Nursing - Associate in Applied Science

Prepares individuals to work as entry-level registered nurses. Henry Ford College (HFC) is the first associate’s degree nursing program in Michigan, one of seven such programs in the nation. The program has received many awards and grants for curricula design, innovative teaching strategies, creative curriculum scheduling and collaborative partnerships.

Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:

1. Use evidence based practices in the delivery of nursing care.
2. Communicate effectively with individuals, families, communities and the health care team using a variety of methods, including informatics.
3. Utilize the nursing process and standards of care in promotion of health and wellness and in the prevention and management of illness for individuals across the life span.
4. Respect the client's cultural diversity by incorporating professional nursing values of legal, ethical, and caring behaviors through lifelong learning.
5. Collaborate as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team to provide quality care and integrate safety that reduces harm to clients.
6. Integrate critical thinking and clinical decision making to make sound clinical judgments.
7. Advocate on behalf of the client, the family and the community, who are a source of control and full partners when producing compassionate care.

Graduates can seek full-time employment upon passing the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Opportunities for employment in nursing exist in hospitals, clinics, home care, factories, military services, schools, public health, and education settings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment in nursing will grow 12% between the years of 2018 and 2028. Many more opportunities in nursing are available with advanced education and experience.

Students in the nursing program must understand that they will be involved in the direct care of clients, including direct contact with all parts of the body. Because nurses are required to lift, move and transfer patients, stand for long periods of time, possess certain fine motor skills and sufficient visual acuity to care for patients, additional physical capabilities are required for entrance into the program. In order to be considered for admission to or retention in the Nursing Program, students must possess:

• Sufficient visual acuity necessary for accurate assessment and safe nursing care to clients, such as, physical assessment, preparation and administration of all medications and direct observation of clients.
• Sufficient auditory perception to receive verbal communication from clients and members of the health team and to assess client health status while using equipment and interpreting other noise stimuli (cardiac monitors, stethoscopes, intravenous infusion pumps, dopplers, fire alarms, call lights and cries for help).
• Sufficient gross/fine motor coordination to respond promptly and implement skills required in meeting health care needs of clients, including manipulation of equipment and supplies.
• Sufficient physical abilities to move around client’s rooms, work in treatment areas and administer cardiopulmonary procedures.
• Sufficient strength to perform physical activities frequently requiring the ability to lift, push, pull objects more than fifty pounds and transfer objects and persons of more than one hundred pounds.
• Sufficient communication skills (speech, reading, writing) to interact with clients and communicate their health status and needs promptly and effectively.
• Sufficient intellectual and emotional capability to plan and implement care for clients.
• Sufficient psychological stability essential to perform at the required levels in the clinical portions of the nursing program.
• Ability to sustain long periods of concentration to make decisions regarding correct techniques, use of equipment, and proper care of clients.
• Sufficient physical stamina to remain standing for long periods of time.

Applicants considering a career in nursing may also be exposed to infectious diseases during their course of study and in subsequent employment in the field and are likely to work in situations where exposure to infectious disease is possible. This is an occupational health risk for all health care workers. Persons should not become health care workers unless they recognize and accept this risk. Proper education and strict adherence to well established infection-control guidelines can reduce this risk to a minimum. Thorough education in infection control procedures is an important part of the nursing program of study.

The nursing program prepares graduates for entry-level positions in the nursing profession.

Successful completion of the program of study qualifies graduates to receive an Associate in Applied Science Degree and apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) leading to state license as a registered nurse.

The Michigan State Board of Nursing regulates the licensing and can deny RN licensure for a number of reasons; for example, conviction of a misdemeanor or a felony. Prior to beginning the Nursing program, students are advised to visit the Michigan website or call the Michigan Board of Nursing regarding eligibility for licensing.

Henry Ford College’s nursing program prepares you to take the NCLEX exam in the state of Michigan. Graduates who want to practice in other states should review those requirements via that Board of Nursing. For additional information, please contact the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

The College and the Nursing Faculty reserve the right to make policy and program changes at any time to comply with requirements of accrediting agencies, clinical facilities, or the college, and to meet the changing health care needs of society. Requirement changes, updates, and all information regarding the Nursing program can be obtained through the Nursing Student Success Navigator located in the Welcome Center Advising area on main campus.

The Nursing Associate in Applied Science program, at Henry Ford College, East Campus, located in Dearborn, Michigan is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: (404) 975-5000
Website: www.acenursing.org

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Nursing Associate in Applied Science program is: Continuing Accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at: http://www.acenursing.com/accreditedprograms/programsearch.htm

HFC nursing programs have full approval from the Michigan Board of Nursing.

Michigan Board of Nursing
611 W. Ottawa St.
PO Box 30670
Lansing MI, 48909
Phone: (517) 335-0918
Website: www.michigan.gov/lara/

HFC is a fully accredited member of the Higher Learning Commission.

What classes do I take?

