School of Nursing

Class of 2012

http://nursing.stcc.blackboard.com

http://www.atitesting.com

The STCC School of Nursing utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to simulation education. Nursing students and faculty collaborate with programs such as Respiratory Care, Physical Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, and Radiology in creative simulation scenarios.

STCC also offers numerous other health related programs. Please visit http://health.stcc.edu for more information.

Nursing Specific Information:

The nursing curriculum prepares men and women to be professional nurses who are competent to render safe and effective nursing care to people across the life cycle in both health and illness. The community-centered approach combines both liberal and technical education for eligible student within the college.  Graduates of the nursing program receive an Associate of Science in Nursing degree and are eligible to take the computer-based Adaptive National Council Licensure

Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). This test is offered through:

NCLEX Testing with Pearson VUE

Pearson VUE delivers the NCLEX examination for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN),

www.pearsonvue.com/nclex

CORI/SORI:

All accepted nursing students must undergo CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and SORI (Sexual Offender Record Information) or other relevant check. Dependent on the findings, participation in the Nursing program or clinical affiliation related thereto may be denied. For further information, please contact the Office of the Dean, School of Nursing at tarbell@stcc.edu.

Individuals with previous court convictions must also meet the eligibility requirements of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing for licensure. Prospective students should review the Good Moral Character CMR set by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. For further information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/dph/boards/rn

TRANSFER STUDENTS:

Any student seeking transfer status from another accredited School of Nursing must meet all admission requirements for the School of Nursing at STCC. The requirements are inclusive of Algebra 2 and TEAS 5. All requests for transfer are treated on both an INDIVIDUAL basis and seat available basis.

The STCC School of Nursing is approved and regulated by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing
239 Causeway Street, 2nd Floor,
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617.973.0900 or 800.414.0168
www.board-of-nursing.com/massachusetts-board-of-nursing.php

The school also has full accreditation by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (NLNAC©). The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (NLNAC)© is a resource of information regarding accreditation status as well as the length and cost of nursing programs. You can contact NLNAC© by their mailing address or you can visit their website.
NCNAC©
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
http://nlnac.org/home.htm  

Additional Information:

Matriculation:

The final course grade is calculated as follows:

1. The average of three term exams and a final cumulative exam will equal 90% of the final grade. The grade of a special project will equal 10% of the final grade. A final course grade of 2.3 (77%) or better is required to pass the course.
2. A student must pass the clinical portion of the course in order to qualify to write the final exam (grading for clinical portion is Pass-Fail). Transcript grade for clinical failure will be recorded as F.
3. An average of 2.30 (77+) on these exams is required to pass the course. The final course grade, if below C+ or 77 will be recorded as a letter grade with transcript stamped: NOT ELIGIBLE FOR MATRICULATION IN NURSING and the DATE .
4. No more than one failed/withdrawn nursing course may be repeated.
5. Grades are not rounded up.

Eligibility for Promotion:

• Students must attend scheduled lectures and clinical hospital laboratories.
• Students must pass academically and clinically.
• Students must achieve a minimum grade of "C+" (77+) in all other required courses, in order to be eligible for graduation. Students must function according to Technical Standards and clinical objectives. Technical Standards
• Students must be able to maintain ALL Technical Standards at all times without exception. Programmatic Technical Standard (PDF)-A signature of agreement is kept on file for all students.
• It is the students responsibility to report special needs to the appropriate offices.

Procedure for the admission and advanced placement of L.P.N.s to STCC School of Nursing:

1. The challenge examination for L.P.N.s will be administered only after an L.P.N. with current registration has been fully admitted as a student in the School of Nursing.
2. Student records show that the accumulated theory and clinical experience of the student meet the curriculum requirements for School of Practical Nursing in Massachusetts.
3. The LPN license must be in good standing without restriction or violation.
4. It is the LPN's responsibility to contact the Office of the Dean of the School of Nursing, (413) 755-4855 for additional information. NOTE: All LPN's who successfully challenge will be required to pay for the total number of credits assigned to NURS-102 (8 credits). This information will be reflected on the final transcript.
5. LPN candidates must take NURS-104 Freshman Seminar/Trends. This course is challenge exempt and needs to be completed before entering the spring semester (NURS-202). Trends is not a challenge course and must be taken at the scheduled time.
6. The NURS-102 Challenge Examination for LPNs will be scheduled for administration at a date to be determined by the School of Nursing prior to beginning the nursing curriculum. A student has a right to sit for the examination once,  as no retakes are permitted. This examination provides the LPN with an opportunity to validate knowledge of the concepts usually presented in NURS-102, which is the foundation for the subsequent nursing courses.
7. Attainment of a 77+ is the minimum passing grade in theory. (77+ = C+ + 2.3 QPA) The challenge examination for NURS-102, may not be retaken.
8. The challenge MUST be completed before beginning NURS-102, not after.
   
