Associate of Applied Science
Nursing Program

Registered Nurse

The Associate of Applied Science Degree program in Nursing is designed to provide education to prepare the student for practice as a registered nurse. The curriculum follows the criteria for the Colorado Nursing Articulation Model and is specifically constructed to promote career mobility between nursing educational levels.

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The OJC Nursing program is approved by the Colorado Board of Nursing, The Colorado Community College System and is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

Upon satisfactory completion of the associate degree sequence with a minimum of “C” in each course of the prescribed curriculum, the student will be awarded an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing. Successful completion of the OJC nursing program requirements for graduation will also entitle the graduate to submit an application to the State Board of Nursing for the State Licensure Examination. The Associate of Applied Science Degree program in Nursing is designed to be completed in two (2) years of full-time course work, plus a series of prerequisite courses prior to application to the program.

OJC Nursing Admission Requirements

For Beginning RN (ADN ) Program:

1. Obtain general college admission to Otero Junior College. Submit a completed application at the Student Services Office on the OJC campus or on-line at www.ojc.edu. Student must be a high school graduate or have a GED certificate.
   
   
2. Complete required pre-admission courses (Pre-requisite Courses) with a grade of C or higher for each course and a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher for the five listed courses. The science course must be completed within seven years of the start date of the program.
   

   Required Pre-Admission Courses (Pre-requisite Courses):
   
   

   • English composition I (3 credits)
   • Human Growth & Development (3 credits)
   • Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits)
   • Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4 credits)
   • Microbiology (4 credits)

3. Apply to the nursing program at OJC using our [Online Application] or our printable [Nursing Application] 78 Mb PDF file.
   
   
4. Provide official transcripts confirming completion of Pre-requisite courses and GPA to the OJC Nursing Department.
   
   
5. Clear Criminal background check and urine drug screen (to be completed when instructed by the OJC Nursing Department). See the [Disqualifying Offences] document for more information.
   
   
6. Upon notification of admission to start the nursing program, complete the remaining clinical requirements –i.e. physical exam, hepatitis B and varicella vaccinations etc. (specific forms and instructions will be included in the notification letter).
   
   

For LPN to RN Program:

1. Complete steps 1-6 as above.
   
   
2. Provide a copy of your LPN license.
   
   
3. Provide official transcripts of your LPN program courses. If your Practical Nursing (PN) program was completed more than ten years prior to application additional testing may be required. Contact the Nursing Office for more information.
   
   
4. Complete the NUR 189 LPN to RN Transition course with a grade of C or higher if you graduated from a non Colorado Community College System (CCCS) PN program or from a CCCS PN program prior to January of 2007. Contact the OJC Nursing Office for the dates of the next scheduled NUR 189 course.
   
   

Graduation Requirements

1. The graduate must fulfill all requirements of the College for graduation.
   
   
2. The graduate of nursing must pass all courses with a minimum grade of C.
   
   
3. The graduate must be competent in all critical nursing skills pertaining to the scope of practice for a registered nurse.
   
   
4. The graduate must be competent in calculations of medications. The student is required to pass a medication administration proficiency examination at 100 percent mastery in order to progress to the spring semester of the ADN program. (See the Nursing Student Manual for further information.)
   
   

Legal Requirements for Registered Nursing Licensure

During application for licensure, the student must answer the following questions:

1. “Have you ever been convicted of a crime or have you ever had accepted by a court a plea of guilty or nolo contrendre? Have you received a deferred judgment or deferred prosecution?”
   
   
2. “Are you now, or were you for the 12 months preceding the date of this application, addicted to any controlled substance; a regular user of any controlled substance without a prescription; and/or habitually intemperate in the use of intoxicating liquor?”
   
   

If any question is answered “yes,” the student needs to meet with the Chair of the Nursing Department for counseling because the Colorado State Board of Nursing has specific requirements for licensure.

 

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ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING CURRICULUM
Full Time Schedule

(Students without previous nursing education)

Admission Requirements		Credit:
BIO 201	Human Anatomy & Physiology I	4
BIO 202	Human Anatomy & Physiology II	4
BIO 204	Microbiology	4
ENG 121	English Composition I	3
PSY 235	Human Growth & Development	3
	TOTAL CREDITS	18

First Semester		Credit:
NUR 109	Fundamentals of Nursing	8
NUR 112	Basic Concepts of Pharmacology	2
HPR 108	Nutrition	1
MAT 103	Math for Clinical Calculations	3
	TOTAL CREDITS	14

Second Semester		Credit:
NUR 106	Medical & Surgical Nursing Concepts	9
NUR 150	Nursing Care of Obstetric & Pediatric Clients	7
BIO 216	Pathophysiology	4
	TOTAL CREDITS	20

Third Semester		Credit:
NUR 206	Advanced Concepts of Medical/Surgical Nursing I	8
NUR 212	Pharmacology II	2
NUR 211	Nursing Care of Psychiatric Clients	4
	TOTAL CREDITS	14

Fourth Semester		Credit:
NUR 216	Advanced Concepts of Medical/Surgical Nursing II	6
NUR 230	Leadership, Management & Trends	5
Elective	GTE  Humanities or social behavioral science	3
	TOTAL CREDITS	14
	TOTAL PROGRAM CREDITS	80

 

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ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING CURRICULUM
Part Time Evening
& Weekend Schedule

Admission Requirements	(All with GPA of 2.5 or higher)	Credit:
ENG 121	English Composition I	3
BIO 201	Human Anatomy & Physiology I	4
BIO 202	Human Anatomy & Physiology II	4
PSY 235	Human Growth & Development	3
BIO 204	Microbiology	4
	TOTAL CREDITS	18

Summer Semester		Credit:
MAT 103	Math for Clinical Calculations	3
HPR 108	Nutrition	1

Fall Semester		Credit:
NUR 109	Nursing Skills & Concepts	8
	Humanities or Social Science Elective	3

Spring Semester		Credit:
NUR 112	Basics of Pharmacology	2
NUR 106	Medical & Surgical Nursing I	9
NUR 150	Nursing Care of OB & Pediatric Clients	7

Summer Semester		Credit:
NUR 169	Transition to Practical Nursing (Optional for those interested in obtaining LPN license)	5

Fall Semester		Credit:
NUR 206	Advanced Concepts of Medical/Surgical Nursing I	8
BIO 216	Pathophysiology	4

Spring Semester		Credit:
NUR 211	Nursing Care of Psychiatric Clients	4
NUR 212	Pharmacology II	2

Summer Semester		Credit:
NUR 216	Advanced Concepts of Med/Surg Nursing II	6
NUR 230	Leadership, Management & Trends	5

 

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Recommended Courses

The following courses are recommended to compliment the required nursing program courses.
Students are encouraged to register for these as courses as their schedule will allow:

		Credit:
CHE 101	Introduction to Chemistry	5
CIS 115	Intro to Computer Info. Systems	3
ENG 122	English Composition II	3
HPR 178	Medical Terminology	2
SPE 115	Public Speaking	3
PSY 101	General Psychology I	3
PSY 102	General Psychology II	3

 

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