JJC NURS 100 Introduction to Nursing Study Notes

Program Pathways and Curriculum

• Traditional Pathway: Leads to Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification after $43$ total credit hours or Registered Nurse (RN) licensure after $63$ total credit hours.
• $1+1$ Ladder Program: Designed for existing LPNs to transition to RN with $22$ nursing credits.
• New Curriculum (FL 25):
    * PN Portion: Includes NURS $112$, NURS $122$ (Semester $1$) and NURS $132$, NURS $142$ (Semester $2$).
    * RN Portion: Includes NURS $212$, NURS $222$ (Semester $3$) and NURS $232$, NURS $242$ (Semester $4$).

Admission Requirements and Prerequisites

• Standardized Testing: Minimum scores for ENG $101$ and Math $128$ placement include ACT English ($\ge 19$), ACT Math ($\ge 22$), SAT English ($\ge 480$), or SAT Math ($\ge 530$).
• TEAS 7 Score: A composite score of $82\%$ or higher guarantees admission; a minimum score of $60$ is required to apply.
• CNA Requirement: Applicants must be a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) listed on the registry and have passed the state exam.
• General Education: Must complete ENG $101$, PSYC $101$, HEAL $109$, BIO $250$, BIO $251$, BIO $240$, COMM $101$, and NURS $100$ with a grade of "C" or better.
• GPA: A cumulative GPA of $2.0$ or higher is required on course-specific general education requirements.

Application and Contingencies

• Deadlines: Applications are accepted Oct $15$-$31$ for Spring start and March $15$-$31$ for Fall start.
• No Waiting List: Students are ranked by test scores, GPA, and residency if not guaranteed admission via high TEAS scores.
• Final Prerequisites: Admission is contingent upon a background check, drug screen, and proof of immunity or immunizations.

Success Statistics and Accreditation

• Accreditation: Joliet Junior College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission; the nursing program is ACEN accredited through $2032$.
• NCLEX Pass Rates (First-time):
    * RN ($2023$): $97\%$
    * PN ($2024$): $99\%$
• Simulation Labs: Features equipment mimicking hospital settings where students practice skills using manikins that produce life-like sounds (heart, lung, blood pressure) and vocalizations.

Professional Roles and Nursing Practice

• Roles involve community education on health prevention, protecting client rights, and collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Students are expected to manage $3$-$4$ days of class or clinical per week plus significant homework, making full-time work difficult without strong time management skills.