Nurse Education

Program Goals:

The Nurse Education program prepares students for a career as a registered nurse (RN). Graduates of the program assume responsibilities related to direct patient care in a variety of settings, including, but not limited to, hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, home and community health agencies. Upon successful completion of the Nurse Education associate degree program, students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The program will also prepare students for further study at four-year colleges and universities.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• Use the nursing process and other theoretical concepts in the comprehensive planning and delivering of nursing care to patients* throughout the life cycle.
• Collaborate to effectively communicate with patients and inter-professional teams verbally, in writing, and electronically to achieve quality patient care outcomes.
• Assume the role of the nurse in ways that reflect integrity, responsibility, ethical practice, and an evolving identity as a professional nurse committed to evidence-based practice, caring, patient advocacy, and safe quality care for diverse patients in various settings.
• Make judgments in nursing practice, based on evidence, that integrate nursing science in the provision of safe, quality care and promote the health of patients.
• Employ relationship-centered interventions that are caring, compassionate, nurturing, protective, therapeutic, and respectful of human differences.
• Manage patient care through planning, organizing, directing, and delegating with an emphasis on system effectiveness to provide quality healthcare and a safe environment for patients and workers.
• Advocate for patients and oneself to retain or develop new pathways which encompass one’s uniqueness, dignity, diversity, and freedom toward a holistic well-being.
• Participate in a spirit of inquiry to help promote and maintain health and reduce risks for patients by challenging the status quo, questioning underlying assumptions, and offering new insights to improve quality of care.

*Patients (clients) are defined as the individual, family, or group, including significant others and population.

Admissions Process:

Admissions inquiries should be directed to admissions@qcc.mass.edu. Prospective students may apply to the program of their choice by following the enrollment steps at www.QCC.edu/enrollment-steps.

Program Admissions Requirements:

Students should note that some first semester courses carry minimum prerequisites. Refer to the program grid.

• High School Diploma or GED/HiSET.
• Attendance at a Health Information Session or complete FYE 102 with a grade of “C” or higher.
• Must show evidence of being compliant with the immunization requirements specified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Additional immunization requirements will be required for clinical experiences.
• Biology: Minimum grade of “B” in high school biology or “B” or higher in any college level biology course (BIO 101 recommended). Required grade must be earned within two attempts of taking and completing the course. Qualifying biology course must be taken within five years of application.
• Required TEAS V or TEAS composite score of 65% or higher (cannot be a combination of multiple tests) must be achieved within five years of applying to the program.
  • Applicant must obtain a composite score of 65% or higher in no more than three attempts within a three-year period.
  • A TEAS composite score between 61% and 64% meets the admission criteria with appropriate biology and college GPA (see table below).

Program Retention / Progression Requirements:
To be eligible to continue in the program, students must:

• Achieve a grade of “C+” or higher in all program courses designated by NUR.
• Achieve a grade of “C” or higher in BIO 111, BIO 112, and BIO 232; students who have received a grade below a “C” in BIO 111, BIO 112, or BIO 232 are required to repeat the course and obtain a grade of “C” or higher by the end of the semester in which they are required.
• Demonstrate satisfactory performance in the nursing laboratory and in the clinical settings.

Program Readmission Requirements:
There is a one-time readmission policy for the program.

• Readmission is not guaranteed and is always based upon space availability; review the readmission policy outlined in the QCC Nursing Student Handbook and the “Readmission for Health Programs” policy in the College Procedures section of the QCC Student Handbook.
• Students who have been dismissed or administratively withdrawn from a program within the School of Healthcare at Quinsigamond Community College for reasons of “clinically unsafe practice/behavior” or who violate the College’s Student Code of Conduct or Policy on Affirmative Action are not eligible for admission/readmission to any Healthcare program.

Program Graduation Requirements:
Students must satisfy all course and program requirements, including regulations related to attendance and conduct, in order to be eligible for graduation.

CORI, SORI, Finger Printing & Drug Testing:

Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI), and National Background checks are required in the program, either annually or every semester. Fingerprinting and drug testing may be required. Fingerprinting and drug testing results must meet clinical requirements. An issue with CORI/SORI, National Background, fingerprinting and/or drug testing could prevent a student from participating in a clinical/field rotation, which could result in dismissal from the program.

