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2022-2023 Catalog

Nursing

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TTC’s Division of Nursing offers a curriculum with multiple entry and exit points with options for students to earn a diploma and an associate degree. The Nursing curriculum incorporates course requirements for the Nursing programs into two levels. The sequential program levels prepare students for progressive roles of nursing practice: the practical nurse and the registered nurse. Students may successfully complete requirements for each program level and exit, or progress to the next level. Requirements for each program level of the curriculum are progressive and must be met before entering courses in the next program level.

All qualified students may enter the first program level (Practical Nursing [PN]) and exit with a Diploma in Applied Science or meet the progression requirements for the second program level and continue in the curriculum. Students who successfully complete the required courses of the second program level (Associate Degree Nursing [ADN]) exit with an Associate in Applied Science degree.

Qualified students who are Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) may enter the second program level of the curriculum and follow the LPN-to-ADN option. The LPN students who successfully complete the second program level exit with an Associate in Applied Science degree.

The Nursing curriculum combines general education courses and clinical nursing courses and incorporates classroom instruction, laboratory simulation and clinical practice to ensure students obtain the most current knowledge and high-level skills available in the nursing profession.

Information may also be found on the Nursing Division’s website and student portal page.

General Information
Information may also be found on the webpage at www.tridenttech.edu/academics/divisions/nur/index.htm or student portal page at my.tridenttech.edu/academics/nursing/Pages/default.aspx. The Associate Degree and Practical Nursing programs at Trident Technical College at the Thornley campus are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN, 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326). The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate Degree and Practical Nursing programs are continuing accreditation. The Associate Degree and Practical Nursing programs are approved by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Board of Nursing (110 Centerview Dr., Columbia, SC 29210).

All clinical Nursing courses are seven-week terms. Clinical experiences may be scheduled Monday through Sunday on any shift. Professional courses for the Associate Degree Nursing level are offered in sequence and require two years for completion. Professional courses for the Practical Nursing level are offered in sequence and require three semesters for completion.

Prior to beginning clinical experiences in the Nursing programs, students must have current CPR certification, medical professional liability insurance, major medical insurance, and all required immunizations, titers and tests. In these programs, students are required to purchase uniforms, laboratory supplies and other course materials. Since students will be assigned to clinical sites off campus, they must have reliable transportation. Trident Technical College (TTC) Nursing students must be eligible and able to attend all clinical rotations at sites the program utilizes for clinical practice. Therefore, students in the TTC nursing program must meet any and all eligibility requirements mandated by the clinical facilities, including vaccination requirements. When allowed, declinations are considered on a case-by-case basis by the clinical facility. If a declination is accepted, the student will be required to adhere to any and all policies set forth by the clinical agency. This is not a TTC initiative, but a requirement imposed by many of our clinical facilities. Nursing education programs are mandated by boards of nursing as well as accreditors to provide students with clinical experiences. Nursing programs are not obligated to provide substitute or alternate clinical experiences based on a student’s request or preference. Boards of nursing have no obligation to waive their current rules/regulations regarding clinical experiences for unvaccinated students.   To ensure equitable treatment of all students, the TTC nursing program does not customize student schedules for any reason other than a documented disability.  

Please note: Clinical experiences are integral to nursing education. If a student cannot complete the clinical requirements for any reason, the student is not eligible to progress in the nursing program. 

To be in compliance with affiliation agreements between TTC and clinical facilities, all students entering Nursing programs are required to have a completed drug screen and criminal background check. Students will complete a criminal background check and drug screen through an agency designated by the college within a time frame defined by the nursing division prior to enrolling in the nursing program. In addition, students will be assessed processing fees. 

The results of the drug screen will be made available to the dean or the dean's designee. Students with positive drug screens will not be permitted to enroll in clinical nursing courses. 

The results of the criminal background check will be securely shared with each clinical site prior to any clinical rotation. The clinical agency will review all adverse findings and determine whether or not the findings disqualify the student from clinical practice. Should a student be disqualified from clinical practice in a clinical agency, the student must meet with the clinical coordinator to review potential options. Students with misdemeanors without disposition and students who cannot be placed in all clinical rotations because of adverse findings will have to choose another career path. 

