Practical Nursing

A minimum grade of C (2.0) must be achieved in all required prerequisites with a cumulative GPA of 2.0. Students must maintain at least a 2.0 (C) grade point in each nursing course throughout the program. Any nursing prerequisite course taken at another institution must have a letter grade. Pass/Fail grades may not be accepted.

The following costs are estimates of the expenses students can expect when entering this program. These costs do not include course work taken prior to entry or fees not assessed by the nursing program. All costs are estimated and subject to change.

Table 1: One Year Anticipated Expenses

About Tuition and Fees

 *Tuition and lab fees are subject to change. Quarter one and Quarter two lab fees include liability/malpractice insurance fees. The current fees and rates are located under Financial Aid. The estimated cost does not include transportation, room and board, or other personal needs.

Equipment Costs (Additional costs not included above)

The nursing program courses use Canvas, a web-based learning management system, for the delivery of content. Computer labs are available on campus, but will not be available during campus-wide closures. Students will need a laptop or desktop computer, tablet, or IPad in order to participate in classes. A webcam (built-in or external) is also required.

A printer is recommended, since printing availability on campus may be limited. The Nursing Program Coordinator can assist students with choosing a computer that will meet the needs of the nursing program curriculum.

Nursing program courses use Canvas, a web-based learning management system, for the delivery of content. Students will need a laptop or desktop computer, tablet, or IPad in order to participate in classes. A web camera (built-in or external) is also required.

A printer is recommended, since printing availability on campus may be limited. The Nursing Program Coordinator can assist students with choosing a computer that will meet the needs of the nursing program curriculum.

Device: Desktop, laptop or tablet

Operating System: Windows or Mac (avoid Chromebook)

Browser: Google Chrome

PC or laptop tech specs:

• At least 8 MB of RAM, 16 MB is preferable
• 256 GB hard drive minimum
• Web Camera-internal or external
• Intel i5 processor-9th gen or later

IPad

• 128 GB minimum

Printer: Laserjet (uses a toner cartridge-cost effective)

Note: A limited number of Laptops and Hotspots may be available to borrow by the quarter. Please HelpDesk to learn more.

What must be complete by the application deadline? ​​

1. Complete all the required prerequisite courses (or be enrolled in the prerequisites with anticipated completion by the application deadline)
2. The TEAS Test must be completed one week prior to the application deadline day. TEAS results are due by the close of business day, 1 week prior to the application deadline date.  ATI will need to forward the TEAS transcript to the YVC Nursing Department.
3. Immunizations must be completed. (Please refer to the required immunizations information under Additional Application Requirements.)
4. If transferring from another college, apply to YVC for general admission. You must have applied to Yakima Valley College for general admission, paid the $30.00 application fee, and been accepted to the college a minimum of 6 weeks prior to the application deadline.
   • This applies to any student who has not attended YVC in the four quarters previous to an application deadline. Special conditions apply if you have attended summer quarter at YVC. You may need to still submit an application to the college and pay the application fee, as summer quarter enrollment does not always require an application.
   • To apply for admission to YVC, visit Admissions. Please pay attention to the important dates and deadlines as those may impact your transcript evaluation timeline.
5. Transcripts from other colleges must have been evaluated prior to the application deadline. Official transcripts submitted to the college are evaluated in the order for which they are received, therefore to be assured of official transcript evaluations for admission to the nursing program we ask that you allow no less than 4 weeks for transcript evaluation.

• • In some cases, an evaluation of transcripts may take longer than 4 weeks. This delay occurs when additional information is requested from the Admission department.
  • Official transcripts from all schools attended are required for the Admission Department.
  • Unofficial transcripts are uploaded to the Nursing Application, this includes transcripts from YVC.
    • When students are accepted to the program, they will need to provide official transcripts.
    • Failure to disclose and provide transcripts from all schools attended may result in invalidation of the nursing program application.

What do I need to have available and ready to upload with my online application?

