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Aims Community College nursing associate degree students working together on a lab exercise

NursingRequirements

Before applying to this nursing degree program, you’ll either take any prerequisite classes, including human anatomy and human nutrition or provide transcripts showing you’ve met all prerequisite requirements. You must be at least 18 years or older to be accepted into the nursing program.

An Aims Allied Health Department designated advisor can help you map out a plan to complete any prerequisite coursework. 

Aims Nursing Degree Program Admissions Criteria for Consideration

Step 1 – Orientation 

Current Session Dates:

Step 2 – Complete the HESI A2 Requirements

Step 3 – Complete the Aims Nursing Degree Program Application

Aims Nursing Degree Requirements

Aims offers two nursing associate degrees:

  1. An RN-track nursing degree for students who are either new to Aims or current Aims students who are interested in becoming a registered nurse
  2. An LPN to RN degree for Licensed Practicing Nurses who want to earn an associate degree and become a registered nurse

Click the corresponding tab below to see the degree requirements for the program you're interested in:


 

Row Groupings General Education Prerequisites: Credits
required

Focuses on an integrated study of the human body including the histology, anatomy, and physiology of each system. Examines molecular, cellular, and tissue levels of organization plus integuments, skeletal, articulations, muscular, and nervous systems. Includes a mandatory hands-on laboratory experience covering microscopy, observations, and dissection. This is the first semester of a two-semester sequence. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SC1 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

BIO 1010 or BIO 1111 with a grade of "C" or better. Students who have scored 70% or higher on the BIO 1111 test out exam may be eligible for a prerequisite override.

4
required

Focuses on the integrated study of the human body and the histology, anatomy, and physiology of the following systems and topics: endocrine, cardiovascular, hematology, lymphatic and immune, urinary, fluid and electrolyte control, digestive, nutrition, respiratory, reproductive, and development. Includes a mandatory hands-on laboratory experience involving microscopy, observations, and dissection. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SC1 category. It is recommended that ENG 1021 and MAT 1340 be completed prior to or be taken concurrently with this course.  It is preferred that BIO 2101 be completed prior to taking this course, however, it may be taken concurrently. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

Prerequisite: BIO 2101 with a grade of "C" or better. 

4
required

Emphasizes the planning, writing, and revising of compositions, including the development of critical and logical thinking skills. This course includes a wide variety of compositions that stress analytical, evaluative, and persuasive/argumentative writing. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-CO1 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Introduces basic principles of nutrition with emphasis on personal nutrition. This course focuses on macro and micro nutrients and their effects on the functions of the human body. Special emphasis is placed on the application of wellness, disease, and lifespan as it pertains to nutrition. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Introduces descriptive and inferential statistics, with an emphasis on critical thinking and statistical literacy. Topics include methods of data collection, presentation and summarization, introduction to probability concepts and distributions, and statistical inference of one and two populations. This course uses real world data to illustrate applications of a practical nature. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-MA1 category. Course readiness is determined by review of high school transcripts, assessment, and/or meeting with an Aims Academic Advisor. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
*Biology statement and ENG 121 statement  *BIO 2101, BIO 2102, and MAT 1260 may be no greater than 7 years old at the time of admission into the Nursing Program. **HWE 1050 may be no greater than 7 years old at the time of admission into the Nursing Program unless the student has earned an AA/AS/AAS/BA/BS degree with HWE 1050 or equivalent course incorporated. ***ENG 1021 or an equivalent course that is older than 10 years may not be eligible for transfer credit unless the student has earned an AA/AS/AAS/BA/BS degree or taken the Accuplacer Sentence Skills test and received a score of 110 or higher.
Total Credits for General Education Prerequisites ADN 17
Row Groupings Major Requirements:
row 1st Semester:
required

Covers the diversity of microorganisms, their structure, physiology, and the identification process. There is an emphasis on microorganisms that cause infectious disease and the process of infection, host immune responses, and methods to control microorganisms. Laboratory experiences include culturing, identifying, and controlling microorganisms. This course is designed for students pursuing a health science field. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SC1 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

Prerequisite: BIO 1111, or BIO 2101, or BIO 1005 and CHE 1011 with grades of "C" or better. Students who have scored 70% or higher on the BIO 1111 test out exam may be eligible for a prerequisite override however it is preferred that students complete BIO 1111.

4
required

Nursing 1009 introduces the fundamental concepts necessary for safe, patient-centered nursing care to a diverse patient population while integrating legal and ethical responsibilities of the nurse. Introduces caring, critical thinking, the nursing process, quality improvement, and communication used when interacting with patients and members of the interdisciplinary team, and relates evidence-based nursing practice. Application of knowledge and skills occurs in the nursing skills laboratory and a variety of clinical settings providing care to stable patients with common health alterations. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to Nursing majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Corequisites
NUR 1012
6 to 8
required

Overview of the basic principles of pharmacology including major drug classifications and prototypes of commonly used medications. Principles of medication administration include aspects of best practice for safe, quality, patient-centered care. Central points include safety, quality improvement factors in the administration of medications, patient teaching, and variations encountered when administering medications to diverse patient populations across the lifespan. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to Nursing majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Corequisites
NUR 1009
2
required

