Nursing

MISSION The Porterville College Associate Degree Nursing Program endorses the mission of Porterville College which is: “With students as our focus, Porterville College provides our local and diverse communities quality education that promotes intellectual curiosity, personal growth, and lifelong learning, while preparing students for vocational and academic success." The Porterville College Associate Degree Nursing Program adheres to this mission when offering the Associate Degree in Nursing. The mission of the nursing program is to provide an innovative, student-centered educational program that prepares diverse students as candidates to become Registered Nurses to provide safe, quality, evidence-based nursing care in the current healthcare environment. The program is market-conscious as it prepares students to practice nursing in a variety of healthcare environments with input from the community represented through the program's Advisory Committee. Upon completion of the program the graduate is qualified to take the NCLEX-RN examination. In alignment with the mission of Porterville College, the nursing program also provides a solid base for continued lifelong learning as a Professional Nurse. Although the ADN program is not considered a Transfer Program, the nursing program graduates are prepared with the necessary nursing knowledge, skills, and competencies to continue their education in a higher degree program. The nursing program has articulation agreements with upper level institutions in California to assist students in their quest for a baccalaureate in nursing degree. NOTE: The California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) protects the public by screening applicants for licensure in order to identify potentially unsafe practitioners. The law provides for denial of licensure for crimes or acts, which are substantially related to nursing qualifications, functions or duties. Conviction of any offenses other than minor traffic violations must be reported to the Board of Registered Nursing at the time of application for licensure. Business and Professions Code 480 and Nurse Practice Act article 3 section 2761. For clarification contact the ADN Program Director or the Board of Registered Nursing, P.O Box 944210, Sacramento, California, 94244-2100, (916) 322-3350. NOTE: Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number Requirement: Pursuant to Section 30(c) of the Business and Professions code the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) will not process any application for licensure unless the applicant provides a United State SSN or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. The Nursing Practice Act provides for a unified examination and licensing application. Once an applicant passes the examination, a license is automatically issued. Under these circumstances the BRN cannot accept applications for the examination and licensure without a SSN or Tax Payer Identification Number. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Employment in the field for registered nurses is excellent locally and nationally. The registered nurse enjoys a well-compensated, rewarding, highly flexible career, which should continue in the future. This field is expanding and growth in the job market is projected. PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES 1. Provide safe, quality, evidence-based, patient-centered nursing care to diverse patients across the lifespan in a variety of healthcare settings. 2. Exercise clinical judgment to make increasingly complex patient-centered care decisions. 3. Participate in quality improvement processes to improve patient care outcomes. 4. Participate in teamwork and collaboration with members of the interprofessional team, the patient, and the patient’s support persons. 5. Use information management systems and patient care technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making. 6. Incorporate leadership, management, legal, and ethical principles to guide practice as a Registered Nurse. 7. Promote a culture of caring in all healthcare environments. ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria: • Graduation from an accredited high school, or successful completion of General Education Development (GED) or California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE). These requirements are defined by the current Nurse Practice Act, Title 16, California Code of Regulations, Section 1412. Students with AA/AS degree or higher do not need to submit proof of high school graduation, but must submit proof of AA/AS degree completion (in progress not accepted). Graduates from outside the United States must have transcripts evaluated by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) approved independent agency. • A grade of “C” or better required for all Prerequisites • 2.5 minimum GPA in anatomy, physiology, and microbiology o ANAT P110 (Human Anatomy) 4 units at Porterville College, or equivalent course at another accredited college. o PHYL P101 (Introductory Physiology) 5 units at Porterville College, or equivalent 4-5 semester unit physiology course at another accredited college. o MICR P106 (Microbiology) 5 units at Porterville College, or equivalent 4-5 semester unit microbiology course at another accredited college. • 2.5 minimum GPA in remaining prerequisite courses for the nursing program. o ENGL P101A (Expository Composition) 4 units at Porterville College, or equivalent course at another accredited college. o MATH P051 (Intermediate Algebra) 4 units OR higher at Porterville College or equivalent 3-4 semester unit math course equivalent at another accredited college. MULTICRITERIA SCREENING SELECTION PROCESS Porterville College Associate Degree Nursing program has adopted a blended combination of random selection and a multi-criteria selection process for admission (Education Code Section 78261.5). The multi-criteria selection process will be utilized to identify the most qualified candidates for admission. Each incoming class will be randomly selected from the top third of candidates who apply during the application cycle. The multi-criterion process will be implemented for Fall 2017 admission. Students must reapply each year. There is no waiting list. Points are awarded for the following