1. Your complete immunization records. (Please refer to the required immunizations under Additional Application Requirements) If proof of the required immunizations is not included with the application, the application will be ineligible for review.
2. Unofficial transcripts from all schools attended. Failure to provide transcripts from all schools attended, will result in the invalidation of your application. In addition, failure to disclose all schools attended will invalidate your application. If accepted, students will need to provide a sealed copy of official transcripts from all other schools attended.
3. Copy of your American Heart Association BLS/CPR for Healthcare Professionals card if you have it. If you do not have a CPR card, it will not prevent your application from being reviewed. If you are accepted, we will provide you an opportunity for the BLS/CPR certification that will occur before the start of the program.

Application and Acceptance Periods

The YVC Practical Nursing program application and acceptance to the program occur once a year.

Acceptance periods:  September 15 for winter quarter admission. All applications are due by 4:30 pm.

Notification

Applicants are notified no later than the end of October.

Application and Acceptance Periods

The YVC Practical Nursing program application and acceptance to the program occur once a year.

Acceptance period

The practical nurse program application opens July 1.

Application Deadline

September 15 for winter quarter admission.

Notification

Applicants are notified no later than the end of October.

Practical Nurse Application

Transcripts

Official transcripts for all courses taken at other colleges must be submitted to the YVC Admissions Office. The applicant is solely responsible for obtaining transcripts for YVC files. No application will be reviewed until all transcripts have been supplied and evaluated. Please allow 4 weeks for official transcript evaluation by the admissions office.

Transcripts are evaluated in the order received.  It is possible that complete transcript evaluation will take longer than 4 weeks.  Courses that need equivalency evaluation may require additional time.

If accepted to the Nursing Program, the nursing department requires that transferring students submit official sealed transcripts from all other colleges directly to the nursing department (in addition to the transcripts submitted to the admissions office).

Students Applying to Transfer from another Nursing Program

Acceptance of nursing coursework taken in another nursing program is done on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Nursing Program directly at 509.574.4902 for more information.

Students applying to the Nursing Program who have taken any coursework in another Nursing program must supply official transcripts, and any other program performance indicators, as requested before the application can be considered.

Based on the information obtained, a student may be admitted, admitted with conditions, or denied admission. In addition, a letter from the director of the previous nursing program stating that the student left the program in good standing must be included. The form for that letter is provided to the student, upon request, from the Program Coordinator. This documentation must be mailed directly to the YVC Nursing Program from the previous program. Students who fail to disclose attendance and/or unsatisfactory work in another nursing program may be subject to immediate dismissal from the YVC Nursing Program if the information becomes available while they are enrolled.

Immunizations

The Nursing Program’s affiliation agreements with clinical and practicum training sites require students to be complete with all required immunizations and tuberculosis (TB) screening as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for healthcare personnel. The requirements reduce the risk of exposure to communicable diseases for students and their patients/clients.

Students must upload official, signed documentation of their immunization status, to the online application.  If immunization status is not complete and available with the application, the application will be ineligible for review. Immunizations, and any needed laboratory testing, are done at the student’s expense. All records must be signed by the healthcare provider or stamped by the facility and may not come directly from the individual’s patient portal.

Immunizations are to remain current while students are enrolled in the Nursing Program. Failure to maintain immunization status will affect enrollment status; students will not be able to participate in required clinical courses if immunizations and CPR are not current. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all immunizations and/or proof of immunity documentation be submitted on time (prior to the start of the program and as required thereafter).

Current Immunization requirements are as follows:

• Tetanus Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) injection: Within the last eight years. If the student has had a Tdap prior to the eight-year mark, a regular tetanus immunization may be used. A titer does not satisfy this requirement.
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): Documentation of two injections. If this documentation cannot be provided, then serum titer must be done to demonstrate immunity. If any portion of the titer is negative, a booster is required, followed by a re-titer 30 days post booster, for the portion of the applicant that is negative.
• Hepatitis B: The series of three injections must be given over a period of months. The second injection is administered one month after the first, with the third administered six months after the first. Documentation must be in the student’s file proving the immunization has been completed prior to participation in the program. A positive Hepatitis B titer may be used to replace evidence of the immunization series.
• Hepatitis B titer: Serologic titer with the lab results for Hepatitis B demonstrating immunity. If the titer is negative for immunity, a restart of the series is required, followed by a retiter 30 days post third shot in the series restart. Documentation demonstrating the restart of the series per the CDC guidelines must be included with titer results.
• Tuberculin skin test (PPD): Required once a year after the two-step baseline has been established. Evidence of three recent, current consecutive years of testing history is accepted in place of the two-step baseline, provided the PPDs have been done annually at the time when due. Students with a positive PPD must have a chest x-ray to demonstrate that they are negative for active disease and provide documentation to the Nursing Program office. Once a chest x-ray is performed, the student will complete an annual questionnaire in place of the PPD test. Students who have exposure to a patient with active TB should have a repeat PPD. A tuberculin titer, known as a Quantiferron, may also be used.
  • Format for PPd 2 step: Date Administered/Date Read and read results. This is repeated within 10 days to provide a 2-step baseline. In order to be valid, PPD records must demonstrate the date administered, the date read, and the results.
  • Quantiferron: If using a Quantiferron titer to satisfy this requirement it must be repeated annually. If a student returns to using the PPD method, a 2-step baseline must be re-established.
• Hepatitis A injection: Two injections from childhood or at least one immunization within the last 10 years.
• Varicella: Provide proof of two dose inoculation, or titer lab results.
• Flu: proof of seasonal flu immunization-If the application deadline precedes the vaccine availability, it will be due at the time of final acceptance to the program.

Recommended:

• COVID-19: Two shot series if it is the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one shot for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

If an applicant has not received the initial Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson and Johnson vaccinations, after September of 2023, one booster injection will satisfy the COVID vaccine as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for healthcare personnel.

Where may I take the TEAS?

The TEAS is offered through the YVC proctored computer lab in the Deccio Higher Education Center, Building 8, on the Yakima Campus or at other regional locations through PSI (ATI) and directly through ATI Testing.

Students wanting to take the TEAS test directly through ATI may do so by visiting ATI Testing. Students will have ATI forward the transcripts to the YVC Nursing Department.

TEAS Minimum Scores by Category

Students must earn the following minimum cut score in each category:

• Reading 47.6% or higher
• Mathematics 46.7% or higher
• Science 33% or higher
• English and Language Usage 40% or higher

​Number of attempts allowed

There is no limitation to the number of attempts allowed. However, only the results for the last test taken are considered. Scores are valid for two years from the date of the test. Results must be within the two-year timeframe of the application deadline date.

Applicants will receive no more than 20 points on their application based on the TEAS test results. TEAS application points are found by taking the Adjusted Individual Total Score and multiplying by .2.

To take the test at YVC

Students may visit the Proctor Testing lab schedule for operation hours and lab testing times.

How do I test at YVC?

1. Visit Create Account, prior to visiting the YVC lab.
2. Do not select the option “Register for TEAS” if taking the exam at YVC.
3. If testing at YVC, step 1 is all you can do until you go to the lab to take the TEAS.
4. On testing day, In the YVC Lab, students log in to ATI Testing.
5. Select “My eLearning” once the students’ page loads. This takes you to where the Assessment ID is entered.
6. The proctor will enter the assessment ID for the student. If the student has not paid yet for their exam, they will be prompted to do so here before the exam will begin. It can be paid by credit or debit card.

1. Provide safe, quality, evidence-based, client-centered nursing care in a variety of healthcare settings to diverse client populations across the lifespan.
2. Engage in clinical reasoning to make client-centered care decisions and to function within the complex healthcare environment.
3. Integrate quality improvement processes that improve client care.
4. Collaborate as part of the inter-professional team, the client, and the client’s support persons.
5. Participate in information management principles, techniques, systems, and client care technology that communicate, manage knowledge, and mitigate error and support decision-making.
6. Adhere to management, legal, and ethical guidelines in practice as a professional practical nurse.

