Nursing - NURS.AS

Nursing is a profession which combines both the art and science of compassionate care for people of all ages, from all walks of life, in a wide variety of health care settings to promote health, prevent illness and to care for ill, disabled and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles. (International Council of Nurses, 2014).

STCC Department of Nursing Philosophy:

Nursing education, at the associate degree level, is the minimum educational preparation for registered nurse practice. Students are viewed as self-directed in the learning process, interacting with educators and other health-care providers in attainment of nursing competencies. The graduate is prepared to communicate effectively and provide health promotion and health maintenance as well as administer direct care to persons and families with health problems.

Faculty guide students towards academic and career achievement in a positive, caring and encouraging environment. Faculty responsibilities include: supporting nursing ethical and practice standards, acting as an advocate in promotion of the profession, providing a role model for students, and demonstrating a commitment to professional growth.

STCC offers an Associate Degree in Nursing.

We prepare students for careers as Registered Nurses. Students graduating from our program are eligible to take the licensing exam by the National Council Examination (NCLEX-RN) to become registered nurses (RN).

Our program admits new students each Fall and is designed as a two year (four semesters) day-time program. Although the curriculum is laid out over four semesters, we strongly encourage students to complete the non-nursing courses prior to applying to the program.

The STCC Nursing curriculum is rigorous and includes classroom lectures, a nursing skills laboratory, participation in patient simulation in our nationally recognized SIMS Medical Center (www.simsmedicalcenter.com), and clinical rotations each semester which take place in a variety of hospitals and health care agencies in the Springfield and the Pioneer Valley region of Western MA.

Although the STCC Nursing Program is a day-time program, clinical experiences may be scheduled during both evening and weekend hours.

Accreditation, Licensing and Outcomes

Approval

The STCC Nursing Program is approved and regulated by the
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/hcq/dhpl/nursing 250 Washington St. Boston, MA Phone: 617.973.0900 or 800.414.0168

Accreditation

The Associate Degree nursing program at Springfield Technical Community College at One Armory Square located in Springfield, Massachusetts is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326 (404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate Degree nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm

Licensing

Graduates of the nursing program receive an Associate of Science in Nursing degree, and are eligible to take the computer-based adaptive National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®). This test is offered through: NCLEX Testing with Pearson VUE; Pearson VUE delivers the NCLEX examination for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).

The Board of Registration in Nursing (MA BORN) in Massachusetts is the state agency that issues nursing licenses. The mission of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth through the fair and consistent application of the statutes and regulations governing nursing practice and nursing education.

For all Nursing program applicants, please read the information provided on the MA BORN web site regarding the requirement for all licensed nurse to meet the definition of Good Moral Character, that you will need to attest to when applying for a license after graduation:

Student Achievement/ Program Outcomes

Class of 2021=72
Class of 2020=84

First Time Pass Rate on National Council Licensure Exam for Nurses (NCLEX):

Students Completing the Program:
(100%= [2 years/4semesters] and 150%= [3 years/5 semesters] completion rates by Year Entered Program).

Applying to this Program

STCC ADMISSION

Springfield Technical Community College maintains an open-door general admission policy. As long as an applicant has earned a high school diploma from an accredited high school or a high school equivalent (GED or HiSET) he/she will be admitted to the College. Students applying to the Nursing program are selected from a pool of applicants who displayed the minimum academic requirements for admission. Space is limited and not all applicants are accepted. While the Nursing program can be completed in 4 semesters, most students, due to the rigors of the program and competitive admission pool, complete all or most of the non-Nursing courses prior to applying to the program. Please note that certain academically competitive programs including Nursing have additional admission requirements as well as specific application deadlines. See below for more information:

Step 1: Explore the Nursing Program

Step 2: Attend a Nursing Information Session

• Nursing is a very competitive program. We strongly recommend you attend one of our monthly Nursing Information Sessions in advance to help prepare for your application.
• For a schedule of upcoming Nursing Information Sessions visit https://www.stcc.edu/apply/info-sessions.

Step 3: Make an appointment to meet with an academic advisor

• Contact an academic advisor at advisor@stcc.edu to help best guide you.
• Another option is to utilize “Chat Now!” for assistance, you can find the icon on the bottom right hand side of this page.

