GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Students who successfully complete the nursing program within the maximum time frame may be awarded the academic credential, Associate of Science in Registered Nursing for the LPN to RN program.

The following requirements must also be met before the credential will be awarded:

• Pass every course in the program with a grade of 80% or higher;
• Earn a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 80%;
• Return all library books and course materials on loan.
• Pay all financial obligations owed to the college; and,
• Pay the $400 graduation fee.

   

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DISCLOSURE

Upon successful completion of the LPN to RN Associate Degree Nursing Program, graduates may apply for licensure and sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to become Licensed Registered Nurses.

STUDENT COMPLAINT AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

Best Care College makes every effort to provide a supportive environment and respects the rights of all students. It is the college's practice to address the concerns of any complainant fairly and objectively in an attempt to equitably resolve his or her grievance.

A student should first bring a grievance to their instructor or to the immediate supervisor of the individual against whom the complaint is being made. For example, if you have a complaint against an instructor, you should bring the concern to the Director. If the concern is not resolved or if the student is dissatisfied with the resolution of the concern, he/she may submit a written complaint to the Grievance (Appeals) Committee, whose three members are appointed by the College CEO/College Director or his/her designee. If the student feels the complaint is not resolved by the committee to the student's satisfaction, the student may pursue his or her grievance up to the level of Best Care College's CEO/College Director. If the student's complaint is against the CEO/College Director, the student may lodge a complaint directly with the Best Care College Board of Directors through the Director of Corporate Compliance at jean.plaisir@bestcarecollege.edu.

A student has five (5) school days from the time the concern arose to begin this procedure. The college has ten (10) business days in which to attempt to resolve it unless additional time is reasonably needed. The student will be advised of the college's need for additional time and the reason. If the complaint is not resolved to the student's satisfaction after exhausting the college's grievance procedure, the student may file a formal, written complaint with the New Jersey Board of Nursing, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (NJ), or with both. Contact information for each of these agencies is listed below.

Office of the Secretary of Higher Education PO Box 542 Trenton, NJ 08625-0542 Tel : 609-292- 4310 www.OSHE@oshe.nj.gov

New Jersey Board of Nursing 124 Halsey Street, 6th Floor Newark, NJ 07101 Tel: 973-504-6430 www.njconsumeraffairs.gov

 

ORGANIZING FRAMEWORK, PHILOSOPHY, PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, & PROGRAM OUTCOMES

ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK:  The writings of the nursing theorist, Virginia Henderson, reflect the faculty’s beliefs and provide the agreed-upon organizing framework for the college’s Associate of Science in Registered Nursing. Henderson’s tenets are the major philosophical concepts that were incorporated in developing and shaping the curriculum.

PHILOSOPHY:  Best Care College embraces the following faculty beliefs regarding nursing, humans, health, environment, teaching learning and the role of graduates of the Associate of Science in Registered Nursing degree program.

NURSING: Nursing is a process of caring for, or assisting in the care of, individuals, families, and groups in a variety of settings utilizing clinical competency, cultural sensitivity, critical thinking strategies, and effective communication skills. Nursing is a partnership, together the nurse and the patient plan care based on best evidence with input from the multidisciplinary team. Nursing strives to meet the patient’s basic needs until the patient achieves independence or when the patient is dying, to provide care relative to a peaceful dignified death.

HUMANS:   Humans are diverse and unique beings with certain basic needs and predictable behaviors individuated by biological, social, physical, cultural and spiritual interactions throughout life which help to shape their values and beliefs. Humans belong to families, groups, and communities forming societies that share a variety of common concepts and dynamic goals that evolve as their needs and interests change. They also interface with healthcare at different levels. Collective interactions provide forces which develop societal changes. These changes affect the rights and responsibilities of individuals and the values and expectations placed on health care.

HEALTH:   Health is a state of being in which an individual strives to maintain a homeostatic relationship with both his/her internal and external environments. Health is influenced by age, culture, physical ability, and intellect. It is more than the absence of a disease. It is viewed on a continuum ranging from no disease and totally healthy to very unhealthy and death. Health also includes meeting physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs independently or with assistance. Nurses provide care to help meet the patient’s basic needs along the continuum, from illness prevention to end of life care.

ENVIRONMENT:  The environment is dynamic and constantly changing. It is more than the setting where the person is located. The environment includes relationships with others including family and the community. It has internal and external components which influence human development and health. It also impacts beliefs, values, and personality. Nurses help to provide a safe environment by anticipatory guidance, patient teaching, and environmental modification during the provision of care to meet basic needs.

TEACHING/LEARNING:  Teaching/learning is an ongoing process built upon a foundation of basic knowledge and concepts along with clinical interactions which prepare graduates to achieve entry level competencies. The teaching/learning process incorporates systematic activities directed toward learning concepts and achievement of specific educational objectives. Nursing faculty and students mutually assume active roles and willingly commit to this endeavor. Faculty members assist students by providing an environment which supports critical thinking and communication skills. Education includes well-defined learning objectives, current and inn3ovative teaching methods, and unambiguous evaluation of student progress.

