Nursing

Admission Requirements

Information Session  
Applicants seeking admission to the Nursing Program are required to attend an information session the academic year they are submitting their application.  
High School Diploma, GED or HiSET  
Minimum College GPA of 2.7   
TEAS Scores  
Reading: 67 
Math: 65  
Science: 60  
English: 60

Students may take the TEAS exam a total of two times within a 12-month period.  Test scores are valid for three years. The TEAS can be taken at any testing center.

Additional Criteria for Acceptance
Applicants must also meet the following additional criteria for acceptance into the nursing program:         

Prerequisite Courses	English Composition I: completion with a grade of B-minus or better within the past ten (10) years.     Math: completion of College Algebra, Pre-calculus or Statistics with a grade of B- minus or better in within the past five (5) years.     General Psychology: completion with a grade of C or better within the past five (5) years.   Anatomy & Physiology I: completion with a grade of B- minus or better within the past three (3) years.   General Biology: completion with a grade of C+ or better within the past  five (5) years. ACS 102 – College Experience: Only required for students with fewer than six (6) college credits.
Post-Acceptance Requirements	All Nursing students are required to attend a New Student Orientation at Roxbury Community College. Students who fail to complete the orientation or attend in its entirety, will be withdrawn from the program.
Immunizations	The RCC Nursing Program follows the immunization requirements set forth by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Immunizations are mandatory for Nursing students and documentation must be entered by the student into the CastleBranch system, a secure online platform that stores student records, streamlining the paperwork process. Students are responsible to ensure their own status regarding compliance in CastleBranch.  The following immunizations are mandatory:      MMR – this requirement is only satisfied by submitting either a. A Measles IgG and Rubella IgG titer showing immunity OR b. Two MMR vaccinations must be documented.    Varicella – this requirement is only satisfied by submitting either a. A Varicella titer showing immunity OR b. Two Varicella vaccinations must be documented NOTE: Having had Chicken Pox DOES NOT satisfy requirement; Varicella Titer is required.    Hepatitis B a. Three (3) vaccinations should be documented for Hepatitis B AND b. Serologic testing for Hepatitis B Surface Antibody. This means you must have your blood drawn to show if you are immune to Hepatitis B vaccine. A copy of your lab result must be attached.    Tetanus Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) (one dose is required.)    Tetanus-Diphtheria (Td) a. Affirmation of diphtheria/tetanus booster must be documented. This booster is only valid for 10 years.    Tuberculosis Screening a. All students are required to get PPD plants until completion of the program. b. There is a two-step requirement for PPD/Tuberculosis Screening upon admission to the Nursing program. c. All students are required to have PPD plants within 12 weeks of the start of each semester Fall Semester between the dates of June 15th – July 15th Spring Semester between the dates of November 1st and November 24th d. With a history of a positive result, a copy of chest x-ray results, date of TB med counseling or treatment, and symptom screen must be attached. A clear chest x-ray is valid for 10 years. Students must obtain a TB symptom screening 12 weeks prior to the start of each semester.    Flu Shot: Annual flu shots are required and due by October 1st.    Meningitis: all students under 21 years of age must have a meningitis immunization.   Students who fail to supply proof of their immunizations and other documents indicating their medical clearance will be withdrawn from the program. This is a requirement that is necessary to start the Nursing Program and to progress through the program each semester.
Background Checks	All Nursing Program students must submit to Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sexual Offender Registry Information (SORI) background checks in accordance with Massachusetts state regulations.
Basic Life Support/Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation	All Nursing Program students must show proof of current BLS/CPR certification for adults and children.
Physical Exam	Physical exams are required prior to the start of the program. The student’s health care provider must certify that they are mentally and physically able to perform the role of the student nurse according to the Nursing Program technical requirements and complete the RCC physical form.
Physical Requirements	Students enrolled in the Nursing Program at Roxbury Community College are required to be in good physical and mental/emotional health. Physical health is defined as being able to perform fine and gross motor skills, being able to perform normal weight bearing activities, and free of a communicable disease. Emotional health is defined as reacting appropriately to stressful situations, understanding one’s own ability to cope with stressful situations, and behaving appropriately within the current environment. The Nursing Program has reasonable expectations of students to perform common nursing functions.       Students must be able to meet the requirements to apply for admission and for continuation in the Nursing Program. A physical examination by a healthcare provider and requested immunizations are required for program participation. Applicants should present the program’s Technical Standards to their healthcare provider for review at the time of the physical examination. The healthcare provider must sign the RCC physical form certifying that the student meets the listed requirements.      In the case of a qualified individual with a documented disability, appropriate and reasonable accommodations will be made unless to do so would fundamentally alter the essential training elements, cause undue hardship, or produce a direct threat to the safety of the patient or student.

