Nursing Major
One of the strengths of the nursing program is taking classroom knowledge to the clinical setting. Every week for three school years, I gained experience in local hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and communities. In my last semester, I was scheduled four days each week working full-time in local hospitals. Five weeks I worked on an oncology floor, and then for five weeks I worked a night shift in the emergency room. During this preceptorship, I worked one-on-one with a registered nurse. By the end of the semester, I was functioning as my patients’ primary nurse including taking a full patient load. This experience has given me the needed knowledge, skill, and confidence to work as a nurse, and it has deepened my love for people and their needs. My desire for the future is summed up in Jude 22: “And of some have compassion, making a difference.”
— Jennell, PCC 2009 Graduate
(not pictured)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree
To meet the needs of society, the Christian nurse must learn to apply both Scriptural and scientific methods to nursing services rendered to individuals, families, and communities. The accomplishment of this dual goal encompasses Biblical concepts about the relationships between God and man, man and fellow man, and man and the physical universe.
Man is a unique being. Although man is a biological, psychological, and social person, he is also a spiritual being, created in the image of God. He needs to be reconciled to God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the true source and sustainer of life, physical and eternal. Man, therefore, needs spiritual as well as physical and psychological nurturing and guidance.
The College nursing program is developed around the theme of nursing as an expression of God’s love through service to man. The faculty is dedicated to inculcating in Christian young people Christian faith and values as they relate to the art and science of nursing. The empirical ramifications of such nursing responsibilities as comforting, strengthening, educating, maintaining, and motivating are explored in depth.
The Division of Nursing subscribes to the educational philosophy of PCC, which is based on the tenet that traditional education is foundational. We believe that a practical approach is congruent with traditional education and that each student should be provided with a maximum of practical experience in his field of study.
The Division of Nursing strives to prepare nurses who can function with a high degree of autonomy in a variety of situations throughout the world. Furthermore, the program is designed to anticipate increased diversity in nursing practice and career patterns. Therefore, the curriculum includes a focus on the development of clinical leadership skills and an opportunity for concentrated study in an area of clinical interest.
Nursing as taught at Pensacola Christian College meets all the requirements of the institution for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The curriculum offers basic preparation in all the major areas of nursing with opportunities for concentrated study in an area of interest. Graduates are immediately eligible to apply for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) in all 50 states and U.S. territories. The Pensacola Christian College nursing program is approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing.
Plan of Study: The nursing curriculum at the College is designed so the student can complete the required course of studies in the regular 4-year sequence. It is not necessary for the nursing student to take summer courses, Interterm courses, or a fifth year to complete the required work. Nursing students can take advantage of the 5-week Interterm and summers for employment in nursing-related services in the health field.
Residence Requirements: Nursing students that are non-residence hall students will be required to pay a nonresidence fee of $1,675 per semester, in addition to tuition and other applicable fees. All single, undergraduate students under 25 years of age who are not living with their parents are required to reside in the residence hall. Nursing town students must pay the nonresidence fee. Pensacola Christian College does not provide residence hall living space for married students or their families; therefore, all married nursing students are classified as town students and must pay the nonresidence fee.
Clinical Facilities: All clinical activities are supervised by the college nursing faculty. Students receive their clinical experience in a number of health care facilities, including several large hospitals located in the Pensacola area.
Graduation: Upon successfully completing the nursing curriculum, graduates will be awarded the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and will be eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Students may at their own expense take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) during their senior year.
Health Policies: In addition to the health regulations for all entering students, the Division of Nursing requires that all sophomore nursing students have a completed physical examination including Mantoux tuberculin skin test followed by a chest X-ray if positive, tetanus toxoid if 10 years since last immunization, record of immunizations including 2 measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and 2 varicella vaccinations, and hepatitis B vaccination. All junior and senior nursing students must have the Mantoux test followed by a chest X-ray if positive. The completed medical/health form is to be on record by August 1 prior to the fall semester of sophomore, junior, and senior years. Local healthcare facilities require all sophomore, junior, and senior nursing students to submit to a 10-panel drug screen within 30 days prior to beginning their clinical experience and randomly as deemed necessary. Students must have satisfactory results in order to participate in clinicals. Throughout the program, emphasis is placed on the student nurses to be responsible for their own health. Each student must have proof of adequate medical insurance.
