2021-2022 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Nursing (Registered Nurse), A.S.
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 Return to: Programs of Study
The Nursing program is designated as a Health Manpower Shortage Program; therefore, some residents of Maryland enrolled in this program of study on the first day of the term may be eligible for in-county tuition rates for courses required for program completion.
Special Admission Requirements: Program Application Deadline: January 15 for Fall and July 15 for Spring
Purpose: For students who wish to complete a registered nursing program with an associate of science degree. The nursing program is approved by the Maryland State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The nursing program is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skill, and understanding necessary to function effectively in all areas of professional nursing. Graduates of the nursing program are eligible to apply to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Students must have a social security or tax I.D. number to sit for this exam.
Curriculum: The curriculum is divided into several broad areas of study and consists of lecture, laboratory, and clinical experiences. Emphasis is on the use of the nursing process to meet the needs of individuals, family members, and the community. Courses in general education provide students with the scientific and social background to function as effective citizens and health care providers.
Program Outcomes:
- Sixty percent or greater of traditional and two-year pathway students will complete the nursing program in no more than 150% of the stated program length beginning with enrollment in the first nursing course.
- Seventy-five percent of the graduate survey respondents at nine months after graduation express satisfaction within the nursing program.
- Ninety percent or greater of a graduate survey respondents will be employed as an entry-level practitioner within 6 months of graduation.
- Seventy-five percent of the graduate survey respondents will express satisfaction with curriculum, environment, learning resources, support services, and policies.
- Eighty-five percent or greater of the program graduates will pass the NCLEX on their first attempt.
Program Student Learning Outcomes: Graduates of the Associate of Science degree in nursing program will be able to:
- Utilize critical thinking in implementation of the nursing process to plan care for individuals and families that promotes health throughout the lifespan in a variety of settings.
- Adhere to quality of care and safety standards in both acute and community based environments.
- Facilitate the continuity of care for individuals in various acute and community based environments.
- Practice within the ethical and legal framework of the nursing profession.
- Provide compassionate care and serve as advocates for individuals and families, respecting their diverse cultures, values, and belief systems.
- Employ therapeutic verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills.
- Collaborate with the individual, family, and interdisciplinary health professionals to promote, maintain, or restore health, and comfort the dying.
- Exercise leadership skills in the management of care.
Articulation Agreements: Students who are considering transferring to a four year college should inform their advisors at the earliest opportunity so that their course selection can be planned.
Pre-Admission Requirement: Students must complete the nationally normed test for nursing students known as the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). The TEAS is a scholastic aptitude assessment in the areas of math, reading, English, and science. Students will not be considered for admission to the program until they achieve the required scores on the TEAS. Applicants should consult the HCC Web site at www.hagerstowncc.edu/academics/divisions/nursing/teas for specific information about the TEAS, including score requirements. This requirement should be completed prior to submission of the Supplemental Application (see below), but no later than the application deadline.
Admission Requirements: Admission to HCC does not guarantee admission to the Division of Nursing. The requirements below must be completed and submitted to the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Management by the application deadline (January 15 for the fall nursing class and July 15 for the spring nursing class)
- All students planning on applying to the Registered Nursing program must attend a Nursing Preview Program before the Supplemental Application deadline. Students who are transferring in who have completed a nursing class at another accredited college are exempt from this orientation. Students who have only completed a CNA class must attend this program. View upcoming program dates here.
- Submit a completed program application known as the Supplemental Application for the Nursing Program (RN) form
- Submit official TEAS scores. Official TEAS score reports are required to be sent through the ATI site for TEAS taken at locations other than the HCC Testing Center. Students who do take the TEAS at HCC are encouraged to bring a copy of the scores or email the scores to the HCC Admissions Office. Applicants will not be considered for admission to the program until they achieve a 69% or higher on the Adjusted Individual Score for Reading and an Adjusted Individual Total Score of at least 60%.
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended even if the courses taken are not directly applicable to the RN program. HCC calculates cumulative GPA from all college coursework as part of the scoring process (students who took classes at HCC do not need to submit official HCC transcripts). All transcripts must be complete and show grades or outcomes for each class taken or the status of in-progress for classes that are in-progress at the application deadline.
- Completion of all required science courses within seven years prior to the application deadline.
