Nursing Education Programs Competency Standards and Progression Policy

1. All NUR courses required for the nursing education program will be evaluated based on satisfactory completion of class, lab and clinical competencies. The classroom competency standard requirement is 80%. Students are required to achieve a satisfactory evaluation in the lab and clinical components of each NUR course. Numerical grades below 80 (B), in the NUR courses and/or an unsatisfactory lab and/or clinical evaluation for the semester are considered unsatisfactory attainment of course competencies. An Unsatisfactory evaluation in class, lab and/or clinical will result in the student’s failure to progress in the NUR course sequence. Students who complete a nursing course with a 79.4 average or below will not progress in the nursing program, and will receive grades in accordance with the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College grading scale. An unsatisfactory lab and/or clinical evaluation for the semester will result in a course grade of (F).
2. All written assignments/activities for class, lab or clinical must be satisfactorily completed. Failure to satisfactorily complete assignments/activities by the specified time period as identified in the NUR course syllabus/blackboard will result in a meeting with nursing faculty to determine cause and program progression. Assignments that are not completed by the end of the semester in which they were due will result in the student receiving an “I” Incomplete for that course. An Incomplete may prohibit progression to the next NUR course and may result in the inability to continue in the NUR program.
3. Students who make less than 80% on the unit test/final exam are required to contact the instructor immediately following receipt of their unit/final exam grade to schedule a meeting to review the test/final exam and receive a remediation plan in order to review concepts where competency was not met.
   • The purpose of remediation is to enhance learning and solidify concepts that were unclear during the unit of study. It is strongly recommended that students who make less than 80% on a unit test or final exam complete remediation before the final exam for the course.
4. Students will be required to take a number of standardized tests throughout the nursing program to monitor the student’s retention of course content. Students with standardized test scores less than the norm/standard score as defined by the testing service, will be assigned remediation from the testing program resources.
5. A medication dosage calculation test will be administered in each course of the nursing program. Students must achieve a 100% score on the medication dosage calculation test. Three attempts to achieve this required score will be provided. Students must show ALL work in an organized manner in order to get credit for each question. The nursing faculty will provide a calculator in order to check written work but students must show their work in order for each question to be scored. Failure to show written work will result in that question being counted incorrect regardless of a correct answer in the blank. Remediation will be provided after the first and second unsatisfactory attempt. Math tutors are available to help with basic math calculation errors. Failure to achieve this 100% score requirement will result in a course grade of “F” for unsatisfactory attainment of course competencies. (See Nursing Student Handbook and NUR Course Syllabus for specific procedural details).
6. A grade of ‘C’ (70-79) or better is required for non-nursing courses, (ACA, BIO, PSY, ENG and Humanities) courses.
7. Students must adhere to the curriculum sequenced plan for progression. A student may take non-nursing courses in advance, but cannot take them late as the course may become pre-requisite or co-requisite to the next NUR course. Students who do not take the required pre-requisite or co-requisite courses within the curriculum sequence will not be allowed to progress in the nursing program.
8. Cumulative program grade point averages for the Nursing Education Programs are limited to required courses in the specified curriculum. Courses taken outside the specified curriculum are not considered as part of the program grade point average.
9. Students will be required to earn a program GPA of at least 2.0 at the end of the first semester and maintain that mini-mum GPA each semester thereafter. Lab and clinical competencies will be evaluated on the basis of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
10. Continuance in the NUR course sequence is dependent upon satisfactory attainment of stated course competencies (a class grade of 80%, ‘B’ and satisfactory lab and clinical evaluation). When competencies are not met, the student will not continue in the NUR course sequence.
11. Attendance/promptness is mandatory for program progression (See Attendance Policy).
12. Students with ‘At Risk Behaviors’ will be referred to Student Services as part of a remediation plan of action. When a pattern of these behaviors are observed by faculty, the student will meet with the nursing faculty to discuss the situation and determine a course of action for student success. (See Process for at Risk Students)
13. Each year of the program, all students are required to complete the annual online Fire & Safety / Infection Control programs as prescribed by each of the clinical affiliates. The online program is provided to all new acceptances for completion as part of the Health Form packet.
14. Students must maintain a current, non-restrictive North Carolina NA I listing throughout the nursing program. The renewal process is the responsibility of the student. Failure to maintain this certification will result in non-progression in the nursing program. Students may contact Continuing Education for questions regarding the renewal process.
15. Students successfully completing NUR 101 and NUR 102 in the Practical Nursing program and NUR 111 and NUR 112 in the ADN program will be eligible for NA II certification. All students must have current NAI listing to be eligible. NA II certification verification will be authorized by the Director of Nursing Education. Eligible students will be notified when verification has been complete. Each student must complete the online certification form on the North Carolina Board of Nursing web site, www.ncbon.org, and pay fees required. These forms must be completed within the 30-day time frame required by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
16. Students who have successfully completed all nursing program and college requirements are eligible to apply to take the national council licensure exam.
17. If the student is unable to continue in the Nursing Program course sequence, the student may re-apply to the Nursing Program one time within one year. For example, if a student is unsuccessful in NUR 111 in the Fall semester, they may re-enter in the Spring NUR 111 if space is available and the student meets the criteria for admission. Students desiring to re-apply will be evaluated for program placement based on individual circumstances and program requirements.

