Garden City Community College Nursing Program Review

Garden City Community College (GCCC), originally housed in the Garden City High School, was one of the first four community colleges in Kansas. It opened its doors in 1919. Now, on its own campus in Garden City, it enrolls students in programs in business, the humanities, the sciences, health sciences, building and related trades, criminal justice, and many other fields. For prospective nurses, GCCC offers both short-term certificate options and an associate degree. The programs at GCCC are approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

Practical Nursing Certificate Program

The Practical Nursing Program, which was founded in 2004, takes one year to complete. The nursing coursework takes two semesters to complete, but students must first fulfill the prerequisites. The prerequisites for the practical nursing program are: interpersonal communication, anatomy and physiology I and II, general psychology, developmental psychology, college skills development, and a math course. The prerequisites are worth twenty-one credits in total. In addition, a student must pass a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) course. Once these are complete, a student must earn thirty credits of nursing coursework over two semesters. After completing the program requirements, a graduate will receive a certificate in practical nursing and may sit for the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Passing the exam allows the student to begin working as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

Registered Nursing Program

The Registered Nursing Program leads to an associate degree in nursing (ADN), and prepares graduates to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). To begin the program, a student must take the following prerequisite classes: interpersonal communications, anatomy and physiology I, microbiology, and college skills development. He must also take a CNA course and pass the state certification exam. The nursing curriculum takes four semesters to complete, once these prerequisites are finished. In total, a graduate must have seventy-one credits in order to get his degree and begin his career as a Registered Nurse (RN).

Registered Nursing Program – Paramedic to RN Bridge

A paramedic can complete her ADN in just two semesters, not including prerequisites. The prerequisites for the paramedic to RN bridge program include interpersonal communications, anatomy and physiology I and II, microbiology, general psychology, and college skills development. Once these are complete, she can begin the thirty-eight credit curriculum. The paramedic to RN bridge program begins in the fall only. Students graduate in the following spring.

Certified Nurse Assistant Course

GCCC regularly offers a short-term certificate program that prepares students to provide basic care for patients in long-term care facilities. Successful completion of this certificate program allows a graduate to take the Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) exam offered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and is a prerequisite for both the practical nursing program and the registered nursing program at GCCC. The CNA course is worth five credits. GCCC also offers a refresher course for CNAs who have been out of the field and wish to brush up their skills.

Intravenous Certification

GCCC offers an Intravenous Certification class for LPNs and RNs. It includes both classroom and clinical instruction, and prepares students to take the Kansas exam for IV therapy. The course is not offered for credit, and takes forty-eight hours to complete.

Contact:
Garden City Community College
801 Campus Drive,
Garden City, KS 67846

[wpgmza id=”443″]