Nursing Program Requirements

» Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) Program - Freshman Nursing Applicants
» Prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program Freshman Nursing Applicants
» Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) Applicants
» Transfer Admissions to Nursing Program
» Additional Requirements for all Nursing Programs

The Becker College nursing program has three separate nursing education programs; Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), prelicensure BSN, and RN to BSN.  The ASN and prelicensure BSN programs educate nurses for entry into nursing practice and success on the nursing licensure examination (NCLEX-RN).  The RN to BSN program is for registered nurses seeking a bachelor’s degree in nursing.  There are academic, clinical, and physical/health requirements for entry into each program.  Entry requirements for the specific programs may vary.

Admission to any program (ASN, prelicensure BSN, and RN to BSN) in the nursing program is competitive, and the requirements listed below are minimums.

Nursing Program Promotion and Progression criteria are detailed in the online Becker College Nursing Student Handbook for specific Nursing Program policies.

Applicants must apply to the specific nursing program/track they desire to enter.  Students seeking transfer from one Becker College prelicensure nursing program to another must petition the Director of Nursing.  Transfer admissions are not guaranteed.

Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) Program - Freshman Nursing Applicants Academic Requirements:

In addition to the requirements listed under Freshman Applicants, all Nursing applicants must:

• Earn cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or better.
• Have at least a 1000 SAT combined score based on the critical reading and math components of the exam.
• Complete one year of college preparatory secondary level science with a lab. This course must be completed within five years, with a minimum grade of C. A four-credit college course in science with a lab, with a grade of C or better with only one allowed retake, will also satisfy the prerequisite science requirement.  It is strongly recommended that the nursing program science courses be completed prior to admission.
• Complete 2 years of college preparatory level secondary school mathematics including Algebra I and II or Algebra I and Geometry. Both courses must be completed within 5 years with a minimum grade of C. A three-credit college course in College Algebra within 5 years with a grade of C or better will also satisfy the prerequisite math requirement.
• Complete 3 years of secondary school English with a grade of C or better.
• One letter of recommendation of an academic nature.
• Achieve an overall score of Proficient or higher on the ATI Version V – Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS® V).  Only two attempts to achieve the minimum benchmark score will be allowed.  The TEAS requirement applies to all applicants to the nursing program (including internal and external transfers).

The TEAS test is administered at Becker several times a month (fee required).  Contact the Admissions’ Office for more testing information.  Information about the test content and resources to prepare for the exam can be found at https://www.atitesting.com/Solutions/PreNursingSchool/TEAS.aspx.  A study guide is available in the College bookstores:  VERSION V – ATI TEST OF ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC SKILLS (TEAS V) STUDY MANUAL.

Students who have taken the TEAS® V at another institution may contact that institution to have their score sent to Becker.

Refer to Clinical and Health Requirements

Prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program Freshman Nursing Applicants Academic Requirements:

In addition to the College admission requirements listed under Freshman Applicants, all prelicensure BSN applicants must:

• Earn cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or better.
• Have at least a 1000 SAT combined score based on the critical reading and math components of the exam.
• Complete one year of college preparatory secondary level science with a lab. This course must be completed within five years, with a minimum grade of C. A four-credit college course in science with a lab, with a grade of C or better with only one allowed retake, will also satisfy the prerequisite science requirement.  It is strongly recommended that the nursing program science courses be completed prior to admission.
• Complete 2 years of college preparatory level secondary school mathematics including Algebra I and II or Algebra I and Geometry. Both courses must be completed within 5 years with a minimum grade of C. A three-credit college course in College Algebra within 5 years with a grade of C or better will also satisfy the prerequisite math requirement.
• Complete 3 years of secondary school English with a grade of C or better.
• One letter of recommendation of an academic nature.
• Achieve an overall score of Proficient or higher on the ATI Version V – Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS® V).  Only two attempts to achieve the minimum benchmark score will be allowed.  The TEAS requirement applies to all applicants to the nursing program (including internal and external transfers).  Applicants to the prelicensure BSN program should take the TEAS test within one year of petitioning/applying for entry into the year 3 nursing courses.

