Nursing

See all Virginia Board of Nursing NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN pass rates

Nursing students from other eligible institutions may transfer into Germanna’s Nursing program to complete their degree. Transfer students must complete at least 25% of their coursework for the degree they are pursuing at Germanna in order to graduate from Germanna.

How to apply as a transfer student

1. Apply to Germanna
2. Meet with a college advisor and complete the transfer evaluation process
3. Email nursing@germanna.edu to review the transfer credits and possible placement within Germanna's Nursing program
   1. Attach your unofficial transcript and syllabi from nursing courses you wish to be evaluated for Germanna credit
   2. If transferring from a VCCS school, please attach your letter of good standing from your program administrator (Dean, Director, or Associate Dean of Nursing)
4. Complete all application requirements and apply during the nursing admission cycle for the Fall or Spring semester
   1. Admissions testing from a previous school may be accepted on a case-by-case basis

Virginia's Community Colleges now offer Nursing courses to transient students. Applicants must meet the VCCS Concept-Based Curriculum admission criteria and the Germanna Nursing Program's credential requirements.

How to apply as a transient student

1. Apply to Germanna
2. Provide a letter or email from the Dean or Director of your home school stating that you are a “student in good standing” and eligible to return to your home school nursing program with the intent to proceed to graduation. Email your letter to nursing@germanna.edu.

You will be considered on a case-by-case basis as space is available in the course during the semester you're asking to join.

The Dean of Nursing and/or the leadership team will consider the request and make the final decision for admission.

1. Your official transcripts (HS/GED/Home School, College, Joint Service, AP, IB, CLEP, etc.) must be on file at Germanna and evaluated by the Registrar
   1. International transcripts must be translated and evaluated for course-by-course equivalency
   2. Applicants to the Practical Nursing program must supply a current Virginia Nurse Aide Certification (CNA)
   3. Applicants to the LPN-RN for Advanced Standing program must supply a current Virginia Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license
2. Your cumulative GPA must be at least:
   • 2.5 for the RN and LPN-RN for Advanced Standing programs
   • 2.0 for the Practical Nursing program
      
3. All of your earned course grades (including Nursing prerequisites) must be C or higher
4. Your Advising Checklist must be completed online and on file at Germanna
5. You must successfully complete the admissions exam for your program:
   • The TEAS exam is required for PN, RN, and LPN-RN applicants
   • The HESI Mid-Curricular Test (with a score of 750 or higher) is required for LPN-RN for Advanced Standing applicants
6. You must complete a criminal background check and drug screen upon acceptance to the program

Important Considerations

• Students with an A or B in BIO 141 are more competitive in the application process
• Submitting an application does not guarantee admission into a Nursing program
• You must be a Germanna student to apply
• If a student’s Germanna GPA is too low:
  • Admissions will look at the most recent cumulative GPA from the student’s record.
  • If the student has taken courses from multiple schools or programs, admissions will calculate a new GPA based on all recent coursework to determine the most current and accurate GPA.
• If the student has no Germanna GPA:
  • Again, admissions will look at the most recent cumulative GPA.
  • If the student has coursework from multiple places:
    • If they’ve earned a bachelor's degree, the GPA from that degree will be used as the most current.
    • If they haven’t earned a bachelor’s, admissions will combine all their GPAs from different schools/programs to calculate an overall cumulative GPA.

I've already seen a Germanna academic advisor. Who can I talk to if I have additional questions about the Nursing program?

Make an appointment in Navigate to meet with a Nursing program advisor.

Where is the Nursing program located?

Locust Grove Campus (LGC) in Locust Grove, VA and the Kevin L. Dillard Health Sciences Center, located at 25 Center Street in Stafford, VA

Where are the clinicals located? Can I attend a clinical near where I live?

Clinicals are completed at various hospitals, mental health facilities, long-term care facilities, and clinics throughout the service area. Our service region consists of the following counties: Culpeper, Madison, Orange, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Caroline, King George and the City of Fredericksburg. Clinicals are typically assigned during the first weeks of the semester. Be aware that traveling some distance may be required depending on where you live. Students are expected to provide their own transportation to clinical sites. Students cannot arrange their own clinicals.

Can I work full time and still attend the Nursing program?