• Applicants should understand that the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (MABORN) reserves the right to refuse an applicant the privilege of sitting for the NCLEX examination based on a Good Moral Character Licensure requirement.
• The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (MABORN) requires all candidates for licensure to disclose any incidents with Child Protective Services. These may affect a candidate’s ability to sit for the NCLEX examination and obtain licensure.
• More information is available from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (MABORN).

Additional Cost:

See the Program Fees page.

• Students should anticipate additional expenses for professional uniforms, standardized testing, CPR-BLS certification, health immunizations, and physical exams. Also, there may be additional costs associated with the purchase of textbooks, clinical site parking, licensing examinations applications, mandatory clinical make-up, and any required skills for remediation.
• Computer (not chromebook) with mouse, web cam, microphone, and Internet access and additional lab supplies.

Technical Performance Standards:

See the Technical Performance Standards page. (Note: Not all programs have technical performance standards).

Credit for Prior Learning:

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) allows students to use skills they already have towards a college degree or certificate. Work, life, volunteer and military experience may be translated into credit, allowing students to take fewer classes and earn their degree faster. CPL eliminates redundancies for students who have already earned credentials or mastered skills required for their program of study. Email experience@qcc.mass.edu for more information and eligibility.

Career Outlook:

Please consult the Massachusetts Career Information System at https://masscis.intocareers.org/ or the Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/ooh/ for specific occupational information. The CIP code for this program is 51.3801.

Transfer Articulations & Opportunities:

Prospective students may learn more about transfer articulation agreements at www.QCC.edu/agreements. More information regarding transfer opportunities is available at www.QCC.edu/transfer.

Transfer Policy for the QCC Nurse Education programs:

• Students interested in transferring to QCC nursing programs can find more information on the Admissions webpage at www.QCC.edu/admissions.
• A student may seek a transfer of credit from another approved institution, provided that a passing grade has been earned in all previous nursing courses and the completed course work is comparable to the course(s) offered at QCC.
• Transfer credit will be considered for NUR 106 and NUR 107 only if the student has not been away from the program for more than one year and meets the current admissions requirements of the QCC nursing program.
• Interested students should send official transcripts to the QCC Registrar’s Office and apply with the Admissions Office to qualify for the nursing program.
• Once qualified, the student can request consideration for transfer of nursing course credit by submitting prior course syllabi, lab competency documentation, and other relevant documentation to the Program Coordinator.
• See the QCC Catalog for additional information.
• Transfer is not guaranteed.

Additional Information:

• This program prepares students for further study at four-year colleges and universities, as well as providing a broad background for employment in healthcare facilities.
• Courses in both Nurse Education and Liberal Arts are required in the program curriculum. Nursing courses include clinical experiences in area hospitals, rehabilitation, long-term care and community agencies, as well as classroom study and laboratory practice on campus.
• All students accepted in the NUR program must obtain/maintain a current American Heart Association or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Documentation of required immunity, satisfactory health status, and clinical standard compliance is required prior to beginning of clinical experiences.
• Students who do not have completed health files (including titres and immunizations) submitted to and cleared by program orientation date will be removed from their nursing courses and will have to file for readmission to the next available semester.
• NUR 206 (previously known as NUR 203) is currently being offered in a hybrid format.
• A Social Security Number is mandatory for NCLEX Application (Licensure).
• All clinical experiences are under the supervision of QCC Nurse Education faculty, and entrance into most clinical agencies will require the wearing of a standardized school uniform.
• Students may be required to wear masks, goggles, faceshields, gloves, and/or gowns during lab/clinical.
• Additional requirements for students participating in clinical placement:
  • Complete the Health Screening form and submit it to Castle Branch by identified due date.
  • May be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in compliance with the most stringent requirement of clinical agencies.
  • Receive annual influenza vaccine.
  • Complete tuberculosis screening.
  • Submit a titer following the completion of the Hepatitis B series of immunizations to document immunity.
  • Create an account and complete the student orientation on Massachusetts Centralized Clinical Placement website (www.mass.edu/mcncps/orientation/welcome.asp). Assign a clinical site and print a ticket to clinical for each clinical term.