Nursing

All students in the professional (clinical) phase will be required to submit to a Criminal History Background Check as mandated by the Joint Commission. These Criminal History Background Checks will occur on an annual basis. If the background check yields a positive result, admission into the professional phase of the program may be denied. If at any time after acceptance into the professional phase of the program a student has a positive criminal history background record, it may result in dismissal from the program.

All students accepted for reinstatement must have an updated Criminal History Background Check before they will be permitted to attend clinical.

When a graduate applies for licensure as a nurse in New Jersey, the New Jersey Board of Nursing requires a Criminal History Background Check. If the Criminal History Background Check reveals a criminal conviction, a review of the application by the Board of Nursing is required.

All students taking a clinical nursing course must fulfill the nursing department health and clinical clearance requirements. The health clearance forms are available through the nursing department. A urine drug screen is included with the health clearances. If a student is denied clinical placement due to incomplete or unacceptable clearance results, they will be unable to continue in the program.

Students taking clinical nursing courses are required to have malpractice insurance.

All students enrolled in clinical courses must provide evidence of American Heart Association BLS certification.

All students must wear the school uniform in the clinical setting. These are purchased by the student.

In accordance with the policies underlying Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the ADA Amended Acts (ADAA) of 2008 and County College of Morris policy, no qualified individual with a disability shall, solely based on that disability, be excluded from participation to County College of Morris programs or activities. Upon admission, a candidate who discloses a disability may be asked to provide documentation of that disability. The Department of Nursing at the County College of Morris will provide reasonable accommodations to a qualified individual with a disability through support of the Office of Accessibility Services. County College of Morris is not required to provide academic adjustments that would lower academic standards, fundamentally alter the nature of the program or impose an undue burden on the college. Students can provide appropriate documentation to the Office of Accessibility Services directly to qualify for reasonable accommodations. Students should contact the Office of Accessibility Services at 973-328-5284 or aso@ccm.edu. Students should not submit documentation to any other program administrator for review. Reasonable accommodations for the academic environment and the clinical environment are administered through two separate and distinct processes in collaboration with the Office of Accessibility Services, the Nursing Department, and the individual student.

The goal of the Department of Nursing at the County College of Morris is to prepare students to think critically and practice nursing competently and compassionately in any environment where individuals, families, and communities need care, information, or advocacy. All efforts are designed to build relevant nursing knowledge, ensure patient safety, foster professional integrity, and ultimately improve the health outcomes of patients, families, and communities across the continuum of care. To achieve these goals, certain functional abilities (technical standards) are essential for the delivery of safe, effective nursing care during clinical training activities and in broad entry-level practice upon graduation. Therefore, it has been determined that these are required for acceptance into, progression through, and graduation from the Nursing Program. Students are expected to request reasonable accommodations prior to beginning the professional (clinical) portion of the program. Successful completion of skills testing, and all clinical experiences is required to graduate from Nursing Program at the County College of Morris.

An individual must meet, with or without reasonable accommodation, the following technical standards:

General Abilities: The student is expected to possess functional use of the senses of vision, touch, hearing, and smell so that data received by the senses may be integrated, analyzed, and synthesized in a consistent and accurate manner, during physical assessment and patient interactions.

Observational Ability: The student must have sufficient capacity to make accurate visual observations and interpret them in the context of medication administration and patient care activities. In addition, the student must be able to document these observations and maintain accurate records.

Communication Ability: The student must communicate effectively both verbally and nonverbally to elicit information and to translate that information to others. Each student must have the ability to read, write, comprehend and speak the English language to facilitate communication with patients, their family members, and other professionals in healthcare settings. The student must communicate effectively verbally and in writing with instructors and other students in the classroom setting as well.

Motor Ability: The student must be able to perform gross and fine motor movements with sufficient coordination needed to perform physical assessments. A student must develop the psychomotor skills reasonably needed to perform or assist with procedures, treatments, and administration of medication. The student must have sufficient levels of neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination to draw up solution in a syringe. The student must possess the physical and mental stamina to meet the demands associated with extended periods of standing, moving, and physical exertion required for the provision of satisfactory and safe patient care activities in the clinical setting.

