The Fast Track Practical Nursing Certificate of Completion (CCL) Program provides students with the theory and skills
required to practice as a practical nurse in acute care, extended care, and intermediate care settings. The program of
study combines nursing theory lectures with planned patient care learning experiences in hospitals, nursing homes and
health care agencies. Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX-PN) to
become a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Licensing requirements are the exclusive responsibility of the Arizona State
Board of Nursing according to Title 32, Chapter 15 of the Arizona Revised Statues.
The Fast Track Practical Nursing (FTPN) Program is a separate nursing program within the structure of the Maricopa
Community College District (MCCD). Students completing the FTPN Program are eligible to apply for the second
year (Block 3) of the Maricopa Nursing Program after completing the prerequisite general education courses and
meeting admission requirements for advanced placement.
PROGRAM COMPETENCIES
- Function effectively in the role of the beginning Practical Nurse under the direction of a Registered Nurse.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills and evidence based practice through utilization of the nursing process as a
guideline in providing nursing care. - Assist with data collection and contribute to the established plan of care.
- Implement an established plan of care using appropriate practical nursing knowledge.
- Assist with the evaluation of nursing care based on established outcome criteria.
- Apply therapeutic communication techniques in providing basic nursing care for clients throughout the
lifespan. - Perform technical aspects of basic, safe nursing care.
- Demonstrate identified caring behaviors.
- Function in accordance with the ethical and legal standards of practical nursing practice.
- Illustrate use of relevant technology for client care and documentation.
PROGRAM VISION
The GateWay Community College Fast Track Practical Nursing Program believes that graduates who experience the
community of learning become caring and sensitive nursing care providers who demonstrate excellence, wisdom, and
practice safely and responsibly. Also, it is believed graduates will commit to and demonstrate behaviors that promote
health and well being of themselves and take an active role in life-long learning.
PROGRAM MISSION
It is the mission of the GateWay Community College Fast Track Practical Nursing Program to prepare providers of
nursing care who practice according to the core values and vision of the nursing program. These providers will
become productive members of the diverse health care community. To accomplish the mission, the nursing program
provides necessary resources and well-prepared faculty. Faculty practice within the scholarship of teaching and
learning, are driving forces for change, model professional behaviors, and support adult learning principles and
practices. It is also the mission of the program to actively develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with the
diverse health care community.
FAST TRACK PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM
2
PROGRAM CORE VALUES
The GateWay Community College Fast Track Practical Nursing Program is committed to the core values of caring,
critical thinking, holism, nursing role development, safe practice, and information management and technology. These
values focus on key stakeholders and communities of interest: clients, colleagues, and the community. The
acquisition of these six core values is essential to form the foundation to practice the art and science of nursing.
Caring: The core value of caring is characterized by genuine, warm, and sensitive providers of nursing care who
demonstrate empathy, respect for self and colleagues, and healthy self-esteem. These providers use positive
communication skills that are growth producing for clients and colleagues.
Critical Thinking: The core value of critical thinking is characterized by self-directed providers of nursing care who
make decisions based on self-reflection, rationale, and reasoning within their scope of practice. These providers are
open-minded and creative when confronted with a variety of challenging situations and they take reasonable risks,
when appropriate.
Holism: The core value of holism is characterized by non-judgmental providers of nursing care. They understand,
are sensitive to, accept, and respect the spirituality and diversity of clients and the communities in which they live.
These providers are restorers and promoters of health for clients across the life span. They understand the illness to
wellness continuum and assess where clients are on that continuum so that they may help them achieve their highest
state of wellness.
Nursing Role Development: The core value of nursing role development is characterized by accountable providers
of nursing care who seek as their ideal, ethical and moral practice. These providers are client advocates who exert
assertive behaviors when necessary. They demonstrate adaptability and flexibility in the dynamic health care
environments and are productive team members. At all times, these care providers demonstrate the image and
presence of a nurse who is committed to the core values of the art and science of nursing and life-long learning.
Safe Practice: The core value of safe practice is characterized by responsible providers of nursing care who
demonstrate clinical excellence, cultural competence, and quality care. These providers practice legally and ethically
and always seek positive client outcomes. They value the knowledge they have gained from other disciplines and
apply that knowledge through the nursing process to make and evaluate appropriate and reasoned decisions.
Information Management and Technology: The core value of information management and technology is
characterized by demonstration and understanding of basic data collection tools such as the medical record, shift
report, and electronic infusion devices. These providers value the use of electronic devices to enhance the efficiency
of patient care and safety. These providers also understand and utilize a variety of information sources such as online
databases, hand-held computers and professional journals to contribute to positive client outcomes.
