AS in Nursing

The AS Degree in Nursing program provides a broad foundation in nursing and the more general healthcare sciences, which is necessary for preparing professional nurses capable of practicing in a competent and responsible fashion as informed citizens in a dynamic and diverse society. The curriculum prepares graduates to function as practitioners in acute and long-term care, community settings, home care, and other nontraditional settings, as well as provides a foundation for leadership positions and further study (for those who plan to pursue a BSN.) Graduates will be competent in meeting the current and future health needs of society.

Associate Degree Nursing Program Mission Statement and Program Goals

Mission of the Nursing Department

Pine Technical and Community College (PTCC) Nursing Department is committed to providing an opportunity for higher education in an affordable student-focused environment. The Nursing Department offers comprehensive educational opportunities, including general and transfer education, technical program education and lifelong learning.

The Nursing Department is committed to the advancement of teaching methodologies and technology, student development, and community service. The Nursing Department believes in the practical value of higher education as a means of economic and personal advancement in society. The Nursing Department respects and cares for students as individuals and as members of diverse groups, supporting their aspirations for a better life.

Associate Degree (AD) Nursing Program Goals

Program completion: 75% of associate degree (AD) nursing students will complete the program at 150% of the program length, averaged over the past 3-years.

NCLEX-RN: 80% (or higher) of AD nursing graduates will pass the NCLEX-RN on first attempt, averaged over 3-years.

2016 NCLEX-RN = 73.08%
2017 NCLEX-RN = 91.67%
2018 NCLEX-RN = 92.59%
2019 NCLEX-RN = 90.19%

Job Placement: 80% of AD nursing graduates will be employed in their nursing field at 6-12 months post-graduation; 10% of AD graduates will continue on in their nursing education.

6-12 month Graduate Surveys: 50% of AD nursing graduates will complete and return the 6-12 month graduate surveys; 80% of respondents will chose “Excellent” or “Good” for each survey question; 80% of respondents will rate program satisfaction as “Excellent” or “good”; Qualitative comments will be trended and changes made to program as needed for continuous quality improvement.

PTCC Nursing Programs Alignment with Other States' Educational Requirements

See all Program Requirements and Courses

STEP ONE: Become a Pine Student

1. Save a Pine and apply online at http://www.pine.edu/apply
2. Request all external transcripts be sent to PTCC

If you attended a Minnesota State school, your transcripts will automatically be sent
If you attended a school outside the MNState system, contact the school to have your official transcripts sent to PTCC

3. Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

STEP TWO: Apply to the Associate Degree Nursing Program

1. Apply to the Associate Degree Nursing Program
2. Meet all program timeline requirements
3. Mail Application - Must be post marked by due date

Fall 2021 application due date: TBA
Late applications will be considered if openings are available

4. Can you apply before your prerequisites or TEAS test are done? Yes! See the application for all details

STEP THREE: TEAS Test

TEAS exam offered at PTCC: Thurs., Oct. 15, 9 a.m.; Thurs., Oct. 29, 12:00 p.m.; and Thurs., Nov. 5, 12:00 p.m.

1. Register to take the ATI TEAS test

The test is $87.00
Students need a 68 or better to be accepted into the Associate Degree Nursing program
If you take the TEAS at PTCC, your scores will automatically be sent without extra costs to the student
If you take the TEAS at another location, you will need to have your scores sent to PTCC (extra cost)
You can take the TEAS more than once, and we will accept your highest score
Check this out for more TEAS information
Need some help studying for the TEAS?

Contact PTCC’s Campus Store for resource books
TEAS Prep- Individualized study plan available

STEP FOUR: Check Your Prerequisites

1. Will all the coursework be completed before the start of the program?
2. Do I have the pre-requisite GPA of 3.0 or higher to qualify?
3. Am I on the Certified Nursing registry in MN or WI? All students in the Associate Degree Nursing program must maintain a current LPN license throughout the program.
4. Will I be CPR certified by the start of the program?
5. For questions regarding your prerequisites: Contact Bill Asmus

**If you were unable to attend the Nursing Information Sessions this semester, attached is the PowerPoint presentation and need to know information**

Application Ranking Process

Points System for LPN Work Experience

High job placement rates, growing demand in the field, and a great salary range creates a bright outlook for Registered Nurses. RNs with Associate Degrees are typically employed in hospitals, clinics, hospice care, long-term care, and assisted living facilities. RNs constitute the largest healthcare occupation, with 2.6 million jobs, and about 60 percent of RN jobs in the U.S. are in hospitals.

About eight percent of jobs are held in offices of physicians; five percent in home healthcare services; five percent in nursing care facilities; and, three percent in employment services. The remainder of work is mostly in government agencies, social assistance agencies, and educational services. It is estimated, now through 2018, hundreds of thousands of job openings for RNs will result from the need to replace experienced nurses who leave the occupation.