PIERCE COLLEGE ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN NURSING TRADITIONAL ADN APPLICATION PACKET PROGRAM STARTS FALL, 2016

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1 PIERCE COLLEGE ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN NURSING TRADITIONAL ADN APPLICATION PACKET PROGRAM STARTS FALL, 2016 The Pierce College Puyallup Associate Degree Nursing Program s mission is to provide students with a comprehensive, quality education based upon current professional practice and incorporating respect of the individual, to meet the diverse needs of our community. WORKSHOP FOR TRADITIONAL ADN 2016 APPLICANTS Application Workshop: Friday, February 5 2:00 4:00pm Room AAH 136 Arts and Allied Health Building (This is a complimentary workshop and attendance and sign-up is not required.) 1 P a g e

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3 Table of Contents Letter from the Director Overview of the Program Prerequisites... 6 Nursing Program Curriculum....7 Application Process and Deadlines Application Checklist Application Documentation of Prerequisite Courses...15 Recommendation Form...18 Guidelines for Personal Statement Guidelines for Functional Resume Instructions for Kaplan Admissions Exam Appendices A: Course Equivalencies for Prerequisites B: Estimated Program Costs. 28 Financial Aid Information Frequently Asked Questions P a g e

4 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR It is my pleasure to welcome you to Pierce College Nursing Program application process. The application process for the Pierce College Nursing Program is challenging yet rewarding. Our aim is to ensure that all individuals have an equal opportunity to shine during this process; we support prospective students in their endeavor toward achieving the next step in the academic journey toward becoming a professional registered nurse and obtaining an Associate Degree in Nursing. You will find that the Pierce College Nursing Program is outstanding and distinctive. We are built on a foundation of respect for all individuals in our community. We strive for a diverse student cohort and believe in developing each student s unique abilities. Our commitment to quality nursing education and teaching excellence prepares learners to live and work successfully as registered nurses in an ever-changing healthcare environment. We are also proactive in designing curriculum preparing the Pierce College nursing graduate to further his or her education at a four-year college or university and obtain a bachelor degree in nursing. I urge you to take advantage of the rich resources that are available to you at Pierce College during this application process. Nursing is a rewarding career choice, and our application and selection process is rigorous. The faculty and staff of the Pierce College Nursing Program support you in this endeavor and we encourage you to ask questions throughout the process. Sincerely, Emily Mize, PhD, MN-CNS, RN Director, Nursing Programs Pierce College 4 P a g e

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6 Program Overview Pierce College offers the Associate Degree in Nursing for students who wish to become Registered Nurses. This program begins with a strong foundation in basic nursing concepts and skills, from which students then advance to more complex nursing concepts and skills. A solid base in the natural and social sciences is included to provide students with a greater understanding of patient care in a variety of settings. During the course of the program, students receive experience in acute care, maternal/child, acute care specialties, community and mental health settings. Upon completing the nursing program, the graduate is eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination in order to be licensed as Registered Nurses in their state of residence. Licensed Registered Nurses qualify to be employed as entry-level nurses in hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, clinics, health care providers offices, and home care agencies. In addition, Pierce College ADN graduates have the option of enrolling in the BSN Completion program at UW-Tacoma or St. Martin s University. Prerequisites PREREQUISITES (minimum qualifications) The following courses must be completed with a grade of 3.0 (B) or better. All prerequisites and recommended courses must be completed within seven years of the date of the student s application. (See below for exception)* RECOMMENDED COURSES The following courses are strongly recommended as they greatly enhance the prospective nursing student s chances for success. These courses must be completed with a grade of 2.0 (C) or better. (See below for exceptions)* Course Number ENGL& 101 Course Name English Composition I Credits 5 Course Number MATH& 146 Course Name Statistics Credits 5 BIOL& 241 Human Anatomy & Phys I 6 World Language Language 121 & BIOL& 242 Human Anatomy & Phys II 6 BIOL& 260 Microbiology 5 CHEM& 121 Intro to Chemistry 5 PSYCH& 200 Human Lifespan Development 5 CHEM& 131 Intro to Organic and Biochemistry 6 NOTE: All courses have pre-requisites that cannot be waived. It is critical to work closely with a pre-nursing advisor. *Please Note: The 7-year limitation on ENGL& 101 and PSYC& 200 may be waived if the course was completed as part of a degree from an accredited institution of higher learning. There is no time limit on the World Language requirement. Two years of the same high school foreign language will also satisfy this requirement. Native speakers can satisfy this requirement following UW guidelines. (See Nursing advisor for details) Completion of the prerequisites enables the student to apply to the nursing program and does not constitute acceptance into the nursing program. Each prerequisite courses can only be repeated once, and a withdrawal is considered as one attempt at the course. All required courses must be completed by the end of SPRING quarter 2016, and an official transcript proving successful completion be turned in to the nursing dept. prior to July 1, P a g e

