Why Nursing?
The program, offered at four college sites, prepares students to apply for the NCLEX-RN examination and to assume an entry-level position as a registered nurse. Program learning experiences prepare graduates for professional nursing practices as defined and delineated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. The program consists of courses in liberal arts and selected sciences, as well as nursing.
The CCAC Associate Degree Nursing program prepares graduates for entry-level practice in the current and emerging global health care delivery workforce. The program creates a dynamic, diverse and supportive student-centered environment for learning. The concept-based curriculum, along with the active engagement of the student in the learning process, provides quality preparation for academic, professional and personal success.
Admission to Nursing
Every Nursing and Health Sciences program at CCAC has specific admissions requirements and career accreditation.
For Nursing, there are specific course requirements and academic thresholds that must be met before a potential applicant can be considered for the program. To view all admission requirements, visit our Nursing Admissions page.
Accreditation
Number of Programs Offered: 1
Program Type: Associate
Date of Last Review: October 5–8, 2020. The approval decision was rendered March 2021.
Date of Next Review: Fall 2028
The program is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
The Associate nursing program at Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000.
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at https://www.acenursing.org/acen-programs-05202024/community-college-of-allegheny-county.
The program is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Middle States Accreditation
In addition to the accreditation by ACEN, CCAC's Nursing program is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
Last Reaffirmation: 2018
Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2025–2026
For more information, visit CCAC's institutional page.
Middle States Action Letter, June 2017
Scholarships for Nursing
CCAC offers access to a variety of scholarships specifically for Nursing students through The Pittsburgh Foundation. In addition to these external scholarships, CCAC Foundation scholarships are also available for Nursing students. For more information regarding each of these scholarships, visit our Nursing Scholarships page.
Nursing Program Student Manual
Information in this Nursing Program Student Manual will be reviewed periodically by the Nursing faculty. It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of policy changes, additions or deletions. All students enrolled in the Nursing program are expected to adhere to the policies, procedures, and guidelines in effect for the current semester. This Nursing Program Student Manual and the CCAC Student Handbook should be read carefully as the information they contain is essential for your success at the college.
What Type of Program Are You Looking For?
Nursing, A.S. (575.2)
The CCAC Associate Degree Nursing program prepares graduates for entry-level practice in the current and emerging global health care delivery workforce. The program creates a dynamic, diverse and supportive student-centered environment for learning. The concept-based curriculum, along with the active engagement of the student in the learning process, provides quality preparation for academic, professional and personal success.
Take the Next Step
This data is national aggregate data, which may or may not be reflective of current local labor market circumstances.
″The classes are smaller, so there is more personalized interaction. Faculty support your success and, if they aren't able to help, they know the college resources who can.″
CCAC Nursing Program Outcomes
To view the End of Program Student Learning Outcomes, click here.
For data on the NCLEX-RN pass rates, completion rates and job placement rates, view the tables below.
Class Year | Pass Rate |
---|---|
2022–2023 | 89.21% |
2021–2022 | 85.44% |
2020–2021 | 88.92% |
2019–2020 | 95.41% |
2018–2019 | 94.69% |
2017–2018 | 95.16% |
2016–2017 | 92.03% |
2015–2016 | 90.74% |
2014–2015 | 88.56% |
2013–2014 | 71.97% |
2012–2013 | 82.25% |
Class Year | Completion Rate |
---|---|
2022–2023 | 54.20% |
2021–2022 | 52.40% |
2020–2021 | 70.79% |
2019–2020 | 73.31% |
2018–2019 | 72.73% |
2017–2018 | 62.30% |
2016–2017 | 56.64% |
2015–2016 | 59.80% |
2013–2014 | 52.54% |
2012–2013 | 50.19% |
2011–2012 | 79.49% |
2010–2011 | 70.79% |
2009–2010 | 70.17% |
Class Year | Placement Rate |
---|---|
2022–2023 | 94% |
2021–2022 | 94% |
2020–2021 | 90% |
2019–2020 | 82.52% |
2018–2019 | 90.18% |
2017–2018 | 87.73% |
2016–2017 | 85.63% |
2015–2016 | 70% Fall 2015 Graduates |
2014–2015 | 70.1% |
2013–2014 | 78.64% |
2012–2013 | 73.35% |
2011–2012 | 77.88% |
Nursing at CCAC Campuses
This campus is conveniently located on Pittsburgh's North Shore. It is easily accessible by public transportation and is close to many of the city's attractions, such as Acrisure Stadium, PNC Park, the National Aviary and the Andy Warhol Museum. Allegheny Campus accepts Nursing admissions in the fall and spring semesters.