Mission

The mission of the Yakima Valley College Practical Nursing Program is to provide quality nursing education that reflects the College’s commitment to enrich and enhance individuals and the community by delivering accessible, student-centered education. The Practical Nursing Program is designed to prepare successful critical thinkers and lifelong learners who are equipped to meet the current and future health care needs of the local and global community.

Values​​

Diversity – affirming the uniqueness of and differences among persons, ideas, values, and ethnicities

Caring – showing compassion for others

Integrity – respecting the dignity, moral wholeness, and ethical principles of every person without conditions or limitation; honesty

Excellence – co-creating and implementing transformative strategies with daring ingenuity

Collaboration – working jointly with individuals and multidisciplinary teams.

Philosophy

Nursing education at the certificate level at Yakima Valley College is a process that facilitates changes in behavior and the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to function in the role of an entry-level nurse. The curriculum incorporates the principles of Malcolm Knowles Adult Learning Theory, Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy, Tanner’s Clinical Judgment Model, and Patricia Benner’s concepts of the transition from novice to expert in nursing practice.

Knowles Adult Learning Theory has six assumptions about adult learners. These assumptions are:

1. Adults need to know why they need to learn something.
2. As people mature, their self-concept moves from one of being dependent toward one of being self-directed.
3. As people mature, they accumulate a large amount of experience that can serve as a rich resource for learning.
4. Real-life problems or situations create a readiness to learn in the adult.
5. As a person matures his or her time perspective changes from one of postponed application of knowledge to immediacy of application.
6. Adults are primarily motivated by a desire to solve immediate and practical problems. As a person, matures, motivation to learn is stimulated by internal stimuli rather than external stimuli (McEwen and Wills, Theoretical Basis for Nursing, 2006, p. 399).

Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy defines three domains of educational activities or learning: cognitive (knowledge), affective (attitudes), and psychomotor (skills).

The cognitive domain involves the ability to obtain and demonstrate knowledge. Acquisition of knowledge, attitude, and skills proceeds from simple actions such as memorization to more complex intellectual actions such as synthesizing information from multiple sources.  Bloom’s revised taxonomy discusses six categories of knowledge that describe the progression of knowledge from simple to complex:

Remembering: Recalling facts or basic concepts
Understanding: Explaining ideas or concepts
Applying: Using information in new situations
Analyzing: Drawing connections among ideas
Evaluating: Justifying a stand or decision
Creating: Producing new or original work

The affective domain involves internally valuing the unique multidimensional individual, respecting the individual’s right to self- determination, as well as valuing the core beliefs of the nursing profession.

The psychomotor domain involves performing coordinated fine motor, manual, and gross motor skills that are guided by intellectual reasoning.

Critical thinking in today’s complex health care system is necessary for safe, effective, and efficient patient care. Learning to critically think is successful when knowledge is presented in a systematic fashion wherein concepts are presented in a progressive manner of simple to complex incorporating all three learning domains.

Tanners Clinical Judgement Model identifies the processes of clinical judgment that reflect the way nurses think in practice. As students learn to think like a nurse, the processes develop from noticing to interpreting, to responding, and then reflecting.

Noticing: a perceptual grasp of the situation at hand. It is the process of perceiving important or salient aspects of the situation.

Interpreting: the development of sufficient understanding of a situation to respond. It is the ability to take the data in a situation and then determine the etiology, patterns, additional factors to consider or additional information needed and resolution; the ability to draw a conclusion.

Responding: the ability to decide on a course of action, including no action. It requires the student to consider the situation and determine patient goals, nursing response and intervention; to develop a plan of care. It includes identifying stressors experienced when responding to the situation.

Reflecting: the attention to the patient /family response to the nurse’s action while acting. It is the ability to identify what occurred, what the nurse did, and how one might adjust the action differently in the future. The nurse identifies what additional knowledge or skills needed. It includes reflection on values and feelings with the situation.

Patricia Benner’s research describes how nurses develop skills and an understanding of patient care over time through both education and experience in caring for patients.  Benner describes how beginning nurses progress through five distinct levels; novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and expert.  According to Benner (2001), nurses move from the novice level of no experience to the next stage of advanced beginner, which demonstrates acceptable performance after having considerable experience with caring for patients. At the advanced beginner level, experience in actual patient care enables the nurse to recognize meaningful elements in the individual patient care situation and use those elements to guide care. Students are expected to be at the advanced beginner stage at the time of program completion.

