Seminole State College of Florida Nursing Program Review

Seminole State College of Florida enrolls over 30,000 students and is the ninth largest college in the Florida College System. The college is based in Sanford/Lake Mary, but also has campuses in Oviedo, Altamonte Springs, and Heathrow. Seminole State College was founded in 1965 and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Through associates and bachelors degree programs, certificates and lifelong learning courses Seminole State College offers education options for students at all stages of their educational career.

Review of Seminole State College Nursing Degree Programs

The Nursing Department at Seminole State College prepares nurses to serve the needs of the community. The program continues to update its philosophy, originally developed in 1980, to reflect current perceptions of the nursing field and the education of professional nurses. Students at Seminole State College maintain a strong connection to the community through participation in the Florida Student Nursing Association (FSNA), in which students can gain valuable leadership experience. Through leadership positions students can influence nursing and healthcare policies in Florida. Students in FSNA can earn scholarships both for personal tuition fees as well as nursing programs for Seminole State College. Nursing programs at Seminole State College use and take advantage of internet resources to conduct courses. Students should have access to a computer and internet to complete assignments, interact with peers and faculty and view educational resources available.

Seminole State College offers nursing programs at the associate’s and career/technical certificate level for aspiring nurses.

Seminole State College Undergraduate Nursing Programs

Nursing Associate of Arts Degree (A.A.)

Nurses who are interested in a four year nursing program may complete nursing program pre-requisites through the general AA program at Seminole State College. The program prepares students to meet nursing pre-requisites at the college of their choice.

To ensure students make the most of their program, and obtain the right pre-requisites, students should work with an academic advisor both from Seminole State College and their intended program.

Nursing prerequisite courses including in the AA nursing degree option include Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Developmental Psychology, chemistry, nutrition, microbiology, statistics, and sociology. The courses are commonly required prerequisites for nursing programs.

The nursing prerequisites include 31 credits of the 60 credits required to earn a general AA degree at Seminole State College.

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN/ASN) Program

The ADN program at Seminole State College offers two options for students aspiring to earn an ADN, a general track for students with no prior nursing education and a career-transition track for aspiring nurses with a healthcare background, such as LPNs and paramedics. The program is 22 months for students without prior education and approximately one year for other health care professionals. This program is limited access meaning not all students that apply and meet requirements will be accepted into the program. Admission requirements include submitting college placement test scores (or SAT/ACT scores), a 2.5 overall GPA in previous coursework and course and course pre-requisites. Students, excluding LPNS, participating in the career track option should have 2,000 hours of work experience in the past 3 years. LPNs should have at least 1,000 hours of work experience in the past 1.5 years, and past year graduates of Seminole State College’s LPN program are exempt the work experience requirement.

RN to BSN (Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing) Program

In collaboration with the University of Central Florida, Seminole State University offers BSN program which assists nurses in earning their BSN and ADN concurrently. Upon completing their ADN courses at Seminole State College, students take the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses and commence studies for their BSN. Courses for the BSN course are offered both on-campus and later in the course completely online. The course is about 6 semesters in total, and the BSN degree can be completed in as little as one semester after earning the ADN degree.

Seminole State College Certificate Programs

Seminole State College has certificate programs for nurses in various stages of their career. Though these programs do not qualify for federal student aid, students in this program may qualify for fee waivers and scholarships through Seminole State College. Students interested in waivers must still complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and submit results to Seminole State College.

Nurse Aide (CNA) Program

The Nurse Aide program (also referred to as the Orderly or Patient Care Technician program) at Seminole State College prepares nurses to become certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in Florida through taking the state certification exam. CNAs provide basic care, and are primarily concerned with personal hygiene, comfort and safety of their patients. Graduates of this program are specifically trained to work in the nursing home setting. The program is 165 hours and includes classroom, simulation lab practice and a clinical practicum completed in a healthcare setting such as a nursing home all under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN). Admission requirements include a Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) test score, though no minimum score is required. Upon completion of the course students receive a certificate.

Advanced Home Health Care Aide (AHHCA)

The Advanced Home Health Care Aide program prepares CNAs to also provide care in the home setting. Students in this course will complete the same requirements as those for the CNA program, along with a 50 hour program dedicated to delivering care in the home setting. The total hours in the program is 215, and aspiring CNAs can complete the AHHCA certificate program immediately after passing their CNA course. Current CNAs may also participate in the course.

Patient Care Assistant (PCA) Program

The PCA program at Seminole State College expands upon the nursing role by providing nurses with the opportunity to earn the CNA and AHHCA certificates in addition to the PCA certificate. The PCA program prepares CNAs to work in additional healthcare environments outside of the nursing home. The PCA program is a total of 290 hours.

Practical Nursing Certificate (LPN) Program

The Practical Nursing Certificate Program is the first step towards becoming a professional nurse. This entry level program prepares Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to work in collaboration with and under the supervision of RNs and physicians. LPNs record patient information, care for personal needs and comfort, as well as take vital signs and give injections. LPNs interact with patients on a daily basis and are therefore a very significant part of the healthcare team. The LPN program at Seminole State College awards a certificate upon completion and prepares nurses to sit the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses, the NCLEX-PN. Upon completion of the 1,350 hour program nurses receive a certificate. Admission requirements to the program include a TEAS (entry level nurse exam) and TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) scores, transcripts of previous education and attending an information session.

Contact:
Seminole State College
100 Weldon Boulevard
Sanford, Florida 32773

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