Associate Degree Nursing

Associate in Applied Science Code: 5456
Contact nurs@bhc.edu for information; Advising Center, 309-796-5100, Rm 1-213; East Campus Advising Center, 309-854-1709.

New students applying to Black Hawk College should select the AAS/General Occupational and Technical Studies (GOTS) until such time as they have been officially accepted by the department into this program.

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program is designed to prepare nurses who, as beginning practitioners, are able to give quality nursing care to clients and function as members of nursing and health teams. Upon completion of the program, a graduate may be eligible to take the examination for licensure as a registered nurse.

Registered nurses are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, physicians’ offices, clinics, and community agencies.

The curriculum for nursing is career-oriented. The program is accredited by the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (404-975-5000, www.acenursing.com ).

Student Learning Outcomes of the Associate Degree Nursing Program:

1. Integrate EBP with clinical reasoning and nursing judgement to minimize risk to the patient and provider while delivering optimal health care to patients and families across the lifespan in a variety of health care settings.
2. Collaborate effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering communication, respect and decision-making to achieve safe, quality health care for the patient, family, and the community.
3. Advocate for the patient recognizing the patient (or designee) as the source of control and full partner in providing compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for patient preferences, values and needs.
4. Evaluate outcomes of care processes. Use quality improvement methods to design and test changes that will continually improve the quality and safety of healthcare practices.
5. Utilize information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, reduce error and support decision making.
6. Develop a professional identity that internalizes the values, perspectives and philosophical components inherent in the art and science of nursing.

Each applicant must meet the following admission requirements and will be evaluated on an individual basis:

1. High school graduate or equivalent.
2. If applying as a high school student: top 25% of high school graduation class or consent of nursing department.
3. ACT composite score of 20 or above if applicant has graduated from high school within the past five years and has taken no college courses.
4. Any developmental courses that are required as determined by placement scores.
5. A 2.7 (C+) cumulative grade point average in college courses. Minimum of nine college level credit hours required if out of high school over five years or does not meet high school requirements.
6. Completion of pre-admission test.
7. Completion of Prospective Nursing Student Orientation.
8. Physically able to provide client care.
9. Transfer students are admitted into the ADN program on an individual basis. In addition to following transfer admission guidelines (see index), a transfer student intending to enroll in the ADN program must produce unofficial transcripts at their individual conference with nursing faculty and/or nursing advisor.
10. Anatomy and physiology coursework must have been completed within five years of acceptance into the program.

Students should refer to ADN program booklet and student handbook for additional guidelines.

Students with chronic health problems or physical disabilities will be accepted unless the health problem or disability is such that the student would be unable to complete the objectives of the program. (See Technical Abilities Required by Health Care Programs for more information.)

For Licensed Practical Nurses who desire to apply for the ADN program, all admission requirements must be met. There is not advanced standing placement.

All students must achieve grades of “B” or above in BIOL 145  and BIOL 146  and a “C” or above in all other required general education courses.

Required general education courses may be repeated until a “C” grade is earned but the student may have to drop out of nursing in order for the course to be properly sequenced in the nursing curriculum.

Students must achieve a grade of “C” or better in all nursing courses. If a lower grade is earned the course may be repeated once. If the student fails to earn a grade of “C” or better on the second attempt, they will be dismissed from the program. A second failure to earn a “C” in subsequent nursing courses, even though the first course may have been successfully repeated, is also grounds for dismissal.

Students returning to the nursing program after a period of absence will be evaluated on an individual basis as to both theory and clinical competencies before re-admission.

Non-nursing courses may be taken prior to or concurrently with the nursing courses in the same level, unless permission is obtained from the Associate Degree Nursing Department to alter the plan.

Laboratory fees for nursing courses are assessed and are in addition to other College fees.

Students must successfully document and meet all health and background checks required by academic programs and/or clinical sites prior to admission to program and/or courses.