7 Course Equivalence of Prerequisite Courses from Other Colleges If transferring in a course from another educational institution, the courses must be equivalent to a Pierce College course. Please see the Course Equivalency chart in the appendix for Washington State community college, technical college and university courses that meet Pierce College course objectives. These listed in the appendix meet Pierce College nursing program prerequisites. [Note that courses with an ampersand ( & ) in the course number are common course numbers throughout the Washington State community and technical college system and is considered the same course by all community and technical colleges in Washington State.] If your prerequisites were completed outside of Washington State or are not listed, please contact the Pierce College Pre-Nursing & Allied Health Advisor for information regarding the waiver form. The process for determining course equivalencies may include evaluation of the syllabus of the course taken, and this may involve other departments. Therefore, please allow additional time for this process. It is the applicant s responsibility to be sure all courses are evaluated prior to the application deadline, so contact the pre-nursing advisor with any questions well in advance of the application deadline. ASSOCIATE IN NURSING Nursing Program Curriculum Each ADN course must be completed with a minimum 2.7 GPA and all courses must be completed in the designated quarter. FIRST YEAR SECOND YEAR Quarter I (13 credits) Quarter IV (13 credits ADN students, 17 credits for LPNs* ) HSCI 114 Therapeutic Communication in 3 NURS 210 Advanced Topics in Nursing I 4 Healthcare Settings NURS 211 Advanced Nursing Clinical 6 Practice HSCI 116 Pharmacology for Allied Health 4 NURS 214 Advanced Concepts in Family- 3 NURS 111 Fundamentals of Nursing Practice 3 Centered Nursing Care NURS 112 Fundamentals of Nursing Clinical Practice 3 NURS 218 ADN Articulation Seminar (Bridge) 4 Quarter II (14 credits) Quarter V (14 credits) NURS 121 Intro to Med./Surgical/Psychiatric 4 NURS 222 Professional Nursing Clinical 5 Nursing Practice NURS 122 Intro to Nursing Clinical Practice 5 NURS 223 Advanced Psychiatric Nursing 3 NURS 125 Family Centered Nursing Care 3 NURS 224 Professional Role Transition 3 NURS 230 Advanced Topics in Nursing II 3 Quarter III (14 credits) Quarter VI (12 credits) NURS 130 Intermediate 6 NURS 233 Acute Care Nursing Practicum 8 Med./Surgical/Psychiatric Nursing HSCI 235 Issues & Trends in Healthcare 4 NURS 132 Intermediate Nursing Clinical Practice 6 Management Total Credits (Quarters I, II, III) 37 Total credits (Quarters IV, V, VI) Total Credits (Quarters I, II, III, IV, V, VI) includes theory, lab, preceptorship and service-connected learning P a g e

8 *Proof of unencumbered Washington State LPN license Total Credits including required prerequisites Previous Degrees Total credits (Quarters IV, V, VI) for Bridge students only 43 For students with previously earned Certificates, Associate or Bachelor degrees, the seven (7)-year limit for some non-science prerequisite courses may be waived for credits earned within that degree. Only the Nursing Program Director or Pre-Nursing Advisor at Pierce College Puyallup may consider exceptions to this requirement, and it is the responsibility of the applicant to obtain a waiver prior to the application deadline (Pre-Nursing Advisor will prepare the form). This waiver will then be added to the Course Prerequisite Listing Form in the application packet after submission. Other Programs and BSN Completion Requirements for other nursing and BSN completion programs in the area may be different. If you are planning to apply to other programs in addition to this one, or intend to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, please contact the nursing program at the two or four-year college to which you wish to apply. Because admission into nursing programs is competitive, we except many of our applicants will apply to other nursing programs as well. Any information provided in this packet is subject to change without notice. Please keep abreast of departmental changes by visiting your advisor regularly, attending information sessions and visiting the program website often. 8 P a g e

9 Application Process and Deadlines Kaplan Entrance Exam taken Prior to submitting application Application submission dates February 1 March 19, 2016 Applications processed and evaluated Upon receipt to May 17, 2016 Applicants notified of status Estimated - by May 27, 2016 Mandatory Orientation for accepted students June 8, 2016 Proof of spring class completion (official transcript) --if applicable July 1, 2016 Clinical Passport requirements for admitted students due August 15, 2016 Classes start Fall Quarter -- September 2016 (Exact date to be determined) Any changes in the dates will be posted on the Pierce College nursing website. NOTE: Dept. hours on campus change during the summer months. Please refer to the following website as you plan your application timetable or follow-up questions. Send Completed Application Packet To: Pierce College Puyallup ATTN: Stania Kasjan/Nursing Arts and Allied Health Bldg. Room th Ave. SE Puyallup, WA P a g e

