Nursing - Associate of Applied Science Degree
This program prepares students for entry-level professional nursing practice as a registered nurse. The nursing program is a two-year curriculum. Registered nurses function in a variety of roles: provider of care and manager of care in various health care settings including acute care hospitals, long term care settings, and community settings such as clinics, home health and health maintenance organizations. As a member of this discipline of nursing, registered nurses practice within the scope of practice as outlined in the Colorado Nurse Practice Act. Beginning in the second semester of the AAS program at the Larimer Campus, students must be dually enrolled with an approved baccalaureate nursing program. Dual enrollment may be required at the Westminster Campus. Contact an Advisor for further information.
Upon successful completion of the nursing program, the student is awarded an AAS degree in Nursing. Graduates are eligible to submit an application to complete the NCLEX® exam for licensure as a registered nurse. The Front Range Community College Associate of Applied Science degree is approved by the Colorado Board of Nursing and accredited by the ACEN.
The program offers a PN “exit option” course at the completion of the first year. This is for students who would like to complete the requirements to be eligible to apply for the PN NCLEX®. Students completing NUR 169 and the first year of the nursing program may apply for the NCLEX® exam for practical nursing licensure.
Assessment testing is required of all students. Students who are reading at college-level and place into CCR 093 or above and MAT 050 or above may begin this program of study. Students scoring below this level should consult with a Faculty Member or Academic Advisor before registering for courses in this program of study.
Currently licensed LPNs and those wishing to transfer into the AAS program in nursing should contact wcnursing@frontrange.edu at Westminster Campus regarding admission.
Minimum Requirements for Nursing Program Application:
1. Completion of all admission prerequisite course work.
Prerequisites may be taken at any FRCC campus.
If a student is transferring prerequisite courses from another college, the courses must be evaluated by the Registrar's Office at the FRCC campus the student plans to attend.
- ENG 121 English Composition I
- PSY 235 Human Growth and Development
- BIO 201* Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- HPR 108 Dietary Nutrition or HWE 100 Human Nutrition
- BIO 204* Microbiology
*Must be completed within seven years prior to entry into the Nursing Program
Students must receive a grade of “C” or better and a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher on prerequisite courses listed above.
Larimer Campus excludes nutrition in the GPA calculation.
Students must have an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher for previous courses completed at FRCC.
MAT 103 must be taken concurrently with NUR 109. Students must have satisfied the prerequisite for MAT 103 before starting the program.
2. Ability to sufficiently speak and understand English and to comprehend verbal communication of English speaking clients and healthcare team members.
3. Ability to meet physical and cognitive technical standards described in nursing program policies.
Note: To maintain a position in the program after starting nursing courses, students must be continually enrolled and complete all required courses in sequence with a grade of "C" or better. Only one re-entry to an FRCC nursing program is allowed after a student receives a "D," "F," or "W" grade in a nursing course or withdraws with a "D", "F" or "W" from a nursing course.
Upon successful completion of the nursing program, students receive an Associate of Applied Science degree and are eligible to apply to the Board of Nursing for permission to take the NCLEX exam for licensure as a registered nurse.
Requirements
Required Nursing Courses
| NUR 106 | Medical Surgical Nursing Concepts | 7 |
| NUR 109 | Fundamentals of Nursing | 6 |
| NUR 112 | Basic Concepts of Pharmacology | 2 |
| NUR 150 | Maternal Child Nursing | 6 |
| NUR 206 | Advanced Concepts of M/S Nursing I | 6.5 |
| NUR 211 | Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing | 4 |
| NUR 212 | Pharmacology | 2 |
| NUR 216 | Advanced Concepts of M/S Nursing II | 5 |
| NUR 230 | Transition to Professional Nursing Practice | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 42.5 |
Additional Health Related Courses
| HPR 108 | Dietary Nutrition | 1 |
| or | |
| HWE 100 | Human Nutrition | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 1-3 |
General Education Requirements
English
| ENG 121 | English Composition I | 3 |
| or | |
| ENG 122 | English Composition II | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Mathematics
| MAT 103 | Math for Clinical Calculations | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
| PSY 235 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Natural and Physical Sciences
| BIO 201 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab | 4 |
| BIO 202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab | 4 |
| BIO 204 | Microbiology with Lab | 4 |
| BIO 216 | Pathophysiology | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Elective
Select one course (3 credits) from Arts & Humanities (GT-AH1, GT-AH2, GT-AH3, or GT-AH4), Social & Behavioral Science (GT-SS1, GT-SS2, or GT-SS3) or History (GT-HI1).
Required General Education Courses
Total Credit Hours: 71.5
Application Process for AAS Degree
Please contact a Nursing Department Representative at the campus of your choice for information on the nursing program application process prior to submitting a program application.
Applications are accepted one semester prior to admission. Larimer Campus requires the HESI A-2 nurse entrance exam with a minimum cumulative score of 75%. Subject areas are Reading Comprehension, Math, Biology, Chemistry and Critical Thinking. Westminster Campus requires the HESI A-2 nurse entrance exam with a minimum cumulative score of 70%. Subject areas are English Language - all sections, Math. The Learner Profile is also required but is used only for advising purposes. Students may obtain up-to-date information on the admission process at a nursing information session. Westminster sessions are held on the second Wednesday of each month (except no meetings in July or December) at 6:00 pm in room B0353 or contact by e-mail at wcnursing@frontrange.edu. Larimer sessions are held the second Monday of each month at 5:00 pm in room BP126 or contact by e-mail at lccnursing@frontrange.edu.
Students accepted into the nursing program will be required to complete and pass the following requirements:
1. Online background check and drug screening. See http://cccs.castlebranch.com (under FRCC) for a list of criminal offenses appearing on a criminal background check that will disqualify an applicant for admission to a CCCS nursing program.
2. Meet the same health and safety requirements as the participating clinical facilities require of their own staff. Additional screening may be required for some clinical agencies. The expenses of these requirements are additional costs to the student.
3. Health summary with documented immunization records.
4. Current CPR Certification - Completion of the American Heart Association Health Care Provider course and receive a two-year recommended renewal date. The recommended renewal date must remain current throughout the nursing program.
Learn more about gainful employment