The Diploma in Applied Science major in Practical Nursing prepares graduates for work as a licensed practical nurse. Job opportunities include hospitals, skilled-nursing facilities, doctors' offices, schools, home health and community health agencies. People who want to help others lead healthy lives and have strong science and math skills may be interested in this program. To become a licensed practical nurse and to obtain employment as a licensed practical nurse, graduates must pass the Computer Adaptive Testing National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Graduates who successfully pass the NCLEX-PN must apply for licensure in their home state. South Carolina is a part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) which allows nurses to have one multistate license with the ability to practice in the home state and the other 33 states in the compact. Please visit https://www.ncsbn.org/nurse-licensure-compact.htm for a complete list of US states and territories in the Nurse Licensure Compact. There are legal limits for state licensure in South Carolina for graduates with prior criminal records. The South Carolina Board of Nursing policy regarding legal limits for state licensure is available on https://llr.sc.gov. The Practical Nursing Program is approved by the Board of Nursing for South Carolina, Synergy Business Park; 110 Centerview Dr., Kingstree Building, Columbia, SC 29210, (803) 896-4550 or fax (803) 896-452 and accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326 (404) 975-5000. View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm.
Complete ENG-101 (minimum grade C)
Complete ENG-102 (minimum grade C)
Complete the following courses (minimum grade C): NUR-104, NUR-206, NUR-159, NUR-209, AND NUR-211
Complete BIO-210 AND BIO-211 (Minimum Grade C)
Complete NUR-106 (minimum grade C)
The Practical Nursing Program is a limited enrollment
program. The waiting list applicants are processed on a first-qualified,
first-served basis. The program offers annual admission each fall semester. Waiting
list criteria for the Practical Nursing Program are as follows:
- Evidence of a high-school diploma or
equivalent
- Evidence of Reading proficiency
- Reading proficiency can be met by
ACCUPLACER score of Reading 95 or Next Gen Reading 263, COMPASS score of 88,
ASSET score of 46, SAT score of Reading 480, ACT score of English 21 or earning
a grade of “C” or better in RDG 101.
- Evidence of Math proficiency
- Math proficiency can be met by ACCUPLACER
score Arithmetic 90 or Next gen QAS 237, COMPASS Pre-Algebra score of54, ASSET
Elementary Algebra s31 or Numerical 43, SAT Math 570, ACT Math 23 or earning a
grade of “C” or better in Mat 033 or higher.
- Evidence of English proficiency
- English proficiency can be met by
ACCUPLACER score of Sentence Skills 75 or Next Gen Writing 250, COMPASS score
of 88, ASSET score of 41 or earning a grade of “C” or better in ENG 032 or
higher.
- Students must also pass the “Test for
Essential Academic Skills” (TEAS) test with a composite score of “Proficient”
or better. TEAS scores must be no more than 3 years old at the time a student
seeks admission in the ADN Program.
Students must have a
minimum Practical Nurse Program GPA of 2.0 in classes taken at York Technical
College that can be applied toward the PN program. Note: Students must achieve
a grade of ‘C’ or better on the 1st or 2nd attempt
of BIO 210 and BIO 211 to meet the admission and curriculum requirement for the
PN program. Grades of ‘W’, ‘D’, ‘F’, and ‘WF’ are considered unsuccessful
attempts. Students who are unsuccessful on the 2nd BIO attempt are not eligible
to apply to the nursing program for five (5) years. Academic forgiveness will
be given five (5) years after the second BIO attempt and then the student will
be eligible to apply to the nursing program.
Clinical
Requirements
The PN Program has IS LOCATED AT THE Chester Center. Nursing
classes include campus and clinical laboratory hours. Students are required to
drive to a variety of clinical agencies to complete the clinical component of
the nursing courses. Clinical facilities
require drug screens and background checks before allowing students to
participate in clinical rotations. Students participating in clinical may also
be required to have a drug screen at any time during their rotation. Additional
clinical requirements include a current CPR certification from the American
Heart Association, a completed health physical, proof of immunizations and/or
titers (MMR, hepatitis B, varicella, Tdap), tuberculosis screening, flu and
COVID-19 vaccinations. The COVID vaccine mandate is a direct requirement of our clinical partners. Students who do not have proof of the above
immunizations will be required to submit applicable declination forms.
In addition to the health requirements, students must
have proof of health and liability insurance and current CPR certification from
the American Heart Association (children, infants, and adults and AED).
Clinical expectations include sitting, standing,
walking, frequent bending, squatting, reaching, occasional kneeling, twisting,
and exposure to changes in temperature/humidity and fumes. Additional physical
requirements include lifting, positioning and moving of patients both manually
and with use of assistive equipment. Both hands are used for power grip, speed
and precision work
ADN Matriculation
Students planning to seek admission to the ADN program
must successfully complete the PN program and meet the entrance criteria for the
ADN program. Articulation into the ADN program is based on space availability. Direct
articulation into the ADN program is not automatic or guaranteed. In the event
there are more qualified students who desire to articulate than space
availability, a lottery will be utilized.
Useful Links:
Department Page