10 Application Checklist Applications due for traditional ADN: March 15, 2016 For Fall 2016 Admission Date of Postmark determines submission date. Admission to Pierce College Pay Nursing Program Application Fee --- LPN Bridge Program - $50 ADN Program - $65 Nursing Program Application All nursing program applicants must have Pierce College Student ID #. Admissions forms can be obtained on-line at Former students need to reactivate their status. Pierce College admission/application fee $25 Processing of this admission and issuance of student ID # takes 72 hours. If student ID # was prior to 2009, you will need to reapply Payment must be paid to Pierce College Puyallup Cashier PRIOR to applying. Receipt indicating payment must be included with the application. Do not send the check to the Nursing Dept. or include the check in your application packet. Pay it directly to the Cashier before applying and include receipt in packet. If you are mailing in your application, checks must be mailed separately to: Pierce College Puyallup/Cashier th Ave. SE Puyallup, WA (you may request that a copy of your receipt be forwarded to the Nursing Office -- they just it to me. NOTE Cashier s office may not be open on Fridays during the summer). To ensure proper filing, please send payment early, if possible, so that you may follow up with the Nursing Program Office before the application deadline. Program Application Receipt from Pierce College Cashier showing nursing application fee paid Course Prerequisite Listing Form Professional Recommendation Personal Statement Functional Resume Kaplan Score (Official transcript of score if not taken at Pierce College) 10 P a g e

11 Included in packet--sealed Official Transcripts from every college attended (excluding Pierce College). And, an official high school transcript to confirm foreign language if applicable. If the nursing program or the college already has an official transcript then you do not have to duplicate this process. Please check with me if uncertain. Documentation of current course enrollment ifcompleting pre-reqs spring quarter, which is after application deadline. (Include a copy of the class registration and follow-up with another official transcript proving successful completion.) Documentation of Unencumbered LPN License (for LPN to RN Bridge applicants-only) And Official transcript documenting LPN program. Course Waiver. Documentation of course equivalence if applicable - and if course is not listed in Appendix. (should already be completed and on file with pre-nursing advisor.) REQUIRED: Proof of 1 st Hepatitis B Injection (in a series of 3 as it takes 6 months to complete the series) Must have documentation from medical facility administering injection. 2 nd in series must be done prior to starting program 11 P a g e

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13 Pierce College Associate Degree in Nursing Program Application Pierce College Student ID # Name Previous Names *Social Security # Last First Middle DOB: mm/dd/yy Street Address Apt # Mailing Address City State Zip Code Primary Phone Cell Phone Address Emergency Contact Relationship Primary Phone Cell Phone Please answer the following questions: Yes No 1. Have you ever been accepted to, attended, dismissed or withdrawn from any nursing program? Year College 2. Have you or are you presently prohibited from any healthcare facility? 3. Are you ineligible for rehire at any previous position or healthcare facility? 4. Have you previously applied to the nursing program at Pierce College Date Bridge ADN *****If personal information changes during this application period or prior to program start please let us know. 13 P a g e (Continued on next page)

14 Declaration of Ability to Meet Essential Qualifications: It is essential that nursing students be able to perform a number of physical activities during the clinical portion of the program. These will include, but are not limited to the following: effective communication, lifting/transferring patients, observation/assessment of clients using the physical senses, standing for long periods, performing bending activities, and executing movements required to care for patients in all health care settings. The clinical experience also places students under considerable mental and emotional stress as they undertake responsibilities and duties that impact patients lives. Students must be able to demonstrate rational and appropriate judgment and behavior under stressful conditions. Individuals should carefully consider the mental and physical demands of the program prior to applying. I certify the following to be true: I have provided true, correct and complete information with this application. I have read and understand the information included in this application packet. I have read and understand the Declaration of Ability to Meet Essential Qualifications and certify that I will be able to perform the essential functions as a nursing student in the Pierce College Puyallup Associate Degree in Nursing Program. Applicant Signature Date Applicant Name (please print) *Your social security number is confidential and, under a federal law called the Family Education Rights Privacy Act, the college will protect it from unauthorized use and/or disclosure. In compliance with state/federal requirements, disclosure may be authorized for the purposes of state and federal financial aid, Hope/Lifetime Learning tax credits, academic transcripts, assessment or accountability research. 14 P a g e