- BIO 203 must be completed or in progress at the time of application to the program.
- A minimum cumulative grade point average for all college coursework of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. In addition, a minimum grade point average of 2.5 for all program courses is required
- Eligibility to enter college level Math and English
- In addition to the minimum grade requirement for English Composition set forth by COMAR, HCC requires nursing students to complete all General Education requirements with a minimum grade of “C” or higher. If a student has a grade below a “C”, they are not eligible to be scored until that grade is replaced with a grade of “C” or higher.
- Submit official SAT scores (If taken within five years of application date).
- Submit official AP scores if using these scores to meet one of the general education requirements. AP scores of 3 or higher are used.
- Foreign educated students must have their college transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (WES).
- The Nursing program is a Maryland Health Manpower Shortage program. All students who apply for this program must be eligible to work in the State of Maryland at the application deadline and while enrolled in the program.
Program Requirements: Students practice selected procedures on each other in the college laboratory. All nursing students must receive:
- A minimum overall grade of 75% in each of the first year nursing courses (NUR 105 , NUR 127 , NUR 224 , NUR 229 ). A minimum overall grade of 77% in each of the second year nursing courses (NUR 126 , NUR 226 , NUR 228 , NUR 230 , NUR 231 ). Two final course grades below a 75% in the first year of the program and/or below a 77% in the second year of the program means a dismissal from the Nursing program and the student cannot continue or reapply to the RN program.
- A minimum exam grade of 75% in each of the first year nursing courses (NUR 105 , NUR 127 , NUR 224 , NUR 229 ). A minimum exam grade of 77% in each of the second year nursing courses (NUR 126 , NUR 226 , NUR 228 , NUR 230 , NUR 231 ).
- A minimum grade of 77% on 50% or more of the total exams for the course during the second year of the program (NUR 126 , NUR 226 , NUR 228 , NUR 230 , NUR 231 ).
- A minimum grade of 90% on a drug calculation exam in each nursing course.
- A mark of satisfactory for both the simulation/laboratory and clinical experiences. Students who receive a final mark of unsatisfactory in the clinical laboratory or clinical experience, or fail the drug calculation exam, despite a passing theory grade, will not be permitted to progress in the nursing program and will receive a final grade of “F” for the course.
- For students in the two-year pathway, a grade of “C” or better is required for all general education courses. A failure in a required general education course will stop progression in the nursing program until all required general education courses are successfully completed.
- Upon completion of nursing coursework, students must achieve 92% probability of passing the NCLEX on the first attempt on the ATI Comprehensive Predictor Exam. Students who do not achieve this score will be allowed to retake the exam after appropriate remediation until they achieve the required score.
Students who do not meet program or course standards that result in dismissal from the nursing program are not eligible for readmission. This includes students who cannot meet safety standards, and students who violate the college’s Honor Code and Code of Conduct, the nursing program’s Standards of Student Conduct, and the American Nurses’ Association Code of Ethics for Nurses.
Fact Sheet
Three-Year Program Pathway
| Pre-Clinical Semester I |
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Pre-Clinical Semester II |
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
|
Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
ENG 101
|
English Composition
*(ENG 101E is an approved substitution for ENG 101) |
3 |
|
PSY 204 |
Developmental Psychology: Lifespan Human Development |
3 |
|
Gen Ed
|
Mathematics
*(MAT 109 is recommended) |
3 |
|
ENG 102 |
Advanced English Concentration |
3 |
| BIO 203 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology I |
4 |
|
BIO 204 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology II |
4 |
| Gen Ed |
Arts/Humanities |
3 |
|
SOC 101 |
Introduction to Sociology |
3 |
| PSY 101 |
General Psychology |
3 |
|
|
|
|
| TOTAL |
|
16 |
|
TOTAL |
|
13 |
| Semester I |
|
Semester II |
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
|
Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
| NUR 105 |
Foundations of Nursing |
9 |
|
NUR 127 |
Nursing Care of Children |
4 |
| |
|
|
|
NUR 229 |
Nursing Care of the Acute and Chronically Ill Adult |
4 |
| TOTAL |
|
9 |
|
TOTAL |
|
8 |
| Semester III |
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
| NUR 224 |
Pharmacology for Nursing Practice |
2 |
| BIO 205 |
Microbiology |
4 |
| TOTAL |
|
6 |
| Semester IV |
|
Semester V |
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
|
Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
| NUR 126 |
Nursing Care of Women and Infants |
4 |
|
NUR 230 |
Nursing Care of the Acute and Chronically Ill Adult II |
4 |
| NUR 226 |
Behavioral Health Nursing |
4 |
|
NUR 228 |
Contemporary Trends in Nursing and Leadership |
2 |
| |
|
|
|
NUR 231 |
Nursing Care of the Acute and Chronically Ill Adult III |
4 |
| TOTAL |
|
8 |
|
TOTAL |
|
10 |
Two-Year Program Pathway (5 - semester)
To learn more about the two-year RN program, click here.
