Trenholm State Community College

Practical Nursing

 

Practical Nursing

Thank you for your interest in the Nursing programs at Trenholm State. Please keep in mind that you must first apply to TSCC and be unconditionally accepted to the College prior to applying to the Nursing programs. New applications for the Nursing programs Spring 2024 Cohorts on the Trenholm State Campus will be available on September 1, 2023. The deadline for application submissions for the Spring 2024 Cohorts will be September 29, 2023 by noon.

  • An ACT composite score of 18 is the minimum requirement for application to the Practical Nursing Certificate Option or the Registered Nursing Program and there are no exceptions. ACT Superscores are not accepted by the Nursing program.
  • All pre-requisite courses must be completed prior to submitting the nursing application. The completed pre-requisite courses must be on the applicant’s transcript(s) on submission of the application. ALL transcripts must be included in the application packet.
  • All math (MTH) and science (BIO) pre-requisite courses must be taken within 5 years of application to the Nursing program.
  • All pre-requisite courses, other minimum requirements for application, and additional information can be found on the Practical Nursing or Registered Nursing Program webpages. All applicants must be unconditionally accepted by TSCC prior to applying to the Nursing program. Please be advised that there is a separate application and application process for the Nursing programs at TSCC.

The Practical Nursing is designed to provide students with the knowledge and proficiencies to provide safe and effective bedside nursing care within the scope of practice of licensed practical nurses. Students are instructed in the provision of nursing care for clients through the lifespan. Clinical experiences are provided at area hospitals and healthcare agencies in adult health, maternal health, child health, orthopedics, geriatrics, psychiatric and other areas of nursing practice.

The Practical Nursing Certificate is open to men and women; few careers match the versatility, satisfaction, and longevity afforded by a nursing career. Students who have satisfactorily completed the program may apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN). The Practical Nursing Certificate is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing. The PN Certificate has a competitive admissions process.

Nursing Mission Statement

The mission of the nursing programs of the Alabama Community College System is to prepare graduates to practice safe, competent, patient-centered care in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing health care system. We seek to provide full and equal access to opportunities for educational success to meet the community's needs.

Nursing Philosophy

We believe that nursing is a dynamic profession, blending science with the use of evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning and the art of caring and compassion to provide quality, patient-centered cared.

We believe learning is an interactive process in which faculty and students share the responsibility to meet program outcomes. We believe in using educational methods that are current and supportive of students in the teaching and learning environment, with the presentation of information from simple to complex.

Nursing is guided by standards of practice and standards of professional performance. Standards reflect the values and priorities of the nursing profession. Therefore, we have integrated competencies from the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) and National League for Nursing (NLN) into our philosophy as part of our core values.

Competencies

NLN competencies for nursing are central to the conceptual framework. The related QSEN competencies for graduate nurses define the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that the graduate nurse should possess to continuously improve the quality and safety of the healthcare systems within which they work. (QSEN)

Human Flourishing - Advocate for patients and families in ways that promote their self-determination, integrity, and ongoing growth as human beings. (NLN def)

  • Patient-Centered Care - Recognize the patient or designee as the source of control and full partner in providing compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for patient’s preferences, values, and needs. (QSEN def)

Nursing Judgment - Make judgments in practice, substantiated with evidence, that integrate nursing science in the provision of safe, quality care and that promote the health of patient within the family and community context. (NLN def)

  • Safety - Minimizes risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance. (QSEN def)
  • Informatics - Use information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision making. (QSEN def)

Professional Identity - Implement one’s role as a nurse in ways that reflect integrity, responsibility, ethical practices, and an evolving identity as a nurse committed to evidence-based practice, caring, advocacy, and safe, quality care for diverse patients within a family and community context. (NLN def)

Teamwork and Collaboration - Function effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care. (QSEN def)

Spirit of Inquiry - Examine the evidence that underlies clinical nursing practice to challenge the status quo, questions underlying assumptions, and offer new insights to improve the quality of care for patients, families, and communities. (NLN def)

Evidence-based Practice - Integrate best current evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values for delivery of optimal health care. (QSEN def)

Quality Improvement - Use data to monitor the outcomes of care processes and use improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care systems. (QSEN def)

Goals

  1. To prepare competent, entry-level practical nurses in cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning disciplines.
  2. To develop graduates who will successfully meet the entry-level expectations of diverse employers in the field of practical nursing.
  3. To provide students with the support and materials needed to succeed in the fields of practical nursing.
  4. To graduate students with the ability to demonstrate the knowledge base needed to succeed in the fields of practical nursing.
  5. To graduate students with the ability to demonstrate the clinical proficiency needed to succeed in the fields of practical nursing.
  6. To graduate students with the ability to demonstrate the appropriate behavioral skills needed to succeed in the fields of practical nursing.
  7. To provide employers with a pool of qualified, highly-skilled healthcare workers who are capable of executing a variety of tasks in the fields of practical nursing.