15 Pierce College Student ID # Documentation of Prerequisite Courses Please fill out this sheet completely. Applicant s Spring and Summer course registration information must accompany this form (if prerequisites remain to be taken). If any of the following prerequisites were taken at an accredited Washington State college, their equivalencies can be found on the Course Equivalency Chart. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide proof of equivalency if courses were taken at an institution that is not listed on the equivalency form. Equivalency must be reviewed and approved by the Nursing Program Director or Coordinator prior to application deadline. When seeking a waiver for coursework taken at a non-washington college, a course description, syllabus, or course outline must be submitted. All official transcripts (excluding Pierce College) must be sent to Pierce College Nursing Office. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that these documents are received prior to the application deadline. Transcripts may be hand carried by the applicant as long as they are in their original sealed envelopes. College Course English Composition (ENGL&101) Anatomy Physiology I (BIOL& 241) Anatomy Physiology II (BIOL& 242) Microbiology (BIOL& 260) Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM& 121) Organic Chemistry (CHEM& 131) Dev. Psych (PSYCH& 200) Statistics. (MATH& 146) Name Last First Middle College name you attended or plan to attend QTR/Year taken or plan to take (i.e. Fall 2003) Course # you took or plan to take (i.e. CHEM 121) Course name you took or plan to take (i.e. Inorganic Chemistry) Number of credits earned Specify Credit type: (quarter or semester) Course Grade - Official use Only- Foreign Language (or high school Equivalent) List ALL Colleges Attended: Rcv d Date: Copy Last 7 Years Equivalent Received 15 P a g e

16 (Continued from previous page.) Do you have a prior degree? ASSOC BA/BS Year Major College. I have completed the Kaplan Entrance Exam: Date. Institution Applicants Signature Date 16 P a g e

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18 Professional Recommendation Form Pierce College Associate Degree in Nursing Program PLEASE PRINT: I,, Nursing Program applicant, give my permission to (Applicant s Name), to complete this reference form and return it to me in a (Recommending person s name) sealed envelope with your name written across the back seal TO THE PERSON MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION: Please respond to the following questions carefully in the space provided. If you need additional space, please continue on ONE extra sheet of paper. Generic letters of recommendation will not be accepted. The Nursing Program carefully considers all recommendations for nursing applicants, and as much insight, detail and clarity in answering the following questions will be of great benefit to the applicant. Please include soft skills in your assessment, ie. compassion, integrity, empathy, honesty etc. Thank you very much. Describe the professional and personal traits that this applicant possesses that you would look for in a nurse taking care of you or one of your family members. Describe the applicant s work ethic and competence. You may comment on his/her perseverance, dependability, initiative, teamwork, and his/her dedication and commitment to providing quality care to patients. 18 P a g e

19 Speak to the applicant s leadership ability, character, and well-roundedness. Please complete the following: I have known the applicant for years and months. (Approximations OK) During this time the applicant was a (student, employee, coworker, etc.) of mine at (name of school, business or other organization). Please Print Your Name Title Company or Organization Phone Alternate Phone (if applicable) Signature Date NOTE: Please mail or deliver - the completed form BACK to the Applicant. Please seal the envelope and write your name across the seal. The Applicant will need to include your recommendation in their Application Packet which then needs to arrive in our office no later than Wednesday, March 15, P a g e

20 Personal Statement Pierce College Associate Degree Nursing Program Instructions:. Applicants must respond to this question with a minimum of 2 pages and a maximum of 3 pages. The personal statement must be written in point font size, double-spaced, and Times New Roman font style on an 8½ x 11 standard sheet of paper. At the bottom of EACH page print and sign your name. Pierce College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs, activities or employment. The following essay question will be scored on the basis of your ability to answer the question. We are looking for honesty, openness, self-awareness and the ability to problem solve. We are also looking for your ability to identify barriers and challenges and to be thinking about how to decrease your barriers to success. You will not be scored on what the actual barrier or challenge is. Nursing school is one of the top five most difficult majors, and is the most difficult in terms of the amount of reading, assignments and testing that occur. If you are admitted to the Pierce College nursing program, what is your plan for success? What are your barriers or challenges and how do you plan to mitigate them to ensure your success? 20 P a g e

21 Directions for Functional Resume Pierce College Associate Degree Nursing Program Functional Resume page as possible) (Not an employer based/chronological resume. Keep as close to one A functional resume enables you to highlight the skills, accomplishments, and work or life experiences that best support your application objective (becoming a Registered Nurse). By creating relevant headings, you can incorporate all the experiences that have contributed to each listed heading (i.e. cocurricular activities, life experience, family, work history, job shadowing, volunteer work, prior schooling, etc.). You are encouraged to seek out resources about writing functional resumes online, in our libraries, or in the Job Connections area of the Advising Centers at Fort Steilacoom or Puyallup campuses. Instructions: The Pierce College nursing program is founded on four principles: care, competence, compassion, cultural awareness and sensitivity. Please incorporate these principles in your resume to help us understand how they have been evident in your life experiences to date. 21 P a g e

