Los Angeles Pierce College Nursing Program Review
Founded in 1947 as an agricultural college, Pierce College is located in the San Fernando Valley on 426 wooded acres that include a botanical garden, nature preserve, and giant redwoods. This campus is unique in the metropolitan Los Angeles area.
Pierce College has alliances with most 4-year universities in California, and is considered a top transfer college in Southern California, making it an ideal place for students to begin their college career. The current enrollment at the college is over 21,000 students.
Nursing Programs
Associate in Arts Degree Nursing Program (ADN)
The ADN program at Pierce College has been accredited or approved by the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission and the Board of Registered Nursing. Graduates of this program are qualified to sit for the licensure examination (NCLEX-RN) to become a licensed Registered Nurse (RN).
During their course of study, students will attend classes and will have practical clinical time at local hospitals and health agencies. They will provide care to actual patients while being supervised by faculty members.
In order to qualify to apply for this program, students must first complete general education courses in Psychology, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Sociology, Math, and English, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.5.
Licensed Vocational Nurse to Registered Nurse (LVN to RN)
LVNs that are currently licensed in California may apply for advanced placement in the ADN program. Spots are awarded as space is available, and candidates are chosen based on a lottery system. To apply, students must have completed the prerequisite courses listed above. Students who complete this program will graduate with an ADN, and will be eligible to sit for the national licensing exam.
30 Unit Option
Pierce College offers LVN to RN students a 30 Unit Option to complete their coursework and become eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam. Students must be currently licensed and complete Physiology and Microbiology with a GPA of 2.5 or higher before applying. Students that complete this course of study will be able to take the licensing exam to become RNs, but they will not earn a degree and their license is not guaranteed to be recognized outside of California.
Admission is subject to space availability, and candidates compete for open spaces through a lottery.
Foreign Nurse Graduate
Nurses who are not eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam because they are missing requirements in their nursing education are encouraged to enroll at Pierce College as a foreign nurse graduate. To be admitted to this program, they must have a letter from the California Board of Registered Nursing which spells out the requirements for licensure they are missing. They must also file a nursing department petition. Foreign nurse graduate applicants are admitted on a space available basis, and once accepted, will be allowed to enroll in the college and in the course they need. They also need to take the Role Transition to RN course.
The Board of Registered Nursing will be notified when the student has finished the missing course.
Transfer Students
Students wishing to transfer to Pierce College from another accredited nursing program will have every effort made to accommodate their request.
To begin the transfer process, students should obtain a petition from the Nursing Department Office to evaluate their previous nursing coursework and determine its equivalency. The petition must be submitted to the department’s Admissions/Graduation/Retention Sub-Committee, along with a letter showing academic standing and student status from their former nursing school director, outlines and descriptions of completed nursing courses, and sealed official transcripts from every college attended.
Students must have a GPA of 2.5 or better, and have taken the prerequisites listed above. The courses may have been taken at another school.
Students approved for transfer will be admitted on a space available basis.
Contact:
Los Angeles Pierce College
6201 Winnetka Ave.
Woodland Hills, California 91371
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