Nursing Program FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
No; you must apply to the nursing program and be accepted before you are allowed to take nursing courses (NURS courses), with the exception of NURS 2100 Health Care Ethics.
Visit the Financial Aid page or contact the Financial Aid Office at (402) 844-7285 or finaid@northeast.edu. They are the experts and can help answer questions regarding scholarship opportunities, FAFSA, qualifying for financial aid, what courses financial aid will pay for, how much financial aid the student will receive if only going to school part-time, etc.
Students are admitted to the nursing program once a year. The deadline for application is February 1st to be admitted to the nursing program for the fall of that same year.
We accept approximately 60 students each year.
No; we do not use a waiting list. We select the top candidates every year.
Yes, the part-time option is a great way for students to earn a nursing degree while balancing life, work, and school. It is highly recommended that students consider the part-time option if a student needs to work more than 15 hours per week. The part-time option extends the length of the nursing program by one year. Each student’s situation is unique, so please contact the Director of Nursing Programs, Dr. Karen Weidner at (402) 844-7330 or karenkw@northeast.edu for more information.
Yes, please contact Dr. Karen Weidner, Director of Nursing Programs at (402) 844-7330 or karenkw@northeast.edu or the Nursing Program Specialist/Advisor at (402) 844-7320 or debra@northeast.edu.
All students need to request a copy of their official transcript be sent to the Northeast Community College Registrar’s office in Norfolk.
Northeast Community College
Attention: Registrar’s Office
801 East Benjamin Ave., PO Box 469
Norfolk, NE 68702-0469
The TEAS Version 7 exam is given in the testing center located on the Norfolk Campus. The test may also be given at the O’Neill, West Point and South Sioux City Extended Campuses. Please contact the Testing Center at (402) 844-7281 or testingcenter@northeast.edu to schedule the exam in O’Neill, West Point and South Sioux City campuses.
Yes. Students can purchase the study guide through ATI. Also, there are free practice tests available on-line through the College’s home page under library resources. Contact the library for more details. Please refer back to page titled, Northeast Community College Nursing Program Application Exam Information for more information.
Northeast Community College has mandatory placement for English, Math, and Science. If you score below the requirements to take English Composition I or Math for Health Care Professionals, it does not mean that you cannot be considered for acceptance. You will need to take the fundamental courses to help you succeed. Biology is a prerequisite to Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology. Please see your advisor for course selection. Dependent on placement scores in Reading, a student may be exempt from General Biology.
The nursing program requires students to be on the Nebraska Registry as a Nurse Aide (commonly known as CNA) by the time they start the nursing program. A student does not have to be a CNA when he/she applies to the nursing program. Also, a student does not have to work as a CNA to be accepted into the nursing program.
If a student has taken the Basic Nurse Aide and the “license” has lapsed, the student has a few options. The student can (a) retake the state written and skills test, (b) complete a refresher course and then take the state written & skills test, or (c) complete the basic nurse class and then take the state written & skills test. To find out more information related to the Basic Nurse Aide class, Refresher class, and testing times, please contact the Allied Health Department at (402) 844-7335.
Some classes that can help include: (LNSK 1100) Learning Skills for Success, (LIBR 1310) Library Orientation and (HLTH 1060) Comprehensive Medical Terminology. These are not required classes but can be very beneficial to students.
Please contact Debbie Bates, Nursing Program Specialist at (402) 844-7320 or debra@northeast.edu. It is the student’s responsibility to verify that the file is complete.
Northeast nursing program utilizes a competitive application process and accepts a set number of the highest scoring applicants. The nursing application is due by February 1. Please contact the Nursing Program Specialist for details at (402) 844-7320 or email debra@northeast.edu.
By late March.
Yes. Once a student is admitted to the nursing program, a criminal background check and the DHHS Adult and Child Abuse Neglect Registry will be completed. To be accepted, the student must successfully pass the background check and not be listed on the DHHS Adult and Child Abuse & Neglect Registry. Depending on the convictions, the student may not be eligible to attend clinical and therefore would not be granted acceptance to the nursing program. Licensure upon graduation also is dependent on the student’s criminal background check and Adult and Child Abuse & Neglect Registry. If a student has any concerns regarding his/her criminal background history or DHHS registry, he/she should contact the Director of Nursing Programs, Dr. Karen Weidner at (402) 844-7330 or karenkw@northeast.edu.
In addition, educational institutions and employers are using social networks sites (i.e., Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram) to gather data regarding potential students/employees. Please keep this in mind as you post information on these sites.
Yes. Once a student is admitted to the nursing program, a urine drug screen will be completed. To be accepted, the student must successfully pass the drug screen. Drug screens may also be required during the nursing program.
We recommend that you make an appointment with your advisor to discuss your options.
We offer the didactic portion of our courses virtually to the Extended Campuses. For some labs and clinical you will need to travel to Norfolk or other locations.
The minimum passing grade in a nursing course is a letter grade of a “B” with a test average in each nursing course of a “B” or 80%. The nursing program does not round grades up to the nearest whole number. Therefore, a test average of 79.9%, results in failure of the course.
If a student fails one nursing course, then the student will need to retake the course. However, depending on the course, the student may need to wait one year before continuing in the nursing program. Some courses are considered co-requisites and both classes must be taken if a student fails one of the courses.