ADN Programs Aurora, CO

The Associate Degree in Nursing is the logical point of entry in the vast field of nursing. It’s short, compared to the 4-year Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, and therefore, more affordable. The degree will grant you eligibility to apply for the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses and practice as a registered nurse. After obtaining your license in Colorado, you’ll have the opportunity to gain some experience in the field, and hopefully, identify a specialty you enjoy and whether you’d like to pursue career advancement options through continued studies. Truth be told, you might need to consider widening your career options as jobs for ADN-prepared nurses are mostly limited to long-term care. Most hospitals today have already made a decided stand to hire only BSN-prepared nurses who demonstrate the leadership and clinical judgment required to care for complex patients.

Arapahoe Community College

The Associate of Science in Nursing program at ACC prepares students for employment as registered nurses. graduates for employment as registered nurses. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN and approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing. ACC offers high professional standards, seamless progression to the BSN degree at ACC, active learning in the classroom, lab, and off-site facilities, simulation activities in modern labs, accessible faculty, and high pass rates. Upon successful completion of program requirements, the graduate is eligible to take the NCLEX-RN to practice as registered nurse.

Program Outline
Units: 71.5
Duration: 5 semesters
Method of instruction: Traditional

Course titles:
General Education Courses – Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab, Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab, Microbiology with Lab, General College Microbiology, English Composition I, Human Growth and Development, Human Pathophysiology, Dietary Nutrition, Human Nutrition, Math for Clinical Calculations

Core Courses – Medical Surgical Nursing Concepts, Fundamentals of Nursing, Basic Concepts of Pharmacology, Maternal – Child Nursing, Advanced Concepts of M-S Nursing, Psychiatric – Mental Health Nursing, Pharmacology II, Advanced Concepts M-S Nursing II, Transition to Professional Nursing Practice

Admission criteria:

  • Apply for admission to Arapahoe Community College
  • View the Nursing AAS information session and complete a quiz
  • Complete an approved nursing assistant training program and secure state licensure – a valid CNA license is required
  • Complete the prerequisite courses with a grade C or higher
  • Transfer courses from other colleges and universities before applying to the nursing program – official transcripts are required
  • Take and pass the HESI entrance exam – Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Math – with a minimum score of 70% in English Composition and 70% in Math
  • Submit a completed ADN program application online
  • Provide the Information Session Verification Document
  • Provide ACC transcript indicating grades for ENG 121, PSY 235, BIO 201, HPR 108 or HWE 100
  • Provide documentation of previous healthcare employment – optional
  • Demonstrate eligibility to register for MAT 103 – prerequisite course of MAT 050 or higher, Accuplacer score of 265 or higher, PADI score of 80 or higher, ACT score of 19 or higher, or completion of MAT 103 within one year of application are acceptable
  • Provide proof of immunizations – Hepatitis B, Tdap, MMR, Varicella, TB test, and annual influenza
  • Must have valid health insurance
  • Submit copy of current CPR certification – BLS for Healthcare Providers
  • Consent to drug screening

Program Cost:

Tuition costs $153.35 per credit or $2,300.25 per semester for 15 credit hours for Colorado residents with COF. Expenses for the entrance exam, background check, clinical supplies, screening, immunization, and CPR are not included.

Website: https://www.arapahoe.edu/
Address: 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80120
Phone: 303-797-4222
Email: admissions@arapahoe.edu
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 100%

Denver College of Nursing

The Associate Degree in Nursing Program at Denver College of Nursing emphasizes the application of clinical competence in the provision of patient centered care. Through theory in the classroom, simulated experiences in the lab, and clinical activities at various health care facilities, students will learn how to communicate effectively and collaborate with patients, families, and colleagues, make sound decisions in the management and coordination of nursing care, demonstrate accountability for the ethical, legal, and professional responsibilities related to the use of technology, and integrate current nursing knowledge, theory, and research in the care of patients. The nursing courses will be completed in 6 quarters after completing the general education requirements. Graduates will be prepared to take the NCLEX for Registered Nurses.

