Nursing
Award: Associate of Applied Science Degree
Major: Nursing
Additional Program Information: https://www.brcc.edu/academics/programs/nursing/
Additional Potential Funding Information: https://www.brcc.edu/g3/
The Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing is designed to prepare selected students to qualify as contributing members of a healthcare team, rendering direct patient care as beginning practitioners of nursing in a variety of health service organizations. Classroom and clinical experiences will include lifespan from birth to death. Graduates will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) leading to licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN). Licensure is required in order to be employed as a registered nurse. The nursing program is approved by the State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
The associate degree nursing program at Blue Ridge Community College, located in Weyers Cave, Virginia is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Telephone 404-975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate degree nursing program is continuing accreditation.
The nursing law of Virginia addresses criteria for application for licensure. The Virginia State Board of Nursing has the authority to deny opportunity to procure a license through testing if the applicant has willfully committed a felony/misdemeanor under laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia or of the United States. Students will be required to pay for a criminal background check and drug test when they receive conditional admission to the clinical component of the program. Full admission to the program is contingent upon the results of both the criminal background check and the drug test.
General Education Courses
Students who have not been accepted into the clinical component of the program will be enrolled in the Pre-Nursing curriculum. Pre-nursing students are encouraged to complete clinical component prerequisites (required in order to be eligible for admission) and as many of the general education classes as possible before beginning the clinical portion of the program.
Clinical prerequisite courses include:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 141 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO 142 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 8 | |
These two courses must have been completed with a grade of “C” or better and within 7 years of enrollment in the clinical component of the program. Students who are enrolled in BIO 142 during the spring semester of their application to the program may also apply. These candidates may receive provisional admission to the program based on successful completion of BIO 142 with a “C” or better.
The general education courses required for graduation are:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 150 | Microbiology for Health Sciences | 4 |
| or BIO 205 | General Microbiology | |
| ENG 111 | College Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | 3 |
| PHI 220 | Ethics and Society | 3 |
| PSY 230 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| SDV | Student Development | 1 |
| SOC 215 | Sociology of the Family | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 20 | |
Students who did not complete high school biology and chemistry with a grade of “C” or higher are also strongly encouraged to complete BIO 101 and CHM 101 (or CHM 111) before enrolling in the BIO 141-BIO 142 sequence.
Program candidates must be eligible for MTH 154.
Application and Admission to the Clinical Component
General Information
Admission to the clinical component of the nursing program is highly competitive. Students apply to the clinical component of the program through a separate admissions process. This process starts in the fall prior to the anticipated start date of clinical courses. Clinical applications are available online on the Nursing Program website after the application cycle opens. Acceptance to BRCC does not guarantee admission to the clinical component of the Nursing Program. Students must satisfy the graduation requirements listed in the BRCC Catalog and Nursing Student Handbook in effect at the time they begin the clinical component of the program. For students with questionable criminal records, you are encouraged to complete a background check on your own to determine eligibility for the program. Please see information regarding this on the Nursing Program website.
Students who are admitted to the clinical component of the program must complete each nursing course with a theory grade of 80% or greater (and a weighted total also at or above 80%) in order to continue in the clinical nursing sequence. Students who fail to achieve a minimum grade of 80% may not continue in the program, but are eligible to reapply.
Residence in Service Region
Since the number of applicants generally exceeds the space available in the clinical program, some applicants may not be accepted even if the minimum requirements for admission are met. When enrollments must be limited for any curriculum, such as nursing, priority shall be given to all qualified applicants who are the most competitive. Residents of the political subdivisions supporting the College will receive 2 additional points on the selection scale. These include residents in the BRCC service area: Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, Augusta County, Rockingham County, and Highland County.
Please be aware that the qualified applicant pool may more than fill the enrollment capacity for the nursing clinical component; therefore the College may not be able to honor all requests for admission into the nursing clinical component.
In order to be considered a resident of the BRCC service region, applicants must have been domiciled continuously in the service region for the 12 months prior to the clinical application deadline and must not be residents of the service region for the primary purpose of education. Service area criteria will be scrutinized very carefully. A student with out-of-state tuition status is not a resident of the BRCC service region.
Documentation may be required to establish residency in the BRCC service region. Determination of residency is affirmed by the student at the time of application. Questions regarding residency may be directed towards the nursing department.
Clinical Component Prerequisites
In order to be considered for admission to the clinical portion of the nursing program, applicants must have:
- earned a high school diploma or the equivalent
- applied to the College
- attained a 45% score on the math, science, reading comprehension, English and critical thinking portions of the Kaplan nursing entrance examination required by the program. The nursing entrance examination must be taken within two years of application to the clinical component of the program.
