A.S. Degree, Nursing Career Transition Track

Degree Type: A.S.
Major Code: RN-BRIDG
CIP: 1351380100
Former CIP: 1318110100

The Associate in Science (A.S.) degree Nursing Career Transition Track provides career mobility for certified paramedics, respiratory therapists and licensed practical nurses. The 13-month program begins each Summer Term (May).

State Boards of Nursing have a responsibility to protect the public. In carrying out this responsibility, Boards of Nursing reserve the right to deny licensure to anyone who has been convicted of a crime other than minor traffic violations. Pursuant to Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, the Florida Board of Nursing shall refuse to issue a license, certification or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant has been:

• Convicted or plead guilty or nolo contendre (no contest) to a felony violation regardless of adjudication of chapters 409, 817 or 893, Florida Statutes; or 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 or 42 U.S.C. ss 1395-1396, unless the sentence and any probation or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the application.
• Terminated for cause from Florida Medicaid Program (unless the applicant has been in good standing for the most recent five years).
• Terminated for cause by any other State Medicaid Program or the Medicare Program (unless the termination was at least 20 years prior to the date of the application and the applicant has been in good standing with the program for the most recent five years).

In addition, clinical agencies require criminal background checks prior to participating in activities at on-site.

All students entering a healthcare program with a clinical component are required to complete a criminal background check. Students must be free of offenses that could potentially disqualify them from working in a healthcare environment (Florida Statutes 456.0635, 435.04 and 316.193). Admission into clinicals is at the discretion of the clinical agencies.

Students applying for admission to the Nursing Program are required to complete a drug screening and an FBI criminal background check including:

• Online check of the Office of the Inspector General related to parties excluded from participation in Medicare/Medical and all federal healthcare programs.
• Online search of U.S. General Services Administration of parties excluded from federal procurements and non-procurements programs.

• Candidates must complete the General Education requirements for the generic RN program;
• Current respiratory therapist license or paramedic certificate or current Florida practical nursing license;
• Documentation of 2,000 hours of work experience during the past three years. Recent practical nursing graduates (18 months or less) must document 1,000 hours of work experience. Seminole State practical nursing graduates from the previous year may waive this requirement;

All nursing courses feature Web-enhanced instruction. Students must have access to a computer with Internet capabilities while enrolled in the program.

The Associate in Science degree in Nursing RN Career Transition Track is accredited by the National League for Nursing and the Florida Board of Nursing. National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia 30326; Phone: 404.875.5000.