| Pre-Clinical Semester I |
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
| BIO 203 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology I |
4 |
| Gen Ed |
Mathematics
*(MAT 109 is recommended) |
3 |
ENG 101
|
English Composition
*(ENG 101E is an approved substitution for ENG 101) |
3 |
| PSY 101 |
General Psychology |
3 |
| TOTAL |
|
13 |
| Semester I |
|
Semester II |
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
|
Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
| NUR 105 |
Foundations of Nursing |
9 |
|
NUR 127 |
Nursing Care of Children |
4 |
| PSY 204 |
Developmental Psychology: Lifespan Human Development |
3 |
|
NUR 229 |
Nursing Care of the Acute and Chronically Ill Adult I |
4 |
| BIO 204 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology II |
4 |
|
BIO 205 |
Microbiology |
4 |
| TOTAL |
|
16 |
|
TOTAL |
|
12 |
| Semester III |
|
Semester IV |
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
|
Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
| NUR 126 |
Nursing Care of Women and Infants |
4 |
|
NUR 228 |
Contemporary Trends in Nursing and Leadership |
2 |
| NUR 224 |
Pharmacology for Nursing Practice |
2 |
|
NUR 230 |
Nursing Care of the Acute and Chronically Ill Adult II |
4 |
| NUR 226 |
Behavioral Health Nursing |
4 |
|
NUR 231 |
Nursing Care of the Acute and Chronically Ill Adult III |
4 |
| ENG 102 |
Composition and Literature |
3 |
|
SOC 101 |
Introduction to Sociology |
3 |
| Gen Ed |
Arts/Humanities |
3 |
|
|
|
|
| TOTAL |
|
16 |
|
TOTAL |
|
13 |
|
General Education Requirements (33 Credits)
Behavioral/Social Sciences
Biological/Physical Science
English
*A minimum grade of “C” or better is required for ENG-101 and ENG-101E Program Requirements (37 Credits)
Degree Requirement (70 Credits)
Selection Criteria
Students will be admitted to the registered nursing course sequence each fall and spring. The nursing program is an oversubscribed program which means that there are more applicants than there are available seats in the program. Students are selected for admission based on a point system. All applicants must have BIO 203 completed or in progress at the time of application and have achieved the required scores on the TEAS exam by the application deadline. For the three-year pathway, points are earned by the number of program required general education courses completed, grade point average in program required general education courses, cumulative grade point average for all college courses taken and for students who have completed their program required general education courses at HCC. For students applying for the two-year pathway, scoring will use TEAS scores or SAT scores (two-year pathway is for students who have not started their program required general education classes). Those with the greatest points are admitted into the program. Students who have been accepted for admission will be notified of the decision by mail. The offer of admission is for the specified year only. Those students not admitted to the fall class will be placed on a standby list until August 1. Students not selected for admission to the spring class will be placed on a standby list until December 1. The standby lists are dissolved after each of these dates, and students who desire admission to the nursing program in a subsequent year, must fill out another Supplemental Application for the Nursing Program (RN) form and follow the admission guidelines above. Final Acceptance
Final acceptance into the program is contingent upon the following criteria. Students unable to meet these criteria will be withdrawn from the program and the seat filled by a student from the standby list. - Those students accepted into the program must submit a $50 enrollment deposit when accepting their spot in the program. This deposit will be applied to your tuition for the semester and is not refundable.
- Successful completion of program requirements in progress at the time of application.
- Students must pass a dosage calculation exam with a score of 90% or above.
- Students must successfully pass a drug screen and criminal background check.
