Admission
Policies and Procedures

All students who apply for admission to DSN must be 18 years old, a high school graduate, and meet any additional programmatic admissions requirements. Evidence of high school graduation, GED, or home schooling is required. Transcripts are required to show prerequisite courses have been successfully completed. All applicants must complete an informational interview and are encouraged to bring family members. All applicants will need to sign an enrollment agreement, pay a $50.00 application fee, and complete all financial arrangements prior to starting classes.

Prior Education Transfer Credits

All students with prior post-secondary education, who wish to transfer credits, must submit transcripts for review prior to enrolling at Denver School of Nursing.  Credits may be accepted when prior courses are shown to be comparable to those required as pre-requisites. All A&P, pathophysiology, and microbiology courses must have been completed within seven years of application. All nursing courses must have been completed within three years of application at a state board of nursing approved nursing program.  All pre-requisite or transfer courses must be with a grade of "C" or better from an accredited post-secondary institution.

Applicants  who wish to transfer in clinical nursing courses, from prior learning at other  approved nursing programs, may be required to demonstrate clinical competency in the learning laboratory prior to the acceptance of these courses. 

Applicants who are currently employed in a health care setting providing direct client care may also be asked to provide skills references from employers.

Students returning to the School after a leave of absence or similar absence from active enrollment may also be required to demonstrate clinical competence prior to placement in clinical nursing courses.

If the first attempt at a campus laboratory (clinical competency) testing is unsatisfactory, the student will be allowed one other attempt. If the second attempt is unsatisfactory, the validation process is ended and the student will not be able to enter/re-enter the nursing program at DSN.

Students requesting campus laboratory (clinical competency) testing will be assessed a $200 charge  per course tested.

Applicants may not transfer in more than 30% of the credits of any program.

Immunizations and Health Insurance

Applicants for all programs must show proof of current immunizations and a valid CPR card. A description of specific immunizations and documents required, and a list of sites where vaccinations are provided or tests may be completed, is provided to each student during the admission process. 

Applicants must also have a current American Heart Association “Healthcare Provider” CPR card. For more information please contact, The Colorado CPR Association, located at: 7550 W. Yale, Suite A-220, Denver, CO 80227; website: www.cocprassn.com; telephone (303) 980-1015.

Students are required to provide proof of health insurance coverage. Students should all maintain personal health insurance throughout their coursework to avoid problems with clinical placements.

Students who do not provide appropriate documentation as required may not be allowed to participate in classes.

Background Checks

To meet the requirements of clinical sites and ensure student and patient safety, all applicants are required to submit a background check as part of the admission process.  Applicants with prior felony or misdemeanor convictions may not be allowed to participate in clinical coursework and therefore may not be able to complete their program.  Also, applicants may not be listed on the Office of the Inspector General Medicare or Medicaid exclusion list.  For applicants who already hold some type of health care license, the license must be unencumbered and in good standing.

Students may also be subject to drug screening and additional background checks as required by clinical sites. The standards of clinical sites may change and students are expected to comply with all current requirements as advised by the school.

Licensure requirements also require background screening and disclosure of all prior criminal and disciplinary activities, and students with a negative history may not be successful in obtaining licensure.

Travel and Clinic Schedules

Clinical coursework is a critical component of nursing education. Students should be prepared to travel on their own to clinical sites throughout the extended metropolitan area, and surrounding rural areas. Students may be scheduled to attend clinicals at sites with a variable schedule that can include hours on the weekends, at night, or during the day. Clinical classes may meet for regular nursing shifts that can be up to 12 consecutive hours. Students who miss clinical hours may not be able to make them up and may not be able to successfully complete their program.

Essential Functions of Nursing

Students will participate in clinical courses and need to have adequate sensory and motor skills to perform the essential functions of nursing. These functions include walking, lifting and turning patients, and activities requiring repetitive movements.

Consistent with OSHA standards, applicants should also be aware that nursing is an occupation that requires performance of tasks which may involve exposure to potentially infectious materials such as blood or body fluids.
Applicants with any questions or concerns about their ability to participate in all activities required by the school's programs should obtain a physical examination from their health care provider before enrolling. 

Students may be asked to provide copies of health statements or examinations for clinical sites. If students experience medical conditions that limit their participation in the program, they will be required to provide a note from their health care provider allowing them to fully participate in activities required by the program.

Students Seeking Reasonable
Accommodation

Reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities may be made on an individual basis pursuant to the school's ADA Policy. Any student, who seeks accommodations for any disability to fully participate in the programs at Denver School of Nursing, is responsible for making his/her needs known during the admission process, and complying with the ADA policy.  Documentation to support any disability must be presented to the Director of Nursing Education.  Further information, and copy of the ADA policy, may be obtained from the DNEP.

Application Review and Acceptance

Applications are reviewed as soon as all required documents are received. Completion of prior coursework, an applicant’s total academic background, scores on entrance tests, and experience in health related jobs may be considered in the admissions process.  The review of applications is discretionary and acceptance or denial decisions are not subject to appeal. Late enrollments are not permitted.

Successful applicants will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis, and will be notified of acceptance when admissions requirements are met and all financial arrangements are complete.  Applicants who are not accepted will receive a full refund of any amounts paid.

All courses are taught in English. Students must be able to read, write, and speak fluently in English. These abilities will be determined through the admissions process. The school does not offer English as a Second Language courses.