22 Directions for taking the Kaplan Entrance Exam Pierce College Associate Degree Nursing Program The Kaplan Entrance Exam is offered at the Puyallup Campus testing center five (5) days a week. (More detailed information for the testing center can be found on ) Please call the Testing Center at to schedule an appointment. They are open M-TH 8-5:00 with the last apt. at about 2:30 and on Fri. 8-3:00, with the last apt. at about 12:30. The cost is $25.00 payable at the Cashiers Office. We will be retrieving your score through our Nursing Kaplan account and it will be added to the other required elements in your application to our program. The test must be taken within 1 year of the application date and only one (1) repeat is allowed. You must allow 30 days between repeats. If you take the test at another institution, you will need to request an official transcript of your Kaplan test results and include it in your application packet. The Kaplan Entrance Exam will be scored according to achievement in each category. To be competitive, it is recommended that you achieve a score of 50 or higher in each category. If you score below 50 you are welcome to apply, but this significantly lowers your chance for admission. 22 P a g e

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24 Appendix A Course Equivalency Chart Community College Courses Inorganic Chemistry Microbiology Anatomy & Physiology I Anatomy & Physiology II English Composition Statistics (Transfer- Ready Requirement) Lifespan Development (Transfer-Ready Requirement) Organic Chemistry (recommended) Bellevue Big Bend Cascadia Centralia Clark CLOVER PARK TECH Columbia Basin Edmonds Everett Grays Harbor Green River Highline Lake Washington Lower Columbia N. Seattle 101 BIO 250 BIO 260 BIO BIO 210 BIO OR BIOL 215 BIO 210 BIO BIO 211 ZOO 251 ZOO 252/ BOI 240 BIO 231 BIO232 BIO MAT /110.1 BIO 260/260.1 BIO 221/221.1 BIO / / BIO 250/L BIO 230 BIO BIO 250 BIO235 BIO BIO 211 BIO 208 BIO BIO 210 A&P 205 A&P BIO 250 BIO 231 BIO 2323 WRIT BIO 257 BIO 221 OR ZOO 121 BIO 222 OR ZOO CHE 101 BIO 280 ANP 213 ANP CHE P a g e

25 Community College Courses N.W. Indian College Olympic Peninsula PIERCE COLLEGE Renton Technical College Seattle Central Shoreline Skagit Valley S. Puget Sound Inorganic Chemistry Microbiology Anatomy & Physiology I Anatomy & Physiology II English Composition Statistics (Transfer- Ready Requirement) Lifespan Development (Transfer-Ready Requirement) Organic Chemistry (recommended) 111 BIO 245 BIO 242 BIO /121L BIO 260 BIO 250 BIO /122L 101L BIO 240L BIO 201/L BIO 202/L L 121 MICRO 260 BIO 241 BIO CHEM 140 BIO 210 BIO 220 BIO PSY or BIOL 140 CHE 101 BIO 280 A&P 213 A&P CHE BIO SCI MATH BISC 215 BISC 242 BISC BIO 211 BIO 205 BIO 206 WRIT South Seattle Spokane or Spokane Falls Tacoma C.C. Walla Walla Wenatchee Valley Whatcom CHE 101 BIO 280 ANP 213 ANP CHE OR 161 MBIOL 231 A&P 242 A&P BIO 201 BIO 220 BIO or BIO 240/ 241/ BIO 230 BIO 210 BIO BIO 223 BIO 221 BIO BIO 240 BIO 270 BIO Yakima 109/110 BIO 232 BIO 230 BIO BA 256 Business Stats 213 & / P a g e

26 University Courses Central WA University Eastern WA University Gonzaga Northwest Pacific Lutheran U. Seattle Pacific U. Seattle U. St. Martin s Univ. of Puget Sound Inorganic Chemistry Microbiology Anatomy & Physiology I Anatomy & Physiology II English Composition Statistics (Transfer- Ready Requirement) Lifespan Organic Chemistry Development (recommended) (Transfer-Ready Requirement) 111/111L BIOL 322 BIOL 355 BIOL (4cr) (4 cr) 112/112L 161 BIO 335 BIO 232/ 233/ NURS & 101/L BIOL 170/170L EXSC 241/241L EXSC 242/242L 101 NURS 320 NURS SCIE SCIE2104 SCIE 2203/1 SCIE 2203/ PSYC 2563 SCIE 1213/ / BIO 201 BIO 205 BIO STATS ?? CHM 1211 BIO 3351 BIO 2129 BIO HSC 4044 or M CHM BIO 220 BIO 200 BIO NURS or BIO 351 BIO 328 BIO & /201L 110 BIO 350 BIO 221 BIO & Univ. of WA 120 MICRO 301 BIOL BSTR , 121 or QMETH 201 NURS / or STAT 220 Walla Walla College 101 BIO 222 BIO 201 BIO & & /103 WA State University 101 MBIOS 101 BIOL 251 BIOL STAT 212 HD Western WA University 115 BIO 345/346 BIO 348 BIO Whitman 125/ Whitworth CH 101/101L or CH 161/161L BI 204 BI 220 BI PY 210W CH 163/163L 26 P a g e