The majority of students who attempt to work full-time jobs while completing the Nursing program significantly reduce their chances of being successful. The nursing division recommends that students work no more than 20 hours per week. The Nursing program is intensive and requires a lot of time and effort to complete, so students are strongly encouraged to arrange flexible work hours and circumstances before joining the Nursing program.

Lectures, labs, and clinicals have varying hours, including evenings and weekends. You cannot have a regular, full-time job and complete the traditional Nursing program. We recommend considering the part-time program if you work in a 9-5, Monday-Friday job. Still we recommend cutting back on your hours throughout the week.

I have a criminal conviction on my record. How will this affect me getting into the Nursing program?

Applicants who have committed a felony or misdemeanor may not be offered admission. The Board of Nursing may deny any application for licensure if the applicant has committed a felony or misdemeanor under laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia or of the United States. Applicants who have a drug or alcohol related offense will be disqualified. For more information on how criminal convictions may prevent nursing licensure in Virginia, please view the Joint Statement of the Department of Health and the Department of Health Professions on Impact of Criminal Convictions on Nursing Licensure or Certification and Employment in Virginia from the Virginia Board of Nursing website.

Do I still have to submit my high school transcript if I already have college credits or a previous degree? My high school is closed—what do I do?

Acceptable documentation for nursing applicants includes and is limited to:  

• An official, completed domestic high school transcript
• A translated and evaluated foreign high school transcript equivalent to a completed domestic high school transcript
• An official GED certificate that meets high school graduation requirements

Virginia Board of Nursing Requirements  

The Virginia Board of Nursing mandates that applicants provide proof of high school education. This can be in the form of an official high school transcript, a GED certificate, or an evaluated foreign transcript. This requirement is consistent across various nursing programs in the state.  

Germanna Community College notes:

All nursing applicants must submit their high school transcript even if they have college credits or a previous degree so that the high school requirements listed on the pre-admission checklist can be verified.

I missed the deadline to submit my application. Is there anything else I can do while I’m waiting to apply to the next session?

If you have not already done so, you may complete any of the non-nursing courses from the nursing curriculum while you are waiting to apply. These courses include SDV 100, ENG 111, ENG 112, PSY 230, BIO 141, BIO 142, BIO 150, and the HUM elective or transfer elective. You may also consider adding the General Studies: Pre-BSN degree to take additional courses that could be used towards your BSN degree.

How do I get my physical, certified background check and drug screening for the Nursing program?

Once in the program, students will receive more information about obtaining a physical and drug screening before they may attend clinicals for the Nursing program. Additional information about these requirements is communicated to students once they have been officially admitted into the Nursing program.

I have a previous college degree. Do I still have to take the Nursing pre-admission test?

Yes. All applicants must take a Nursing pre-admission test even if they have a previous college degree. There are no exceptions.

I am currently enrolled in a prerequisite course, but it will not be finished until after the program application deadline. Can I still apply to the program on a provisional basis if I provide proof from the teacher that I’m doing well in the course?

You may not submit an application to the Nursing program until all prerequisite courses are completed and a final grade is posted. If you apply while you are still enrolled in a prerequisite course, your application will not be processed. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

I took my prerequisite courses at another school. Do I have to retake them at Germanna?

Submit your official transcripts to the Admissions and Records Office for evaluation to find out if your previously taken courses will transfer to Germanna. If the courses transfer to Germanna and fulfill the prerequisites requirements, you will be able to apply to the Nursing program.

Virginia Board of Nursing Requirements for Pre-licensure Nursing Education Program

Pursuant to United States Department of Education (US DOE) regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v), the Germanna Community College Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program provides the following information for all prospective and current students:

The Germanna Community College ADN program meets all Virginia Board of Nursing requirements for pre-licensure nursing education programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In addition, the Germanna Community College ADN program meets all requirements for nationally recognized accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing.

The Commonwealth of Virginia participates with 32 other states in the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) National Licensing Compact (NLC) to allow nurses licensed in one state to provide nursing care across state lines in other compact states. See the Uniform Licensing Requirements (ULRs) here.

Prospective and current students are strongly encouraged to evaluate all state requirements in jurisdictions where they intend to practice nursing. See the state requirements here.

Germanna Community College has not determined if the ADN program meets the requirements of any other states.

This statement serves to meet the USDOE regulation until further notice.