criteria: • Academic Degrees • Grade point average in sciences (Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology). o Repeats in science pre-requisites penalty points • Grade point average in non-science courses (English, Math) • Relevant health care certification, work or volunteer experience with direct human care • Life experiences or special circumstances • Veteran status or eligible spouse status • Language proficiency • Diagnostic Assessment ATI TEAS Only students who meet the educational and pre-nursing requirements and follow the pre-enrollment procedures will be considered for the program. Meeting all these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program. ASSESSMENT TESTING (ATI TEAS) REQUIRED FOR NURSING PROGRAM. All qualified applicants will be required to complete the latest edition of the ATI TEAS (Assessment Technologies Institute Test of Essential Academic Skills). The ATI TEAS is a state approved nursing assessment test. ATI TEAS will be offered by Porterville College on an invitation-only basis to qualified applicants. Students must rank at or above the ATI TEAS average composite of 62% to be eligible for enrollment into the program. Students who do not meet the 62% minimum score on the first attempt will be required to complete a TEAS remediation program. Only one repeat of the ATI TEAS will be allowed. PC will accept the highest TEAS score of the first two attempts. There must be 45 days or more between attempts and evidence of remediation for the second score to be accepted. ATI TEAS REMEDIATION PROGRAM Students who fail to achieve a composite score of 62% or greater are required remediate before retaking the exam. Students are to meet with the program director or faculty advisor for assistance in developing a remediation plan. The student has one year to complete the remediation plan. Once the remediation plan is completed and the student submits evidence to the program director, the student will be invited to repeat the ATI TEAS at Porterville College. CONDITIONS OF ENROLLMENT As a condition of enrollment into the Nursing program, the student is required to have a physical examination, inoculations, TB clearance, drug screen, background check, and current BLS card (at the student’s expense). NOTE: The student is responsible for providing uniforms, laboratory fees, necessary equipment and transportation to off-campus laboratory locations. There are morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend clinical experiences that may change with limited notice. PROGRAM PROGRESSION A grade of “C” or better is required in each nursing course for progression toward the Associate of Science Nursing Degree. PROGRAM APPROVAL The California Board of Registered Nursing approves the Porterville College Associate Degree Nursing Program. OTHER ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING REQUIREMENTS • COMM P101 (Introduction to Public Speaking) OR COMM P102 (Interpersonal Communication) • PSYC P101A (General Psychology) • SOCI P101 (The Social World) OR ANTH P102 (Cultural Anthropology) GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES General education courses are required to graduate from Porterville College with an Associate Degree in Nursing. It is suggested that most of these courses be completed prior to beginning the ADN Program. NOTE: Some of the general education courses are also prerequisite courses for the Associate Degree in Nursing OR required by The Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) • Area A: Education – NURS P100 recommended • Area B: Writing - ENGL P101A (4 units) (“C” or higher) – prerequisite course for the program • Area C: Communications – COMM P101 or COMM 102 (“C” grade or higher) –associate degree nursing requirement • Area D: Mathematics - MATH P051 (“C” grade or higher) or MATH P122 – prerequisite course for the program • Area E: Biological Science – ANAT P110, PHYL P101 and MICR P106 (“C” grade or higher) – prerequisite courses for the program • Area F: Physical Science – CHEM P106 recommended • Area G: History/Political Science – HIST P117, P118 OR POLS P101 • Area H: Social/Behavioral Science – PSYC P101A AND SOCI P101 OR ANTH P102 – associate degree nursing requirement • Area I: Analytical Thinking - this area is met by completing the Associate Degree Nursing courses • Area J: Multicultural Studies - this area is met by completing the Associate Degree Nursing • Area K: Health/Physical Education - this area is met by completing the Associate Degree Nursing • Area L: Humanities: PHIL P112 is recommended or any course as listed in Area L of the General Education Checklist ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM CURRICULUM First Semester • NURS P130 Fundamental Concepts of Nursing Practice • NURS P131 Concepts of Nursing Care of the Adult and Older Adult I • NURS P132 Critical Thinking for the Registered Nurse Second Semester • NURS P133 Concepts of Nursing Care of the Adult and Older Adult II • NURS P134 Concepts of the Reproducing Family Third Semester • NURS P135 Concepts of Mental Health Nursing • NURS P136 Concepts of Nursing Care of the Adult and Older Adult III Fourth Semester • NURS P137 Concepts of Pediatric Nursing • NURS P138 Concepts of Nursing Care of the Adult and Older Adult • NURS P139 Transition to Registered Nurse Challenge/Advanced Placement into the Nursing Program for Military Personnel In compliance with Senate Bill 466, Military Personnel and Veterans may be eligible for advanced placement into the Porterville College Associate Degree Nursing Program. Three pathways have been established to assist with obtaining nursing credit for previous education and experience for the Basic Medical Technician Corpsman, the Basic Medical Technician Corpsman with an active California LVN license, and the Independent Duty Corpsman/Advanced Army Medic/Advanced Airforce Medic. All applicants must meet all general entrance requirements of the Associate Degree Nursing Program, including completion of designated prerequisites. Students must pass the first and/or second semester written challenge exams with 75% or higher and obtain a satisfactory level of achievement on skills competency. Military Challenge students will not be admitted if they have previously failed a nursing course at another nursing school.