Program Outline
Quarter credits: 110
Duration: 6 quarters

Course titles:
Prerequisite courses – Anatomy and Physiology with Labs, Intro to Algebra, English Composition, Human Growth and Development

Core courses – Pathophysiology, Basic Nutrition, Basic Health Assessment (with Lab), Differentiated Practice, Foundations of Nursing Arts and Skills (with Lab and Clinical), Basic Pharmacology Concepts & Calculations (with Lab), Concepts of Gerontological Nursing, Basic Medical Surgical Concepts (with Clinical), Basic IV Therapy (with Lab), Advanced Medical Surgical Nursing Concepts (with Lab and Clinical), Nursing Concepts for the Multigenerational Childbearing Family, Childbearing Family and Children Clinical, Nursing Concepts of Children, Nursing Concepts in Mental Health (with Clinical), RN Leadership and Capstone Clinical

Admission criteria:

  • Secure admission to Denver College of Nursing
  • Must have a high school diploma or GED
  • Must be 18 years or older at the start of the program
  • Attend an interview with an admissions representative
  • Must agree to sign the Enrollment Agreement
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better on the prerequisite courses. Must obtain a grade C or better
  • Complete the prerequisite courses before the program start date – 17 credits
  • Submit a typewritten personal statement addressing professional goals, healthcare experience, and volunteer experience
  • Pass a criminal background check – must be completed 5 weeks before the program start date
  • Obtain a clear drug screen before the start of class – may be repeated at the request of the clinical facility
  • Complete the immunization requirements and the Fit for Practice form – Hepatitis B, TB test, Varicella, MMR, Varicella, and annual influenza
  • Attend an admissions interview
  • Must have CPR certification – Healthcare Provider CPR
  • Take and pass the entrance exam – Obtain 75% HESI A2 English Composite Subscale and Math Subscale

Program Cost

Tuition for the program is $37,754. Books, uniforms, fees, kits, and assessment testing cost an additional $6,300.

Website: https://www.denvercollegeofnursing.edu/
Address: 1401 19th Street, Denver, CO 80202
Toll-Free: 1 800 600 6604
Fax: 720 974 0290
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 100%

Front Range Community College

The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing at Front Range Community College prepares students for a career as a professional nurse. Students will learn how to provide safe, quality, evidence-based nursing care in various healthcare settings and for diverse populations across the lifespan, implement quality measures to improve patient care, nurture collaborative relationships with the patient, families, and members of the interdisciplinary health care team, use critical thinking and clinical reasoning to make patient-centered decisions, and use information management principles, techniques, and systems, and patient care technology to communicate, manage knowledge, and support decision-making. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible to apply to take the NCLEX for licensure as a Registered Nurse. The program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing Inc. (ACEN).

Program Outline
Semester credits: 71.5 to 73.5
Duration: 5 semesters

Course titles:
General education courses – ENG 121 or ENG 122, Human Growth and Development, Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab, HPR 108 or HWE 100, Microbiology with Lab,

Core courses – Fundamentals of Nursing, Basic Concepts of Pharmacology, Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab, Math for Clinical Calculations, Medical Surgical Nursing, Human Pathophysiology, Advanced Concepts of Medical Surgical Nursing I, Pharmacology, Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Advanced Concepts of Medical Surgical Nursing II, Transition to Professional Nursing Practice, AT-AH or GT-SS

Admission criteria:

  • Apply for admission to FRCC
  • Submit a completed application before the application deadline
  • Complete the Student Placement Form to determine the need for placement testing
  • Test into MAT 103 by scoring 61 or better on the Elementary Algebra Accuplacer Test, or an ACT math score of 19 or higher, or SAT math score of 500 or higher, or successful completion of a higher math course
  • Complete the prerequisite courses with a grade C or higher – ENG 121, Human Growth and Development, Dietary Nutrition, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Microbiology
  • Applicants must have a minimum GPA or 3.0 on the prerequisite courses
  • Complete the Transfer Credit Evaluation Form and have credits transferred before submitting an application to the nursing program – if courses were completed outside FRCC
  • Take the HESI A-2 Entrance Exam and obtain a minimum cumulative score of 80%. The subject areas are Reading Comprehension, Math, Biology, and Chemistry.

Program Cost

The rate of tuition is $230.70 per credit for resident nursing students. Students must budget for textbooks, uniforms, admission exam, CPR certification, insurance, and supplies.