Nursing (RN), AAS
Program Code: AAS.NURSING
The Clackamas Community College nursing program, which is approved by the Oregon State Board of Education and the Oregon State Board of Nursing, is also a partner in the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education (OCNE).
Admission into the nursing program is by special application only. The application is a two-step process. Students must submit an application via NursingCAS by the stated deadline. Based upon a point system, qualified applicants will progress to the interview/essay portion of the application process. Acceptance to the nursing program allows for co-admission to Clackamas Community College and Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing.
A criminal background check will be required prior to acceptance into the nursing program. An applicant who has been arrested, charged or convicted of any criminal offense will be evaluated on an individual basis. Certain convictions will automatically exclude an applicant from being accepted into the nursing program. Additional information pertaining to offenses that will deem an applicant as ineligible for the nursing program can be found at: www.oregon.gov/OSBN/Pages/criminal-history.aspx
Validation of up-to-date immunization, and urine drug screen are also required prior to the start of clinical rotations in the first term of the program. Maintenance of vaccinations (such as influenza) and American Heart Association Healthcare Provider BLS (CPR) is required throughout all terms of the nursing program. Technical standards related to the ability to perform safe patient care will need to be maintained while in the nursing program.
Disclosure Statement:
Effective February 16th, 2021 the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Clackamas Community College, Harmony Campus in Milwaukie, Oregon is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). This candidacy status expires in Fall 2023.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000
Related Instruction Outcomes
Computation
- 1 course - MTH-095 Algebra III or higher, except for MTH-098 College Math Foundations
- Use appropriate mathematics to solve problems.
Communication
- 1 course - WR-121Z Composition I
- Read actively, think critically, and write purposefully and capably for professional audiences.
Human Relations
- 1 course - PSY-215 Introduction to Developmental Psychology
- Engage in ethical communication processes that accomplish goals.
Physical Education/Health/Safety/First Aid
- 0-1 credit - courses with HE, HPE, or PE prefix. Current Basic Life Support (AHA) is required throughout the nursing program and meets PE requirement
- Use effective life skills to improve and maintain mental and physical wellbeing.
Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
- practice personal and professional actions that are based on a set of shared core nursing values;
- locate, evaluate, and ethically utilize information to communicate effectively;
- develop the use of reflection, self-analysis and self-care to deliver culturally appropriate nursing care;
- utilize techniques in motivational interviewing and therapeutic communication to practice relationship-centered nursing care;
- apply scientific and technical modes of inquiry, individually, and collaboratively, to critically evaluate existing or alternative explanations, solve problems, and make evidence-based decisions in an ethical manner;
- recognize which mathematical concepts are applicable to a scenario apply appropriate mathematics and technology in its analysis, and then accurately interpret, validate, and communicate the results;
- collaborate as part of a healthcare team, by demonstrating effective leadership in nursing and health care;
- utilize knowledge and analysis to make sound clinical judgments;
- practice reflects utilization and contribution to the broader health-care system;
- engage in intentional, life-long learning;
- apply analytical skills to social phenomena in order to understand human behavior.
Nursing Application Requirements
Information regarding the program, the application process and pre-nursing academic advising sessions is available at www.clackamas.edu/nursing
Students are eligible to be considered for admission to the nursing program after completing 30 credits of the Required Preparatory courses listed below. BI-231 Human Anatomy & Physiology I must be completed and math competency must be demonstrated prior to submission of program application.
- Minimum Required Preparatory Course credits to apply: 30
- Required Preparatory Course credits prior to starting NRS course work during the first term of nursing program: 45
Completion of all Required Preparatory courses must be with a letter grade of C or better. Plus and minus grade will not be factored into the GPA calculations. If a course has been taken more than once, the most recent grade received will be the course considered. Application to the nursing program requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 for all completed Required Preparatory courses.
Nursing (RN) Preparatory Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BI-231 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| BI-232 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| BI-233 | Human Anatomy & Physiology III | 4 |
| BI-234 | Introductory Microbiology | 4 |
| FN-225 | Nutrition | 4 |
| MTH-095 | Algebra III | 4 |
| PSY-215 | Introduction to Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| WR-121Z | Composition I | 4 |
| WR-122Z | Composition II | 4 |
| Arts & Letters, Social Science, or Natural Science electives | 13 | |
- The following courses or their equivalents will meet the eight credit minimum writing requirements:
- Completion of WR-121Z Composition I and WR-122Z Composition II as a part of a previous bachelor’s degree at a regionally accredited college or university is considered equivalent to completion of the writing series.