The TEAS test is administered at Becker several times a month (fee required).  Contact the Admissions’ Office for more testing information.  Information about the test content and resources to prepare for the exam can be found at https://www.atitesting.com/Solutions/PreNursingSchool/TEAS.aspx.  A study guide is available in the College bookstores:  VERSION V – ATI TEST OF ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC SKILLS (TEAS V) STUDY MANUAL.

Students who have taken the TEAS® V at another institution may contact that institution to have their score sent to Becker.

Prelicensure BSN Admission into Year Three, First Semester Nursing Admission/Couse Work Requirements:

• Admission to the prelicensure BSN program does NOT guarantee entry into the year 3, first semester nursing course work.
• Students seeking entry into the year 3, first semester nursing course work, which takes place during the Fall semester must petition for entry by March 30^th of that year.  The first offering of the third year curriculum will be Fall 2014, the deadline for petitioning for entering this semester is March 30, 2014.
• Successful criteria to progress to the third year (first semester of year 3/Fall semester) includes:
  • An earned College cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better.
  • Successful completion of prelicensure BSN curriculum plan science courses, with a final of C (2.0) or better for each science course, with only one allowed retake of each science course.
  • Achievement of a final course grade of C+ or higher in NURS1200 (Introduction to Professional Nursing) and NURS3002 (Complementary/Alternative Modalities).
  • Successful completion of all courses (66 credits in the first 2 years of the published prelicensure BSN nursing program curriculum).
  • Achievement of an overall score of Proficient or higher on the ATI Version V – Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS® V) within one year of petitioning for entry into the year 3 nursing courses.  Only two attempts to achieve the minimum benchmark score will be allowed.  (See Freshman Nursing Applicants Prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Academic Requirements).

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) Applicants

Students seeking admission to the Becker College RN to BSN program must meet the following requirements:

• Complete a RN to BSN application form
• Have graduated from a state approved, regionally accredited associate nursing degree, [e.g., National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)], or diploma registered nurse preparation program.
• Earned a 2.0 CGPA from a National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) accredited prelicensure registered nurse preparation program.
• Hold a current Massachusetts registered nurse license.*
• Provide proof of current employment or work history as a Registered Nurse, if graduated more than 3 years ago.

Transfer Evaluation Criteria

• Meet all Becker College associate degree nursing curriculum requirements, through graduation from the Becker College ASN program; e.g., 69 credits (39 nursing and 30 general education) (See Becker College ASN curriculum plan and Becker College RN to BSN program pre-requisites).
• Graduates from nursing programs other than Becker College may receive nursing credits for previous coursework in nursing toward their maximum of thirty-nine (39) preadmission nontransferable nursing credits. Upon review and evaluation by the Nursing Department, nursing credits awarded will be applied to the preadmission requirements.
  • In order for previous nursing course work to be awarded credits, the applicant must have:
    • Graduated from a state-approved NLNAC accredited prelicensure nursing program within the past three (3) years, or have work experience as an RN equivalent to 1000 hours within the past three (3) years which is documented by a letter from their employer.
    • Their prelicensure nursing program official transcripts reviewed for comparability and relevance to the Becker College ASN required nursing courses.
  • Graduates who do not meet the criterion listed above, who have less than 39 preadmission nursing credits, can earn the required credits through successful completion of:
    • NLN Accelerated Challenge Exams (ACE) II, or
    • By completing approved Becker College nursing courses; e.g., NURS3200 Technology and Nursing Informatics
  • All preadmission nursing credits must be earned prior to being allowed to enroll as an accepted student in the RN to BSN program.
  • General education credits in the Becker College ASN curriculum plan may be transferred following review of the courses per Becker College transfer policy. In order to be accepted into the RN to BSN program all of the general education credits in the Becker College ASN curriculum plan must have been completed and evaluated as transferable to Becker College.

*Recent ASN or diploma program graduates, providing they meet all other admission criteria, maybe conditionally accepted and allowed to enroll into the courses offered in the first semester of the RN to BSN program. However, a current MA licensure is necessary to be accepted into the RN to BSN program and in order to progress into the second semester.

