Nursing, Associate in Applied Science (NURS)

The mission of the Delaware County Community College Associate Degree Nursing Program is to promote a sense of inquiry and lifelong learning and to provide an education for students, who are committed to the core values of the program and can achieve competencies essential to safe, effective nursing practice in a variety of healthcare settings.

The nursing curriculum prepares students for positions as beginning staff nurses in a variety of settings; i.e. acute- and long-term/transitional care facilities and community settings.

Upon successful completion of the curriculum, students receive an associate in applied science (AAS) degree and are eligible to sit for the state licensure examination to become registered nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Most nursing students attend classes at the College and off-campus sites.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Selected clinical laboratory learning experiences, under the direct guidance of nursing faculty, are provided at a variety of health-care agencies. The purpose of these experiences is to provide the student with the opportunity to apply classroom learning in direct patient-care situations. All nursing applicants are required to complete and submit a criminal record check and a Child Abuse Clearance form.

Under Pennsylvania law, the State Board of Nursing may not issue a license to an applicant who has been convicted of a felonious act prohibited by the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetics Act, or convicted of a felony relating to a controlled substance in a court of law of the United States or any other state, territory or country unless 10 years have elapsed since the date of conviction and the applicant can demonstrate that he/she has made significant progress in personal rehabilitation.

Students who have been convicted of a prohibitive offense contained in Act 13 and/or Act 169 (detailed list available for review in the Admissions and Allied Health offices) may not be able to complete their studies because clinical experiences needed for course/program success may be prohibited. If a student cannot complete their clinical studies, they will not be accepted into the nursing program.

All nursing students who have a course with a clinical component will need to have a complete physical examination including: laboratory tests, a complete blood count, a 10 panel drug screen, serology and TB testing. A complete physical examination is required prior to taking the first nursing course. Additionally, these students must have medical health insurance and be in compliance with recommendations for the Hepatitis B vaccine. Certain manual dexterity and sensory skills that enable the student to competently perform required technical skills are necessary for successful completion of the nursing program. Health problems that can interfere with the applicants ability to demonstrate achievement of program competencies are considered individually.

CPR certification is required for all students in the program. You must take “Health Care Provider” (American Heart Association at 610-940-9540, which is renewable every two years) or “Course for the Professional” (American Red Cross at 610-566-4580, which is renewable annually). “BLS” and “Heart Saver” are not acceptable!   Certification must be inclusive until the end of May. Certifications that expire prior to May will not be accepted even if recertification prior to May is provided by an employer.

Students are responsible for purchasing uniforms and other related materials deemed necessary for the clinical laboratory experiences of the program. Each semester students are assessed additional costs for standardized tests to compare achievement against national norms. In addition, each student must carry professional liability insurance to protect him/herself and the health agency in the event of any legal action following any error in nursing practice. A $5.00 fee will be added to your tuition bill each semester in which you participate in a clinical experience.

REPEAT COURSES/READMISSION:

Refer to Nursing Student Handbook for guidelines and requirements.

SPECIAL OPTION (LPNS):

Licensed Practical Nurses, corpsmen and candidates who have had one year of successful previous nursing school experience may qualify for advanced placement in the program. In addition, an advanced placement option is available to LPNs who have graduated from an ACEN accredited program. Contact Allied Health and Nursing Office for more information  (610-359-5353.)

PROGRAM OF STUDY AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:

The degree of associate in applied science is awarded upon successful completion of the nursing course sequence with a grade of “C” or better in all nursing courses; a satisfactory grade for related clinical experiences and satisfactory completion of performance practicums and course requirements; attainment of a grade point average of 2.0 (“C” average) and completion of 71 credit hours. A “C” grade in nursing is equivalent to the numerical grade of 77.

This program requires a special process for admission. Check with Admissions to submit additional materials and/or follow procedures for admission.