Responding to a critical need, PDCCC established an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing. This five-semester program prepares selected students to qualify as practitioners of technical nursing in a variety of healthcare facilities. After successful completion of the program, students will be eligible for the National Council Licensure Exam-Registered Nurse for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Employment opportunities for the registered nurse include staff positions in hospitals, nursing homes, health departments, physicians’ offices, clinics, day care centers, industry, hospices, mental health facilities, rehabilitation centers and home healthcare agencies.

In addition to starting from scratch, students who qualify for admission can be accepted into the program through the following routes:

CNA-RN Bridge Program

This option provides an opportunity for certified nurse aides to enter the nursing program to advance their careers and at the same time recognize the skills and knowledge they have already obtained through their nurse aide program.

A transition course is offered for Certified Nurse Aides who have graduated from certain regional nurse aide programs within two years. Candidates must meet all criteria for the nursing program, including maintaining a grade of “C” or better in all nursing and general education course requirements.

LPN-RN Bridge Program

This option provides an opportunity for licensed practical nurses to enter the nursing program to advance their careers and at the same time recognize the skills and knowledge they have already obtained through the practical nurse program.

Those who apply for this program must have graduated from an accredited practical nursing program within five years and have completed several specific courses. Applicants must currently hold an unrestricted license in Virginia.

In addition, candidates must meet all criteria for the nursing program, including maintaining a grade of “C” or better in all nursing and general education course requirements. A transition course is offered for Licensed Practical Nurses who have graduated from a regional LPN program.

Advanced placement

LPNs may apply for advanced placement in the nursing program sequence. Those who apply for this program must have graduated from an accredited practical nursing program and currently hold an unrestricted license in Virginia. In addition, candidates must meet all criteria for the nursing program, including maintaining a grade of “C” or better in all nursing and general education course requirements.

Transfer of previous nursing credits

Students seeking to transfer credit received from nursing courses at other institutions will be considered on an individual basis by the nursing faculty. Students may be asked to provide course descriptions, course syllabi, pre-admission testing or achievement test scores, and selected data from the course instructor in order to determine placement in the nursing program, subject to space availability.

Since there are frequently differences among nursing programs, students desiring to transfer should be aware that there might be an interruption in program progression.

For more details on the nursing degree program at PDCCC, call 569-6700 and ask for Dr. Candace Rogers, program head. For information on other options, visit www.pdc.edu.