2022-2023 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Paramedic to RN Transition Program
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 Return to: Programs of Study
The Paramedic to RN Transition 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 Summer Admission
Purpose: For licensed Paramedics who wish to complete a registered nursing program with an associate of science degree. The nursing program is approved by the Maryland 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 program are eligible to apply to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Students must have a social security number 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 people, citizens, and health care providers. Upon completion of the 33 credits of general education and successful completion of NUR 195 (8 Credits) , students will receive 17 credits for the first year of the nursing program. A nominal fee may apply for these 17 credits to be placed on the student’s record.
Program Outcomes
- Seventy-five percent of the Paramedic to RN students who begin the program will successfully complete the program within 100% of the time from the date of entry.
- 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 holistic care.
- Adhere to quality of care and safety standards in both acute and community-based environments.
- Practice within the ethical and legal framework of the nursing profession.
- Advocate for clients respecting their diversities.
- Employ therapeutic verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills.
- Exercise leadership skills in the management of care.
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.
- Submit a completed program application known as the Supplemental Application for Paramedic to RN Transition Program.
- Submit official TEAS scores. Official score reports are required 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 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%. TEAS scores are valid for three years from the testing date.
- Official transcripts from other colleges attended. 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).
- Completion of all required science courses within seven years prior to admission to the program.
- All General Education courses completed or in progress at the time of application to the program. The courses include ENG 101 ( ENG 101E and ENG 101P are approved substitutions for ENG 101), ENG 102 , a Math General Education course from the approved General Education course list, PSY 101 , SOC 101 , PSY 204 , BIO 203 , BIO 204 , BIO 205 , and an Arts/Humanities course form the approved General Education course list.
- 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.
- 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.
- Verification from an employer of two years employment (3,328 hours) as a Paramedic within the past 5 years by the application deadline must be submitted to the Admissions Office. Documents submitted must clearly show dates of employment.
- Satisfactory letter of recommendation from most recent employer/manager must be submitted to the Admissions Office.
- Must have certification as a Paramedic and National Board of Registry certification (NREMT-P) and submit it to the Admissions Office.
- Foreign educated students must have their college transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (WES).
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 224 ). A minimum overall grade of 77% in each of the second year nursing courses (NUR 126 , NUR 195 , NUR 226 , NUR 228 ). 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 for 5 years.
- A minimum exam grade of 75% in each of the first year nursing courses (NUR 224 ). A minimum exam grade of 77% in each of the second year nursing courses (NUR 126 , NUR 195 , NUR 226 , NUR 228 ).
- 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 195 , NUR 226 , NUR 228 ).
- A minimum grade of 90% on a drug calculation exam in each nursing course.
- A mark of satisfactory for both the laboratory and clinical experiences. Students who receive an unsatisfactory in the 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.
- Upon completion of nursing coursework, students must achieve 92% of 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 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
Program Pathway
| Preclinical Semester I |
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Preclinical Semester II |
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
|
Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
ENG 101
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English Composition
*(ENG 101E and ENG 101P are approved substitutions for ENG 101) |
3 |
|
ENG 102 |
Advanced English Concentration |
3 |
| Gen Ed |
Mathematics |
3 |
|
BIO 204 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology II |
4 |
| BIO 203 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology I |
4 |
|
SOC 101 |
Introduction to Sociology |
3 |
| Gen Ed |
Arts/Humanities |
3 |
|
PSY 204 |
Developmental Psychology: Lifespan Human Development |
3 |
| PSY 101 |
General Psychology |
3 |
|
BIO 205 |
Microbiology |
4 |
| TOTAL |
|
16 |
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TOTAL |
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17 |
| Semester I |
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
| NUR 195 |
LPN/Paramedic/Military Medic/Corpsman to RN Transition |
8 |
| TOTAL |
|
8 |
| Semester II |
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Semester III |
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
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Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
| NUR 224 |
Pharmacology for Nursing Practice |
2 |
|
NUR 126 |
Nursing Care of Women and Infants |
4 |
| NUR 226 |
Behavioral Health Nursing |
4 |
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NUR 228 |
Contemporary Trends in Nursing and Leadership |
2 |
| TOTAL |
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6 |
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TOTAL |
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6 |
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General Education Requirements (33 Credits)
Behavioral/Social Sciences
Biological/Physical Science
English
*A minimum grade of “C” or better is required for ENG-101, ENG-101E, and ENG-101P
Program Requirements (37 Credits)
Degree Requirement (70 Credits)
Selection Criteria
Students will be admitted to the paramedic to registered nursing course sequence each summer. 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 classes completed, the student’s grade point average, and the number of available class seats. 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. Students who desire admission to the nursing program in a subsequent year, must fill out another Supplemental Application for Paramedic to RN Transition Program 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.
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 195 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 return a second time and can reapply to the nursing program after 5 years.
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 Paramedic to RN Transition Program 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. A transfer evaluation will be done on all transcripts by the Registrar to determine which courses a student may transfer to HCC for credit. 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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