Applicants are reviewed and evaluated based on the steps/information below:

Step 4: Complete Admission Prerequisites

1. High School Transcript, HiSET or GED (submit official transcript or documentation to be submitted to the Admissions office)

2. Math Requirement: One of the following must be completed within the last five(5) years and three (3) months* (see Note 1 below)

Completion of Algebra 2 (grade 80 or higher), or its equivalent, at a high school or accredited college (STCC MAT 063 or MAT 097 ) OR

Placement at the College-math level on an STCC placement exam(Accuplacer MAT-101) or (ALEKS 100p)** (see Note 2 below) OR

*NOTE 1: If the applicant first met the minimum grade requirement for the course, but the course grade is over 5 years/ 3 months old (from the start of the program), the applicant can alternatively satisfy the math requirement if they meet the math benchmark score of 69 on the TEAS test (submit official document with checklist)

**NOTE 2: Being exempted from taking the STCC math placement exam due to high school GPA, DOES NOT meet the Nursing Program math requirement

Students are able to take the exam up to three (3) times per year to meet the benchmark scores. Scores are good for three (3) years prior to February 1 application deadline.

If taken multiple times, submit all score reports. The highest score earned will be applied for admission evaluation if multiple attempts are made.

It is strongly recommended that the preparation book be utilized. The book is available in the STCC bookstore or on-line through ATI.

It is recommended that individuals not attempt to retake the TEAS test prior to 30 days since the last sitting, allowing time for remediation.

Step 5: Complete General Education Requirements (optional)

• Applicants often choose to complete some of the general education requirements prior to applying to the nursing program. While this is not required, it helps reduce workload once in the nursing program. The majority of students complete most of the non-nursing courses prior to applying to the program. ALL courses both non-nursing and nursing courses, must achieve a C+ or higher.Click here for the curriculum which includes both Nursing and Non-Nursing courses.

Step 6: Begin Your Nursing Application

• Applying to the Nursing Program -All materials for the application must be received by the Admissions Office no later than February 1 of the application year to receive acceptance into the fall class. The STCC Nursing program has a fall start only with day classes.
• If you have questions or need guidance in applying to the Nursing Program, you can contact the Admissions Department at admissions@stcc.edu; or the School of Health & Patient Simulation at shps@stcc.edu.
• Click here to apply to the college APPLY TO STCC

STEP 7: Complete the Patient Care Employment Verification Form:

• If you have experience in healthcare please complete this form in order to strengthen your application. While it is not required, direct care experience including CNA or PCT is strongly recommended. Click here to download the form.This form needs to be uploaded to the Nursing Admission Checklist, or submitted to the Admissions Office by February 1st of the application year in order to receive credit during the application process.
• Complete a CNA or PCT course (optional). It is strongly recommended that you complete a CNA or PCT course. This is optional at this time but may be required for admission in the future. These certifications provide opportunities for students to find employment and begin to gain experience in the health field.

STEP 8: Complete the REQUIRED Nursing Checklist

• Download the instructions first! DO NOT complete the Nursing Admission Checklist until you have reviewed the printable/downloadable version of instructions as it will require you to upload documents. Click here for instructions.
• The checklist opens December 1st. All materials must be submitted for each new application year. This checklist is REQUIRED. Email questions to shps@stcc.edu.
• Click to complete the online checklist.

STEP 9: Review Common Clinical Placement Requirements:

The information provided below is required once you are accepted into the nursing program. If any of these requirements are not met, students will not be able to start or continue in the nursing program. Additional requirements may be added at a later date due to state/federal mandates, college/program policy, or contractual requirements with practice partners.