Collegiate courses required for acceptance into the Becker College RN to BSN program:

Effective for Classes entering January 2013
General Education Courses	Credits	Pre-licensure Nursing Courses	Credits
English Composition	3	Health Assessment and Promotion	3
English Composition 2 or Writing About Literature	3	Fundamentals of Nursing (NURS1104)	4
Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab	4	Medical-Surgical Nursing I (NURS1105)	10
Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab	4	Medical-Surgical Nursing and Pediatric Nursing (NURS2201)	10
Microbiology with Lab	4	Maternal-Newborn and Psychiatric Mental Health (NURS2202)	10
Introduction to Psychology	3	Nursing Seminar (NURS2205)	2
Human Growth and Development or Lifespan Growth and Development	3
Introduction to Sociology	3
Technology and Society*	3
Total General Education Credits	30	Total Nursing Credits	39
		Total Collegiate Credits Required	69

*Technology and Society is a required Becker College course and students have to complete this course requirement in order to be eligible to receive a baccalaureate in nursing degree from Becker College. Transfer credits for this course must be approved by the Nursing Program Director.

Becker College RN to BSN Program

Students Enrolled Prior to January 20, 2013
Bachelor of Science in Nursing: RN-BSN Degree Current Curriculum Plan
Session 1		Credit Hours	Session 4		Credit Hours
NURS3001	Philosophical & Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice	3	NURS4001	Nursing in a Global Society	3
NURS3002	Complementary Alternative Modalities	3	NURS4002	Independent Practicum I (Clinical component: 30 hours)***	3
PHIL3300	Medical Ethics	3	ENGL2003	Public Speaking	3
INFO1001	Technology and Society	3		Elective (Nursing)*	3
		13			12

Session 2		Credit Hours	Session 5		Credit Hours
NURS3101	Health & Physical Assessment of   Individuals and Families (Lab component)	4	NURS4101	Professional Nursing Seminar	3
NURS3003	Pharmacokinetics in Nursing Practice	3	NURS4003	Independent Practicum II (Clinical component: 30 hours)***	3
MATH2200	Statistics	3		Elective (Nursing)*	3
	Humanities Elective	3
		13			9

Session 3		Credit Hours			Credit Hours
NURS3100	Research in Nursing	3
NURS3102	Business in Nursing	3
HUMN3100	Intercultural Communications	3		Total Credits for Assoc. Degree	71
	Humanities Elective	3		Total Credits for RN-BSN	58
		12		Total Credits for Degree	129

***Malpractice insurance fee applies

*Nursing Electives

• NURS4401 –      Holistic Nursing Practice: Techniques and Application
• NURS4402 –      Nursing Leadership and Politics
• NURS4403 –      Professional Nurse as Educator
• NURS4404 –      Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

RN to BSN Program

Students Enrolled Beginning January 20, 2013
Semester 1		Credit Hours	Semester 4		Credit Hours
NURS3001	Philosophical & Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice	3	NURS4001	Nursing in a Global Society	3
NURS3002	Complementary Alternative Modalities	3	NURS4002	Independent Practicum I (Clinical component: 30 hours)***	3
	Group A General Education Course	3		Group B General Education Course	3
	Group A General Education Course	3		Elective (Nursing)*	3
		12			12

Semester 2		Credit Hours	Semester 5		Credit Hours
NURS3101	Health & Physical Assessment of Individuals and Families (Lab component)	4	NURS4101	Professional Nursing Seminar	3
NURS3003	Pharmacokinetics in Nursing Practice	3	NURS4003	Independent Practicum II (Clinical component: 30 hours)***	3
	Group A General Education Course	3		Elective (Nursing)*	3
	Group A General Education Course	3
		13			9

Semester 3		Credit Hours			Credit Hours
NURS3100	Research in Nursing	3
NURS3102	Business in Nursing	3
	Group B General Education Course	3		Total Credits for Assoc. Degree	69
	Group B General Education Course	3		Total Credits for RN-BSN	58
		12		Total Credits for Degree	127

***Malpractice insurance fee applies

*Nursing Electives

• NURS3200 –      Technology and Nursing Informatics
• NURS4401 –      Holistic Nursing Practice: Techniques and Application
• NURS4402 –      Nursing Leadership and Politics
• NURS4403 –      Professional Nurse as Educator
• NURS4404 –      Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Group A RN to BSN Curriculum General Education Courses

-        Global Awareness and Diversity course, 3 credits
-        MATH2200 Statistics, 3 credits (Recommended first semester)
-        PHIL3300 Medical Ethics, 3 credits
-        INFO1001 Technology and Society, 3 credits
All Group A RN to BSN curriculum general education courses must be successfully completed prior to the start of Semester 3.  MATH2200: Statistics must be successfully completed with a grade of C or higher prior to the start of Semester 3.  Students will not be allowed to enroll into Semester 3 until this requirement has been satisfied.

