Associate in Applied Science

Nursing

Program

This program prepares students for first-level positions as Registered Nurses by providing curriculum composed of theoretical and clinical study. The theoretical component consists of General Education and nursing courses. The clinical component, within the nursing courses, affords the student the opportunity to practice giving direct nursing care to clients in acute, long-term and community health care agencies under the guidance of qualified nursing faculty. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive an Associate in Applied Science degree and have the educational requirements necessary to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for RN licensure.

The Nursing program is accredited by:

The New Jersey Board of Nursing
124 Halsey Street, 6^th Floor
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Telephone: (973) 504-6430 and in NJ (800) 242-5846

Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Telephone: (404) 975-5000

An applicant for a license to practice professional nursing in the State of New Jersey must also submit evidence to the New Jersey Board of Nursing, that he or she: (1) “has attained his/her eighteenth birthday; (2) is of good moral character, is not a habitual user of drugs and has never been convicted or has not pleaded nolo contendere, non vult contendere or non vult to an indictment, information or complaint alleging a violation of any Federal or State law relating to chemical abuse substances; (3) holds a diploma from an accredited four-year school or the equivalent thereof as determined by the New Jersey State Department of Education.”

In an effort to encourage nurses to continue their education and provide for advancing job opportunities, the nursing program has an advanced placement process for Licensed Practical Nurses and articulation agreements with several institutions, which offer a baccalaureate degree in nursing for graduates of the program.

Admission to the nursing program is competitive and requires an application for admission and a Nursing Program Evaluation Form. For additional information and a copy of the application, contact Admissions at (609) 343-5000/(609) 463-3958/(609) 343-4830 or accadmit@atlanticcape.edu.

The “Admissions” section of this catalog also provides information. Atlantic and Cape May County residents are given priority consideration. Residents of other counties will be considered only if all seats cannot be filled with qualified Atlantic and Cape May County students. NOTE: Acceptance into the program is on a competitive basis. Successful completion of all prerequisites does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Students must pass each program course with a ”C” or better to remain in the program, and must complete the program in three years from the date of acceptance. Students who are unable to progress to the next consecutive nursing course at the planned time, for any reason, must withdraw from the program. They may request re-admission one time through the Division Chairperson, in writing. Letters requesting re-entry for the fall semester must be received by May 1 of the same year, and for the spring by December 1 of the previous year. Re-entry is contingent on available space in the course required by the re-entering student.

Students who fail one nursing course and repeat it, and then fail a second nursing course, or the same course a second time, will not be permitted to repeat again and will be required to withdraw from the Nursing program until five (5) years have elapsed. If five years or more have elapsed, students may reapply to the Nursing program. Students must complete a “comprehensive exam” to receive their letter of program completion (required by the State of New Jersey) to take their NCLEX. A mandatory free three-day live review is provided for all graduating nursing students to help them to prepare for the NCLEX.

The Nursing program is challenging. The first month especially requires a tremendous commitment related to preparation for clinical experiences. Students are encouraged to consider limiting time commitments outside of school, as much as possible, during the two-year period of their nursing studies. Locations and hours of clinical assignments vary; significant additional travel time may be required. Promptness and attendance are crucial to the successful completion of the Nursing program. Travel to the clinical setting is the student’s responsibility.

Licensed Practical Nurses may be admitted to the Nursing program via an advanced placement process. LPN’s should contact the Admissions Department for additional information at (609) 343-4922.

Requirements:

Must be at least 18 years of age by the first day of nursing classes.
All prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or better and an overall GPA of 2.5 or better and science course(s) must be completed with a grade of “C” or better to be eligible to apply to the Nursing program.
The ATI TEAS, a standardized nursing entrance exam, is required for admission to the Nursing program. The exam must have been completed within the last three years. Applicants must receive a minimum score of 58.7 for their application to be considered. Note: Beginning June 3, 2025, a passing score of 63.0 or higher on the TEAS Exam will be required for admission to the Registered Nursing (RN) and Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) to RN programs (note added, 10/9/24).
All science courses must have been taken within the last 10 years or must be repeated.
LPN applicants are required to complete, with a grade of C or better, BIOL221-Human Anatomy and Physiology II before applying to the Nursing program.

Upon completion of this program students will be able to:

Deliver patient-centered care by recognizing the patient or designee as the source of control and full partner in providing compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for patient’s preferences, culture, values, and needs;
Collaborate with other team members by functioning effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communications, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care;
Provide competent nursing care by integrating best current evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values for delivery of optimal health care;
Maintain standards of professional performance, including the pursuit of life-long learning, by using data to monitor the outcomes of care processes and use improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care systems;
Manage safe and therapeutic nursing care in a variety of health care settings employing technical nursing skills so as to minimize risk for harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performances;
Demonstrate information and technology literacy by using information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision making.

(NURS-Fall 2022)