collageNursing Program
If you have a passion for helping others and a desire to make a difference, you might want to consider pursuing a career in Nursing by attending Lamar Community College.
Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States. With nurses making up the majority of the industry, the demand for skilled Registered Nurses (RNs) is greater than ever. RNs provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide guidance and support to patients and their family members.
As an RN, you will be making a difference in the lives of others, all while enjoying some of the highest starting salaries along with a wide range of employment locations and work schedules. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May of 2018 the median pay for RNs was $71,730 per year (equivalent to approximately $34.49 per hour).
LCC’s program is nationally accredited through the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The program offers a five semester Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree (A.D.N.) which will prepare you for practice as an RN. With successful completion of program requirements, you will be eligible to apply to test for RN licensure through the NCLEX-RN exam. Students also have the option to test for a Practical Nursing license at the end of the first year of the Nursing Program to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
Please note: The PN Exit option is not ACEN accredited. However, it is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing and LCC graduates are eligible to take Practical Nursing Boards (NCLEX-PN).
Nursing Degrees & Certificates
Nursing Program Options
| Nursing | A.A.S. | Degree Plan |
| Certified Nurse Aide | Certificate | See: Allied Health » |
| Emergency Medical Technician – Basic | Certificates | See: Allied Health » |
| Emergency Medical Technician – Advanced | Certificates | See: Allied Health » |
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
LCC’s Nursing Program is nationally accredited and affords graduates the ability to sit for the State Board Exam for RN licensure.
Over the course of five semesters of full-time coursework, students move through a sequence of courses progressing from basic to complex. Theory classes are provided on campus as well as a significant number of lab hours in which students practice and perfect new skills for their new profession. Students are provided a large number of clinical experiences from local nursing homes and hospitals to acute care experiences at a distance in adult health, obstetrics, pediatrics and psychiatric nursing. In addition, students are also given the chance to learn more hands on clinical experience with three fidelity human patient simulators that are provided right on LCC campus.
The program is offered in a full-time format on the LCC campus, beginning in August and ending in May. This Associate Degree program is comprised of two levels. After successful completion of Level I, students have the option to sit for the PN licensure exam (NCLEX-PN). Level II is the second year of the program.
Once students complete the program and become an RN, they are encouraged to continue their education to achieve a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) and even a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN).
By the end of the program students will be able to:
- Provide safe, quality evidence-based patient-centered nursing care in a variety of healthcare settings to diverse patient populations
- Engage in critical thinking and clinical reasoning to make patient-centered care decisions
- Implement quality measures to improve patient care
- Participate in collaborative relationships with members of the interdisciplinary team, the patient, and the patient’s support persons
- Use information management principles, techniques, and systems, and patient care technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making
- Provide leadership in a variety of healthcare settings for diverse patient populations
- Assimilate professional, legal, and ethical guidelines in practice as a professional nurse
- Promote a culture of caring to provide holistic, compassionate, culturally-competent care
Licensed Practical Nurse Certificate
As an option to the two-year ladder registered nursing (R.N.) program, students may choose to obtain a Practical Nurse Certificate after successfully completing Level I.
Certified Nurse Aide & Emergency Medical Technician Certificates
Lamar Community College offers additional certificate options in the field of healthcare including Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Learn more about these certificates by reviewing our Allied Health options.
Program Details
Program Prerequisites
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Complete prerequisite coursework including: Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II (BIO 201 & BIO 202), English Composition I (ENG 121), Human Nutrition (HWE 100), Quantitative Literacy (MAT 050), and Human Growth and Development (PSY 235).
- Acceptance into the Nursing Program is contingent upon attaining a minimum GPA of 2.5 or above on all prerequisite course work.
- The Kaplan Admission Assessment Exam is also a pre-requirement before gaining admission to the nursing program.
Cost of Textbooks/Supplies
- For tuition, fees, and additional high program costs, visit the LCC Catalog.
- Additional Required Purchases
- Tuition based on total number of credits taken.
