According to U.S News and World Report, being a nurse practitioner is ranked as the third overall “Best Job in America” for the calendar year 2021. The report also discloses that nursing jobs are expected to grow by 52.4% along with an unemployment rate of 1.2%, which ranks far below the nation’s national unemployment average that currently sits at 6.3 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

Nurses play a vital role in all healthcare systems all over the world by wearing numerous hats that range from providing and coordinating patient care, educating patients and the public on various health conditions, and advising patients and families on coping with certain unfortunate life circumstances.

Obtaining an Associate of Science in Nursing (AS) degree at Hajdgen International College equips students with the knowledge to compete for a registered nursing license. With an RN license, students instantly become employable by major hospitals, nursing/residential care facilities, and government and educational services at all levels, including but not limited to state, local, and private entities. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the median annual salary for a registered nurse (RN) is $75,330.

Entrance/Admissions Requirements

Hajgden International College seeks students who demonstrate academic achievement and want to contribute to the wellbeing of the school community. All admissions personnel have attended an approved Commission for Independent Education continuing education course and a record of the course attendance is kept on file.  Admission is competitive and based primarily on the student’s academic transcript, standardized testing scores, and recommendations. Applicants must fulfill the following requirements for potential admissions into the Nursing (AS) program:

1. — Complete an admissions application and pay a $150 non-refundable application fee.
2. — Submit a High School transcript/diploma, or verification of GED completion, or proof of HS graduation from a foreign institution comparable to a United States secondary school.
3. — Submit an official transcript from all other schools attended (if applicable). Transfer credits for courses completed at an outside institution are evaluated at the time of admission.
4. — Take and pass the entrance examination

The applicant must express a sincere desire to become a nurse. Student must be 18 years of age or older at the time of graduation. Applicants must pass the college generated entrance exam with a score of at least 65 percent or a third-party related examination such as the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS-V) with a score of at least 55% within the last twelve (12) months prior to being admitted into the program.  Sitting capacity is limited and, therefore, only applicants with the highest scores on the administered entrance exam may be accepted for potential admissions. The school entrance exam’s score ranges from 55% to 100% on the specific examination used by the school.  The admissions score does not represent a minimum or maximum “Passing Score,” as applicants shall be selected for admissions from the highest scores to the lowest scores, among other admissions criteria. The higher the score, the higher is the probability of an applicant getting accepted into the program. Applicants who have completed a college degree, by means of a conferred degree transcript, shall be exempt from the entrance exam requirement. Applicants will not be required to provide proof of high school graduation when they provide the following:  Verification of an earned degree from a licensed institution recognized by the United States Secretary of Education or an evaluation of a foreign transcript by an approved educational evaluator service attesting that the degree is equivalent to a degree earned at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States. Home-schooled applicants who have a high school diploma can also apply.

Medical clearance to include immunizations and vaccinations (TB, Hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella, Titers), negative urine drug screening, and physical must be submitted to the school at least two (2) months prior to the students starting clinical rotations. 