- Students must be able to meet the program’s technical standards.
- Satisfactory completion of a health examination record and all required tests and immunizations.
- Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support CPR certification.
Criminal Background Checks
All nursing students who are offered admission to the nursing program will be required to complete a criminal background check. A separate criminal background check may also be required by a clinical site prior to beginning a clinical experience. Criminal background check results are disclosed to clinical facilities as required. If a student is denied access by a clinical site because of the background check, and as a result, cannot meet program requirements, the student may be dismissed from the nursing program. Individuals applying to take the NCLEX-RN exam may be required to submit to an additional criminal background check depending upon the state in which the individual seeks licensure. State boards of nursing may deny an individual the opportunity to sit for an examination, or grant licensure, even if the individual has completed all course work and graduated from the program, if the individual has a criminal history, has been convicted, or pleads guilty, or nolo contendere to a felony or other serious crime. A valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport, military ID, or green card) is required for a background check. Prior criminal records may prohibit students from clinical program placement, becoming licensed, or employment opportunities. Drug Screen
All nursing students who are offered admission to the nursing program will be required to submit to a drug screen. Drug screen results are disclosed to clinical facilities as required. A random drug screen may also be requested at any time during the nursing program if a nursing faculty member or a clinical facility representative has reasonable cause to suspect that a student is impaired and poses a safety concern to patients or others. If a student is denied access by a clinical site because of drug screen results, and as such, cannot meet program requirements, the student may be dismissed from the nursing program Readmission to the Nursing Program
Students who fail NUR 105 and desire readmission to the nursing program must reapply as a first time student according to the standards listed above. Students who withdraw from, or fail other courses in the nursing sequence and desire readmission to the nursing program, must submit their request in writing to the Director, Nursing Division. In addition, students who fail a course because of failing the course’s required drug calculation exam are required to successfully complete a drug calculation exam for readmission to the program. Readmission cannot be assured and is based on the progression criteria for each course and the availability of seats, faculty, and clinical facilities. Readmission to the nursing program must take place within one year of leaving the program. The curriculum under which a student seeks readmission may be different from the one under which the student left. Students who are accepted for readmission must complete the degree requirements in place at the time of readmission. Students who fail or withdraw from a nursing course after readmission are not eligible to be readmitted a second time. Associate to Bachelor’s Dual Enrollment Option
HCC has an option for students to earn their associate and bachelor’s degrees in nursing in as little time as possible, sometimes just four years. Completing the RN program at HCC and an RN to BSN program with a nearby university is much less expensive than spending two full years in a bachelor’s degree nursing program. HCC offers an associate to bachelor’s (ATB) program with Frostburg State University where competitive applicants can take classes toward their associate and bachelor’s degrees at the same time, minimizing the amount of time needed to complete the BSN. Several other BSN options allow students to apply during the second year of HCC nursing courses and start taking courses toward their BSN online. Graduates of the HCC nursing program are eligible to apply to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Transfer from Other Colleges
Students transferring to HCC from other colleges who seek admission as a first time student into the nursing program must be enrolled as an HCC student and complete the Supplemental Application for the Nursing Program (RN) form by the established deadline dates. In order to be considered for admission, students must meet the same requirements as other first time students and will be selected according to the same criteria. Official transcripts from all colleges attended must be received by the application deadline and a completed Transcript Evaluation Request must be submitted. This is required even if the courses do not directly apply to the RN program. All transcripts must be complete and show grades or outcomes for each class taken or the status of in-progress for classes that are in-progress at the application deadline. HCC calculates cumulative GPA from all college coursework as part of the scoring process for entry into this program. Required science courses that are older than seven years must be repeated. Transfer to Baccalaureate Nursing Programs
No more than half of the baccalaureate degree, with a maximum of 70 non-nursing credits, will be accepted from a community college. Nursing credits will not be transferred. However, Registered Nurses with an active, unencumbered Maryland or compact RN license articulating to the baccalaureate level, are awarded a minimum of thirty (30) upper division nursing credits in the program they are entering. (http://mbon.maryland.gov/Pages/articulation.aspx) Technical Standards
There are technical standards and skill requirements which students are expected to possess and demonstrate in order to be successful in this program. More information on these standards can be found on the Web page for this program. |
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