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2021-2022 Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Catalog [PAST CATALOG]

Practical Nursing (certificate)


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Special Admission Requirements - Program Application Deadline: Dec. 15*

Official Title of Certificate: Practical Nursing, Certificate

Award: Certificate

Code: CRT.NUR.PRAC-NRSG

Total Credit Hours: A minimum of 41

Learn more about the Practical Nursing Certificate program

Purpose: For students who wish to complete formal education with a certificate. Graduates of the Practical Nursing (PN) program are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). The Practical Nursing program is approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing.

AACC cannot confirm whether the course or program meets requirements for professional licensure in states other than Maryland.   If you plan to apply for licensure in a state other than Maryland, contact that state’s licensing board to determine whether the AACC course or program meets requirements for licensure in that state.  If you need assistance finding contact information for your state, or if you need additional information regarding professional licensure, please contact the School of Health Sciences at 410-777-7310. 

Range of Occupations

  • Practical Nurse (PN)

Additional Certificate Requirements

All nursing students must receive: (1) a minimum grade of C in each nursing course; and (2) a mark of satisfactory in the clinical laboratory. Students who receive a mark of unsatisfactory in the clinical laboratory at any time during the nursing course sequence will not be permitted to continue in the clinical laboratory and will receive a final grade of F.

Special Conditions

Health Manpower Shortage: This program of study may be designated a Health Manpower Shortage Tuition Reduction Program. This means that some residents of Maryland (see the Tuition, Fees and Payments  section of this catalog) enrolled in this program of study by the first day of the term may be eligible for in-county tuition rates for courses required for program completion. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm that this program still maintains a Health Manpower Shortage Program status before enrolling. Please refer to the college’s Accounts Receivable Office to confirm this designation.

*If application deadline falls on a weekend, then applications will be accepted until the close of business on the next business day.

 

Anne Arundel Community College and/or the School of Health Sciences reserves the right to revise requirements for admission into the Health Sciences programs, the selection criteria and procedures, and the required courses for programs of study as deemed necessary without prior notification.

 

Entrance/Admission Requirements


Admission Requirements


  1. Attendance at a program information session is required or call 410-777-7310 for schedule. Detailed information regarding program, profession, admission and academic requirements and selection criteria will be discussed.
  2. Mail or email the completed program application to the designated address for the Health Sciences Admissions office found on the application.
  3. High school graduate or equivalency. Transcripts required.
  4. Official transcripts are required for course evaluation and transfer.
  5. United States high school general chemistry (1 credit), CHE 011  (non-credit), or a college-level chemistry (CHE 111  or CHE 103 ) with a grade of C or better. If home schooled, the high school curriculum must be under a recognized umbrella organization with the supervision of a state-approved curriculum. AACC may require a course syllabus so that our chemistry department chair can review and approve the curriculum.
    CHE 011  or CHE 111  or CHE 103  is eligible for Health Manpower Shortage Tuition Waiver.
  6. Take the Arithmetic Placement Test and receive a score of 27 or higher within 7 years of the date the application is submitted or enroll in MAT 005  and complete it with a grade of C or better by the application deadline.
  7. Prerequisites must be completed with a minimum grade of C in each course by the end of the fall semester in which you apply for selection.
  8. Foreign educated students: must have their college and high school transcripts evaluated by one of the following credential evaluators: ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators) at www.ece.org, WES (World Education Services) at www.wes.org or SpanTran: The Evaluation Company at www.spantran.com.
  9. Foreign educated students: must successfully pass the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a minimum score of 550 (213 is the equivalent computer score and 79 is the equivalent Internet based score) OR must have completed the ENG 101  /ENG 101A  and ENG 102   course sequence with grades of C or better prior to applying to the  Practical Nursing program. Anne Arundel Community College’s code for TOEFL is 5019.

Selection Criteria

Students will be admitted to the practical nursing course sequence each spring as the number of students permit. Applications received by deadline will be assured consideration based on space availability. Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space-available basis. Applications will be available on the college website after June 1. To be considered for conditional acceptance applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Must satisfactorily complete all academic and admission requirements.
  • Must have a minimum adjusted grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 at this college.
  • All prerequisites and chemistry requirement must be complete by the end of the fall term in which you apply for selection.
  • Final selection for the practical nursing course sequence will be based on the criteria described in the nursing department admission requirements available at a program information session.
  • Final acceptance into the program shall be contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal background check, urine drug screen, satisfactory completion of a health examination record, and submission of current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification card. Information and deadline for completion will be sent in applicant’s conditional acceptance packet. These are not to be completed prior to acceptance notification.

Technical Standards

Students who are conditionally accepted to this program of study will be required to submit a health examination record completed by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant validating that the student meets the technical standard of good physical and mental health as established by the School of Health Sciences, and verifying that the student is free of communicable diseases as evidenced by required immunizations/titers.

CPR

Students must successfully complete the American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR course by designated deadline.

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screening

This program requires the satisfactory completion of a criminal background check and drug screening. For complete details, see the Health Sciences  section of this catalog.

Enrollment Restrictions

State requirements and limitations of hospital facilities necessitate enrollment restrictions. An applicant who has been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor may not be eligible for licensure as a Practical Nurse. Students enrolled in the nursing course sequence are required to comply with the Maryland Nurse Practice Act.

Readmission to the Practical Nursing Course Sequence

Students who leave or are dismissed from the nursing course sequence may address a written petition for readmission to the department director. Readmission cannot be assured and is based on the criteria described in the readmission requirements available in the Health Sciences office. Requests for readmission must be received by the nursing department by August 1 for the spring term readmission. Prior nursing courses must have been taken within the previous two years.

Transfer to Associate Nursing Programs

Practical nursing graduates may transfer up to 30 general education credits to state associate nursing programs. For additional requirements, see the program to which you are transferring.

Certificate Graduation Requirements


To graduate with a certificate, students must have demonstrated eligibility for ENG 101 ENG 101A , ENG 111, ENG 115, or ENG 121. See Academic Regulations on Graduation Requirements .

Practical Nursing Course Sequence


(one academic year)

Prerequisites


All prerequisites, general education and nursing courses require a grade of C or better.

Mathematics: 3 credits


See General Education Mathematics Requirements  for a list of approved courses.

Total credit hours: 14


Certificate Requirements


Term 1 - Summer


Total credit hours: 8


Total credit hours: 10


Total credit hours: 9


Program Outcomes


Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate accountability for maintaining the standards of practice to include holistic client care across the settings, legal/ethical behaviors and life-long learning in concert with the Maryland Nurse Practice Act.
  • Utilize appropriate and therapeutic verbal and written communication to promote positive client outcomes.
  • Assess holistically and systematically the health status of individuals, families and communities to determine health care needs in a team relationship.
  • Utilize critical thinking within the framework of the five steps of the nursing process to ensure the delivery of safe, accurate care.
  • Provide nursing care based on the global understanding of the sciences, humanities, nursing theory, research and personal experience that is holistic, culturally relevant and maintains the client’s rights and dignity.
  • Identify learning needs of clients and in a team relationship develops plans and implements relevant teaching to assist the client in achieving his/her health goals.
  • Collaborate with clients, families, and other members of the health care team to ensure holistic, individualized care with appropriate allocation of human and material resources across the health care continuum.
  • Coordinate through direct intervention and delegation of care to unlicensed individuals the safe and accurate care of multiple clients in diverse health care settings.

This program aligns with the college’s core competencies.

Career and Educational Advancement Resources


   

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