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Nursing

Why choose Nursing at PPCC?

PPCC prepares its nursing students with the skills, technical competence, and know-how needed to find a rewarding career. Graduates have a reputation of being caring, skilled and efficient nurse practitioners, who are highly sought after in today's health care industry.

Changes to Nursing Program Application Process

For students who will be applying to the Nursing Program from August of 2019 and later, the following changes will be in effect: 

  • BIO 204 (Microbiology) will no longer be a prerequisite (but please keep reading for further info about how BIO 204 can be used)
  • BIO 202 (Anatomy & Physiology II) will now be a prerequisite course
  • BIO 201/202 (Anatomy & Physiology I & II) grade calculation will be as follows:
    • If a student has taken BIO 201 or 202 more than two times, only the first two attempts will be considered.  The Admissions Committee will average those first two attempts for each BIO to figure the student's GPA for that prerequisite BIO course
    • Further BIO 201/202 course attempts will not be considered in figuring a student's GPA for prerequisite courses.

Also, since February of 2019, we have been telling students about BIO 111 (General College Biology) as a prerequisite for the BIO 201 and BIO 202 courses.  Students have previously needed to either take the BIO 111 course to be able to enroll into the BIO 201/202 courses -OR- students could take an Accuplacer exam to try and test out of the BIO 111 course.  If a student scored a 70 or better, the student could be automatically enrolled into BIO 201/202 courses and not have to take BIO 111 at all.  The important thing we started telling students in the Nursing Information Sessions is that BIO 111 is required by our accreditation through Acccreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and that we must have the five credits that make up BIO 111 in order for students within the Nursing Program to have enough credits to graduate.

As of January 22, 2020 when a student turns in a transcript to the Nursing Department  with all the other required paperwork and documents for the application process, along with having the four pre-requisite classes and the NUA courses on the transcript, students will need to have the one of the following courses or equivalency CLEP grades showing on his or her transcript:

  • BIO 111 (General College Biology) with the final grade showing, for five credits
  • Either GTP-992 or BIO 999 (Equivalency CLEP for BIO 111--it could show up listed either way once the CLEP has been completed), worth three credits
  • BIO 204 (Microbiology) withthe final grade showing, for four credits

As long as one of the two courses or one of the two equivalency CLEP listings shown above is listed on a student's transcript, and all other requirements for the application process are met, we will accept the student's application during open application periods.  The Nursing Department will accept the credits from BIO 204 for four credits or the three credits from either of the two equivalency CLEP listings in place of the full five credits for BIO 111.  We will expect the student to take the HWE 100 (Human Nutrition) course for three credits at some point once he or she is accepted into the Nursing Program. 

Once the HWE 100 course has been completed, the Nursing Department will take credits from that course and use them to supplement the missing credits for what would have been the five credits received had BIO 111 been taken.  This process will be handled via a Degree Modification done by the Associate Dean of Nursing in a student's last semester within the Nursing Program.  No other Biology courses, other than what are listed above, may be used in place of BIO 1111 and no other courses may be used in place of HWE 100.

PPCC Nursing Program Mission Statement

“To provide quality nursing education that prepares the learner to become a member of the profession meeting the needs of a diverse population, in an ever-changing healthcare environment in both rural and/or urban settings.”

Nursing Program Organizing Framework

The Pikes Peak Community College Nursing Program Organizing Framework has as its foundation, the arts, sciences, humanities and nursing knowledge. The structure of the curriculum is built upon seven (7) key concepts from the nursing philosophy which are: professionalism, nursing process, communication, health illness continuum, holistic care, caring intervention, teaching/learning, and leadership. These guiding concepts are foundational to education for the roles of the professional nurse, and represent our Student Learning Outcomes. The curriculum is also guided by the Colorado State Board of Nursing (CSBON), The National League for Nursing’s (NLN) Competencies of the Associate Degree Nurse, and the American Nursing Association (ANA) standards.

These concepts thread through each course and guide the development of each part to create a whole curriculum. This structure promotes progressive development of breadth and depth of knowledge.

Nursing Program Learning Outcomes

  • Outcome #1 Performance on licensure exam: At least 80% of all first-time test-takers will pass the NCLEX-RN exam during the same 12-month period.
  • Outcome #2 Program completion: 75% of our students will complete the program within 150% of the time of starting their first nursing course.
  • Outcome #3 Program satisfaction:  At least 80% of survey respondents will report satisfaction with their level of preparation for beginning nursing practice gained through their program of study.
  • Outcome #4 Employer satisfaction:  90% of survey respondents will rate our graduates at “well” or better in all categories at six to twelve months post-graduation.
  • Outcome #5 Job placement:  At least 90% of our graduates surveyed are either employed or have returned to school to complete their BSN within twelve months post-graduation.