This campus is located in suburban Monroeville and can be accessed by the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Routes 48 and Business 22. Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) also serves the school.
Boyce offers day and evening courses. All of the nursing courses at the Boyce Campus are web-enhanced. Boyce Campus accepts Nursing admissions in the fall and spring semesters.
Example clinical sites include Allegheny Valley Hospital, UPMC Magee Womens Hospital, Forbes Hospital, UPMC Shadyside, UPMC St. Margaret, Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital, LifeCare Hospitals, and the Veterans Administration Hospital.
Located in the North Hills on Route 19 near Camp Horne Road in an all-inclusive campus building, North offers day and web-enhanced courses and accepts Nursing admissions in the fall semester only.
Examples of clinical sites for clinical experience include UPMC Passavant–McCandless, UPMC Passavant–Cranberry, UPMC Mercy, UPMC Children's Hospital of PIttsburgh, and UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.
Located in West Mifflin on Route 885, not far from the former Century III Mall, South is served by several Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) bus routes. South offers day and evening courses and accepts Nursing admissions in the fall semester only. Some courses are web-enhanced.
Examples of clinical sites include Jefferson Hospital, UPMC McKeesport, UPMC Mercy, St. Clair Hospital, Penn Highlands Mon Valley, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, and The Children's Institute.
Nursing Graduate Information
You will receive a detailed letter and packet of information by mid to late March for May graduates and by late October/early November for December graduates. This will explain the process for applying for your RN licensure exam and temporary practice permit (TPP).
This is how it works:
- If you haven't applied for graduation, go to your Registration office to complete your application. The Registration office will hold these applications until final grades are posted.
- Final grades are posted for the semester.
- The Registration offices will evaluate all graduation applications and post degrees on our student system for those applicants meeting all the graduation criteria. Nursing students are not the only students graduating. This process involves students graduating from all disciplines. It takes at least four to six weeks from the date final grades are posted.
- The Dean of Nursing's office will be notified when all nursing students who have applied and met the criteria have been certified.
- The information is sent to the State Board of Nursing electronically. This is about a two-to-three-day process.
- You can apply for a TPP early; however, the state board will put your application in a pending file until they receive the information we supply electronically.
- Once we give them this information, they will process your application(s) for the exam/TPP.
Please be patient: We do everything possible to expedite this process.
Please refer to the State Board of Nursing's Letter to the Student for more information regarding the NCLEX procedure.
Preceptor Orientation and CEUs
Interested in becoming an instructor in nursing and earning continuing education units (CEUs)? Unsure where to begin? Consider signing up for the NUR 250–Leadership and Management Concepts training course below!
Nursing Essential Functions
In order to meet the program competencies—and for successful completion of the objectives
for each nursing course—a student
must be able to:
- Move freely to observe and assess patients and perform emergency patient care, which includes having full manual dexterity of the upper extremities, including neck and shoulders; unrestricted movement of both lower extremities, back and hips in order to assist in all aspects of patient care; and the ability to touch the floor to remove environmental hazards (i.e., patient hygiene, application of restraints, and nursing procedures such as urinary bladder catheterization and parenteral injections)
- Lift and/or support at least 50 pounds in order to reposition, transfer and ambulate patients safely
- Demonstrate tactile ability sufficient to assess a patient's pulses as well as changes in a patient's physiological status (i.e., changes in skin temperature, edema, etc.)
If a student should present with any physical limitation, each case will be reviewed on an individual basis. Reasonable accommodations will be made if possible.
- Visually observe changes in a patient's status, as well as unsafe environmental conditions, and have visual acuity with near clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and with far clarity of vision at 20 feet or more
- Hear the sounds of spoken verbal communication, as well as the sounds that indicate changes in the patient's physiological condition (i.e., breath sounds, blood pressure, apical pulse), and speak to focal clients and members of the health team utilizing effective verbal communication skills
- Smell odors that indicate changes in the physiological status of the patient or unsafe environmental conditions
- Read and cognitively comprehend written course materials, patient care documents, and health care institution policies and procedures
- Write utilizing a legible and concise documentation style that is readable and in the English language
- Calculate accurately in order to administer correct medication dosages, count a pulse, count respirations, and determine intake and output
- Demonstrate cognitive learning in relation to new procedures through clinical application
- Interpret physician orders accurately through verbal and written communication, and carry through with appropriate psychomotor clinical application
Contact Information
Kathy Hacker
-
Director of Nursing Admissions, Recruitment & Community Engagement - 724.325.6776
- khacker@ccac.edu