Nursing Program - Specific Policies (applies to all campuses)

Admissions Requirements. Admission is on a selective and competitive basis. ECPI University reserves the right to select those applicants who are deemed best qualified for the Associate Degree in Nursing program. The Admission process includes the following.

• Successful completion of the entrance assessment exam: Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) 
  • Minimum score requirements are as follows:
    • Reading: 85
    • Math: 51
    • English: 60
    • Science: 55
  • The following criteria will be evaluated for entrance assessments:
    • Reading: 20% of exam values
    • Math: 30% of exam values
    • English: 20% of exam values
    • Science: 30% of exam values

• A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 is required from the last college attended (minimum of 9 credits) or high school GPA if no college has been attended. If the GPA is below 2.5, applicants can qualify by completing a minimum of 6 additional credits of biological science courses with a cumulative 2.5 GPA or greater in those courses. GED with a passing score meets the 2.5 GPA requirements.
• Applicants are required to provide official high school or General Education Diploma (GED) transcripts, as well as official college transcripts for completed college level course work.  An educational history evaluation will be completed upon receipt of official transcripts. High School Honors and Advanced Placement Science courses will be considered.
• Relevant work history in the medical field, i.e. Practical Nursing, Military Corpsman, etc. is evaluated.
• Submission of an Entrance Essay (1-2 pages maximum length) on one of the following topics: (1) Academic Integrity; (2) The Art of Caring; (3) Managing College / Life Balance. Completion may increase your admission ranking.

• Qualified applicants who rank highest on the admissions criteria will be evaluated by an academic review committee of no less than three individuals, with representation from Nursing Administration or faculty. The academic review committee will determine final selection for admission to the ADN program.
• Graduates of ECPI University’s Practical Nursing program who hold a current and unencumbered Practical Nursing (LPN) license may apply to the Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) program without completion of the steps outlined above. Acceptance to the program is contingent on space availability; therefore, acceptance is not guaranteed.  Applicants are required to successfully complete the LPN to RN Transition Orientation course.
• All applicants (including Licensed Practical Nurses) must submit to a criminal background check and drug screen.
• All applicants  (including Licensed Practical Nurses) must possess the ability to meet the minimal level of essential functional abilities required to practice as a nurse, as described by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. 

Transfer of Credit Procedure for BIO111/L and BIO116/L. The University will consider coursework for transfer of BIO111/L (4 credits)and BIO116/L (4 credits) courses in which the student achieved a B- or better as the final grade, that were completed within the past seven calendar years, and that are established to be equivalent in content and objectives to courses offered at the University.  

Coursework for Licensed Practical Nurses. The University will consider prior coursework from current licensed practical nurses in accordance with the Transfer of Credit policies outlined in the University Catalog for courses in which the student achieved a B or better as the final grade and were completed within the past five calendar years. The program will determine the comparability to course learning objectives.

Attendance. A detailed record of student’s attendance is maintained by the instructors and becomes a part of their permanent records. Every absence from class, no matter what the reason, is recorded and counted as such by the instructor, beginning with the first day of class. It is sometimes necessary for the school to give employment recommendations for a student. The employer often takes attendance into consideration.

Students MUST attend class regularly. CUTTING SCHEDULED CLASSES IS NOT PERMITTED. If, for any reason, an absence is necessary, students must call the school and the instructor no later than one hour before the scheduled start time.

Students with course absences greater than 15 percent may have their records reviewed for purposes of possible probation, termination, or suspension. A student may be dropped from a course if the student is absent more than 20 percent of the scheduled course hours. Written assignments must be submitted on time. Tests and assignments must be made up on the student‘s first classroom day back to school after absence unless the student makes alternate arrangements with the instructor.

Clinical Phase Absenteeism and Tardiness. Absenteeism on clinical days will not be tolerated. A student is expected to arrive at clinical prepared to administer patient care. If a student is unable to perform required duties due to health or other reasons, the student should not attend clinical. If for any reason the student cannot attend the clinical, the student must talk to the assigned group instructor no later than one hour before the scheduled start time.

Emergency messages will be conveyed from the school to the clinical area. At no time should family or friends call the healthcare facility where the student is assigned. Students who are absent or tardy during their scheduled clinical/simulation hours must contact the Director of Nursing or designee, prior to attending their next scheduled class/clinical time.

Clinical Protocol.  Clinical experiences are scheduled in various local healthcare agencies and hospitals and are subject to change.

• Students are not to provide personal telephone numbers or addresses to clients
• Students are not permitted to accept gifts from clients, patients, or their families
• Visiting patients, other than friends and relatives, is not permitted
• Students are not permitted to fraternize with any patient/agency employee while enrolled in school
• Students may not visit any clinical facilities while wearing the student uniform (including the name pin) unless prior permission is granted by a Nursing faculty member
• Students may not review any patient's chart except the patients assigned to them

Program Philosophy. The Nursing Department believes that each individual is a unique person having dignity and worth. Individuals, as members of the family and the community, are shaped by cultural, physiological, psychosocial, spiritual, and developmental forces. The family and the community influence early beliefs and values of individuals, and in turn individuals contribute to the effective functioning of the family and community. 

