COURSE AND PROGRAM COMPLETION

1. New Jersey Board of Nursing Licensure Requirements

The New Jersey Board of Nursing regulates the practice of professional nursing and requires the following criteria be met before the individual may receive an application for a licensure to practice professional nursing.

In accordance with the New Jersey Board of Nursing Statute 45:11-26. Professional nurses (njconsumeraffairs.gov) “An applicant for license to practice professional nursing shall submit to the board evidence in such form as the board may prescribe that said applicant: (1) has attained his or her eighteenth birthday; (2) is of good moral character, is not a habitual user of drugs and has never been convicted or has not pleaded nolo contendere, non vult contendere or non vult to an indictment, information or complaint alleging a violation of any Federal or State law relating to narcotic drugs; (3) holds a diploma from an accredited 4-year high school or the equivalent thereof as determined by the New Jersey State Department of Education; (4) has completed a course of professional nursing study in an accredited school of professional nursing as defined by the board and holds a diploma therefrom” (njconsumeraffairs.gov).

Licensure for professional nursing requires submission to a criminal background check and fingerprinting.

43 Nursing students are encouraged to research New Jersey Board of Nursing Laws and Regulations at njconsumeraffairs.gov/nursing. The Health Science Education Department Chairperson and/or the New Jersey Board of Nursing may be consulted for clarification of New Jersey Board of Nursing statutes found on the website (njconsumeraffairs.gov). The Board of Nursing rules mandate that any student who is known to engage in any illegal practices must be reported. The Board of Nursing will investigate the matter under the auspices of the Attorney General. Please refer, also, to the drug and alcohol laws information in the RVCC Student Handbook.

The Chairperson of the Nursing Program will release the names of all students eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN to the State Board of Nursing after requirements for completion of the Nursing Program have been met, this includes the required ATI Comprehensive Predictor Examination which is a component of a last semester course, conferment of degree and bursar confirmation that all RVCC financial obligations are cleared for each student. The official letter of program completion and transcripts will not be released by the Registrar until all program requirements are met.

2.ATI Comprehensive Predicator Examination

Students will take an ATI comprehensive predictor examination as a requirement of a course in the final semester. This proctored exam is for the student to see where their strengths and weaknesses are. A exam result report will identify sources to use to strengthen weak areas and improve NCLEX-RN exam success. When all nursing program requirements have been

completed, degree conferred and RVCC financial status is clear, the student’s name and letter of program completion will be submitted to the Board of Nursing.

3. Requirements for Re-instatement into the Nursing Program

Any student who withdraws or fails any nursing course shall contact the Health Science Education Department Chairperson in writing to request continuance in the nursing program.

Students who fail the fall semester must request continuance in writing by January 15.

Students who fail spring semester must request continuance by June 15. Continuation in the program will be on a space available-basis and is NOT guaranteed. It is expected that students will enroll in clinical nursing courses in an unbroken sequence to ensure that their knowledge level is current and contemporary. Please refer to Appendix III for “Requirements for

Reinstatement into the Nursing Program.” for more information about this procedure.

Students who do not complete Foundations of Nursing (NURS 101) will have to reapply to the program and satisfy the admission criteria for that current year.

Any qualified student who fails Nursing of Adults I (NURS 111), for the first time, must remediate by enrolling in Nursing Seminar (NURS 015) during the following fall semester.

Nursing Seminar is a 3 hour non-credit course. The student must pass all course requirements for Nursing Seminar to be granted re-entry to Nursing of Adults I.

44 Any qualified student who fails a Second Year - Fall Semester Nursing Course must

remediate by attending all Nursing of Adults I course lectures during the Spring semester as an AUDIT student.

Rationale for unbroken sequence policy: As students’ progress in the program, they build on skills and knowledge learned in previous nursing courses. It is necessary that the program be completed in a reasonable period of time from admission to ensure that the student’s knowledge level reflects current practice and that the student is able to provide safe and effective patient care.

If a break in sequence is longer than 2 years, the student must apply for re-admission to the program in Foundations of Nursing (for generic students) or Nursing Transition (for Practical Nurse/Associate Degree Option students).

4. Required Academic Grade Policy

Students are required to obtain a minimum of 75%, a satisfactory clinical practice grade and satisfactory completion of laboratory practicum (where applicable) in all nursing courses, and a letter grade of "C" or better in all required science courses (Microbiology, Anatomy &

Physiology I & II).

PROGRAM DISMISSAL: A student shall be dismissed from the nursing program if they fail any of the two required science courses listed in the above paragraph, any two nursing courses, or one science and one nursing course with a grade below 75%. The courses do not have to be consecutive nursing courses. A Withdrawal (“W”) or an Audit (“AU”) after the 10^th day of a science or nursing course is also considered a failure.

5. Clinical Performance Grading Policy

Students receive a minimum of one written clinical evaluation each semester. This grade is determined by clinical performance and the documentation found in student clinical portfolios.

The portfolio is a record of the student’s progress and is to be maintained by the student throughout the educational program.

Evaluations are discussed with the student and an opportunity for student written comments are provided. Students are given the evaluation form prior to the evaluation period, so that they are informed of the evaluation criteria (clinical objectives).

Students are expected to utilize a demonstrated theoretical base of knowledge in the clinical setting. Faculty will monitor a student's theoretical performance and may restrict clinical assignments when academic grades have the potential to jeopardize patient health and safety.

Clinical performance is evaluated as “I” (Independent), “S” (Supervised), “A” (Assisted), “M”

(Marginal), or “D” (Dependent) as shown on pgs 25 - 31 of this manual. The evaluation is based on the critical elements listed on the evaluation form for that course. In order to successfully

45 pass a clinical course ( NURS 101, NURS 111, NURS 122, NURS 123, NURS 124, and NURS 125), the student must receive either an “assisted” or “satisfactory” clinical grade (as described under Section VI- I of this policy manual) and a theory grade of 75% or better in each course. For example, a Foundations of Nursing (NURS 101) theory grade of “A”, “B”, or “C” combined with a clinical grade (NURS 101) of “U” would result in an “F” grade for the Foundations of Nursing (NURS 101) course.

For further information regarding academic policies, refer to the Student Handbook.

6. Nursing Program Grading System

90.00 to 100 A

87.50 to 89.99 B+

80.00 to 87.49 B 77.50 to 79.99 C+

75.00 to 77.49 C 60.00 to 74.99 D 0.00 to 59.99 F

Please Note: ROUNDING-UP OF GRADES IS NOT PERMITTED

7. Grade Appeal Policy

The procedure, as outlined in the RVCC Student Handbook and shown in Appendix II, will be followed.

8. Nursing Program Readmission Appeal Committee

 In accordance with due process, any student has the right to appeal for readmission into the Nursing Program.

 The student must submit a written appeal explaining the specific circumstances involved;

addressing the specific semester(s) in which the ineligible grade (s) were earned, submitting all appropriate documentation which the committee would review.

 All documentation will be sent to the Chairperson of the Nursing Program via email or by US postal service.

 All re-entry appeals will be reviewed by the committee and all decisions regarding this readmission appeal will be rendered in a timely manner.

 The Readmission Committee will make a decision to approve OR to deny the readmission into the nursing program.

 The Readmission Committee will notify the student in writing of its decision.

46 F. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Honesty, integrity and civility are the necessary preconditions of academic freedom.

Consequently, the maintenance of academic integrity and civility is the obligation of every member of the RVCC community, and breaches of conduct in these areas constitute serious offenses. For these reasons, the nursing program strictly follows the policies outlined in the Student Handbook section entitled “Academic Dishonesty, Cheating and Plagiarism.” All students are expected to conform to these policies throughout the program.

G. RVCC ANTI-HARASSMENT, ANTI-DISCRIMINATION & SAFETY REPORTING POLICY: Students