Academic Evaluation: Students interested in nursing must apply through the Pensacola Christian College Director of Admissions. You may apply to Pensacola Christian College any time during the junior or senior year of high school or thereafter. It is advisable to apply early even though there is no application deadline.
High school preparation for nursing should include three units of English; at least two units of mathematics, one of which must be algebra; and two units of science, one of chemistry and one of biology. Opportunities are available to make up certain deficiencies, but these must be completed before the student can go beyond the freshman year of the nursing program. Admission to the sophomore year of the nursing program is contingent upon successful completion of the prescribed requirements of the freshman year and scores from the Kaplan Entrance Examination taken in the spring of the freshman year.
Students contemplating transferring into the PCC’s Division of Nursing should have their program of study approved by the Registrar.
Personal Character: No student will be permitted to enroll in the Division of Nursing unless he has clearly established the highest standards of Christian character and deportment. References from the applicant’s pastor, principal, guidance counselors, and previous employers are secured whenever possible. Such references receive top priority in the admission process. Prior to beginning clinical experiences, local healthcare facilities require all nursing students to complete a background check. Students must have satisfactory results in order to participate in clinicals.
Academic and Progression Requirements: Students who have declared nursing as their major are considered prenursing students until accepted as a member of the sophomore nursing class. Enrollment limitations are placed on the sophomore, junior, and senior nursing classes by the Florida State Board of Nursing. Objective criteria used in determining the members of the sophomore nursing class include academic performance and results of the Kaplan Entrance Examination given to prenursing students in the spring. Prenursing preparatory courses are BY 105 Principles of Biology, BY 201 General Anatomy and Physiology, CH 106 Introduction to General Chemistry, and CH 205 Organic and Biological Chemistry and require a grade of at least a “C.” A score of at least 90 must be earned on the Math Skills for Nursing exam and a grade of at least a “C” must be earned in NU 128 Nursing Medication Calculations and EN 101/102 English Grammar and Composition. Prior to registering for a sophomore nursing course, a student must show proof of current CPR (Basic Cardiac Life Support for the professional rescuer) certification.
A minimum grade of “C” is required in all professional nursing and science courses. A student may not progress to the next sequence of nursing courses if a minimum grade of “C” is not received in the prerequisite nursing and science courses. Nursing students receiving an unsatisfactory grade of “D” or “F” are considered to have failed the nursing course. A student may take a nursing course once and repeat it once for a total of two times. Only two nursing courses may be repeated.
Throughout their education, nursing students undergo standardized testing, which are indicators of NCLEX-RN readiness. To help assure the student’s future NCLEX success:
- students who fail to achieve established scores on end-of-semester standardized tests will be given the opportunity for remediation work, and
- students taking NU 412 who fial to achieve the established score on a standardized exit exam and meet other objective criteria will be given the opportunity to repeat the course during Post-term.
Any science course which is a prerequisite for a nursing course must be taken on Pensacola Christian College campus.
Academic Program Fee: $140 per semester or $35 per payment.
Service Fees
- Uniforms are purchased and laundered by the student.
- Junior and senior nursing students must provide their own transportation to and from their clinical experiences.
- Kaplan Exams must be taken periodically at student expense. The Kaplan Entrance Examination taken during spring of the freshman year is $30 (price subject to change).
- A physical examination is required prior to the beginning of sophomore clinical and anytime the student is out of nursing classes for one year or more.
- Each student will have malpractice insurance through the College.
General expenses are the same as for other students.
Recommended Course Sequence
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‡ At least 2 hours out of the 4 hours of BI/BB electives must have a BI course number.
1 Students requiring additional help as indicated by the Chemistry/Math Placement Exam take
CH 101 Chemistry Mathematics (1 sem. hour) concurrently with CH 106.
2 Students requiring additional help as indicated by the Prenursing Math Skills Proficiency
Exam take MA 127 Math Skills for Nurses (1 sem. Hour).
* This meets 3 hours of the social science requirement.
