Nursing
Associate Dean for Nursing
Nancy Novak, BS, RN, MN
Contact Christine Brubaker 253.566.5358 cbrubaker@tacomacc.edu
TCC’s Associate Degree Nursing program prepares students for employment as a Registered Nurse. The program’s structure is progressive, leading to an Associate in Applied Sciences degree and graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for Registered Nursing.
A graduate who has completed the Associate Degree in Nursing may articulate into a bachelor’s degree program at a four-year institution. Additional prerequisites for specific bachelor’s degree programs may also be completed at TCC. Interested students are encouraged to contact the four-year college or university of their choice to obtain more detailed information.
TCC’s Associate Degree Nursing Program is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission and is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).
GENERIC OPTION
The nursing courses in the full-time generic program are taught in a six-quarter sequence over a two-year period, excluding summer. Visit www.tacomacc.edu/nursing for admission dates.
A part-time option is also available for those students who will be more successful attending school half-time. Part-time students attend theory class one quarter, followed by the clinical portion the next quarter. Due to this split, part-time students attend classes during summer quarter in addition to the usual academic year (fall-spring). Entry to the part-time option occurs only once a year with the spring quarter enrollment.
ADVANCED STANDING FOR LPN OPTION
Licensed Practical Nurses who wish to become Registered Nurses may apply for advanced standing in the program. LPNs are admitted into the program twice a year, in summer and winter. LPNs are required to take an LPN articulation course that prepares them to transition into either third (part-time) or fourth (full-time) level, depending on assessment level.
ASSOCIATE IN PRE-NURSING TRANSFER DEGREE OPTION
Please see University Transfer section.
This degree is intended for students to transfer to four-year college and universities to take nursing classes to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree.PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of the AAS Nursing degree, students will:
- Use critical thinking skills to apply the nursing process in caring for patients and their families by identifying, developing, implementing, evaluating and documenting a plan of care utilizing appropriate technology.
- Demonstrate the ability to function effectively in a collaborative multicultural environment utilizing effective interpersonal communications, both written and verbal.
- Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct in providing safe patient care, specifically: follow directions consistently and accurately, follows through on all assigned tasks and responsibilities, demonstrates receptiveness to questions, suggestions and feedback, demonstrates punctuality, satisfactory attendance, effective time management and prioritization, demonstrates honesty, integrity, and accountability for all actions, demonstrates respectful positive team behavior, and protects client rights and confidentiality.
- Apply principles of caring and effective communication.
PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Students must take a select number of general study courses before application is made to the nursing program. These courses are designed to provide students with a strong foundation in sciences and humanities before they enter the nursing program.
Due to the sequencing of courses, student may find it difficult to complete the Associate Degree in Nursing in two years. Typically students take at least three years to complete all courses for the degree. Some courses are required for program application.
Course work completed at other colleges must be evaluated by TCC’s Credential Evaluator. Applicants should arrange to have official transcripts sent to TCC as early as possible. The applicant must apply to the college and submit the “Evaluation of Credits and Transcript Review Request,” with the official transcripts being evaluated. Please send transcripts to Enrollment Services in Bldg. 7. Do not send transcripts directly to the nursing program. Students are encouraged to apply to the Nursing program as soon as their prerequisites are completed. They do not need to wait until the application deadline to submit an application.
REQUIREMENTS UPON PROGRAM ACCEPTANCE
- Criminal and federal fraud background checks
- Health insurance
- Immunizations
It is the student’s responsibility to arrange for dependable transportation to and from the clinical site as well as for dependable child/dependent care.
The following prerequisite courses must be successfully passed with grades of 3.0 or better within two attempts. Attempts include all course withdrawals as well as grades below 3.0 and include courses taken at all colleges attended in the last five years.
Program Prerequisites (37 credits)
BIOL& 241 |
Anatomy and Physiology 1* |
12 |
and BIOL& 242 |
Anatomy and Physiology 2* |
|
All courses of an Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) series must be completed before the application is submitted. A&P series from other schools must be at least 10 credits in length and include a lab component to the course work.
BIOL& 260 |
General Microbiology*# |
5 |
CHEM& 121 |
Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry# |
5 |
ENGL& 101 |
English Composition I |
5 |
or ENGL& 102 |
English Composition II: Argument & Persuasion |
|
PSYC& 100 |
General Psychology |
5 |
*Courses taken must be no more than 10 years old.
Additional Prerequisite/Co-requisite Coursework
Must be completed before entering the program (but not before applying). This course is not used in admission scoring. Advanced standing applicants may take this course in the same quarter as the articulation courses (NURS 161, 162, 163 or NURS 261, 262, 263).
PSYC& 200 |
Lifespan Psychology |
5 |
Associate in Applied Sciences Degree - Nursing: Generic Plan
(122 Credits)
Course sequencing, prerequisites, and core requirements require students to attend classes for at least three years to earn Associate degree in Nursing.