   

General Minimum Prerequisites

• Algebra 2 grade must be less than five years old. Eligible challenge -earned grade must be 80 or higher.
• No more than one repeated college science course within the past seven years.
  This means that each science course can be repeated once, if desired. Applicable courses include BIOL-132  (Anatomy and Physiology 1), BIOL-232 (Anatomy and Physiology 2) and BIOL-121 (Microbiology).
• All Anatomy & Physiology courses over seven years old must be repeated.
• All college level coursework required within the Nursing curriculum with an earned grade of C+ or better

General Information:

• Students with previous health care related experiences may have an easier transition
• You really must want to be a nurse
• Diversity is embraced
• The nursing shortage will go through 2020 and beyond
• The greatest nursing need is in Long Term and Chronic Care
• Most new graduates will not enter into critical care environments
• Students cannot request individual schedules or professors
• Clinical experiences are variable according to health care provider availability and may be at anytime of day or day of the week
• School of Nursing uniforms are required and must be purchased through the college bookstore
• It is necessary to attend an Information Session
• The Nursing program only admits students in the Fall Semester. Please make sure your application reflects this.
• STCC Graduates are able to become licensed in any or all of the United States and its properties
• NURSING IS THE MOST REWARDING PROFESSION IF IT FITS YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL
• Drug Policy Statement
• Latex Policy, Latex Release Form
• School Of Nursing Information Sessions

NEW beginning in the Fall of 2012:

All admitted students will be required to have a personal laptop computer. The minimum operational requirements are as follows:
Student Laptop Specifications

Each student will also need to have a handheld electronic device. Acceptable devices are: iTouch, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or any other hand held device with the ability to download applications and text books.
Additional information will be made available to all admitted students and fully explained at the nursing orientation for new students.

Application Information

1. TEAS 5 (The Test of Essential Academic Skills, version 5). This assessment test is offered at STCC.
   It is suggested that the preparation book be utilized. The book is available in the STCC bookstore or on line through ATI.
   Registration link: http://www.atitesting.com/
   It is recommended that individuals not attempt to retake the TEAS 5 test prior to 30 days since the last sitting. The highest grades earned in each section will be applied for admission evaluation if multiple attempts are made.
   PLEASE-DO NOT WAIT FOR THE LAST DATES TO TEST. MARCH 1ST OF THE APPLICATION YEAR IS THE DEADLINE.
2. Students need to follow the link below to self register. The required minimum scores are as follows:
   TEAS 5 after to March 1, 2012

   Reading= 73%	Percentile Rank=55
   Math ADN= 68.9%	Percentile Rank= 51
   Science= 55.3%	Percentile Rank= 55
   English= 66%	Percentile Rank= 62

   
   *These are adjusted scores with a percentile conversion based on norms of all students who take the test for all schools. SCORES WILL BE NORMALIZED ANNUALLY BASED ON THE REPORTED PERCENTILE RANKS FOR DEGREE.
   It is the students responsibility to monitor the web page for expected scores.
   
3. Algebra 2 with a grade of 80 or (B-) must be completed in high school or in college within 5 years of seeking admission to nursing. Successful completion of a placement test at STCC achieving the Algebra 2 level will be accepted. Other math classes such as Statistics, Geometry, Business Math, and Trigonometry are not considered for application or acceptance.
   NOTE: These courses can be considered as an elective, meeting core requirements, if the earned grade is C+ or greater.

• NURS 099 or MAST 319, 320 or 321 are not accepted for admission or as an elective in nursing and should not be
 considered by the applicant for nursing.

School of Nursing
The STCC Seamless Curriculum Track

http://nursing.stcc.blackboard.com

SIMS Medical

1. All courses must be taken prior to or during the semester as listed above.
2. Anatomy & Physiology courses over seven years old must be repeated or challenged. Arrangements to challenge are made through the Biological Sciences department chairperson.
3. MAST-319, MAST-320, MAST-321 are not acceptable for Nursing or electives

Upon successful completion of requirements for the Nursing program, the degree of Associate in Science in Nursing will be awarded.