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Catalog description

The clinical course and practicum experience facilitate the transition from student to entry level associate degree nurse by integrating biophysical and psychosocial sciences to manage complex, life-threatening cases through evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning. The course emphasizes the mastery of clinical judgment and the promotion of quality care through independent nursing interventions and safety-enhanced technologies in diverse healthcare environments. By exploring licensure standards, leadership, and professional accountability, students engage in therapeutic communication and rigorous self-evaluation to ensure they meet the legal and ethical standards expected of a competent graduate. Through instructor-led clinical, intensive practicum, and standardized testing, students demonstrate the professional behaviors and clinical proficiency required to improve client outcomes and successfully enter the modern nursing workforce. The focus of the practicum is the mastery of clinical thinking, safe nursing judgment, and the demonstration of all professional behaviors and competencies expected of the associate degree registered nurse graduate. Students must achieve a passing grade (78% or higher/Pass) in the instructor-led clinical component, as determined by performance on the formative/summative assessment, in order to progress to the Practicum portion of the clinical course. Students who do not meet this requirement will not be permitted to progress to the Practicum component and will receive a failing grade for the course, and the course must be repeated, if eligible, according to program progression policies.