We believe that Nursing is both an art and a science grounded in a social context and related to experiences with people in need. It is based on a specific body of nursing theory and principles from behavioral and social sciences. Nursing is an interpersonal process and involves the application of knowledge, technical and collaborative skills, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. The focus of nursing is on individuals, families, or client groups. By using the nursing process, nurses promote, maintain and restore clients' health as well as provide compassionate care to the dying. As healthcare providers, nurses engage in a collaborative practice that focuses on outcomes and adheres to practice guidelines that ensure quality and access. 

We believe that professional values and value-based interventions are fundamental to nursing education. As the basis for professional nursing practice, values and value-based actions may be viewed as ethically reflective practice that the nursing student uses to interact with patients, healthcare professionals, and society.

We believe that teaching/learning is a life-long interactive process through which active inquiry and participation result in a change in behavior. The teaching/learning process is facilitated when the learner and teacher share responsibility for outcomes. Learning is facilitated when content is presented in an orderly sequential manner, i.e. simple to complex, known to unknown, normal to abnormal, general to specific.

We believe that critical thinking, clinical competence, accountability, and a commitment to the value of caring is necessary to maintain or restore clients their optimum state of health and to provide the support which allows death with dignity. As the provider of care, the nurse's commitment to client/family-centered care will facilitate successful preparation for practice in various healthcare settings where policies and procedures are specified and guidance is available.

We believe it is essential that the nurse have current knowledge in nursing concepts, principles, processes, and skills. Supportive of that knowledge is an understanding of health, acute and chronic health deviations, nutrition, pharmacology, communication, human development, teaching/learning principles, current technology, humanities, and biological, social, and behavioral sciences.

We believe the nurse is the manager of care in various healthcare settings where policies and procedures are specified and guidance is available. To be competent in the role as a manager of care, the nurse must possess the knowledge and skills necessary to make decisions regarding priorities of care, to delegate some aspects of nursing care, direct others to use time and resources efficiently, and to know when to seek assistance. Supporting this knowledge is an understanding of the principles of client-care management, communication, and delegation, legal parameters of nursing practice, and roles and responsibilities of members of the healthcare team.

We believe that the entry level practice of a graduate from the Associate Degree in Nursing program is characterized by collaboration, organization, delegation, accountability, advocacy, and respect for other healthcare workers. As a coordinator of care, the entry level registered nurse demonstrates caring and compassion and provides and coordinates holistic nursing care for groups of clients who have healthcare needs.

Conceptual Framework

Program Purpose. The nursing program offers potential candidates the opportunity to complete an Associate Degree in Nursing. The program is designed for the purpose of providing additional opportunities for those interested in obtaining a license and practicing as a registered nurse. The Nursing program prepares graduates to provide direct client care in a safe, effective manner across multiple settings.  

The ADN education in Nursing equips nursing students with the knowledge and skills prerequisite to begin professional practice in the care, counseling, and education of multicultural healthcare consumers in a variety of settings. The Nursing Program will graduate a competent entry-level professional nurse workforce for providers of healthcare in local, statewide, and national communities. ECPI sees this opportunity as one that will positively impact the local shortage of registered nurses and support the healthcare community in hiring qualified candidates to work in their facilities.

Program Hours.

Day: Class hours may vary from 4 – 5 days per week from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM depending on course requirements.  Clinical hours may include day, evening or weekend hours depending on the clinical site and course requirements.

Evenings: Class hours may vary from 4 – 5 evenings per week from 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM and 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on weekends.  Clinical hours may include evening or weekend hours depending on the clinical site and course requirements.  Occasional day clinical rotations may be required.

Preceptorship Hours: Clinical hours are scheduled to meet the staffing schedule of the Professional Nurse assigned and may include day, night or weekend hours. Schedules may vary by course and instructor. 12 hour clinical shifts may be required as needed.

Student Evaluation. The faculty shall use the objectives of the Program of Nursing as criteria for student evaluation. The student's grades are determined by a combination of written examinations, laboratory competence, and clinical performance.

Nursing ability, attitude, and relationship with others are areas of clinical and laboratory evaluation. The achievement of the student in both theory and clinical performance is evaluated by the faculty at regular intervals and shared with the student. The student progresses to the next term when all prerequisite courses have been satisfactorily completed. Students must achieve an 80 percent average in all nursing or science courses and satisfactorily meet all clinical objectives and laboratory objectives. A final course grade of less than 80 percent or failure to meet clinical or laboratory objectives will result in failure of a course.