Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the program?
The program is 11.5 months long, beginning in July of every year and running through June.
What is the course schedule like?
Classes run Monday through Friday with clinicals on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 0645 - 230 pm. Lectures are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 0800 - 345 pm. There are changes to the schedule throughout the semester as needed. For example, the first two weeks of class are all lecture days, with no clinical times. The calendar is subject to change at anytime.
What is the approximate cost of the School of Practical Nursing?
The cost is approximately $7,500 which includes tuition, books, uniforms, lab fees, laptop computer (which you pay on your own if you don't already have one) and other costs. The total cost breakdown is available from James Rumsey Technical Institute and is given to all nursing students accepted into the School of Practical Nursing. Costs are subject to change.
Is there a policy on uniforms / scrubs?
Nursing students are required to attend the New Nursing Student Orientation held in June prior to the beginning of classes. The Uniform Store from Winchester, VA is onsite and sizes students for their uniforms. Scrubs are required to be purchased from the same supplier to ensure uniformity in color and to ensure all scrubs are embroidered with the logo, as required by School of Practical Nursing regulations.
How do clinicals work?
The Coordinator / Director of the School of Practical Nursing sets clinical agreements and schedules students in clinical groups. Clinicals are held in nursing homes, acute care hospitals, physician offices, radiology, EKG, operating room, emergency rooms, urgent cares and several other areas as available.
Where can I work after graduation?
Our graduates work in several areas including physician offices, acute care hospitals, prisons, federal agencies, schools, hospice, long term care facilities and as private duty nurses or even as travel nurses. We currently have a 100% placement of students who applied for jobs.
What do I get after graduation?
Once you pass the courses and graduate, you are given a certificate/diploma. Depending on what state you elect to have your license through, you may be able to work on a temporary nursing license until you take the NCLEX, or state boards.
How do I become licensed?
Once you graduate, you are eligible to sit for the NCLEX, or state boards. Once you pass the NCLEX, you are given your permanent nursing license. You can choose what state you would like your license to be in. Once you have your permanent license, you can always transfer to another state at any time.
What are the chances of success with the state boards?
The class of 2013 had a NCLEX pass rate of 96% and the class of 2014 had a NCLEX pass rate of 97%. The national average is about 85%.
Is West Virginia the only state I can get my nursing license in?
Though your education is in West Virginia, you can choose where you want your license to go once you pass the NCLEX. However, different states require additional documentation and we often recommend that you obtain your West Virginia license first, then transfer it to the state of your choice as it is usually easier (and sometimes cheaper) than going directly to the state. If you choose to work for the federal government (in WV or any other state), you only need one license to work in any state for the federal government.
Can I work and take the courses at the same time?
Though it is not encouraged, we understand that not all students are able to go to school full time without working. We encourage students to work as little as possible, and not work on Sunday night (as clinicals are early Monday mornings).
Are there dorms available for students?
James Rumsey Technical Institute has a limited number of dormitories available for students. Contact the main office of JRTI for information, availability and rates.
I went to college and received credits for some classes. Will they transfer to James Rumsey?
Some courses are accepted for credits including anatomy and physiology, nutrition and growth and development. Nursing students that transfer in from a ASN or BSN program and completed fundamentals may be eligible to have their credits for that course transferred in. Restrictions apply and criteria must be met for acceptance of transfer credits. The faculty of the School of Practical Nursing review credits on a case by case basis.
Are there any online courses?
At this time, faculty are working on creating online courses to ease the burden of lecture time and scheduling on our students. We are hoping to incorporate at least one class for the 2015 - 16 academic year.
Is there financial aid available?
Though James Rumsey Technical Institute does not have traditional financial aid as seen at the college / university level, we do offer our students the Pell Grant which many nursing students are eligible for. Also available is financial assistance through various West Virginia agencies, including the unemployment office and WIA. For the 2015 - 16 year, The School of Practical Nursing is proud to announce the new partnership with United Bank (Spring Mills branch) in offering a student loan or credit card for our nursing students.
What are the steps for entry into the nursing school?
The first thing you need to do is to contact the Jill S Weekley Learning Center at James Rumsey Technical Institute to schedule the mandatory orientations held from January to March. Then, study and prepare for the entrance exam (TEAS-V). Once you pass the exam at a particular level, you may be called for an interview by the nursing faculty, and then, hopefully, acceptance into the nursing school.
