Mar 29, 2024  
Middlesex Community College Academic Catalog and Student Handbook 2023-2024 
    
Middlesex Community College Academic Catalog and Student Handbook 2023-2024

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Nursing (Evening and Weekend)



Associate in Science

cLowell Campus- Evening / Weekend, Starts Fall Semester eni/Weekend, Starts Fall Semester

MCC’s Nursing Program is offered as a Day option and an Evening/Weekend option, and is designed to prepare nurses at the Associate in Science degree level and provide eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses). The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA  30326; 404-975-5000 and approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.

The curriculum provides a sound background in field-related science, technical skills and general education with learning experiences in the classroom, nursing laboratory and clinical settings.

Applicants to the Nursing Program are advised that compliance with the “Good Moral Character” requirement of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing is evaluated for any applicant for initial licensure with a criminal conviction or disciplinary action against an LPN license or any state issued professional license.

In order for a student to be eligible to participate in an academic, community or clinical program that involves potential unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, the elderly, or other vulnerable populations, the student may be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check and/or a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check  

Admission to Nursing - Day & Evening/Weekend Options

   

Required Course Prerequisites

  • Completion of college Biology with lab OR Anatomy & Physiology I with lab, with grade of B (83%) or higher and taken within the last 10 years.

  • Completion of high school OR college Chemistry with lab, with a grade of C (73%) or higher and taken within the last 10 years.

  • A minimum cumulative 2.7 GPA or higher.

  • Eligible for ENG 101 and MAT 177; eligibility may be demonstrated through placement, course enrollment, previous college coursework, or high school transcripts.

  • Completion of the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills), with all sections needing a minimum score requirement of 60% in (Reading, Math, Science, and English). Middlesex Community College does not combine or round scores. The TEAS can only be take a maximum of four times within a three year period.

  • Submission of one Recommendation Form. It is recommended that the one Recommendation Form be requested from an individual who can evaluate the applicant’s performance in an academic or employment setting.


 

Required Testing

  • Completion of the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) at Middlesex or another Commonwealth of Massachusetts System, with a minimum score requirement of 60% or higher in all sections (Reading, Math, Science, and English)  within the last year.
  • Eligible for ENG 101, eligibility may be demonstrated through placement, current enrollment, or previous college coursework
  • Eligible for MAT 177;  eligibility may be demonstrated through placement, current enrollment, or previous college coursework
  • The College placement test is not required for admission to the program, but may be needed for course placement or to meet a non-nursing course requirement.

Required Documents

  • Nursing Admission Requirement Certification Form (paper or electronic)
  • Middlesex Community College General Admission Application (paper or electronic)
  • Health Recommendation Form (Three Letters required) (paper or electronic)

Deadline

Admission to the Nursing Program is on a rolling basis. Applicants are admitted on a space-available basis as their applications, including all requirements, are completed. Although there is no deadline, students are encouraged to apply early, as space is limited.

Requirements After Admission to Nursing

Before beginning the Nursing Program, admitted students must also:

  • Earn certification in CPR at the Health Care Provider level, (offered monthly at MCC) which is valid for the entire academic year;
  • Students accepted to Health Programs must be in compliance with the current immunization requirements specified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for Health Care Personnel (HCP) and in accordance with state law, MGL, Chapter 76, Section 15C, and its regulations at 105 CMR 220.700 in order to participate in an externship placement or clinical experience.
  • Students must submit required documentation of health status which includes a completed physical examination, a two-step Mantoux (TB/PPD) skin test or blood test (T-Spot or Quantiferon Gold) for tuberculosis, a color deficiency test, proof of immunization against Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Hepatitis B, Varicella, and one lifetime dose of TDAP. Directions on submission of the information is included in the admission package.
  • All nursing students are required to carry health insurance, available through the college, if needed.
  • Additionally, students need to submit documentation of annual influenza vaccine by September 30th of each year.

Admission Notes

Non-Massachusetts residents will be admitted on a space-available basis only.

 

Advanced Placement for Licensed Practical Nurses:

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who meet the college’s Nursing Program admission requirements may apply for advanced placement on a space-available basis. LPNs may request credit for prior learning and apply those credits to an Associate in Science degree in Nursing.

