Practical Nursing, Certificate of Completion

Are you great at remembering fine details and solving difficult problems? A career in nursing could be right for you! The First year of our Nursing Program will train you for a position as a Practical Nurse. Nursing is the largest occupation in healthcare! You will learn the skills necessary to manage the physical and emotional care of patients through relationship-centered care. You’ll experience many healthcare settings from hospitals, to home health care, doctor’s offices, and nursing homes. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared to demonstrate leadership in the field and sit for the national licensure examination (PN-NCLEX). Making a positive, long-lasting impact on the lives of others is what nursing is all about!

Contact the Administrative Assistant at nursing@socc.edu for further application requirements or click here for forms and information. The Practical Nursing Certificate prepares graduates to become licensed as a Practical Nurse. Successful completion of three quarters qualifies students for meeting the academic requirements to take the PN-NCLEX exam for licensure in the state of Oregon. Once admitted, the student is required to take all curriculum courses as they appear in the catalog or before. This is a restricted entry program, and students must submit a separate application along with their college admission application.

Southwestern Oregon Community College is an OCNE consortium school.

Note: Not a nationally accredited program.  Check with individual states for specific licensure or scope of practice requirements

Entry Requirements

Acceptance into the Nursing Program. 

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 85 credit hours with a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or better. All courses must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or better. Twelve (12) credits must be completed at Southwestern before the Certificate of Completion is awarded.

Student must complete the graduation application process one term prior to the term of completion (e.g., spring term graduates must apply during winter term).

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • Act personally and professionally based on a set of shared core nursing values.
  • Develop insight through reflection, self-analysis, and self-care.
  • Engage in ongoing intentional learning.
  • Demonstrate leadership in nursing and health care.
  • Collaborate as part of a health care team.
  • Practice within, utilize, and contribute to the broader health care system.
  • Practice relationship-centered care.
  • Communicate effectively.
  • Make sound clinical judgments.
  • Locate, evaluate and use the best available evidence in making practice decisions.

Program Guide

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
SummerCredits
CHEM110 Foundations of General, Organic, and Biochemistry 1 4
FN225 Nutrition 4
CIS120 Concepts of Computing 4
ANTH221 Intro to Cultural Anthropology 4 3
 Credits15
Fall
BI231 Human Anatomy and Physiology I 2 4
BI234 Microbiology 4
MTH95 Intermediate Algebra 3 4
WR121Z Composition I 4
 Credits16
Winter
BI232 Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4
PHL102 Ethics 3
WR122Z Composition II 4
 Credits11
Spring
BI233 Human Anatomy and Physiology III 4
PSY237 Life Span Development 3
COMM218Z Interpersonal Communication 4
 Credits11
Second Year
Fall
NRS110 Foundations of Nursing Health Promotion 9
NRS230 Clinical Pharmacology I 3
 Credits12
Winter
NRS111 Found of Nrsg in Chronic Illness I 6
NRS232 Pathophysiological Processes I 3
 Credits9
Spring
NRS112 Foundations of Nursing in Acute I 6
NRS231 Clinical Pharmacology II 3
NRS233 Pathophysiological Processes II 3
 Credits12
 Total Credits86
1

Students applying for the nursing program must complete either a 200-level general chemistry sequence or CHEM110.

2

Students must have completed BI231 prior to submitting an application. BI231BI232, and BI233 must have been completed within the last seven years. 

3

MTH95MTH105Z, or higher, excluding MTH211MTH212, and MTH213.

4

ANTH222ANTH223 may be substituted for ANTH221.