Nursing

This program prepares students for entry-level positions in nursing and for taking the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®). It has been approved by the New Jersey Council of Presidents and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326 , 404.975.5000, http://www.acenursing.org and the New Jersey State Board of Nursing, 124 Halsey Street, 6th floor, Newark, NJ 07102, 973.504.6430, http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov

The Associate’s degree Nursing Program at Middlesex College meets the state education requirements for a nursing license in the state of New Jersey. Middlesex College has not determined if the Nursing A.S. program meets the state education requirements in any other state, any U.S. Territory, or the District of Columbia. Students may go to the National Council on State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website to review each state’s initial licensure educational requirements: https://www.ncsbn.org/14730.htm

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Program will be able to:

Manage nursing care in a manner that reflects integrity, legal and ethical principles, professional codes, and commitment to safety and quality for diverse patients, families, and communities.
Advocate for patients and families in ways that promote their self-determination, integrity, and ongoing growth.
Coordinate care with members of the healthcare team in a collegial spirit to plan and promote patient-centered care.
Analyze current, professional knowledge to make judgements that promote, maintain, and restore health and further the practice of nursing.
Assume clinical competencies appropriate to the roles of care provider, patient advocate, teacher, collaborator, and decision maker.

Expected Level of Achievement: 80% of all first-time test takers will pass the annual licensure exam

Year

Aggregate

Expected Level of Achievement:60% of graduate respondents will be employed as a Registered Nurse within 12 months of graduation

Expected Level of Achievement: 60% of the students will complete the nursing program within four semesters from enrollment in the first nursing course

Recommended Course Sequence

Below are required courses and recommended course groupings and sequences for program completion.

Courses may have prerequisite and corequisite requirements. Check course descriptions for details.

Semester I

Human Anatomy and Physiology I Course Code: Course Description:

A study of cellular transport mechanisms and tissues as they relate to organs and systems. Structural and functional features of the skeletal, muscular and nervous systems and special senses are examined. Recommended for students in the health sciences.

Department Description: Natural Sciences Credit: Instruction methods: lab: 3 Hours, Lecture: 3 Hours Prerequisites:

One year of high school laboratory biology or BIO-010, and one year of high school laboratory chemistry or CHM-010, and appropriate score on the College placement test or MAT-013

Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 Introduction to Psychology Course Code: Course Description:

Provides a psychological basis for the understanding of human behavior. A survey of fundamentals that are necessary for subsequent psychology courses. Topics include but are not limited to: learning, motivation, cognition, personality, abnormal behavior, development and social psychology.

Department Description: History and Social Science Credit: Instruction methods: Lecture: 3 Hours Introduction to Psychology 3 English Composition I Course Code: Course Description:

Through a variety of writing projects requiring competence in clear, correct, and effective English, students use inferential and critical skills in the process of composing documented essays. Extensive reading materials serve as structural models and as the bases for discussion and for the writing of essays involving response, analysis, and synthesis.

Department Description: Credit: Instruction methods: Lecture: 3 Hours Prerequisites:

A passing score on the College Placement Test; or a grade of "C" or better in ENG-010 and RDG-011 (RDG-011 can be a co-requisite; or a grade of "C" or better in ESL-097 and ESL-098.

Corequisites:

RDG-011 may be taken as a co-requisite if not previously completed with a grade of "C" or better.

English Composition I 3 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice Course Code: Course Description:

This course provides students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for introductory professional nursing practice. Students develop competencies and skills basic to the role of the nurse in the contemporary healthcare environment. The care of the patient in multiple settings using evidence-based practice is stressed. Students are introduced to the concepts of safety, hygiene, therapeutic communication, clinical judgment, interprofessional collaboration, physical assessment, oxygenation, pain and comfort, elimination, fluid and electrolyte balance, documentation, reporting, pharmacology, and medication management. Faculty supervised learning laboratory and clinical practicum provide students with opportunities to develop professional competencies.

Department Description: Credit: Instruction methods: lab: 3.0 Hours, Lecture: 4.0 Hours, Field Experience Hours: 6.0 Hours Prerequisites:

American Heart Associate Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification for the Healthcare Provider

Corequisites:

BIO-111 and PSY-123

Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice 7

Semester II

Human Anatomy and Physiology II Course Code: Course Description:

A continuation of BIO 111. A study of the structure and function of the body is continued by examining the endocrine, reproductive, circulatory, digestive, respiratory and excretory systems.

Department Description: Natural Sciences Credit: Instruction methods: lab: 3 Hours, Lecture: 3 Hours Prerequisites:

BIO-111 with a minimum grade of “C”

Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 Lifespan Development Course Code: Course Description:

This course introduces students to the psychological development of the individual across the life span. Developmental concepts and theories are reviewed and applied in the study of the various stages of life.

