Hutchinson Community College Nursing Program Review

Hutchinson Community College (HCC) operates three campuses; its main campus is in Hutchinson, Kansas, and its two extension centers are in McPherson and Newton. The school, which was founded in 1928, enrolls nearly 6000 students in its degree programs. Over 120 different programs of study are available, including several in the field of nursing. HCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association; the nursing programs have additional approval from the Kansas State Board of Nursing and accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

Practical Nurse Certificate Program

The Practical Nurse Certificate program prepares graduates to provide basic nursing care as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN). In order to earn the certificate of completion, which will allow them to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), students must earn forty-nine credits. This includes both general education classes and nursing courses. Before beginning the course sequence, students must take the following three prerequisites: basic concepts for allied health studies, anatomy and physiology, and general psychology. Students have the option of enrolling either part-time or full-time. The part-time curriculum begins in the summer semester, and takes six semesters (including two summers) to complete. Studying part-time, students will take between six and ten credits per semester. On a full-time basis, the program takes three semesters (including one summer) to complete. It starts in the summer. The full-time program is available at the extension campus in McPherson and at the campus of Salina Area Technical College in Salina; the part-time program is only available in McPherson.

Associate Degree Nursing

After completing the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program, a student earns an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree with a major in nursing. This degree takes four semesters to earn, studying on a full-time basis. Before beginning the four-semester course sequence, however, a student must take three prerequisite classes: basic concepts for allied health studies, anatomy and physiology, and English composition. The entire curriculum is worth seventy credits. The ADN program begins in the fall, and is offered on the Hutchinson campus. After completing the course of study for the ADN program, a graduate may take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Associate Degree Nursing – LPN to RN Bridge

An LPN can enter the ADN program with advanced standing, completing the entire program in just two semesters (not including prerequisites). Before enrolling, she must complete the following prerequisites: LPN IV Therapy, anatomy and physiology, English composition, medical terminology, microcomputer literacy, general psychology, and human growth and development. The prerequisites are worth twenty-seven credits in total. Over the course of the program’s two semesters, she will earn an additional twenty-five credits. The LPN to RN program begins in the fall. LPNs have two options for the LPN to RN Bridge program: traditional or online.

Traditional LPN to RN Bridge Program:
The traditional program includes onsite classes and clinical rotations in the Hutchinson area.

Online LPN to RN Bridge Program:
Through the online program, students can complete all their coursework online, although they still have to travel to Hutchinson healthcare facilities to complete the clinical portion of the program.

Associate Degree Nursing – Online Paramedic to RN Bridge

In three semesters (not including prerequisites), a paramedic (EMT-P) can earn his AAS with a major in nursing. The prerequisites for the EMT-P to RN Bridge program are LPN IV Therapy, anatomy and physiology, English composition, medical terminology, microcomputer literacy, general psychology, and human growth and development. Once these are complete, he can begin the three semesters of nursing coursework, completing an additional twenty-nine credits. The course sequence begins in the spring. The classes are offered online; students in the EMT-P to RN Bridge program must travel to Hutchinson several times throughout the program to complete clinical rotations.

Associate of Arts – BSN Transfer Program

HCC does not offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, since it is a two-year school. HCC students, however, can enroll in a pre-nursing program which takes two years (four semesters, not including any summers) to complete. Over the course of the two years, the students will complete all the general education classes and nursing prerequisites that most BSN programs require. In total, a student in the BSN transfer program will earn sixty-four credits. He will graduate with an Associate of Arts degree, and be prepared to transfer into a BSN program at a four-year school. He should be able to complete his BSN degree in just two additional years.

Geriatric Certified Nurse Assistant Course

Multiple times each semester, HCC offers a Geriatric Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) training course. The classes take place at nursing homes and other facilities in the Hutchinson, Newton, and McPherson areas. By completing the class, a student earns four-and-a-half credits, and prepares herself to take the certification exam offered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Contact:
Hutchinson Community College
1300 North Plum,
Hutchinson, KS 67501

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