Nursing Associate Degree

The degree of Associate in Science with a major in Nursing is awareded upon successful completion of the program.

The Associate in Science with a major in Nursing degree prepares men and women for careers as registered nurses. The program combines general education courses and nursing courses. In the nursing courses, classroom and clinical instruction are provided concurrently.

The nursing program is approved by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) (3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia, 30326; (404) 975-5000). Graduates are eligible to apply for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®. They are prepared to administer nursing care to individuals of all ages and in a variety of health care settings.

Two program options exist at the Associate Degree level: (1) Day Option; and (2) LPN-RN Advancement Option. All students may be required to do an alternate clinical rotation depending on clinical/faculty availability, i.e., students may be asked to do an evening rotation.

All nursing courses must be completed within four (4) years of the date of entry into the first nursing course. Students may be readmitted to the nursing program per current program policy. Readmission will depend on, among other factors, clinical/faculty availability. Transfer credit will depend on course content, applicability to the nursing program, grade earned and length of time since completion.

Selection for admission is determined by a cumulative point system that is based on high school level prerequisite courses and grades, applicable college courses and grades and the HESI exam scores. References are considered critical to the admission process and are evaluated.

As a pre-clinical requirement, students will be required to undergo a background check and drug and alcohol screening. No student will be exempt from this process. Students are provided with procedural and cost information subsequent to admission to the nursing program and are responsible for all costs associated with these testing procedures.

Transfer Information

• Transferring to other institutions
• Transfer (Articulation) Agreements
  specific to this program
• Transferring to NHTI

Specific Admission Requirements
For Fall 2012 Admission

Priority Consideration will be given to students whose applications are complete and received by the NHTI Admissions Office no later than January 27, 2012 for Fall 2012 admission. Students will not be considered for admission until all admission requirements have been met.

Note: Early Action Admission: Applications that are complete and received by the NHTI Admissions Office no later than November 23, 2011 may be considered for Early Action Admission into the Nursing program for Fall 2012.

Priority Consideration will be given to students whose applications are complete and received by the NHTI Admissions Office no later than January 25, 2013 for Fall 2013 admission. Students will not be considered for admission until all admission requirements have been met.

Note: Early Action Admission: Applications that are complete and received by the NHTI Admissions Office no later than November 21, 2012 may be considered for Early Action Admission into the Nursing program for Fall 2013.

1. High school or college biology with lab with a grade of “C” or higher;
2. High school or college chemistry with lab with a grade of “C” or higher;
3. College preparatory algebra I with a grade of “C” or higher or NHTI's MT 103 and MT 104 both with grades of “C” or higher;
4. Candidates must complete the HESI A2 (Admissions Assessment) exam with a minimum score of 75% on each of the four required sections (Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and Grammar); information regarding testing locations and registration is available here in PDF or contact the Admissions Office at (603)271-7134 or (800)247-0179;
5. Submit, on NHTI nursing reference forms (PDF or contact the Admissions Office at (603) 271-7134 or (800)247-0179), two references from professionals, supervisors or teachers.

Internship Considerations

NHTI has developed excellent practicum opportunities for our students to foster hands-on learning while simultaneously receiving credit. Nonetheless, the college's first priority must be to ensure that patients/clients/children/families are not placed in jeopardy by students during learning experiences. Therefore, students in internship, externship, practicum, service learning, and clinical experiences must demonstrate sufficient emotional stability to withstand the stresses, uncertainties and changing circumstances that characterize patient/client/child/family responsibilities. Furthermore, the student is expected to have the emotional stability required to exercise sound judgment, accept direction and guidance from a supervisor or faculty member, and establish rapport and maintain sensitive interpersonal relationships and confidentiality with employees, customers, and/or patients/clients/children and their families.

Health, Character and Technical Requirements

Technical Standards
Standards have been established to provide guidance to students as to skills and abilities required to function successfully in the program and ultimately in the profession of nursing.

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. A student must also possess the ability to perceive pain, pressure, temperature, position, vibration, and movement that are important to the student's ability to gather significant information needed to effectively evaluate patients. A student must be able to respond promptly to urgent situations that may occur during clinical training activities and must not hinder the ability of other members of the health care team to provide prompt treatment and care to patients.

Observational Ability: The student must have sufficient capacity to make accurate visual observations and interpret them in the context of laboratory studies, 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 non-verbally to elicit information and to translate that information to others. Each student must have the ability to read, write, comprehend and clearly speak the English language to facilitate communication with patients, their family members, and other professionals in health care settings. In addition, the student must be able to maintain accurate patient records, present information in a professional, logical manner and provide patient counseling and instruction to effectively care for patients and their families. The student must clearly 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 complete physical examinations utilizing the techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation, and other diagnostic maneuvers. A student must develop the psychomotor skills reasonably needed to perform or assist with procedures, treatments, administration of medication, management and operation of diagnostic and therapeutic medical equipment, and such maneuvers to assist with patient care activities such as lifting, wheel chair guidance, and mobility. The student must have sufficient levels of neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination as well as possess the physical and mental stamina to meet the demands associated with extended periods of sitting, standing, moving, and physical exertion required for satisfactory and safe performance in the clinical and classroom settings including performing CPR if necessary. The student must possess the ability of manual and visual dexterity such as to draw up solutions in a syringe.