Cognitive Ability: The student must be able to measure, calculate reason, analyze, integrate, and synthesize information obtained in the classroom and clinical setting. The student must be able to quickly read and comprehend extensive written and verbal material. They must also be able to engage in critical thinking in the classroom and clinical setting.

Behavioral and Social Attributes: Compassion, integrity, motivation, effective interpersonal skills, and concern for others are personal attributes required of those in the Nursing Program. The student must be able to exercise stable and sound judgment and to demonstrate consistently professional behavior and appearance. The student must have the ability to establish rapport and maintain sensitive, interpersonal relationships with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, psychological, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds. The student must have the emotional stability to function effectively under stress and to adapt to an environment that may change rapidly. Personal comfort and acceptance of the role of a student nurse functioning under supervision of a clinical instructor or preceptor in the clinical setting is all essential for a nursing student.

Students in this track may study full time or part time and take day or evening classes. This phase is designed for students who are currently not eligible for admission to the professional (clinical) phase. Students in this phase take the general education and science courses required for the nursing major. Once students complete the non-clinical courses they file a Professional Phase Application for the day or evening study track in the Nursing Department. Advancement into the clinical phase is not guaranteed once non-clinical course work is completed.

The sequential clinical nursing courses (classroom and campus laboratory activities) can be taken in the Day Study Track or the Evening Study Track. The student selects which track they are applying to and specifies their choice on the application. Due to availability of clinical sites and experiences, clinical schedules may vary. Clinical sessions are held any time between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm regardless of study track. For example, a student in the Day or Evening Track may be required to attend a clinical experience from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm two days per week, or 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, or 11:00 am to 11:00 pm one day per week.

This clinical track is offered as a day sequence beginning in the fall semester. It is designed to be completed in four sequential consecutive semesters of study. Students must be eligible for graduation upon completion of Nursing 214 (Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing). Currently enrolled students seeking admission to this study track must file a Professional Phase Application in the Nursing Department by March 15th. The decision to grant a seat will be based on completion and academic performance in English and the four required science courses, and the student’s GPA at the time the Professional Phase Application is filed. To be eligible for consideration the student’s GPA must be a 2.5 or higher and all grades must be a “C” or higher. If science courses were completed seven years or more prior to filing the Professional Phase Application, students must demonstrate competency by departmental test or retake the science course. Please be aware that multiple course attempts resulting in grades of “D”, “W”, or “F” prior to obtaining a passing grade, will reduce the chances of being offered a seat in the professional (clinical) phase.

This clinical track is offered as an evening sequence beginning in the spring semester. It is designed to be completed in four sequential consecutive semesters of study. Students must be eligible for graduation upon completion of Nursing 214 (Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing). Currently enrolled students seeking admission to this study track must file a Professional Phase Application in the Nursing Department by September 15th. The decision to grant a seat will be based on completion and academic performance in English and the four required science courses, and the student’s GPA at the time the Professional Phase Application is filed. To be eligible for consideration the student’s GPA must be a 2.5 or higher and all grades must be a “C” or higher. If science courses were completed seven years or more prior to filing the Professional Phase Application, students must demonstrate competency by departmental test or retake the science course. Please be aware that multiple course attempts resulting in grades of “D”, “W”, or “F” prior to obtaining a passing grade, will reduce the chances of being offered a seat in the professional (clinical) phase.

A student who fails or withdraws from a nursing course and wishes to be reinstated, must file an Application for Reinstatement in the Nursing Department by December 20th for the spring semester or May 20th for the fall semester. Reinstatement into a nursing course is contingent upon space availability. A student may only be reinstated one time. Students who meet the criteria for reinstatement and have been denied a seat due to space availability in the past will be given preferential consideration in the current reinstatement process.

Students should refer to the Advanced Placement Policy for more information.