- Eligible for MTH 154
- a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher in BRCC college course work
- successfully completed BIO 141 and BIO 142 with a grade of “C” or higher. BIO 141 and BIO 142 must have been successfully completed within 7 years of enrollment in the clinical component of the program. Students who are registered for BIO 142 in the spring semester may be offered conditional acceptance pending completion with a grade of “C” or higher
- submitted a Nursing Clinical Component Application form by the stated deadline date
- submitted official transcripts from high school and all post-secondary schools attended (excluding VCCS colleges), including LPN transcripts and current LPN license for students who completed LPN training)
Admission Preference
Preference for admission to the clinical component of the program is given to applicants who have:
- documented residence in the BRCC service region for 12 months continuously prior to the clinical application deadline
- completed more of the general education courses required for graduation, compared to other applicants
- a higher grade point average in the general education courses required for graduation, compared to other applicants
- a higher grade point average for BIO 141 and BIO 142, compared to other applicants
- previous paid human healthcare experience in a certified facility within the past year
- EMT & Rescue Squad Volunteer with at least 50 hours with the past year
- Paid experience as a medic
- Served in the military
Admission Criteria for Students Seeking Program Readmission
Any student who fails one or more courses in the clinical component (NSG courses) or receives a theory or final grade lower than 80% in any of the courses in the clinical nursing sequence may not continue in the major. If the student has failed one course, they may be eligible for readmission to repeat the course they failed. If the student fails two courses, they will need to reapply to the program and start again from first semester, if accepted. The readmission process is outlined in the student handbook. Readmission to the program is competitive and is not guaranteed. Students will only be readmitted once to the clinical component of the nursing program.
In order to graduate, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0. Students who apply for readmission after a one year gap from the time they left the program must start at the beginning of the nursing course sequence. Students seeking readmission to the program must:
- have completed an exit interview with the Nursing Program Director prior to leaving the program
- Declare the intent to re-enroll, in writing, to the Nursing Program Director and Dean of Academic Affairs no later than April 1.
- The written declaration should include a detailed "plan for success," indicating how their circumstances have changed since their prior attempt to complete the program.
- Document completion of all regular admission criteria by stated deadlines
- Successfully complete a written exam with a score of 80% or better
- Meet with the Program Director to discuss readmission
Credit for Prior Learning for LPN Students
LPN students must apply for admission to the clinical component of the program and document completion of all regular admission criteria (including submission of an official transcript from their LPN program and a copy of their current Virginia unrestricted LPN license). Once accepted, LPN students complete three semesters of the clinical program, starting the spring semester after acceptance. Students that have been accepted into BRCC's Nursing Program with a current Virginia unrestricted licensure as a practical nurse (LPN) are required to take NSG 115 and NSG 200, but will receive credit for NSG 100, NSG 106, NSG 130, NSG 152, and NSG 170.
Full-time Curriculum
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 111 | College Composition I | 3 |
| BIO 141 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| NSG 100 or NSG 115 | Introduction to Nursing Concepts 1 or Healthcare Concepts for Transition | 4-5 |
| NSG 106 | Competencies for Nursing Practice | 2 |
| NSG 130 | Professional Nursing Concepts | 1 |
| NSG 200 | Health Promotion and Assessment | 3 |
| SDV | Student Development | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 18-19 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | 3 |
| BIO 142 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| NSG 152 | Health Care Participant | 3 |
| NSG 170 | Health/ Illness Concepts | 6 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| BIO 150 or BIO 205 | Microbiology for Health Sciences or General Microbiology | 4 |
| PHI 220 | Ethics and Society | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 7 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| NSG 210 | Health Care Concepts I | 5 |
| NSG 211 | Health Care Concepts II | 5 |
| PSY 230 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| NSG 230 | Advanced Professional Nursing Concepts | 2 |
| NSG 252 | Complex Health Care Concepts | 4 |
| NSG 270 | Nursing Capstone | 4 |
| SOC 215 | Sociology of the Family | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 67-68 | |
Certified Nurse Aide Bridge
Award: Career Studies Certificate
Additional Program Information: https://www.brcc.edu/academics/programs/nursing/
Additional Potential Funding Information: https://www.brcc.edu/g3/
Purpose: To prepare students who wish to enter into the Nursing A.A.S. degree program at Blue Ridge Community College.
Students are not required to complete all courses listed below prior to applying to the Nursing A.A.S. degree program at BRCC. However, successful completion of the Certified Nurse Aide Bridge Career Studies Certificate will strengthen the applicant’s academic record. Completing the Pre-Nursing Career Studies Certificate does not guarantee admission into BRCC’s Nursing A.A.S. degree program.
Please also note that completion of BRCC’s Nursing A.A.S. degree may require more prerequisite courses than those listed below. Students should work with an Academic Advisor and consult the College website at www.brcc.edu/academics/programs/nursing/ for a full list of admission requirements.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 141 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO 142 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIO 150 | Microbiology for Health Sciences | 4 |
| or BIO 205 | General Microbiology | |
| ENG 111 | College Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | 3 |
| HCT 101 | Health Care Technician I 1 | 3 |
| HCT 102 | Health Care Technician II 1 | 3 |
| PSY 230 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| SDV | Student Development | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours | 28 | |
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Credit for this course is currently being awarded only through Credit for Prior Learning or transfer of credit from another college. Contact an academic advisor for more information.
