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Legal Qualifications for Licensure

Before graduation form the practical nursing program, a candidate must submit an application to the State Board of Nursing and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing to take the NCLEX-PN exam.

Admission to the Johnson County Community College Practical Nursing Program does not guarantee graduation from the program, and graduation for the practical nursing program does not guarantee eligibility to take the practical nurse licensure examination (NCLEX-PN).

The Kansas State board of Nursing (KSBN) may deny a license to practice nursing as a practical nurse if the applicant has been guilty of a felony or guilt of a misdemeanor involving an illegal drug offense unless the applicant establishes sufficient rehabilitation to warrant the public trust, except that no license shall be granted to a person with a felony conviction of a crime against persons as specified in Article 34 of Chapter 21 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated and acts amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto. Also considered are the patterns of practice and to other behaviors exhibiting an apparent incapacity to practice nursing as described in 65-1120 in the Kansas Nurse Practice Act. See KS Nurse Practice Act (PDF). All criminal history must be revealed to and will be evaluated by the KSBN before licensure is granted or denied.  Since JCCC is located in Kansas, this information does not cover other states’ requirements.  Please check with the Board of Nursing in the state in which you will be requesting licensure.

Disclosure of Criminal Background/Substance Abuse

Clinical affiliates and their accrediting agencies require criminal background checks and urine drug screens of all students to maintain safety of their patients.  If selected for admission to the Practical Nursing Program, you must consent to a background check to disclose any felony or misdemeanor convictions. Upon admission, you will receive detailed instructions on how to proceed with completing the background checks and urine drug screens.  Prior background checks cannot be used.  Graduates of the practical nursing program will be asked to submit to an additional criminal background check as part of the process for applying to take the NCLEX-PN examination.

Additional requirements and/or disclosures may become necessary throughout the course of the program.  Non-compliance with all mandates may result in termination from the program. All fees associated with these requirements will be the financial responsibility of the student.

Health Policy

Students are required to obtain medical insurance coverage during their association with the health career programs at JCCC.  All facilities require our student to have medical insurance to complete clinical rotations at their facility.

Students entering healthcare programs should be aware that they will be in close contact with individuals having a variety of health programs in which the cause may or may not be known.

Health career programs have specific precautionary requirements based on the type of exposure and/or clinical agency policies.  It is the student’s responsibility to follow the program guidelines necessary for precautions against contracting and transmitting diseases. The student is responsible for all healthcare costs (physical examinations and other health costs, vaccinations, immunizations and/or titers and may include X-ray).  Neither the college nor the clinical agency in which students are assigned is responsible for the provision of any healthcare nor for any payment of costs related to an injury or the exposure to of infection with a disease.

Proof of medical insurance is required while attending the Practical Nursing Program.  Clinical agencies may audit the physical exam and health records. Health records, background checks and urine drug screens may be shared with our clinical affiliates.

Students are responsible for meeting all course, clinic and program objectives.  Students may be asked to provide a physician’s statement to explain absences and/or justify re-entry into class/clinical setting.

Progression in the practical nursing program will be contingent upon satisfactorily meeting the health requirements. Health restrictions may prohibit student participation in clinical rotations and the performance of total patient care, and, therefore, would prevent progression or completion of the Practical Nursing Program. Late or incomplete records may result in dismissal form clinical (with unexcused absence) or dismissal form the program if documents are not fully produced.