Nursing (AS)
Award: Associate of Science Degree
No. of credits required: 70
For more information: Visit http://www.harford.edu/academics/program-courses/nursing.php or contact Dr. Rebecca Diaz, Director for Nursing Education, 443-412-2740, rdiaz@harford.edu or Admissions, 443-412-2109.
Program Description
The Associate of Sciences Degree Nursing Program prepares students for the licensure examination for registered nurses. Graduates of the Associate of Sciences Degree Nursing Program are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The program also provides opportunities to plan for career mobility through courses that articulate with selected baccalaureate nursing programs in the state of Maryland.
The Associate of Sciences Degree Nursing Program is approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing and accredited by:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000
www.acenursing.org
Program Goals
With the guidance of the Mission, Philosophy & Core Concepts, the graduate of the Associate of Sciences Degree Nursing Program will:
- Practice nursing in a caring manner.
- Collaborate with clients and other members of the health care team.
- Utilize nursing practice to continuously improve client and population standards.
- Demonstrate professional performance within legal, ethical and regulatory standards.
- Use safe practices and processes to promote high-quality outcomes.
Selected Admission
Registration for all clinical courses (courses that start with NURS) require selective admission based on specific program admission requirements.
RN Program Admission Requirements
Meeting with an academic advisor and/or attending pre-nursing seminars is strongly recommended.
To be considered for admission to the Associate Degree Nursing Program, students must meet the following criteria:
- Complete and submit an HCC credit enrollment application, if not a current student.
- Complete and submit a nursing program application and official transcripts, either printed by the issuing institution within the last 12 months prior to application and delivered to the Registration and Records, or submitted electronically by the transfer school to transcripts@harford.edu, by February 15 for admission to the summer accelerated and/or fall class, September 15 for admission to spring class.
- A minimum score of 58.7 on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is a requirement for admission to the HCC Nursing Program. Students who have tested at other schools or locations can request to have their TEAS scores sent to Harford Community College for a fee. The request should be made no later than 5 days prior to the application deadline to ensure the scores will be received at HCC by the deadline. TEAS scores are valid for two (2) years only. Students are able to test and retest up to three times within a year period.
- To meet the math requirement to qualify for the nursing program, students must do one of the following:
- Receive a qualifying score on the HCC math assessment test (score valid for two years), or
- Achieve a 530 score on SAT mathematics or an ACT score or 21 or higher (both SAT and ACT scores valid for two years), or
- Complete the highest transitional math course at HCC (MATH 023 or MATH 025 STEM Track II or MATH 026 STEM Track III or MATH 027 STAT Track Mathematics), or
- Complete a college-level general education math course (MATH 101 College Algebra (GM), MATH 102 Contemporary Mathematics (GM), MATH 216 Introduction to Statistics (GM), etc.)
- Submit satisfactory health requirements and vaccinations (annual PPD and flu, COVID) as well as current healthcare provider level CPR and first aid certifications by the American Heart Association, including obtaining annual background check and drug screening through Castlebranch, upon acceptance into the Nursing Program.
- Meet the essential technical standards that include physical abilities and behavioral and professional characteristics necessary for the student to successfully complete the Nursing Program.
- Complete a minimum of 16 college credits which include:
Course List Code Title Credits ENG 101 English Composition (GE) 1 3 BIO 203 Anatomy and Physiology I (GL) 1 4 PSY 101 General Psychology (GB) 3 Select two of the following: Human Development Across the Life Span 1 Anatomy and Physiology II (GL) 1 Microbiology (GL) 1 Introduction to Sociology (GB) (D) MATH elective (GM) requirement- 1
A grade of C or better must be earned in these courses.
- Achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.50 on the courses applicable to the Associate of Sciences Degree Nursing Program.
The program is highly competitive and completion of the admission criteria may not result in admission to the program.
Nursing Progression
Once a student is selected into the Nursing Program a minimum of four semesters is required to meet clinical nursing course degree requirements for the Associate Degree Program. Students who have major home/family or work responsibilities must be aware of the extensive time commitment required by nursing courses.
Students are encouraged to consult with an academic advisor to plan a schedule that will meet program requirements while taking into consideration student capabilities.
The nature of the nursing curriculum, where one concept builds upon another, requires an orderly, sequential progression which follows the curriculum plan. Any break in this sequence of progression in nursing courses due to withdrawal, failure of a required course, failure to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 or any need for a leave of absence from the program will require a written request for re-enrollment to the Director for Nursing Education.
A student who is dismissed from the Nursing Program for any reason, is no longer eligible for re-enrollment into the Nursing Program. Further details regarding Nursing Program progression and other nursing protocols can be found in the Nursing Student Handbook on https://www.harford.edu/_images/academics/nursing-allied-health/_pdf/nursing-student-handbook.pdf.
