe they have a reportable background should promptly file/petition for a declaratory order as soon as possible. Also promptly file/petition if there is a history of addiction or mental illness. If a record of criminal conduct is received by the BON an application for a Declaratory Order must be filed. Processing the application may require 4 or more months. Delay in receiving clearance may exclude the applicant from acceptance/enrollment in the nursing program.

7. Additional Documentation After Admissions

Upon admission to the nursing program, current CPR certification (American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Provider or American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers) and First Aid certification (American Heart Association or American Red Cross) is required.