Nursing (AAS)

Additional financial assistance might be available for G3 programs. Please contact your advisor or counselor for more information.

Program Info

Minimum credits: 66
Length: 4 semesters (2 years) once accepted into the program. The Registered Nursing program is full-time.

New cohorts accepted annually in Spring Semester.

Division: Arts, Sciences, & Business
Contact: 434.797.8512
Award: Associate of Applied Science
Plan Code: 156 CIP Code: 51.3801

The DCC Nursing program does not accept credits for nursing courses from colleges outside the VCCS.

Program Description:

The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing is designed to prepare students for careers as registered nurses. This degree should be chosen by students who wish to work in a variety of occupations where the skills and knowledge of the registered nurse are either required or desirable, including direct patient care, healthcare management and supervision, and health education. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the National Licensure Examination leading to licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN).

Admission Requirements: DCC’s nursing program is academically rigorous, with more applicants than available seats. Admission is on a selective (not first-come, first-served) basis, focusing on the student’s past academic performance and results of the entrance exam.

Requirements for full admission:

• High school diploma, GED, or home school equivalency
• Students must have a minimum prerequisite curricular GPA of 2.5. If a student has repeated one or more of the prerequisite curricular courses, only the latest grade will be used in the prerequisite curricular GPA calculation.
• Successful completion of the nursing entrance exam with minimum overall score of 75%
• Successful completion of SDV 100  or SDV 101  
• ENG 111  successfully completed with a grade of C or better
• PSY 230  successfully completed with a grade of C or better
• NUR 135  or MTH 133 successfully completed with a grade of C or better
• In addition to NUR 135, students must demonstrate math readiness for the Nursing Program by demonstrating at least one of the following:
  • Evidence of completion of HS Algebra I and Algebra II with a grade of “C” or better within the past five years 
    • OR 
  • Completion of MDE 10 or equivalent 
    • OR 
  • Completion of MTH 154 or higher with a grade of “C” or better
• BIO 141  successfully completed with a grade of C or better. It is strongly recommended that BIO 142  and BIO 150  be completed prior to beginning the nursing program.
• Current C.P.R. certification at the American Heart Association BLS provider level
• Priority consideration will be given to students who have completed a sequence of preparatory college-level courses with a grade of B or better in three (3) attempts or less.
• If accepted into the program, the student will be responsible for obtaining and paying for a physical exam, malpractice insurance, and a criminal background check.

*Note: Certain criminal convictions may prevent licensure as a nurse in Virginia and may prohibit employment in certain health care settings. Students convicted of any felony or any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude/barrier crimes do not qualify for DCC Nursing programs. Clinical facilities will not allow such students to complete clinical hours, meaning that students will not be able to meet Virginia Board of Nursing requirements, nor meet the credit requirement for graduation. Any student who has committed illegal offenses other than minor traffic violations should discuss with the program head.

Readmission Process: Students seeking readmission will follow the same procedures and submit a readmission application. Contact Dr. James Emerson, Program Director for Nursing, at 434.797.8422 or 8512.

Program Outcomes Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Provide patient-centered care promoting therapeutic relationships, caring behaviors, and self-determination across the lifespan for diverse populations.
• Practice safe nursing care that minimizes risk of harm across systems and client populations.
• Demonstrate nursing judgment through the use of clinical reasoning, the nursing process, and evidence-based practice in the provision of safe, quality care.
• Practice professional behaviors that encompass the legal/ethical framework while incorporating self-reflection, leadership and a commitment to recognize the value of life-long learning.
• Manage client care through performance improvement processes, information technology, and fiscal responsibility to meet client needs and support organizational outcomes.
• Demonstrate principles of collaborative practice within the nursing and interdisciplinary teams fostering mutual respect and shared decision-making to achieve stated outcomes of care.

Program Requirements: Students must complete 66 credits with a 2.0 GPA or better and must pass all courses with at least a C. Attendance and satisfactory performance in clinical portions of each class are mandatory.

The Virginia Board of Nursing and the State Council for Higher Education have approved and/or accredited the development, implementation, and continuation of this program.

Effective November 1, 2022, this nursing program is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires on November 1, 2024.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400

Atlanta, GA 30326

(404) 975-5000

http://www.acenursing.com/candidates/candidacy.asp

NURSING PROGRAM DOCUMENTS