Department Description: History and Social Science Credit: Instruction methods: Lecture: 3 Hours Prerequisites: Lifespan Development 3 Nursing Care of the Adult with Acute and Chronic Health Alterations Course Code: Course Description:

This course provides students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for the care of adults with acute and chronic medical, surgical, and behavioral health alterations. This course builds on previous learning and clinical experiences. Students have the opportunity to develop the competencies needed to assess, plan, manage, and evaluate nursing care of patients in multiple healthcare settings. The focus of this semester is evidence-based practice, safety, communication, patient-centered care, interprofessional collaboration, clinical integration, and nursing judgment. The care of patients with faculty supervised learning laboratory and clinical practicum assist in the development of clinical competencies.

Department Description: Credit: Instruction methods: lab: 3.0 Hours, Lecture: 4.0 Hours, Field Experience Hours: 9.0 Hours Prerequisites: Corequisites:

BIO-112, PSY-232 and NRB-135

Nursing Care of the Adult with Acute and Chronic Health Alterations 8 Professional Nursing Issues and Trends Course Code: Course Description:

For the past decade, nurses have ranked first in national surveys about trustworthiness and ethics. Today's graduate nurse requires an appreciation of the legal, ethical, economic, and social issues impacting healthcare. This course is offered in a hybrid (blended) format and will explore the many roles of the nurse in contemporary society and as a member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team.

Department Description: Credit: Instruction methods: Lecture: 2.0 Hours Professional Nursing Issues and Trends 2

Semester III

Principles of Microbiology Course Code: Course Description:

An introductory study of the microbial world with emphasis on the nature and behavior of microorganisms, the interrelationships that operate between microbes and the human host in health and disease and the principles of prevention and control of infectious disease. Laboratory experience develops techniques in the proper handling, observation and identification of microbial cultures. Recommended for students in the health sciences.

Department Description: Natural Sciences Credit: Instruction methods: lab: 3 Hours, Lecture: 3 Hours Prerequisites:

One year of high school laboratory biology or BIO-010, and one year of high school laboratory chemistry or CHM-010, and appropriate score on the College placement test or MAT-013

Principles of Microbiology 4 English Composition II Course Code: Course Description:

Through a variety of writing projects requiring competence in clear, correct, and effective English, students use inferential and critical skills in the process of composing argument synthesis essays. Students engage in formal written argumentation based on extensive reading and analysis of complex texts. Through the research process, students will locate, analyze, and synthesize scholarly sources to advance their own informed positions on relevant issues in the composition of a formal research paper.

Department Description: Credit: Instruction methods: Lecture: 3 Hours Prerequisites:

A grade of “C” or better in ENG-121

English Composition II 3 Patient Centered Care Throughout the Lifespan Course Code: Course Description:

This course provides students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for the holistic care of the childbearing woman, children, families, and the geriatric populations. This course builds on previous learning and clinical experiences. Students have the opportunity to develop the competencies needed to assess, plan, manage, and evaluate nursing care for diverse patients in multiple healthcare settings throughout the life cycle. The focus of this semester is health promotion, growth and development, evidence-based practice, safety, communication, patient-centered care, interprofessional collaboration, clinical integration, and nursing judgment. Faculty supervised learning laboratory and clinical practicum assist in the development of clinical competencies.

Department Description: Credit: Instruction methods: lab: 3.0 Hours, Lecture: 4.0 Hours, Field Experience Hours: 9.0 Hours Prerequisites: Corequisites: Patient Centered Care Throughout the Lifespan 8

Semester IV

GE Humanities Elective Course Code: Department Description: Humanities Credit: Instruction methods: GE Humanities Elective 3

Choose one course designated in the course descriptions as General Education Humanities (GE HUM).

Nursing Care of the Adult with Advanced Medical Surgical Alterations Course Code: Course Description:

This course provides students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to care for patients with high acuity health alterations. This course builds on previous learning and clinical experiences. Students will have the opportunity to develop competencies for patients with advanced medical surgical conditions, emergencies and crisis situations, and global health needs. Students will develop the needed competencies to integrate the multiple dimensions of patient centered care including clinical reasoning and judgment, teamwork, communication, and collaboration, evidence-based practice, and the principles that guide safe nursing care.

