AAS in RN Nursing
Bethlehem, USA
DURATION
4 Semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
Scholarships
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Introduction
As a nurse, your job is not simply limited to one task per day. You play a vital role in the healthcare system as an advocate for patients and a liaison between doctors and specialists. You have the ability to remain calm and empathetic as a source of support in difficult times.
Studying to become an RN at NCC is a challenging but rewarding experience. You not only learn how to save lives, but you also care for others no matter the situation.
The program is comprised of general education and nursing courses that include planned clinical experience. Nursing education provides the students with the basic knowledge and skills necessary for competent beginning-level practice. It prepares a caring and empathetic nurse, who functions as a self-directed learner and accepts responsibility for professional behavior.
Accreditation Information
The Associate Degree Nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and has the full approval of the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
Transfer Potential
In partnership with East Stroudsburg University, a BSN completion program is offered on the NCC Bethlehem campus. The program offers flexible evening part-time and full-time options for working nurses and can be completed in as little as 18 months.
Seamless transition to a BSN completion program is also possible through articulation agreements established with several four-year institutions including but not limited to the following:
- Bloomsburg University
- Carlow University
- Cedar Crest College
- DeSales University
- Drexel University
- Moravian College
State licensing
If you are a Northampton Community College student living outside of Pennsylvania or intending to complete an internship or clinical placement outside of the state in an NCC program leading to professional licensure, you should review the requirements on the state board website to make sure that the program qualifies.
Licensure requirements vary from state to state and you may require additional authorization from the professional licensing agency in that state. Participating in a program from outside of Pennsylvania, if not properly authorized by that state's professional licensing board, could result in loss of licensing eligibility. If you need help or have questions, please contact the Program Director for more information.
Admissions
Curriculum
The Associate Degree Nursing Program requires a minimum of four academic semesters to complete. The program is offered on the Bethlehem and Monroe campuses. Students are accepted to the Monroe campus program each fall semester. Students are accepted to the Bethlehem Campus program each fall and spring semester. The curriculum focuses on the art and science of nursing. Students in the program gain the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes required in nursing practice. On-campus students attend class, skills lab, and simulation experiences. Students participate in clinical learning experiences in various healthcare settings under the guidance of nursing faculty. Clinical learning experiences provide students with the opportunity to apply nursing theory in patient care situations. These experiences are scheduled at a variety of health care agencies in the surrounding areas. Clinical settings include acute and long-term care, in-patient and outpatient facilities. Class, lab, clinical and simulation experiences are scheduled during the day. Most clinical experiences are scheduled during the day between the hours of 6:30 am and 5:00 pm. The college reserves the right to schedule clinical experiences during the evening and/or on weekends if necessary.
First Semester
- COLS101 College Success
- BIOS204 Human Anatomy & Physiology I
- ENGL101 English I
- NURS101 Introduction to Nursing
- PSYC103 Introduction to Psychology
Second Semester
- BIOS254 Human Anatomy & Physiology II
- ENGL151L English II
or
ENGL151R English II
or
ENGL151T English II - MATH150 Introductory Statistics
- NURS215 Nursing Care of Patients with Medical-Surgical Problems
Third Semester
- BIOS202 Microbiology for Allied Health
- NURS223 Maternal Child Health Nursing
- NURS224 Care of Mental Health Patients
- PSYC258 Developmental Psychology
- SOCA Sociology/Anthropology Elective +
Fourth Semester
- CMTH102 Introduction to Communication
- NURS231 Nursing Seminar
- NURS260 Integrated Concepts for Nursing Practice
- NURS261 Nursing Practicum
- PHIL202G Ethics & Moral Problems
Please note: A student is not permitted to progress to the next semester in the program without successful completion of general education courses in that current semester.
* ENGL151L (literature option) is recommended, but R-report writing and T-technical writing options of ENGL151 are also available.
+For the SOCA elective, students must select a SOCA course from the list of approved General Education courses - SOCA102 or SOCA103 is recommended.
- One course should be designated as Diversity and Global Awareness (D).
- Completion of PHIL202G satisfies the Writing Intensive (WI) requirement.
- Computer competencies are included in various courses in this program. Thus, completing the program automatically satisfies the computing requirement for this program.
- The Social Science (SIT) requirement and the free elective requirement have been waived for this program.
Program Outcome
The graduate of the Associate Degree Nursing program will:
- Use the nursing process to manage and provide care to individuals across the lifespan through efficient and effective management of resources in a variety of health care settings.
- Perform ongoing comprehensive assessments of patients' health status and changing needs.
- Demonstrate caring interventions based on the physiologic and psychosocial needs of the patient.
- Initiate the teaching-learning processes to promote, maintain, and restore health to individuals within their communities.
- Communicate effectively with patients, their support persons, and the health care team through the use of interpersonal skills and technology.
- Collaborate with patients, support persons, members of the health care team, and community agencies to provide patient-centered quality care.
- Employ clinical decision-making based on critical thinking skills and evidence-based practice to deliver safe effective nursing care throughout the nursing process.
- Demonstrate professional accountability and commitment to standards of professional practice while practicing nursing within legal, ethical and regulatory frameworks
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the program find jobs in a variety of health care settings, such as hospitals, extended care facilities, home health care agencies, state and federal health-related facilities, the armed services, private duty nursing, and in physician and dentist office settings.
Future Career Paths
- Nursing Related Positions