Guidelines for Nursing Students

Section I: Program Information Introduction to the Associate Degree Nursing Program Tarrant County College (TCC) nursing staff welcomes you to the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program. The TCC nursing program is Texas Board of Nursing approved and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). This Program's successful completion qualifies the graduate to apply to take the licensing examination to become a registered nurse (NCLEXRN). Approving body information: Texas Board of Nursing 333 Guadalupe #3-460 Austin, Texas 78701 (512) 305-7400 Accrediting body information: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 3390 Peachtree Rd NE Suite 1400 Atlanta, Georgia 30326 (404)975-5000 Tarrant County College District is an equal opportunity institution that provides educational and employment opportunities based on merit and without discrimination of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, or disability. Information from the College regarding Student Activities and Services and guidelines for the Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities at TCC is available online in the TCCD Student Handbook at Tarrant County College - Student Handbook. The Associate Degree Nursing and Vocational Nursing programs at Tarrant County College meet the state education requirements for a nursing license in Texas. Tarrant County College has not determined if these nursing programs meet the state education requirements in any other state, any US Territory, or the District of Columbia. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has resources that may be helpful. pg. 6 The student guidelines document is designed to provide direction for students during their studies in the nursing program. Please refer to the Course Information Document (CID) for course information details. The CID acquaints the student with course-specific information, guidelines, and procedures. Students are responsible for the information contained in the Student Guidelines and in the CID. The information is subject to change, and students will be informed of any changes in writing. The next two years will be busy and challenging. The nursing faculty supports your efforts to make these years a time of fulfillment and growth. We wish you the best as you pursue your nursing career. Mission: Associate Degree Nursing Program The mission of the Tarrant County College Associate Degree Nursing Program (hereafter referred to as "the Program") reflects the mission of the Tarrant County College (hereafter referred to as "the College") with its focus on "open access and quality teaching and learning opportunities" (Tarrant College Catalog, ). The Program embraces this focus of open access and quality teaching to prepare the Associate Degree Registered Nurse for entry-level practice and continued academic progression to meet their maximum professional potential (Organization for Associate Degree Nursing, 2019). Revised and adopted April 2020 Philosophy: Associate Degree Nursing Program The Nursing Faculty embraces the Program’s vision, values, and mission as it equips graduates to assume their responsibilities in the profession of nursing. The philosophy defines the beliefs of the faculty related to nursing, nursing practice, and nursing education. These beliefs serve as the foundational concepts upon which the nursing curriculum is structured. The Nursing Faculty agree with the American Nurse Association’s description of nursing “as both an art and a science.” The heart of nursing lies in the foundational concept of respect for human dignity and an intuition for clients’ needs (ANA, 2018). The Nursing Faculty regard humans as unique, complex, holistic beings. Humans possess physiological, psychological, socioeconomic, ethnocultural, developmental, and spiritual needs. Humans possess inherent dignity, worth, and have the right to participate in decisions that affect their health and care. Human function and homeostatic processes are affected by internal and external environments. Nursing influences these homeostatic processes through alteration or maintenance of the environment and/or support of the biopsychosocial functions of the client. pg. 7 The Nursing Faculty affirm that professional nursing is “the performance of an act that requires specialized judgment and skill, the proper performance of which is based on knowledge and application of the principles of biological, physical, and social science as acquired by a completed course in an approved school of professional nursing” (Texas Board of Nursing [TBON], 2013). As providers of care, nurses exhibit the core values of the profession: Safety, Professionalism, Caring, Teaching, Clinical Reasoning, Communication, and Collaboration. Nurses demonstrate altruism, professional ethics, and life-long learning. Nurses practice within the legal, ethical, and regulatory frameworks that adhere to the standards of professional practice. Nurses act as coordinators of care, collaborating with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to provide care for clients of all ages and their families across the lifespan. The Nursing Faculty believe that nurses are uniquely positioned as: 1. Providers of safe, culturally competent care to clients and families across the lifespan using evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning to achieve quality outcomes. 2. Effective communicators, including the use of informatics to plan, teach, and share information with clients, families, communities, and members of interdisciplinary healthcare teams. 3. Collaborators with clients, families, and interdisciplinary healthcare teams to plan care, promote health, and consider healthcare costs and policies that influence client outcomes. 4. Practitioners of nursing leadership and management skills promoting continuous quality improvement. 5. Professionals who demonstrate the attitudes and values of the nursing profession including self-assessment, lifelong learning, ethical and legal practice, and the values of altruism, social justice, and human dignity. The Nursing Faculty supports nursing education based on the values, ethics, skills, and knowledge of the nursing profession and supported by natural sciences, behavioral sciences, and the humanities. Students are accountable for self-directed learning as an inherent part of becoming lifelong learners. The curriculum and teaching methodologies are revised and monitored using comprehensive, contemporary evidence-based practice. The curriculum design fosters learning in an increasingly complex course progression. The nursing faculty scaffolds learning with increasing complex course content progression to advance problem-solving skills, clinical reasoning, and the development of clinical judgment. Nursing education takes place in a variety of settings and in collaboration with other disciplines. pg. 8 The Nursing Faculty believe that graduation from the Program prepares the student to enter professional nursing practice as a client-centered care provider, a client safety advocate, a member of the healthcare team, and a member of the profession. These core concepts are threaded throughout the Program. With additional experience and continuing education, the associate degree graduate can develop advanced practice skills and receive specialty