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:

1.   Primary prevention - to prevent the initiation of illness through the reduction of risk factors and the promotion of wellness.

2.   Secondary prevention - to arrest the development of illness through early detection of illness and the promotion of wellness.

3.   Tertiary prevention - to minimize the consequences of illness and disability through the promotion of wellness.

Program Objectives:

1.   Utilize nursing theory and research in making decisions on nursing practice in relation to the three levels of preventive health nursing care.

2.   Utilize nursing process as a means of decision-making for refining and extending practice.

3.   Synthesize the theoretical and empirical knowledge from the natural and behavioral sciences and the humanities with nursing theory in preventive health care.

4.   Provide nursing activities of education, motivation, advocacy, and assistance to the person in relation to health.

5.   Demonstrate accountability for decision-making related to professional nursing.

6.   Evaluate research for applicability of its findings to nursing theory and practice.

7.   Demonstrate leadership skills through interaction with others as a professional nurse.

8.   Collaborate with colleagues and others on the interdisciplinary health team.

9.   Participate in resolving community and societal health needs through nursing activities.

10. 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.

11. Utilize current electronic technology/computer to enhance nursing practice.

Applicants must meet the following requirements for admissions:

1.   Application to the College.

2.   Official transcripts from basic nursing programs and all colleges and/or universities attended.

3.   Evidence of current Registered Nurse licensure in Massachusetts. (May apply during basic nursing program, but must be licensed prior to taking nursing courses.)

4.   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.