Program Description
The Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission approves the nursing program, and the program is accredited by National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation. Students who complete the two-year associate degree program are eligible to take national board exams for registered nurses. The curriculum provides a strong foundation in applied and social sciences and an understanding of the fundamentals of patient care in a variety of settings. Throughout the program students integrate experience caring for patients in acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community agencies. Successful completion of this program leads to an Associate in Nursing, Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Related Program (DTA/MRP). Students with this degree need only to complete senior level courses at select universities in the state of Washington to achieve a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. Courses transfer as defined by the Associate in Nursing, Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Related Program (DTA/MRP) agreement. Students who plan to transfer to a four-year program should review the university’s requirements for senior-year standing in the Bachelor of Science in nursing program.
Program Length: 9 Quarters
Program Code: RENDTAA
The Nursing Program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA, The Watergate, 2600 Virginia Ave, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20037).
Important Note: Individuals who would like to study nursing at Peninsula College must complete non-nursing academic requirements and prerequisite courses prior to entering the program or be in the final quarter of their completion. Prospective students must apply to the program.
Application information is available on the nursing program web page at pencol.edu/nursing.
Only 10 credits of Humanities may be completed after application and prior to the second year of the nursing program. Nursing courses may be started only in the fall quarter and only after making application to, and being accepted into, the nursing program. Application to the nursing program can be made only during the spring quarter prior to enrolling in nursing courses.
Career Opportunities and Earnings
Potential positions include hospital or nursing home staff nurse, clinic nurse, and home health nurse. With additional training and education, potential positions include critical care nurse, obstetrical nurse, pediatric nurse, emergency department nurse, or operating room nurse. Obtaining advanced academic degrees may lead to positions in administration, education, and advanced practice positions such as nurse practitioner. The demand for nurses should remain strong over the next decade.
For current employment and wage estimates, please visit and search for the relevant occupational term: bls.gov/oes
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Holistically assess the biopsychosocial-spiritual-cultural dynamic needs of the client
- Use evidence based information and the nursing process to critically think and make clinical judgments and management decisions to ensure accurate and safe care
- Demonstrate holistic caring behavior towards the client, significant support person(s), peers, and other members of the health care team
- Provide accurate and safe nursing care in diverse settings
- Provide teaching based on individualized teaching plan
- Organizes and manages the holistic care of clients
- Work cooperatively with others in the decision-making process to achieve client and organizational outcomes
- Utilize appropriate verbal and written channels of communication to achieve positive client outcomes
- Practice within the ethical, legal, and regulatory frameworks of nursing and standards and scope of nursing practice
Special Features
- Students in the nursing program have the advantage of a low faculty to student ratio.
- The Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP also facilitates entering senior level BSN courses.
- Graduates of this program experience high placement success both locally and throughout the state of Washington.
- Graduates of this program consistently score higher than the national average on the NCLEX licensure exam.
Program Prerequisites
College-level skills in English and math (eligibility for courses numbered 100 or higher) are required before registering for the prerequisite courses required in this program. Students may need to complete additional prerequisite coursework. Learn more about placement options by visiting the Assessment and Placement website: pencol.edu/testing-center/accuplacer-placement
Approximate Additional Costs
- TEAS test fee (for application): $90
- HESI test fee ($99/quarter x 6 quarters): $594
- Books, supplies and miscellaneous fees: $3000
- Equipment (uniforms, stethoscope, watch, etc.): $300
- Laptop computer: $1000
- Malpractice insurance: $15.62 per year
- Personal health insurance (recommended): $39- $190 per quarter
- Required immunizations: varies depending on vaccination status and insurance coverage, estimated $0-$1000
- CPR card: varies
- Travel/Transportation: varies
- WA State licensing fee: $92
- NCLEX: $200
Prerequisites
Includes process of science, overview of central ideas of biology (unity, diversity, interdependence, evolution), basic chemistry concepts, biomolecules, cell structure, cell physiology (including enzyme function, energetics, synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein), cell reproduction, introduction to genetics. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Natural Sciences with Lab, Elective)
Credits: 5
Structure and function of the human body. Homeostasis; tissues; integumentary, skeletal, nervous, and muscular systems. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Natural Sciences with Lab, Elective)
Credits: 5