27 Most Washington community colleges are participating in the Common Course Numbering System as of January 1, This chart is to be used for courses taken Summer, 2008 or after at any of the schools listed below. For courses taken at a State of Washington school not listed below, you must refer to the above chart and cross-reference it with the chart below. Bates, Bellevue, Bellingham, Big Bend, Cascadia, Centralia, Clark, Clover Park, Everett, Grays Harbor, Lake Washington, Olympic, Peninsula, Pierce, Renton, Seattle Central, Seattle North, Seattle South, Shoreline, Skagit, South Puget Sound, Spokane, Spokane Falls, Tacoma, Wenatchee, Whatcom, Yakima. Intro to Chemistry Microbiology Human A&P I Human A&P II English Composition CHEM& 121 BIOL& 260 BIOL& 241 BIOL& 242 ENGL& 101 Intro To Statistics (Transfer- Ready Requirement) Lifespan Development Intro to Organic/ Biochemistry (recommended) MATH& 146 PSYC& 200 CHEM& P a g e

28 APPENDIX Estimated Program Cost Washington State Nursing Programs Pierce College Associate Degree in Nursing Estimated Program Costs The following information is based on the current Pierce College Winter tuition table and Amazon.com list prices for new textbooks. The information provided is subject to change without notice and does not include sales tax. Initial Pre-Program Costs (estimated) Application Fee HIV/AIDS Training, CPR/First Aid Certification Immunizations, Titers and Health Assessment - Health Insurance $65.00 (LPN RN $50.00) Cost varies Cost varies. $ Pierce College Nursing Student Uniform (2 sets) Clinical Supplies (lab coat, shoes, socks, long sleeve shirt, stethoscope, watch, etc.) $ Kaplan Entrance Exam ~ $ 400 Estimated Current Costs for Tuition (Tuition calculated for Washington state residents.) Tuition Books Fees Lab Fee Total Quarter I $ $ 400 $ 85 $ 75 $ Quarter II $ $ 400 $ 85 $ 75 $ Quarter III $ $ 400 $ 85 $ 75 $ Quarter IV $ ($ LPN-RN) $ 400 $ 85 $ 75 $ ($ ) Quarter V $ $ 400 $ 85 $ 75 $ Quarter VI $ $ 400 $ 85 $ 75 $ Total Estimated Costs $ 11, This estimate does not reflect any upcoming tuition increase. (Additional fees and supplies may occur and the cost would vary) TOTAL ESTIMATED COST $11,000 - $13, P a g e

29 FINANCIAL AID, SCHOLARSHIPS AND LOANS Financial Aid may be available to assist you. Deadlines are strictly adhered to, so students are encouraged to apply early. Grants & Loans Pierce College Puyallup Financial Aid th Avenue S.E. Puyallup, WA (253) Federal School Code: All award ranges listed here are valid for the current academic year and are only listed as a general indication. Federal Pell Grants Federal Pell grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor s degree. To determine if you are eligible, the U.S. Department of Education uses a standard formula to evaluate the information you report on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This formula produces an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) number that appears in the upper right portion of page one on your Student Aid Report (SAR). This number will determine if you are eligible for a Pell Grant. The amount of your award will depend on your Expected Family Contribution, your enrollment status (part or full time), and whether you attend college for a full academic year. You may not receive Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time. Your Pell Grant will be used to pay your tuition and fees with any remaining funds paid to you after the academic quarter begins. Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) These awards range from $100 to $600 per academic year and are intended for undergraduate students proving the greatest financial need (as demonstrated by the Expected Family Contribution listed on your Student Aid Award). There funds are paid via check to students after the quarter begins. State Need Grant The State Need Grant helps low income undergraduate students pursue degrees. To be eligible, a student s family income cannot exceed 65 percent of the state s median family income. The grant amount at Pierce College ranges from $1, per year. Students who have already earned an AA or BA are not eligible for this grant. State Need Grant recipients must be enrolled for a minimum of six credits each quarter. Day Care Grant These funds are used to assist students with child care expenses. State of Washington resident status is required. Pierce College Grant These funds are used to assist students with tuition, fees, books and living expenses. State of Washington resident status is required. Tuition Waiver This program pays resident tuition for students who are residents of the State of Washington and meet certain eligibility criteria. Tuition waivers do not include fees and no refunds will be issued to students. 29 P a g e