Program Prerequisites (37 credits)
Core Requirements (75 credits)
NURS 111 |
Nursing I: Caring for the Well Client (Theory) |
5 |
NURS 112 |
Nursing I: Caring for the Well Client (Clinical) |
5 |
NURS 113 |
Nursing Interventions I: Assessment (Lab) |
1 |
NURS 121 |
Nursing II: Caring for the Client w/Minor Deviations from Wellness (Theory) |
5 |
NURS 122 |
Nursing II: Caring for the Client w/Minor Deviations from Wellness (Clinical) |
5 |
NURS 123 |
Nursing Interventions II: Basic Skills (Lab) |
1 |
NURS 131 |
Nursing III: Caring for the Childbearing Family (Theory) |
5 |
NURS 132 |
Nursing III: Caring for the Childbearing Family (Clinical) |
5 |
NURS 133 |
Nursing Interventions III: Advanced Skills (Lab) |
1 |
NURS 141 |
Nursing Focus I: Gerontological Nursing (Theory) |
1 |
NURS 142 |
Nursing Focus II: Pharmacology I (Theory) |
1 |
NURS 143 |
Nursing Focus III: Pharmacology II (Theory) |
1 |
NURS 151 |
Nursing Focus I: Technology |
2 |
NURS 211 |
Nursing IV: Caring for the Client with Acute Problems (Theory) |
5 |
NURS 212 |
Nursing IV: Caring for the Client with Acute Problems (Clinical) |
5 |
NURS 221 |
Nursing V: Caring for the Client with Chronic Problems (Theory) |
5 |
NURS 222 |
Nursing V: Caring for the Client with Chronic Problems (Clinical) |
5 |
NURS 231 |
Nursing Seminar in Care Management (Theory) |
1 |
NURS 232 |
Nursing Preceptorship: Manager of Care (Clinical) |
8 |
NURS 233 |
Nursing Preparation for Licensure |
1 |
NURS 241 |
Nursing Focus IV: Leadership and Management |
2 |
NURS 242 |
Nursing Focus V: End of Life |
2 |
NURS 243 |
Nursing Focus VI: Trends and Issues |
2 |
Related Instruction Requirements (10 credits)
CMST& 101 |
Introduction to Communication |
5 |
or CMST 110 |
Multicultural Communication |
|
or CMST& 220 |
Public Speaking |
|
SOC& 101 |
Introduction to Sociology |
5 |
or ANTH& 206 |
Cultural Anthropology |
|
Associate in Applied Sciences Degree - Advanced Standing for LPN Plan
(93-104 Credits)
This option is intended for students who already have an LPN license. Course sequencing, prerequisites, and core requirements require students to attend classes over at least a three-year period to attain an Associate degree in Nursing. Program Prerequisites (37 credits)
Core Requirements (43-54 credits)
LS 102 |
Research Methods |
2 |
NURS 130 |
LPN - RN Articulation 3rd Level |
3 |
or NURS 210 |
LPN - RN Articulation 4th Level |
|
NURS 151 |
Nursing Focus I: Technology |
2 |
*3rd Quarter Entry Point
NURS 131 |
Nursing III: Caring for the Childbearing Family - Theory |
5 |
NURS 132 |
Nursing III: Caring for the Childbearing Family - Clinical |
5 |
NURS 133 |
Nursing Interventions III: Advanced Skills (Lab) |
1 |
4th Quarter Entry Point
NURS 211 |
Nursing IV: Caring for the Client with Acute Problems - Theory |
5 |
NURS 212 |
Nursing IV: Caring for the Client with Acute Problems - Clinical |
5 |
NURS 221 |
Nursing V: Caring for the Client with Chronic Problems - Theory |
5 |
NURS 222 |
Nursing V: Caring for the Client with Chronic Problems - Clinical |
5 |
NURS 231 |
Nursing Seminar in Care Management (Theory) |
1 |
NURS 232 |
Nursing Preceptorship: Manager of Care (Clinical) |
8 |
NURS 233 |
Nursing Preparation for Licensure |
1 |
NURS 241 |
Nursing Focus IV: Leadership and Management |
2 |
NURS 242 |
Nursing Focus V: End of Life |
2 |
NURS 243 |
Nursing Focus VI: Trends and Issues |
2 |
Related Instruction Requirements (10 credits)
CMST& 101 |
Introduction to Communication |
5 |
or CMST& 220 |
Public Speaking |
|
or CMST 110 |
Multicultural Communication |
|
SOC& 101 |
Introduction to Sociology |
5 |
or ANTH& 206 |
Cultural Anthropology |
|
*Students who test out of Pediatrics are eligible to enter level 4 which will be 11 credits less for the degree.