Associate in Science

Nursing R.N. (2149)

This is a limited access program.

Mission Statement: Creating competent, ethical, confident entry-level health care practitioners committed to professional development through life-long learning in a positive, non-discriminatory and supportive learning environment.

The Career: The registered nurse is a member of the health care team who offers direct patient care, supervision of other members of the team, and teaching in collaboration with other members of the team. Successful completion of this program allows the individual to apply to write the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to qualify for licensure as a registered nurse.

The Program: This associate in science degree program is a combination of general education and professional courses including lecture, laboratory and clinical education components. Admission to the program is limited and is based on academic performance and other criteria. The deadline to apply to the nursing program is: June 1 for an August start, October 1 for a January start, and February 1 for a May start. Classes are offered both during the day and at night.

Expected Job Growth and Earnings
Job growth will be high; by 2020, Florida will need 61,000 more nurses than what is projected to be available. The national average yearly salary for RNs is $49,000.

Certification and Licensing
Graduates will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become licensed as a Registered Nurse.

Accreditation
The program is accredited by the:

National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
61 Broadway
New York, New York, 10006
(212.363.5555)
www.nlnac.org

Application Procedure

Prerequisites: The following five courses must be completed before submitting an application:

• One year of high school chemistry or any college CHM
• BSC 2085C Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• BSC 2086C Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• MCB 2010C Microbiology (completion or current enrollment)
• MAC 1105 College Algebra (or higher)

All general education courses must be completed before the last term of the nursing program. A grade point average of at least 2.0 must be maintained.

It is recommended that students have a conference with a counselor or the nursing advisor prior to applying to the nursing program. A physical examination will be required upon acceptance to the program. To be considered as a qualified applicant, individuals must:

1. Be accepted for admission to Florida Community College, be currently enrolled or a former student (with a FCCJ student number).
2. Be at least 17 years of age and have earned a high school diploma or equivalency degree.
3. Have completed, by the application deadline for the term for which they are applying for continuance, a college or high school course in chemistry with a grade of C or better (When using high school chemistry, an official high school transcript must be submitted with application).
4. Have completed a minimum of 13 credit hours of prerequisites prior to the application deadline. A grade of "C" or better must be achieved in science courses. A GPA of 2.0 must be maintained.
5. Have submitted current Psychological Services Bureau Revised Nursing Aptitude Exam (PSB-NAT) scores by the application deadline.
6. Provide evidence of current CPR certification - adult, child and infant (achieved through an American Heart Association approved Basic Life Support (BLS) Course for Health Care Providers, that includes hands-on simulated experiences.)

Cost
Estimated cost of tuition is $4,600 (for Florida residents, as of 7/05). Contact the program manager for additional costs (materials, fees, textbooks).

Curriculum

General Education Courses
**BSC 2085C	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	4
ENC 1101	English Composition I	3
PSY 1012	General Psychology	3
***MAC 1105	College Algebra	3
	*Humanities	3
	Credit Hours	16

Professional Courses
**BSC 2086C	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	4
**MCB 2010C	Microbiology	4
SYG 2000	Introductory Sociology	3
DEP 2004	Human Growth and Development	3

Nursing Courses
Nursing is a limited access program. Students may not enroll in the following courses unless selected for continuance based on the selection criteria and available seats.
NUR 1110	Nursing Concepts	3
NUR 1060C	Health Assessment Across the Lifespan	2
NUR 1022C	Nursing Techniques	4
NUR 1140	Pharmacology/Nutrition in Health and Illness	3
NUR 1823	Leadership in Nursing	1
NUR 1210C	Adult Health Nursing I	6
NUR 1524C	Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing	3
NUR 2421C	Nursing Care of Women and Infants	4
NUR 2310C	Nursing Care of Children	5
NUR 2710C	Adult Health Nursing II	8
NUR 2810C	Role Transformation	3
	Credit Hours	56

Total Credit Hours: 72

*Refer to A.S. degree General Education Requirements.
**A minimum grade of "C" required in science courses.
***Students who qualify may substitute a higher-level mathematics course.

Notes

Record of Conviction of a Crime
The Florida State Board of Nursing, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Nurse Practice Act, will determine a Nursing program graduate’s eligibility for licensure when there is an arrest/conviction record. Convicted felons who have not had their civil rights restored are not eligible to take the National Council Licensure examination. Students should contact the nursing department for information regarding Florida State Board of Nursing regulations.

Clinical agencies may require students to undergo drug screening and criminal background checks prior to placement in the agencies for clinical experiences. Students whose drug screening and criminal background checks are unsatisfactory may be denied access to clinical experiences by the clinical agencies. Withdrawal from the program may be necessary if students cannot be placed for clinical experiences.

The cost of the background check and drug screen is borne by the student. Additionally, it is the student’s responsibility to have all paperwork completed by the program’s published deadline. Students who are unable to complete the clinical requirements after acceptance into selective access programs are not eligible for refunds of tuition.

This associate in science degree program allows students to complete an associate’s degree and become employed or pursue a bachelor’s degree. See your advisor for details on university transfer requirements.