Kingsborough Community College Nursing Program Review

Kingsborough Community College (KBCC, KCC) is located in Brooklyn, which is a borough of New York City. This college is Brooklyn’s only community college. It is part of the City University of New York (CUNY). Over 38,000 students attend this college. The student body is very diverse with students from over 100 countries who speak more than 65 languages. A large percentage of students who attend Kingsborough continue their education after graduation to earn a bachelor’s degree. The campus is located on the Atlantic Ocean and Jamaica Bay and Sheepshead Bay on 71 acres.

Nursing Program

Associate of Applied Science in Nursing

Applicants to the nursing program at Kingsborough Community College must first be admitted to the college and then complete prerequisite courses before being considered for the nursing program. Kingsborough has open admission to the general college courses, but the nursing program is selective due to the large number of applications received each year. To be admitted to the college, applicants must be high school graduates or must have their GED diploma. There is an application fee that must be sent to the Admissions Office along with proof of immunizations. Because there are many immigrants and foreign students in New York, proof of immigration status is required for non-citizens of the United States.

New students at Kingsborough must take placement tests to determine whether or not remedial courses are required in math or English. Students must have basic skills equivalent to a beginning college level before going to the next step in their education, which is to complete the Pre-Clinical Component of the nursing program. These courses consist of English, Psychology, Biology, and another Science course. A grade point average of 2.5 in these four courses, plus a B in one of the two science courses must be earned to be considered for the nursing program. In addition, students need to take and pass the National League for Nursing Pre-Admission RN examination (PAX-RN) before being admitted to the nursing program.

Applicants also need to pass the CUNY Assessment test or meet all requirements for the ACT in Reading and Writing and for Mathematics developmental coursework. Admittance to the nursing program depends on the space available, as well as the applicant’s Pre-Clinical course average and scores from the PAX-RN. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) have the opportunity to be assigned to Advanced Placement for Licensed Practical Nurses. They may receive credit for several courses by passing the National League for Nursing Accelerated Challenge Exam (ACE).

Students in the nursing program are expected to be of good moral character. Students must have criminal background checks and may not be granted licensure as a Registered Nurse if he or she has been convicted of a felony or other crime. Kingsborough does not require criminal background checks as an admission requirement, but the clinical sites where nursing students gain their clinical experience usually do require these before students are allowed near patients. If a student is dismissed from a clinical site because of a failed background check, they are also dropped from the nursing program.

Before starting clinical experience, nursing students must also have physical examinations and all immunizations that are required. They must be physically and mentally healthy without any addiction to drugs, alcohol, or behavior altering substances. Students must be able to lift, push, bend, stand, and walk for many hours during the day during their clinical experience, and they will also be required to do this during their careers as Registered Nurses. Students must also carry malpractice insurance that may be purchased from the college. In addition, they must have CPR certification. It is also required that students pass the Drug Calculation Test, which is part of the course Drug Calculation in Nursing, with a minimum score of 80 percent.

Completing the nursing program at Kingsborough Community College takes five semesters, which is less than many colleges require for an AAS in Nursing. However, the Pre-Clinical courses must be taken into account, and completing these takes at least one full semester. Students who require remedial courses may need to take two or three courses to complete these as well. Once a student is taking nursing courses, there is a summer session that is also required. After completing all nursing courses and clinical experience work, students will be prepared to take the NCLEX-RN, the national exam that is required for licensure as a Registered Nurse.

Attending Kingsborough Community College provides the unique opportunity for students in the nursing program to live and attend school in New York City. Although there are not housing facilities on the campus, students can choose to live in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, or in any other area of the city. Transportation is easy with the subway system stopping close to the college. Another advantage of attending this community college is that there are many hospitals and healthcare facilities in this very large city. This enables students to have a wide variety of clinical experiences to prepare them for their career. If a student wants to continue his or her education, it is easy to transfer to another CUNY college that offers a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Kingsborough Community College offers child care facilities for those with young children. This service makes it possible for many women to enroll in the college who would not ordinarily be able to do so. The cost of tuition is low, and most students qualify for some financial aid, depending on their income. Another way that the college makes earning a degree possible for many students is through the student tutoring that is offered. This is helpful to students who are completing their pre-nursing or remedial coursework. Once a student in enrolled in the nursing program, he or she may request help from faculty members. Nursing students are expected to spend time after class in labs to practice skills that will be needed in their career.

Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)

Kingsborough also offers a Certified Nurse Aide program that requires 96 classroom hours and 30 hours of supervised clinical experience. CNAs assist RNs and LPNs with direct patient care. After completion of this program, students qualify to take the New York State Certified Nurse Aide examination.

Contact:
Kingsborough Community College-CUNY
2001 Oriental Boulevard,
Brooklyn, New York 11235-2398
(718) 265-5343