Associate of Science
Nursing
Associate of Science
Nursing
Associate of Science in Nursing program overview
Nurses are expert healthcare professionals who help others during both triumphs and troubles. At Pittsburgh Technical College, we train you to become a highly-skilled—and highly sought after—nursing professional who provides exceptional care and comfort.
Throughout our 21-month Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), you’ll learn from subject-matter experts who have extensive experience within healthcare. You’ll also take on coursework and hands-on learning opportunities within state-of-the-art classrooms and simulation labs.
You’ll be real-world ready—prepared to take the state licensure exam and play a vital role in directing and managing patient care.
Associate of Science in Nursing program highlights
You have a lot of options when it comes to pursuing a top nursing program. In fact, there are more than 2,500 nursing programs in the U.S. So, what makes our ASN degree one of the top nursing programs in the region?
At PTC, our Associate of Science in Nursing degree is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. You’ll thrive here as you:
- Learn from dedicated, student-centered instructors. Our ASN faculty members are experienced in critical care, obstetrics, pediatrics, medical- surgical, mental health, and peri-operative nursing. And, because you’ll learn in classes of 14 students or less, you’ll have more 1-on-1 time with instructors as you complete your Associate of Science in Nursing degree.
- Prepare to pass licensure exams. We’re so confident that you’ll pass the national certification exam on the first try that we reimburse the cost of the exam. That’s one reason why our graduates say we’re a top nursing program in the region.
Nursing career outlook: Employers that need you.
At PTC, we’re known as a top nursing program. Why? Because we get results for our students.
Did you know that PTC graduates have a 92.68 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN? That’s well above the national average for ASN degree graduates.
Our nursing program graduates work in a variety of positions, including in emerging care, mental health, medical-surgical nursing, obstetrics, and pediatrics, and many Associate of Science in Nursing degree graduates continue their training by pursuing a BSN nursing program within two years of graduation.
- Allegheny Health Network
- Allegheny General Hospital
- Asbury Heights
- Bethany Hospice
- Country Meadows Retirement Community
- Family Hospice & Palliative Care
- Forbes Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare
- HCR ManorCare
- Heritage Valley Beaver
- Ohio Valley Hospital
- Passavant Hospital
- Ruby Medical Center
- St. Clair Hospital
- St. Margaret Hospital
- Uniontown Hospital
- Magee-Women’s Hospital of UPMC
- UPMC—Mercy Hospital
- Washington Hospital
- West Virginia University Hospitals
Our communities need well-trained nurses. Like you.
Our Career Services team will work with you throughout your job search—just as they’ve helped our ASN grads who’ve been hired by many local employers. They’ll also work with you to find clinical rotations that fit your interests. Recent students have gained expertise with Allegheny General Hospital, Forbes Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare, Ohio Valley Hospital, Magee-Women’s Hospital of UPMC, West Penn Hospital, and more.
A nursing program that pays off.
In 2022, the median pay for registered nurses was $81,220 per year*
Approximately 96 percent of PTC graduates are employed in-field.** That means we measure success by our grads who are working in their chosen fields and not just “fully employed” like other colleges and universities.
What you’ll learn in the ASN degree program.
At PTC, you’ll put learning into action from day one. You’ll practice real-world scenarios in our two simulation centers, and clinical experiences begin during your second quarter in our ASN degree as you work rotations at our partners in acute care, hospice, long-term care, rehabilitation centers, and more.
Key skills you’ll develop include how to:
- Integrate scientific knowledge and skills from general education and the sciences into the use of the nursing process with individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan.
- Use critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills in prioritization and clinical judgment in order to provide safe, high-quality care to patients, families, and groups.
- Display core nursing values through leadership in providing patient- and family-centered care.
- Apply current knowledge of legal and technological issues in planning and implementing care.
- Provide health teaching that is culturally and developmentally appropriate to patients, families, and groups as a strategy for promoting health and minimizing harm from disease.
- Demonstrate a spirit of inquiry, with a commitment to lifelong learning and continued nursing practice that is supported by current scientific evidence.
Associate of Science in Nursing curriculum
At PTC, your nursing program will involve classroom work, nursing labs, and hands-on experience within some of Western Pennsylvania’s largest healthcare facilities. You’ll gain hands-on expertise during the second quarter of your ASN coursework, which will continue until you graduate.
For course descriptions, visit our catalog.
*Successful completion of this course requires a grade of “C” or better.
**Students who complete the program in the evening will be scheduled for GSD015 Steps to Career Success Online.
Be prepared for licensure exams
During your final semester, you’ll take Professional Transition to Practice—a course that specifically prepares you for the NCLEX-RN through boot camp activities and active learning strategy workshops. Your instructor will review your assessment results throughout the class and design an individualized, comprehensive study plan that will set you up for success.
Tuition & financial aid
Our goal is to help you build an affordable plan to pursue your Associate of Science in Nursing degree, the most important investment you can make to set yourself up for lifelong success. We offer a range of institution grants and scholarships, and we can help you find other outside resources to complete your package.
Re-entry application
We encourage students who have withdrawn from an academic program to reapply to complete a nursing degree and successfully graduate.
Tuition & financial aid
Our goal is to help you build an affordable plan to pursue your Associate of Science in Nursing degree, the most important investment you can make to set yourself up for lifelong success. We offer a range of institution grants and scholarships, and we can help you find other outside resources to complete your package.
Re-entry application
We encourage students who have withdrawn from an academic program to reapply to complete a nursing degree and successfully graduate.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
**Showcases graduates from January-June (or January, April & June) 2022 classes. Data includes those who were available for work and were offered and/or received career search assistance from 1/1/2022-12/30/2022. Includes full-time, part-time, or freelance positions. Visit https://ptcollege.edu/career-assistance-data/ to learn more.