Group B RN to BSN Curriculum General Education Courses

-        History course, 3 credits
-        ENGL2003: Public Speaking, 3 credits
-        Humanities Elective, 3 credits
To be eligible for graduation, all Group B RN to BSN curriculum general education courses must be successfully completed.

 

Transfer Admissions to Nursing Program

Transfers into the nursing program are considered for graduates of approved licensed practical nursing programs, or students that have attended another nursing program.  Applicants for transfer into the Becker College nursing program must meet the general requirements for admission to Health and Science programs, as well as the specific nursing program admission requirements.  (Nursing students are required to complete a minimum of 39 credits at Becker College for the Associate Degree in Nursing).

Transfer Admission from other Nursing Programs:

In addition to the Health and Science programs and nursing program general admission requirements, candidates applying for transfer into the Associate Degree in Nursing program from another nursing program must submit to the Director of Nursing for review:

• A letter of recommendation from the Director of the nursing program where prior nursing courses were completed.
• An official transcript from the previous nursing program.  Only first semester nursing courses equivalent to Becker College nursing courses (NURS1103/ Essentials of Health Assessment and Promotion and NURS1104/Fundamentals of Nursing with a clinical experience) in which the candidate has achieved a grade of C+ or higher will be considered for transfer review.
• A score of Level 2 or higher on the ATI RN Fundamentals of nursing exam, administered at Becker College.

Candidates that have been approved for transfer admission into the nursing program will be required to complete additional pre-entrance requirements (i.e. complete assigned ATI tutorial program(s), entrance exam).

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN Applying for Admission to ASN Program with Advanced Standing):

LPN candidates that have been approved for admission to the Becker College nursing program with advanced standing may also be required to complete additional pre-entrance requirements, i.e., complete assigned ATI tutorial program(s) and competencies.

LPN students seeking advanced admission into the Associate Degree nursing program must have:

• A letter of recommendation from the Director of the nursing program where prior nursing courses were completed.
• An official transcript from the LPN program with an overall GPA of 2.0.
• Current valid LPN license.
• A score of Level 2 or higher on the ATI RN Fundamentals of Nursing exam, administered at Becker College.
• An official transcript indicating successful completion of the following first semester corequisite college courses:

a)     BIOL2503 Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits)

b)     ENGL1001 English Composition I (3 credits)

• A grade of C+ or higher in the Becker College nursing course NURS1103: Essentials of Health Assessment and Promotion.  Please refer to Becker College Nursing Student Handbook for promotion and progression policies.

Additional Requirements

Clinical and Physical/Health Requirements for all nursing program applicants (ASN, Prelicensure BSN, RN to BSN, LPNs seeking admission with advanced standing, and transfers from other nursing programs).

All applicants for admission or transfer into any of the Becker College nursing program must meet the following requirements:

American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) for health care providers – CPR and AED Certification

CORI and SORI Check

In view of the licensure eligibility requirements for Massachusetts, all students in the Becker College nursing program must submit to a Criminal Offenders Record Investigation (CORI) and Sex Offender Registry Information Act (SORI) check upon admission to the program.  The CORI and SORI may be repeated at intervals during the program, as clinical agency contracts require.

Any student whose CORI or SORI reflects conviction of certain offenses will be ineligible for placement at a clinical agency and, furthermore, may be excluded from eligibility for nurse licensure in Massachusetts in accordance with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing Licensure Policy. Therefore, if there is a finding of an offense when the CORI or SORI is completed, the student may be unable to participate in a clinical assignment.  However, participation in planned clinical experiences throughout the nursing curriculum is required so withdrawal from the nursing program may result.  Acceptance into the course or program does not guarantee clearance for a clinical agency placement.