Department Description: Credit: Instruction methods: lab: 3 Hours, Lecture: 4 Hours, Field Experience Hours: 15 Hours Prerequisites: Nursing Care of the Adult with Advanced Medical Surgical Alterations 10 Standards of Progress

Criminal Background and Drug Testing:

Prior to matriculation, a nursing student must undergo a complete history and physical examination and be in compliance with the Middlesex College and Nursing Program policy on immunizations. A student is required to have a criminal background check and drug test with satisfactory results acceptable by Middlesex College and the Nursing Program and/or participating clinical facilities as a condition of admission, initial enrollment, and/or continued enrollment. An offer of admission will not be final, and enrollment will not be permitted until the completion of a satisfactory criminal background check/drug test. Admission may be denied or rescinded, or enrollment terminated based on the results of the criminal background check and the drug testing.

Standards of Progress:

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and earn a “C” grade or better in all nursing courses with a clinical component (NRB 131, NRB 132, NRB 231, NRB 232) in order to progress in the curriculum. A “C” grade in nursing is 77-80. There is no rounding up of grades in the nursing program. Students must earn a “C” grade or better for all science courses (BIO 111, BIO 112, and BIO 211) to progress in the Nursing Program. If a student receives less than a “C” in any science course of the nursing program, the student may repeat one science course only once; however, it may impact progress to the next scheduled nursing course. An unsatisfactory grade (i.e. a grade less than “C”) in NRB 131 results in dismissal from the Nursing Program. Students have the option to reapply to the program once, if they are dismissed. Students are allowed only one reapplication/readmission to the Nursing Program. If the student is readmitted to the Nursing Program and earns a final course grade of “D” or “F” in NRB 131 on the second attempt, the student is dismissed and is ineligible to reapply for admission.

If a student earns a grade of “D” in any nursing course other than NRB 131, the student may apply for re-entry to the course one time (space permitting and providing the GPA is at least 2.0) and must earn a grade of “C” or better to progress and remain in the program. If the student earns a final course grade of “D” or “F” on the second attempt of any nursing course, the student will be dismissed from the Nursing Program and is ineligible to reapply for admission.

(Example: If a student earns a grade of “D” in NRB 132, the student may apply for reentry and is able to return; the student must earn a grade of “C” or better in all subsequent nursing courses.)

If a student earns a grade of “F” in any nursing course, the student will be dismissed from the Nursing Program and will be ineligible to reapply for admission to the nursing program.

Students who can demonstrate a grade of “C” or higher (based on transcript review) in a professional nursing course will receive course credit for NRB 135. NRB 135 is a prerequisite for NRB 231; therefore, it must be completed before the third semester. If a student withdraws from NRB 135 or attains a grade of “D” during the Spring Semester, the student must schedule an appointment with the Director of Nursing Education to discuss possible options for course completion.

Students must adhere to the policies of Middlesex College and affiliated health care agencies. A student should complete the Nursing Program within three years of beginning the first nursing course, unless written allowance is obtained from the Director of Nursing Education or Academic Dean. A student who does not successfully complete the major nursing sequence under the above conditions may not continue in the Nursing Program.

If a student receives a clinical failure in any nursing course; the student is dismissed from the nursing program and is ineligible to reapply.

Students must earn a minimum cumulative theory grade of 77% (Grade of “C”) to pass a nursing course. No rounding up of grades will occur. For example, a student who earns a grade of 76.99, will earn a letter grade of “D.” In addition, students must satisfactorily complete all clinical and laboratory requirements to pass the clinical component of nursing courses.

To progress in the nursing program, students must earn a grade of “C” in the following science courses:

BIO 111 (Anatomy and Physiology I)
BIO 112 (Anatomy and Physiology II)
BIO 211 (Principles of Microbiology)

Students must also maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 during their course of studies in the Nursing Program.

Total Credits 62 xx

Contact Information

Nursing

Contact Name: Kara Kaldawi, Ph.D, RN, APN, GCNS-BC, Director of the Nursing Program OR Donna Howell, Acting Dean, Division of Business, STEM and Health Professions
Contact Phone: 732.906.4660 OR 732.548.6000
Contact Email: Kkaldawi@middlesexcc.edu OR DHowell@middlesexcc.edu
Department Web: https://www.middlesexcc.edu/nursing/

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the pass rate for the NCLEX?

The pass rate for the NCLEX is as follows:

Class of 2019 - 87.50%
Class of 2020 - 83.02%
Class of 2021 - 95.71%

What are the roles of Raritan Bay Medical Center (RBMC) and Middlesex College?

Raritan Bay Medical Center (RBMC) (now part of Hackensack Meridian Health) is the Nursing Program partner and is the primary clinical site for the Nursing Program.

· General education, science and other pre-requisite non-nursing courses will be taught by Middlesex College faculty and nursing courses will be taught by RBMC nursing faculty, in accordance with requirements for the degree as established by Middlesex College in consultation with RBMC.

· RBMC professional staff serving in the role of nursing faculty are employees of RBMC. The faculty meet all academic and professional qualifications for appointment as required by Middlesex College and RBMC and all applicable accrediting agencies.

