Upon acceptance to BHSON, enrollment is contingent upon successful completion of the following:
Successful completion of criminal background check:
SH/BHSON contracts with PreCheck, Inc., a healthcare specific background screening and ongoing monitoring service, to conduct comprehensive background checks. Background checks include national, state and county level criminal record searches, national sex offender registry search, and sanction checks through state and federal agencies. Additional or follow-up background checks may be required of some students and/or by some clinical agencies, the cost of which will be the responsibility of the student unless determined otherwise by SH/BHSON.
Unless otherwise provided by law, a criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from admission. Rather, determination of suitability based on background checks will be made consistent with SHBHSON policy, clinical agency requirements and any applicable laws and regulations. Follow-up background checks and/or additional screenings (i.e.; fingerprinting, drug testing) may be required by some clinical agencies. Students must be aware that some clinical agencies may have access to higher level background check information per state and federal regulations. Depending on results of any of the above-mentioned background checks, a person’s eligibility to participate in the SH/BHSON program may be affected.
Students must also understand that prior to taking the NCLEX-RN exam they must demonstrate compliance with the Massachusetts Good Moral Character Requirements for RN Licensure, which could require investigation/verification of applicants’ criminal and/or Department of Children and Families (DCF) background.
Please note: A Social Security Number is required for RN licensure. Pursuant to G.L.c. 30A, s. 13A and G.L.c. 62C, s. 47A, the Massachusetts Bureau of Health Professions Licensure is required to obtain a SSN and forward it to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. The Department of Revenue will use your SSN to ascertain whether or not you are in compliance with Massachusetts tax laws (G.L.c. 62C, s. 47A) and child support laws (G.L.c. 119A, s. 16). In the absence of an SSN, applications will not be processed for the NCLEX-RN Exam.
Health Requirements: In compliance with the MA Department of Public Health, MA Department of Education, and Signature Healthcare requirements, incoming students are required to provide documentation of the following in order to participate int he program:
COVID-19 vaccine documentation
Up-to-date Mantoux (TB) results
Up-to-date Tetanus information
MMR titers
Varicella titers
Hepatitis B titers
Signature from primary care physician confirming the student is in good health to participate in the program and maintain program technical standards
Current American Heart Association Health Care Provider certification: SH/BHSON requires all students to have a current American HeartCode BLS Certification (CPR and AED) prior to enrollment, and to maintain this status for the duration of their time at BHSON.
Health Insurance: Enrollment/Eligibility: Massachusetts’ regulations state students enrolled at least 75 percent of full-time credits are required to have health insurance. NOTE: ALL students enrolled at the Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital School of Nursing are required to have health insurance. To ensure compliance, students are automatically enrolled in and billed for the Student Health Insurance Plan. If you are currently insured by a plan that provides comparable coverage, you can waive enrollment. If you miss the waiver deadline you will be enrolled for the policy year. You will be responsible for 100 percent of the student insurance cost. The ONLINE WAIVER PROCESS will be sent out via email to all students by the Fisher College Program Director at the start of the Fall semester.
Annulment of Admission
Admission status may be annulled when:
- Students do not meet the conditions for continuing enrollment
- The admission status was based on documents later found to be fraudulent
- Student do not present evidence of own health insurance
Upon Graduation
Students who successfully complete our nursing program will earn a Diploma in Nursing from SH/BHSON. This enables our graduates to sit for the Massachusetts National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Students may also graduate with an Associate in Science in General Studies from our affiliating partner, Fisher College, depending upon the amount of their transfer credits.
Associate in Science Degree Candidates
Students seeking a Fisher College Associate in Science in General Studies degree must complete a minimum of 30 credits through Fisher College. In addition, the student must transfer into Fisher College the 4 nursing courses with clinical components from their BHSON curriculum. The student may only transfer 3 credits from another accredited educational institution and still be eligible for the Associate in Science Degree.