NCLEX Success Rates (First Attempt)

2018: 98.81%

2017: 98.68%

2016: 99%

2015: 100%

For current detailed information of nursing student NCLEX pass rates of all Colorado nursing schools visit the Colorado Board of Nursing.

Job Placement Rate

Overall 90% of our graduates are employed or have returned to school to continue their education.

Expected Level of Achievement

Student Cohort Date of graduation

Employment Rate

 

Job placement is 90% or greater for our graduates surveyed within one year of graduation.

2018

 

 100%
Employed		  

Same as above

2017

100% Employed

 

Same as above

 2016

100% Employed

 

Overall Student Completion Rate in the Nursing Program

Expected Level of Achievement

Year & Semester of Entry

Program Completion Rate

75% of our students will complete the program within 150% of the time of starting their first nursing course.

Fall 2014, n=57

Spring 2014, n=49

n=43 or 75.4%

n=44 or 89.8%

Same as above

Fall 2013, n=56

Spring 2013, n= 52

n=51 or 91%

n=43, or 82.6%

Same as above

Fall 2012, n = 50

Spring 2012, n= 55

n= 33 or 66%

n= 33 or 60%

Nursing Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the ADN Nursing Program, the graduate is expected to know and do the following:

  1. Caring Intervention: Provide safe quality evidenced-based patient centered (holistic) and compassionate care in a variety of health care settings.
  2. Health-Illness: Continuum: Demonstrate critical thinking when analyzing patient data and considering quality improvement in healthcare delivery systems.
  3. Holistic Care: Participate in collaborative relationships with members of the interdisciplinary team for the purpose of providing and improving patient care outcomes.
  4. Teaching/Learning: Provide teaching to diverse patient populations across the lifespan incorporating the health-illness continuum.
  5. Nursing Process: Provide and direct nursing care that coordinates, organizes, prioritizes and modifies care using the nursing process in a variety of health care settings.
  6. Professionalism: Function as a competent nurse assimilating all professional, ethical and legal principles related to nursing practice.
  7. Communication: Utilize a variety of types of information technology and communication skills to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error and support decision making.
  8. Leadership: Provide leadership in a variety of healthcare settings for diverse patient populations.

What do PPCC Nursing students study?

Upon being accepted into the Nursing Program you will learn a broad set of nursing skills that apply to all areas of the nursing industry including:

  • Provide caring intervention, a safe quality evidenced-based patient centered (holistic) and compassionate care in a variety of health care settings.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking when analyzing patient data and consider quality improvement in health-illness and healthcare delivery systems.
  • Build collaborative relationships with the interdisciplinary team to provide and improve holistic care and patient outcomes.
  • Develop teaching/learning skills to deliver to diverse populations across their lifespan.
  • Provide nursing care that coordinates, organizes, prioritizes and modifies care using the nursing process in a variety of health care settings.

Classes You Might Take

NUR 109 introduces the fundamental concepts necessary for safe, patient-centered nursing care to a diverse patient population while integrating legal and ethical responsibilities of the nurse. Introduces caring, critical thinking, the nursing process, quality improvement, and communication used when interacting with patients and members of the interdisciplinary team, and relates evidence-based nursing practice. Application of knowledge and skills occurs in the nursing skills laboratory and a variety of clinical settings providing care to stable patients with common health alterations.
Overview of the basic principles of pharmacology including major drug classifications and prototypes of commonly used medications. Principles of medication administration include aspects of best practice for safe, quality, patient-centered care. Central points include safety, quality improvement factors in the administration of medications, patient teaching, and variations encountered when administering medications to diverse patient populations across the lifespan.
Provides a review of general mathematics, introductory algebra and an opportunity to learn systems of measurement and methods of solving problems related to drug dosage and intravenous fluid administration. It is designed for students in the health disciplines. Topics may include algebra, graphs, measurement and conversion between various systems of measurement.
NUR 106 is the first medical/surgical nursing course. Building on NUR 109, this course provides for the acquisition of basic medical/surgical nursing theory, as well as application of mental health concepts, communication, collaboration, caring, and critical thinking/clinical reasoning necessary for safe, patient-centered care to a developmentally and culturally diverse adult patient population experiencing various medical/surgical interventions. Incorporates evidence-based practice, quality improvement, professional standards, and legal and ethical responsibilities of the nurse. Application of knowledge and skills occurs in the nursing skills laboratory and a variety of clinical settings.
NUR 150 provides for the acquisition of maternal/child nursing theory, as well as application of mental health concepts, communication, collaboration, caring, and critical thinking/clinical reasoning necessary for safe, family-centered nursing care to childbearing families and children that is developmentally and culturally appropriate. Incorporates evidence-based practice, standards of practice, quality improvement, and legal and ethical responsibilities of the nurse. Application of knowledge and skills occurs in the nursing skills laboratory and in a variety of maternal/child and pediatric clinical settings.

