Program Description
The Practical Nursing Program at Union County College is a four-semester program leading to a Certificate. Nursing courses may be offered during the day, evening and/or weekend. College courses may be taken during the evening, weekend hours or as distance education, as available. For all students, clinical rotations may be scheduled during the day, evening, and/or weekend hours in order to obtain optimum patient care experiences.
The curriculum incorporates theoretical knowledge from the biological and social sciences into the nursing framework. Students are able to apply information acquired in the classroom and skills laboratory to clinical patient care experiences.
Graduates of this program are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN examination for Practical Nurse licensure. Licensed Practical Nurses provide patient care in a variety of health care agencies under the direction of a Registered Nurse, and/or physician or dentist.
Prospective students in the Practical Nursing program are required to have the following:
- A passing score on the admission Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) or a GPA of greater than a 3.0
- Criminal background check clearance
- CPR certification for the healthcare provider
- Malpractice insurance
- Completed health records
- Official uniform
Additional information about program enrollment, policies, and courses is available at: https://www.ucc.edu/academics/academic-divisions/division-of-allied-sciences/practical-nursing-program/
Curriculum Outcomes
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates will be able to:
- Provide holistic care to patients from diverse multi-cultural backgrounds, experiencing a variety of self-care needs, within the context of the nursing process;
- Collaborate with other members of the health care team;
- Demonstrate accountability by practicing nursing within a legal and ethical framework;
- Use effective verbal and written communication skills when interacting with patients, families, and other members of the health care team;
- Assume accountability for personal and professional growth;
- Apply clinical reasoning in interactions with patients, families, and other members of the health care team;
- Incorporate contemporary knowledge and tools from nursing and the biological and social sciences into the care provided to patients at different developmental levels throughout the life span.
Criminal History Background Check
All students enrolled in the Practical Nursing program are required to have a clear criminal history background check to participate in clinical care experiences. The background check is mandated by all clinical agencies and must be completed prior to enrollment in PNU 190 . Eligible students will be provided with information regarding the approved vendor for this service. Please be aware that any history of criminal activity may prevent participation in clinical experiences at clinical affiliating agencies.
It is the students’ responsibility to notify the nursing program of any change in their criminal status.
Accreditation
The Practical Nursing Program at Union County College received accreditation on October 2015 through October 2023, from the New Jersey Board of Nursing. The Board may be contacted at:
New Jersey Board of Nursing
124 Halsey Street
PO Box 45010
Newark, NJ 07101
(973) 504-6430
https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur
Applicants may contact the Board of Nursing with inquiries regarding the nursing program.
In the event that a students’ concerns are not perceived to have been resolved through the grievance process within the College, then students may address complaints about the Program to the Board of Nursing at the address above.
The program is also accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) effective 2019-2025. This is a voluntary accreditation that recognizes the program’s “ability to meet or exceed standards and criteria for educational quality”.
NLN-CNEA- the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation
2600 Virginia Avenue, Washington, DC 20037
202-909-2526
www.nln.org
