Overview
Program Handbook
Associate degree nursing education prepares graduates with the values, knowledge, and skills required to practice as a professional nurse.
Associate degree nursing education, in conjunction with integration of knowledge from other disciplines, provides:
- a broad theoretical basis in nursing, the related sciences, and general education
- knowledge of the role of the associate degree nurse
- the ability to practice in multiple settings
- a foundation for further nursing study
An essential component of nursing education is the concurrent integration of theory into the clinical practice setting. Graduates are prepared to function as managers of care in acute, long-term, and ambulatory settings.
As members of the healthcare team, graduates collaborate with other nursing and healthcare team members and provide guidance in the delivery of nursing care.
Upon completion of the degree, students are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to practice as registered nurses.
Program Learning Outcomes
Derived from the mission, philosophy, and organizing framework, program student learning outcomes are:
- Demonstrate patient-centered, holistic care across the lifespan, based on respect for the patient’s preferences, values, and needs.
- Engage in collaborative communication with the interdisciplinary team, patient, and their family unit through the provision of holistic patient-centered care.
- Demonstrate consistent, safe, evidenced-based, clinical judgement in the care of persons.
- Develop a spirit of inquiry by using critical thinking and clinical judgement to deliver patient-centered holistic care.
- Model self-awareness, accountability, and professional behavior in nursing practice.
- Evaluate the impact of social issues on providing patient-centered holistic care.
Admission Requirements
General College Admission Requirements
The following are Mercy College of Ohio admissions requirements. Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to a program. Admission requirements are subject to change. Students should contact the Office of Admissions or consult mercycollege.edu for the most up-to-date information.
One of the following are required for admission to Mercy College of Ohio:
- An earned diploma from an accredited high school or a home-schooled program in a college preparatory course of study with a cumulative high school grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher, OR
- A general equivalence diploma (GED) recipient with a score of 500 (score of 53 prior to 2002).
- Additional documentation may be required for College Credit Plus or Non-degree Seeking Students.
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Program Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting college admission requirements above, the following Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Program admission requirements must be met:
Candidates must be high school graduates with a GPA of at least 2.7 or GED recipients with a score of 570 (score of 57 prior to 2002).
Applicants must have completed and passed these high school courses, or their college equivalents:
- Biology – one year
- Chemistry with a lab – one year
- Math – Algebra – one year
All courses must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” within the past seven years.
AAS Nursing Program Coursework Requirements
Students interested in applying to the AAS Nursing coursework and clinical experiences must complete a AASN Candidacy form and meet the following admission requirements or transfer student guidelines by following the process below. All candidate information will be thoroughly evaluated by the AAS Nursing Program Admissions Committee using the Nursing Division AAS Nursing Program Admission Scoring Rubric. The scored rubric provides an objective review of candidates’ educational records. Accepted students will receive a letter from the Dean of Nursing.
AAS Nursing coursework and clinical experiences are sequential and begin in Spring and Summer semesters with NUR 120, and NUR 125. Candidates who apply after the priority application dates will be considered based on seat availability.
Application for Priority Application Review Date for File to be Complete Review of Candidates
| Application For |
Priority Application Review Date for File to be Complete |
Review of Candidates |
| Spring Start |
September 15th |
October 15th |
| Summer Start |
February 15th |
March 15th |
Transfer Student Guidelines
Transfer students must be high school graduates or GED recipients and have earned a minimum of 12 credit hours of college coursework with a GPA of at least 2.7 and have completed all the necessary program prerequisite courses from an institution accredited by a historically regional accrediting organization. For applicants who have attended more than one college, the cumulative GPA from all colleges must equal at least 2.7. The Nursing Division AAS Program Admission Scoring Rubric is used to objectively review candidate educational records.
The AAS Nursing Pre-licensure Program Admissions Committee may not consider applicants for admission into the program if applicants have failed two or more nursing courses at another college or university or have been dismissed from another nursing program in the past five (5) years. Further discussion with the Nursing Division may be required to determine eligibility for admission.
Candidacy Review Process
All candidate information is thoroughly evaluated by the AAS Pre-licensure Nursing Program Admissions Committee using the AAS Program Admission Scoring Rubric. The scored rubric provides an objective review of candidates’ educational records. Accepted students receive a letter from the Dean of Nursing.