MA BORN Good Moral Character

Misdemeanor and felony convictions, and discipline by a licensure/certification body are evaluated by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing to determine licensure applicant compliance with the “good moral character” licensure requirement established in the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 112, section 74 and 74A.  http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/boards/nha-09-01-policy-determination-gmc.pdf.

Drug Testing

As a result of some clinical affiliation requirements, all Becker College nursing students are required to have a comprehensive “10-Panel” urine drug screen with results provided to the Student Health Center and assigned clinical site prior to the beginning of their clinical work.  Permission for release of results must be authorized, if required, to the assigned clinical site.  If the student’s drug screen is positive, the student must submit written proof of a prescription for the appropriate medication prior to beginning clinical.  Failure to disclose any of this information will prevent students from attending clinical and the completion of the course, which will result in dismissal from the nursing program.  Students who are not cleared for clinical will not be eligible for readmission into the Becker College nursing program.

Medical / Health Requirements

Clinical facilities may stipulate additional requirements for which medical documentation must be provided.

The Federal Center for Disease Control and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health define college health and immunization requirements.

Students are not eligible for participation in the nursing program without documentation of required health and immunization requirements (see below).  The Student Health Record must be completed and submitted to Student Health Services prior to entry to the college.  No record = No clearance for classes or clinical.

• Massachusetts State Law requires that all health science students have a completed health form on file in the Student Health Office prior to the start of classes.
• Any change in medical/health status must be reported to Student Health Services.  Medical documentation must be provided that clearly identifies student limitations/restrictions and their ability to participate in all program activities.  Examples of change in health status may include, but is not limited to:  any physical injury that requires splint/brace/cast/sling, major illness, psychiatric instability, communicable disease, and pregnancy/delivery.  Please notify Student Health Services for an individual consultation.
• Significant changes in health status may affect the student’s ability to perform clinical functions.  If determined that student or patient safety may be compromised, the student will be excluded from the clinical area until cleared by their healthcare provider.  Clinical agencies will be consulted, as needed, to determine if student can participate in clinical assignments.  The ability to participate in clinical assignments may result in withdrawal from the nursing program.
• A physical exam less than one year before entering the college.  Information submitted must include a medical clearance statement that allows participation in nursing program without restriction.
• Immunization against Measles, Mumps, Rubella #1 and #2 or titers.
• Varicella = chicken pox:  Two doses of vaccine or blood test to verify immunity.
• A Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is REQUIRED for all nursing students with Td boosters every 10 years.
• Hepatitis B series of 3 inoculations (first 2 must be one month apart and the last dose 6 months from the 1st dose).  Proof of a (+) HepB IGG surface antibody is REQUIRED.
• Tuberculosis evaluation in the form of “Two-step” PPD skin testing (2 separate skin tests, at least 3 weeks apart) followed by ONE skin test each year.  If (+) skin test; copy of a negative chest x-ray report less than 5 years ago is REQUIRED.
• A seasonal flu vaccine is required EVERY year.  Students with past history of flu vaccine allergy must provide medical verification to Student Health Services.
• Meningitis vaccine recommended, must provide copy of signed waiver if declined.

Documents may be faxed to Student Health Services at 508.892.9917 or scanned and emailed to nurse@becker.edu

Students are required to maintain his/her own copy of the Student Health Record and other requirements for their portfolio.  Clinical sites require proof of student health and immunization status.  This information is provided to affiliation offices before clinical clearance is granted.

If at any time the nursing faculty determines that a student’s physical or mental ability may interfere with safe clinical performance, the student will not be allowed to remain in the clinical area.  The nursing program director will be notified and the future status of the student will be administratively determined.

Essential Functions of a Nursing Student

The Massachusetts Nurse Practice Act describes the practice of nursing as involving cognitive, sensory, affective, and psychomotor performance requirements.  These requirements, therefore, are necessary for participation in a nursing program.  The Becker college Nursing Program, Essential Functions of a Nursing Student are published in the Becker College Nursing Program Student Handbook, Appendix F.

Please refer to the specific admission requirements for all nursing programs in the Admission section of the academic catalog, under the Nursing Applicants section.

 

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