VN Nursing Student Information
Welcome to your future in the Nursing Profession. Below you will find information necessary to complete your provisional admission status. Please check this page frequently for updated information and dates. Once you have started your first nursing course, you will no longer need to visit this page.
Completing these items will help you prepare for starting the nursing program. The nursing program is unlike any other courses you have taken. It is extremely rigorous and demanding. We believe that good quality preparation sets you up for success.
Provisional Admission Checklist
Please use the information below to guide you in the requirements for a successful start to the nursing program. This information is also listed below. Please note that no late submissions will be accepted. Any submissions not completed on time will result in forfeiture of your seat.
Confirmation of the student's desire to accept a seat in the nursing program is required. Student's acceptance must be recieved by July 30th by 5pm.
All provisionally accepted students are required to attend all New Student Orientation (NSO) days. These days have been planned to introduce students to the program, requirements, orientation to the department, and familiarity with policies and procedures. At NSO you will meet your instructors, fellow students, and get set up for success.
Dates: August 8 & 9 (both days are required)
Times: 9am-2pm
Location: Pollock Theater, College of the Desert
Click here for a campus map.
The Nursing program requires incoming students to have an iPad for classroom and clinical use. Each student will be required to have the ipad for the entirety of the program.
Who:
Beginning in Fall 2022, and all subsequent cohorts
What:
Each registered VN-010 student will obtain an “All-Inclusive Package” from the College of the Desert (COD) bookstore (available 8/2/23). Students must have these items on their devices at New student orientation.
The package will include:
- 10.9-inch iPad Air Wi-Fi 64GB - Space Gray with
- AppleCare+ for Schools - iPad / iPad Air / iPadMini
- Apple Pencil (2nd Generation)
- Keyboard/Cover for iPad Air (5th generation)
- Access codes for all required course materials including textbooks and software
The cost of the package will be approximately $1459.99 + tax.
Students will have the cost assigned to their student account in order to use financial aid and/or a payment system to pay the total sum. A payment plan for the ipad is available.
Please note that this includes all of the ipad, accessories, and all books and software for the core program.
Students that have their own ipad, that meets specifications, can opt-out of the ipad program and purchase only the books and software. The cost of the books without the ipad bundle is $404.99 + tax.
Payment/Cost:
Students registered for Nursing courses will go to the bookstore to pick up their ipad package. The cost of the iPad package will be placed on the student account and can be paid over the length of the nursing program. I Please note that the cost below are for the iPad only and do not include the textbooks.
| Cost per semester | New iPad | Refurbished iPad (if available) |
| Term 1 | $320 | $285 |
| Term 2 |
$120 | $75 |
| End of program (" iPad keep fee") |
$175 | $75 |
| Course | Textbook Costs |
| VN 10 Textbook/software package | $404.99 |
When/Where:
Students will be notified when the book package is available for pick up at the bookstore. Students must purchase from the bookstore to ensure that all appropriate software codes and books are included. Wednesday 08/02/23 and Thursday 08/03/23 from 8:00AM-2:00PM.
How:
Students will be responsible for the cost of the iPad package. The cost will be associated to your student accounts after you pick up and sign for the package. A structured fee schedule is available where payment will occur over the time you are in the program.
Why/Purpose:
To meet student success goals, address the needs of local employers, and provide one-stop shopping options for all required elements of the nursing program.
Student Success Goals:
- Increase digital literacy and technical skills in preparation for the workplace.
- Increase documentation skills in preparation for the workplace.
- Decrease program textbook costs.
- Decrease weight of textbooks and potential injury to students.
- Increase student engagement in the classroom thus leading to increased success.
- Ensure all students have a device that is compatible with the required software for the program.
- Increase self-awareness using video capture applications during simulation and role-play scenarios.
FAQs
Q: Does it have to be an iPad, or can I use another device?
A: It must be an iPad. Other devices will not run the software necessary for the program.
Q: Can I use my own iPad if I already have one?
A: Absolutely if it meets system requirements.
Q: What happens if I damage or break my iPad?
A: There is an $80 fee if repair is needed, and all costs are covered.
Q: What if I lose my iPad?
A: You will be responsible for replacing the iPad to maintain access to the items necessary for the program.
Q: Can I purchase the items elsewhere?
A: We cannot force you to purchase from the bookstore, however, we HIGHLY recommend you purchase from the bookstore to avoid having to purchase duplicate items due to errors. If you choose to purchase separately and outside this program, you are responsible for purchasing the correct items. COD is not responsible for any errors made by circumventing the bookstore.
Q: Does it matter which size iPad I buy?
A: iPad will include the iPad Air (5th generation). It also includes the Apple Pencil which will be required. If you choose to purchase the iPad on your own, you can use a different size, but we feel the iPad Air is the most appropriate size based on what activities you will be using the device for.