Acceptance is Contingent Upon:

1. Meeting the current admission, advanced placement, and graduation requirements in effect at the time of re-application.
2. Admission testing for re-entry students are only required for first semester NUR courses.
3. Re-entry students will be ranked in accordance with their nursing GPA for program placement.
4. Availability of space.

18. If a student has been unsuccessful in the ADN program twice but was able to successfully complete the PN program, the student may re-apply to the ADN program one time and enter into NUR 111 with the incoming class if the student meets the admission criteria.
19. Students desiring to re-apply to the nursing program must do so within one year and will be evaluated for program placement based on individual circumstances and program requirements.

Acceptance is Contingent Upon:

1. Meeting the current admission, advanced placement, and graduation requirements in effect at the time of re-application.
2. Admission testing for re-entry students are only required for first semester NUR courses.
3. Re-entry students will be ranked in accordance with their nursing GPA for program placement.
4. Availability of space.

20. Students applying to enter the program in an advance placement status must follow requirements stated in the Advance Placement/Transfer Policy and stipulations specified for admission. Failure to meet pre-requisite requirements will result in denial of admission.
21. Students, whose performance for any nursing course is deemed unsafe as characterized by dangerous, inappropriate, irresponsible, or unethical behavior that actually or potentially places the student, patient, patient’s family, or health team members in jeopardy, may be denied progression/re-entry into the nursing program. The nursing faculty will review the applicant’s record and decisions for re-entry will be made based on the applicant’s ability to provide safe nursing care to the public (approval of Nursing Programs, Process and Standards in regards to:

• North Carolina Board of Nursing
• The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics
• Nursing Practice Act
• ANA Standards of Care
• Patient’s Bill of Rights

22. Students who fail to meet the progression standards as a result of the nursing program recommendation process, may appeal this decision in accordance with RCCC procedure 1B600.00.50.01. Q, Student Grievance Procedure. Student grievances will be reviewed and considered in accordance with RCCC procedure 1B600.00.50.01. Q, within the context and in adherence to all Board of Nursing standards and nursing program guidelines and policies. It is the ultimate Responsibility of the college president to uphold and support the fulfillment of program guidelines and governing standards, with the expectation that all college personnel act consistently to maintain the integrity of and adhere to both college procedures and these standards and guidelines. No conflict should exist between the procedures of the college as they are written and implemented and the standards of the program’s governing body, nor the program guidelines. Students will be referred to Student Services for assistance with the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Grievance Policy/Procedure.

Compliance with this policy is required throughout the entire enrollment in the nursing program. Noncompliance with this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the nursing program.