Cardiovascular system; lymphatic system; immunology; respiratory system; digestive system; metabolism; urinary system; endocrine system; reproductive system; and genetics. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Elective)
Credits: 5
Introduction to bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. Includes microbial structure, metabolism, genetics, ecology, technological applications, microbial diseases of humans, immunology, public health, and medical control strategies. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Natural Sciences with Lab, Elective)
Credits: 5
For individuals with little or no chemistry background. Atomic nature of matter, chemical bonding, periodic table, chemical reactions, phases of matter, solutions, equilibrium, reaction rates, and nuclear reactions. Includes laboratory. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Natural Sciences with Lab, Elective)
Credits: 5
Active reading, effective writing, and critical thinking, using subjective and objective approaches. Introduction to research techniques. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Communication Skills)
Credits: 5
Introduction to methods and applications of elementary descriptive and inferential statistics; summarizing data graphically and numerically, probability, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, correlation and linear regression. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Quantitative Skills, Natural Sciences, Elective)
Credits: 5
Introduction to science of behavior. Emphasis on biological foundations of behavior, cognition, learning, intelligence, motivation, memory, personality, and psychological disorders. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Social Sciences, Elective)
Credits: 5
Scientific study of human growth, development, and change throughout life cycle. Physical, cognitive, social, personality, and other aspects of the individual examined through successive stages, from prenatal development until death. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Social Sciences, Elective)
Credits: 5
10 credits of humanities must be taken prior to the second year of the nursing program. Students planning to transfer to a BSN program should check with the transfer institution to confirm humanities class requirements.
CHEM& 121 has a prerequisite of intermediate algebra skills from either coursework or instructor testing.
First Quarter (Fall)
Policy and Ethics in Healthcare I introduces legal, ethical and regulatory issues in healthcare with an emphasis in professional nursing. Identifies an approach to ethical decision making in healthcare with utilization of the Jonsen model. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 1
Nursing 101 introduces concepts and theories basic to the art and science of the nursing role. Provides an introduction to holistic assessment and care management, evidence based clinical decision making, concepts of caring, safety, patient teaching, collaboration, therapeutic communication, and professionalism. This class may include students from multiple sections.
This class has a $15.75 liability insurance course fee and a $130 nurse testing course fee.
Credits: 5
Nursing 111 is a basic nursing skills lab course. Students demonstrate basic nursing skills using principles of holistic assessment, evidence based standards of practice, caring, safety, patient teaching, organizing and managing care, collaboration, therapeutic communication, and professionalism. This class may include students from multiple sections. Requires admission to the nursing program.
This class has a $60 nursing supplies course fee.
Credits: 2
Nutrition in Healthcare I provides an introduction to nutritional concepts in healthcare with a focus on holistic assessment, health promotion and wellness across lifespan. The role of the nurse is emphasized. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 3
Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare I examines determinants of health and illness including social, psychological, environmental, spiritual, and cultural dimensions across the lifespan and within the context of health care. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 3
Second Quarter (Winter)
Nursing 102 is a nursing theory course with a focus on chronic illness. Chronic alterations in health are considered in the context of holistic assessment and care management, pharmacology, evidence based clinical decision making, concepts of caring, safety, patient teaching, collaboration, therapeutic communication, and professionalism. This class may include students from multiple sections.
This class has a $130 nurse testing course fee.
Credits: 6
Nursing 112 is a clinical/lab course where students begin to demonstrate competencies necessary to meet the physical and psychosocial needs of those experiencing alterations in health across the lifespan. Integrated concepts include holistic assessment, evidence based practice, caring, safety, patient teaching, organizing and managing care, collaboration, therapeutic communication, and professionalism. This class may include students from multiple sections.
This class has a $60 nursing supplies course fee.
Credits: 5
Nutrition in Healthcare II is the second in a series of three courses. In this course, nutrition concepts are applied to various chronic alterations in health across the lifespan. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 1
Third Quarter (Spring)
Nursing 103 is a nursing theory class where student explore acute and chronic alterations in health across the lifespan are considered in the context of holistic assessment and care management, pharmacology, evidence based clinical decision making, concepts of caring, safety, patient teaching, collaboration, therapeutic communication, and professionalism. This class may include students from multiple sections.
