Associate Degree Nursing Accelerated Program for Licensed Practical Nurses and Paramedics

The Associate Degree Nursing Accelerated Program for Licensed Practical Nurses and Paramedics is designed to move the practical nurses and Paramedics through four semesters of nursing courses in 3 semesters of full-time study. A student’s success is predicated upon two conditions:  that he/she completes some of the required general education courses before enrolling; and, that the faculty of the College effectively measures the student’s beginning abilities and knowledge. A transitional semester assists students in mastering first-year ADN objectives that have not been previously achieved. Successful completion of this term allows students to begin the regular second-year ADN program.

MCC’s program prepares graduates for beginning staff level positions as registered nurses. A graduate receives an Associate of Applied Science Degree and is eligible to apply to take the Examination for licensure as a registered nurse. This program is accredited by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc., 3343 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA, 30326, 1-404-975-5000, nlnac.org (continuing accreditation with revisit in eight years, scheduled for 2018).

 Legal limitations for licensure as a registered nurse:

Information related to applying for licensure to practice as a registered nurse, upon completion of the Associate Degree Nursing Program, is contained in the Mississippi Nursing Practice Law and Rules and Regulations.  Graduates must apply to the Mississippi Board of Nursing to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®). Applicants to the Associate Degree Nursing Program should be aware of the following restriction regarding who may qualify to write the NCLEX-RN®:

“The Board may, in its discretion, refuse to accept the application of any person who has been convicted of a criminal offense under any provision of Title 97 of the Mississippi code of 1972, as now or hereafter amended, or any provision of this chapter.”*  *Mississippi Nursing Practice Law

The program includes a balance of general education and nursing courses along with planned experiences in patient care. Students learn basic nursing techniques in the college laboratory and care for patients in affiliated hospitals and other clinical agencies.

Mississippi Law now requires healthcare professionals or Career Technical Education students enrolled in programs whose primary purpose is to prepare professionals to render patient care services, submit to criminal background checks, and fingerprinting prior to beginning any clinical rotation in a licensed healthcare entity. If such fingerprinting or criminal background checks of the student discloses a felony conviction, guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere to a felony of possession or sale of drugs, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, sexual battery, sex offense listed in Section 45-31-3 (I), child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust, aggravated assault or felonious abuse and/or battery of a vulnerable adult which has not been reversed on appeal or for which a pardon has not been granted, the student shall not be eligible to be admitted to such health program of study or will not be eligible to participate in clinical training in a licensed entity. The student’s eligibility to participate in the clinical training phase of their healthcare program shall be voided if the student receives a disqualifying criminal record check; therefore, the student will be dismissed from the nursing program.  

In addition to regular college tuition and fees, students will have additional expenses for clinical apparel, standardized tests, background checks, drug screening, organizational dues, books and insurance. A detailed cost sheet is available from the program coordinator. Students are responsible for their own transportation between the College and clinical agencies.

Progression: A grade of “C” for each nursing course listed in the nursing curriculum (NUR courses plus general education courses) and a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (“C” average) or higher on all college courses are necessary to progress and to graduate from the Associate Degree Nursing Program. In addition, students must demonstrate a satisfactory pattern of behavior according to the “Criteria for Responsible Behavior,” published in the Associate Degree Nursing Student Handbook.