Students who have previous disciplinary actions and/or convictions may not be eligible to take the NCLEX examination and/or become licensed by the State Board of Nursing, even if a degree has been conferred. Students who have such disciplinary actions and/or convictions will not be reviewed by the Board of Nursing until their application to test is submitted. The Board of Nursing does its own criminal background check and then will make the determination if the student is eligible to take the NCLEX licensing exam. Conviction of a crime (other than a minor traffic violation) could make the student ineligible to take the licensing exam required by the profession upon graduation. Early notification to the appropriate board is suggested. The contact to the South Carolina Labor, Licensing, and Review Board (LLR) is https://llr.sc.gov/nurse/.

Nursing Program Admission Requirement Changes
Admission requirements for the Nursing program are subject to change. Students should visit https://my.tridenttech.edu/academics/nursing at the beginning of each semester for changes in admission requirements.

Admission to the Nursing Programs
In order to apply for admission to the Nursing programs, students must first be accepted to TTC. Please note that admission to TTC does not guarantee admission to the Nursing programs.

Students are admitted to the Nursing programs on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis to the next- available space. Dates for the next-available spaces in the Nursing programs are posted on the student portal at https://my.tridenttech.edu/academics/nursing.

General Nursing Admission Requirements
All students applying to a Nursing program must meet the following General Nursing Admission Requirements:

  1. Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions, colleges and universities previously attended. Laboratory sciences must be taken within five years of the entry date to the program.
    1. Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.0 on each transcript.
      or
    2. Complete ten (10) semester hours and achieve a grade of C or better in each course with at least one (1) of the courses being either BIO 210, BIO 211, BIO 225 or equivalent.
  2. Meet the Program Specific Admission Requirements identified under each program.

Application Process
Students applying to one of the nursing programs must meet the General Nursing Admission Requirements prior to submitting an application. Once these requirements are complete students may submit an online Nursing Application to the Nursing Admissions Coordinator.

After acceptance, return the form accepting the seat in the nursing program either in person or by certified mail to the address in the acceptance letter and pay the $100 seat reservation fee to the Business office in Building 410 by the deadline stated in the acceptance letter.

Additional Requirements
Prior to enrolling in the first clinical nursing course, all students must:

  1. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for courses taken at TTC and NOT be on academic or disciplinary suspension at the time of admission and date of entry into the program.
  1. Show evidence of a criminal background check and drug screen completed within six months prior to starting the Nursing program. Only criminal background checks and drug screens that are conducted through the agency designated by the college will be accepted.

Important Note: Instructions for obtaining criminal background checks and drug screens will be given to students the semester before the date of entry to the Nursing program. Students will be assessed a processing fee.

Important Note: Students initially admitted to the Practical Nursing program who wish to progress to the ADN program MUST provide proof of current South Carolina licensure as a practical nurse prior to applying for progression to the ADN program.

Reminder: Prerequisites for clinical courses may change based on clinical affiliation agreement requirements. Students are responsible for meeting all prerequisites to clinical courses throughout the program.

Falsification of any information submitted will make a student ineligible for admission to or continuation in the Nursing program.

Nursing Merit Placement
Merit Placement is an opportunity for students already admitted to the generic Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program to be considered for an earlier start date. Students who request consideration for Merit Placement will be awarded points based on the published criteria and ranked according to the total number of earned points. Students with the highest number of earned points will be selected to move their start date forward as space becomes available. To see the criteria for Merit Placement, go to the student portal page at https://my.tridenttech.edu/academics/nursing.

Students who qualify for consideration for Merit Placement can download the Merit Placement Application. During the application period the application is located in the student portal my.tridenttech.edu. Students must keep a copy of the completed application and submit the original completed application, along with the required documentation, in person or by certified mail to:

Trident Technical College
Admissions Office (Bldg. 410)
Nursing Admissions Coordinator
7000 Rivers Avenue
(P.O. Box 118067) AM-M
Charleston, SC 29423-8067

The Merit Placement Application and all required documentation must be submitted according to the most current schedule, which can be found in the student portal.

