Admission

Students interested in admission to Graham Hospital School of Nursing must submit an application and arrange to have a pre-admission interview.

Applications are reviewed in March.  Deadlines for submission of all required application materials are February 15th for the March review.  If a class maximum is not reached following the March review, additional applicants for admission will be considered at the discretion of the Admission, Retention, Promotion & Graduation Committee. Applicants will be notified of their admission status in writing after the review dates.

Once the Freshman class is filled, a waiting list will be established for that year.  Students who are placed on the waiting list and not admitted for the current year are not guaranteed admission the following academic year, they must reapply.

Application Procedure
Admission Requirements
Transfer Students
International Students
Advanced Placement
Full and Part Time Status
Application and Essential Forms (pdf)

Application Procedure

The applicant must submit the following to the Coordinator of Admissions, Recruitment, and Financial Aid:

1. A completed application form and $25.00 application fee.
2. Official transcripts from all high schools, G.E.D. scores, and postsecondary institutions.
3. A.C.T. and/or S.A.T. scores (School Code for A.C.T. is 1171).
4. Three letters of recommendation using the provided Personal Reference Form.  The applicant must also complete an interview with the Coordinator of Admissions, Recruitment, and Financial Aid.
5. A completed Essential Functions for Student of Nursing Form.
6. Graham Hospital Association makes a Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA) check on all new hires.  This criminal background check includes students applying to Graham Hospital School of Nursing.

Minimum Requirements for Admission *

1. The applicant must have graduated from a state approved high school, with a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale, or have obtained a G.E.D., and received a grade of "C" or better in each of the following courses at either high school or college level (1 unit equals 1 year of high school or 1 semester of college):
   A. English……………………………………………………3 units
   B. Algebra……………………………………………………2 units
   (2 years of high school algebra or intermediate college algebra)
   C. Geometry…………………………………………………1 unit
   (1 year of high school or college geometry)
   D. Biology……………………………………………………1 unit
   (within last 5 years or college BIO 105)
   E. Chemistry…………………………………………………1 unit
   F.  Social Sciences………………………………………….2 units
   
   
2. The applicant must have an A.C.T. composite of 18 or an S.A.T. score of 740.
3. Consideration will be given to applicants who do not meet the above requirements but have demonstrated success on the college level by completing at least seven transfer credits, including a science, with a 2.50 G.P.A.  
4. The applicant must have a favorable Criminal Background Check from the Illinois State Police done at Graham Hospital.
   * All applicants need to be aware that meeting standards at the minimum level does not insure admission to the school.         
5. Acceptance
   A. A letter confirming or denying admission will be sent to the applicant.
   B. Upon acceptance of admission a non-refundable fee of $75.00 is required which will be credited to the first semester balance.
   C. The cumulative health and immunization report must be completed prior to the beginning of the academic year.  (School form)
   D. Current CPR card – Health Care Provider

Transfer Students

Transfer students from other nursing programs are accepted through completion of the regular admission criteria.   Applicants are considered on an individual basis for course placement and must be enrolled in this school a minimum of one year prior to graduation. 

Transfer students must meet the same requirements as those in the class to which they are seeking admission.  The applicant is required to:

1. Have completed comparable subjects and content courses, reviewed by appropriate faculty and Admission, Retention, Promotion, and Graduation Committee.
2. Submit official transcript(s) and course description(s) from previous nursing schools and colleges for transfer credit.   Nursing credits must have been earned within the past 3 years.
3. Submit a letter stating reason for leaving previous nursing school.

International Student Application

International students must meet the same admission qualifications as other students in the program.  Transcripts from secondary schools and/or postsecondary institutions must be official, recorded in English and sent directly to the School of Nursing.  The (TOEFL) Test of English as a Foreign Language must be taken with the test results sent to the Graham Hospital School of Nursing.  ( A score of 480 or above is required.)  A statement from the applicant will validate the clearance of United States entry for the purpose of study.

Advanced Placement of Licensed Practical Nurses

Advance Placement of LPN is based on space availability.

Applicants who have graduated from practical nursing programs may be eligible for advanced placement after satisfactory completion of the following:

1. Application procedure. (see page 9)
2. Official transcript from L.P.N. program attended.
3. Evidence of current L.P.N. licensure.   Applicants who are eligible for licensure may petition to waive the licensure requirement.
4. Satisfactory completion of BIO 200 and BIO 201 (Anatomy and Physiology), PSY 130 (Gen. Psychology), H.S. 106 (Nutrition) or their equivalent with a grade of "C" or better.
5. Satisfactory completion of adult physical assessment by one of the following options:
   a.    Completion of approved physical assessment course from another institution.
   b.    Self-study with satisfactory demonstration of adult physical assessment.
6. Current CPR card- Health Care Provider.

Credit for Prior Learning

Applicants who have met the criteria for advanced placement shall receive 18 nursing credits toward the completion of our diploma program and will enter the program at the 2nd year, taking NUR 210 during the fall semester.

Advance Placement of C.N.A.s

Applicants who are certified nursing assistants may be eligible for advanced placement after satisfactory completion of the following:

1. Application procedure
2. Official transcript from C.N.A. program
3. Evidence of passage of the nurse aid competency examination

Applicants who have met the criteria for advanced placement shall receive 3 nursing credits toward the completion of our diploma program.  These credits will be placed in escrow and awarded after the completion of NUR 110 for a total of 9 credits.

Applicants who meet advance placement criteria have the following options:

1. Elect not to attend NUR 110 during the class sessions when C.N.A. material is presented.
   OR
2. Audit C.N.A. sessions of NUR 110. (See Audit Policy)

Applicants should discuss these options with the NUR 110 instructors at the start of the academic year.

Full and Part-Time Status

A full-time student is defined as a student who is registered for 12 or more semester hours per academic semester.  A student who is registered for less than 12 hours is considered part-time.

Students should remain aware of the five year limitation for completion of the nursing course sequence.