Health: Nursing

Health and Rehabilitative Science Programs Index
About CCRI Health Career Programs
General Policies

Nursing Programs:

Nursing

Nursing

The Nursing Program consists of Level I (Practical Nurse Diploma) and Level II courses (AS Nursing). The student who completes the Level I courses receives a diploma and is eligible to take the examination for licensure as a practical nurse (LPN). The student who completes Level I and Level II receives an Associate in Science (A.S.) degree and is eligible to take the licensure examination for registered nursing (RN).
The Nursing Program is offered on the Knight, Flanagan, Providence and Newport campuses. In addition, a part-time, evening/weekend program is available at the Flanagan and Newport campuses. Students may apply to any of these programs; however, they may not transfer between the day and evening/weekend programs without department approval.

Applicants may earn credits in advance of applying for degree status but this must be done in consultation with the Office of Enrollment Services. Support courses may be taken at the main campuses or satellite campuses of the Community College of Rhode Island or at any other accredited college.

The practical nursing and associate degree nursing programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), 61 Broadway, New York, NY, 10006. Tel: 1.800.669.1656.

Background Check: Students will be required to have a criminal background check through the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Anyone who has been convicted of a felony may be unable to attend clinical/field experience. No incident or probation must have occurred within the past 5 years. Further, applicants convicted of a felony will need to comply with state licensure requirements from the Rhode Island Department of Health. For more information, contact the department chairperson.

Technical Standards: These standards give a sense of the physical requirements, psychomotor skills and affective behaviors associated with a particular occupation. The physical activity (Strength) level for Registered Nurse (075.364-010) or Licensed Practical Nurse (079.374-014) is classified as �Medium� by the Department of Labor in The Dictionary of Occupational Titles.

Admission Requirements:

• Completed application
• High school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
• The following courses must be completed with at least a grade of �C�.
  
  Nursing I � Day Program
  HEAL 1000
  HEAL 1060
  BIOL 1010
  ENGL 1010
  
  Nursing I � Evening/Weekend Program
  HEAL 1000
  HEAL 1060
  BIOL 1010
  BIOL 1020 (must be taken within five years)
  ENGL 1010
  PSYC 2010
  PSYC 2030
• Competency of 75 or above is required on the reading comprehension test, or completion of ENGL 0890: Critical Reading, with a grade of B or better.
• Demonstrate competency of MATH 0500 through a standardized test (Accuplacer) with a score of 65 or above for the arithmetic section, or completion of MATH 0500 with a B or better.
• Please note: All required courses must be completed with at least a grade of 'C'.

Program Requirements:

• A cumulative GPA of at least �C� (2.00) is required for graduation and the awarding of an Associate of Science degree at the completion of the second level.
• A minimum cumulative average of 1.75 is required for the awarding of the Practical Nurse diploma.
• Students must earn at least a grade of �C� in NURS 1010 and in all ADNU courses. The student who receives a �D� in NURS 1020 may progress only to LPNU 1030.
• Students must maintain a passing status in both the theoretical and clinical components of each nursing course. In the event that a student fails either the theory or the clinical component of a required nursing course, the course must be repeated in its entirety.
• Students who wish to progress to Level II (ADNU status) must have:
  - Satisfactory clinical performance on all competencies of Nursing II (NURS 1020)
  - Minimum of 2.00 cumulative GPA with a minimum grade of �C� in NURS 1010, NURS 1020 and in the three science courses.
• ENGL 1005 (formerly ENGL 1050): Fundamentals of Writing and Math 0500: Arithmetic (cannot be used as credits toward the program)
• BIOL 1020: Human Physiology must be completed prior to NURS 1020. (Must be within 5 years.)

Advanced Placement/Challenge Examinations:

Challenge information is sent to students from the nursing department after acceptance.

Advanced placement in Nursing by challenge exam is offered to students who meet the following criteria: Corpsmen (NURS 1010 challenge only), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), and/or applicants with recent clinical experience preparing for R.N. licensure in another nursing program.

The faculty recommends that only LPNs with at least five (5) years of recent clinical experience in a high acuity setting consider challenging Nursing II.

Students must present proof of challenge eligibility to the nursing department after they have been accepted through the Office of Enrollment Services.

NURS 1010 CHALLENGE

1. Satisfactory completion of all admission requirements and acceptance in NURS 1010.
2. Grade of �Pass� on Nursing I Challenge Exam

NURS 1020 CHALLENGE

1. Minimum grade of �C� in all required science courses
2. Grade of �Pass� on Nursing I Challenge Exam

LPN readmission for ADN - Level II:

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) who graduated from CCRI after 1987 may apply for acceptance into second level nursing ADNU. LPN applicants interested in ADNU status should contact the Nursing Department for re-admission process. Applicants who graduated more than five years prior to application will have their academic and work record reviewed by the Scholastic Standing Committee. All criteria requested by the Scholastic Standing Committee must be completed before the student may be readmitted. Criteria for ADNU status:

1. One year of practice as an LPN.
2. Letter of reference from employer.
3. Minimum grade of �C� in LPNU 1030.
4. Cumulative G.P.A. of 2.00 or better.
5. Minimum grade of �C� in all science courses.
6. BIOL 1020: Human Physiology must be within 5 years.

Reinstatement:

Reinstatement to the Nursing Program is based on space availability. Priority is given to students who were in good academic standing at the time of withdrawal or have completed LPNU. Students returning to the Nursing Program may be required to repeat previous course work and be approved by the Scholastic Standing Committee. Individuals may repeat a nursing course only one time and may not repeat more than two courses with permission. Any enrollment in a nursing course is considered an attempt.

Program faculty reserve the right to require withdrawal of any student from the program or to refuse reinstatement based on the student�s academic, clinical or professional performance.

This page last modified on: August 25, 2010