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Nursing: RN Option
Associate Degree in Nursing
Associate in Applied Science - T Degree

(253)  589-6013

Graduates of this program are educated in Nursing as a Registered Nurse with duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Washington Administrative Code. The nursing programs at CPTC are (1) accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and (2) has conditional program approval through the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission Nursing Program Approval Panel (graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam). CPTC courses with an “&” in the course name are seamlessly transferable to other Washington State educational institutions. Upon successful completion of university prerequisites, the CPTC nursing graduate with an unrestricted and current RN license can pursue a BSN.

The program is designed to meet needs of practicing LPNs who desire additional education to progress to the role of a Registered Nurse. The combination of previous experience and further education via lecture and clinical practice prepares the student to assume the role of a Registered Nurse in a variety of clinical settings. The student will receive the AAS-T degree upon successful completion of all prerequisites, nursing courses, and general educational courses required. After receiving the degree, the student is eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam.

RN Option program complies with all the guidelines set forth in WAC 246-840-575. The curriculum contains theory and clinical experiences in the areas of medical/surgical nursing, obstetric nursing, nursing of children, and psychiatric nursing. Clinical experiences will include opportunities for students to have direct involvement in and accountability for nursing care for patients with acute and chronic illnesses. Clinical experiences will include opportunities for the student to demonstrate assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care of diverse individuals and groups. Finally, history, trends, and legal and ethical issues pertaining to the nursing profession will be presented as a separate course; however, the concepts will be incorporated throughout.

This four quarter program is a combination of classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience. A capstone clinical experience with a practicing Registered Nurse as preceptor will allow immersion into the role of the RN during a regular working schedule.

Each student is required to carry personal health/medical insurance throughout their clinical rotations. Quarterly-based insurance for students may be purchased; further information is available through the Advising and Counseling Office. No student will be allowed at clinical sites without proof of insurance.

Deadlines for submission of prerequisites will be June 25th of the year your class is forming.

Prerequisites: Students must complete the following:

(1) General education courses

(2) Certifications

(3) Required immunizations

1. General educational courses: Students must receive a grade of B or higher in the following required prerequisite courses:

1. ENGL& 101 English Composition (5 credits)

1. BIOL& 241 Anatomy and Physiology I with lab and (5 credits)
2. BIOL& 242 Anatomy and Physiology II with a lab (5 credits)
3. BIOL& 260 General Microbiology with lab (5 credits)
4. PSYC& 100 General Psychology (5 credits)
5. PSYC& 200 Lifespan Psychology (developmental psychology) (5 credits)
6. CHEM& 121 General Chemistry with lab (5 credits)
7. And one of the following math courses: MATH& 141 Precalculus I, or MATH& 146 Introduction to Statistics, or MATH& 151 Calculus I
8. Speaking, understanding, and writing the English language is required

2.  Certifications and background check(s):  The student must have an active, unrestricted LPN license in Washington State and 500 hours of employment experience as an LPN, verified by either documented work hours or a letter from your supervisor with a signature. Students will be required to pass a national and local background check with a result of No Record on File in order to continue in the program. Students must have current CPR for the Healthcare Provider training that includes adult, child, and infant, and AED under the guidelines of the American Heart Association (online CPR course not accepted).

3.  Documentation of Immunizations.

IMMUNIZATION INSTRUCTIONS:  Please read carefully!!!  You must have the immunizations listed below, but you are NOT required to submit any documentation to the nursing department prior to the first day of class.  You are required to BRING a copy of proof of immunizations listed below on the first day of class.  Please note:  TB and Seasonal Flu vaccines are required annually and must be kept current throughout the program.  You will be required to upload proof of immunizations into a program called certified background during your first weeks in class.  This is a requirement that must be met in order to attend clinical rotations.

Instructions for uploading these documents will be provided during your program orientation at the start of the quarter.  You will not be allowed to attend clinical site rotations until proof of the required immunizations is met.

NOTE: Immunization requirements are based on CDC recommendations for health care workers and Clinical site requirements.

Required Immunizations include:

1. o   Hepatitis B series plus positive titer,
2. o   Tetanus/Diphtheria, TB: (1) 2-step TB screening, OR (2) Quantiferum Gold TB test, or (3) history of past three years or (4) negative chest X-ray report with annual free note from physician.
3. o   TB testing. : (1) 2-step TB screening, OR (2) Quantiferum Gold TB test, or (3) history of past three years TB testing
4. o   Measles/ Mumps/Rubella (2 injections or 1 injection and positive titer) Varicella (2) immunizations or positive titer.
5. o   Seasonal flu and H1N1.

NOTE:  Immunization requirements may change, based on Center for Disease Control guideline, college, and/or clinical facility policies.

AAS-T Degree General Education Requirements (20 credits):

All AAS-T degrees must have a minimum of 20 credits of transferable general education. These credits replace the academic courses required for the AAT degree. Required credits include:

1. 5 credits in Communication: ENGL& 101
2. 5  credits in  quantitative  reasoning: MATH& 141, MATH& 142, MATH& 146, or MATH& 151
3. 10 credits in social science, humanities, or science (choose two from the following): PSYC& 100, PSYC& 200, PSY 210, PSYC& 220, SOC& 101, ART& 100, MUS& 105, ASL& 121, BIOL 118, BIOL& 241, BIOL& 242, CHEM& 121, PHYS& 121, ECON 101, ECON& 201, or ECON& 202

Students pursuing an AAT or AAS-T degree must complete all college degree requirements prior to graduation. This includes courses that meet the capstone project, diversity, and computer literacy requirements.

Admission Dates: Fall quarter

Program Requirements

To review course descriptions, please click here.