Most Frequently Asked Questions About FCC's Nursing Programs
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1. What types of programs are available?
Frederick Community College offers many different levels of nursing education. A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course is offered in the Continuing Education (non-credit) Department, 301-846-2405. The Practical Nursing Certificate Program (PN) and the Associate Degree (RN) Nursing Program (including LPN-to-RN Transition Program) are offered through academic (credit) programs. If you are interested in the CNA course, you need to complete a Continuing Education registration form. If you are interested in the PN or RN program, you need to fill out an admissions application and take placement tests. Contact the Welcome and Registration Center at 301-846-2433 for information on applications and placement testing. 2. How long does it take to complete the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program?
The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program takes one semester to complete and is offered in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. The program runs 3-4 days/week. For a schedule of the Continuing Education classes, call 301-846-2405. 3. How long does it take to complete the Practical Nursing Certificate (PN) program?
The Practical Nursing Certificate Program (LPN) takes approximately two years to complete the entire program (if the student does not have previous college credits). There are two educational components in the Practical Nursing Certificate Program. In the pre-requisite stage, students must complete all developmental course work, 12 credits of science courses, and (to be competitive) English Composition and Human Growth & Development. These courses can be completed part-time or full-time, evenings, days or weekends.
The second educational component, the practical nursing clinical segment, is one full year (September through August), part-time days only, consisting of classes and clinical experiences. There is also a 1-credit summer course on dosage calculation before the fall clinical courses start, from which students may be exempt if they pass a dosage calculation test. Some evening clinical experiences are available. Required classes meet in the fall, spring, and summer semester). There are no evening LPN classes available. Graduation is in late July. 4. How long does it take to complete the Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) program?
The Associate Degree Nursing Program (RN) takes approximately three to four years for a full-time student to complete the entire program (if the student does not have previous college credits). There are two educational components in the Associate Degree Nursing Program. In the pre-requisite stage, students must complete all developmental course work and the 12 credits of science courses. These pre-requisites can be done part-time or full-time, evenings, days or weekends. It is highly advised that all 37 credits (11 courses total) of general education (non-nursing) courses be completed prior to entering the clinical component, in order to be competitive for admission to the clinical program. The second educational component, the nursing clinical segment, is two (2) years, part-time consisting of nursing classes and clinical experiences. Some evening clinical experiences are available.
There are two class options for the Associate Degree (RN) Program. The Day Option consists of nursing classes and clinical experiences during the day. A few evening clinical experiences are available for the day students. The Evening Weekend Option consists of classes during weekday evenings and clinical experiences on weekend days.
The Day Option begins every August. The Evening Weekend Option begins in January every year.
RN majors in the Day Option may elect to take the PN certificate summer semester on a space-available basis. Upon completion of the summer semester, the student is eligible to take the LPN licensure exam. 5. Will classes taken at another college transfer?
A student who has completed any or all of the general education (pre-requisite) courses required in either of the nursing programs may transfer those courses into the program from an accredited college or university. Only grades of "C" or better may be applied toward the nursing programs. Previous clinical nursing courses may be transferred into either of the nursing programs provided they meet the objectives and content requirements of the course. Transfer credit for nursing courses is at the discretion of the Director of Nursing Education and the Transfer Services Specialist. Completion of prior clinical nursing courses does not guarantee advanced placement into either the RN or PN clinical programs.
To obtain an evaluation of your college credits, the student must request an official transcript to be sent from the transfer school. The Transfer Services Specialist will evaluate the credits and transfer in any courses that may equate to FCC courses in the major. The maximum number of credits accepted as transfer to FCC is 45. 6. What pre-requisites are required for the Nursing Programs?
For the PN program, students must complete developmental courses* and the following college-level courses before being admitted into the clinical component.
BI103 - Anatomy & Physiology I
BI104 - Anatomy & Physiology II
BI120 - Microbiology for Allied Health
These additional courses must be completed prior to graduation. It is highly advised that they be completed prior to entering the clinical component.
EN101 - English Composition I
ED/PS208 - Human Growth & Development
For the RN program, students should complete all developmental courses (see next section) and the following college-level courses before being admitted into clinicals:
BI103 - Anatomy & Physiology I
BI104 - Anatomy & Physiology II
BI120 - Microbiology for Allied Health
These additional courses must be completed prior to graduation. It is highly advised that they be completed prior to entering the clinical component.
EN101 - English Composition I
PS101 - General Psychology
ED/PS208 - Human Growth & Development
(ED/PS208 may be titled Life Span Development at other colleges)
SO101 - Introduction to Sociology
CMSP103 or CMSP105 or CMSP107 - Communications Elective
General Education: Math Elective
General Education: Humanities Elective
General Education: Arts Elective
Any PE or Health course (PE 108 or HE102 are recommended) 7. What are developmental courses?
