Trident Technical College Nursing Program Review

Residents of Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties in South Carolina can take advantage of educational opportunities offered by Trident Technical College (TTC, Trident Tech). The college serves about 17,000 students on multiple campus locations, including North Charleston, Moncks Corner, Summerville, St. George, Charleston, Hollywood, and Mount Pleasant. TTC offers over 150 different programs of study, including several in the field of nursing. The nursing program at TTC is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

Practical Nursing Diploma

A prospective Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) should enroll in the Practical Nursing Diploma program, which is offered in both the fall and the spring. The curriculum consists of forty-six credits, and includes general education classes, nursing courses, and clinical rotations. A student must commit to three-and-a-half semesters of full-time study in order to earn the diploma. After earning the diploma, a student may take the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).

Practical Nursing Diploma – CNA to LPN

A certified nurse assistant (CNA) can earn four advanced placement credits when he enrolls in the practical nursing diploma program. In order to earn these, he must successfully complete Nursing Care Management I. After passing this, he will be awarded four credits for the first nursing class, called Basic Nursing Care Skills. He must complete the remainder of the Practical Nursing Diploma program along the traditional track.

Associate Degree Nursing – Generic Option

After completing the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program, a graduate earns an associate in applied science degree with a major in nursing. This makes her eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). In order to prepare for this exam, a student must commit to five consecutive semesters of full-time study. The program begins in either the spring or the fall, and the curriculum (sixty-eight credits in total) includes general education courses, nursing courses, and clinical rotations. After graduating from the ADN program and passing the NCLEX-RN, a graduate is awarded the title Registered Nurse (RN).

Associate Degree Nursing – CNA to ADN

TTC will award a CNA with four advanced placement credits when he enrolls in the CNA to ADN track of the ADN program. In order to earn these, he must successfully complete Nursing Care Management I. After passing this, he will be awarded four credits for Basic Nursing Care Skills. He must complete the remainder of the ADN program along the generic track.

Associate Degree Nursing – LPN to ADN

A graduate of a practical nursing diploma program who is an LPN can also enter the ADN program with advanced placement standing. She must complete a nursing transition course (only available in the summer), after which she will be awarded credit for the first two semesters of nursing courses. She can then start with the upper-level nursing courses and complete the program in three semesters.

Associate Degree Nursing – Accelerated Option

A student who already holds a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing, or who scores above the 80th percentile on the National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Exam (PAX-RN), is eligible to enroll in the Accelerated Option of the ADN program. A student on this track must complete the general education requirements before beginning the intense, fifteen-month clinical component. If the incoming student does not have any general education classes to transfer, it may take up to two semesters to complete these. If he has already completed the general education courses at a different college, he may proceed directly to the nursing course sequence. The course sequence starts in the summer only; students graduate the following summer. 

Pre-Nursing Certificate

Admission to the nursing programs is competitive. So, in order to improve her chances of being accepted, a student has the option of completing a pre-nursing certificate program. This takes two semesters, and consists of twenty-six credits. The classes are general education classes, and they fulfill the general education requirements in the practical nursing and ADN programs. While completing the pre-nursing certificate improves a student’s chances of being accepted into one of the nursing programs, it does not guarantee admission.

Nurse Aide Training Program/Nurse Assistant Certificate in Applied Science

Prospective Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA) have two program options at TTC. Through the nursing department, a student can complete the eight-credit Nurse Assistant certificate in applied science. This includes a CPR class, a general psychology class, and a basic nursing skills care class. Through the Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development, a student can complete the Nurse Aide Training Program. This requires fifty hours of classroom instruction and seventy hours of clinical experience at a local healthcare facility. After completing either program, a student is eligible to take the Nurse Aide Certification exam, which is offered by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Contact:

Trident Technical College
7000 Rivers Avenue,
 North Charleston, SC 29406