Student-centered nursing education is best achieved when educators meet adult students at their level while creating an environment of mutual respect and collaboration in the educational process. Learning is an interactive process by which the educator and the learner share responsibility in obtaining successful student outcomes.  Through the Practical Nursing Program’s use of the theories and research identified above, students transition from novice to advanced beginner and demonstrate clinical judgment necessary for safe entry-level practice in today’s complex healthcare environment.

References
Benner, P. (2001). From novice to expert: Excellence and power in clinical nursing practice. Prentice-Hall.
Benner, P., Tanner, C., & Chesla, C. (2009). Expertise in nursing Practice: Caring, clinical judgement, and ethics (2^nd Ed.), Springer Publishing.
McEwen, M. & Wills, E. (2006). Theoretical Basis for Nursing (2^nd Ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Moore, K (2012).  Effective instructional strategies: From theory to practice (3^rd ed.), Sage Publications.
Tanner, C. (2006). Thinking like a nurse: A researched-based model of clinical judgement in nursing. Journal of Nursing Education, 45, (6), 204-211.

1. Eighty percent (80%) of the first-time test-takers will pass the NCLEX-PN on the first attempt within a 1-year period.
2. Eighty percent (80%) of all students that began the first practical nurse program course will complete the program within 6 quarters.
3. Eighty percent (80%) of graduates will report employment as a PN within 9 months of graduation

NCLEX Pass RateNCLEX Pass Rate

 Practical Nurse Certificate Program Completion Rate

 Based on cohort completion in 6 quarters.

The YVC Practical Nurse program is approved by the:

Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON)
310 Israel Road SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
360.236.4700

U.S. Department of Education

The Practical Nurse certificate program at YVC meets the state education requirements for a practical nurse license in the state of Washington. YVC has not determined if the Practical Nurse certificate program at YVC meets the state education requirements in any other state, any U.S. Territory, or the District of Columbia. Contact the state regulatory agency for nursing in any other state for which this information is needed.

Wendy Blakely, MSN, RN, PhD, Director of Nursing Programs
Yakima Campus: Building 22, Room 204
Phone: 509.574.4909 | Alternate Phone: 509.574.4902
wblakely@yvcc.edu

Nursing Program Coordinator
Yakima Campus: Building 22, Room 101
Phone: 509.574.4902
nursing@yvcc.edu

Simulation Technician
Yakima Campus: Building 22, Room 103B
Phone: 509.574.4915
rcardenas@yvcc.edu

Angela Campos, MSN, RN
Nursing Instructor, Advisor A-B
Yakima Campus: Building 22, Room 217
Phone: 509.574.4901
acampos@yvcc.edu

E’Raina Hatch, MSN, RN
Nursing Instructor, Advisor I-K
Yakima Campus: Building 22, Room 210
Phone: 509.574.4912
ehatch@yvcc.edu 

Carol Milliron
Nursing Instructor, Advisor L-N
Yakima Campus: Building 22, Room 206
Phone: 509.574.4903
cmilliron@yvcc.edu

Jeremy Brown, BSN, RN
Nursing Instructor, Advisor O-P
Yakima Campus: Building 23, Room 101B
Phone: 509.574.4908
jbrown@yvcc.edu

Wendy Jones, MSN, RN
Nursing Instructor, Advisor Q-R
Yakima Campus: Building 22, Room 221
Phone: 509.574.4905
wjones@yvcc.edu

Judy Parker, BSN, RN
Nursing Instructor, Advisor T-V
Yakima Campus: Building 22, Room 219
Phone: 509.574.4925
jparker@yvcc.edu

Renee DiMeo, MSN, RN
Simulation Coordinator, Advisor S, W-Z
Yakima Campus: Building 22, Room 103A
Phone: 509.834.4536
rdimeo@yvcc.edu