Erie Community College, State University of New York

NURSING

Admission, Progression, and Graduation Requirements

Admission Criteria includes:

• High school graduate or GED
• Beginning Fall 2006, academic high school average of 86% minimum or above within the last 5 years for applicants without any college credit. Starting Fall 2006, a minimum GPA of 3.0 at all colleges attended within the last 10 years and completion of BI 150 and BI 151 with a minimum grade of “C” within the last 10 years. BI 150, BI 151, BI 152 and BI 153 are pre-requisites to matriculation into the evening program.  Exceptions require departmental approval.
• Starting Spring 2007, all applicants will be required to take the Nurse Entrance Test (NET) (Educational Resources, Inc.). Applicants with a composite Reading and Math score with double asterisks (**), which indicates high risk, will not be considered for admission to the nursing program.
• Math/Algebra Proficiency – passed ECC Math Pre-test at the MT 006 Level or above or have received a waiver from the Math Department. Math Developmental course must be successfully completed with a minimum passing grade of “C”. Developmental courses may be repeated only once including Withdrawal “W”.
• English Proficiency – passed ECC English Pre-test at the EN 110 Level or above or have received a waiver from the English Department.  English Developmental course must be successfully completed with a minimum passing grade of “C”. Developmental courses may be repeated only once including Withdrawal “W”.
• A minimum grade of “C” must be obtained in all prerequisites, co-requisites and nursing courses (except MT 111 Math Dosage where a minimum grade of 80% (B-) is required).
• All transfer credits applicable to the nursing program must be fully processed (on ECC transcript) before acceptance/matriculation to the Nursing program. LEAP credit must be completed before the start of the second Nursing semester.
• Any admission deficit (e.g.: need for developmental courses) should be immediately corrected upon admission to the college. Pre-nursing students should be registered in General Studies/Allied Health/pre-nursing curriculum for appropriate advisement and tracking. All General Studies/pre-nursing students should meet with a General Studies advisor for advisement and processing of transfer credits. Acceptance into General Studies does not guarantee future entrance into the Nursing Program. The General Studies Department at North is in Room K120 (851-1314), at City in Room 443 (851-1070) and at South in Room 4106 (851-1661).
• Meeting program requirements does not guarantee acceptance.
• Admission is also based on academic ranking of qualified students and space availability.
• Nursing students may apply to North Campus (851-1455) or City Campus (851-1155) for day or evening sections as per current availability. North Nursing admits Day and Evening sections in September. (Application deadline date is February 15). City Nursing admits a Day section in January. (Application deadline date is September 15). For alternate admission deadline dates (e.g.: RN Transition for LPN/Medical Military personnel classes), please consult the Admissions Department at North or City Campus.
• A specialized RN Transition for LPN/Medical Military personnel (NU 120 in place of NU 116 and NU 117) may be offered at alternate times. For licensed practical nurses, a current New York State LPN license is required to take the specialized first semester course NU 120. For Medical Military Personnel transcripts will be individually evaluated for eligibility by the department, and assessed for appropriate departmental transfer credit. Prerequisites BI 150/151; Additionally, BI 152 and BI 153 for evenings.  Co-requisites: MT 111, EN 110, NU 128.
• Students interested in nursing are strongly encouraged to have some work or volunteer experience with a health care agency previous to matriculation into the nursing program.
• Individuals with other responsibilities should seriously consider completing all non-nursing co-requisites, especially the science courses (BI 150, BI 151, BI 152, BI 153, and BI 230, BI 231) either prior to matriculation or during alternate times other than when taking Nursing courses.
• All developmental, pre-requisites, co-requisites and nursing courses may be repeated only once if a grade below “C” or “W” (Withdrawal) is received.
• Co-requisites and electives may be taken at any ECC Campus day or evening.
• Nursing courses are integrated and sequenced in a specific manner to enable students to attain program competencies. All required courses must be passed each semester in order to advance to the following semester. Nursing courses must be taken in the prescribed sequence. General education courses may be taken in advance but may not be taken later than the prescribed program sequence.
• Any two failures (grade below “C”) or Withdrawal (W) in any of the following courses: NU 116, NU 117, NU 120, NU 126, NU 127, NU 236, NU 237, NU 246, and NU 247 will result in dismissal from the Nursing program.
• Additional fee requirements may include an individual malpractice insurance fee, nursing evaluation fee and others per semester.
• A physical examination is required annually to ensure that matriculated students are in good physical and mental health and capable of completing the requirements of the clinical sites. Students entering Nursing are strongly recommended to receive immunization against Hepatitis B. Nursing students must be compliant with the College immunization requirements. The College reserves the right to deny progression in the nursing program when students have incomplete or unacceptable physical exam reports. Students are responsible for providing transportation to off-campus clinical/community agencies utilized for clinical nursing laboratory courses. Clinical laboratory activities may be scheduled during the evening as well as daytime or weekend hours. Students may be excluded from laboratory activity when in the judgment of the College they are unable to provide safe nursing care or have demonstrated unprofessional behavior.
• BLS Healthcare Provider certification is required prior to entering Level II (NU 127-Lab for NU 126) and must be continuously maintained throughout the program.
• Instructors may give an Incomplete grade to a student who has satisfactorily completed at least three quarters of the required work for a course but because of a personal emergency finds it impossible to finish the coursework within the usual time frame.
• Graduates of the Nursing Program are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN Licensing Examination. As needed, consultation with the New York State Education Department is suggested for details regarding the legal limitations to licensure in New York State.
• Students must complete all nursing courses within a three (3) year limit.