In order to protect the well-being of yourself and your patients when you are in clinical, you must complete the following mandatory requirements:
- CPR Certification by the American Heart Association for Health Care Providers is required and must be maintained throughout enrollment once a student is selected into the nursing program.
- Satisfactory health requirements and vaccinations (annual PPD and flu, COVID) must be maintained and kept up-to-date throughout enrollment in the Nursing Program.
- Carry health insurance.
Annual criminal background check and drug screening through Castlebranch will be required for all students in the Nursing Program. Results could impact clinical attendance, program completion and eventual licensure as a Registered Nurse.
Transfer Information
Students planning to transfer credits to a baccalaureate nursing program are encouraged to confer with an academic advisor for the planning of their academic program of study.
Employment Information
The Registered Nurse (RN) assumes a variety of responsibilities as a member of the health care team, including management of client care through assessment and documentation of symptoms, reactions, and the progress of clients. The nurse plans, implements, supervises, and evaluates activities directed toward health restoration, health promotion, health maintenance, and illness prevention. Employment opportunities for the registered nurse are available in national, metropolitan Baltimore, and local job markets. Future projections for employment of registered nurses are highly favorable, with practice opportunities in a variety of health care settings.
Degree Requirements
Due to the high demand for this program, most students have completed the following required courses prior to beginning the Nursing Program.
Required Non-Clinical Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 203 | Anatomy and Physiology I (GL) 1 | 4 |
| BIO 204 | Anatomy and Physiology II (GL) 1 | 4 |
| BIO 205 | Microbiology (GL) 1 | 4 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition (GE) 1 | 3 |
| PSY 101 | General Psychology (GB) | 3 |
| PSY 214 | Human Development Across the Life Span 1 | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (GB) (D) | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities Elective (GAH) | 6 | |
| Mathematics Elective (GM) | 3 | |
| Physical Education Elective | 1 | |
- 1
A grade of C or better must be earned in these courses.
Required Nursing Course Sequence
| First Semester | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 101 | Fundamentals of Nursing | 7 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| NURS 105 | Medical-Surgical Nursing 1 | 4.5 |
| NURS 112 | Contemporary Issues in Nursing 1 | 1 |
| NURS 110 | Mental Health Nursing | 3 |
| Credits | 8.5 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| NURS 210 | Medical-Surgical Nursing II | 4.5 |
| NURS 220 | Maternal-Newborn Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 230 | Pediatric Nursing | 3 |
| Credits | 10.5 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| NURS 211 | Medical-Surgical Nursing III 2 | 9 |
| NURS 212 | Leadership in Nursing 1 | 1 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
Only offered online.
- 2
Registration for NURS 211 Medical-Surgical Nursing III requires concurrent registration of any remaining courses necessary for graduation.
Please note: A grade of C or better must be earned in all NURS courses.
Recommended Course Sequence for 5-Semester Plan
Prerequisite Semester
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 101 | English Composition (GE) 1 | 3 |
| BIO 203 | Anatomy and Physiology I (GL) 1 | 4 |
| PSY 101 | General Psychology (GB) | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (GB) (D) | 3 |
| MATH elective requirement (GM) | ||
- 1
A grade of C or better must be earned in these courses.
Progression through the Nursing Program may either follow a typical five-semester plan, or the plan may be modified to accommodate part-time study within the limits of nursing course progression.
| First Semester | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 101 | Fundamentals of Nursing | 7 |
| BIO 204 | Anatomy and Physiology II (GL) 1 | 4 |
| PSY 214 | Human Development Across the Life Span 1 | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| NURS 105 | Medical-Surgical Nursing 1 | 4.5 |
| NURS 110 | Mental Health Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 112 | Contemporary Issues in Nursing 2 | 1 |
| BIO 205 | Microbiology (GL) | 4 |
| Physical Education Elective | 1 | |
| Credits | 13.5 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| NURS 210 | Medical-Surgical Nursing II | 4.5 |
| NURS 220 | Maternal-Newborn Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 230 | Pediatric Nursing | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities Elective (GAH) | 3 | |
| Credits | 13.5 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| NURS 211 | Medical-Surgical Nursing III 3 | 9 |
| NURS 212 | Leadership in Nursing | 1 |
| Arts/Humanities Elective (GAH) | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 54 | |
- 1
A grade of C or better must be earned in these courses.
- 2
Only offered online.
- 3
Registration for NURS 211 Medical-Surgical Nursing III requires concurrent registration of any remaining courses necessary for graduation.
Please note: A grade of C or better must be earned in all NURS courses.
General Education Degree Requirements
Note: The following codes identify courses which satisfy the General Education Degree Requirements:
Behavioral/Social Science (GB)
English Composition (GE)
Arts/Humanities (GAH)
Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues (GI)
Biological/Physical Laboratory Science (GL)
Mathematics (GM)
Biological/Physical Science (GS)