Applications for Merit Placement will only be accepted during the specific dates and times for the current schedule. Required documentation must accompany all applications. Applications and/or required documentation received before or after these dates and times will not be considered.

The Nursing Admissions Coordinator will notify students via their official my.tridenttech.edu email accounts within three weeks of the posted deadline as to whether or not they are selected to move their start date. Students not selected to move their start date forward will retain their original start date. Students selected for Merit Placement must begin preparing for admission to the Nursing program.

To be considered for Merit Placement, students must be able to complete the required immunizations and titers before beginning the Nursing program. The required immunizations and titers are outlined in the students’ original acceptance letters and on the Student Nurse Portal, https://my.tridenttech.edu/academics/nursing.

Additionally, students selected for Merit Placement must complete the mandatory online orientation (Essentials for New Nursing Students) in D2L and attend the mandatory meeting (Getting Off to a Successful Start) scheduled for the class they are entering. Dates and times will be announced.

Students who have questions or need additional information can use their official my.tridenttech.edu email accounts to email their advisors. Advisor names and contact information are listed in Navigate.

Transfer to Specific Programs
Students seeking admission to a Nursing program at TTC who have been enrolled in (and not completed) another Nursing program must complete the following requirements to be considered for admission:

NOTE: Only students who have no more than one unsuccessful attempt (W, D, F or U) in a clinical nursing course are considered for admission.

  1. Meet the college’s admission requirements.
  2. Meet the Nursing program’s admission
  3. Meet the college’s requirements for 25 percent of the curriculum credit hours to be taken at TTC.
  4. Meet all prerequisite and corequisite courses applicable to the semester for which the student is seeking entry. Laboratory sciences must be taken within five years of the date of entry into the program.
  5. Once the student is eligible for admission, he/she may request consideration for transfer credit for nursing courses taken within the last two years by submitting a written request to the associate dean.

Course Sequence and Progression
To progress in the program, students must achieve a minimum grade of C in all courses. These courses must be successfully completed before or during the term in which they appear as a corequisite in the recommended sequence of courses for the program and semester of entry. Laboratory sciences must be taken within five years of the date of entry into the program.

Dosage Proficiency
Prior to progressing to Nursing Care Management I (NUR 104), students must successfully demonstrate proficiency in dosage calculations by registering for Health Calculations (AHS 126) and either successfully completing the PN Dosage Proficiency Placement Exam with a minimum grade of 95 percent or successfully completing the course. 

Prior to progressing to ADN level course Complex Health Problems (NUR 210), students must successfully demonstrate proficiency in dosage calculations by registering for Health Calculations II (AHS 129) and either successfully completing the ADN Dosage Proficiency Placement Exam with a grade of 100 percent or successfully completing the course.

As nondegree courses, Health Calculations (AHS 126) and Health Calculations II (AHS 129) may not qualify for some forms of financial aid. Students should speak with a financial aid counselor if they have any questions.

Repeat Policy and Termination
Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing students may have no more than two unsuccessful attempts in clinical nursing courses. LPN-ADN students may have no more than one unsuccessful attempt in clinical nursing courses. Students enrolled in the following non-clinical courses may have no more than three unsuccessful attempts: Health Calculations (AHS 126), Health Calculations II (AHS 129), Transition Nursing (NUR 201), Nursing Seminar (NUR 216), Pharmacology for Nurses (NUR 105) and Basic Concepts of Pharmacology (NUR 161). An unsuccessful attempt is defined as receiving a W, D, F or U.

Readmission
Students enrolled in any Nursing program who do not progress in the curriculum sequence for any reason (academic or personal) must seek readmission to progress to another clinical course. Readmission is not automatic. Criteria for readmission are outlined in the Student Nurses Handbook.

Graduation Requirements
All general education requirements must be completed prior to or during the final semester to ensure eligibility to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) upon graduation. Prior to graduation, students are required to demonstrate proficiency on a standardized national examination.