Projected 20 completers annually.

The Porterville College Associate Degree Nursing Program endorses the mission of Porterville College which is: “With students as our focus, Porterville College provides our local and diverse communities quality education that promotes intellectual curiosity, personal growth, and lifelong learning, while preparing students for vocational and academic success." The Porterville College Associate Degree Nursing Program adheres to this mission when offering the Associate Degree in Nursing. The mission of the nursing program is to provide an innovative, student-centered educational program that prepares diverse students as candidates to become Registered Nurses to provide safe, quality, evidence-based nursing care in the current healthcare environment. The program is market-conscious as it prepares students to practice nursing in a variety of healthcare environments with input from the community represented through the program's Advisory Committee. Upon completion of the program the graduate is qualified to take the NCLEX-RN examination. In alignment with the mission of Porterville College, the nursing program also provides a solid base for continued lifelong learning as a Professional Nurse. Although the ADN program is not considered a Transfer Program, the nursing program graduates are prepared with the necessary nursing knowledge, skills, and competencies to continue their education in a higher degree program. The nursing program has articulation agreements with upper level institutions in California to assist students in their quest for a baccalaureate in nursing degree.

Display of Program Requirements Prerequisite Core Courses Title Units ENGL P101A Expository Composition 4 MATH P051 OR higher Intermediate Algebra or higher math class 4 ANAT P110 Human Anatomy 4 PHYL P101 Introductory Physiology 5 MICR P106 Microbiology 5 Total Required Prerequisite Units 22 Other Core Courses Title Units PSYC P101A General Psychology 3 SOCI P101 The Social World OR ANTH P102 Cultural Anthropology 3 COMM P101 Introduction to Public Speaking OR COMM P102 Interpersonal Communication 3 Total Units Required for Other Core Courses 9 Nursing Core Courses Title Units NURS P130 Fundamental Concepts of Nursing Practice 4 NURS P131 Concepts of Nursing Care of the Adult and Older Adult 1 4 NURS P132 Critical Thinking for the Registered Nurse 2 NURS P133 Concepts of Nursing Care of the Adult and Older Adult II 6 NURS P134 Concepts of the Reproducing Family 4 NURS P135 Concepts of Mental Health Nursing 4 NURS P136 Concepts of Nursing Practice of the Adult and Older Adult III 6 NURS P137 Concepts of Pediatric Nursing 4 NURS P138 Concepts of Nursing Practice of the Adult and Older Adult IV 6 NURS P139 Transition to Registered Nursing Practice 1 Total Nursing Core Courses 41 Total Core Units Required for Degree 72 In addition to the core courses, the student must take at least 11-13 units from the following courses: Other Courses Title Units Area A Education: NURS P100 Strategies for Success in Nursing Programs recommended, OR other area A course 1-3 Area F: physical science CHEM P106 Introduction to Chemical Principles recommended or other area F course 4 Area G: History/Political Science HIST P117 History/US from Colonial Period to 1877, OR HIST P118 History/US from 1877 to the Present OR POLS P101 American Government 3 Area L: Humanities: PHIL P112 The Ethics of Living and Dying recommended or other area L course 3 Total Units Required for Other Courses 11-13 Display of Proposed Sequence First Semester Units Second Semester Units Area A NURS P100 recommended 1-3 MATH P051 or higher 4 ENGL P101A 4 PHYL P101 5 ANAT P110 4 MICR P106 5 CHEM P106 4 PSYC P101A 3 Total 13-15 Total 17 Third Semester Units Fourth Semester Units NURS P130 4 NURS P133 6 NURS P131 4 NURS P134 4 NURS P132 2 Area L PHIL P112 recommended 3 COMM P101 or P102 3 Total 13 Total 13 Fifth Semester Units Sixth Semester Units NURS P135 4 NURS P137 4 NURS P136 6 NURS P138 6 SOCI P101 or ANTHP102 3 NURS P139 1 Area G HIST P117 or P118 or POLS P101 recommended 3 Total 13 Total 14 TOTAL UNITS: 83-85