Program Description:
The graduate of an associate degree nursing program has met the educational requirement for application to take the National Council Licensing Examination RN (NCLEX-RN) to become a registered nurse (RN).
Registered nurse associate degree graduates practice nursing in a variety of settings including healthcare or long-term care centers, hospitals, clinics and a variety of community-based settings. Their patients/clients are individuals of all ages in need of nursing care.
The curriculum is organized around a lifespan approach and primarily utilizes the nursing theory of Modeling and Role-Modeling (in conjunction with other theoretical frameworks). Basic to the curriculum is the belief that nursing is holistic caring through the establishment of relationships with others within the health experience.
The roles of the professional nurse, health promotion and nursing problem-solving methods, such as nursing process, are emphasized throughout the curriculum, which begins in the first semester with a study of health and the healthy client. Variations in health and wellness throughout the lifespan follow in the next two semesters of study and include an emphasis on developing critical-thinking skills, complex-assessment skills and use of technology. The final semester of study involves a strong clinical focus where students integrate prior learning about health and its variations in providing nursing care to complex clients in a variety of settings.
The Nursing program utilizes a variety of different methods of learning, instruction and evaluation. The campus nursing practice lab, as well as assorted clinical experiences in a variety of community and institutionally based healthcare settings throughout the Twin Cities, provide realistic learning opportunities for students.
The nursing curriculum is outcome based, where progress depends on the student demonstrating achievement of objectives. These objectives are shared with students at the beginning of each course. Math competency that is necessary for nursing course work and practice is measured through competency testing or enrollment in a basic mathematics course during the first term of the nursing program. Other grading and progression policies of the Nursing program are contained in the Nursing Student Handbook, which is posted on the Department of Nursing Web page.
Students who complete the Nursing program are awarded an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree. The College also offers a baccalaureate nursing major. Interested individuals should refer to the listing under Baccalaureate Programs, Nursing.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
An admission requirement of the Nursing program is one year of high school chemistry or one term of college chemistry completed with a grade of C or better within the past seven years. Applicants who took a chemistry course more than seven years ago may be reviewed individually. An additional requirement is registration with the State of Minnesota as a certified nursing assistant at the beginning of nursing course work.
ACCREDITATION
The curriculum is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing and is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC); 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, (800) 669-1656, Ext. 153.
POSSIBLE LIMITATIONS RELATED TO LICENSURE
There may be conditions related to a person's past history for which the Minnesota Board of Nursing may deny licensure. Each case is considered individually by the board. For more information on these possible legal limitations related to licensure, students may contact the Minnesota Board of Nursing.
CLINICAL COMPONENT
To accommodate the varying schedules of students, the Nursing program is offered in a day section and an evening/weekend section. Regardless of the section chosen, students may need to readjust their schedules during the clinical component of their nursing courses because of the differing requirements and daily admittance rates of each clinical facility. For example, most clinical facilities require that clinical experiences start at the beginning of a shift; some facilities require that clinicals coincide with their eight-hour shifts; and in facilities where admittance is low during the weekend, clinicals are scheduled during weekday hours.
CPR CERTIFICATION
All students must submit evidence of current certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Basic Life Support, Level C, as offered by the American Heart Association. This certification includes one- and two-person CPR/obstructed airway - adult, child and infant.
CPR certification must be current throughout enrollment in the Nursing program. Proof of CPR is a prerequisite to NURS210 (Variations in Health Part I). Students enrolled in this course must bring evidence of current CPR certification during the first class period. If required certification is not presented at that time, the student will not be allowed to continue in the course.
Major Requirements: Program Requirements Nursing program courses:
NURS 100 Introduction to the Profession of Nursing
NURS 120 Health and Nursing Assessment
NURS 210 Variations in Health Part I
NURS 220 Variations in Health Part II
NURS 244 Variations in Health Part III
NURS 254 Variations in Health Part IV
NURS 280 Transition to the Professional Role
NURS 281 Management of Complex & Multiple Patients
Required supporting courses:
BIOL 200 Summer Science Immersion or BIOL 240 Anatomy & Physiology I
BIOL 241 Anatomy & Physiology II
BIOL 245 Applied Microbiology
PHIL 200 Ethical Problems in Health Care
PSYC 202 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
Additional liberal arts and sciences requirements:
ENGL 110 Composition I
PSYC 100 General Psychology
SSCS 100 Power and Social Change
ART elective
ENGL literature elective*
SSCS elective
THEO elective
CIL 150 (must be taken after completion of NURS 120; required before NURS 244)
Demonstration of math competency (or FNDN 060)
*The Nursing program requires a writing-based literature elective.
MOBILITY SECTION
The mobility section is offered for the licensed practical nurse (LPN) who desires to pursue an associate degree in nursing during an evening/weekend class schedule. With advanced placement credit, the nursing course work can be completed in one year. Obtaining the associate degree may take longer than one year depending on the number of liberal arts and sciences credits the student has completed toward graduation before beginning the nursing courses. Students must meet the 30-credits-in-residence requirement for graduation.
This section is designed for LPNs who have current work experience in nursing. This experience serves as a foundation for continued study in nursing.
SPECIAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants to the mobility section will have:
graduated from an LPN program.
a current LPN license.
current work experience or a minimum of six months clinical experience in a healthcare setting (or its equivalent) in the past three years.
an employment reference from a healthcare provider submitted to the office of admission.
achieved a passing score on the NLN Acceleration Challenge Exams in Nursing Care: Medical-Surgical. This exam is offered at the Minneapolis campus of the College of St. Catherine.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
Advanced placement credit in nursing will be awarded by examinations in content (NLN Acceleration Challenge Exams) and testing of skills.
Course Requirements for Mobility Section: Nursing program courses (this assumes that advanced placement was awarded for 12 credits of nursing courses):
NURS 126 Health & Nursing Assessment for Students in Transition
NURS 225 The Nursing Role & Variations in Health for Students in Transition
NURS 255 Variations in Health II for Students in Transition
NURS 280 Transition to the Professional Role
NURS 281 Management of Complex and Multiple Patients
Required supporting courses:
BIOL 200 Summer Science Immersion or BIOL 240 Anatomy & Physiology I
BIOL 241 Anatomy & Physiology II
BIOL 245 Applied Microbiology
PHIL 200 Ethical Problems in Healthcare
PSYC 202 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
Additional liberal arts and sciences requirements:
ENGL 110 Composition I
PSYC 100 General Psychology
SSCS 100 Power and Social Change
ART elective
ENGL literature elective*
SSCS elective
THEO elective
CIL 150 (required before NURS 280 and NURS 281)
Demonstration of math competency (or FNDN 060)
*The Nursing program requires a writing-based literature elective.
