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Frequently Asked Questions

I SEE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND SELECTION PROCESS. WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THESE CHANGES?
Combining the elements of being a new program with constant need for re-evaluation and being in the process of writing our Self-Study for national accreditation creates a few challenges.
Our accrediting body, the National League for Nursing Accreditation Committee (NLNAC) requires that an ADN program curriculum contain 108 credits, including prerequisite requirements.
To do this, we are choosing to remove a few required prerequisites for minimum qualification. These courses have now been added to our “Transfer-Ready” list but will still be elemental in getting into the nursing program.
Students who meet only the minimum qualifications will be able to apply to the program, and (depending on the number and quality of the applicant pool) could possibly be admitted.
However, we strongly encourage all applicants to try their best to finish all of the additional Transfer-Ready Requirements in order to be given 1st priority in admissions. We are encouraging all applicants to continue on the track they have been on as advised by the Pierce College Nursing Program for the last few years as it will help greatly in the application process.
If you have any other questions regarding this, please feel free to contact our office. This issue will also be discussed at length at our information sessions.
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 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 281) – (Transfer-Ready Requirement)
  • Completion of Developmental Psychology (Pierce College Psych 205) – (Transfer Requirement to a 4 year university)
  • Recommended: Organic and Biochemistry (Pierce College CHEM 102) and Foreign Languages
  • 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 ADMISSIONS BE DECIDED SOLELY ON GRADES?
Because space is limited, a selective admission process based on a priority and point system will be used.
The application will be a combination of several factors. Grades and courses taken will be a qualifying factor. Other criteria will be reviewed for application points.
Components will include:
  • a functional resume
  • two letters of recommendation (personal and professional)
  • personal statement that incorporates evidence of exposure to the nursing profession from research, volunteer, job shadowing/observation time, work experience, or informational interview with Registered Nurses.
These experiences must be relayed to the selection committee in the form of a writing piece. Additional documentation may accompany the Recommendation forms. Each factor will be a % of a total so each applicant will be awarded a specific score.
WILL THERE BE A WAITING LIST?
No. A wait list will not be established. Individuals are selected starting with the applicant with the highest number of points and moving down the list until all class spaces are filled.
The exact number of points required for admission will vary from year to year depending upon the number of applicants, the number of applicants placed on each priority list, and range of awarded points.
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 TO HAVE YOUR AA COMPLETED?
Not necessarily. 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 Completion 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 handbook.
HOW MANY TIMES CAN I REPEAT A PRE-REQ COURSE?
Students will be allowed ONE repeat of each course 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 on an applicant’s transcript.
IS THERE A MINIMUM GPA REQUIREMENT?
Each pre-requisite course (A&P I, A&P I lab, A&P II, A&P II lab, Inorganic Chemistry, Microbiology, English Composition) must be completed with a grade 3.0 (B) or better.
The Transfer-Ready courses (Statistics and World Languages) 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 a completed a two or four-year academic degree, 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 Nursing Program Office 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 experiences may be scheduled in the evening or on weekends.
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 (included in this packet) for LPN programs and contact information.