Students must complete the following courses with a “C” or better prior to admission in the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Program:
| BIO 220 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| NUR 100 | Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice | 3 |
| PSY 201 | Lifespan Psychology | 3 |
| | |
| MTH 104 | Mathematical Formulas, Models, and Probability | 3 |
| or | |
| MTH 140 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
Requirements for Clinicals or Professional Practice Experience
Criminal background checks, drug screens, health records, and titers/immunizations are required prior to the start of the clinical program. Program requirements and instructions are maintained on the College website at https://mercycollege.edu/background. The Policy can be found at https://mercycollege.edu/about/compliance-consumer-information.
Degree Requirements
To earn the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing students must complete all college requirements for an Associate of Applied Science Degree including:
General Education Requirements
Complete All of the Following Courses:
Oral and Written Communication (GCOM) - 3 minimum
Math, Statistics, and Logic (GMSL) - 3 minimum
| MTH 104 | Mathematical Formulas, Models, and Probability | 3 |
| or | |
| MTH 140 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
Arts, Humanities, Culture, and Diversity (including Religious Studies) (GAHD/GAHR) - 3 minimum
Natural Sciences, Technology, and Innovation (GNST) - 6 minimum
Additional hours from one or more of the above categories; Oral and Written Communication (GCOM), Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSBS); Arts, Humanities, Culture, and Diversity, and/or Applied General Education (GAPL) courses - 15 minimum
| BIO 201 | Physiological Basis of Nutrition | 2 |
| BIO 210 | Microbiology | 4 |
| NUR 100 | Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice | 3 |
| PSY 201 | Lifespan Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 211 | Cultural Diversity | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 35 |
Required Nursing Program Course Requirements
Complete the Following Program/Major Course:
| NUR 120 | Nursing Concepts for the Foundations of Practice | 6 |
| NUR 125 | Concepts for the Professional Role of the Nurse I | 1 |
| NUR 130 | Nursing Concepts for Adult Health | 6 |
| NUR 135 | Concepts for the Professional Role of the Nurse II | 1 |
| NUR 230 | Nursing Concepts Across the Lifespan | 7 |
| NUR 235 | Concepts for the Professional Role of the Nurse III | 1 |
| NUR 247 | Nursing Concepts for Complex Care | 7 |
| NUR 248 | Concepts for the Professional Role of the Nurse IV | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 31 |
Credit Hour Requirements
| Total Required Associate of Applied Science General Education Credit Hours |
35 |
| Total Required Nursing Program/Major Credit Hours |
31 |
| Free Elective Credit Hours |
0 |
| Total Credit Hours for Graduation |
66 |
Students may be required to take additional free elective credits to reach the 60 credit hours required for graduation. Free elective credit may be satisfied through prior coursework and transfer credit. See academic advisor for more details.
Sample Program of Study
Semester I
| BIO 220 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| NUR 100 | Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice | 3 |
| PSY 201 | Lifespan Psychology | 3 |
| | |
| MTH 104 | Mathematical Formulas, Models, and Probability | 3 |
| or | |
| MTH 140 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
Semester II
| BIO 221 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| NUR 120 | Nursing Concepts for the Foundations of Practice | 6 |
| NUR 125 | Concepts for the Professional Role of the Nurse I | 1 |
| SOC 211 | Cultural Diversity | 3 |
Semester III
| BIO 201 | Physiological Basis of Nutrition | 2 |
| BIO 290 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NUR 130 | Nursing Concepts for Adult Health | 6 |
| NUR 135 | Concepts for the Professional Role of the Nurse II | 1 |
Semester IV
| BIO 210 | Microbiology | 4 |
| NUR 230 | Nursing Concepts Across the Lifespan | 7 |
| NUR 235 | Concepts for the Professional Role of the Nurse III | 1 |
Semester V
| NUR 247 | Nursing Concepts for Complex Care | 7 |
| NUR 248 | Concepts for the Professional Role of the Nurse IV | 2 |
| REL 290 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
To progress in the nursing program, a grade of “C” or better is required in all nursing theory, clinical, and laboratory courses, as well as required non-nursing support courses, and required elective hours.