1.  — Physical Exam: Before entry into the program clinical rotations, a physical examination is required and results returned to the program director.  Arrangement for this exam may be made through your family primary care provider or any public provider of the student’s choice.  
2. — TST (Tuberculin Skin Test):  A two-step intradermal tuberculin skin test (TST) is required for nursing students prior to participation in clinical experiences.  Further testing is not required unless there is exposure to an individual who tests positive for tuberculosis. Results must be recorded in millimeters and a copy of the results kept on file. Xray results are required for all positive tests.  
3. — Students are required to show proof of immunity to the following communicable diseases:     a. Proof of one (1) rubella immunization or rubella titer (may be MMR). b. Proof of two (2) rubella vaccines or rubella titer (may be MMR).   c. Verbal history of chicken pox or varicella zoster titer may be necessary.   d. Immunization dates may be verified by your family primary care provider.  Titers may be drawn by family health care provider.  Students are responsible for the costs of the titers.
4. — Influenza Vaccine: Each fall, students may need to submit proof of obtaining a yearly influenza vaccine, depending on the college’s published requirements during the admissions process or thereafter.  If so, Flu documentations would be due by October 31. If a student chooses not to receive the vaccine, the student may need to provide the school a medical release or waiver from a physician due to medical contraindication by October 31. Hajgden International College (HIC) reserves the right to modify this policy at any time.    
5. — Hepatitis B Vaccination:  In compliance with the policies of OSHA and health care agencies used for clinical experiences, the Department of Nursing recommends that nursing students receive the Hepatitis B vaccine.  Hepatitis B is a blood borne virus.  The Hepatitis B vaccine is required for personnel whose occupations have the potential to expose them to blood or other infectious materials.  Hepatitis B vaccine may be obtained from your family primary care provider.  The vaccination consists of a series of three injections.  Students must begin the injections at least one month prior to beginning clinical; the second injection will follow in one month.  The final injection is to be given six months after the first injection. It is not necessary that the series be completed at one location.  The Hepatitis B series is available from Florida Health Department in your local county.  If for some medical, religious, or philosophical reason the student elects not to receive the vaccine, a letter, stating such, must be signed, dated and submitted by the student prior to clinical practicum.  Failure to either receive the vaccine or sign a declination form will result in denial of admission to the program.   
6. — An updated tetanus (Td) booster vaccination is strongly advised if it has been 10 years since your last tetanus vaccination.  The newly licensed tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine for adults is a recommended alternative in light of the recent increase in pertussis (whooping cough).  Consult your health care provider or county health department for further information.   
7. — CPR Certification:  The school requires all nursing students to be CPR certified prior to entry into clinical practices.  The CPR course should be a two-year certification from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross and must be a course for Health Care Providers (not a lay responder course). CPR needs to be current throughout your clinical courses.  A copy of the CPR certification card must be submitted to the school prior to the start of clinical.  Disclaimer:  Students must abide by any specific requirement set forth by any of our clinical rotation sites and at any point of time during the program session.  This requirement is subject to change.

Important: If the physical form, immunization status, TB results, criminal background check and CPR are not submitted to the program director by at least two (2) months prior to the scheduling of the clinical rotations, students will not be permitted to attend clinical rotations.  Students must provide documentation indicating that they are free of active Tuberculosis (TB), Immune to Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella; must have proof of good Physical and Mental Health provided by a Medical Doctor, or an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, or a Physician Assistant no later than two (2) months prior to the clinical rotation start date and must include a negative urine drug screening test.

The college requires a regular level II criminal history background check on all students. Background checks, which must be submitted to the school at least two (2) months prior to the students starting clinical rotations, can be purchased through any public vendor, or any other entity as directed by the school. Also, an AHCA level II background screening is required for most clinical sites.  A criminal background history can affect a student from being placed for clinical rotations, for potential jobs, and it can also cause a nursing student or graduate from being cleared by the Board of Nursing to sit for the NCLEX examination for potential licensure.  The same goes for any other certification board/entity. It is a nursing students’ responsibility to verify with the Board of Nursing to see if they can sit for their NCLEX exam if, indeed, they have an (unfavorable) criminal background history, regardless if the criminal history and its findings take place before, during or after their acceptance into the college. The same applies to students (or candidates wishing to be) enrolled in any other academic programs. The school does not know and will not get to know how a clinical rotation site will act or decide about a student’s background check screening results until after the student’s criminal background check result documents are submitted to that clinical site sometimes during the course of the student’s cohort. That time or period can be sometimes around or after the second or third or fourth quarter of the student having been in the program or even sometimes later. Also, clinical rotation sites reserve the rights to not accept a student with an unfavorable criminal history and it shall be the student’s full responsibility, as the school shall not be held liable.  The same thing applies for potential employment after the student completes the program.  After reading the information listed in this entire document, a student who chooses to enroll in the school will do so at his/her own risk.  The school shall not be liable at any cost if the student cannot attend clinical rotations, receive clearance for board exam, and/or find gainful employment as a result of any of the factors stated in this document.