Registered Nursing, AAS
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Credential Type
Academic School
Academic Level
Program Narrative
The Associate Degree Nursing Program at NCC prepares graduates to assume entry level positions as registered nurses who provide safe, competent nursing care in the various settings of our dynamic, evolving healthcare environment. These settings can include, but are not limited to hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, long term care, home care, clinics, physicians' offices, the community and many other agencies. Successful completion of the program qualifies graduates to apply for licensure as a registered nurse and to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®). This examination is used by the State Board of Nursing to assess the entry-level nursing competence of candidates for licensure as registered nurses. When the candidate successfully completes the NCLEX-RN® exam, a license is issued. Information about the NCLEX-RN® exam is available at www.ncsbn.org/nclex.htm.
Program Features
The Associate Degree Nursing Program requires a minimum of four academic semesters to complete. The program is offered on the Bethlehem and Monroe campuses. Students are accepted to the Monroe campus program in each fall semester. Students are accepted to the Bethlehem Campus program each fall and spring semester. The curriculum focuses on the art and science of nursing. Students in the program gain the knowledge, skills and professional attributes required in nursing practice. On campus students attend class, skills lab and simulation experiences. Students participate in clinical learning experiences in various healthcare settings under the guidance of nursing faculty. Clinical learning experiences provide students with the opportunity to apply nursing theory in patient care situations. These experiences are scheduled at a variety of health care agencies in the surrounding areas. Clinical settings include acute and long term care, in-patient and outpatient facilities. Class, lab, clinical and simulation experiences are scheduled during the day. Most clinical experiences are scheduled during the day between the hours of 6:30 am and 5:00 pm. The college reserves the right to schedule clinical experiences during the evening and/or on weekends if necessary.
The Associate Degree Nursing program is also offered on an evening/weekend schedule on the Bethlehem Campus. Students are admitted to the evening/weekend alternative program in the spring semester of every other year on the even years. The next cohort of student will be admitted in spring 2024. Classes and college laboratory experiences are offered on campus during the early evening hours, between 5:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Clinical learning experiences for the evening/weekend program are scheduled on weekends between the hours of 6:30 am and 5:00 pm. The college reserves the right to schedule clinical learning experiences during the week if necessary.
General Education courses in the nursing curriculum are offered in traditional and online format during the day and evening. Students may elect to complete general education courses prior to entering the program. All students are encouraged to consult an academic advisor.
Accreditation Information
The Associate Degree Nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc., 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326, 404.975.5000, http://www.acenursing.org and has full approval of the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
For More Information Contact:
Northampton Community College
Nursing Department, Penn Hall 120E
3835 Green Pond Road
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18020
Telephone: 610.861.5376
Transfer Potential
Seamless transition to a BSN completion program is possible through articulation agreements established with several four year institutions including but not limited to the following:
Bloomsburg University
Carlow University
Cedar Crest College
DeSales University
Drexel University
East Stroudsburg University
Moravian College
Career Potential
For information related to career potential, please visit Your Nursing Career on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Website.
Program Outcomes
Pass rates on the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®), employment rates and program completion rates are the measurable indicators that reflect the extent to which the purposes of the RN program are achieved and by which nursing program effectiveness is documented. The most recent data is available here.