- Students may need to take elective credits in order to meet the 45 credit Required Preparatory courses minimum required for entry into the nursing program.
- At least 6 credits must come from Social Sciences
- See list below for approved Required Preparatory courses and elective courses
Note: Courses listed above may have prerequisites. See course descriptions for those requirements.
Competencies
- MTH-095 Algebra III or higher
- Completed MTH-095 Algebra III can be applied toward the 45 credits of Required Preparatory courses as a science course.
- MTH-095 Algebra III credits will not count toward the BS degree.
Applicants should consider completing math through statistics, which will be required for entrance into the OHSU Bachelor’s degree program.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer Term Option | Credits | |
| Select one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| General Biology for Health Sciences 1 | ||
Biology with Genetics | ||
| Credits | 4-5 | |
| First Term | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| General Biology for Health Sciences 1 | ||
Biology with Genetics | ||
| NRS-110 | Foundations of Nursing - Health Promotion | 5 |
| NRS-110C | Foundations of Nursing - Health Promotion Clinical | 4 |
| NRS-230 | Clinical Pharmacology I | 3 |
| PE-185 | Physical Education 2 | 1 |
| Credits | 17-18 | |
| Second Term | ||
| NRS-111 | Foundations of Nursing in Chronic Illness I | 3 |
| NRS-111C | Foundations of Nursing in Chronic Illness I Clinical | 3 |
| NRS-231 | Clinical Pharmacology II | 3 |
| NRS-232 | Pathophysiological Processes I | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Third Term | ||
| NRS-112 | Foundations of Nursing in Acute Care I | 2 |
| NRS-112C | Foundations of Nursing in Acute Care I Clinical | 4 |
| NRS-233 | Pathophysiological Processes II | 3 |
| Arts & Letter, Social Science or Natural Science Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| NRS-222 | Nursing in Acute Care II & End of Life | 4 |
| NRS-222C | Nursing in Acute Care II & End of Life Clinical | 5 |
| Arts & Letter, Social Science or Natural Science Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fifth Term | ||
| NRS-221 | Chronic Illness II and End of Life | 4 |
| NRS-221C | Chronic Illness II and End of Life Clinical | 5 |
| Arts & Letter, Social Science or Natural Science Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Sixth Term | ||
| NRS-224 | Integrative Practicum | 2 |
| NRS-224C | Integrative Practicum Clinical | 7 |
| WR-222 or WR-227Z | English Composition 3 or Technical Writing | 4 |
| Arts & Letter, Social Science or Natural Science Electives | 4 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Total Credits | 92-94 | |
- 1
BI-112 meets the Biology with genetics requirement and must be completed prior to start of second year of nursing program.
- 2
Current Basic Life Support (AHA) is required throughout the nursing program and meets PE requirement.
- 3
Required only if eight credit writing requirement not previously met.
- All courses must be passed with a C or better.
- Core curriculum is sequential and may not be taken out of order. Core nursing curriculum is intended to be completed in two academic years for an AAS degree.
Nursing (RN) Program Electives
Note: All electives must be taken at the 100 level or higher unless otherwise noted.
Arts & Letters
- Courses must be at least three credits.
- ASL, FR, GER, SPN (other world languages are accepted; languages must be 200 level)
- ART, DMC, ENG, HUM, J, MUP, MUS, PHL, R, TA
- COMM (courses numbered COMM-126 and above)
- WR (except WR-101 Workplace Writing, WR-121Z Composition I, WR-122Z Composition II, or WR-227Z Technical Writing)
Social Science
Natural Science
- Courses must be at least three credits.
- ASC, BI1 (except BI-160 Bird Identification & Taxonomy, BI-163 Malheur Field Trip, BI-165C Natural History of the Oregon Coast), CH (except CH-150 Preparatory Chemistry), CS,
- ESR, G, GS, MTH (MTH-095 Algebra III accepted), PH, Z
Baccalaureate of Science Degree with a Focus in Nursing
After receiving the AAS degree in Nursing, students who wish to continue on for their baccalaureate degree may do so through co-admission at OHSU. Students who plan to continue through to OHSU must be aware that to earn their Baccalaureate of Science degree with a focus in Nursing, they must have:
- Two years of the same high school world language, or two terms of college-level world language credit (includes American Sign Language) or a world language proficiency examination.
