Nursing Standards

The academic standards for the WSCC nursing programs have been established for the ultimate purpose of preparing well-educated nurses who succeed on the licensure examination and become valued employees who can be proud of the quality of their work. The standards are the result of collaborative efforts among nursing faculty, college personnel, and nurse employers. In the development process, the requirements of the State Board of Nursing have been met and a consistency of standards with other schools of nursing has been maintained.

Each nursing student must meet college requirements for progression and graduation in addition to the following nursing program requirements.

1. A grade of at least C (2.0 Grade points) must be earned in all courses in the nursing curriculum.
2. Grades of "I" in nursing curriculum courses not removed from the transcript by the first day of the subsequent semester will be considered as a D for the purposes of determining progression.
3. Students receiving a grade lower than C (2.0 grade points) in a TNSG designated course may repeat the course one time for the purpose of progression.
4. All TNSG designated courses in the LPN program or in the AND program must be completed within three years. Nursing is a rapidly changing field and this policy is designed to assure the student has the benefit of current knowledge for the licensure examination.
5. Punctuality and attendance are expected of nurses since patients and coworkers depend on them. To allow adequate planning for patient care and skills lab activieies, students are required to provide notification when they are going to be late or absent from the clinical area or skills labs. For further information, refer to the Nursing Student Handbook.

Prior to clinical experience, a criminal background investigation may be required of students. Any negative factors in students' backgrounds may limit placement in one or more agencies. Attempts will be made to adjust for this limitation, but if accommodations cannot be made, continuation in the nursing program will not be allowed.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to sit for the National Licensure Exam for Practical and/or Registered Nursing. However, applicants to the West Shore Community College Nursing Program should be aware that the Michigan Board of Nursing, as stated in the Michigan Public Health Code, 1978 PA 368, can deny a license to an applicant if the applicant has been convicted of any of the following: a criminal offense in a court of competent jurisdiction; habitual intemperate use of alcoholic beverages; addiction to, or improperly obtaining, possessing, using, or distributing habit-forming drugs or narcotics; unethical conduct or business practice; violation or aiding of others in violation of any of the provisions of this act. This list is not inclusive. If you need further information, contact the Director of Nursing or the Vice President of Student Services at West Shore Community College, or the Michigan State Board of Nursing.

Transfers in Nursing
WSCC has entered into an agreement with Ferris State University to facilitate upward mobility in nursing education. Ferris State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). This agreement allows WSCC graduates to enter this program with no testing of prior learning if they meet licensure and GPA admission criteria. The Ferris program is also designed to accept licensed Associate Degree in Nursing and diploma graduates from any school into the BSN level.

Practical Nursing Certificate
Students successfully completing this program are eligible to take the licensure examination for practical nursing. Licensed Practical Nurses work under the direction of physicians and/or Registered Nurses and use the nursing process to assist in caring for physically or mentally ill patients. Completion of the prescribed program does not guarantee successful performance on the licensure examination.

Admission to the Nursing Program
1. Submit an Application for Admission to WSCC
2. Submit a Nursing Program application to the WSCC Admission Office
3. Submit a high school transcript proving graduation or prove successful completion of the GED
4. Complete with not less than a 'C' (2.0 grade points) all of the following prerequisite courses or their transfer equivalent. Enrollment in TNSG courses is prohibited until all prerequisite courses are satisfactorily completed:
 CENG 111 English Composition I

 CSPE 101 Principles of Speech or
   CENG 112 English Composition II or
   CSPE 110 Interpersonal Communications

 SPOL 151 American National Government

 HPHL 100 Introduction to Philosophy or
   HPHL 102 Introduction to Ethics or
   HPHL 104 Bioethics or
   HPHL 103 Introduction to Logic

5. Complete with not less than a B- (2.7 grade points) the following science courses (pertains to any science grade earned after 9/1/03):

 MANP 230 Anatomy and Physiology I (within the last 8 years)
 MANP 231 Anatomy and Physiology II (within the last 8 years)
 MCHM 107 Introduction to Chemistry or MCHM 122 General Chemistry I
 MBIO 232 Elementary Microbiology

6. Complete with a C (2.0) or better
 MMTH 120 Introductory Algebra or
   MMTH 118 & MMTH 119 Paced Introductory Algebra I & II or
   Obtain a score of 13 or higher on the WSCC Algebra Placement Asset Test or
    An ACT math score of 19 within the last five years.