- The cost may vary from semester to semester.
Important Documents
- 2021-2022 Nursing Student Handbook
Student Success Rates
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rates
- Graduate Job Placement Rates
- Program Completion Rates
| Graduating Class | LCC NCLEX-RN Pass Rates | CSBON NCLEX-RN Pass Rates | National NCLEX-RN Pass Rates for Associate Degree (Jan 1-Dec 31) |
| 2020 | 100% | 100% | 82.80% |
| 2019 | 78.6% | 55% | 85.17% |
| 2018 | 75% | 75% | 85.11% |
| 3 Year Aggregate | 84.53% | 76.67% | 84.36% |
Nursing Program Description
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).
Admission to the Nursing Program
Apply to LCC
Admission to the Nursing Program is a separate process from admission to Lamar Community College. To apply to the Nursing Program, you must first be complete the LCC Admissions application and be accepted. You can apply to Lamar online or by completing a paper application and returning it to the Admissions Office.
Apply to the LCC Nursing Program
After submitting your application to Lamar Community College, we ask for you to fill out our nursing program application. This helps us get in contact with you and get you on the right track towards admission into the LCC Nursing Program.
Nursing Program Application
Take Prerequisite Courses
You must complete the prerequisite coursework as listed on the A.A.S. Nursing Degree Plan. Acceptance into the Nursing Program is contingent upon attaining a minimum GPA of 2.5 or above on all prerequisite course work, with preference given to those students whose science GPA is 2.75 or higher.
Take an Admission Assessment Exam
LCC Offers admission based on the Kaplan Admission Assessment Exam. The Kaplan Admission Assessment Exam consists of four sections which are Reading, Math, Writing, and Science, with a total of 91 questions.
To be eligible for admission into the LCC Nursing Program, applicant must score the following:
The Kaplan Admission Exam – 63 cumulative score or higher
The exam may be taken before you have completed the prerequisite courses. Applicants may repeat either exam every two weeks and up to a total of three times.
Students will be required to pay appropriate fees to the LCC Cashier in Student Services for the Kaplan Admission Assessment Exam.
KAPLAN ADMISSION ASSESSMENT EXAM DATES:
Information Coming Soon
All of the testing dates will begin at 9 AM in our testing center. Due to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, only a maximum of 6 students will be allowed to test during each test date. If you are wanting to test during any of the dates above, please contact Shealynn McCracken at shealynn.mccracken@lamarcc.edu or at (719) 336-1594.
Complete Documentation After Admission
Prior to participation in nursing clinical courses, students must provide to the Nursing and CTE Coordinator, Shealynn McCracken, documentation* of the following:
- Health Questionnaire / Immunization Record completion. This includes:
- PPD or Chest X-ray (negative) (yearly)
- Hepatitis B series
- Varicella immunization**
- Immunization records documenting MMR/Tetanus (within 10 years)**
- Students will be required to receive a flu shot each fall semester and provide documentation
- Copy of current American Heart Association Health Care Provider CPR card (must keep current throughout nursing program)
- Confirmation that you have ordered and paid for your Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen. Please go to http://www.castlebranch.com
- Random Urine Drug Screen (results must be negative). A dilute drug screen result is considered a positive result (administered randomly on campus).
- Laptop computer with Internet capabilities.
- Health Insurance card or some other proof of health insurance. (See nursing student handbook for more information regarding health insurance)
* Proper documents can be obtained form the Nursing and CTE Coordinator, Shealynn McCracken. (Email shealynn.mccracken@lamarcc.edu, phone: (719) 336-1594)
** If you have history of the Chicken Pox, Mumps or Measles, you will still need to do a titer lab to prove this.
LICENSURE:
Students who choose the PN Option are eligible to take the NCLEX- PN Licensure Exam. Students who complete the Associate of Science Degree in Nursing are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN Licensure Exam.
The Board of Nursing in each state regulates licensure. Contact the Board of Nursing in Colorado for eligibility requirements for licensure at www.dora.state.co.us/nursing.
collage