Description

The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing provides students with the academic and clinical preparation to sit for the national licensure exam (NCLEX) upon program completion and provides a career ladder with exit points at the nursing assistant or practical nurse after the first year and registered nurse after the second year.

Students who choose to exit the program at the end of the first three terms will be awarded the Practical Nursing One Year Certificate of Completion, which qualifies students to take the NCLEX-PN national licensure examination and to apply for licensure as a practical nurse from a state board of nursing. Students may also apply for the CNA I or CNA II certificate after completing three terms. Students who successfully complete the first year of nursing courses may continue on to the registered nurse sequence of courses without additional application requirements.  

After completing required support and prerequisite courses and all six terms of nursing courses, students are awarded the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN national licensure examination and apply for licensure as a registered nurse from a state board of nursing. 

Licensed practical nurses who graduated from another nursing program and have a current license may seek advanced placement into the program's registered nurse level and should see the nursing advanced placement page for requirements and application information.

A student may choose to complete the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer with a focus in Nursing but should note that requirements are different.

The program is approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing and nationally accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Nurse as Health Promoter and Care Provider: Apply the nursing process to provide holistic, individualized, and clinically competent patient care within family and community context across the care continuum.
2. Nurse as Care Manager: Deliver nursing care to diverse patient and family populations demonstrating organization, time management, delegation, supervision, and leadership in nursing practice.
3. Nurse as Professional Colleague: Model professional behaviors within the scope of practice of the registered nurse.
4. Nurse as Quality Care Advocate: Integrates concepts of evidence-based practice, quality improvement, technology, and informatics to enhance patient care outcomes.

Entrance Requirements

Academic Entrance Requirements

Required:

• The program has selective admission based on the program application, scores from the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS-V)™, Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT), and completion of program prerequisite courses.
  • Applications are accepted annually during Spring term for admission to the Nursing program the following Fall term.
• Must be completed with a C grade or better with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher:
  • BI 231 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
  • BI 232 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
  • BI 233 Human Anatomy and Physiology III
  • BI 234 Microbiology
  • Choose one course from the following human relations courses:
    • AH 115 Cultural Responsiveness in Allied Health
    • COMM 115 Introduction to Intercultural Communication
    • COMM 218Z Interpersonal Communication
    • COMM 219 Small Group Communication
  • MTH 105Z Math in Societyor course from the foundational requirements math list
  • WR 121Z Composition I
  • CH 104 Introduction to Chemistry I or CH 221 General Chemistry I
  • FN 225 Human Nutrition
  • PSY 215 Developmental Psychology
  • WR 122Z Composition II or WR 227Z Technical Writing 
• Chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and microbiology courses must have been successfully completed no more than five years before the time of application.
• Students admitted to the Nursing program are expected to be computer literate and to use different computer programs in their courses; CIS 120 Computer Concepts is recommended to enhance computer skills and usage if needed.

Other Entrance Requirements

• In-district residency status
• Documentation of completion of immunizations and screenings listed on the program page
• Current healthcare provider American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification (must be maintained throughout program duration)
• Complete criminal history checks as a condition of acceptance into the nursing program (see the program page for details)
• Must complete a 10 panel urine drug screen with Verified Credentials, Inc.

Additional Program Costs (Beyond Standard Tuition/Fees and Textbooks)

• Nursing textbooks and software: $2,000
• Specialized clothing or uniform: $175
• Tools and equipment: $175
• My Clinical Exchange (mCE): $37.00 first year, $37.00 second year
• Verified Credentials, Inc. background check, drug screen, immunization tracking: $120
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification: approximately $90

Enrollment Fees

• Nursing program fee: $450 per term

Licensing Costs to Oregon State Board of Nursing

• State exam/licensure fee: $360 ($160 RN-OR, $200 NCLEX)
• State fingerprinting fee: $64.50 (RN)

* Does not include cost of immunizations and/or titers if needed.
* Additional costs for optional LPN licensure

Course Requirements

Advising Notes

Students seeking transfer admission into the AAS in Nursing must meet with the pre-admission nursing advisor and advanced placement program coordinator to determine eligibility before entry. Students transferring to another institution should be advised that often only selected credits from a community college program are considered transferable to public or private baccalaureate institutions.

Performance Standards

• Academic Requirements:
  • Students must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA to earn a COCC certificate or degree.
  • All courses in the program must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
  • Greater than or equal to a 3.0 cumulative GPA for BI 231 Human Anatomy and Physiology I, BI 232 Human Anatomy and Physiology II, BI 233 Human Anatomy and Physiology III, BI 234 Microbiology,WR 121Z Composition I and MTH 105Z Math in Society(or higher).
  • Once admitted to the Nursing program, students must pass Nursing Theory greater than or equal to a 76.55 percent or 77 percent to pass the Nursing course and pass practicum (LRC and Clinical) to remain in the Nursing program.
• Additional Requirements:
  • Must adhere to the Nurse Practice Act of the state of Oregon.
  • Additionally, students are required to consistently meet the outcomes, technical standards, policies and/or safety standards of the program and College. Failure to do so may result in probation or removal from the program. It is the COCC student’s responsibility to know and abide by the Nursing Program and College policies including Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Sample Plan