Chair:
Susan L. Conrad
Professor:
Susan
L. Conrad
Associate Professors:
Sandra I. Austin, Stephen M. Bolio
The
program, accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting
Commission, offers a bachelor of science with a major in Nursing for
registered nurses who already have an associate degree or a diploma in
Nursing. Students may enroll on a full-time or part-time basis. The
curriculum provides a broad educational base in the humanities and in
the natural and social sciences. The program encourages self-directed
learning, critical thinking, independent action and professional
awareness. The goal is preparation of nurses who are able to function as
generalists in a variety of health-care settings. Each course has a
practice learning experience that is on campus or in nearby community
settings. The course of study provides a base for graduate work in
education, research, clinical specialization or administration.
The
curriculum is organized around the concept of prevention as a means of
attaining wellness.
The
goal of prevention:
-
Primary prevention - to prevent the
initiation of illness through the reduction of risk factors and the
promotion of wellness.
-
Secondary prevention - to arrest the
development of illness through early detection of illness and the
promotion of wellness.
-
Tertiary prevention - to minimize the
consequences of illness and disability through the promotion of
wellness.
Program
Objectives:
-
Utilize nursing theory and research in
making decisions on nursing practice in relation to the three levels
of preventive health nursing care.
-
Utilize nursing process as a means of
decision-making for refining and extending practice.
-
Synthesize the theoretical and empirical
knowledge from the natural and behavioral sciences and the humanities
with nursing theory in preventive health care.
-
Provide nursing activities of
education, motivation, advocacy, and assistance to the person in
relation to health.
-
Demonstrate accountability for
decision-making related to professional nursing.
-
Evaluate research for applicability of
its findings to nursing theory and practice.
-
Demonstrate leadership skills through
interaction with others as a professional nurse.
-
Collaborate with colleagues and others on
the interdisciplinary health team.
-
Participate in resolving community and
societal health needs through nursing activities.
-
Provide comprehensive and individual
nursing care based in assessment which includes the person’s
socioeconomic status, life style, gender, culture, and personal values
and beliefs.
-
Utilize current electronic
technology/computer to enhance nursing practice.
Applicants must meet the following requirements for admissions:
-
Application to the College.
-
Official transcripts from basic nursing
programs and all colleges and/or universities attended.
-
Evidence of current Registered Nurse
licensure in Massachusetts. (May apply during basic nursing program,
but must be licensed prior to taking nursing courses.)
-
Evidence of current professional
liability insurance prior to taking nursing courses.
Transfer credit evaluations are made by the Registrar’s Office.
Registered Nurses can receive credit for non-nursing college courses
successfully completed at other institutions of higher learning.
Students may also receive credit through the challenge examination
process [National League for Nursing and College Level Examination
Program (NLN and CLEP)]. The policies for acceptable challenge exams and
scores are determined by the department offering the courses. The
acceptable NLN challenge exams are: anatomy and physiology, and
microbiology.
The
General Education Requirement
All
students must satisfy a general education requirement consisting of
twelve (12) courses outside of the major department (see page 60).
Course
Prerequisites
Courses may have specified conditions for enrollment, such as prior
completion of less advanced courses, permission of the instructor, or
appropriate placement test scores. Students should refer to course
descriptions in the department listings for prerequisite requirements.
NURSING MAJOR
Prerequisites to the Upper Division Nursing Major
To
meet the requirements of the Nursing Program, the College will accept in
transfer the following courses (subject to College transfer credit
policy):
Two
college-level laboratory courses in anatomy and physiology
Chemistry (laboratory course)
Microbiology (laboratory course)
Introduction to Statistics
General Psychology
Sociology
Human
Development
Lower
Division Nursing Knowledge
A.
Seven (7) course credits earned by graduating from a program accredited
by a state Board of Registration in Nursing. Specific articulation
agreements exist with the following Massachusetts programs:
Becker College
Berkshire Community
College
Bristol Community College
Bunker Hill Community
College
Cape Cod Community College
Greenfield Community
College
Holyoke Community College
Laboure College
Mass
Bay Community College
Massasoit Community College
Mt.
Wachusett Community College
Middlesex Community College
North
Shore Community College
Quincy
College
Quinsigamond Community College
Roxbury Community College
Springfield Tech. Community College
or
B.
For graduates of non-NLN accredited programs: Five (5) course credits
earned by passing the National League for Nursing Accelerated Challenge
Examination II (ACE II) with a decision score of 90.
Two
(2) course credits earned by passing the Clinical Competency Exam at
70%.
The
National League for Nursing Accelerated Challenge Examination II (ACE
II) and the Clinical Competency Exam can be repeated no more than twice.
