Registered NurseAssociate 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.


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.


 

[ Back To Top ]

 



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 Dietary Nutrition 1
HWE 100 Human Nutrition 3
MAT 103 Math for Clinical Calculations 3
  TOTAL CREDITS 17

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

 

[ Back To Top ]

 


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
BIO 216 Pathophysiology 4


Fall Semester   Credit:
NUR 206 Advanced Concepts of Medical/Surgical Nursing I 8


Spring Semester   Credit:
NUR 211 Nursing Care of Psychiatric Clients 4
NUR 212 Pharmacology II 2
NUR 216 Advanced Concepts of Med/Surg Nursing II 6


Summer Semester   Credit:
NUR 230 Leadership, Management & Trends 5

 

[ Back To Top ]

 




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
     

 

[ Back To Top ]