The program is 11.5 months long, beginning in July of every year and running through June.
What is the course schedule like?
Classes run Monday through Friday with clinicals on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 0645 - 230 pm. Lectures are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 0800 - 345 pm. There are changes to the schedule throughout the semester as needed. For example, the first two weeks of class are all lecture days, with no clinical times. The calendar is subject to change at anytime.
What is the approximate cost of the School of Practical Nursing?
The cost is approximately $7,500 which includes tuition, books, uniforms, lab fees, laptop computer (which you pay on your own if you don't already have one) and other costs. The total cost breakdown is available from James Rumsey Technical Institute and is given to all nursing students accepted into the School of Practical Nursing. Costs are subject to change.
Is there a policy on uniforms / scrubs?
Nursing students are required to attend the New Nursing Student Orientation held in June prior to the beginning of classes. The Uniform Store from Winchester, VA is onsite and sizes students for their uniforms. Scrubs are required to be purchased from the same supplier to ensure uniformity in color and to ensure all scrubs are embroidered with the logo, as required by School of Practical Nursing regulations.
How do clinicals work?
The Coordinator / Director of the School of Practical Nursing sets clinical agreements and schedules students in clinical groups. Clinicals are held in nursing homes, acute care hospitals, physician offices, radiology, EKG, operating room, emergency rooms, urgent cares and several other areas as available.
Where can I work after graduation?
Our graduates work in several areas including physician offices, acute care hospitals, prisons, federal agencies, schools, hospice, long term care facilities and as private duty nurses or even as travel nurses. We currently have a 100% placement of students who applied for jobs.
What do I get after graduation?
Once you pass the courses and graduate, you are given a certificate/diploma. Depending on what state you elect to have your license through, you may be able to work on a temporary nursing license until you take the NCLEX, or state boards.
How do I become licensed?
Once you graduate, you are eligible to sit for the NCLEX, or state boards. Once you pass the NCLEX, you are given your permanent nursing license. You can choose what state you would like your license to be in. Once you have your permanent license, you can always transfer to another state at any time.
What are the chances of success with the state boards?
The class of 2013 had a NCLEX pass rate of 96% and the class of 2014 had a NCLEX pass rate of 97%. The national average is about 85%.
Is West Virginia the only state I can get my nursing license in?
Though your education is in West Virginia, you can choose where you want your license to go once you pass the NCLEX. However, different states require additional documentation and we often recommend that you obtain your West Virginia license first, then transfer it to the state of your choice as it is usually easier (and sometimes cheaper) than going directly to the state. If you choose to work for the federal government (in WV or any other state), you only need one license to work in any state for the federal government.
Can I work and take the courses at the same time?
Though it is not encouraged, we understand that not all students are able to go to school full time without working. We encourage students to work as little as possible, and not work on Sunday night (as clinicals are early Monday mornings).
Are there dorms available for students?
James Rumsey Technical Institute has a limited number of dormitories available for students. Contact the main office of JRTI for information, availability and rates.
I went to college and received credits for some classes. Will they transfer to James Rumsey?
Some courses are accepted for credits including anatomy and physiology, nutrition and growth and development. Nursing students that transfer in from a ASN or BSN program and completed fundamentals may be eligible to have their credits for that course transferred in. Restrictions apply and criteria must be met for acceptance of transfer credits. The faculty of the School of Practical Nursing review credits on a case by case basis.
Are there any online courses?
At this time, faculty are working on creating online courses to ease the burden of lecture time and scheduling on our students. We are hoping to incorporate at least one class for the 2015 - 16 academic year.
Is there financial aid available?
Though James Rumsey Technical Institute does not have traditional financial aid as seen at the college / university level, we do offer our students the Pell Grant which many nursing students are eligible for. Also available is financial assistance through various West Virginia agencies, including the unemployment office and WIA. For the 2015 - 16 year, The School of Practical Nursing is proud to announce the new partnership with United Bank (Spring Mills branch) in offering a student loan or credit card for our nursing students.
What are the steps for entry into the nursing school?
The first thing you need to do is to contact the Jill S Weekley Learning Center at James Rumsey Technical Institute to schedule the mandatory orientations held from January to March. Then, study and prepare for the entrance exam (TEAS-V). Once you pass the exam at a particular level, you may be called for an interview by the nursing faculty, and then, hopefully, acceptance into the nursing school.