Our Nursing program is a dynamic, concept-based nursing curriculum taught by faculty who are experts in their field. You will be able to apply your nursing knowledge in a variety of healthcare settings. In fact, our graduates are highly sought by local healthcare employers.

Throughout our program, our compassionate, empathetic professors will teach you how to:

• Get vital nursing care experience as you provide direct patient care
• Observe, assess and record symptoms, reactions and progress
• Assist physicians with treatments and examinations
• Administer medications
• Assist in convalescence and rehabilitation
• Promote wellness through health education

You will also be taught how to develop and manage nursing care plans, instruct patients and their families in proper care and help individuals take steps to improve or maintain their health. In addition, high-fidelity simulation scenarios will prepare you to handle high-risk situations that you may face when caring for patients.:*

Note*: You must be able to demonstrate competency in dosage calculations throughout our program to advance through the courses. Mathematics is considered an essential safety skill. We do offer a dosage calculations course to help you if you need to strengthen your skillset in this area.

HACC developed the following program outcomes from the four core concepts and nine key components of the Nursing program’s Conceptual Framework (pdf). The curriculum will prepare you to demonstrate:

Professionalism - Possess a sense of professional identity, a spirit of inquiry and a commitment to the profession of registered nursing.

• Demonstrate the ability to practice as a generalist, using clinical reasoning to provide safe, competent, patient-centered care to patients across the lifespan and healthcare continuum
• Provide evidence-based clinical nursing practice by using evidence to make sound clinical judgments and to deliver safe, competent excellent care
• Consistently demonstrate accountability, ethical behavior, and adhere to the standards of professional registered nursing practice

Communication - Communicate effectively, in a therapeutic way with the patient, promoting human dignity, integrity, and human flourishing across the life span

• Demonstrate the ability to utilize informatics, computer-based information management systems and patient care technology to navigate the healthcare system in the provision of patient-centered care
• Demonstrate the ability to respectfully communicate information verbally, nonverbally and in writing, while promoting an environment that supports interprofessional communication and collaboration in the provision of patient-centered care

Critical Thinking - Demonstrate the ability to recall and comprehend information to problem solve using the nursing process, evidence-based practice and concepts foundational to quality registered nursing practice

• Utilize evidence-based practice to formulate nursing judgments that include the cognitive abilities to apply and analyze data that will direct patient outcomes
• Demonstrate the ability to apply critical thinking to deliver clinically competent care regarding a clinical problem in accordance with the national patient safety initiative

Caring - Engage in caring behaviors to provide a safe, compassionate, nurturing environment that promotes human flourishing

• Provide holistic care, across the health continuum that reflects a respect of the values, cultures and lifestyles of diverse patients and families
• Provide care that is compassionate, culturally sensitive and holistic

*Adapted from Educational Competencies for Graduates of Associate Degree Nursing Programs, NLN, 2010. Bold and italicized words are concepts that thread throughout the HACC Nursing program Conceptual Framework (pdf).

Please note that our program is selective. Acceptance in to the College does not guarantee admission into the Nursing program. There are specific entry-requirements you must meet to be accepted. For  a list of those requirements, nursing application and admission cycle, please visit the Health Careers webpage or email us at start@hacc.edu.

The Associate Degree Registered Nursing Program at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College), located at One HACC Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2999, is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta GA 30326 (Phone: 404-975-5000), www.acenursing.org 

• This program was initially accredited in January 1987.
• The most recent accreditation decision made by ACEN Board of Commissioners (September 2019) for the Associate Degree Registered Nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.
• You may view the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at: http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm .