PCC Nursing student with patient

PCC nursing students prepare with hands-on experience

As part of the academic preparation for the nursing profession, students in the PCC Nursing Program participate in clinical hands-on care of clients in various local health care settings, under the supervision of staff at the facilities and PCC faculty of the Nursing Department. The purpose of these clinicals are to:

  • learn how to perform physical and psychosocial assessments
  • interact with clients, families and staff
  • administer medications and perform other needed skills
  • develop critical thinking skills
  • develop plans of nursing care.

Before beginning each clinical rotation, students are responsible for submitting certain paperwork & completing required preparatory activities. Below is a summary of required activities & documents needed in order to participate in clinicals.

When do I need to start preparing for my clinical rotation?

Students begin clinical study in their first term of 1st Year in the Nursing program. They go to a different clinical rotation each term. Each clinical site may have slightly different clinical requirements that need to be done before beginning the clinical rotation. Most students need to begin doing these clinical requirements at least 2 weeks in advance. Your clinical instructor will let you know if there are other things that need to be done earlier, so be sure to check your email frequently for messages about this. You are responsible for gathering your documentation, so give yourself plenty of time. Prospective students who have not yet entered the Nursing program do not need to have met these requirements.

Student Checklist of Pre-Clinical Requirements

  1. Documentation of completion of BLS for Healthcare Professionals (CPR) class from American Heart Association (must be current for whole academic year). PCC frequently offers these CPR classes at the Central Workforce Training Center - view upcoming dates and times for CPR for Healthcare Providers.
  2. Documentation of current immunizations:
    1. Two-step PPD for Tuberculosis (or negative CXR within last 12 months)
    2. Complete Hepatitis B series (3 injections) and titer
    3. 2 MMR  immunizations and titer
    4. 2 Varicella immunizations and titer
    5. Tetanus Toxoid-Diptheria Pertussis
  3. Documentation of completion of all of the following Student Max Online Clinical Orientation Modules. (Your instructor will give you instructions for when and how to do the Clinical Orientation Modules near the beginning of the school year.)
    1. Emergency Preparedness
    2. Confidentiality & Compliance (HIPAA)
    3. Fire Safety
    4. Infection Control & Blood-borne Pathogens
    5. Safety in Health Care
    6. Dealing with Diverse Populations
  4. Negative ten-panel drug screen from lab designated by PCC Nursing.
  5. Criminal Background Check from agency designated by PCC Nursing.
  6. Completion of computer charting classes (as required by clinical setting).
  7. Other required pre-clinical orientations or paperwork, as required by individual clinical setting.  Check with your clinical instructor to find out more about other individual clinical site requirements.

Clinical Facility Locations

The following is a partial list of the clinical settings where PCC Nursing students go for their clinical rotations.

  • Adventist Medical Center
  • Doernbecher Children’s Hospital/ OHSU
  • Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center
  • Legacy Health Systems
  • Marquis Long Term Health Care
  • Portland VA Medical Center
  • Providence Milwaukie Hospital
  • Providence Portland Medical Center
  • Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
  • Shriner’s Hospital for Children
  • Southwest Washington Medical Center
  • Tuality Medical Center