Pre-Professional Nursing

Welcome to Pre-Professional Nursing at West Florida High School. Certified nurse assistants are in demand in long term and acute care hospitals within our community and the demand is rising. The West Florida High School of Advanced Technology Pre-Professional Nursing Program is designed to prepare students for employment in long term and acute care facilities. The Occupational Outlook Handbook says that more jobs are becoming available for nurses than any other career field. By satisfactorily completing the Pre-Professional Nursing program, students can prepare for and take the national certification exam for Certified Nursing Assistants and graduate as a CNA from High School. Students can get a jumpstart on a future career in nursing by learning the basic skills and knowledge that nurses are required to learn and work toward a future job with great security.

Why Take Pre-Professional Nursing?

• Get a jumpstart on a future career in Nursing.
• Learn the basic skills and knowledge that nurses learn.
• Work toward a future job with great security.
• Job Outlook is growing: daily newspapers are filled with CNA ads

Program Success

Entrance Requirement

• Application
• Interview by appropriate faculty
• No discipline referrals resulting in suspension (in or out of school)
• 2.5 GPA

Standards to be met by Students in the Program:

• Pass the Program of Study with a 2.5 GPA or better
o Health Careers 1
o Health Careers 2
• Must pass the FCAT
• Complete a criminal background check by FDLE.
• For nursing assistant certification a minimum of forty hours clinical learning experience must be obtained. Twenty hours of this clinical experience must be in a licensed nursing home.

Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Class list

The West Florida High School of Advanced Technology Pre-Professional Nursing

• Health Science 1 (1 credit)
• Health Science 2 (1 credit)

There are three recommended classes in the program:

• Medical Skills and Services (1 credit)
• Electrocardiograph Aide (0.5 credit)
• Home Health Aide (0.5 credit)

The final class in the program is a blocked class:

• Nurse Assistant 3 / Directed Study (2 credits)

For nursing assistant certification a minimum of forty hours clinical learning experience must be obtained. Twenty hours of this clinical experience must be in a licensed nursing home.

Typical Job Opportunities and College Studies

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Assist patients with day to day activities such as grooming, bathing, dressing, etc.
CNA training/education: High School + Technical Course
(WFHS Pre-Nursing completes this while in high school)
• Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN)
Assist RN’s by giving patient’s medication, taking vital signs, inserting catheters, and other duties.
LPN/LVN training/education: 1-2 years of college/vocational school
• Registered Nurse (RN)
There are many duties that an RN can perform as well as work in a variety of settings such as emergency rooms, clinics, etc. Generally, they provide care for the sick and injured using a high degree of knowledge.
RN training/education: 2-4 years of college
• Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP)
Serve as the primary health care provider during times of illness. ARNP’s are allowed to prescribe medications and diagnose patients. They sometime work alone or under a physician.
ARNP training/education: must become an RN with a 4-year degree + 2 additional years of advanced training

Career and Technical Student Leadership Organization:

HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) is a national student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Technology Education Division of ACTE. HOSA's two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. HOSA's goal is to encourage all health occupations instructors and students to join and be actively involved in the Health Science Technology Education-HOSA Partnership. HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation, and recognition exclusively for secondary, postsecondary, adult, and collegiate students enrolled in Health Science Technology programs.

Contact Information:

Rebecca Wiggins, RN Pre-Professional Nursing Program Director
2400 Longleaf Drive
Pensacola, Florida 32526
850-941-6200
rwiggins@escambia.k12.fl.us