Medical Assistant to LPN

Summer Entry

Medical Assistant to LPN - Non-Hybrid Option
(Bryant Center at Tradition)

The Medical Assistant-to-LPN Non-Hybrid Pilot Program is designed to assist qualified Medical Assistants (MAs) with the transition to LPN practice via a traditional face to face learning environment.

After successfully completing the summer transition course, PNV 1524, the MA student accepted into the pilot program is awarded six (6) semester hours of credit for previous Medical Assistant education. Thereafter, the student will by-pass the first semester nursing courses (NUR 1118, NUR 1121, and NUR 1131) required of PN graduates and enter semester 2 of the PN program, during the fall or spring semester. Beginning with NUR 1217 and NUR 1223, and thru the terminal PN courses, PNV 1676, PNV 1813, and PNV 1914, course and clinical works will include practical nursing students and the associate degree nursing Prelicensure students. Credit for these courses plus the 6 credit hours for previous education equal the required fifty-four (54) semester hours required to be awarded the Practical Nurse Diploma.

The practical program is state accredited by the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB), 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211, Telephone number 601-432-6518, Mississippi State Board of Nursing (MSBON), 713 Pear Orchard Rd, Plaza II Suite 300, Ridgeland, MS 39157, Telephone number 601-957-6300, and nationally accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326, Telephone number 404-975-5000.

Review NC-SARA: Accepted College Licensure or Certifications by Educational Program & State to learn what states outside of Mississippi accept the licensure that can be obtained by completion of these programs.

Practical Nursing (Prelicensure) Accreditation Status:
Year of Initial Accreditation:	July 1998
Continuing Accreditation:
Last Evaluation Visit:	February 2021
Most Recent Action:	October 2020
Next Evaluation Visit:	Spring 2028

Successful completion of the Practical Nursing Option leads to an MGCCC diploma. Graduates will be eligible to apply for Licensure from the Mississippi Board of Nursing and take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing® given by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and will earn the title Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), credentialed upon successful completion of the exam.

Program Mission, Concepts and End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes

The mission of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Nursing Program is to provide a learning environment that facilitates the development of qualified persons in the community to achieve the goal of becoming nurses who value the concepts of caring, competence and professionalism.

The Concepts and Outcomes of the Medical Assistant-to-LRN Non-Hybrid Nursing Option are:

• Practice nursing that is client centered, caring, culturally sensitive and based on the physiological, psychosocial and spiritual needs of clients (Client-Centered Care).
• Serve as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team to promote continuity of client care (Interdisciplinary Collaboration)
• Use current evidence from scientific and other credible sources as a basis for nursing practice and clinical judgment (Evidence-Based Practice).
• Promote quality improvement by contributing to implementation of care related plans to improve health care services (Quality Improvement).
• Provide a safe environment for clients, self and others (Safety).
• Use information technology in the provision of client care (Informatics).
• Provide selected health-related education with the supervision of the RN, advanced practice RN, licensed physician, or licensed dentist (Client-Education).
• Practice nursing in a professional, ethical, and legal manner with the supervision of the RN, advanced practice RN, licensed physician, or licensed dentist (Professionalism).

Admission Procedure

1. Make application and be accepted to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Application can be completed online.
2. Submit copies of official transcripts of all schools attended to the Office of Admissions. All transcripts must be reviewed by the Office of Admission for determination of course credits. M.A. coursework will be reviewed thoroughly to determine eligibility.
3. Meet all Academic Requirements (listed below) and complete any program pre-requisites or Entry Requirements.
4. The MA to LPN Non-Hybrid option student must have one (1) year of current (within the last year), documented work experience as a Medical Assistant, (CMA) or (RMA).
5. After successful completion and submission of ALL academic and entry requirements (See section below), the student CAN complete the Nursing Supplemental Application for Program Admission.                                                   

Summer Semester Application Submission:

Between April 1st and May 15th complete and submit the online Supplemental Application.

Complete and submit the online Supplemental MA to LPN Application:

1. Visit MGCCC Web Services.
2. Select Student.
3. Select School of Nursing and Health Professions Supplemental Applications.                   

Thereafter, the applicant MUST read the guidelines carefully.  In order to complete and submit the application, college admission and ALL pre-requisite requirements are required.

Note: The Summer MA-to-LPN summer semester cannot be repeated. In the event the attempt is unsuccessful, the student is ineligible to continue in the MA-to-LPN program.  However, the student may apply to the Practical or Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Prelicensure Program.

Supplemental Application Deadline Dates: 

Summer Semester: May 15

(If deadline falls on a weekend, holiday, or closing, the deadline is 5 p.m. on the next college business day). ALL required test scores, transcripts, and entry items (CBC, Pre-School of Nursing and Health Professions Orientation Session, etc.) must be completed with results placed in Banner (MGCCC’s computer information system) by the appropriate college employee prior to the deadline. In addition, any outstanding college holds must be clear in order for the applicant to complete and submit the supplemental program application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.  (MGCCC reserves the right to review additional supplemental applications following the posted deadline).