Curriculum Summary

The curriculum includes general education courses that provide a sound theoretical base for nursing practice. Prerequisite general education courses are required to be completed prior to admission to the Nursing Program. Co-requisite general education courses and nursing (NUR) courses must be completed according to the sequence outlined below in the Nursing Program Plan of Study. Students do have the option to complete all general education courses prior to applying to the Nursing Program. Students must achieve a percentage of (77) or better in all nursing (NUR) courses in order to pass the course. Students may apply for readmission to the Nursing Program only once. Transfer credits from other Nursing Programs are not accepted.

The Nursing Program curriculum model is concept-based and is structured with exemplars that build from simple to complex. Emphasis is placed on the development of clinical judgment. Clinical, lab, and simulation experiences are concurrent with didactic experiences in each nursing course.

Students who wish to apply to the Nursing Program will be placed in the Health Careers major, and will complete the Nursing Program prerequisite general education courses prior to submitting an application for admission. For information on the specific admission requirements of the Nursing Program, please visit the Roxbury Community College Nursing application webpage.

Information Sessions

The next Information Session will be held virtually on Monday, October 28, 2024, at 6:00PM. Please check back regularly for additional dates to be added throughout the spring semester and before the application deadline.

Register Today

Interested in a career in Nursing?

RCC Health Sciences Division will hold a series of Information Session meetings to answer your questions, such as:

How do I prepare for the TEAS exam?
What are the admission requirements for the nursing programs?
What can I do to increase the chances of being selected for admission?
When will applications be available, and when can they be submitted?

Potential Career Path

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 9% from 2020 to 2030. Hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient medical clinics, community health centers, school health services and home care medical services are just a few examples of the wide range of job placements and opportunities for nursing graduates.

Transfer

Transferring your ASN Degree from RCC to state and private colleges is done on a college-by-college basis. There are specific nursing entrance requirements for admission. Students are encouraged to meet with a transfer admissions rep at the four-year college/university of interest to discuss potential for transfer once having completed RCC’s Nursing program.

Program Faculty

Full-Time
Sileshi Mebrate, MSN, BSN	Intermediate Med/Surg and Mental Health Nursing Maternity, Newborn and Pediatric Concepts
Angela Pasquantonio, MSN, BSN, ADN, LPN	Intermediate Med/Surg and Mental Health Nursing Maternity, Newborn and Pediatric Concepts
Perpetua Saint-Louis, DNP, MSN, BSN, LPN	Fundamentals and Gerontologic Concepts of Nursing Intermediate Med/Surg and Mental Health Nursing
Part-Time (Adjunct)
Priscilla Bolte, MSN, BSN	Fundamentals and Gerontologic Concepts of Nursing Intermediate Med/Surg and Mental Health Nursing
Ivandro Cardoso, BSN, ADN	Maternity, Newborn and Pediatric Concepts Lab and Clinical Instructor
Vanessa Fernandes, MSN, FNP, BSN, ADN	Maternity, Newborn and Pediatric Concepts Lab and Clinical Instructor
Maria Gallesyan, MSN, BSN, MS	Clinical Instructor, Fundamentals
MaryLee Marra, MSN, BSN, Diploma	Maternity, Newborn and Pediatric Concepts Lab and Clinical Instructor Tutor
Kerri O’Regan, MSN, BSN	Fundamentals and Gerontologic Concepts Lab of Nursing Clinical Simulation Instructor
Gloria Harris Cater, PhD, FNP, MDiv	Dean of Nursing

