Lamar Community College Nursing Program
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Admission Requirements
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AAS in Nursing (ADN)
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Associate Degree Nursing
The LCC Nursing Program is offered in a full time format on the LCC campus. It begins in August and ends in May. It is an Associate Degree program comprised of two levels. Level I is the first year of the Associate Degree Nursing Program. Students have the option to sit for the PN licensure exam (NCLEX-PN) upon the successful completion of Level I. Level II is the second year of the program. Students who have completed Level I may go directly on to Level II. Level II is also open to L.P.N.’s seeking an Associate Degree in Nursing and transfer students. Level II completers are awarded an A.A.S. Degree in Nursing and qualify to sit for the R.N. licensure exam (NCLEX-RN).
Nursing Program History & OverviewThe nursing program at (LCC) began in 1989 as a one-year practical nursing (PN) certificate to meet the needs of the health care community in southeast Colorado. The Associate of Applied Science degree was added in the fall of 2000 in order to provide registered nurses (RN’s) for the area. The current program has a PN exit option after completion of the first year of the nursing program. The program is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing and aligns with the mission and philosophy of its governing bodies. The LCC Nursing Program was last reviewed by the Colorado Board of Nursing (CSBON) in 2005. Candidacy by the National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) was received by the Nursing Program in 2009. The September, 2011 (NLNAC) site visit will be concurrent with a CBON site visit.
The LCC nursing program has strong support from local health care professionals, including long-term care facilities, hospitals, and a state correctional institution. The program utilizes a strong program advisory board and meetings are held twice each year, are well attended, and are representative of health care in our region.
Current and future engagement of the LCC Nursing Program in accomplishing recommendations noted in the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports (reference The Future of Nursing-Leading Change, Advancing Health, 2010) is reflected in its partnership with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) to promote RN-BSN completion. LCC and UCCS have been working on this partnership for three years. The two colleges have now entered into a formal agreement that proves for faculty sharing opportunities and they have jointly funded a recruiter to provide tutoring services to nursing students engaged in advanced nursing coursework on the LCC campus. Integral to the promotion of the RN-BSN is the equipment for distance learning that was supplied by CISCO as a result of the partnership between the colleges. The CISCO Telepresence equipment connects UCCS and LCC. A pilot project was accomplished that demonstrated the use of the equipment in nursing education, both in theory courses and in human patient simulation exercises. This partnership and equipment has allowed LCC nursing students to take advanced level nursing coursework from UCCS, becoming engaged in the UCCS classroom. The Dual Enrollment agreement between the colleges allows nursing students who complete the first year of the program to begin BSN coursework prior to entering the second year of the nursing program. These courses will be offered via CISCO and in an online format.
The collaboration between the two nursing departments has grown to include five departments, to include nursing in the colleges and has also evolved into major grant opportunities for the nursing departments. In April, 2011, the Colorado Health Foundation awarded 2.2 million dollars to continue the successful collaboration among the nursing schools and to increase access to health for Coloradans. A portion of these dollars will be used to accomplish recruitment and retention of nursing students with an emphasis on completion of a BSN.
LCC Nursing Student Engagement
Back to topThe LCC nursing students are involved in college and community. This is accomplished through student clubs and organizations. The LCC Nursing Student Organization requires affiliated programs to accomplish at least one campus and one community activity to qualify for funds from the LCC Student Government Association (SGA). Each year this is accomplished and the activity this last year resulted in providing services at a campus health fair and provision of food to needy families in the community.
The LCC Nursing Program curriculum follows that of the Colorado Community College System and affords students articulation without testing among Colorado colleges and universities. Total program credits for the LCC Nursing Program curriculum with a 1:3 clinical ratio equals 71.6 credits (1st yr (22.3) + 2nd yr (20.3) + General education (29) = 71.6 credits). Total program credits for the program using a 1:2 clinical ratio equals 80 credits (1st yr (26) + 2nd yr (25) + General education (29) = 80 credits). Courses are delivered in a standard classroom face to face format with the exception of two leadership courses, NUR 169 and NUR 230. These two courses are delivered in a hybrid format.
General Education Requirements:
- BIO 201 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
- BIO 202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
- BIO 204 Microbiology (4 credits)
- BIO 216 Pathophysiology (4 credits)
- ENG 121 English Composition I (3 credits)
- HPR 108 Nutrition (1 credit) ( HWE 100 Human Nutrition - 3 credits, is recommended for transfer)
- MAT 103 Math for Clinical Calculations (3 credits)
- PSY 235 Human Growth and Development (3 credits)
- Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science Elective (3 credits)
Required Nursing Courses
- NUR 106 Medical & Surgical Nursing Concepts (9 credits)
- NUR 109 Fundamentals of Nursing (8 credits)
- NUR 112 Basics of Pharmacology (2 credits)
- NUR 150 Nursing Care of Obstetric and Pediatric Clients (7 credits)
- NUR 169 Transition into Practical Nursing (5 credits)*
- NUR 189 Transition from LPN to ADN (4 credits)**
- NUR 206 Advanced Concepts of Medical Surgical Nursing I (8 credits)
- NUR 211 Nursing Care of Psychiatric Clients (4 credits)
- NUR 212 Pharmacology II (2 credits)
- NUR 216 Advanced Concepts of Medical/Surgical Nursing II (6 credits)
- NUR 230 Leadership, Management, and Trends (5 credits)
* This course will be necessary only if the student decides to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam to obtain a license as a licensed practical nurse. With the exception of BIO 216 and Social Science requirements.
**All students entering the second year of the ADN Program who have not been continuously enrolled from the first to the second year of the program or have not completed NUR 150 will be required to complete this course.