FAST TRACK PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM
3
PROGRAM OF STUDY
Curriculum Credit Hour and Clock Hour Distribution
Fast Track Practical Pre-Requisite Courses
Current CNA
OR
NUR158 – Nurse Assisting
(within the past 1 year)
6
Pre-Requisite Courses 6
Credit Hours
Fast Track Practical Nursing Courses
NUR160PN Practical Nursing Theory and Process I 11.0 315
NUR180PN Practical Nursing Theory and Process II 11.0 315
Nursing Program Courses 22
Credit Hours
630
Clock Hours
COST ESTIMATE FOR THE FTPN PROGRAM*
Nursing Courses (22 credits x $86.00) (Maricopa County Resident) $ 1892.00
Registration Fees/Admission Test Fee/Course Fees/Graduation fee 225.00
Books/Tote 650.00
Certified Background Check 67.00
Urine Drug Test 37.00
Fingerprint Clearance Card 69.00
Immunizations and CPR 250.00
Uniform and Clinical Supplies 150.00
Total Estimated Cost $3340.00
gateway community college nursing program 2021
Associate in Science
Gateway Community College offers evening classes, with day and evening clinical experiences, at a variety of healthcare institutions in the greater New Haven area and throughout the State of Connecticut. Gateway’s brand new, state-of-the-art nursing skills lab provides students with the opportunity for skills practice and simulated learning activities. For more information contact Mary Beth Banks, Assistant Director of Admissions at (203) 285-2388 or mbanks@gatewayct.edu.NOTE: ALL communication from the CT-CCNP will be to your Community College email address. For more info see page10 of the information packet.
Nursing Info Packet | |
Nursing Information Sessions | 2021-2022 Nursing Program Student Handbook |
2019-2020 Catalog Description | CT-CCNP |
Program of Study | Humanities Chart |
Nursing Technical Standards | Student Outcomes |
Introduction
The Nursing program at Gateway Community College is one of several in the Connecticut Community College Nursing Program (CT-CCNP), an innovative associate degree program of study offered at six Connecticut Community Colleges. The common nursing programming offers a 4-semester curriculum designed to prepare registered nurses to function in the professional role utilizing current standards of nursing practice. In addition, students within the program have the same admission and policy standards, which allows for greater student flexibility. The curriculum is built upon courses from the social and biological sciences, liberal arts, and nursing; these courses provide the foundation for the practice of nursing. The curriculum is organized by concepts that guide student learning about the nursing profession, health and illness, health care systems and patients who are the recipients of nursing care. The curriculum is guided by local, regional, and national standards and trends within healthcare, higher education, and the nursing discipline. The delivery of the curriculum is accomplished through a dynamic educational experience that involves active and diverse learning processes. Upon successful completion of the Nursing program, the college awards the graduate an Associate in Science Degree.
After the Associate in Science degree is awarded, the graduate is eligible to take the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Graduates can apply for licensure through the Connecticut Department of Public Health or through the state within which they would like to practice. The graduate is prepared to function as a safe, competent entry-level practitioner within settings across health care systems such as acute care (general or specialty hospitals), subacute or long term care, and community based care settings such as provider offices and clinics.
End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes for the Concept-Based Curriculum
While providing nursing care to individuals, families, groups, communities, andpopulations within the health care system, the nursing graduate:
- Demonstrates communication strategies that promote accurate exchange of information, prevent and manage conflict, and establish and maintain therapeutic relationships.
- Integrates evidence-based practice into clinical decision-making for the provision of patient-centered care.
- Uses data and patient care technology to communicate, differentiate, and manage patient information to support clinical decision-making for optimal patient outcomes.
- Integrates leadership and priority-setting skills into the management and coordination of safe, quality, patient-centered care.
- Uses the nursing process to provide patient-centered care that is responsive to the patient’s physiological, pharmacological, psychological, cultural, and sociological preferences, values, and needs.
- Integrates integrity and accountability that upholds established regulatory, legal, and ethical principles into cost effective, standard-based nursing care.
- Uses quality improvement to promote the delivery of patient-centered care and to optimize patient outcomes.
- Promotes a safe culture that minimizes the risk of harm to patients, self, and others at the work unit and health care system levels
- Analyzes the impact of the health care system on the provision of safe, quality patient-centered care at the level of the work unit.
- Collaborates with the interprofessional health care team to manage and coordinate the provision of safe, quality, patient-centered care.
Nursing Resources
- Men in Nursing Initiative
Student Nurse Association
Our Student Nurse Association provides an avenue for pre-nursing and nursing students to give each other support during this demanding program.