• College and Nursing Program Mandatory Health Records: The Nursing Program uses a compliance tracking system through CastleBranch. The College maintains a separate health file for state health requirements. Therefore records and forms must be submitted to BOTH the STCC Health and Wellness Center in addition to the CastleBranch nursing program compliance tracker. Upon acceptance, students will receive directions to set up a CastleBranch account and will be provided with a checklist of health records that will need to be uploaded to Castlebranch. A list of the health records to submit to the Health and Wellness Center will also be provided.
• To request this documentation, please follow this link Checklist Immunity Records-Nursing PreAdmission (stcc.edu)The Nursing program reserves the right to rescind the admission status of any student not meeting, as well as not submitting, all post-admission requirements in a timely manner.
• IMPORTANT: We encourage you to begin completing the health requirements now and save a copy of your record. Please review the onboarding requirements. Click here for the check list. Titres and vaccines are required. This process could take up to 6 months or more to complete. You must meet ALL requirements or you will not be able to begin the program.
• CORI/SORI: Required state-wide and/or national criminal background checks, including but not limited to: Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Record Information (SORI) to ensure a safe and protective environment for all clients, particularly members of vulnerable populations. Click here for additional information.

NOTE:Additional CORI/SORI checks may be required by affiliating agencies prior to clinical placement. Individuals with previous court convictions must also meet the eligibility requirements of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing for licensure. Prospective students should review the Good Moral Character CMR set by the the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. For further information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/dph/boards/rn

Drug Testing: Students enrolling in Health Professions programs are required to undergo and pass a drug screening analysis in order to be eligible for placement in a clinical facility. For more information regarding mandatory drug testing Click Here

Other Information to Consider:

• Spring mid-term grades of application year are not considered for admission.
• Highest grade is considered for repeat courses.
• Science courses over five years and three months old by the start of the program (fall of application year) must be repeated. Each science course can be repeated only once within that time frame (If you have sciences greater than 5 years 3 months old you may be given consideration if you are competitive in other areas.) NOTE: If the applicant first met the minimum grade requirement for the course,but the course grade is over 5 years/3 months old, the course will be be accepted if the applicant meets the science benchmark score of 54 on the TEAS test (submit official document with checklist)
• General Electives: The following courses are examples that will satisfy the General Elective requirements and are helpful for students considering an RN to BSN track, these are not the only courses that will be accepted as an elective. Any questions contact Academic Advising at 413 755-4769 or the School of Health & Patient Simulation email at shps@stcc.edu:
  • PHL-110 World Religions is transferable as a diversity or religion course
  • BIO-115 Nutrition
  • CHM-111 OR CHM-201 General or Organic Chemistry
  • MAT-115 Statistics
  • PSY-230 Abnormal Psychology
  • HIS-100 , HIS-110 , HIS-111 , HIS-115 , HIS-130 (A U.S. history course will be required for most advanced degree);
  • Foreign Language of your choice (many schools suggest Spanish).

  How to strengthen your application:

  (Examples of how to strengthen your application for admission to the nursing program).
  • Complete Anatomy & Physiology 1&2 prior to applying.
  • Complete at least all first semester non-nursing co-requisite courses prior to applying.
  • Completing ALL non-nursing co-requisite courses prior to applying.
  • Grade of C+ is required for all courses within the nursing curriculum- both non-nursing and nursing. Higher grades in courses completed will strengthen application.
  • NOTE: You may still apply if you have not completed all non-nursing co-requisites. Most students complete most of the non-nursing courses prior to applying due to the competitive nature of the program and the rigors of the program which helps reduce workload once accepted into the nursing program.
  • Earning higher grades in all co-requisite courses.
  • Students currently enrolled AND/OR who have completed 12 credits of liberal arts/general education and science courses at STCC.
  • Prior experience with direct patient care (Examples: Presently working as a CNA, Medical Assistant, EMT, Paramedic, LPN).
  • Prior experience with indirect patient care.(Examples: Acute care unit secretary or cardiac monitor observe)
  • Earned previous degree(s).
  • Earned previous degree(s) in healthcare.
  • Completing an HSC or SMC course (HSC 110, HSC 150/150L, SMC 125/125L)
  Transfer Students:

  Students may transfer non-nursing courses if they have completed equivalent courses required in the nursing curriculum. Science courses must have been taken within the past 5 years. Equivalent pharmacology courses are transferable and accepted if they have been taken within the past 5 years. Minimum grade must be a C+ or higher and be from an accredited college or university. Nursing courses are not transferable.

