Nursing, A.A.S.

Degree: Associate in Applied Science
HEGIS Code: 5208.1
Curriculum Code: 0622
Campus Location: City (January Admittance), North (September Admittance Only)
Health Sciences Division

Pre-Admission Recommendations: H.S. average 86% within last 5 years or 3.0 GPA including BI 150 and BI 151 within last 7 years, or for Evening Track BI 150, BI 151, BI 152, and BI 153 within last 7 yrs. All applicants are required to take and pass the Nurse Entrance Test (NET) (Educational Resources, Inc.) with a composite Math and English score of 50 or above. Math and English Pre-test. Min. Math competency at the MT 006 level or Math Dept. waiver and minimal English competency at the EN 110 level or English Dept. waiver. Min. grade of “C” required in all developmental courses, prerequisites, co-requisites and required nursing courses except MT 111 – Math Dosage where minimum grade of 80% or “B-” is required.
Recommended High School Courses and/or Experiences: Health Care Experience, Biology, Algebra
Career Opportunities/Further Education: Hospitals, Public Health Agencies, Nursing Homes, Physicians’ Offices, Home Health Care, Schools Military, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator

Program Description

Recent advances in science, medicine and technology have resulted in new responsibilities and new requirements for today’s registered nurses. Nurses are essential members of the health care team, qualified to give client-centered, competent nursing care. Nurses today, dealing with people living in a complex, dynamic society, are concerned with the whole person - mind, body and soul.

This curriculum combines nursing and general education courses with selected laboratory experiences, during which students provide nursing care to clients in hospitals and other health care facilities. Nursing courses cover medical/surgical, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics and psychiatric nursing, utilizing current technologies. The nursing specific classes are complemented with studies in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, psychology, sociology, English composition and literature. Although the Nursing curriculum is designed to be completed in two academic years, students may take a longer time to fulfill their degree requirements, depending on individual circumstances.

Graduates find employment as registered nurses in hospitals, public health agencies, nursing homes, extended care facilities, home health care agencies, government health agencies, schools, military, law offices and other health care facilities.

Accreditation

Accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. 61 Broadway-33rd Floor, New York, New York 10006. Phone number: (212) 363-5555. Registration with the New York State Education Department.

Program Competencies

Upon graduation with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing, the graduate will be able to:

1. Develop a commitment to the profession of nursing
2. Communicate verbally, non-verbally, in writing, or through information technology
3. Demonstrate assessment of clients’ health status by collecting, analyzing and synthesizing relevant data
4. Formulate clinical judgments through the performance of accurate assessments and the analysis and integration of knowledge and information
5. Demonstrate caring interventions to assist clients in meeting their needs
6. Provide health education to clients to promote and maintain health and reduce risks
7. Work collaboratively with clients and other members of the health care team to achieve client and organizational outcomes
8. Manage client care through the efficient use of human, physical, financial and technological resources

Admission Requirements

Admission Criteria:

• High school graduate or GED
• Academic high school average of 86 percent minimum or above within the last five years for applicants without any college credit. A minimum GPA of 3.0 at all undergraduate colleges attended within the last seven years and completion of BI 150 and BI 151 with a minimum grade of “C” within the last seven years. BI 150, BI 151, BI 152 and BI 153 are pre-requisites to matriculation into the evening program. BI 150, BI 151, BI 152, BI 153, BI 230 and BI 231 also must be taken within seven years. Exceptions require departmental approval.
• All applicants are required to take and pass the Nurse Entrance Test (NET) (Educational Resources, Inc.) with a composite Math and English score of 50 or above. An applicant who receives a NET composite score below 50 will have one opportunity to retake it during a subsequent semester.
• Applicants must pass the ECC Math Pre-test at the MT 006 level or above or have received a waiver from the Math Department.
• Any math developmental course must be successfully completed with a minimum passing grade of “C.” Developmental courses may be repeated only once, including grades of “W” (Withdrawal).
• Applicants must pass the ECC English Pre-test at the EN 110 level or above or have received a waiver from the English Department. Any English developmental course must be successfully completed with a minimum passing grade of “C.” Developmental courses may be repeated only once, including grades of “W” (Withdrawal).
• A minimum grade of “C” is required in all developmental courses, pre-requisites, co-requisites and required nursing courses (except MT 111-Math Dosage where a minimum grade of 80 percent (B-) is required).
• Students should initiate and complete processing of all transfer credits for any courses indicated in the Nursing Curriculum Outline while in General Studies and before acceptance into the Nursing program. LEAP credit must be completed before the start of the second Nursing semester
• Pre-nursing students should be registered in General Studies/pre-nursing curriculum for appropriate advisement. All General Studies/pre-nursing students should meet with a General Studies adviser for advisement and processing of transfer credits. Acceptance into General Studies does not guarantee future entrance into the Nursing program.
• Meeting program admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Admission is also based on academic ranking of qualified students and space availability.
• Prospective students may apply to North Campus or City Campus for day or evening sections as per current availability. North Nursing admits day and evening sections in September. (Application deadline date is February 15). City Nursing admits a day section in January. (Admission deadline date is September 15). For alternate admission deadline dates (e.g. RN Transition for LPN/Medical Military personnel classes), please consult the Admissions Department at North or City Campus.
• A specialized first semester RN Transition course for LPNs or Medical Military personnel (NU 120) may be offered at alternate times. For LPNs, a current New York State LPN license is required to take NU 120. For Medical Military personnel, transcripts will be individually evaluated for eligibility by the Nursing Department and assessed for appropriate departmental transfer credit.
• Prospective students interested in nursing are strongly encouraged to have some work or volunteer experience with a health care agency previous to matriculation into the Nursing program.
• Individuals with other responsibilities should consider completing all required non-nursing co-requisite courses, especially the science courses (BI 150, BI 151, BI 152, BI 153 and BI 230, BI 231) prior to matriculation.

Admission/Progression Criteria

• All developmental, pre-requisites, co-requisites and nursing courses may be repeated only once if a grade below “C” or “W” (Withdrawal) is received.
• Pre-requisites, co-requisites and electives may be taken at any ECC Campus day or evening.

Progression/Graduation Criteria

• Nursing courses are sequenced in a specific manner to enable students to attain program competencies. All required courses must be passed each semester in order to advance to the following semester. Nursing courses must be taken in the prescribed sequence. Non-nursing co-requisite courses may be taken in advance but may not be taken later than the prescribed program sequence.
• Any two failures (grade below “C”) or Withdrawal (W) in any of the following courses: NU 116, NU 117, NU 120, NU 126, NU 127, NU 236, NU 237, NU 246 and NU 247 will result in dismissal from the Nursing program.
• BLS Healthcare Provider certification is required prior to entering Level II (NU 127-Lab for NU 126) and must be continuously maintained throughout the program.
• Instructors may give an Incomplete grade to a student who has satisfactorily completed at least three quarters of the required work for a course but because of a personal emergency finds it impossible to finish the coursework within the usual time frame.
• Students must complete all nursing courses within a three year limit.

Department Notes

• Additional fee requirements may include an individual malpractice insurance fee, nursing evaluation fee and others.
• A physical examination is required annually to ensure that matriculated students are in good physical and mental health and capable of completing the requirements of the clinical portions of the program. An incomplete or unacceptable physical exam may result in dismissal from the program.
• Students entering Nursing are strongly recommended to receive immunization against Hepatitis B.
• Nursing students must be compliant with the college immunization requirements.
• The college reserves the right to deny progression in the nursing program when students have incomplete or unacceptable physical exam reports.
• Students are responsible for providing transportation to off-campus clinical/community agencies utilized for clinical nursing laboratory courses.
• Nursing course activities may be scheduled during the day, evening or weekend hours.
• Students may be excluded from clinical lab experiences when in the judgment of the college they are unable to provide safe nursing care or have demonstrated unprofessional behavior.
• Graduates of the Nursing program are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN Licensing Examination. As needed, consultation with the New York State Education Department is suggested for details regarding the legal limitations to licensure in New York State.

Curriculum

Total Degree Credits: 72.0