FAQs

If I become a Licensed Practical Nurse – can I continue my education at RCC to become an associate degree nurse (eligible to be RN)?	Yes, LPN’s are encouraged to apply. Our Advanced Placement policy only pertains to General Education courses. All nursing courses must be completed at RCC. See Advanced Placement Policy.
What is the current salary for people in health care careers?	Local registered nurses are making over $30 per hour to start, more with experience. There is extra pay for evening and night shifts, holidays, and weekends. Radiologic technologists make comparable pay. Local LPNs are making over $25 to start – more with experience. There is extra pay for evening and night shifts, holidays, and weekends. Mental health workers often work in group homes or acute care and often make between $20 an hour. Remember – the majority of nurses and other health care workers work some evenings or nights, and some weekends and holidays. Illness does not stop for holidays!
Are there jobs available for people in health careers?	There are MANY available jobs. There is a local and national shortage of nurses and mental health workers. Health care will be one of the professions in great demand for years to come.
I have experience as a nurse aide or EMT or in the Armed Services – Do I get advanced placement?	No. These trainings prepare you in basic care or specialized skills only. The college health care curricula are at higher levels.
Can I enter the health career programs directly from high school? Or can I transfer credits from another educational institution? What about advanced placement?	Yes. There are college level courses as pre-requisites for entry to the associate degree nurse curriculum that must be successfully completed before applying. Please see your advisor for more information.
How much time/energy does the successful nursing student devote to study?	The nursing programs at RCC are academically demanding. The students in the day programs are in class, lab or clinical 4 or 5 days a week. There is extensive reading and homework requirements. A successful student spends 2 hours studying for every 1 hour of lecture or lab. Students often go to the hospital on the evening before their clinical assignment to do research on the patients they will care for. We often tell students that being a student nurse is like having a full time job- it takes just as much time. Nursing students are in clinical for about six hours a day.
Can I work for pay while in the nursing programs?	Some students work part time. We recommend that you plan to do most of your work for pay part-time, on weekends and on school vacation time. Students who are working full time have a very difficult time devoting enough time to their nursing studies. They sometimes regret not planning better. We suggest working part-time for no more than 20 hours per week.
What are the costs of a health career education at RCC? How can I afford school?	Please use this link for updated college tuition and fees. There are some additional fees for allied health students and additional costs such as books, uniforms, immunizations, CPR certification, licensure application fees, and preparation course costs for the licensure exam. The greatest outside cost is books – students who are accepted into the program will be given a detailed summary of costs. Please remember to plan for additional personal expenses that will make it easier for you to be successful in the nursing program, for example, day care.
What advantages are there to a health career education at RCC?	RCC offers you the opportunity to have health care experiences at some of the finest hospitals in the United States. We have student placements at Mass General-Brigham Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconness, Boston Children's Hospital, and Boston Medical Center, to name a few. We also have clinical experiences in the community. RCC offers an affordable option to higher education. Our programs are relatively small and our full time faculty ratio is high – giving you more individual attention. The nursing faculty is diverse and reflects the student population at RCC. Faculty is sensitive to student’s cultural needs. Faculty recognizes that students are adults with work and family commitments. We take a personal interest in you and your success. We have faculty-led supplemental instruction sessions and mentoring programs, pairing you with a student further along in the program. We offer articulations with many Boston area colleges and universities- giving you the smoothest possible path to BS and MS degrees.
Can I attend the program part time? What about evenings or weekends?	No, we are currently only offering a full-time day program.
Are there men in the health programs?	Absolutely, yes. About 15% of our nursing students are men and there are both men and women in the mental health worker and radiology programs. There are equal career opportunities for both men and women.
What if I completed some or all of my education in another country?	The Boston Welcome Back Center can help individuals who have received health care training and education from other countries. Please contact them at 617-228-4226 or by email at welcomeback@bhcc.mass.edu Graduates of schools of nursing in other countries who want to take the National Licensure Exam (NCLEX) to practice nursing in the United States should contact: Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools 3600 Market Street, Suite 400 Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651 Tele: (215) 349-8767 www.cgfns.org At Roxbury Community College - a dedicated faculty will work with you to help you succeed academically. If you have further questions – come to one of our information sessions. Call the Division of Nursing, at 857-701-1638 for the time and date of the next open house/information session.

Program Learning Outcomes

Apply the Nursing Process and Evidence Based Practice to provide high quality, safe patient care to diverse clients with actual, and potential health problems throughout the life cycle.
Communicate therapeutically with clients, families, and health care team members to assist in the achievement of health promotion, disease prevention, illness management and adaptation from the beginning of life to the end of life.
Promote the health of diverse clients and their families throughout the life cycle through the implementation of effective teaching plans.
Collaborate with other health care professionals and demonstrate leadership and management skills at the individual and organizational level.
Demonstrate clinical reasoning, professional attributes, and accountability throughout nursing practice.
Use evidence-based information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error and support decision making.

Nursing

Nursing

RCC has a longstanding tradition of providing exceptional training in the field of health sciences. Here are just a few of the many reasons you should consider joining RCC’s Nursing Program:

Program Details

Full-Time

Part-Time (Adjunct)