  Course Exemption/Substitution:

  There are no course exemptions for required nursing courses. A student may be exempted from a non-nursing co-requisite course in the nursing program if the student successfully completed a STCC College Level Examination Program (CLEP) with a C+ or higher. A list of courses are available on the college website https://www.stcc.edu/clep/

  Notification of Acceptance :

  Are mailed/emailed out to students in early April. Although regular classes begin in September, accepted students must attend two mandatory sessions in the spring and early summer.

  A one day orientation is held in mid-May A three day Nursing 1- Student Orientation Work-shop is held in mid-June NOTE: If you are unable to attend, you may forfeit your admission to the program. Mandatory Orientation Days:

  Although regular classes begin in September, accepted students must attend two mandatory sessions in the spring and early summer.

  A one day orientation is held in mid-May A three day Nursing 1- Student Orientation Work-shop is held in mid-June NOTE: If you are unable to attend, you may forfeit your admission to the program.

  IMPORTANT: The School of Health and Patient Simulation and the Department of Nursing reserves the right to rescind the admission status of any student not meeting all pre- and post- admission requirements.

  Read Program and Admission policy and requirements:

  Click on the links below for each policy.

  Applying for Re-Admission to this Program

  If a student leaves a health program for any reason, and intends to re-enter the following academic year into the semester in which they left, the student must follow the readmission process as outlined in the School of Health & Patient Simulation Readmission Policy.

  Click here to see full policy and procedures.

  The student seeking readmission to a health program must submit a Letter of Intent to Return, to the Dean of Health & Patient Simulation Office (Building 20/Room 320) and to the Program Director, by November 16 for consideration for return in the spring semester, and by February 1 for consideration for return in the fall semester. These dates may change from year to year.

  If a student intends to return to a health program after one full academic year has passed, the student must apply as a new applicant through the college admissions website https://www.stcc.edu/apply/.

  All students must follow the readmission policy and guidelines of their specific department/program.