30 Federal Perkins Loans A Federal Perkins loan is a low interest loan for both undergraduate and graduate students with financial need made with funds from the federal government and Pierce College. Pierce College is your lender, and you must repay this loan to the college. Depending on when you apply, your level of need and the availability of funds, Pierce College may lend you up to $3000 for an academic year. You will be paid by check after the beginning of the academic quarter. Repayment of your loan will begin after you cease attending Pierce College at least half time (six credits or more). You will have a nine month grace period before your first payment becomes due. Each student borrower is provided with specific information on any deferment and cancellation provisions that apply to the loan when you borrow and during your exit interview when you leave school. Stafford Loans These loans require that you complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The funds are loaned by banks to the student. Loans are repaid after you graduate, leave school or drop below half-time enrollment (six credits); you will have a six month grace period before you begin repayment. If you have financial need remaining after you have been awarded grant, work and scholarship funds, you can borrow Stafford Loan funds. This type of loan is subsidized, which means that the government pays the interest while you are in school, during the grace period and when you qualify for deferments. If you do not have demonstrated financial need, you may be eligible to receive an unsubsidized loan. Unlike the subsidized loan, you are responsible for the interest from the time the unsubsidized loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. You can choose to pay interest or allow it to accumulate and be capitalized (that is, added to the principal amount of your loan). Loan funds are sent to the school for you on a quarterly basis by the lender. Students receiving their first loan for their first term of college attendance cannot be paid the funds until 30 days after the quarter begins. For eligibility guidelines and current base loan amounts please refer to our financial aid website at More information can be found at PLUS Loans (Parent Loans) PLUS loans allow parents who have an acceptable credit history to borrow funds to pay the educational expenses of a child who is a dependent student enrolled at least half-time. The yearly limit on a PLUS Loan is equal to your cost of attendance minus any other financial aid you receive from Pierce College or other organizations. Contact the Financial Aid Office ( for more information. Scholarship Opportunities The Pierce College Foundation administers private scholarships for Pierce College students. These scholarships are awarded based on need, academic ability, artistic talent, vocational goals, and/or other factors. Information on newly funded scholarships will be posted in the Financial Aid office. The Pierce College Foundation acquires private funding for the college, provides enhancements to college programs, improves access for students, and promotes the college to the community. For more information about the Pierce College Foundation, visit the Foundation Web site ( 30 P a g e

31 Frequently Asked Questions 1. WHAT IS THE COST OF THE NURSING PROGRAM. The current cost is approximately $11,000-13,000 for six quarters. This does not include the tuition for any prerequisites. A breakdown of specific costs is included in the application packet. 2. IS THIS AN LPN OR RN PROGRAM? Pierce College awards an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), which qualifies graduates to take their NCLEX- RN licensure exam. Any student only seeking practical nurse training will be referred to an LPN Program within the area. LPN s with an unencumbered Washington State Practical Nurse license are eligible to apply to our LPN-RN Bridge program. Please contact our office for more information on the LPN-RN Bridge Program. 3. ARE THE PRE-REQS THE SAME AS OTHER 2-YEAR NURSING PROGRAMS IN THE PUGET SOUND? The majority of the requirements are identical, especially in the sciences. The differences are: Completion of Statistics (Pierce College Math& 146 ) (Transfer-Ready Requirement) Completion of Foreign Language 121 and 122, or 2 years of High School foreign language, or native language speaker (Transfer-Ready Requirement) Recommended: Organic and Biochemistry (Pierce College CHEM& 131) No requirement for Speech or additional Social Science 4. DO YOU HAVE PRE-NURSING CURRICULUM PLANNING SHEETS AVAILABLE FOR PLANNING OUT MY CLASSES? Advisors at any of the Pierce College campus sites have information sheets available for advising/class planning purposes. We encourage you to work closely with a trained pre-nursing advisor to map out an Education Plan for the recommended sequence of your pre-nursing classes. 5. WILL ADMISSIONS BE DECIDED SOLELY ON GRADES? Because space is limited, a selective admission process based on a point system will be used. The point system is based on ongoing data that supports diversity and predicts success in nursing programs. Grades and courses taken will be a qualifying factor, or minimum criteria for applying. The scored components of the application will be the personal statement, functional resume, additional courses taken, and Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam. 6. WILL THERE BE A WAITING LIST? No. A wait list will not be established. Individuals are selected starting with the applicant with the highest number of points and moving down the list until all class spaces are filled. The exact number of points required for admission will vary from year to year depending upon the number of applicants and range of awarded points. An alternate list will be established to fill in possible vacancies for each class start, but this list will NOT be carried over to the next year. Nonaccepted applicants will need to re-apply. 7. WILL IT HELP TO HAVE YOUR AA COMPLETED? Not necessarily. Any ADN graduate planning to enroll at UW-T to complete the BSN will be encouraged to finish their AA or the new Associate s Degree in Pre-Nursing, but admission to the Pierce College ADN Program will only require the pre-requisite courses listed. 8. WILL TAKING ALL OF MY PRE-REQS AT PIERCE COLLEGE GIVE ME AN ADVANTAGE? As long as applicants have completed the equivalent of all the nursing pre-requisites, it doesn t matter where they were taken as long as all the coursework is transferable to Pierce College. A Pre-requisite Course Equivalency Chart is included in this packet.. 31 P a g e

