Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Program overview and mission

PCC is a member of the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education (OCNE). OCNE schools have the same prerequisites, comparable application processes, and curriculum. This consortium of statewide nursing educators and programs consists of:

Bachelor degree preparation

Admitted nursing students will have the option of completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing at Oregon Health and Science University after completing two years at PCC. For more information please visit the OHSU Community College Transitions page. PCC also has a formal articulation agreement with Linfield University School of Nursing.

Portland Community College is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution. Students are admitted without discrimination as to age, race, religion, gender, sexual preference, national origin, or marital status.

Mission statement

Portland Community College Nursing program provides high-quality nursing education to transform individuals into caring professional nurses to meet the evolving health needs of our community.

The Nursing program values access to a learning community that is evidence-based, student-centered, and culturally sensitive. We promote curiosity and student success for the achievement of academic goals in a caring, safe, and respectful environment.

PCC Nursing program philosophy

The PCC Nursing program prepares individuals to enter the profession with the foundation of nursing competency and to continue in their education, enabling them to respond to changing healthcare needs of individuals and communities in various healthcare settings.

The nursing faculty of PCC believes that the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree (AAS) graduate is vital to the nursing profession and a changing healthcare delivery system. We believe individuals at all developmental stages are bio-psychosocial beings who interact with their environment. Each person has unique capabilities, value systems, and life experiences that influence behaviors. Health is a dynamic process with a goal of optimal functioning within one’s capabilities. Individuals and society share rights and responsibilities for health.

Health is influenced by one’s culture, lifestyle, physical, spiritual, mental, and social factors, as well as one’s stage of development. We believe the professional registered nurse practices relationship-centered care and that health is maintained, promoted, and restored through partnerships among individuals, families, groups, communities, and healthcare providers.

The role and functions of the nurse demand legal and ethical accountability for client care, clear effective communication, and safe direction and guidance of other healthcare providers in the delivery of nursing care activities. The nurse’s personal and professional actions are based on a set of shared core nursing values and these values are applied to making sound clinical judgments using the best available evidence in all areas of their nursing practice.

The professional registered nurse utilizes, contributes to, and practices in the broader healthcare system, while collaborating with patients, clients, and families. Nursing education is a process that introduces the student to the practice of nursing. It focuses on the application of the sciences, humanities, nursing science, and the art of nursing essential to providing and managing client care.

The curriculum is based on current and realistic nursing roles and practice. Students are expected to engage in intentional learning, develop insight through reflection, self-analysis, and self-care, and to continue using these skills in their nursing practice.

Central to nursing education is a positive, caring, supportive, and respectful student-teaching relationship that promotes growth toward professional and personal development. The faculty recognize and value the uniqueness of each student and implements a variety of innovative teaching strategies to promote self-direction in learning. PCC’s Nursing faculty believe that our PCC Nursing program fosters an atmosphere that accepts and encourages diversity among faculty, students, and those we serve.

We believe PCC’s nursing education affords opportunities for the faculty and the students to actively work together to achieve program outcomes. We further believe the nursing curriculum provides active learning experiences that stimulate intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, emotional growth, social awareness, and respect for diversity among students.

Nursing education, to be relevant and meaningful, continually seeks to evaluate, validate, and revitalize its curricular designs and educational strategies. This level of education is accomplished through a process of on-going dialogue and evaluation with the participation of the community, faculty, graduates, and enrolled students.

We are committed to the integrity of our program and promoting the competence of our graduates. We believe the PCC graduate is prepared to assume responsibility for lifelong learning necessary to maintain a safe and effective nursing practice, professional growth, and leadership in nursing and healthcare through participation in activities in the work setting and within professional organizations.