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Health Professions Programs Print Program Info Health Professions Home

Denise Bell, Professor
NUR-Program Director
Tidewater Community College
7000 College Drive
Portsmouth, VA 23703
dbell@tcc.edu

The Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing is designed for students who plan to pursue a career as a registered nurse. The program provides a background for maximum transfer opportunities to baccalaureate nursing. Nurses are eligible for employment in a variety of acute care facilities or long-term care facilities, hospices, home health services, mental health facilities, rehabilitation centers, health departments, and doctors offices. The Tidewater Community College Nursing program is located at the Portsmouth campus and is accredited by The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing.  The Associate in Applied Science degree requires five semesters of full-time study. In addition, TCC offers an Articulated Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to RN option and advanced placement opportunities for the LPN.


These pages will provide the following information about the program:

Information packets containing the information on these pages and copies of the necessary documents for admission may be requested at (757) 822-1122 or dowloaded from this site. If you have any additional questions, please call Fred Jeffcoate or Patti Saffioti in the Counseling Center (757) 822-2201, attend the Registered Nursing "Open House", or call the Nursing Program at (757) 822-2303. The "Open House" is held on the third Thursday of each month from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Room 319 of the Beazley Building at the Portsmouth campus. No late entries are allowed for the information session, and you must attend the entire program.


Letter from Program Director Dear Prospective Nursing Student:

Dear Prospective Nursing Student:

Thank you for your interest in Tidewater Community College's (TCC) Registered Nursing Program. The nursing profession offers a variety of career opportunities for individuals with appropriate intellectual and psychomotor skills in addition to a compassion for humanity. The nursing program at TCC has a long history of promoting excellence in the nursing community. The program began in 1970 and graduated its first registered nurse class in 1972. The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), 61 Broadway, New York, NY, 10006, (212) 363-5555 and the Virginia Board of Nursing accredits the Registered Nursing program at TCC.

The nursing program is one of many health professions programs within the Division of Health Professions. Nursing students' admission records are maintained at the Virginia Beach Campus in the Admissions Office. The Nursing Program is physically located on the Portsmouth Campus. However, students may take co-curricular courses (non-nursing, general education courses) at any of the four TCC campuses. In addition, the nursing program is offered on the Eastern Shore at Eastern Shore Community College.

The graduates of the program may pursue a baccalaureate nursing degree at Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, Hampton University, and the Virginia Commonwealth University. If you plan to work toward a baccalaureate degree, you will need to work closely with a transfer counselor and the nursing program head while at TCC to ensure you meet the transfer requirements of the university you plan to transfer.

The information in this nursing website is designed to assist you in following the steps of the admission process. The nursing faculty and staff of Tidewater Community College hope the information contained in this packet will be beneficial to you as you embark upon a nursing career.

We look forward to hearing from you and answering those questions you may have related to your career in nursing.

Sincerely,

Denise Bell, Professor
Nursing Program Head
dbell@tcc.edu


LPN to RN Curriculum Options

Articulated LPN Program

A transition course is offered for Licensed Practical Nurses who have graduated from certain regional LPN programs within the last five years. The articulated program is only at the Portsmouth campus. This track is designed to assist LPN's to smoothly and expeditiously move into the Associate Degree Nursing Program. Detailed information regarding the articulated LPN program is located in the Nursing Admissions Procedures and Information Booklet .

Advanced Placement

LPN's may apply for advanced placement in the Nursing Program by successfully completing a standardized nursing test and a college-developed "pharmacology calculation of dosage" test. Detailed information regarding advanced placement is located in the Nursing Admissions Procedures and Information Booklet .


Admission to the Program

Admission procedures for entering the Nursing Program varies depending on whether you will be a traditional day student, evening student, or partaking in in one of the LPN to RN program options. Step-by-step details for each track is found in the Nursing Admissions Procedures and Information Booklet .

These requirements are updated regularly. The Nursing Program holds an Open House on the on the third Thursday of each month from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Room 319 of the Beazley Building at the Portsmouth campus. No late entries are allowed for the information session, and you must attend the entire program.


Nursing Math Diagnostic Test

Students seeking admission into the nursing curriculum must complete the nursing math diagnostic exam in the assessment center at any of the four TCC campuses within one year prior to enrolling in the first nursing curricular course. This is a separate test from the college’s Compass entrance test. The test must be completed by September 1st for those seeking early admission and May 15th for those seeking late admission.

Students must successfully complete the nursing math diagnostic test each year in which they seek admission into the nursing program. Students cannot take the diagnostic test more than one time per academic year. Students must pass the test with 90% in each mathematical area tested. Applicants who receive an unacceptable score must take and pass Math 1, Basic Mathematics for Nursing, before enrolling in the first nursing curricular course.

Students must bring a picture ID and number two pencils to the test. Calculators are not permitted. The test will include basic math operations that include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions, decimals, percent, ratios, proportions and algebraic equations.

