Nursing Department - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of the nursing program?
The current cost is approximately $9,000 to $12,000 for six quarters. This does not include the tuition for any prerequisites or for NCLEX-RN testing fee. A breakdown of specific costs and additional fee's are included in the application packet.

Is this an LPN or RN program?
Pierce College awards an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), which qualifies graduates to take their NCLEX-RN licensure exam. Any student only seeking practical nurse training will be referred to an LPN Program within the area.

LPN's with an unencumbered Washington State Practical Nurse license, or students in their final quarter of their practical nurse training, are eligible to apply to our LPN-ADN Bridge program. Please contact our office for more information on the LPN-ADN Bridge Program.

Are the pre-reqs the same as other 2-year nursing programs in the Puget Sound?
The majority of the requirements are identical, especially in the sciences. The differences are:

  • Completion of Statistics (Pierce College Math& 146) - (Transfer-Ready Requirement)
  • Foreign Language 121 and 122, or 2 years of High School foreign language, or native language speaker - (Transfer-Ready Requirement)
  • Recommended: Completion of Organic and Biochemistry (Pierce College CHEM& 131)
  • No requirement for Speech or additional Social Science

Do you have pre-nursing curriculum planning sheets available for planning out my classes?
Advisors at any of the Pierce College campus sites have information sheets available for advising/class planning purposes. We encourage you to work closely with a trained pre-nursing advisor to map out an Education Plan for the recommended sequence of your pre-nursing classes.

Will there be a waiting list?
No. A wait list will not be established. Individuals are selected based on the criteria outlined in Question #6 above. An alternate list will be established to fill in possible vacancies for each class start, but this list will NOT be carried over to the next year. Non-accepted applicants will need to re-apply.

Will it help me to have your AA completed?
No. Any ADN graduate planning to enroll at UW-T to complete the BSN will be encouraged to finish their AA or the new Associate's Degree in Pre-Nursing, but admission to the Pierce College ADN or LPN-ADN Bridge Program will only require the pre-requisite courses listed.

Will taking all of my pre-reqs at Pierce College give me an advantage?
As long as applicants have completed the equivalent of all the nursing pre-requisites, it doesn’t matter where they were taken as long as all the coursework is transferable to Pierce College. A Pre-requisite Course Equivalency Chart is included in this packet and in the application packet when that is available.

How many times can I repeat a pre-req course?
Students will be allowed ONE repeat of each course during the past ten years and the highest grade will be used. Courses with a W, I, or NC are not considered part of the repeat policy. However, patterns of frequent withdrawals may reflect poorly.

Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
Each required prerequisite course (ENGL& 101, BIOL&241, BIOL& 242, CHEM& 121, BIOL& 260, PSYCH& 200) must be completed with a grade 3.0 (B) or better. Transfer-Ready/Recommended courses must each be completed with a minimum grade 2.0 (C) or better.

Why is the Pierce College nursing program the only ADN program that recommends a statistics course?
Research has shown that the biggest reason students fail nursing school is weak math and science aptitude - integrally linked to the high levels of critical thinking and reasoning which nurses have to use on the job every day. We will also be encouraging students to go on for their BSN, which requires statistics.

Will you have a time limit on the pre-requisites?
Yes, coursework cannot be older than ten (10) years. Exception: if a student has completed a two or four-year academic degree, some non-science credits earned as a requirement for that degree may have the time limit waived. Applicants who qualify for this type of waiver must obtain waiver approval through the nursing program PRIOR to the application deadline. Please contact the Pre-Nursing & Allied Health Advisor to complete the proper waiver paperwork.

How much time will enrollment in pre-nursing and nursing courses require?
Each chemistry, biological science, or nursing course requires approx. 20 hours a week per 5 quarter credits which includes time in lecture, lab or clinical site, plus study time. Some of the non-science classes require approximately 15 hours per 5 credits. Students, who work more than 20 hours per week, have significant responsibilities for parenting, and/or other commitments should plan to take no more than one science at a time. The Associate Degree in Nursing program itself is a full time program. No part time option is currently available. All on-campus nursing classes will be held during the day; clinical rotations may be scheduled in the day, evening or on weekends. Students must not work more than 20 hrs. a week while in the nursing program.

Will Pierce College be offering any nursing information sessions to get guidance regarding the application process?
Monthly nursing information sessions will be offered throughout the year in Puyallup. Check this Web site, Advising Centers, or current class bulletins for specific dates, times, and locations.

Will my credits from technical colleges transfer to Pierce College?
Prospective students need to be very careful about where they take their prerequisite courses. With the exception of a few academic core courses, most technical college credits will not transfer to Pierce College. Please refer to the Course Equivalency Chart or contact your advisor for details on transferable credits.

Students who plan to earn their LPN license and apply to the Bridge program may take their LPN coursework at a technical college. Please see the list of Washington State Nursing Programs on our web site for LPN programs and contact information.

Becky Piper, RN, MN
Interim Nursing Director
(253) 864-3111

Eustania Kasjan, M.A.
Allied Health Program Manager
(253) 840-8355

Cindy Porn
Nursing Office Assistant
(253) 864-3272

Glenine Collins, RN, MSN
Full-Time Nursing Faculty
(253) 840-3182

Ronda Durano, R.N.,M.N.
Nursing Faculty
(253) 840-8379

Elizabeth Webber RN, MSN
Nursing Faculty
(253) 846-8375

 

National Accreditation

This nursing program is accredited by:

National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.
(NLNAC)
3343 Peachtree Rd. NE
Suite 850
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
www.nlnac.org