Hello, and welcome to Nightingale College!

As a new learner beginning your nursing courses at Nightingale College, we're glad you're joining us! Depending on your previously earned credits, test results, and other credentials, you may take a different path through your courses than other learners. Some of you will dive into your experiential learning courses immediately, and some of you will take additional General Education courses first. We would like to help you prepare.

Pre-Semester Checklist

Below, you'll find a list of items that need to be completed before your first semester at Nightingale College. Some of these deadlines only apply if you're taking a course with an on-ground component (DFC) during Fall 2025 (BSN 225, 246, 266, 346, and 366 and ASN 241, 261, 341, and 361). Check your course schedule, and please read carefully for the information that applies to you.

Friday, July 18 - Credentialing deadline for Fall 2025 DFCs.

• Start by setting up your Complio account, where you will upload your requirements. Visit nightingalecompliance.com to get started.
• You must submit all required immunizations and complete all required paperwork, including background checks and drug screens, by July 18 for Fall 2025 DFCs. 
• If you fail to complete your requirements and upload the documents to Complio by the deadline, you may be ineligible to attend DFCs. 
• Questions? Contact credentialsupport@nightingale.edu. 

Friday, July 18 - Transfer of credit deadline.

• Your official transcripts from other institutions must be submitted by this date for you to receive credit in time for Fall Semester 2025.
• Questions? Contact transcripts@nightingale.edu.

Friday, July 18 - Entrance exam (Accuplacer) deadline (11:59 p.m. Mountain Time).

• You must score 260 or higher in each section for full unconditional matriculation.
• See the College Catalog for information about scores below 260.
• Questions? Contact admissionstesting@nightingale.edu.

Monday, July 21 - Medical Dosage Calculation (MDC) and HESI placement exam payment deadline.

• If you're an LPN/LVN testing for course credit, don't forget to register for your HESI exams and/or the online MDC course.
• You'll receive a link in your email to pay the fee and receive your scheduling instructions.
• You must make your exam payments by 11:59 p.m. MT on this date.
• Questions? Contact admissionstesting@nightingale.edu.

Friday, July 25 - HESI placement exam and MDC quiz completion deadline.

• These exams must be scheduled and completed by 11:59 p.m. MT on this date.
• Questions? Contact admissionstesting@nightingale.edu.

Tuesday, August 12 -Address change deadline for Summer DFCs.

• If we do not have accurate address information in the portal, your placement may not reflect your correct location.
• Note: You can change your address in the Learner/Student Portal.

Tuesday, August 12 - Pre-semester variance form deadline for Summer DFCs.

• This form* gives you consideration (but not a guarantee) to not be placed at DFCs on your chosen dates, so submit this form if you have plans this semester.
• You may request up to five days off from DFCs, either consecutively or separately.
• We will do our best to avoid assigning you to DFCs on the dates requested, but because placements depend on site availability, we may or may not be able to honor your request.
• *Note: The form will open for submissions July 14. Until it's open, you'll see a message saying "This form is currently not accepting responses."

After add/drop (Week 3) during your first experiential learning course:

• Upload your photo to the EL Portal's Information Center and purchase your badge. It will be sent to your home address.

What to Know About DFCs

Direct focus care (DFC) provides learners with an authentic experience for the application of previously studied theories and skills to reasoning in a live, on-ground environment and healthcare facility under supervision of faculty.

DFCs are assigned by Schedule Support, who will notify you of your placement through the EL Portal. Learners may not request DFC placements for a specific location, facility, date, or with a specific faculty member.

Our partner sites do not confirm learner placements at the same time, so learners may receive notification of their schedules at different times throughout the semester. Please remember that DFC placements are subject to state regulations, site availability, and other factors that are outside our control.

You will be required to wear your uniform at DFCs and other experiential learning activities. Learners in their first semester of nursing courses will receive credit toward their uniform purchases. You will receive an email from our uniform vendor, AllHeart, to notify you when your account has been credited. We recommend purchasing uniforms by the end of Week 1.

If you are enrolled in a DFC course, the Experiential Learning Orientation (ELO) will be available in Canvas at the beginning of the semester, and we invite you to pay close attention to the information in your ELO for more DFC information. Additionally, you will receive more information from your DFC faculty five days prior to your DFC start date.

Kit and Badge

You will need a kit and a badge for some of your courses. Your VR headset will be shipped to you at the same time as your kit. You will order your badge yourself (see Pre-semester Checklist above for details). We will send your kit to the mailing address that is listed in the EL portal early in the semester, so please be sure that your address is correct.

If you have any questions about your kit or badge, please contact learnerkits@nightingale.edu. If you do not receive your kit and headset by Week 4, please complete the form entitled “Learner Kit Inquiry,” located within Learner Forms in Canvas.

Welcome to your nursing school journey at Nightingale College.

We hope this information is helpful, and we’re so happy to be part of this adventure with you. Watch for more information from us as you prepare for the semester ahead. We're excited to see what you'll accomplish during your time with us, and we wish you success!

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Nightingale College