If you aspire to be a registered nurse (RN) and want to kick-start your career, earning your associate degree in nursing (ADN) is a great option. While it takes around four years to earn a bachelor of science in nursing, or BSN, earning an ADN takes about half that time. The first step is to enroll in an accredited ADN program. Are you ready? Learn about the eight most important ADN program admission requirements below.
Proof of Prior Education
ADN programs have minimum requirements regarding prior education. You must show proof of having earned either a high school diploma or GED.
School Transcripts
Although admission requirements vary from one ADN program to the next, the majority of them require prospective students to provide official school transcripts. This is usually required so that the program can confirm that you maintained the minimum GPA required for admission. Minimum GPAs also vary by programs, but many require that a student maintained a GPA of 2.0 or higher during high school. In most cases, you must have the transcripts sent directly from your high school to the program. Most will not allow you to provide them yourself.
Prerequisite Classes
Oftentimes, to gain admission to an ADN program, you must demonstrate that you have completed certain prerequisite courses. Fortunately, most people already meet these requirements, as the types of classes required are typically mandatory in high school. Although the types of prerequisite classes vary, common ones include algebra, chemistry, physiology, biology, math, and nutrition.
Pre-Entrance Exam
Many ADN programs require prospective students to take pre-entrance exams like the TEAS or COMPASS, which assess your readiness and likelihood of success in the program. Standardized exams like these actually test students' knowledge of various subjects to ensure that they are ready to complete an ADN program.
Health Assessment
ADN programs include on-site clinical training. Because you will be working with actual patients, ADN programs must make sure that you are in good health prior to enrollment. Otherwise, you could inadvertently expose patients to various health issues. Most of the time, you can have your regular doctor complete a quick physical. From there, provide the ADN program with the completed paperwork from your doctor's office, and you will be good to go.
CPR Certification
The vast majority of ADN programs require that incoming students possess some degree of CPR certification. There are four degrees of CPR certification: CPR-A, CPR-B, CPR-C, and CPR-HCP. Prior to applying to an ADN program, find out if CPR certification is required. If it is, find out which level is needed. If necessary, you can easily complete the necessary CPR certification course prior to beginning your ADN training. In some cases, ADN programs roll CPR certification into their curricula, so students can obtain their certifications while working toward their associate degrees in nursing.
Criminal Background Check
To ensure that patients remain safe while working with ADN candidates, students who apply to ADN programs are typically required to undergo criminal background checks. More than likely, you will be asked to provide a fingerprint, which will then be used to run a background check on you. On most applications, prospective students are required to disclose if they have ever been convicted of any crimes. If you mark "no" on this section, but a background check reveals a prior conviction, you will most likely be denied entry into the program.
Drug Screening
Finally, you will almost certainly be required to undergo drug screening before being admitted into any ADN program. Again, this is done for the safety of the patients who you will be working with during your clinical training. As long as you pass your drug screening, you should be admitted to the program of your choice without any issues.
As you can see, there are some ADN program admission requirements that you must meet. Check the requirements for the ADN program you are considering to ensure that you are ready.
