Nursing

Contact the Nursing Education Department: 760-744-1150, ext. 2279 | Office: HS-200

Associate Degree, Certificate of Achievement and Certificate of Proficiency requirements are listed in Section 6 (green pages). For transfer information, consult a Palomar College Counselor. The Associate Degree Nursing program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326, 1-404-975-5000.

General Information

The Associate Degree Nursing program prepares graduates to provide direct nursing care to patients in hospitals and other health agencies at a staff nurse level. The curriculum consists of coursework in nursing, general education, and clinical nursing practice in local hospitals and other health agencies. The Nursing faculty of the College is directly responsible for all phases of the program.

Palomar College has two Associate Degree options available in Nursing: The Associate in Arts (AA) in Nursing Degree and the Associate in Science (AS) in Nursing Degree. The difference in the coursework between the two options is in the GE requirements. Refer to the Requirements section of each degree for specific differences. Both degree options meet the requirements of Title V, the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Students who have a current LVN license can select an optional pathway to enter the program in the second semester for the Associate in Arts or the Associate in Science Nursing degrees.

Admission to the nursing program is by special application. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must (1) be eligible for admission to Palomar College; (2) attend a Nursing Orientation meeting; (3) submit proof of high school graduation or equivalency or higher; (4) have a GPA of 2.5 in prerequisite sciences; (5) pass the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), version V, with a composite score of at least 62%; and (6) submit a completed application along with the required documentation.

Licensure

Upon successful completion of either the Associate in Arts (AA) in Nursing Degree or the Associate in Science (AS) in Nursing Degree, students will be eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX RN). If performance on the examination is successful, they will be licensed as a registered nurse. Students who are LVNs and who are electing the Non-Degree 30 Unit Option, as well as students who do not complete the requirements for the Associate in Arts (AA) or the Associate in Science (AS) in Nursing but who successfully complete the required nursing and support courses, are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX RN) as a NON-DEGREE Candidate. If successful, they will be licensed as a RN by the California Board of Registered Nursing. Endorsement of a non-degree graduate RN in other states is not guaranteed because these regulations are unique to California. ONCE THE NURSING PROGRAM IS STARTED UNDER A 30-UNIT OPTION, STATUS CANNOT BE CHANGED FROM NON-DEGREE TO DEGREE REGARDLESS OF SUBSEQUENT DEGREES EARNED.

Credit by Transfer

Students who have been enrolled in an accredited Registered Nursing program within the last two years may receive full credit for courses transferred which are, as evaluated by the Palomar College Nursing Education Department faculty, comparable to courses offered by the College. If courses transferred are found not to be comparable, students may challenge Palomar courses for credit.

Credit by Examination

Academic credit by examination may be obtained by those whose prior education and/or experience provides the knowledge and skills required to meet the objectives of one or more courses. Students who believe they may be eligible for credit by examination should contact the Nursing Education Department for an appointment for special advising prior to submitting their application for admission to the program. For College policy regarding credit by examination, consult “Credit by Examination” in the Academic Regulations and Standards section of this catalog. Upon completion of the eligibility requirements, separate theory and clinical performance examinations will be administered for courses with a laboratory component. A written patient care plan is required in all appropriate theory and clinical courses. Completion of the written work with a grade of ‘C’ or better is required prior to taking the clinical examination. Courses without a lab component will have a written examination only. A grade of ‘C’ or better must be achieved. The Nursing Education Department’s Credit by Examination Policy may be obtained from the Nursing Education Department Office. A maximum of 20 units may be obtained through credit by examination.

Students with a Previous Bachelor's Degree

As per the Education Code, SB 1393, students with baccalaureate or higher degrees from a regionally accredited college in a non-nursing field are only required to complete the course work necessary for completion of the registered nursing program, including prerequisites and nursing coursework. These students are not required to complete any other courses required by the college for an associate degree.

Continuing Education for Nurses

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for currently licensed RNs and LVNs can be earned through a variety of Palomar College academic classes. For information contact the Nursing Education Department (760) 744-1150, ext. 2580

Associate in Arts (AA) Degree in Nursing

This program prepares graduates to provide direct nursing care to patients in hospitals and other health agencies at a staff nurse RN level.

Learning Outcome(s):

1. Competently coordinate and administer nursing care for diverse patients, families, groups and populations with complex needs, across the lifespan and in a variety of settings.
2. Communicate therapeutically with patients, support persons, and members of the interdisciplinary team, including verbal, nonverbal, and written methods.
3. Advocate for positive individual and organizational outcomes with the interdisciplinary healthcare team through a shared purpose and workload.
4. Perform nursing care that minimizes risk of harm to patients, self and others in healthcare through both system effectiveness and individual performance
5. Assimilate professional identity into nursing care by maintaining responsibility and accountability for nursing practice, adhering to legal and ethical standards, and exhibiting a spirit of inquiry
6. Manage and coordinate care for patients and families accross the lifespan utilizing effective prioritization, delegation, and leadership skills
7. Develop, implement, and evaluate an individualized teachingplan for patients, families, and care givers and members fo the healthcare team incorporating teaching and learning principles
8. Formulate appropriate clinical judgements, as part of the nursing process, through the ongoing practice of noticing, interpreting, and responding to dynamic patients with complex needs
9. Demonstrate competence in using electronic based resourcesto inform evidenced-based learning, clinical decision making, and promote safe clinical practice