Associate in Science
Nursing
Associate in Science, Nursing
Your education will consist of time spent learning in classrooms, nursing laboratories, and some of Western Pennsylvania’s largest healthcare facilities. Clinical experiences will also occur in PTC’s state-of-the-industry Nursing Simulation Center.
Career Competencies
The registered nurse (RN) plays the primary role in directing and managing patient care, as well as in implementing physician orders. As the manager of care, the RN guides licensed practical nurses and ancillary personnel, such as nursing assistants, to maintain the standards of professional nursing.
Registered nurses:
- Provide, coordinate, and assess patient-centered care
- Analyze the health status of individuals and families and compares data with the norm, when possible, in determining nursing care needs
- Administer medications and monitor patient responses
- Initiate treatments, including blood and blood components
- Initiate, maintain, and evaluate specialized intravenous (IV) therapies
- Interpret and evaluate laboratory and diagnostic tests
- Provide patient and family education to increase understanding of healthcare needs
RNs facilitate health promotion and disease prevention initiatives, as well as provide family-centered care, to achieve optimal health outcomes.
Initial Eligibility
One of the following:
- ATI TEAS score of 58.7% or higher taken within past 2 years
- SAT scores:
- Math: 500 or higher in the past 5 years
- Reading/Writing: 500 or higher taken within past 5 years
- ACT score: 21 or higher taken within past 5 years
In addition:
- *Meet Academic Review Requirements for ASN Program (see below)
- Graduate of High School or GED equivalent
- Student must be 18 years old prior to class start date
- International Students (applicants educated in another country) must meet additional education requirements.
*Many clinical agencies will not permit a student to complete clinical requirements at that facility if there is a criminal history or other serious offense, including those related to drugs and alcohol. In addition, many employers in health care settings will not hire an applicant with a criminal history of any kind.
PTC reserves the right to change Nursing Program Eligibility Requirements without notice.
*Academic Review Requirements for ASN Program
All incoming nursing students for the ASN Program must meet the educational unit criteria set forth by the Pa State Board of Nursing:
- Successful completion of the following educational units through high school or college education with a solid “C” or higher.
- 4 units of English
- 3 units of Social Studies
- 2 units of Math (one must be Algebra)
- 2 units of Science with a Lab (Chemistry is preferred but not required)
- A High School Unit is defined as 1 year
- A College Unit is defined as one college course equal to 3 semester or 4 quarter credits. (Example: English Composition 1 equals 3 semester or 4 quarter credits)
- Some units may be obtained through CLEP exams: English, Social Studies, History, Algebra
- Science Units through Nursing ABC are accepted as Science with labs. (www.nursingabc.com)
- GED Recipients
- Must pass the GED successfully and have completed 2 units of Science with labs as described above. GED candidates can use high school transcripts to satisfy their science/labs requirements for admission purposes.
*Additional Enrollment requirements include but are not limited to: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 33), Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check (Act 34), and FBI Criminal Background Check (Act 73), Health Screenings, Drug Screenings, CPR Certification, Nursing Tuition Deposit & Completion of Financial Aid.Please click the button below for more information.
Transfer Credits
Courses acceptable for transfer must be comparable to those taught at PTC. Course descriptions and/or course syllabi may be requested in order to make that decision. College level courses (course number 100 or higher) may be considered for transfer.
*The General Education Science courses consisting of theory and lab classes of Anatomy & Physiology 1, Anatomy & Physiology 2, and Microbiology must have been taken in the past 5 years to be considered for transfer.
The Registrar, Academic Chair for General Education, and Director of Nursing review all courses to determine if they are acceptable for transfer. The School of Nursing reserves the right to require repetition of some courses if necessary to obtain all needed content and skill mastery.
Program Outcomes
At the completion of the Associate in Science Nursing program, you will be able to:
- Integrate scientific knowledge and skills from general education and the sciences into the use of nursing process with individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan.
- Use critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills in prioritization and clinical judgment in order to provide safe, high quality care to patients, families, and groups.
- Display core nursing values through leadership in providing patient- and family-centered care.
- Apply current knowledge of legal and technological issues in planning and implementing care.
- Provide health teaching that is culturally and developmentally appropriate to patients, families, and groups as a strategy for promoting health and minimizing harm from disease.
- Demonstrate a spirit of inquiry, with a commitment to lifelong learning and continued nursing practice that is supported by current scientific evidence.