Outcomes

  1. Performance on Licensure Exam

    The most recent annual licensure examination pass rate will be at least 80% for all first-time test-takers during the same 12-month period.

  2. Completion

    Each program will determine completion rate based on the program demographics. Program completion is defined as the percentage of students admitted who graduate in no more than 150% of the time of the stated program length beginning with the first required nursing course as delineated below:

    PN Certificate – three semesters

  3. Job Placement

    Each program will determine the job placement rate based on the program's demographics. Job Placement is defined as the Percentage of graduates employed in a position for which a nursing program prepared them.

  4. Graduate and Employer Surveys

    Graduate and employer surveys are not mandated. Programs may continue to use the surveys as additional tools for assessing and evaluating outcomes.

    Reference: ACCS Nursing Concept Based Curriculum Program Guide, May 19, 2018

 
  1. Application and deadline dates will be posted on the College website. The nursing program accepts a class once every year.
  2. Complete and submit a college application to Trenholm State Community College, if not currently enrolled (can be submitted online).
  3. Official transcripts from all colleges attended must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office.
  4. Student must be in good standing with the college including a minimum overall, cumulative GPA of 2.50.
  5. Official results of the ACT (minimum of 18 composite score national or residual is required) must be submitted to the Registrar’s office with a copy attached to the nursing application. The writing component of the ACT is not required for consideration of admission to the nursing program.
  6. Take the ACCUPLACER placement examination as indicated (exceptions may apply).
  7. Provide one form of state identification.
  8. Complete all general education (non-nursing) courses by the application deadline date. Prerequisites for the program are:
    • English Composition I (ENG101)
    • *Speech (SPH106 or 107) Not required prior to applying.
    • Intermediate College Algebra (or higher level math - Pre-Cal, Finite Math, or Statistics) (MTH100)
    • Anatomy & Physiology I (BIO201)
    • Anatomy & Physiology II (BIO202)
    • Human Growth & Development (PSY210)
  9. A completed Trenholm State nursing application must be submitted electronically to the Director of Nursing at tsnursing@trenholmstate.edu. The nursing program has modified its application process, students can no longer hand deliver or mail-in their nursing application. No applications will be accepted after the deadline for submission. Nursing application must include the following:
    • Unofficial copies of transcripts
    • Unofficial copy of your ACT scores
    • Application packet checklist
    • ACCS Essential Eligibility Criteria form
  10. Must meet the Essential Functions for nursing. Once accepted to the nursing program, the essential functions document must have the signature and date of view of medical personnel (e.g.MD, DO, NP). The requirements for meeting essential functions for the nursing program can be requested from students periodically during the nursing program as indicated. If a nursing student cannot meet the essential functions requirements, the student may be withdrawn from the nursing program.

    Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance to the nursing program.
 

Practical Nursing Certificate

The Practical Nursing Certificate consists of three (3) sequential semesters

First Semester Theory Lab Clinic Hours
NUR112 – Fundamentals Concepts of Nursing 4 2 1 7
ORI101 – College Orientation 1 0 0 1
Total Hours: 8
Second Semester Theory Lab Clinic Hours
NUR113 – Nursing Concepts I 4 1 3 8
Total Hours: 8
Third Semester Theory Lab Clinic Hours
NUR114 – Nursing Concepts II 5 0 3 8
NUR115 – Evidence based Clinical Reasoning 1 0 1 2
Total Hours: 10

Total Semester Hours = 26
 

The curriculum is designed to provide students with current nursing education and practice emphasizing evidenced-based practice utilizing the standards from Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) and the National League of Nursing (NLN). At the completion, the graduate may be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN).

 

General Information

Student Achievement Data

  • NCLEX Pass Rate: Spring 2020 – Fall 2020 = 100%
  • Completion Rate: Spring 2020 – Fall 2020 = 58.3%
  • Job Placement Rate: Spring 2020 – Fall 2020 = 100%

Program Details: View more information in the catalog.

FAQ

Full FAQ

Still have more questions? Please view our full FAQ.

 

Program Contact

Debra Lett, PhD, MSN, MPA, RN
Director of Nursing Programs
334-420-4497
dlett@trenholmstate.edu

Location

Trenholm Campus
1225 Air Base Blvd,
Montgomery, AL 36108
Detailed Directions

Approved by:
Alabama Board of Nursing
770 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104
334-293-5200

Accredited By:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
404-975-5000

History of
Excellence

For half a century, thousands of students have charted their path to success at Trenholm State Community College. From the 1960s to today, we have been part of the fabric of Montgomery and the River Region, growing to include diverse programs of study, multiple campuses, and online learning. Now, we celebrate the present and move forward with a renewed dedication to our community and the success of our students. We invite you to join us.

Contact Trenholm State

1-866-753-4544 334-420-4200

Trenholm Campus:
1225 Air Base Blvd
Montgomery, Alabama 36108
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Mailing Address:
Post Office Box 10048
Montgomery, Alabama 36108