ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCES DEGREE2012 - 2013

HEALTH WORKFORCE SHORTAGE PROGRAM
NURSING
Award: Associate of Sciences Degree
No. of credits required: 
70
For more information: Visit http://www.harford.edu/nursing or contact Laura Cianelli Preston, Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, 443-412-2438, lpreston@harford.edu; or Advising, Career, and Transfer Services, 443-412-2301.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Students complete the nursing courses in four consecutive semesters without a summer session, or in 15 months which includes two summer sessions if admitted to the Accelerated Program or weekend/evening program.

The Associate of Sciences Degree Nursing Program prepares students for the licensure examination for registered nurses. The course of study includes both theory presentation and supervised clinical laboratory experience at affiliating health care agencies. Students are provided the opportunity to master the basic competencies necessary to practice as registered nurses. Graduates of the Associate of Sciences Degree Nursing Program are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The program also provides opportunities to plan for career mobility through courses that articulate with selected baccalaureate nursing programs in the state of Maryland. This program offers daytime theory sections. Day and evening clinical sections are required. Admission to the National Licensure Examination for Registered Nursing is determined by the Maryland Board of Nursing. By law, the Maryland Board of Nursing may deny licensure for a variety of reasons which may include conviction of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude, if the nature of the offense bears directly on the fitness of the person to practice nursing.

The Associate of Sciences Degree Nursing Program is approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326 - 404-975-5000.


RN ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Meeting with an academic advisor and/or attending pre-nursing seminars is strongly recommended.

To be considered for admission to the Associate Degree Nursing Program, students must meet the following criteria:

  1. By February 15 for admission to the summer accelerated and/or weekend/evening class and/or fall class, by October 1 admission to the spring class. Complete and submit HCC enrollment application if not a current student, apply to the Nursing Program, and submit all official transcripts from other colleges. Applications and official transcripts must be received together as a package. Students must have declared a program of study (NURP) in order to have college transcripts evaluated.

    The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is one of the requirements for admission to the HCC Nursing Program. Students who have tested at other schools or locations can request to have their TEAS scores sent to Harford Community College for a fee. The request should be made no later than 5 days prior to the application deadline to ensure the scores have been received at HCC by the deadline.

    Non U.S. citizens applying to the nursing program must complete and submit a paper Application for Enrollment along with all other required nursing program application materials by the stated nursing application deadline date. Valid photo identification verifying current immigration status (work card, resident card, or applicable visa) must be presented in person at the time of application submission.

    Students with an F-1 visa through another institution must complete and submit the International Application for Enrollment and Financial Capability forms in addition to the paper Application for Enrollment and all other nursing program application materials by the stated nursing application deadline date. Valid I-20 and visa identification verifying current immigration status is required. Please contact the Admissions Office at 443-412-2107 to request a copy of the International Application for Enrollment and Financial Capability Forms or download it from our website at: http://www.harford.edu/admissions/intlstudents.asp .

    International transcripts must be official, translated versions evaluated by an accredited evaluation service, when submitted to the Registration and Records Office as part of the nursing application process. All transcripts must be submitted by the stated nursing application deadline date.

    If you plan to transfer credit from a college or university outside of the United States, please allow adequate time for requesting, translation and evaluation of academic credentials in order to meet the nursing application deadline. Non U.S. academic credit evaluated by another U.S. college or university will not be accepted.

  2. To meet the math requirement to qualify for the nursing program, students must do one of the following:
    • Receive a qualifying score on the HCC math assessment test (score valid for 2 years), or
    • Achieve a 550 score on SAT mathematics (score valid for 2 years), or
    • Complete the highest transitional math course at HCC (017 or 018), or
    • Complete a college-level general education math course (101, 102, 216, etc.)
  3. Complete a minimum of 16 college credits.
    A. ENG 101* - English Composition
    BIO 203* - Anatomy and Physiology I
    PSY 101 - General Psychology
    AND
    B. Two courses from the following:
    PSY 214* - Human Development Across the Life Span
    BIO 204* - Anatomy and Physiology II
    BIO 205* - Microbiology
    SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology
    MATH elective requirement
    * A grade of C or better must be earned in these courses.

  4. Achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.50 on the courses applicable to the Associate of Sciences Degree Nursing Program.

