Associate in Applied Science degrees provide two years of instruction to develop knowledge and skills leading to employment of career advancement in specialized fields. These degrees are not intended as transfer programs.
AWARD: Associate in Applied Science
LENGTH:
4 Semesters
PURPOSE:
The nursing major prepares selected students to qualify as practitioners of technical nursing in a variety of health service facilities. After successful completion of the program, students will be eligible for the National Council Licensure Exam-Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Special Accreditation Status: The program is accredited by the Virginia Board of Nursing and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
OCCUPATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
Employment opportunities for the registered nurse include staff positions in hospitals, nursing homes, health departments, physicians offices, clinics, day care centers, industry, and home health care agencies. Find career related information: Job Opportunities
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
The applicant must meet the following requirements for admission to the required nursing clinical courses (NUR 111, 115, 118, 221, 222, 247, 254). Interested students should contact the nursing office for academic advising.
1. Be accepted as a student to the college.
2. Graduation from high school or satisfactory completion of the GED.
3. Complete the COMPASS test. If scores indicate, the applicant will be required to successfully complete developmental courses before submitting a nursing application.
4. Complete two units of algebra, one unit of Geometry, and two units of high school science to be selected from college prep level classes in biology, chemistry, physics, or high school anatomy and physiology with no grade below a "C." Deficiencies can be made up through approved developmental or college level courses. Deficiencies must be completed before submitting an application.
5. A cumulative college grade point average of 2.5 or better in all related and general education requirements completed before admission into the nursing program courses.
6. After meeting the above criteria, submit an Application for Nursing Program form along with required paperwork, i.e. high school transcripts, college transcripts, etc. during the application period.
7. Pre-RN Admission Examination: The Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) test or equivalent is the final step in the admission process. Once you have met the above criteria and your application file has been approved, you will be scheduled for this test. Applicants must have satisfactory scores in reading, vocabulary, grammar and mathematics.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Applications to the nursing program are processed during the specified application period. As soon as the application and all supporting materials are received in the nursing office, during the application period, the application will be considered. Students who meet the admission criteria for the clinical phase are selected on a first-come, first-served basis. This is decided by the date and time of the qualified applicant's completed application file. If a student meets the admission requirements and there is no space available in the nursing clinical courses, students will be placed on the Ready List according to the date and time of the completed application file. Students will be placed into the nursing clinical courses from the Ready List as spaces become available.
Applicants are responsible for making certain that all application materials are on file in the nursing department. The materials needed are:
1. The completed nursing application.
2. Official transcripts of all secondary school work and all prior college work.
3. Results of the college placement test (ASSET of COMPASS).
Because the nursing program addresses the educational needs of students with a variety of experiences and prior education, a limited number of entering class positions may be designated for experienced Licensed Practical Nurses who graduated from accredited programs or for prospective high school graduates who also have been enrolled at PHCC as part of a nursing department approved program of dual enrollment. Interested high school sophomores should see their counselors in the spring of their sophomore year. Interested high school juniors should see their counselors in the fall of their junior year. All dually enrolled students interested in the PHCC nursing program must have their program of study approved in writing by the PHCC nursing program head.
The typical physical demands of a registered nurse include the following: full range of motion including handling and lifting patients and/or equipment, manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination. The job generally requires standing and walking for extensive periods of time. The registered nurse should be able to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds. The job settings may have stressful conditions and/or irregular hours. There is a potential for exposure to communicable diseases. After admission to the clinical phase, the prospective student is provided with a Nursing Program Physical Examination form that must be completed by a physician prior to enrolling in nursing classes.
Upon admission, all students are required to undergo mandatory drug screening and a criminal background check. Students must have a negative drug screen in order to begin clinical nursing courses. Any charges or costs for drug screening will be the responsibility of the student. Estimated cost of the drug screening is $35.
Please note that the Virginia State Board of Nursing may refuse to admit a candidate to any examination and refuse to issue a license or certificate to any applicant who has been convicted of any felony or any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. Students must produce a satisfactory criminal background check to the standards of all clinical agencies used by the college for experiential learning prior to enrolling in the Associate Degree Nursing program. Any charges or costs to secure the evaluation will be the responsibility of the student (estimated cost $15).