· The curriculum for the Program is mutually agreed upon by RBMC nursing and Middlesex College faculty. As the grantor of the degree, Middlesex College will insure the curriculum meeting all requirements for the nursing degree.

· Student applications for graduation will be evaluated and certified by the Middlesex College - Office of the Registrar.

Are there any special requirements that must be satisfied before taking courses in the major?

An applicant must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Students must have a “B” or better in high school or college laboratory biology and laboratory chemistry.
Algebra 1 is a pre-requisite for all majors. Algebra 1 competency may be verified with a passing score on the College’s placement test of completion of the appropriate course. As a result of the student’s performance on the College’s placement test, he or she may need developmental coursework. All developmental coursework must be completed before they will be considered for admission to the program.
Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale. High school GPA will be used if the student has less than 12 college credits at the time of application.
When students apply, they must take a Health Technologies entrance examination and attain a score of proficient.”

Is there a waitlist for the Nursing program?

No. When an applicant is admitted to the nursing program, the student starts the first nursing course in September. If you are not admitted, then you may reapply for the next class.

How long will it take to complete this degree?

The standard duration of this Associate Degree program is four semesters (two years). Many students elect to take the science and general education courses required in the program before entry into the program. However, once starting the nursing program, four semesters of nursing courses are required before graduation. Each nursing course may require Monday through Friday attendance.

Are there any special requirements once the student is admitted to this major?

If a student earns a grade of “F” in any nursing course, the student will be dismissed from the Nursing Program and will be ineligible to reapply for admission to the nursing program.

If a student receives a clinical failure in any nursing course; the student is dismissed from the nursing program and is ineligible to reapply.

To progress in the nursing program, students must earn a grade of “C” in the following science courses:

BIO 111 (Anatomy and Physiology I)
BIO 112 (Anatomy and Physiology II)
BIO 211 (Principles of Microbiology)

Students must also maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 during their course of studies in the Nursing Program.

Are there additional requirements after graduation to be eligible for licensure?

The New Jersey State Board of Nursing requires that an applicant for licensure as a registered nurse must submit to the Board evidence, in such form as the Board may prescribe, that the applicant is of good moral character, is not a habitual user of drugs and never been convicted or has not pleaded nolo contendere, non vult contendere or non vult to an indictment, information or complaint alleging a violation of any Federal or State law relating to narcotic drugs. Application for licensure may be denied by the Board if violations exist. All licensure candidates must undergo a criminal history record background check, including fingerprinting prior to the issuance of the license.

Can students who major in Nursing transfer to a four-year college or university?

The courses students take may be applied to the Bachelor of Science (BSN) Degree. Any final decision regarding transfer courses will be made by the receiving college. Middlesex College has a dual admission agreement with Felician University. This articulation provides students the opportunity to complete their BSN on the Middlesex College campus. The nursing program also has articulation agreements with Chamberlain University and New Jersey City University.

Are there any other things I should consider before I apply?

Yes, there are practical considerations, health considerations and legal considerations that you should review before making the decision to choose nursing as a career:

Practical Considerations:

The following Practical Considerations are listed so the students may be better able to assess their career choice in terms of ability to succeed in the program and gain employment in the field:

Have written and oral communications skills in the English language to effectively and accurately communicate with patients, peers, and supervisors.
Have sufficient visual acuity to accurately assess patient conditions and treat patients safely.
Have motor skills capable of fine and delicate manipulation of patient equipment.
The ability to transfer, lift and move patients without restrictions.
Demonstrate acceptable affective behaviors required by health care employees such as maintaining excellent attendance and integrity and being able to work under pressure.
Comprehend and follow clinical policies and procedures related to the profession you choose.

Health Considerations:

Due to the nature of clinical experiences in the Nursing Program, students will be participating in a work environment that has the potential of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and infectious diseases. All students accepted into the Nursing Program are provided with instruction on infection control protocols specific to the Program in order to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Students are required to get a flu shot annually.

Students in the Nursing program must provide proof of having health insurance every semester.

Legal Considerations:

Criminal Background and Drug Testing: Prior to matriculation, a nursing student must undergo a complete history and physical examination and be in compliance with the Middlesex College and Nursing Program policy on immunizations. A student is required to have a criminal background check and drug test with satisfactory results acceptable by Middlesex College and the Nursing Program and/or participating clinical facilities as a condition of admission, initial enrollment, and/or continued enrollment. An offer of admission will not be final, and enrollment will not be permitted until the completion of a satisfactory criminal background check/drug test. Admission may be denied or rescinded, or enrollment terminated based on the results of the criminal background check and the drug testing.