This program is designed to prepare men and women to become nurses at the associate degree level. The curriculum includes a balance of general education and nursing courses to provide a sound theoretical base for nursing practice. Clinical experiences are concurrent with the theory component during the four semesters. Graduates will receive an Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) and will meet the requirements of the State Board of Nursing to apply to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®). The Associate Degree Nursing Program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006 and the Mississippi State Institutions of Higher Learning, Board of Trustees (IHL).
East Central Community College currently admits students into the Associate Degree Nursing Program in August. Application deadline is May 1st.
Admission Criteria
To be considered for acceptance into the ADN program, the applicant’s file must be in the Admissions Office and the Office of Healthcare Education. The student is responsible for ensuring that the data in the file is correct and by the application deadline.
Qualified applicants will be considered by the admissions committee on a competitive basis using the following criteria:
1. The student must have an ACT composite score of 18 and at least a 2.0 grade point average. Students with less that the ACT composite score of 18 must have completed Anatomy and Physiology I and II with an additional four semester hours in the required ADN curriculum with a grade of "C" or better. Students with less than the ACT composite score of 18 are required to have an overall grade point average of 2.5.
2. All students are required to complete Anatomy & Physiology I (BIO 2514) and Anatomy & Physiology II (BIO 2524) prior to taking the first nursing course. An applicant may be accepted into the ADN program prior to completing these courses, but courses must be completed in the summer prior to beginning nursing classes in the fall.
3. Priority consideration for admission will be given as follows: 1) In- district students who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework at ECCC; 2) Out-of-district students who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework at ECCC; 3) Mississippi residents who complete program prerequisites and/or general education coursework else-where; 4) Out-of-state students.
4. Grade point average based on required ADN curriculum courses or high school GPA. A minimum grade of "C" is required on each ADN curriculum course.
5. ACT composite score.
6. Required sciences completed.
7. Associate in Applied Science Degree or Higher Degrees completed
Meeting the admission criteria does not guarantee admission into the program. The number of students admitted into the program will vary according to resources available.
ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING PROGRAM'S PHILOSOPHY
The Associate Degree Nursing Program of East Central Community College functions within the philosophical and administrative structure of the parent institution. The program of instruction is designed to incorporate knowledge and skills applicable to life in a complex society and focusing on the educational and health care needs of rural Mississippi. In keeping with the philosophical tenets, the faculty offers the following statements concerning our beliefs.
HUMANS
The faculty believes that humans are unique, holistic and dynamic beings with physiological, psychological, sociocultural, developmental and spiritual needs. We believe humans are fundamentally creative, resourceful, adaptive, and caring in nature. Individuals have spiritual-social-ethnical values and beliefs, which contribute to the perception of self, others, and the community. Humans have the right to make decisions and are responsible for those decisions. Individuals seek to meet human needs, which range from the most basic physical needs to self actualization. Individuals seek to belong to some social group where interaction and nurturing can occur.
ENVIRONMENT
The faculty define environment as the aggregate of all internal and external elements interacting and influencing the individual and the community. We believe that society is a component of environment. Society is composed of interdependent individuals, groups, and cultures in which there are shared values and respect for differing values. Society's mission is to ensure survival through problem-solving applications, which may be facilitated through adequate care and educational preparation available to all humans regardless of their cultural diversity.
KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge is dynamic with common underlying principles and theories that constitute past and present learning. It provides the basis to plan for the future and make wise decisions in order to adapt to the environment.
LEARNING
Learning occurs as a result of experiences, which may be physiological, psychological, sociological, an/or philosophical in nature. Learning is individual. It is an active and progressive process which usually results in changed behavior. We believe the learning process is enhanced by a positive self-concept and facilitated by the individual's potentials. An open, accepting, caring environment facilitates learning which enables the individual to think critically, identify problems, and evaluate information objectively.
HEALTH
We believe that health is a process of adaptive change within the life cycle. Health is relative in nature and the value of health is individually defined. Health is an individual's own perception of wellness. How the individual perceives his own wellness may be an indicator of his perception of his illness and the need for intervention by other individuals.
NURSING
The discipline of nursing may be defined as the diagnosing and treatment of human responses to health and illness. Nursing is provided in a caring and compassionate manner within practice guidelines utilizing knowledge from biological and social sciences. A context of caring is utilized by nurses in assisting clients in meeting their basic and complex health needs. Nursing facilitates optimal health and wellness throughout the life cycle.
It is the responsibility of nursing to provide collaborative care to all individuals, assisting them to reach the fullest potential through all development stages of the wellness-illness continuum. The associate degree nurse is prepared to provide and manage care for individuals and groups in a variety of health care settings.
In summary, we believe that associate degree nursing educational experiences will prepare students to function in the various roles of the registered nurse in an ever-changing environment. The functions of the registered nurse will change as health needs change and scientific knowledge expands. The faculty believes that our mission is to provide optimal learning experiences to produce a graduate nurse who utilizes knowledge, creativity, experience, and reasoning that is goal directed and purposeful.