The National League for Nursing Accreditation Council is a resource for information regarding the required tuition, fees and length of nursing programs. They can be contacted at:
National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission
61 Broadway, 33rd Floor
New York, New York 10006
1-800-669-1656
Readmission Requirements: Any student wishing to re-enroll in the nursing clinical courses must have at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average at PHCC to be considered. A student who wishes to re-enter the nursing curriculum must follow the procedure outlined in the Nursing Student Handbook. The student may be required to enroll in and satisfactorily complete specific courses before readmission. Additional data may be required. The nursing faculty will consider each student's application for readmission and the decision to readmit will be based on additional data, prior performance in the nursing program and space availability. Students who fail a nursing course or withdraw for any reason from the Nursing Program may be readmitted to the nursing program only once. All re-admissions are at the discretion of nursing faculty.
Advanced Placement: Licensed Practical Nurses may be eligible for advanced placement. To be considered for advanced placement, an LPN must have:
1. Graduated from accredited practical nursing school.
2. Passed the LPN licensing exam and hold a current license.
LPN's receiving advanced placement will be required to take NUR 115, LPN Transition, (3 credits) prior to taking NUR 118, First Level Nursing II. Please contact the nursing office for additional information.
Financial Requirements: In addition to the usual college tuition and fees, this program requires additional expenses. Approximate costs include:
Uniforms $200
Physical Examination $100
Books $700-$1000
Malpractice Insurance $60
Graduation Pin cost depends on price of gold or silver
AHA BCLS CPR certification $147
Standardized Tests $175
Criminal Background Checks $15
Drug Screening $21
Application for Licensure fees $305
Transportation to clinical agencies, seminars, etc. as required
TRANSFER INFORMATION:
Transfer of Nursing Credit: Students seeking to transfer credit received from nursing courses at other institutions will be considered on an individual basis by the nursing faculty. The student may be asked to provide course descriptions, course syllabi, standardized test scores, and selected data from the course instructor in order to determine placement in the nursing program, subject to availability of space. Since there frequently are differences among nursing programs, students wishing to transfer should be aware that there might be an interruption in program progression.
CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS:
In addition to formal lectures and laboratory exercises, selected experiences within driving distance of the college will be scheduled at day, evening and/or weekend times, depending on availability of facilities. Field trips, at an additional cost, may be included.
Clinical nursing students are required to successfully pass HESI or equivalent tests at various points in the curriculum in order to continue in the program. Students who are unsuccessful will be counseled and guided in their remediation efforts. Upon successful completion of remedial requirements and passing the appropriate level HESI test, a student may continue to the next clinical course.
The student must complete all general education and related courses either before or concurrent with nursing program requirements. To remain in the program, a student must have a "C" or above in all nursing courses. Additionally, a grade of "C" or above in all semesters of biology, psychology and health courses is required to continue in the nursing program.
In order to graduate, students must also be able to demonstrate the college's specified computer competency requirements.
To find career-related information, click here.
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (18 CREDITS):
ENG 111-112 College Composition I-II (6)
HLT 230 Principles of Nutrition and Human Development (3)
SOC 200 Principles of Sociology (3)
[or PSY 200 Principles of Psychology (3)]
PSY 230 Developmental Psychology (3)
CST 110 Introduction to Communication (3)
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (51 CREDITS):
BIO 141-142 Human Anatomy and Physiology I-II (8)
NUR 111 Nursing I (7)
NUR 118 First Level Nursing II (8)
NUR 135 Drug Dosage Calculations (2)
NUR 247 Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (3)
NUR 221-222 Second Level Nursing Principles and Concepts I-II (19)
NUR 254 Dimensions of Professional Nursing (2)
SDV 101* Orientation to Careers (1)
SDV 108 College Survival Skills (1)
Minimum requirement for degree: 69 Credits
*Corequisite with NUR 111
SAMPLE SCHEDULE:
FIRST YEAR
First Semester:
BIO 141 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
NUR 135 Drug Dosage Calculations (2)
NUR 111 Nursing I (7)
PSY 230 Developmental Psychology (3)
SDV 108 College Survival Skills (1)
SDV 101 Orientation to Careers (1)
Total Credit Hours: 18
Second Semester:
BIO 142 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
NUR 247 Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (3)
NUR 118 First Level Nursing II (8)
SOC 200 Principles of Sociology (3)
Total Credit Hours: 18
SECOND YEAR
Third Semester:
ENG 111 College Composition I (3)
HLT 230 Principles of Nutrition & Human Development (3)
NUR 221 Second Level Nursing Principles & Concepts I (9)
CST 110 Introduction to Communication (3)
Total Credit Hours: 18
Fourth Semester:
ENG 112 College Composition II (3)
NUR 222 Second Level Nursing Principles & Concepts II (10)
NUR 254 Dimensions of Professional Nursing (2)
Total Credit Hours: 15
Total Semester Hours: 69
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