  Additional Requirements for Accepted Students

  • CORI/SORI: College programs involving potentially unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, or the elderly, including fieldwork (a clinical affiliation, internship, externship, or field placement) with a private or public healthcare provider or daycare provider, will be required to undergo state-wide and/or national criminal background checks, including but not limited to: Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Record Information (SORI), Seven (7) year residential Search, and FBI Fingerprinting checks. The purpose of the background check is to ensure a safe and protective environment for all clients, particularly members of vulnerable populations. Students choosing not to consent to the required background checks will be ineligible to participate in fieldwork involving vulnerable populations. Ineligibility to participate in fieldwork will affect a student’s ability to successfully complete the program and be removed from the program. Based upon the results of the background checks, a student may be deemed ineligible to participate in academic or clinical activities, which may impact a student’s ability to successfully complete program requirements. Background checks are reviewed by the College’s CORI Board. The CORI Board determines eligibility to participate in academic and/or clinical activities. Furthermore, please be advised that eligibility to participate in College academic and/or clinical activities following a background check does not guarantee eligibility to sit for a professional credentialing examination(s) or for employment upon program completion. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the certification or licensure board for a particular healthcare or other service profession to determine the standards that must be met for credentialing, licensing and/or employment in that field. All accepted nursing students must undergo CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and SORI (Sexual Offender Record Information) or other relevant check(s). Dependent on the findings, participation in the Nursing program or clinical affiliation related thereto may be denied. For further information, please contact the Office of the Dean. Note: Additional CORI/SORI checks may be required by affiliating agencies prior to clinical placement. Individuals with previous court convictions must also meet the eligibility requirements of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing for licensure. Prospective students should review the Good Moral Character CMR set by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. For further information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/dph/boards/rn
  • Fingerprint: Some clinical agencies require fingerprinting in addition to CORI/SORI. The cost of this is approximately $39.00 and is to be covered by the student.
  • Mandatory Health Records: The Nursing Program has implemented a NEW compliance tracking system through CastleBranch. Records and forms will need to be submitted to BOTH the STCC Health and Wellness Center in addition to the CastleBranch nursing program compliance tracker. Upon acceptance students will receive directions to set up a CastleBranch account and will be provided with a checklist of health records that will need to be uploaded to Castlebranch. A list of the health records to submit to the Health and Wellness Center will also be provided. This documentation is linked here directly and located under the Health Forms for Each Program section on the Health and Wellness Center website for your reference. Please direct questions to: compliance@stcc.edu. The Nursing Program reserves the right to rescind the admission status of any student not meeting, as well as not submitting, all post-admission requirements in a timely manner.
  • IMPORTANT: We encourage you to begin completing the health requirements now and save a copy of your record. Please review the onboarding requirements. Titres and vaccines are required. This process could take up to 6 months or more to complete. You must meet ALL requirements or you will not be able to begin the program.
  • Drug Screening:The School of Health & Patient Simulation is committed to providing high quality education and excellent clinical experiences to students in the health professions. Students are expected to perform at their highest functional level during all educational and clinical experiences in order to maximize the learning environment and ensure patient safety. Thus a student’s performance at all times must be free of any impairment caused by prescription or non-prescribed drugs including alcohol, marijuana, and cannabis-derived products. Students enrolling in Health Professions programs are required to undergo and pass a drug screening analysis in order to be eligible for placement in a clinical facility. STCC student program fees cover the cost of this screening. Additional scheduled and random drug and/or alcohol screenings may be required depending upon clinical facility and/or program guidelines.  Students who are notified of a negative-dilute result will submit to an observed urine drug test within 24 hours of the previous test (or soonest appointment made available to STCC Health Compliance by the testing agency) in order to confirm the negative or positive finding status of the drug screening. If a student continues to receive a negative-dilute or inconclusive drug screening result, the subsequent drug test will be of the hair collection method until a conclusive negative or positive result is confirmed. Students with a positive drug screening may challenge the results by filing a written appeal to the College’s Director of Health Compliance within five (5) business days of notification of the test results. An appeal by a student who claims that the positive test was due to a prescription drug and was unable to clarify this matter with the medical review officer (MRO) from the drug testing lab shall include evidence from a health care provider of the type of prescription, dates of permissible use and dosage amounts. Students may be responsible to pay for additional drug screening conducted as part of an appeal. Students excluded from a program due to a positive screening, failure to submit appeal, denied appeal, or refusal to submit to a screening may re-apply for re-entry into a program after one year. Requests for re-admission will be considered on a case by case basis and in accordance with the program criteria.
  • CPR Certification: Students are required to maintain CPR certification (American Heart Association Professional Rescuer) throughout the entire nursing program. Certification must be valid on or before August 15 of the admission year and annually thereafter unless the certification covers a multi-year window. CPR Certification is available through STCC. Information can be found at: Health Care Training: https://www.stcc.edu/wdc/descriptions/wcpr-001-cpr-basic-life-support-for-healthcare/
  • Programmatic Technical Standards: Technical Standards reflect performance abilities and essential skills that a student must demonstrate in order to successfully complete the requirements of a specified program. These Standards must be satisfied by all students in all aspects of the program, with or without reasonable accommodations, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including in the classroom, laboratories, and externship. If you are an individual with a documented disability who seeks reasonable accommodations, please contact the Office of Disability Services at (413) 755-4785 or stop by Building 19, Room 141 as soon as practicable for information concerning the College’s accommodation process. Additional information can also be found on the Office of Disability Service’s website: https://www.stcc.edu/resources/academic-support/ods/ . Please note that Program Technical Standard forms found in your admission acceptance packet must be submitted to the Health and Wellness Center by July 1. The Health and Wellness Center is located in Building 19, Room 177 and can be reached at (413) 755-4230.
  • Students must meet the requirements of the Health Program latex policy. Click on the link below for full policy information.
  • The School of Health and Patient Simulation and the Department of Nursing reserves the right to rescind the admission status of any student not meeting all pre- and post- admission requirements.

  (NURS.AS) Curriculum

  The Nursing Program bases its curriculum on:

  • The Nurse of the Future Nursing Core Competencies©, as set by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts http://www.mass.edu/nahi/documents/nofrncompetencies_updated_march2016.pdf.

  Our Nursing graduates will meet the program outcomes and can be viewed here: Nursing Program Outcomes .

  NOTE:

  • Segments of the Nursing courses are planned in conjunction with the clinical agencies, and may deviate from the College hours.