ASN Student Success
Associate of Science in Nursing Licensure Examination Pass Rates
| 2021-22 | 2020-21 | 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|
| 92.68% | 68.1% | 78.6% |
Licensure Exam Pass Rate – Percentage of first-time test takers who receive a passing score on the NCLEX-PN from October 1 through September 30 as reported by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. Years listed reflect the year of the testing cycle.
Associate of Science in Nursing Program Completion Rates
| 2018-19 | 2017-18 | 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|
| 66% | 76% | 50% |
Program Completion Rate – Percentage of students who graduate within a defined period of time. The definition used by the ACEN for a nursing program completion rate is the number of students who complete the program in no more than 150% of the stated nursing program length, beginning with enrollment on the first day of the first nursing course, which can vary based upon a nursing program option. PTC’s calculations utilize program start dates during the months of July, October, January, and April for an academic year running from July 1 through June 30. Years listed indicate start dates for cohorts.
Associate of Science in Nursing Job Placement Rates
| 2020-21 | 2019-20 | 2018-19 |
|---|---|---|
| 76% | 81% | 85% |
Job Placement Rate – Percentage of graduates, within one (1) year of graduation, who are employed in a position for which a nursing program prepared them. PTCs calculations utilize graduation dates during the months of July, October, January, and April for an academic year running from July 1 through June 30. Years listed indicate the year students graduated.
The Associate in Science, Nursing Program is fully approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
Program Courses
Quarter 1
- Anatomy & Physiology 1
- Anatomy & Physiology 1 Lab
- Introduction to Nursing and the Language of Medicine
- Steps to Nursing Success
- College Algebra
Quarter 2
- Anatomy & Physiology 2
- Anatomy & Physiology 2 Lab
- Foundations of Nursing
- Clinical Practice 1
- Nutrition
- English Composition 1
Quarter 3
- Microbiology
- Microbiology Lab
- Primary Care & Wellness
- Clinical Practice 2
- Pharmacology in Disease Management
- English Composition 2
Quarter 4
- Care of Adults with Chronic Illness
- Clinical Practice 3
- Psychology
- Effective Speech
Quarter 5
- Acute Care of the Adult
- Clinical Practice 4
- Lifespan Development
Quarter 6
- Pediatric Professional Nursing
- Clinical Practice 5
- Maternity Professional Nursing
- Clinical Practice 6
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing
- Clinical Practice 7
Quarter 7
- Professional Transition to Practice
- Clinical Practice 8
Employers of PTC Graduates*
Our Career Services staff will work with you on your job search—just as they’ve helped our grads who’ve been hired by employers like:
- Allegheny Health Network
- Allegheny General Hospital
- Asbury Heights
- Bethany Hospice
- Country Meadows Retirement Community
- Family Hospice & Palliative Care
- Forbes Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare
- HCR ManorCare
- Heritage Valley Beaver
- Ohio Valley Hospital
- Passavant Hospital
- Ruby Medical Center
- St. Clair Hospital
- St. Margaret Hospital
- Uniontown Hospital
- Magee-Women’s Hospital of UPMC
- UPMC—Mercy Hospital
- Washington Hospital
- West Virginia University Hospitals
*Background check and drug screening may be required prior to employment.
Clinical Settings
Your clinical rotation before you graduate
Your clinical experience begins in the Simulation Center and continues as you work rotations at our partners in long-term care, hospice, acute care, rehabilitation, and independent living facilities. Examples of where some of our students have had their rotations include:
- Allegheny General Hospital
- Concordia at Rebecca Residence
- Forbes Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare
- HCR ManorCare
- Heritage Valley Beaver
- Jefferson Hospital
- Ohio Valley Hospital
- Passavant Hospital
- St. Margaret Hospital
- Magee-Women’s Hospital of UPMC
- UPMC—Mercy Hospital
- Washington Hospital
- West Penn Hospital
Grade Scale
| Grade | Quality Points | Percentage (nursing theory courses) | Percentage (general education courses) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4 | 93-100 | 90-100 |
| B | 3 | 85-92 | 80-89 |
| C | 2 | 75-84 | 70-79 |
| F | 0 | Less than 75 | Less than 70 |
| W (withdrawal) |
Preparing for the NCLEX-RN
Upon graduation, you are eligible to take this national examination and acquire licensure. PTC will reimburse the cost of your licensure exam if taken and passed within three months of graduation.
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