Degree Options
Palomar College has two Associate Degree options available in Nursing. The Associate of Arts in Nursing meets the requirements of Title V and the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). The Associate of Science in Nursing meets the requirements of Title V, Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Program Acceptance
Currently the Nursing Education Department accepts students twice a year for the fall and spring semesters. The Generic Registered Nursing program is a two year commitment (4 semesters) and the LVN to RN program is a one year commitment (2 semesters). There are currently no nursing classes held during the summer semester.
Course Descriptions:
Nursing 103 (Nursing Foundation I)
This course provides an introduction to concepts essential to nursing practice. Topics include, but are not limited to, nursing process, critical thinking, therapeutic communication, and health assessment using a functional health patterns framework. Multicultural considerations including gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and age are explored.
Nursing 117 (Nursing I)
Students in 117 are introduced to theoretical concepts of nursing fundamentals and basic medical-surgical nursing. Concepts related to delegation, resource, and time management are introduced. Students apply therapeutic communication techniques when utilizing the nursing process, critical thinking, and evidence based interventions in the care of clients in the clinical setting. Students provide care to chronic stable medical-surgical adult clients with expected or predictable outcomes.
Nursing 118 (Nursing II)
This course builds on Nursing 117 with the applications of the nursing process and critical thinking in the care of childbearing families, pediatric, and medical-surgical clients. Theoretical content related to growth and development, child abuse, and human sexuality is included. Concepts are expanded to include the recognition of changes in clients with predictable outcomes. Emphasis is placed on client teaching and the integration of family members in the plan of care. Managerial concepts of delegation, collaboration, time management, and appropriate utilization of resources are developed.
Nursing 203 (Nursing Foundation II)
This course builds on the foundation of Nursing 103 and 110 (LVN transition course). Critical thinking is utilized as a method to explore historical, political, educational, legal, ethical, and bio-ethical issues that impact nursing practice. Nursing organizations are researched via the internet with an emphasis on evaluation of nursing websites. Managerial concepts are introduced with a focus on decision making skills, managing resources, organizing time, delegating, and supervising care.
Nursing 217 (Nursing III)
This course builds on the first year of the program as a process for the development of complex thinking and decision making while caring for medical-surgical, gerontology, and psychiatric clients. Theoretical concepts are expanded to include identification and prioritization of evidence based interventions for clients who have unpredictable outcomes or who demonstrate changes in health status. Students collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to manage and modify care of clients.
Nursing 218 (Nursing IV)
This course builds on Nursing 217 expanding nursing practice and critical thinking in the promotion, maintenance, restoration of health for a group of clients. Students use evidence-based intervention and complex decision-making when caring for acutely ill medical-surgical clients with unstable health problems. Students work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to manage and coordinate care for a group of clients. Emphasis is placed on expanding student roles as coordinators, facilitators, and client advocates as they progress toward a competent entry level nursing practice.