Requirements for LPNs Seeking Advanced Placement:

  • Option I - for all LPNs: Applicants for advanced placement must successfully complete the following courses prior to admission: college Anatomy & Physiology I with lab, Introduction to Psychology, and Cultural Anthropology. LPNs may challenge NUR 101, Fundamentals of Nursing, and NUR 102, Fundamentals of Nursing Practicum, by taking and scoring 75% or higher on the NLN Accelerated Challenge Exam. Upon completion of the challenge process and admission, students may be awarded credit for these courses and may enroll in NUR 155, Intergenerational Nursing. After admission, applicants must also successfully complete a 15-hour Nursing Transition Seminar (NUR 080), which is offered in August and January. Admission with advanced placement is on a space-available basis.
  • Option II - for graduates of LPN programs that have an articulation agreement with Middlesex Community College: Middlesex Community College has articulation agreements with several post-secondary practical nursing programs. Recent graduates of these programs (within the last five years) who are admitted into MCC’s associate degree program may be eligible to receive credit for NUR 101, NUR 102, NUR 155 and NUR 156 by meeting the requirements of the articulation agreement between the LPN program and MCC. Prior to admission, advanced placement applicants must successfully complete the following courses: Pharmacology for Nurses, college Anatomy & Physiology I & II with labs, Introduction to Psychology, Cultural Anthropology, and English Composition. After admission, applicants must also successfully complete a 15-hour Nursing Transition Seminar (NUR 080) which is offered in August and January. Admission through articulation is on a space-available basis. Further information is available at the Student Information Centers.

Career and Transfer Outlook:

Graduates of the Nursing Program are prepared to assume entry-level staff nurse positions in a variety of health care settings. Through articulation agreements, graduates can obtain bachelor’s degrees in nursing and advanced degrees that will provide opportunities to pursue careers in nursing administration, nursing education and advanced practice as nurse practitioners.

Helpful Hints:

Students often find that taking non-nursing required courses prior to entry into the Nursing Program allows them to focus more effectively on the nursing curriculum.

Program Specifics:

  • Evening/Weekend nursing courses and labs range in length from 26 to 30 weeks, including summers, over a three-year period.
  • Non-nursing required courses will generally follow a traditional semester schedule. Anatomy & Physiology I must be completed fall semester of Session I.
  • All nursing classes and labs are held at Middlesex Community College’s Lowell campus in the Health, Science & Technology Center.
  • Time Commitment: The Evening/Weekend nursing courses are generally two evenings and one weekend day each week. Students should expect a one-week, full-time day practicum in the first summer session and weekends in the second summer session.  In addition, some clinical experiences may be scheduled during weekday hours.  Practium hours vary and may involve hours as early as 6:30 a.m. and as late as 10:00 p.m.
  • Clinical times and days in the Evening/Weekend program are subject to change due to program needs.
  • Students are expected to complete skills practice and computerized nursing simulations in open lab hours. Homework averages two hours of study/reading for each class hour.
  • Students are responsible for purchase of uniforms and professional textbooks.
  • Transportation to off-campus clinical sites is not provided.

Program Outcomes:

Graduates of the Nursing Program are prepared to:

Safety

The ability to minimize the risk of harm, is not listed as a specific competency, rather, it is an overarching concept that is imbedded implicity or explicity into every competency.

  1. Provide safe, holistic, compassionate, and coordinated care to patients, families, and communities across the lifespan.  Patient-Centered Care (PCC)

  2. Use the best current evidence coupled with clinical competence and consideration of patients’ preferences, experience, and values to make practice decisions to provide safe care.  
    Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

  3. Use advanced technology to analyze information and collaborate in order to make decisions that minimize harm and optimize patient outcomes. Informatics and Technology (IT)
     
  4. Analyze data, using resources within the environment, to monitor the outcomes of care processes to provide care that is of optimal quality and value. Quality Improvement (QI) System-Based Practice (SBP)
     
  5. Use leadership skills to influence the behavior of individuals or groups of individuals and to foster team learning and development in a way that will facilitate the establishment and acquisition/achievement of shared goals. Leadership (L) *Teamwork and Collaboration (TC)
     
  6. Demonstrate the attributes of professionalism consistent with moral, altruistic, ethical, legal, regulatory, and humanistic principles. Professionalism (P)
     
  7. Interact effectively with patients, families and colleagues, fostering mutual respect and shared decision making to enhance patient satisfaction and health outcomes. Communication (C)

Total Credits: 69



♦ Fulfills the Core Curriculum
 

Special Conditions for Nursing: Students must receive a “C” or better in all courses within the area of specialization, as well as in Anatomy & Physiology I & II, and Microbiology to remain in the program. Additional coursework may be required based on college placement testing. Students are urged to meet with their academic advisor for proper course sequencing. Science courses being applied to this program must have been completed within five years of entering the program.

 

Standard/Technical Skills Notice: To view a list of standard and/or technical skills required for performing duties in various health career fields, visit the Middlesex Community College Health Division website (www.middlesex.mass.edu) or the Student Information Centers. These skills are not conditions for admission to MCC programs, but do indicate abilities and characteristics necessary for successful completion of college Health programs, and to perform the duties of the career upon graduation.