Intellectual, Conceptual, and Quantitative Abilities: The student must be able to develop and refine problem-solving skills that are crucial to practice as a nurse. Problem solving involves the abilities to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, and synthesize objective and subjective data, and to make decisions, often in a time urgent environment, that reflect consistent and thoughtful deliberation and sound clinical judgment. Each student must demonstrate mastery of these skills and possess the ability to incorporate new information from peers, teachers, and the nursing and medical literature to formulate sound judgment in patient assessment, intervention, evaluation, teaching, and setting short and long term goals. Students must demonstrate arithmetic competence that would allow the student to read and understand columns and/or writing, tell time, use measuring tools, and add, subtract, multiply, and divide.

Behavioral and Social Attributes: Compassion, integrity, motivation, effective interpersonal skills, and concern for others are personal attributes required of those in the nursing programs. Personal comfort and acceptance of the role of a nurse functioning under supervision of a clinical instructor or preceptor is essential for a nursing student. The student must possess the skills required for full utilization of the student's intellectual abilities; the exercise of good judgment; the prompt completion of all responsibilities in the classroom and clinical settings; and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and other members of the health care team. Each student must be able to exercise stable, sound judgment and to complete assessment and interventional activities in a timely manner to assure patient safety and well being. The ability to establish rapport and maintain sensitive, interpersonal relationships with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds is critical for practice as a nurse. The student must be able to adapt to changing environments; display flexibility; accept and integrate constructive criticism given in the classroom and clinical settings; effectively interact in the clinical setting with other members of the healthcare team; and learn to function cooperatively and efficiently in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical practice.

Examinations: Certain courses in the nursing programs require students to take timed and/or online examinations. Students may be required to take timed, online and/or other types of examinations in a proctored, secure setting that is acceptable to the program.

Ability to Manage Stressful Situations: The student must be able to adapt to and function effectively to stressful situations in both the classroom and clinical settings, including emergency situations. Students will encounter multiple stressors while in the nursing programs. These stressors may be (but are not limited to) personal, patient care/family, faculty/peer, and or program related.

NOTE: The health care environment contains substantial amounts of latex. Applicants with latex allergies place themselves at risk of reaction. The Nursing Department does not recommend that individuals with a latex allergy pursue a career in health care.

Program Comments

1. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend a group information session; please call the Admissions Office at (603)271-7134 for details.
2. Prior to the start of the clinical nursing courses, students are required to have on file in the Health Services Office (603) 271-7153 documentation of: current medical insurance; a complete physical examination; current immunizations; current CPR certification for one and two person adult, infant and child. Professional liability malpractice insurance is arranged by the College and will automatically be charged to the student's account.
3. All students enrolled in a clinical nursing course will be charged a $350/semester Nursing Clinical Surcharge. The following courses carry this charge: NU 115, NU 116, NU 117 and NU 215.
4. College level science and technical courses (i.e., Anatomy & Physiology, etc.) taken more than five years prior to desired entry into nursing program must be either repeated or challenged; final decisions will rest with the Department Head of Nursing.
5. All nursing courses integrate theory and clinical experience. Failure to receive a satisfactory grade in either theory OR the clinical experience portion of the course will result in a failing grade. All nursing major field courses must be passed before proceeding to the next level. A grade of “C” or higher is required in BI 195, BI 196 and BI 202 and math elective to enter or progress in the nursing courses.
6. All students may be required to do an alternate clinical rotation depending on clinical/faculty availability, i.e., students may be asked to do an evening rotation.

Associate Degree Nursing Practicum Sites
Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, NH
Concord Hospital, Concord, NH
Elliot Hospital, Manchester, NH
New Hampshire Hospital, Concord, NH

# Indicates major field courses.
* MT 124 or higher level math (excluding MT 129); MT 251 strongly recommended.
** A $109 per semester testing fee will be assessed for all students taking NU 115, NU 116, NU 117, NU 177 & NU 215. This fee will cover costs associated with remediation testing, detailed individualized remediation plans, and end of program testing to prepare students for licensure testing.
Please Note: All students enrolled in a clinical course will be charged a $350 per semester clinical surcharge. Does not apply to NU 177, first semester only.
Please Note: Students who wish to continue their education and pursue a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Nursing are encouraged to complete MT 251.

Revised: 25 Jan 2012

TOP