Fort Scott Community College Nursing Program Review

On its main campus in Fort Scott, Kansas and on its extension campuses in Frontenac, Pittsburg, and Paola, Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) provides a variety of career-training programs. Students can pursue two-year degrees and short-term certificates in business, agriculture, construction and related trades, truck driving, cosmetology, and allied health.

Among the allied health programs are several in the field of nursing, including an associate degree program. The nursing program was founded in the 1970s (FSCC itself was founded in 1919), and has had continual approval from the Kansas State Board of Nursing. The program also has accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

Associate of Applied Science in Nursing

Students who complete the nursing curriculum at FSCC receive an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AAS in Nursing) degree. In order to complete this program of study, a student must earn seventy-two credits in total. This includes thirty-one credits of general education coursework and forty-one credits of nursing coursework. The actual course sequence takes four semesters to complete, but before beginning it, students must take the following five prerequisites: anatomy and physiology, general psychology, English, intermediate algebra, and introduction to nursing.

In addition, the student must take a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) course (which is available at FSCC) and pass the state certification exam. Once these requirements are complete, she may begin the four-semester nursing course sequence. She may begin in either the fall or the spring semester. The nursing classes are offered in Fort Scott, and via distance learning technology at the Miami County campus in Paolo. The program in Paolo only begins in the fall. Students must complete clinical rotations in healthcare facilities in Fort Scott, Paolo, Girard, Osawatomie, and Pittsburg, Kansas. Students may also get hands-on experience in Nevada-based or Missouri-based healthcare facilities. After completing the AAS in Nursing program, a student may take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and begin working as a Registered Nurse (RN).

Associate of Applied Science in Nursing – LPN to RN

A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can complete the AAS in Nursing curriculum in as little as two semesters, not including prerequisites. Before beginning the nursing courses, he must take the following prerequisites: anatomy and physiology, general psychology, English 101, intermediate algebra, introduction to nursing, health assessment, English 102 or public speaking, pathophysiology, and developmental psychology. After these are complete, he can start with the third-semester nursing courses. He will receive sixteen advanced placement credits for the first two semesters of nursing coursework, and must earn the remaining twenty-seven credits of the program.

Geriatric Certified Nurse Aide Course

As part of its allied health division, FSCC offers a short certificate program for prospective Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA). This course is a requirement for students who want to enroll in the AAS in Nursing program, but can also provide a direct entry into the nursing field. The CNA course at FSCC focuses on training students to work with elderly patients. The course is offered regularly in Fort Scott, Paolo, and Pittsburgh. A graduate is eligible to take the CNA certification exam offered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Contact:
Fort Scott Community College
2108 S. Horton,
Fort Scott, KS 66701

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