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TEAS-related Questions

What is the TEAS?

TEAS stands for Test of Essential Academic Skills. The TEAS is the exam ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø uses to help determine admission to the nursing program. It is a standard test that is facilitated by ATI. You will register and take the exam through ATI, either online or at one of their locations (if one is convenient). Most students complete the assessment from the comfort of their own home. Your score results are immediate, and you will be able to download and send them at no cost to the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø egistrar at electronictranscripts@davenport.edu. 

Tips for success:

• We recommend that you study or do some type of preparation before taking the assessment. You will be working through four sections: Reading, Math, Science and English Language Usage.
• ATI’s online store has a TEAS available for purchase in print or as an ebook. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Nursing strongly recommends that you purchase and review the TEAS study guide to be well-prepared.
• ATI also offers three other : the Comprehensive study package, the Basic study package, and a Practice assessment package for review and feedback about your study progress. The materials are optional and not required to take the TEAS.
• ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø's nursing department also provides some free resources, materials and practice quizzes for review purposes on the .

What are the benefits of taking the TEAS?

1. For admissions to the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø nursing program.
2. It has provided students who had a lower GPA the opportunity to get into nursing programs by showing their aptitude and qualification through the TEAS scores instead.
3. TEAS provides the nursing team with baseline information on each student to start successful NCLEX preparation. The NCLEX prep is important because it is the exam that each student will need to pass at the end of the program to get their nursing license.

How quickly do I need to submit my application?

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø has deadlines, and all students will be reviewed after the deadline period. Application
submission dates are not used for consideration.

When are the application review and admission decisions made for the applicant?

Application review and admission decisions are typically held within a few weeks after the application
deadlines.

When and how will I be notified about a decision after the review date?

Students will be notified via email within a few days after the application review and admission
decision date.

If I am not offered a seat after the first review, what happens to my application?

If a student is not offered a seat after the first review, they will be advised on opportunities to retake the TEAS, submit additional transcripts, certificates and essays, or apply in future application years. 

Does ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø have prerequisites?

Required courses are outlined in the nursing program sequence sheet. Transcripts to determine which
year the student will be admitted to will be evaluated per the academic advisor and associate
department chair on the campus the student has applied to. Recommended prerequisites for NURS 125
are BIOL 221, BIOL 221L, CHEM 150 and CHEM 150L for BSN-PL students. NURS 135 prerequisites include
BIOL 115 or BIOL 221 and BIOL 221L. 

Does ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø have a waiting list?

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø does not have a waiting list. All admissions are on a competitive basis only.

How is my nursing application evaluated?

All application materials including the TEAS, letters of recommendation, transcripts, test scores,
personal essays and experience are evaluated against the pool of candidates received.

What types of references should I use for my letters of recommendation?

Professional recommendations are best for students applying to the nursing program. A professional
recommendation is someone who has supervised you in a work setting. If you have healthcare
experience it is preferred the recommender is a supervisor in the healthcare setting you have worked in. 

In the nursing application process do things like certified nursing assistant programs, emergency
medical technician programs, other medical career and technical education experiences, job
shadowing or volunteer experiences help my chances of being admitted to the DU nursing program?

For the BSN-PL and PN programs, any certifications should be uploaded into CAS as these may
enhance the overall admission rubric score. The MSN program does require job shadowing and
volunteer experiences to be uploaded into the CAS system.

If I qualify for a direct admit am I automatically guaranteed a nursing seat?

No. Students must complete the application process to be reviewed for a seat, but some requirements
are waived. These candidates are given priority consideration at the first deadline. 

If I qualify for direct admit are there other ways to make myself stand out against other direct
admit qualifiers?

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø has a highly competitive nursing program, so students are encouraged to apply
early to the program to increase their likelihood of acceptance. 

If I don’t qualify for direct admit when starting the nursing application and I retake the ACT and/or
SAT and then qualify with my new test scores, can I qualify to be evaluated for direct admit?

Yes, please submit your updated scores and transcripts immediately to qualify.

So then, do I need to submit a new Direct Admit NursCAS application?

No. Notify your admissions rep and we can manually adjust your application accordingly with
the registrar’s office.

Are there any other suggestions to standing out in the nursing application process?

The best advice for standing out in the nursing application process is to clearly follow the directions in
the application, upload all pertinent information as requested by deadline dates and study to do well on
the TEAS test in the areas of reading, math and science.

What if I don’t get into the nursing program?

You can pursue our pre-nursing to direct admit route. 

What is the difference between BSN and BSN completion?

The BSN-PL is a degree designed for students who have chosen to pursue a career as a professional
nurse. This is a four-year BSN degree in which the student upon successful completion can take the NCLEX
examination to become a practicing registered nurse. The BSN completion degree is a program for
currently licensed registered nurses who are seeking a bachelor’s degree in nursing. This program
prepares registered nurses for nursing practice of patients and support systems across the continuum of
care and in communities.