Programs - General Description

National Avg. Salary: (Annually)
- Starting:
  $30000
- Experienced:
  $36250
Local Avg. Salary: (Annually)
- Starting:
  $30000
- Experienced:
  $34000
Completion Time
(in months)
- 24
Waiting List:
- No

Sharon McManus

Dean of Nursing

Current Program/Catalog Information

To view current program information, select a program (or "ALL" for all programs) from the drop-down menu.

Nursing - LPN/ADN Transition - Advanced Placement for ADN Degree

Health and Sciences Division

General Description | Semester Layout | Course Requirements | Printable Checklist

Mission

To prepare nursing students to be competent, professional caregivers through a dynamic curriculum and clinical experience which provides the requisite skills and knowledge for state licensure so that the community nursing needs are met.

Description

This program is designed for the Licensed Practical Nurse interested in obtaining an Associate Degree in Nursing by providing ways to take full advantage of her/his training and experience. Nurses are employed in health care facilities, physician's offices, home care agencies, industries, and long term care facilities. There are numerous additional opportunities for nurse employment. According to the US Department of Labor (Bureau of Labor Statistics) website, the mean annual salary for a Registered Nurse in South Carolina is estimated to be $59,000 (May 2006).

Accreditations, Approvals, and Certifications

This program has been accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission 3343 Peachtree Road NE Suite 850 Atlanta, GA 30326 404.975.5000 ) .

This program has also been approved by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensure, & Registration State Board of Nursing (South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation Board of Nursing Synergy Business Park; Kingstree Building 110 Centerview Drive; Suite 202 Columbia, SC 29210 803.896.4550 ) .

NOTE: The LLR Board of Nursing may deny licensure to graduates of nursing programs based on evidence of unlawful acts, incompetence, unprofessional conduct, or other misconduct. Background checks and drug screening will be requested prior to nursing clinical courses. Successful completion of this program does not ensure nursing licensure. Prior charges may preclude a student from eligibility for entering the clinical and from applying to take the NCLEX exam.

Program Entrance Requirements

Course Level	Required Courses
High School	None
College	BIO 210, BIO 211, ENG 101, MAT 110, PSY 201
NOTE: A grade of "C" or better is required for each prerequisite course.

Other	Required
Diploma or GED	Yes
Approval/Permission Needed -- Application Process Departmental Approval	Yes
Prior Experience/Observation Mandatory attendance at a Nursing Information Session is required.	Yes
Minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.0	Yes
Current CPR Certification by American Heart Association or American Red Cross	Yes
First Aid Certification	No
Hepatitis B Immunization or Signed Informed Refusal or Titer	Yes
MMR Immunization or Titer	Yes
Chicken Pox Vaccination or Titer	Yes
Two-step PPD / Chest X-Ray	Yes
Medical Examination Forms are provided by the college and should be current (within one year) and complete.	Yes
Dental Examination Forms are provided by the college and should be current (within one year) and complete. Dental health must meet departmental standards.	No
Technical Standards Forms are provided by the college and should be current (within one year) and complete.	No
Negative Drug Screen	Yes
Satisfactory Background Check	Yes
Other Diplomas, Licensures, etc. Licensed as an LPN in South Carolina without disciplinary action	Yes
Recent Photograph Photograph will not be returned.	Yes

Academic Standards

Standard Criteria	Required
Courses requiring a grade of "C" or better Any course with one of the following prefixes: ALL	Yes
Courses that may not be attempted more than twice Any course with one of the following prefixes: NUR, PHM	Yes
Complete or Maintain CPR Certification by American Heart Association or American Red Cross	Yes
Curriculum Completion Requirement 24 months NOTE: The Associate Dean of Nursing must approve part-time sequence.	Yes
Drug Calculation Competency Students must demonstrate drug calculation competency each semester in order to progress in curriculum courses.	Yes
Dismissal Policy A student who receives a grade below "C" for any two or more NUR/PHM courses will be dismissed from the program and will not be eligible to re-enter the program.	Yes
Re-entry Policy A FDTC or non-FDTC nursing student must petition the Nursing Admission and Advisement Committee regarding potential reentry.	Yes

Agency Requirements

Students in health majors must meet the published clinical agency requirements when participating in assigned labs. Requirements include immunizations, background checks, and drug testing. To be in compliance with Article, 23, Section 44-7-2920 of the S.C. Code of Law, all students enrolled in AHS 141, DAT 154, DHG 154, HIM 102, MED 102, MLT 110, NUR 160, NUR 201, PNR 110, RAD 101, RES 101, and SUR 101 must complete the requirements listed above prior to being assigned to any direct care entity. Results of the background check/drug screening could affect the student's ability to complete required clinical rotations and/or become credentialed. For example, a felony conviction could make a student ineligible to take the licensing exam(s) required by the profession or prevent the student from participating in the clinical training component.

Graduation Requirements

Complete all required courses specified in the curriculum.
Fulfill all financial obligations to the College.
Achieve a cumulative final GPA of 2.0.
Earn at least 25 percent of the total credit hours of his/her curriculum at FDTC. Exceptions can be made only by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Program Specific Notes

Testing: A testing fee will be charged to students each semester to cover the cost of tests.

Withdrawals: A withdrawal (W) from a NUR or PHM course constitutes an attempt and will count as one failure to complete the course.

Class is selected based on academic records.