UPPER DIVISION NURSING MAJOR (NUR)
The
upper division Nursing major may be completed in as few as three
semesters:
54.310
Professional Nursing Perspectives
54.325 Nursing Informatics
54.330
Primary Prevention in the Community
54.340 Nursing Care of the Family
54.420 Nursing Theory
54.430 Secondary Prevention
54.440
Introduction to Nursing Research
54.460 Nursing Leadership
54.470 Tertiary Prevention
As
mandated by the Massachusetts General Laws 444 of the Acts of 1996, a
criminal offender record information (CORI) check will be performed on
students who will have clinical experience in community and home settings.
Performance Standards
-
A quality point average (QPA) of 2.0 in
nursing courses is required for continuance in the program.
-
A grade of at least C- is required in
nursing courses.
-
When a grade of D or of E is received in a
nursing course the course may be repeated only once.
-
Failure to meet these standards will result
in dismissal from the program.
Any
student on academic probation cannot be admitted to 54.440 Introduction to
Nursing Research; 54.460 Nursing Leadership; 54.470 Tertiary Prevention.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
54.310 Professional Nursing
Perspectives
An overview of the Nursing
Department’s philosophy, conceptual framework, and objectives.
Philosophical, historical, ethical, economic, and legal aspects of nursing
practice are examined. Contemporary and future goals of the nursing
profession in relation to education, practice and research, as well as the
health care delivery system are investigated. In the practice learning
environment component students explore professional nursing activities and
the course concepts. Prerequisite: Must be an R.N.
54.325 Nursing Informatics
A Web-enhanced course that
introduces the student to the role of nursing informatics in identifying,
collecting, processing, and managing information that uniquely impacts
nursing practice. The practice learning environment component emphasizes
the development of proficiency in the use of the computer as a critical
thinking and decision-making tool. Prerequisite: Nursing majors only.
54.330 Primary Prevention in the
Community
An exploration of community
values, beliefs, standards, and practices as they relate to health. The
concept of primary prevention is applied through the nursing activities of
education, motivation, advocacy, and assistance. A community-based
practice learning environment component with a focus on prevention is
included. Prerequisite: Completion of the prerequisites to the upper
division except for Introduction to Statistics.
54.340 Nursing Care of the Family
An evaluation of the family
in relation to General Systems Theory and an exploration of the influence
of stress and self-actualization on the family’s development and health.
The practice learning environment component consists of nursing activities
which enable the family to progress towards wellness. Prerequisites:
54.310 Professional Nursing Perspectives, 54.325 Nursing Informatics, and
54.330 Primary Prevention in the Community.
54.420 Nursing Theory
A description of the
scientific process of theory development. Current nursing theories,
including those of Neuman, Orem, Rogers, Roy, and Watson, are analyzed and
applied in the practice learning environment component of the course.
Prerequisites: 54.310 Professional Nursing Perspectives, 54.325 Nursing
Informatics, and 54.330 Primary Prevention in the Community.
54.430 Secondary Prevention
An overview of the
utilization of functional health pattern nursing assessment to identify
health at the secondary level of prevention in order to arrest the
development of illness and promote wellness. The practice learning
environment component enables the student to deliver nursing care through
the use of the nursing process. Prerequisites: 54.310 Professional Nursing
Perspectives, 54.325 Nursing Informatics, and 54.330 Primary Prevention in
the Community.
54.440 Introduction to Nursing
Research
An introduction to the
research process and the evaluation of nursing research. The practice
learning environment activities are organized around the identification
and exploration of specific nursing problems. Prerequisites: Introduction
to Statistics, 54.340 Nursing Care of the Family, 54.420 Nursing Theory,
and 54.430 Secondary Prevention.
54.460 Nursing Leadership
A presentation of theories
of leadership and management and their applications to nursing. Central
concepts included are: communication theory, teaching-learning theory, the
nurse’s role in delegation of responsibility, evaluation of nursing care,
and effecting change. The practice learning environment component enables
the student to apply the principles of nursing practice. Prerequisites:
54.340 Nursing Care of the Family, 54.420 Nursing Theory, and 54.430
Secondary Prevention.
54.470 Tertiary Prevention
An examination of the role
of health-related behaviors in chronic illness or disability. Aspects of
habilitation and rehabilitation are explored throughout the person’s life.
The practice learning environment component enables the student to apply
nursing theory to the care of individuals and families in order to
minimize the negative consequences of illness or disability.
Prerequisites: 54.340 Nursing Care of the Family, 54.420 Nursing Theory,
and 54.430 Secondary Prevention.
54.490 Independent Study in
Nursing
An investigation of a topic
in Nursing selected by the student with supervision of a member of the
Nursing Department. The selection of a topic is made by the student with
written approval of the faculty supervisor. A final report and oral
presentation are required. All proposals must be approved by the faculty
supervisor and the Department Chair. Prerequisites: A 3.0 GPA overall and
in the major.
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