Nursing

The Nursing Program prepares women and men for entry-level positions in the nursing profession. Successful completion of the ADN program of study qualifies graduates to receive an Associate in Science Degree in Nursing (ADN). The ADN qualifies the graduate for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and application for state licensure as a registered nurse (RN) in the state of Maine. The program is approved by the Maine State Board of Nursing (MSBN) and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

The program of study combines general education and nursing studies in the classroom with selected laboratory and clinical experiences in providing nursing care to patients in a variety of health care settings. Students may be scheduled for day, evening, and weekend clinical experiences throughout the program. It is expected that students will be able to make the necessary arrangements in order to complete all scheduled rotations. Nursing courses require students to participate in approximately 18 to 24 hours per week of classroom and clinical activities. Attendance is essential. General education courses supportive to the nursing major must be taken prior to or concurrent with nursing courses as stipulated in the curriculum design. Completion of all non-nursing general education courses is strongly recommended prior to program entry. Nursing courses must be taken in consecutive semesters. Students must achieve a minimum grade of ―C‖ in all required general education and nursing courses in order to progress through the curriculum. A general education course may only be repeated once in order to achieve the minimum grade.

Applicants to the Nursing Program should be aware that nursing at the Associate Degree level involves the provision of direct care to patients. A student in the Nursing Program must have the knowledge and ability to effectively assess a patient’s biopsychosocial needs. Furthermore, the student must be able to analyze data in order to state a patient’s problem, comprehensively plan independent and collaborative interventions, implement the plan of care, and evaluate the care given, as well as the patient’s response to the care. Therefore, the student must have observational, communication, motor, cognitive, psychosocial, and behavioral abilities sufficient to carry out the above responsibilities. Technological accommodation can be made available for some disabilities in some of these areas, but a student must be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner. The use of a trained intermediary is not permitted since a student’s judgment would be influenced by someone else’s observations.

In order to be considered for admission or to be retained in the Nursing Program, all applicants must have the following abilities and skills:

1) A visual acuity with corrective lenses to identify: cyanosis, absence of  respiratory movement in patients; read small print on medication containers, physicians’ orders, monitors, and equipment calibrations.

2) A hearing ability with auditory aids to: understand the normal speaking voice without viewing the speaker’s face; hear monitor alarms, emergency signals, call bells from patients and telephone orders; take/hear blood pressure, heart, lung, vascular, and abdominal sounds with stethoscope.

 3) The physical ability to stand for prolonged periods of time, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, lift, move, and reposition patients, and move from room to room or maneuver in limited spaces.

4) Effective communication in verbal and written form by speaking clearly and succinctly when explaining treatment procedures, describing patient’s conditions, and implementing health teaching. Write legibly and correctly in patient’s chart for local documentation.

5) The manual dexterity to use sterile techniques to insert catheter, withdraw blood, and prepare medications (IV, PO, IM).

6) The tactile ability to palpate pulses, determine warmth and coolness, detest enlarged nodes and lumps.

7) The ability to function safely under stressful conditions and the ability to adapt to an ever changing environment inherent in clinical situations involving patient care.

The Nursing Program is designed to keep pace with current health care trends and technology in order to meet the dynamic health care needs of the community, and to prepare students for the challenges of the nursing profession. The curriculum is subject to change without notice in order to comply with the requirements of accrediting agencies, clinical facilities, and/or the College.

Students in the Nursing Program are expected to be computer proficient in computer keyboarding, word processing, and the use of the Internet. All nursing courses are Blackboard enhanced courses. Ideally, students should have off-campus Internet access in order to complete online course activities.
 

Students who are not successful in a nursing course do not progress to the subsequent nursing course; unsuccessful students must withdraw from the Nursing Program. Students who are not successful in completing a nursing course may be considered for re-admission to the Nursing Program one time only. Acceptance for re-admission depends upon:

1) the overall past performance of the applicant;
2) completion of actions taken by the applicant for remediation;
3) availability of space in the Nursing Program;
4) program duration limits.

Students who are not successful in the first semester nursing course (NUR118) must apply to restart the Nursing Program through the Admissions Office. Current admission requirements must be met. Re-entrance into the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th semesters is done by petitioning the nursing faculty and the Academic Dean.

NOTE: All applicants to the Nursing Program should be aware that the Maine State Board of Nursing may refuse to grant a license on the basis of criminal history record information relating to convictions denominated in Title 5, Chapter 341, subsection 5301 of the Maine Revised Statutes Annotated.

PROGRAM MISSION

The purpose of the Nursing Program is to educate graduates who will function competently as entry level Associate Degree nurses. The program is designed to meet the learning needs of students who are pursuing an initial career in nursing, or students who wish to change career goals. Graduates of the Nursing program are prepared to provide nursing care to individuals, within their scope of nursing practice, in a variety of acute, long-term, and community health care settings.

EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of the ADN Nursing Program, the graduate is expected to be:

1) a competent provider of nursing care who uses the nursing process with individuals and groups to promote and maintain health, prevent illness, and facilitate adaptation to stressors.

2) a provider of nursing care consistent with the Maine State Nurse Practice Act, the Maine State Board of Nursing Rules and Regulations, and professional standards of nursing practice.

3) a respectful communicator who is able to listen and respond thoughtfully in a therapeutic and professional manner, both verbally and non-verbally.

4) a culturally sensitive person who recognizes and respects diversity within and between groups of people.
5) a responsible and accountable practitioner who functions within the legal and ethical boundaries of the nursing profession.

6) a person who practices self-care activities and continuing personal and professional growth.

7) an efficient and effective manager of complex nursing care who utilizes appropriate resources and personnel for a group of patients.

8) a critical thinker who uses knowledge and skill to solve problems and to make decisions.

CRITERIA FOR GRADUATION

To graduate, students must achieve a minimum grade of "C" in all courses in the nursing curriculum design (a final GPA of 2.0 or higher) and a "satisfactory" rating in all clinical rotations. (Students are graded "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" in the clinical component of each nursing course.)

Program Requirements for Nursing

- ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE DEGREE -