Developmental courses are pre-college-level courses that may be required to bring your English and math skills to college level. The need for developmental coursework is determined by the college placement tests. For those students with little or no college background or those who have been out of school for several years, the following preparatory (developmental) courses are available.
BI55 - Preparation for Allied Health (Science course)
EN50, 50A - Writing Skills I and II
EN51, 52 - Effective College Reading I and II
MA81, MA82 - Introductory Algebra, Intermediate Algebra
8. When do the Nursing clinical classes begin?
Nursing clinical classes begin during the fall semester for the Day Option and spring semester for the Evening Weekend Option. 9. How do I apply for admission into the clinical component?
Applications for both the Day and Evening Options can be found on the FCC web site www.frederick.edu. Applications are also available in the Welcome & Registration Center, the Counseling & Career Services Office, and the Nursing Program Office (L114).
Applications may be submitted to the Allied Health Office (L-114) or the Welcome & Registration Center. Applications are not accepted via fax or email. 10. When is the application deadline for the Nursing clinical class?
For both the LPN and the RN Day Option, the clinical class application deadline is February 1. The Evening Weekend Option of the RN program application deadline is September 15th prior to the January start date. Admission into the nursing programs is competitive and selective and based on a point system. 11. How does the Point System work?
Points are given for the general education (non-nursing) course completed, GPA and Frederick County residency. Students with the highest point totals will be admitted to the clinical component.
Associate degree nursing program admission procedure to the ADN clinical class
12. What if I am already a LPN and want to become an RN?
The LPN to RN Ladder Program allows FCC graduates of the PN Certificate Program to continue into the second year of the Associate Degree Program once they have completed the required general education courses. Admission into the second year must occur within two years of completing the PN Certificate Program. PN Graduates who do not enter the second year of the Associate Degree Nursing Program within two years of completing the PN Certificate Program may enter the Associate Degree Program via the LPN Transition Program. For more information, contact the Allied Health Advisor or the Director of Nursing Education.
LPN's with an active unencumbered Maryland LPN license who did not graduate form FCC may enter the second year of the Associate Degree Program after completion of the LPN Transition summer program. 13. How can I transition from RN to BSN?
A new state wide RN to BSN articulation model became effective September of 2003. This model allows students to transfer 70 non-nursing credits from a community college. Nursing credits will not be transferred. However, individuals with an active, unencumbered Maryland or compact RN license articulating to the baccalaureate level are awarded a minimum of 30 upper division nursing credits in the program they are entering. All Maryland state 4-year colleges and universities and many Maryland private college and universities offering RN programs adhere to this articulation agreement.
For more information, contact the Allied Health Advisor 301-846-2652 or The Director Of Nursing Education 301-846-2524. 14. Which healthcare facilities are utilized for the clinical experiences?
Frederick Community College Nursing students currently complete clinical experiences at the following sites:
- Frederick Memorial Hospital
- Carroll County General Hospital
- Shady Grove Adventist Hospital
- Suburban Hospital
- Northampton Manor Nursing Home
- Montgomery General Hospital
- Citizens Nursing Home
- Western Maryland Center
- College View Center
- Children's National Medical Center
- Prospective students need to be aware that nursing involves contact with communicable diseases. Students must attend a yearly seminar on universal precautions for blood-borne pathogens and other hazards as required by OSHA.
- Uniforms are required for clinical learning experiences. All students must wear the official school uniform.
- Current CPR Certification (American Heart Association Health Care Provider Course)
- All students entering nursing programs must meet the following health requirements:
- Physical exam
- Screening test for tuberculosis (annual)
- Rubella, Rubeola and Mumps titre and immunization, if necessary
- Varicella (chicken pox) titre and immunization, if necessary
- Hepatitis B screening, vaccine if necessary, or written waiver
- Any specific requirements of an agency
- The Maryland Board of Nursing prohibits nursing students from taking care of clients if the student compromises client safety. In accordance with this law, the instructor is obliged to dismiss students from a unit if a condition exists which compromises client safety, such as fatigue, substance abuse, physical illness, emotional instability, or inadequate preparation for clinical experience.
- Any student who is under the influence of any chemical substance (drugs or alcohol) may be terminated from the nursing program.
- Conviction of a felony may prohibit the student from gaining licensure.
- See the next page for a list of essential functions which nursing students must be able to perform in order to succeed.
No it will not. However, conviction of a felony or misdemeanor may prohibit the student from taking the licensure exam. Each case is decided on an individual basis by the Maryland Board of Nursing at the time of application for licensure. Please see the Director of Nursing Education prior to enrolling as a nursing major to discuss the options.