32 9. HOW MANY TIMES CAN I REPEAT A PRE-REQ COURSE? Students will be allowed ONE repeat of each course within the past 7 years and the highest grade will be used. Courses with a W (withdrawal) will be counted as one take in our repeat policy. 10. IS THERE A MINIMUM GPA REQUIREMENT? Each required pre-requisite course (ENGL& 101, A&P I with lab, A&P II with lab, Inorganic Chemistry, Microbiology and Psych 200) must be completed with a minimum grade 3.0 (B) or better. The Transfer-Ready courses and the recommended courses must each be completed with a minimum grade 2.0 (C) or better. 11. WHY IS THE PIERCE COLLEGE NURSING PROGRAM THE ONLY ADN PROGRAM THAT RECOMMENDS A STATISTICS COURSE? Research has shown that the biggest reason students fail nursing school is weak math and science aptitude integrally linked to the high levels of critical thinking and reasoning which nurses have to use on the job every day. We will also be encouraging students to go on for their BSN, which requires statistics. 12. WILL YOU HAVE A TIME LIMIT ON THE PRE-REQUISITES? Yes, coursework cannot be older than seven (7) years. Exception: if a student has completed a two or fouryear academic degree, some non-science credits earned as a requirement for that degree may have the time limit waived. Applicants who qualify for this type of waiver must obtain waiver approval through the nursing program PRIOR to the application deadline. Please contact the Nursing Program Office to complete the proper waiver paperwork. 13. HOW MUCH TIME WILL STUDYING WHILE IN PRE-NURSING AND NURSING COURSES REQUIRE? Each chemistry, biological science, or nursing course requires approx. 20 hours a week per 5 quarter credits which includes time in lecture, lab or clinical site, plus study time. Some of the non-science classes require approximately 15 hours per 5 credits. Students, who work more than 20 hours per week, have significant responsibilities for parenting, and/or other commitments should plan to take no more than one science at a time. The Associate Degree in Nursing program itself is a full time program. No part time option is currently available. All on-campus nursing classes will be held during the day; clinical experiences may be scheduled in the day or evening. 14. WILL PIERCE COLLEGE BE OFFERING ANY NURSING INFORMATION SESSIONS TO GET GUIDANCE REGARDING THE APPLICATION PROCESS? Monthly nursing information sessions will be offered throughout the year in Puyallup. Check the program website ( specific dates, times, and locations. Separate application workshops - specifically tailored for LPN students or traditional RN students planning to apply for our fall start will be scheduled and details will be given in the application packet and on our website. 15. WILL MY CREDITS FROM TECHNICAL COLLEGES TRANSFER TO PIERCE COLLEGE? Prospective students need to be very careful about where they take their prerequisite courses. Please refer to the last entry on the Course Equivalency Chart or contact your advisor for details on transferable credits. Students who plan to earn their LPN license and apply to the Bridge program may take their LPN coursework at a technical college. Please see the list of Washington State Nursing Programs (included in this packet) for LPN programs and contact information. 16. IS THE PIERCE COLLEGE NURSING PROGRAM ACCREDITED BY ACEN. Yes. We have received full national accreditation from ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.) as well as approval from the Washington State Department of Health Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission. 32 P a g e

33 17. WHY IS THE NURSING DEPARTMENT LOCATED AT THE PUYALLUP CAMPUS? Since the Pierce College at Puyallup already had a Nursing Lab for teaching the nursing assistant course, it was much more cost-effective to simply add the equipment needed to teach RN students. The Puyallup campus also filled the need to have an Associate Degree in Nursing available in eastern Pierce County. Even though nursing continues to be a high-demand occupation, the Tacoma/west Pierce County hospital facilities are already heavily utilized by nursing students attending PLU, TCC, Clover Park, and Bates Technical College. 18. CAN I WORK WHILE GOING THROUGH THE ACTUAL NURSING TRAINING PHASE? We encourage all nursing students to plan ahead so they can focus all their efforts for six quarters into nursing school. Even though some students must still work to keep benefits or support their families, it is critical that the employer be very aware of the school requirements. The classes, and especially the clinical rotations, cannot be arranged around work schedules. The quality of learning and retention definitely suffers when students are trying to function on little sleep and little time to study. The inability to build critical theory foundations could jeopardize not only passing one of their nursing classes, but possible the NCLEX for their RN licensure. 33 P a g e