ROLE OF THE ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE IN REGISTERED NURSING DEGREE NURSE

The faculty identify the role of the graduate from the degree program, as an entry level professional nurse, is to provide quality and safe care to meet the 14 basic human needs as identified by Virginia Henderson. To do so, the graduate as a professional nurse will utilize critical thinking, collaborate with other health care professionals, communicate effectively with patients and families, advocate for patients, and utilize healthcare technology. This nurse will also practice ethically and within the legal parameters of the state’s scope of practice in a variety of settings. In addition, this nurse will continue to engage in professional development to enhance his or her role as a nurse and to facilitate lifelong learning. The Best Care College Associate of Science Degree in Registered Nursing can serve as a stepping-stone to further education as a BSN or higher.

 

PROGRAM OUTCOMES:

1. The annual (January 1 to December 31) NCLEX RN pass rate for graduates of the Associate of Science in Registered Nursing (LPN to RN) Program will be at least 80% for all first-time test-takers.
2. Eighty-five percent (85%) of the graduates will report employment as a registered professional nurse within nine (9) months of graduation.
3. Sixty percent (60%) of all students who begin in the first nursing course in the Associate of Science in Registered Nursing (LPN to RN) Program will complete the program within five (5) trimesters, which is 100% of the usual timeframe for the program.

 

THE END-OF PROGRAM-STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES, EPSLOs (Program Objectives)

Upon completion of the Associate of Science in Registered Nursing LPN to RN program the student will:

1. Collaborate with members of the health care team in promoting relationship-centered care to enhance quality and safety.
2. Interrelate theories and concepts from nursing, humanities, and biological and social sciences in the care of diverse individuals, families, and communities.
3. Practice from a spirit of inquiry utilizing evidence-based research in critical thinking and in the decision­making process.
4. Engage in personal and professional development activities to help facilitate life-long learning.
5. Employ leadership skills, to question underlying assumptions and challenge the status quo to find new methodologies to improve care for patients, families, and communities.
6. Promote human flourishing by upholding the values of caring, advocacy, and patient-centeredness, in providing safe and quality care for diverse patients within a family and community context.
7. Incorporate select health information technology in the practice of nursing to make informed clinical decisions.

REFUNDS

Title IV Student Financial Aid Funds (when available) cannot be used to pay the initial fees of $3,000.00.

Cancellation and Refund Policy: Any refund due because of cancellation of this Enrollment Agreement or because of withdrawal from the college will be made according to the applicable category of the following criteria:

 

Any applicant or student seeking to cancel this enrollment Agreement must do so in writing. That written request must be submitted directly to the CEO/College Director or to the Associate of Science in Registered Nursing (LPN to RN) Program Director.

• An applicant requesting cancellation of this Enrollment Agreement within 3 business days after signing it is entitled to a full refund of all monies paid.

• A student requesting cancellation more than 72 hours after signing the enrollment agreement but before starting any courses in the program is entitled to a full refund less the $100.00 registration fee.

• A student seeking to cancel enrollment will not receive a refund for scrub suits, uniforms, shoes, books, and online resources if used.

Any other student who wishes to withdraw should notify either of the above college administrators in writing and include the effective date of the withdrawal. If a student fails to provide written notice of his or her intent to withdraw but stops attending classes, the calculation of any refund will be based on the student's last known day of attendance in class, in lab, or at a clinical session.

• If Withdrawal occurs within 72 hours after the official start date of the student's program but within the first week of studies, any amount paid will be refunded, less the $100 registration fee.

• If Withdrawal occurs more than 72 hours after the official start date of program but within the first week of studies, any amount in excess of 10% of the amount of tuition paid will be refunded.

• If Withdrawal occurs during the second week of any Trimester of the program, any amount in excess of

20% of tuition paid for that trimester will be refunded.

• If Withdrawal occurs during the third week of any Trimester of the program, any amount in excess of

40% of tuition paid for that trimester will be refunded.

• If Withdrawal occurs during the fourth week of any Trimester of the program, any amount in excess of

60% of tuition paid for that trimester will be refunded.

• If Withdrawal occurs during the fifth week of any Trimester of the program, any amount in excess of

80% of tuition paid for that trimester will be refunded.

• If Withdrawal occurs during the sixth week of any Trimester of the program, any amount in excess of

90% of tuition paid for that trimester will be refunded.

• If Withdrawal occurs during the seventh week of any Trimester of the program, no refund is due on payment done on that trimester.

Any refund due will be made within 30 days of the effective date of the withdrawal or the student's last date of attendance.

 

Refunds shall be made to the student or to any state, local or federal agency that paid tuition or fees for the student.

Each refund shall be accompanied by a “Refund Calculation Form” which shall be signed by a school representative.