Academic and Entry Requirements

• The MA to LPN Non-Hybrid applicant must have evidence (official transcipt) of completing a one (1) or two (2) year medical assistant program from a regionally accredited program.
• The MA to LPN Non-Hybrid applicant must submit one (1) year of current (within the last year), documented work experience as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) or a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) - (letter from Employer, W-2 Wage Form)
• Submit two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with applicant in a professional capacity.  If possible, one recommendation from current supervisor.
• Completion of the Enhanced ACT is a program requirement.  A score of 18 or higher taken October 1, 1989 or later is required.  However, if the ACT score is less than 18, an applicant can qualify by successfully completing 21 semester hours of the program’s degree-required courses maintaining a GPA of 2.5 or higher. The 21 credit hours must include Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy & Physiology II and Microbiology with a grade of “C” or better in each. An applicant may not have more than one final grade of D and/or F in one or more required science courses within five years of applying to the Nursing Program. 
• A core grade point average of 2.5 or higher. (A core GPA is defined as the average of the best grade achieved for all required courses. If you have taken extra courses, not required by the program or previous nursing courses, those courses will NOT be used to calculate the GPA).
• Review the online mandatory Pre-School of Nursing and Health Professions Orientation Session prior to completing the supplemental application for program ranking.  The session can be viewed anytime and anywhere you have access to the internet.  The Power Point presentation gives you valuable information on topics common to all School of Nursing and Health Professions programs at MGCCC.   Even without the ability to speak directly or interact immediately with a School of Nursing and Health Professions advisor, the session speaks to frequently asked questions from program entrance to completion.  In order to receive credit for viewing the session, follow the steps below.  The information is approximately one (1) hour in length. To complete this requirement do the following:

1. Visit Web Services.
2. Select Student.
3. Select School of Nursing and Health Professions Supplemental Application Orientation Session.
4. In order to receive credit, you must review the entire session.
5. Click survey complete so that your log-in information will be recorded in the college’s BANNER system

• Effective August 1, 2022, the School of Nursing will switch over to the TEAS 7 exam. The TEAS 6 and TEAS 7 exam scores are equated which means, if you have already taken the ATI TEAS 6 exam and achieved your desired score, you are not required to take the ATI TEAS 7.
• The ATI TEAS® measures basic essential skills in the academic content areas of reading, mathematics, science, and English and language usage. The ATI TEAS® Version 7 has added a chemistry subcategory and a biology subcategory to the overall science category.  In addition, there is an expansion of the English and language usage category and many other small content changes. The ATI TEAS Version 7 will contain multiple question types or item types beyond multiple-choice.  All answers will be scored as correct or incorrect. No partial credit will be given to these alternate item type questions. ATI TEAS Version 7 question types include:
  • Multiple-Choice Item Types: questions that have four answer options with only one option as the correct answer. In addition to text, some multiple-choice items include charts, exhibits, and graphics.
  • Alternate Item Types: These refer to questions that are not your standard multiple-choice, single answer questions. Currently, there are four different alternate item type questions on the ATI TEAS Version 7 exam:
    • Multiple Select items: Students will be presented with a list of four or more possible answers to a question and more than one may be correct. There will be a note on these question types to “Select all that Apply.” To answer the question correctly, the student must select all correct answers. If all correct answers are not selected, then the question is incorrect. No partial credit is given.
    • Supply Answer items: This question type requires students to provide the answer to the question or “fill in the blank” without a set of options. Answers may be text or numerical values.
    • Hot Spot items: These questions include an image with two to five clickable areas. Students are required to click on the area of the image identified as the correct response.
    • Ordered Response items: These questions require students to place a set of response options in the correct order. Students drag between four and six response options from a box on the left to an empty box on the right. The question is answered correctly only if the student places all correct options in the correct order within the box on the right. If an option is out of order, then the question is incorrect. No partial credit will be given.

• In an effort to ensure student success, the number of attempts per year are limited, and require remediation following each unsuccessful attempt.  The following TEAS guidelines apply at MGCCC:

1. Achieve a composite score of 60 or above on the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) 7 exam
2. Applicants taking the TEAS exam are limited to two (2) retakes in one (1) year with remediation periods required between each retake

• Applicants making less than 60 on the TEAS 7 exam (1st attempt) are required to                                                                                 

1. Wait a minimum of 30 days to retake TEAS 7                                                                       
2. Prior to retesting, complete the ATI TEAS Online Practice Assessment - Form A with a score of 60 or higher (see atitesting.com for price and guidelines)                                                                    
3. Print and File the assessment results as your ticket to retake                                   
4. Register to test again (2^nd Attempt - Retake #1) with atitesting.com (2^nd test date must be at least 30 days after first attempt date)                       
5. On day of testing, present to the college proctor the following items: MGCCC student ID and your Form A assessment results (Student ID and Assessment information must match)

• Applicants making less than 60 on the 2^nd TEAS 7 exam attempt are required to:                                                                                     

