College Catalog

This major is designed to prepare individuals with the opportunity to provide professional holistic nursing care to clients in a variety of health care settings. Courses in the biological sciences, social sciences, and liberal arts will provide a sound balance with the nursing classes and clinical experiences to enable the graduates to function at a generalist level. Graduates will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination for Registered Nursing.

Career Opportunities

The degree can lead to clinical and administrative positions in the traditional field of nursing, as well as opportunities in nontraditional settings which include but are not limited to: home health nursing, public health nursing, nursing education, and health care case management. In most cases, nursing within the federal government requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited nursing program.

Recommended High School Subjects

It is recommended that the applicants complete the following while in high school: English - four units, minimum one in composition, one in literature; foreign language or social studies - five units of any combination; science - three units of natural sciences; mathematics - three units including algebra.

Special Admissions Requirements

Students seeking admission to this major will meet the admission standards as described in the College Catalog. Students must also meet the admission standards and the technical standards established by the School of Health Sciences and the Nursing Program. Refer to http://www.pct.edu/schools/HS/nursing/ for more admission details.

Special Equipment Needs

Students in this major are expected to purchase a dual head stethoscope ($80-$100); a custom nursing kit (must be purchased at the College Bookstore - $115); uniform, white lab coat, white shoes, student nurse patch ($100-$300, depending on the number of uniforms purchased); and various smaller items ($50-$140 combined, depending on brands purchased). Prices are estimates and subject to change.

Remediation Strategies

Students will not be eligible for acceptance into the program with any developmental deficiencies.

Transfer Procedures

Students who apply to the four-year program as transfer students will be evaluated on an individual basis. Acceptance of transfer students may be determined by available seats in the program.

Program Goals

A graduate of this major should be able to:

• engage as a generalist, synthesizing knowledge from nursing, liberal arts, and sciences to make decisions for caring nursing practice that are evidence-based, theory-guided, holistic, and culturally competent (clinician).
• facilitate the teaching-learning process to improve health and reduce risks (educator).
• advocate for the health care needs of clients of all ages, families, and communities in a variety of health care settings (advocate).
• analyze research findings and identify research problems related to the nursing area of clients within the health care delivery system (research consumer).
• fulfill responsibilities of professional nursing through the integration of leadership and management skills in developing collaborative relationships with other health care providers to improve the delivery of health care (leader).
• establish accountability for ethical, political, and legal concerns and responsibility for one's own practice, professional growth, life-long learning, and the development of the profession in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding (professional growth and development).

Performance Standards

Students enrolled in the major must earn a minimum final grade of 'C' in each of their nursing courses, in BIO 115 and BIO 125, and in the CHM elective (CHM100 or higher). Failure to do so will result in termination from the major.

Curriculum

Notice of Conviction

Child abuse clearance and criminal background checks are required by some agencies involved in fieldwork and/or capstones. Agencies can bar students from their sites if a criminal record exists or a positive drug test is noted. By virtue of contract for Penn College students to be at clinical sites, agencies have the right to ask for random drug testing.

Inability to gain clinical or fieldwork or intern education experiences results in inability to meet program objectives and outcomes.

For additional clarification, students can speak with their program director.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing major is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). For further information, contact the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission at 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, 1-800-669-9656. Major has initial approval by the State Board of Nursing.