Admission Requirements

Admission is competitive. The program has a limited enrollment and admits students in the fall and winter semesters. Acceptance into the college does not constitute nor guarantee admission to the nursing program. Final approval to enroll in the program comes from the Dean/Associate Dean of the School of Health and Human Services. To be considered, applicants must satisfy the following:

1. Be admitted to Henry Ford College.
2. GPA: Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.70 or better in pre-requisite courses to the nursing program
3. Appointment: It is recommended that all prospective Nursing students schedule an appointment with one of the Student Success Navigators through the HFC Advising Office. Students who intend to apply to the Nursing program must first attend/view a virtual Nursing Program Information Session available through the Nursing website, Admissions tab to be completed within one year of application submission. After attending this virtual session, students must record their date of attendance as they will enter this date on their Nursing application.
4. Application: Submit a nursing program application with all required documentation by application deadline. Application deadline dates can be found on the nursing program website.
5. Grades: Complete all prerequisite, co-requisite, and support courses with a "C" grade or better. No pre-requisite, co-requisite or support courses can be repeated more than one time to receive a higher grade. GPA will be calculated by averaging the first two course attempted grades per course. “W” and “DR” grades will be counted as an attempt, therefore only leaving one attempt remaining to use for GPA.
6. Age: Due to clinical agencies minimal age requirements, applicants must be at least 16 years of age at the start of the nursing program.
7. Courses Required for Program Admission: Complete the following, with a "C" grade or better:
   • Biology: Complete:
     • BIO-131, or its transfer equivalent or better or a High school grade of “A” or “B” throughout a one year laboratory Advance Placement course
     • BIO-233
     • BIO-234
   • Mathematics: Complete one: MATH-115, MATH-131, MATH-141,MATH-165, MATH-175, MATH-180
   • Other Courses: Complete: ENG-131, PSY-131, HCS-131 or CIS-100
8. Nursing Admission Test (NAT): Successfully complete the NAT.
   • The required Nurse Admission Test (NAT) is offered by the College and must be taken at HFC.
   • All Nat scores at time of application deadline date cannot be over 1 year old.
   • Students will be allowed 2 attempts in a 12-month period. Students who do not pass after the 2nd attempt must wait 1 year from the 2nd attempt date before being eligible to test again.
   • The Learning Lab offers free assistance to prepare for this exam.
   • The NAT requirements are:
     • Math proficiency at 80%.
     • Reading composite proficiency at 80%.
     • Grammar proficiency at 80%.
     • Vocabulary proficiency at 80%.
     • Students unsuccessful on their first test may choose in their second testing attempt to only take those subject areas where a score of 80% was not achieved in their first attempt.

Mathematics: Complete one:

• MATH-115: College Algebra
• MATH-131: Mathematics for the Modern World
• MATH-141: Introduction to Statistics
• MATH-165: Mathematics for Calculus
• MATH-175: Precalculus
• MATH-180: Calculus I

Computer Technology: Complete one

• CIS-100: Introduction to Information Technology
• HCS-131: Computers in Health Care

Nursing Admissions Test (NAT): Complete the NAT Test

Nursing program applications must be complete with documentation attached for maximum point value and be submitted at the Nursing Admission Submission session held at the School of Nursing, East Campus, 3601 Shafer Road, Dearborn, MI 48126. Session dates are posted on the nursing program website.

Final acceptance is contingent upon fulfilling and maintaining minimum program requirements and proof of the following by specified deadline dates:

• Health Insurance
• Physical examination
• TB testing/screening
• Immunizations as required
• Flu vaccination
• COVID vaccination
• Titers to assure immunity for specific conditions
• American Heart Association (AHA) BLS for Healthcare Professionals certification
• Must pass drug screening on first test
• Criminal background check

Clinical Placements: Each semester courses have clinical assignments in addition to classroom time. Clinical assignments involve direct patient care at various Metro Detroit area agencies. Placements of students in clinical agencies is increasingly difficult to secure. Clinical placements occur in many different agencies and may be during the day, afternoon, evening or weekend. Students who are unable to make arrangements and adjustments in their personal schedules to accommodate meeting clinical requirements at their assigned rotation will need to withdraw from the Nursing program. Applicants must be able to attend any assigned shift or day for their clinical placement.

All educational experiences are under the direction and guidance of the nursing faculty. Student progress is evaluated in the clinical setting, classroom and nursing laboratories. Progression in nursing courses follows the policy written in the Nursing Student Handbook (NSH) and is based on the student's:

1. Adherence to program requirements and policies outlined in the NSH
2. Achievement of the minimum grade of "C" (C- is not accepted) for all required pre-requisite, co-requisite and support courses.
3. Achievement of the minimum grade of "C" (C- is not accepted) for all nursing courses.
4. Satisfactory clinical performance. Unsatisfactory clinical or lab performance in a course with a clinical component is considered a failure in the course.

Withdrawal and Readmission: Students who do not complete course objectives for personal or medical reasons, receive less than a "C" grade in theory, or who receive a clinical/lab unsatisfactory evaluation for any nursing course are withdrawn from the Nursing Program and do not progress to the next level of course work. Refer to the Withdrawal and Readmission Policy in the Nursing Student Handbook.

Program Duration Limits: All courses for the nursing program must be complete within a total of three consecutive calendar years. BIO-233 and BIO-234, or transfer course equivalents, must be successfully completed in no more than two attempts and must not be older than five years old from the date that the student applies to the program. Anatomy and Physiology of less than eight semester credits or taken more than five years from when the student applies to the program, must see the Nursing Student Success Navigator. All co-requisites must be successfully completed as dictated by the nursing curricular master plan's course sequencing. See the Nursing Student Handbook or the Nursing Student Success Navigator in the Welcome Center's Advising area.