1. Wait a minimum of 30 days to retake TEAS 7                                                                         
2. Prior to retesting, complete the ATI TEAS Online Practice Assessment - Form B with a score of 60% or higher (see atitesting.com for price and guidelines)                                                                    
3. Print and File the assessment results as your ticket to retake                                   
4. Register to test again (3^rd Attempt - Retake #2) with atitesting.com (3^rd test date must be at least 30 days after 2^nd attempt date)                       
5. On day of testing, present to the college proctor the following items: MGCCC student ID and your Form B assessment results (Student ID and Assessment information must match)

• Applicants making less than 60 on the 3^rd TEAS 7 exam attempt are required to:                                                                                

1. Wait a minimum of one (1) year following the first TEAS attempt                                        
2. Remediate again utilizing ATI TEAS Online A&P Practice Assessment scoring a minimum of 60%.   
3. Print and File the assessment results as your ticket to retake                                   
4. Register to test again with atitesting.com (considered first attempt in 2^nd one (1) year cycle)

• Licensure (NCLEX-RN & NCLEX-PN) Information for Applicants
  
  Application for licensure (NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN), in the state of Mississippi, is regulated by the Mississippi Board of Nursing (MSBON).
  
  MSBON is a consumer protection agency with authority to regulate the practice of nursing through licensure as provided for by the Mississippi State Code. MGCCC nursing applicants desiring to enter the ADN or PN program, and upon successful program completion make application to test out-of-state, are strongly encouraged to contact the state’s Board of Nursing for information and answers to specific questions related to curriculum, i.e., program option, total credit hours and/or clock hours in theory, lab, and clinical.
  
  It is strongly recommended that individuals research the approval/accreditation status and credibility of any nursing educational program before enrolling in individual courses or the entire program of study.
   
• Comply with Mississippi law requiring a Criminal Background History Check with Fingerprinting through the Mississippi Department of Health. All students making application to a School of Nursing and Health Professions program at MGCCC are required to obtain a clear or acceptable Criminal Background Check from the MGCCC Campus Police Department at HC, JC, Perkinston, or GC Campus.  The criminal background check policy (including testing dates and times) can be viewed at School of Nursing and Health Professions Criminal Background Check Policy .

Selection Process

Program openings are filled based on Selective Admission; applicants are ranked based on their individual achievement test scores and prior college course work. Student ranking for entry into the Associate Degree Nursing program is based on a point system and residency. Students are awarded points for the required ACT composite score, the G.P.A. (pre-requisite courses, plus any other AAS-required nursing courses taken at MGCCC or another institution, and the TEAS examination result.

Effective Fall 2022, practical (pre-licensure and MA-to-LPN) applicants and associate degree nursing (pre-licensure) applicants meeting the following criteria will receive five (5) points applied to the overall score on the supplemental nursing application:

1. Successfully complete the Health Care Assistant (HCA) program, (Hegis Code 7006), which includes the following four (4) HCA courses:
   1. HCA 1116
   2. HCA 1124
   3. HCA 1132
   4. HCA 1214
2. Obtain the Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) credential and the Phlebotomy (NCPT) credential.
3. Work in the field as a CNA or as a phlebotomist for at least six (6) months of consecutive, full-time experience.

In-district applicants (Mississippi residents of Harrison, Jackson, Stone and George Counties) are admitted before out-of-district applicants (all other Mississippi counties). Out-of-state applicants are not admitted until all qualified in-state applicants are admitted. Program enrollment is limited; however, enrollment is also influenced by the availability of clinical rotation slots, applicant numbers, and faculty.

MA to LPN Option Program Policies

• The School of Nursing and Health Professions require all entering students to submit to substance testing in accordance with its substance testing policy and procedures.
• The testing policy can be viewed by clicking here:  School of Nursing and Health Professions Substance Testing Policy .
• The School of Nursing and Health Professions requires proof of Immunizations and/or CPR. Submission of all required documents will begin following program acceptance. Failure to meet the requirements will result in withdrawal/dismissal.
• Upon admission to the MA to LPN option, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA on the required courses and complete each course with a C or better.
• Adherence to additional clinical affiliation requirements may be necessary depending on clinical rotation placement. (i.e. hospital orientation, HIPAA training, etc.)
• The School of Nursing and Health Professions Student Manual can be viewed here  

MGCCC Nursing Division – Cost List (Estimate only)

Nursing Program Expenses – Non Refundable (Cost may be subject to change)

Prior to Entering Program

• TEAS Entrance Exam $76 – $85 (Register at http://www.atitesting.com)
• Criminal Background Check $65 – $80 (MGCCC Campus Police)

Once Admitted into Program

• General MGCCC Tuition and Fees
• Career and Technical Program Fee $75 per credit hour
• Pre-admission Physical Exam and Immunizations $200 - $300                                          
• Substance Testing $29 - $35 per semester                       
• Liability Insurance $12 - $15 per semester
• Standardized Exams & Resources - $800 per semester                   
• Uniform, Lab Coat, Shoes, Accessories $200 - $300
• Student Nurse Organization per year $40 - $60                                                                                   
• Nursing Conventions per semester $150 estimated (Required all semesters)
• Skills Lab Bag Fee $300

Additional Expenses During Final Program Semester

• Licensure Exam Fees $200 – $300
• School Pin and Nursing Lamp Purchased from SNO dues

Cost may be subject to change