Examines human development from conception through death, emphasizing physical, cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial factors. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SS3 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
* Biology and Psychology statement  *BIO 2104 may be no greater than 7 years old at the time of admission into the Nursing Program. BIO 2104 must be completed with a grade of "C" or better before a student may progress to the second semester of the Nursing Program. **PSY 2440 may be no greater than 7 years old at the time of admission into the Nursing Program unless the student has earned an AA/AS/AAS/BA/BS degree with HPR 1010 or equivalent course incorporated.
row 2nd Semester:
required

NUR1006 is the first medical/surgical nursing course. Building on NUR109, this course provides for the acquisition of basic medical/surgical nursing theory, as well as application of mental health concepts, communication, collaboration, caring, and critical thinking/clinical reasoning necessary for safe, patient-centered care to a developmentally and culturally diverse adult patient population experiencing various medical/surgical interventions. Incorporates evidence-based practice, quality improvement, professional standards, and legal and ethical responsibilities of the nurse. Application of knowledge and skills occurs in the nursing skills laboratory and a variety of clinical settings. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to Nursing majors only.  Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

NUR 1009 and NUR 1012 with grades of "C" or better

Course Corequisites
NUR 1050
7 to 9
required

Nursing 1050 provides for the acquisition of maternal/child nursing theory, as well as application of mental health concepts, communication, collaboration, caring, and critical thinking/clinical reasoning necessary for safe, family-centered nursing care to childbearing families and children that is developmentally and culturally appropriate. Incorporates evidence-based practice, standards of practice, quality improvement, and legal and ethical responsibilities of the nurse. Application of knowledge and skills occurs in the nursing skills laboratory and in a variety of maternal/child and pediatric clinical settings. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to Nursing majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

NUR 1009 and NUR 1012 with grades of "C" or better

Course Corequisites
NUR 1006
6 to 7
row Optional Summer Course:
required

Facilitates the transition into the role of the practical nurse with emphasis on distinguishing the defined practical nurse scope of practice related to clinical practice, communication, nursing process, ethical/legal issues, and leadership skills. The student practices in the role of the practical nurse in the associated clinical experience. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to Nursing majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

NUR 1006, NUR 1009, NUR 1012, and NUR 1050 with grades of "C" or better

4 to 5
row 3rd Semester:
required

NUR 2006 builds on NUR1006 focusing on advanced concepts of nursing applied to care of patients with high acuity medical/surgical conditions. Builds on medical/surgical nursing theory, mental health concepts, communication, collaboration, caring, and critical thinking/clinical reasoning necessary for safe, patient-centered nursing care to developmentally and culturally diverse adult patients. Incorporates evidence-based practice, quality improvement, professional standards, and legal and ethical responsibilities of the professional nurse as applied in a variety of healthcare settings. Application of knowledge and skills occurs in the nursing skills laboratory and in a variety of clinical settings. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to Nursing majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

NUR 1006, NUR 1009, NUR 1012 and NUR 1050 with grades of "C" or better

Course Corequisites
NUR 2012
6.5 to 8
required

Develops concepts of psychosocial integrity and emphasizes the function and responsibility of nursing in promoting and maintaining mental health of individuals and families. This course emphasizes communication and caring through the application of the therapeutic relationship and nursing process in the care and treatment of common psychiatric clinical conditions/disorders. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to Nursing majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

NUR 1006, NUR 1009, NUR 1012 and NUR 1050 with grades of "C" or better

Course Corequisites
NUR 2012
4
required

Builds on previously introduced pharmacological concepts and applies that learning to pharmacologic therapy to provide safe, quality, evidence- based nursing care to patients with complex healthcare needs. Focuses on safety and quality improvement factors in the administration of medications within a variety of healthcare systems. Advanced dosage calculations included. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to Nursing majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

NUR 1006, NUR 1009, NUR 1012, and NUR 1050 with grades of "C" or better

Course Corequisites
NUR 2006
2
row 4th Semester:
required

Nursing 2016 is a continuation of Nursing 2006, focusing on complex medical/surgical conditions of the high acuity patient. Builds on medical/surgical nursing theory, mental health concepts, communication, collaboration, caring, and critical thinking/clinical reasoning necessary for safe, patient-centered nursing care to developmentally and culturally diverse adult patients experiencing high acuity medical/surgical conditions. Incorporates evidence-based practice, quality improvement, professional standards, and legal and ethical responsibilities of the professional nurse as applied in the acute care and high acuity settings. Application of knowledge and skills occurs in a variety of clinical settings. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to Nursing majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

NUR 2006, NUR 2011 and NUR 2012 with grades of "C" or better

Course Corequisites
NUR 2030
5 to 6
required

Nursing 2030 is a seminar and practice capstone course that provides an integrative experience applying all dimensions of the professional nurse in the care of diverse patient populations across a variety of healthcare settings. All major concepts of the nursing program are addressed. Leadership and the management of multiple patients are emphasized. Application of knowledge and skills occurs in the clinical setting to facilitate an effective transition from student to registered professional nurse. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to Nursing majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Corequisites
NUR 2016
4 to 5
Hum/Soc Science Requirement Humanities or Social Science course from the Colorado State Guaranteed Transfer General Education course list. Credits: 3 
Total Core Nursing (NUR-Prefix) Credits for ADN 42.50
Total Credits for Nursing A.A.S. Degree 69.50