Major Courses
NUR1006C	Career Transition into Professional Nursing This course is designed to validate prior learning achieved as an LPN, RRT or paramedic and update/enhance the student's knowledge. Course content builds on a core of common knowledge identified from previous education as an LPN, RRT or paramedic and introduces these individuals to the philosophy and organizing structure of the Seminole State College Associate Degree Nursing Program. The five core educational competencies of the curriculum upon which all subsequent nursing courses are built are: (a) caring interventions, (b) clinical competence and decision-making, (c) communication, (d) commitment to professionalism and (e) collaboration and management of care. Emphasis is placed on biopsychosocial needs and the utilization of the nursing process as the framework for critical thinking and problem-solving. Students initiate the use of the nursing process and include the concepts of holistic care, effective interpersonal communication and professional accountability. Using the nursing process, the student will prioritize the biopsychosocial needs of patients with select medical surgical problems to promote optimal health and wellness. This course provides opportunities for developing competence in selected fundamental and intermediate skills and their application in patient care using theory and lab simulation. Lab fee required.	9
NUR2241C	Advanced Concepts in Medical Surgical Nursing This course prepares the student/learner to apply safe and effective care for clients with advanced medical and surgical problems. This course is designed to build on material from the previous medical surgical courses. Through the use of the nursing process, this course will build on the five core educational competencies of the curriculum: (a) caring interventions, (b) clinical competence and decision-making, (c) communication, (d) commitment to professionalism and (e) collaboration and management of care. The student will prioritize the biopsychosocial needs of clients to promote optimal health and wellness. Lab simulation of selected clinical nursing skills will be used to facilitate meeting the needs of clients with advanced medical and surgical problems. During clinical experiences, students will interact with culturally diverse clients. Clinical experiences in acute care settings and observational experiences in specialty settings may be scheduled to enhance the learning experience. Lab fee required.	6
NUR2520C	Concepts in Mental Health Nursing This course focuses on the theory base necessary for understanding mental health and illness. Students utilize the nursing process in the care of patients experiencing interference in meeting basic needs due to neurobiological and psychosocial problems. This course continues to build on the five core educational competencies of the curriculum: (a) caring interventions, (b) clinical competence and decision-making, (c) communication, (d) commitment to professionalism and (e) collaboration and management of care. Emphasis is placed on developing therapeutic communication skills, self-awareness and effective nurse-patient relationships. Students collaborate with the healthcare team in a mental health clinical setting and begin to develop the core competencies necessary to achieve desired client outcomes. Psychopharmacology across the lifespan and concepts of medication management are integrated in each unit. Community experiences, selected video, role play and simulation activities are incorporated in this course. For distance learning students: This is a hybrid course for Career Transition students only. The theory component is presented in an online format with selected lab activities scheduled on campus once a month throughout the semester. There are clinical experiences in acute care inpatient mental health facilities and selected community settings. Lab fee required.	4
NUR2251C	Complex Concepts in Medical Surgical Nursing This course is designed to build on the five core educational competencies of the curriculum: (a) caring interventions, (b) clinical competence and decision-making, (c) communication, (d) commitment to professionalism and (e) collaboration and management of care. The nursing process will be a guide for the student to utilize decision-making skills to meet the biopsychosocial needs of clients with complex medical and surgical problems and multi-system dysfunction. Lab simulation of selected clinical nursing skills will be used to facilitate meeting the needs of clients with complex medical and surgical problems and multi-system dysfunction. During clinical experiences, students will interact with culturally diverse clients. Clinical experiences in acute care settings and observational experiences in specialty settings may be scheduled to enhance the learning experiences. Content will include concepts of critical care, emergency care, disaster response and application of leadership and patient care management. Lab fee required.	6
NUR2463C	Maternal and Child Nursing This course prepares the student to meet the biopsychosocial needs of the normal childbearing and childrearing family utilizing the knowledge and skills obtained through the theory and clinical components of the course and through selected simulation exercises. Common alterations in the childbearing and childrearing process will be discussed which will enable the student to recognize complications and implement appropriate interventions of a beginning level practitioner. The educational and anticipatory guidance needs of the childbearing and childrearing family will be integrated throughout the theory and clinical components in the course to enable the family to maintain or restore a state of health and well-being. Core educational competencies emphasized throughout the course will be those of: (a) caring interventions, (b) clinical competence and decision-making, (c) communication, (d) commitment to professionalism and (e) collaboration and management of care. Lab fee required. This is a hybrid course (distance learning) for Career Transition students only.	4
NUR2943C	Practicum and Client Care Management This culminating course in the Associate Degree Nursing Program provides students the opportunity to (a) synthesize previous knowledge and skills and (b) develop new knowledge and skills for the management of client care in a dynamically changing healthcare system. Students participate in live and online seminars to develop and enhance the five educational competencies of the nursing program: (a) caring interventions, (b) clinical competence and decision-making, (c) communication, (d) commitment to professionalism and (e) collaboration and management of care as they learn to make the transition from student to graduate nurse. In addition, selected leadership and management principles including (a) prioritizing competently, (b) delegating successfully and (c) managing conflict will be explored. These competencies are applied in the clinical environment through a guided preceptorship that is directed by the nursing faculty. Lab fee required.	3
Support courses
Humanities or History Elective		3
HUN2202	Human Nutrition and Diet Therapy This course focuses on the scientific principles of normal nutrition, including specific nutrients, digestion, absorption, metabolism and nutritional requirements of different age groups. This course has a special focus on the application of nutrition principles to physical health. Emphasis is placed on the interdisciplinary team approach to disease prevention and health restoration.	3
or HUN 1201 Principles of Nutrition and HUN 2015 Diet Therapy for Health Care Professionals.
Choose three credits from the following list:
STA2023	Statistical Methods I This course introduces probability and statistical inference including estimation, hypothesis testing, confidence interval estimation, small sample methods, the study of random variables, correlation and regression and nonparametric tests. This course is a first course in statistical methods for those students entering a science or business related field. This course partially satisfies the mathematics requirement S.B.E. 6A-10.030.	3
STA 2014 may substitute for STA 2023
SYG2000	Introduction to Sociology This course is an introductory survey of sociology covering its scope, methods and general principles. Topics emphasized include group behavior, race relations, population, social institutions, social change and social stratification. The purpose of the course is to assist the student in acquiring an understanding of society. This course partially satisfies the writing requirement of S.B.E. 6A-10.030.	3
SYG 1000 may substitute for SYG 2000
HSC1531	Medical Terminology This is an introductory course to the language of medicine utilized by healthcare professionals. Basic word structure and formation, medical terms, abbreviations, definitions and spelling are included. Major disease processes and pathological conditions of specific body systems will be discussed.	3
General Education Courses
BSC2093C	Anatomy and Physiology I This is the first part of a two-semester course that investigates in detail the structure and function of humans. The course is primarily designed for students of healthcare professions, biology or physical education. We will utilize a "system" approach, examining each organ system at the cellular, tissue, organ and system levels and discuss interactions with other systems. Emphasis will be placed on the homeostatic rather than the dysfunctional individual. Lab fee required.	4
BSC2094C	Anatomy and Physiology II This course is the second part of a two-semester course that investigates the structure and function of humans. The course is designed for students of healthcare professions, biology or physical education. We utilize a "systems" approach, examining each organ system at the cellular, tissue, organ and system levels and discuss interactions with other systems. Emphasis will be placed on homeostatic rather than dysfunctional individuals. Lab fee required.	4
MCB2010C	Microbiology This fundamental course in Microbiology is designed to fulfill the needs of nursing students as well as other allied health majors. The course stresses the structure, nutrition, growth, control, metabolism and introductory genetics of bacteria. An introduction to fungi, parasites and viruses is included. Laboratory experience in techniques and primary isolation will be provided. Lab fee required.	4
DEP2004	Developmental Psychology This course explores the effects of genetic, psychological, maturational and social factors at various stages during the lifespan. This course partially satisfies the writing requirement of S.B.E. 6A-10.030.	3
PSY2012	General Psychology This is an introductory course which surveys the field of psychology and basic principles and concepts utilized to understand human behavior. The major areas of study include development, learning, perception, motivation, emotions, personality, abnormal behavior, psychotherapy and testing measurements. This course partially satisfies the writing requirement of S.B.E. 6A-10.030.	3
ENC1101	English I This is a course in the process of expository writing. Students will read essays and compose papers that are unified, organized, logically developed and supported, clearly stated and well-focused. Research techniques are introduced and incorporated into at least one composition. This course partially satisfies the writing requirement of S.B.E. 6A-10.030. Students must pass the core assignments with a grade of "C" or higher.	3
Total Credits:		62

Note:

• Associate in Science (A.S.) degrees are designed to prepare graduates for immediate entry into their chosen career field. A.S. degree graduates may transfer into certain baccalaureate programs. Students planning to transfer to baccalaureate programs should consult with Student Affairs counselors, advisors or specialists to make sure required courses are taken and entry requirements are met for the college/university program of their choice.