Title IV Financial Aid Return Policy: Title IV financial aid eligibility must be re-calculated for any student who has been awarded or has received Title IV funding while enrolled at the institution and who withdraws or is withdrawn. The recalculation must be done using a pro-rata formula required by the U. S. Department of Education (ED); that formula is called the “Return to Title IV” or the “R2T4” formula.

A student must “earn” the full amount of financial aid originally approved for him or her by attending at least 60% of the academic term. When a student withdraws, or is withdrawn, the institution, using a form and guidelines provided by ED, must calculate how much Title IV aid the student has earned as of the effective date of the withdrawal. It calculates how much, if any, money the institution must return to ED and the amount of money, if any, a student must repay to ED.

The institution will multiply the total amount of Title IV aid that was disbursed to or could have been disbursed to the student for the academic term by the percent of time the student was actually enrolled and attending (the completion percentage).

For R2T4 purposes, Title IV financial aid is considered disbursed if the aid has been credited to the student’s account or paid directly to the student or parent on or before the date that the student withdrew.

The completion percentage is determined by the formula: “Clock Hours Scheduled to Complete as of the Date of Withdrawal / Total Clock Hours in Academic Term.” If the calculated completion percentage is greater than 60%, the student has earned all the Title IV aid for the academic term.

The dollar result of the R2T4 calculation is the pro-rated portion of Title IV aid that the student earned: “Total Aid Disbursed x Completion Percentage = Earned Aid”

Amount of Title IV Aid to be Disbursed or Returned

• If the Title IV aid already disbursed equals the aid earned, no further action is required.

<>• If the Title IV aid already disbursed is more than the aid earned, the difference must be returned to the appropriate Title IV student financial aid program.

• If the aid already disbursed is less than the earned aid, the Financial Aid Office must calculate and issue a post-withdrawal disbursement.

Any student who is due a post-withdrawal disbursement will be notified within 30 days of the effective date of withdrawal or, if applicable, 30 days from the date the school learned that the student would not be returning to the school. In that notification, the student will be advised, if applicable, of how much of the disbursement must be applied to outstanding institutional charges. The post-withdrawal disbursement will be made within 45 days of either of the referenced dates.

Return Order of Title IV Funds: The institution returns unearned Title IV funds to the appropriate program in the order required by the U. S. Department of Education. These funds will be returned as follows:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans

• Federal Direct Subsidized Loans

• Federal Direct PLUS Loans (Parent)

• Federal Pell Grant

• SEOG

• Perkins

Institution’s Responsibilities Regarding the Return of Title IV Funds Policy:

Best Care College is responsible for the following:

• Providing each of its students with the information contained in this policy;

• Identifying those students affected by the policy and completing the Return of Title IV Funds calculations;

• Advising the affected student of the result of the calculation for him or her and of any balance he or she owes to the school as a result of the required return of Title IV funds;

• Returning any unearned Title IV aid that is due back to the Title IV programs and, if applicable, informing the borrower’s holder of Federal loan funds of the student’s withdrawal date; and,

• If applicable, notifying the student and/or the PLUS parent borrower of student’s eligibility for a post-withdrawal disbursement.

                                                                                       

Students’ Responsibilities Regarding the Return of Title IV Funds Policy:

Each student of Best Care College is responsible for the following:

• Being familiar with the Return of Title IV Funds policy and how withdrawal from all courses may affect eligibility for Title IV aid; and,

• Settling any outstanding balance owed to the school resulting from the required return of unearned Title IV aid.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS (Promotion)

The student must achieve a grade of 80% in the lecture component of every course and pass the associated laboratory and clinical components for each course. The student must also achieve a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 80% for the program and complete the program in the maximum time frame. Students are required to satisfactorily complete required courses in each trimester prior to promotion to the next trimester.

TRANSFER OF CREDIT POLICY

Best Care College will consider accepting transfer credits for the general education courses as indicated below, provided that each course was earned from a nationally or regionally accredited institution; that the course is comparable in content and duration to the course offered by Best Care College; and, that the course grade earned was “B” (80%) or higher and completed in the last 2 years

The student may transfer up to two courses, or one CLEP (as noted below) and one course that meets the above criteria.

Upon successful completion of the Associate of Science in Registered Nursing (LPN-RN) curriculum, students will receive nine (9) credits for their LPN education.

READMISSION POLICY

A student who has left the Associate of Science in Registered Nursing (LPN-RN) program must submit a letter to the Program Director requesting readmission. A student may be readmitted only once, based on space availability. Any student who was dismissed a second time is not eligible to reapply. An eligible student will be considered for readmission only if all previously owed monies have been paid. A readmitted student must complete the program within the maximum time frame (MTF) and must meet all admission and enrollment criteria in place at the time of their readmission.

Students who have left the program and have not returned with the next class/cohort are to meet with the Director to develop a plan to evaluate and, if needed, sharpen skills, and increase knowledge to be successful upon their return to the program. A contract will be formalized and signed by the student and the Director. The Director will monitor relative to the contract. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions in the contract may lead to dismissal.