For testing availability please visit the assessment testing schedule web site. Please note that the lab is closed for maintenance several days a semester, and that the days immediately prior to a semesters start are not available for any testing other than college placement.


Nursing Orientation Video

Students seeking admission into the nursing curriculum must view the Nursing Program Orientation Video. The video is available online for viewing.

Nursing Orientation Video


Nursing Faculty

Denise Bell (757) 822-2303
Program Director; Professor, Nursing
Ms. Bell earned a Master's Degree in Nursing (Med/Surg, Administration) from Hampton University. She has previous experience as Program Leader for Health Occupations and teaching LPN and AD Nursing programs.

Roberta Bernadini (757) 822-2325
Professor, Nursing
B.S.N. Mount Mercy College; M.S.N. University of Michigan

Rita Bouchard (757) 822-2329
Assistant Professor, Nursing
B.S.N. Mt. St. Mary's College; M.S.N. University of California

Linda Credle (757) 822-2335
Assistant Professor, Nursing
B.S.N. Old Dominion University; M.S.N. Medical College of Virginia

Teresa Granger (757) 822-2319
Associate Professor, Nursing
B.S.N. Chistopher Newport University; MSN Hampton University

Jeanine Freeze Eastern Shore Community College (757) 789-1786
Professor, Nursing
B.S.N. George Mason University; M.S.N. Old Dominion University; Ph.D. Medical College of Virginia; Certified F.N.P; Advanced Administration

Keratiole Gwebu (757) 822-2334
Assistant Professor, Nursing
B.S.N. & MSN University of Alabama

Ruth Kopanski (757) 822-2331
Assistant Professor, Nursing
B.S.N. Duquesne University; M.A. Webster University; M.S.N. Widener University
Faculty Website

Melinda Gillus (757) 822-2309
Professor, Nursing
B.S.N. Norfolk State University; M.S.N. Hampton University

Katherine Pennington (757) 822-2334
Assistant Professor, Nursing
B.S.N. University of Virginia; M.S.N. Old Dominion University

Sylvia Dianne Reimann Eastern Shore Community College 787-5908
Assistant Professor, Nursing
B.S. Park College; B.S.N. College of Mount Saint Joseph; M.S.N. Wright State University

Viola Smith (757) 822-2330
Assistant Professor, Nursing
B.S.N. Indiana University of Pennsylvania; M.S.N. Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Nancy Verdirame (757) 822-2333
Assistant Professor, Nursing
B.S.N. University of Virginia; M.S.N. Aldelphia University



Printable Information Packet with Program Application and Educational Experience Form

Get Acrobat Reader now.To download the Nursing packet you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, its free.

Nursing Admissions Procedures and Information Booklet


Nursing Program Application

ApplicationGet Acrobat Reader now.


Criminal Background Check

Health Professions students assigned to clinical rotations or internships at some healthcare facilities are personally responsible for completing the required background checks or screenings and assuring that results are obtained by the healthcare or medical facility that asks for them. Prospective Registered Nursing students are required to complete the background check. Students are required to bear the costs of such tests. It will be the decision of the clinical affiliate (healthcare or medical facility) whether the student will be allowed to participate in the clinical activities should there be positive criminal or sex offender results. Tidewater Community College does not assume any responsibility for obtaining or evaluating the results of a criminal background check, drug screen or other check, maintaining the records of results or for delivering them to clinical sites. Students may not request to be assigned only to those sites that do not require such checks. Students who refuse to undergo a criminal background check or drug screen or other required check may not be able to be placed at another facility and consequently may not be able to complete program requirements and graduate. Tidewater Community College will make reasonable efforts to place all enrolled students in clinical training.

Students are also reminded that licensing boards for certain health care occupations and professions may deny, suspend or revoke a license or may deny the individual the opportunity to sit for an examination if an applicant has a criminal history or is convicted or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or other serious crime. Successful completion of a health professions program of study at Tidewater Community College does not guarantee licensure, the opportunity to sit for a licensure examination, certification or employment in the relevant heath care occupation.

The vendor for criminal background checks is Certified Background.

Procedure
1. Please complete the vendor information and make direct payment to the vendor. The vendor will provide you with a passcode and a PDF file of the results.

2. It is your responsibility to provide your CBI results to the agency requesting it within 24 hours after the first day of classes (which is also the day of final notification of clinical placement sites). To initiate completion of your CBI please contact the selected vendor, provide the required data, sign the release and provide payment to the vendor.

3. Please be sure to keep a hard copy of your own PDF file for your personal records.

Instructions:
1. Go to www.certifiedbackground.com.
2. Click on "Students"
3. In the Package Code Box, enter iw01
4. You will see a page with information about our package and its contents, costs, etc.

Download instruction sheet.Get Acrobat Reader now.


Curriculum Guide

Traditional Program Curriculum


Contact: dbell@tcc.edu
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