Q: By when do I have to pay for my textbook package?
A: The charges will be placed on your account towards the beginning of the term after pick up of the package. Students may use any financial aid towards the cost of the package, as it is considered required materials for the course. Additionally, students may arrange a payment plan to complete payment by the end of the semester. Any remaining balance on a student account will result in a registration hold for the following term.
Q: When do I need to have the iPad by?
A: The iPad and access codes must be available and present at the New Student Orientation. At that time, training will occur.
Required uniforms for the program take approximately two-three months from order date to arrival. Students will come to campus to try on and order their uniforms. Uniform fitting will occur after New student orientation on Aug 8 & 9 in BNC 37.
Please use this form to order your Background Screening and/or drug screen. Please see the due dates below. The completion of these items must be within the dates given, not before, not after. Failure to complete them in the timeframe listed will result in forfeiture of your seat. Upload your results of both your background check and drug screen to evalue, when you receive them.
**Please note that the dates for the background and drug screen. This will ensure that the timing of your drug screen will be within the timeframe allotted by the clinical facilities. Failure to follow these instructions may require double payment.** Do not "pre-order", submit the request during the timeframe below.
| Program | Background Check & Drug Screen |
| LVN Program | August 21st-Aug 25th |
All students in any nursing program at College of the Desert will be required to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine. This requirement has been set by our clinical partners, no exceptions or waivers are being accepted. The entire series must be completed by the dates below. If it has been 2 months or more since you completed your initial COVID vaccination series, you must receive a booster.
Series and/or Booster DUE 09/01/2023
In addition to providing proof for clinical partners, COD has an affidavit process that all students must complete. Please click here to complete this process.
Frequently Asked Questions when completing Onboarding documentation:
- What is "onboarding"? The process of being cleared by the hospitals and facilities in order to do clinical rotations as a part of your class. The process requires several lab tests, vaccinations, paperwork, background/drug screen, etc.
- Where will I submit all of this paperwork? Through Evalue, for information on evalue training, see above.
- Who do I contact if I have questions? Ms. Mijarez 760-773-2578
- What semester student am I? Brand new students are considered an "LVN 010" student.
- What is a titer? Titers are labs that show whether or not you have immunity or antibodies to specific diseases. Titers will require you to have a lab order from your doctor and then get blood drawn.
- What if my titer results come back indicating I am not immune? If you are not fully immune to the diseases on the list, you will need a "booster" shot.
- Who is my teacher? Ms. Montalvo will be your "lead teacher".
- Will proof of my vaccines from when I was a child work for onboarding? No. The only way you can prove clearance or immunity to a disease is through titers.
- When do I register for my classes? The nursing department will register you for all nursing courses. Should you need additional courses, you are responsible for that registration.
- What is the "nursing skills kit" on my registration fees? For each course in the nursing program, you will get a "kit" that has equipment for skills practice. The fee is automatically added to your account when you are registered. The fee for the kits vary each semester.
- What is the HS-300 class on my webadvisor registration? All nursing students are registered for HS-300 each Fall and Spring. Being registered in this course gives you access to use our computer lab and skills lab for practice outside of class, on your own time. The course is non-credit and therefore there is no charge. The only requirement for credit for the course, is that you use the lab for at least 1 hour during the term.
- How do I make an appointment with the counselor? Call 760-773-2578 to make an appointment with the nursing counselor, or stop by the front desk in the Barker Nursing Complex.
Whether students require financial aid or not, please complete the FAFSA. Consideration for some scholarships will require FAFSA on record.
If you have not already met with the nursing counselor, please make an appointment to meet with them prior to the start of the semester. Email NursingCounselor@collegeofthedesert.edu or call 760-773-2578.
Start saving your money. The first semester will cost you approximately $2582.00 The remainder of the program will cost approximately $2287.00 over the remaining 2 semesters.
Our programs are very rigorous. You will want to get your personal and home life organizaed for maximum efficiency. Plan to schedule at least 8 hours per day to the program (classes, studying, clinical).
We highly recommend that you request a reduction of work hours once the program starts. We recommend, based on success statistics, you work no more than 12 hours per week. Additionally, night shifts are not permitted prior to any days of class.
You will be registered for theory and clinical by the nursing department. Pay for registration and malpractice insurance at the Bursar's office. Malpractice insurance is NOT covered by financial aid. This must be completed prior to the first day of class.
Activate and check your mycod email daily. This will be the only means of official communication from the department during the program. For those students without COD email, once you have obtained a "mycod" email account, please notify NursingInfo@collegeofthedesert.edu so we can update your records. It is imperative that we have the updated email address as soon as it is available.