- STAT-243Z Elementary Statistics I
Course work for a Baccalaureate of Science Degree with a focus on Nursing through OHSU will include the following Nursing classes:
- NRS-410: Population-Based Care
- NRS-411: Epidemiology
- NRS-421: Leadership & Outcomes Management in Nursing
- NRS-4242: Integrative Practicum I ++
- NRS-425: Integrative Practicum II
At least 15 credits of elective credit must be taken at the upper division level (300/400 level) for the BS program. These can be taken under a co-enrollment agreement with PSU, Oregon Tech, EOU, or SOU.
- 1
BI-112 General Biology for Health Sciences meets the Biology with genetics requirement and must be completed prior to start of second year of nursing program.
- 2
NRS-224 Integrative Practicum articulates to OHSU for substitution of NRS-424.
Nursing Assistant Options
Being a certified nursing assistant can be a fulfilling, life-long vocation or the first step in your health care career. Information sessions will be held once a term. The schedule of info sessions can be found on the webpage.
Nursing Assistant I (CNA 1)
Clackamas Community College Nursing Assistant course provides the student with the skills to perform basic level nursing care. Certified Nursing Assistants are defined by law as people who assist licensed nursing personnel in the provision of nursing care. Content includes: introduction to health care facilities, communication, basic body structure and function, patient needs, preventing infection, body mechanics, and much more. This course is approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing.
Class times may vary from term to term. Clinical hours begin the sixth week of the course and are normally done at local Skilled Nursing Centers. Approximate length of the course is 11 weeks.
Upon successful completion of this course, students may apply for the Oregon State Board of Nursing certification exam for nursing assistants (CNA 1). The cost of the course will include pre-registration requirements such as criminal background check, American Heart Association CPR for Healthcare Professionals, immunizations and UA drug screen. Course costs also include tuition, textbooks, name badge, state exam fee, and a watch with a second hand, uniform and shoes.
Reading & Writing Competencies:
You will need to prove competency levels in reading and writing. Competency in reading and writing is measured by CCC placement test(s) or previous college coursework (unofficial transcript). Placement exam scores must be at
least WR-121Z Composition I to be eligible to apply or an unofficial transcript indicating WRD-098 Introductory College Reading & Writing 2 was taken with a C or better.
You must be at least 18 years of age. High school students may apply with written authorization from their high school counselor. (Proof must be provided.)
Before you will be permitted to enroll you must attend the Nursing Assistant Mandatory Orientation. Specific details can be found in the college’s Schedule of Classes and online at https://www.clackamas.edu/academics/departments-programs/nursing-assistant-1-and-2.
Certified Nursing Assistant II (CNA 2)
This course is designed to prepare students to perform routine and acute nursing assistant tasks for clients in the following venues: hospital, long-term and skilled care facilities and the community. Instruction incorporates concepts of safety and preventing complications, communicating client responses to the nurse, and documenting/recording outcomes of client care. By Oregon State Board of Nursing regulations, the course is restricted to those who hold a current, unencumbered Oregon CNA 1 license and have their name listed on the CNA Registry. Also, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in CNA 1 skills during lab sessions. This course meets the minimum state requirements with 36 hours of lecture, 22 hours of lecture/lab, as well as 30 hours of clinical experience.
Before you will be permitted to enroll you must attend the Nursing Assistant II Mandatory Orientation. Specific details can be found in the course schedule and online. For more information, email: healthsciences@clackamas.edu.
Due to an impending nursing shortage, nursing is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States. Nurses are in demand and may choose to work in a variety of specialties and settings. Newly graduated nurses will enjoy the benefit of a profession that values life-long learning and offers many opportunities for not only educational, but also career advancement. Career opportunities may include but are not limited to entry-level employment as a registered nurse in the acute care setting, sub-acute setting and the ambulatory care setting. With additional education nurses may choose to work as nurse practitioners, nurse educators, nurse researchers, nurse anesthetists, as well as in other specialized roles.