Nursing Program Details

The Nursing Degree prepares students for entry level positions in nursing and for taking the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). It has been approved by The New Jersey Council of Presidents, and accredited by the New Jersey Board of Nursing and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

What will you do as a nursing student?

As a nursing student, you will be directly involved with the care of individuals, families, and communities promoting health, preventing illness, and providing care during times of illness and crisis. You may:

• Watch in awe as a new life enters this world.
• Assist a child to self-administer lifesaving injections of insulin.
• Support a teenager during times of emotional crisis.
• Help a young couple during the adjustment to the responsibilities of parenthood.
• Provide care for a patient and family experiencing life-altering illness.
• Comfort a family after the death of a beloved grandfather.
• All of these activities involve critical thinking, empathy and professionalism.

Within your first semester you will:

• Assist patients with activities of daily living such as bathing, eating, toileting, and walking.
• Assess a patient’s temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure and level of pain.
• Administer medication and perform highly technical skills.
• Monitor and evaluate patient responses to medications, nursing treatments, and medical procedures.
• Teach patients methods to maintain or restore their health.
• Use critical thinking in the clinical setting to provide care based upon current medical and nursing research.

Career Opportunities

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role of Raritan Bay Medical Center (RBMC)?
Raritan Bay Medical Center (RBMC), a subsidiary of the Hackensack/Meridian Health Network, is the Nursing Program partner and is the primary clinical site for the Nursing Program.

Are there any special requirements that must be satisfied before taking courses in the major?

1. An applicant must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
2. Students must have a “B” or better in high school or college laboratory biology and laboratory chemistry.
3. Algebra 1 is a pre-requisite for all majors. Algebra 1 competency may be verified with a passing score on the College’s placement test or completion of the appropriate course. As a result of the student’s performance on the College’s placement test, he or she may need developmental coursework. All developmental coursework must be completed before being considered for admission to the program.
4. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75. High school GPA will be used if the student has less than 12 college credits at the time of application.
5. When students apply, they must take a Health Technologies entrance examination.

Is there a waitlist for the Nursing program?
No. When an applicant is admitted to the nursing program, the student starts the first nursing course in September and begins clinical within two weeks. If you are not admitted, then you may reapply for the next class.

How long will it take to complete this degree?
The standard duration of this Associate Degree program is four semesters (two years). Many students elect to take the science and general education courses required in the program before entry into the program. However, the four nursing courses must be taken in sequence and still require four semesters before graduation. Each nursing course may require Monday through Friday attendance.

Are there any special requirements once the student is admitted to this major?
The student must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher and meet the academic standards of progress to stay in the nursing program.

Are there additional requirements after graduation to be eligible for licensure?
The New Jersey State Board of Nursing requires that an applicant for licensure as a registered nurse must submit to the Board evidence, in such form as the Board may prescribe, that the applicant is of good moral character, is not a habitual user of drugs and 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. Application for licensure may be denied by the Board if violations exist. All licensure candidates must undergo a criminal history record background check, including fingerprinting prior to the issuance of the license.

Can students who major in Nursing transfer to a four-year college or university?
The courses students take may be applied to the Bachelor of Science (BSN) Degree. Any final decision regarding transfer courses will be made by the receiving college. MCC has agreements with Felician College and Kean University that makes the transfer process as seamless as possible. The articulation between the colleges provides students the opportunity to complete their BSN on MCC’s campus.