  5. Take the Test of Essential Skills (TEAS).

  6. Submit satisfactory health evaluation upon acceptance into the Nursing Program.

  7. Maintain good Academic Standing.

    The program is highly competitive and completion of the admission criteria may not result in admission to the program.

TRANSFER INFORMATION
Students planning to transfer credits to a baccalaureate nursing program are encouraged to confer with an academic advisor for the planning of their academic program of study. There are four Maryland Universities who will award a minimum of 30 upper division nursing credits to the registered nurse with an active, unencumbered Maryland nursing license upon enrollment into the RN to B.S. Option.

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
The Registered Nurse (RN) assumes a variety of responsibilities as a member of the health care team, including management of client care through assessment and documentation of symptoms, reactions, and the progress of clients. The nurse plans, implements, supervises, and evaluates activities directed toward health restoration, health promotion, health maintenance, and illness prevention. Employment opportunities for the registered nurse are available in national, metropolitan Baltimore, and local job markets. Future projections for employment of registered nurses are highly favorable, with practice opportunities in a variety of health care settings.


Note: The following codes identify courses which satisfy the General Education Degree Requirements:
          Behavioral/Social Science+
          English Composition
          Arts/Humanities+
          Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues
          Biological/Physical Laboratory Science
          Mathematics
          Biological/Physical Science
+ For AS, AA, and AAT degrees, Behavioral/Social Science and Arts/Humanities electives must be selected from two different disciplines.
 

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Due to the high demand for this program, most students have completed the following required courses prior to beginning the Nursing Program:

BIO 203Anatomy and Physiology I  * 4
BIO 204Anatomy and Physiology II  * 4
BIO 205Microbiology  * 4
ENG 101English Composition  * 3
PSY 101General Psychology 3
PSY 214Human Development Across the Life Span  * 3
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology 3
Arts/Humanities Elective 6
Mathematics Elective 3
Physical Education/Fitness Elective *** 1

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Required Course Sequence

First Semester Credits
NURS 101Fundamentals of Nursing *7
 Semester Total7
   
Second Semester Credits
NURS 105Medical-Surgical Nursing 1  */#4.5
NURS 107Mental Health Nursing */#4
NURS 112Contemporary Issues in Nursing */#1
 Semester Total9.5
   
Third Semester   Credits
NURS 208Maternal-Child Nursing */#5
NURS 210Medical-Surgical Nursing II */#4.5
NURS 212Leadership in Nursing  1
 Semester Total10.5
   
Fourth Semester Credits
NURS 211Medical-Surgical Nursing III **9
 Semester Total9
   

PLEASE NOTE: After completion of NURS 105, NURS 107, and NURS 112, students may be eligible for the PN program.

*      A grade of C or better must be earned in these courses.
**  Registration for Medical-Surgical Nursing III (NURS 211) requires concurrent registration of any remaining courses necessary for graduation.
*** Must select from PE 133, PE 136, PE 137, PE 138, PE 147, PE 169, PE 171, PE 228 or PE 230.
#      Represents term courses (seven week). Nursing courses are either full-semester courses or term courses; second and third semester clinical courses may not be taken concurrently.


NURSING PROGRESSION

A minimum of four semesters is required to meet clinical nursing course degree requirements for the Associate Degree Program in Nursing once a student is selected to the nursing program. Students who have major home/family or work responsibilities must be aware of the extensive time commitment required by nursing courses. Progression through the program may either follow a typical five-semester plan, or the plan may be modified to accommodate part-time study.

Students are encouraged to consult with an academic advisor to plan a schedule that will meet program requirements while taking into consideration student capabilities.

The nature of the nursing curriculum, where one concept builds upon another, requires an orderly, sequential progression which follows the curriculum plan. Any break in this sequence of progression due to withdrawal, failure of a required course, failure to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 or any need for a leave of absence from the program will require a written request for re-enrollment to the Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.

Further details regarding Nursing Program progression and other nursing protocols can be found in the Nursing Student Handbook or on www.harford.edu/nursing.

CPR Certification by the American Heart Association for Health Care Providers or American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer is required and must be maintained throughout enrollment in the nursing program.

Annual PPD status and immunization and health records must be maintained and up-to-date throughout enrollment in the Nursing Program.