Career Options

Many types of health care facilities need skilled PPCC nursing graduates. Some career options include:

  • Nursing Assistance
  • Physician's Office
  • Home Health Care
  • General Medical & Surgical
  • Community Care

Careers in Nursing

SUCCESS

NURSING INFORMATION SESSIONS

NOTE: The in-person Nursing Information Sessions have been cancelled until further notice due to concerns amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.  We will be doing virtual WebEx sessions on the scheduled dated instead--please see below for further information. 

We will be holding the Nursing Information Sessions as virtual Web-Ex sessions with students starting on April 13, 2020 at 1800 hours.  If you are signed up for the Nursing Info Session, you will receive an email invitation to access the WebEx training starting at the time of the session for which you have registered. 

Faculty and staff will mark your attendance at the Nursing Information Session virtually when you check into the WebEx and when you turn in your application, you will be given a signed Attendance Verification Form that can be turned in with your application.  

If you have questions, please contact me via email at heatherlynn.opitz@ppcc.edu.

This announcement supercedes all other information that has been put out about the Nursing Information Sessions to this date.  Posted at 1519 hrs on 4/7/2020 (hlo)

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We found that with the growth we are experiencing as a Program, we had more people interested in the Nursing Program.  We wanted to start offering more dates and times for people to attend the Nursing Information Sessions, so we now have afternoon and evening Information Sessions for people to choose from to obtain information about the Associates Degree of Nursing that Pikes Peak Community College offers. 

 

DATE

TIME

IF DONE VIRTUALLY

IF FACE-TO-FACE,

IN ROOM #

IF FACE-TO-FACE, @ CAMPUS

IF FACE-TO-FACE, @ ADDRESS (Colorado Springs)

July 13, 2020

3:00 – 5:00 pm

Via WebEx

H-114

CHES Building

1850 Cypress Semi Dr.

August 24, 2020

6:00 – 8:00 pm

Via WebEx

H-114

CHES Building

1850 Cypress Semi Dr.

August 28, 2020

3:00 – 5:00 pm

Via WebEx

H-191

CHES Building

1850 Cypress Semi Dr.

September 14, 2020

6:00 – 8:00 pm

Via WebEx

H-114

CHES Building

1850 Cypress Semi Dr.

September 25, 2020

3:00 – 5:00 pm

Via WebEx

H-191

CHES Building

1850 Cypress Semi Dr.

October 12, 2020

6:00 – 8:00 pm

Via WebEx

H-114

CHES Building

1850 Cypress Semi Dr.

October 23, 2020

3:00 – 5:00 pm

Via WebEx

H-191

CHES Building

1850 Cypress Semi Dr.

November 16, 2020

6:00 – 8:00 pm

Via WebEx

H-114

CHES Building

1850 Cypress Semi Dr.

November 20, 2020

3:00 – 5:00 pm

Via WebEx

H-191

CHES Building

1850 Cypress Semi Dr.

December 4, 2020

3:00 – 5:00 pm

Via WebEx

H-191

CHES Building

1850 Cypress Semi Dr.

December 7, 2020

6:00 – 8:00 pm

Via WebEx

H-114

CHES Building

1850 Cypress Semi Dr.


Click Here to register!

 

Attendance at a Nursing Information Night is mandatory for applicants to the Nursing Program. You will be given an Information Verification Form that will be signed by a Nursing Faculty member. This signed form must be included with your Nursing Application.

Students applying to the Nursing Program must have a current Information Verification form dated no more than one year prior to the date they turn in their Nursing Program application.

Apply to PPCC

Apply to PPCC Request Information

Nursing Program Accreditation

PPCC’s Nursing Program has continuing full approval from the Colorado State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), formerly NLNAC.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Phone: (404) 975-5000
Fax: (404) 975-5020
Email: info@acenursing.org
Web: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing

PPCC Nursing Program Graduate Data

The PPCC Nursing Program offers education that prepares students to excel in their nursing career. A high percent of PPCC nursing students accepted to the Program successfully complete the Program. Students graduating from the PPCC Nursing Program have experienced success on the NCLEX exam which is required for becoming a licensed registered nurse. Graduate PPCC nursing students find nursing jobs upon passing the NCLEX.

Nursing Faculty

Nursing Lead Advisor

ReeAnn Hyde

Contact advising: 719-502-3232  advising@ppcc.edu

Nursing Faculty PPCC Advisor

Nursing Program Costs

PPCC strives to make all of our programs as affordable as possible.  Click here for the 2019-2020 cost estimate for the Nursing Program.

Explore Program Costs

Spring 2020

Nursing Program Student Handbook

Spring 2020 Nursing Student Handbook

RN to Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN Completion Program

BSN Student Handbook

RN to BSN Student Handbook