This class has a $130 nurse testing course fee.
Credits: 6
Nursing 113 is a clinical/lab course where students continue to demonstrate competencies necessary to meet the needs physical and psychosocial needs of those experiencing alterations in health across the lifespan. Focus on the acute care and community setting. Integrated concepts include holistic assessment, evidence based practice, caring, safety, patient teaching, organizing and managing care, collaboration, therapeutic communication, and professionalism. This class may include students from multiple sections.
This class has a $60 nursing supplies course fee.
Credits: 5
Nutrition in Healthcare III is the third in a series of three courses. In this course, nutrition concepts are applied to various chronic and acute alterations in health across the lifespan. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 1
Fourth Quarter (Fall)
Nursing 201 is a nursing theory course where student continue to explore complex alteration in health across the lifespan in the context of holistic assessment and care management, pharmacology, evidence based clinical decision making, concepts of caring, safety, patient teaching, collaboration, therapeutic communication, and professionalism. This class may include students from multiple sections.
This class has a $15.75 liability insurance course fee and a $100.50 nurse testing course fee.
Credits: 6
Nursing 211 is a clinical/lab course where students continue to demonstrate competencies necessary to meet the physical and psychosocial needs of those experiencing alterations in health across the lifespan. Focus on the acute care and mental health setting. Integrated concepts include holistic assessment, evidence based practice, caring, safety, patient teaching, organizing and managing care, collaboration, therapeutic communication, and professionalism. This class may include students from multiple sections.
This class has a $60 nursing supplies course fee.
Credits: 5
Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare II is the second in a series of two courses. Focus is on advanced determinants of mental health and illness, including social, psychological, environmental, spiritual and cultural dimensions across the lifespan and within the context of health care. Topics include violence and substance abuse. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 2
Fifth Quarter (Winter)
Policy and Ethics in Healthcare II is the second in a series of three courses. Focus is on policies related to management and leadership principles in health care, including but limited to: disparity of healthcare, resources, and the Affordable Care Act. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 2
Nursing 202 is a nursing theory course where student continue to explore increasingly complex alteration in health across the lifespan in the context of holistic assessment and care management, pharmacology, evidence based clinical decision making, concepts of caring, safety, patient teaching, collaboration, therapeutic communication, and professionalism. This class may include students from multiple sections.
This class has a $100.50 nurse testing course fee.
Credits: 4
Nursing 212 is a clinical/lab course where students continue to demonstrate competencies necessary to meet the physical and psychosocial needs of those experiencing alterations in health across the lifespan. Focus on the acute care and obstetric health setting. Integrated concepts include holistic assessment, evidence based practice, caring, safety, patient teaching, organizing and managing care, collaboration, therapeutic communication, and professionalism. This class may include students from multiple sections.
This class has a $60 nursing supplies course fee.
Credits: 6
Sixth Quarter (Spring)
Policy and Ethics in Healthcare III is the third in a series of three courses. Focus is on policies, ethics, and legal issues related to overall practice in healthcare professions. Includes local, state, national, and global perspectives of policies, legalities and ethics in healthcare. This class may include students from multiple sections.
Credits: 2
Nursing 203 is a nursing theory course where student continue to explore complex alteration in health across the lifespan in the context of holistic assessment and care management, pharmacology, evidence based clinical decision making, concepts of caring, safety, patient teaching, collaboration, therapeutic communication, and professionalism. This class may include students from multiple sections.
This class has a $100.50 nurse testing course fee.
Credits: 4
Nursing 213 is a clinical/lab course where students continue to demonstrate competencies necessary to meet the physical and psychosocial needs of those experiencing alterations in health across the lifespan. Focus on the transition to the novice registered nurse role. Integrated concepts include holistic assessment, evidence based practice, caring, safety, patient teaching, organizing and managing care, collaboration, therapeutic communication, and professionalism. This class may include students from multiple sections.
This class has a $60 nursing supplies course fee.
Credits: 6