Skip to main content

Registered Nursing

ACEN

As an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program, our curriculum is intended to develop individuals to function as generalists in the progression of registered nursing. Upon completion of the program, individuals are academically and clinically prepared to take the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN). Completion of the program, however, does not guarantee eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN.

The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program has two tracks available. These include an accelerated LPN/Paramedic to RN track and a full-time Basic track offered for students with no prior nursing education. The primary clinical facility used by the College is Southeast Hospital, a regional medical center. The hospital is a member of the American Hospital Association and the Missouri Hospital Association, is accredited by the Joint Commission, and received Nursing Magnet Status.

Special features of the College include valuable hands-on opportunities, outstanding clinical and educational resources, and highly individualized instruction by scholarly and clinically adept faculty members dedicated to the professional development of their students.

The SoutheastHEALTH College of Nursing and Health Sciences Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and has full approval of the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

Admission Information

Curriculum Plan RN Full-Time

Example Curriculum Plan

These courses must be taken prior to beginning nursing courses:

  • BI 151 Anatomy & Physiology I
  • BI 151 Anatomy & Physiology II
  • BI 200 Microbiology
  • CH 100 Chemistry
  • FYS 101 College Seminar
  • MAT 101 Mathematics for Healthcare Professionals
  • NUT 200 Health & Nutrition

First Year Fall Semester (16 Weeks)

NS 101 Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice (2)
NS 102 Nursing Assessment (2)
NS 103 Nursing Skills (4)
**AH 201 Human Diversity in Healthcare Delivery (1)
** PSY 100 Psychology (3)

First Year Spring Semester (16 Weeks)

NS 104 Pharmacology for Nursing (2)
NS 106 Mental Health Nursing (4)
NS 107 Medical Surgical Nursing I (4)
** ENG 100 English Composition (3)

First Year Summer Semester

No required courses

Second Year Fall Semester (16 Weeks)

NS 110 IV Therapy (1)
NS 201 Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family (3)
NS 202 Medical Surgical Nursing II (5)
** COM 100 Oral Communications (3)

Second Year Spring Semester (16 Weeks)

NS 203 Nursing Care of the Child and Family (3)
NS 204 Medical Surgical Nursing III (4)
NS 206 Transitions to Professional Practice (4)
** SOC 102 Sociology (3)

**Courses listed with asterisks must be taken prior to or during the semester they are listed.

Total Semester Hours Required: 72

General Education including prerequisites (34)
Nursing (38)

Curriculum Plan RN Part-Time

Example Curriculum Plan

These courses must be taken prior to beginning nursing courses:

  • BI 151 Anatomy & Physiology I
  • BI 151 Anatomy & Physiology II
  • BI 200 Microbiology
  • CH 100 Chemistry
  • FYS 101 College Seminar
  • MAT 101 Mathematics for Healthcare Professionals
  • NUT 200 Health & Nutrition
  • PSY 100 Psychology

First Year Fall Semester: 16 Weeks

NS 101 Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice (2)
NS 102 Nursing Assessment (2)
NS 103 Nursing Skills (4)

First Year Spring Semester: 16 Weeks

NS 104 Pharmacology for Nursing (2)
NS 106 Mental Health Nursing (4)
EN 100 English Composition (3)

First Year Summer Semester: 8 Weeks

SOC 102 Sociology (3)
COM 100 Oral Communications (3)
AH 201 Human Diversity in Healthcare (1)

Second Year Fall Semester: 16 Weeks

NS 107 Medical Surgical Nursing 1 (4)
NS 110 IV Therapy Course (1)
NS 201 Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family (3)

Second Year Spring Semester: 16 Weeks

NS 202 Medical Surgical Nursing 2 (5)
NS 203 Nursing Care of the Child and Family (3)

Third Year Fall Semester: 16 Weeks

NS 204 Medical Surgical Nursing 3 (4)
NS 206 Transitions to Professional Practice (4)

Total Semester Hours Required: 72

General Education Courses (34)
Nursing Program Courses (38)

Curriculum Plan LPN/Paramedic to RN Accelerated

Example Curriculum Plan

These courses must be taken prior to beginning nursing courses.

  • FYS 101 College Seminar (1)
  • BI 151 Anatomy and Physiology I * (4)
  • MAT 101 Mathematics for Healthcare Professionals (3)
  • PSY 100 Psychology (3)

First Year Spring Semester: 16 Weeks

First 8 Weeks

BI 152 Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
NS 105 Bridging to Professional Nursing Practice (3)
NS 106 Mental Health Nursing (4)

Second 8 Weeks

AH 201 Human Diversity in Healthcare (1)
NS 107 Medical Surgical Nursing 1 (4)
NS 201 Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family (3)
NUT 200 Health and Nutrition (3)

First Year Summer Semester

BI 200 Microbiology (3)
COM 100 Oral Communication (3)
ENG 100 English Composition (3)
CH 100 Chemistry (3)

Second Year Fall Semester (16 Weeks)

First 8 Weeks

NS 202 Medical Surgical Nursing II (4)
NS 203 Nursing Care of the Child and Family (4)

Second 8 Weeks

NS 204 Medical Surgical Nursing III (4)
NS 206 Transitions to Professional Practice (4)
SOC 102 Sociology (3)

Total Semester Hours Required: 72

General Education (34)
Nursing (30)
Advanced Placement Nursing Credits (8)

*LPN and Paramedic to RN students will be allowed to challenge BI 151 Anatomy & Physiology I. Contact the Cape Career & Technology Center to schedule your challenge test.

Curriculum Plan LPN/Paramedic to RN Part-Time

Example Curriculum Plan

Must be completed prior to beginning program courses.

  • BI 151 Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
  • BI 152 Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
  • BI 200 Microbiology (3)
  • CH 100 Chemistry (3)
  • FYS 101 College Seminar (1)
  • MAT 101 Mathematics for Healthcare Professionals (3)
  • NUT 200 Health and Nutrition (3)
  • PSY 100 Psychology (3)

First Year Spring Semester (16 Weeks)

NS 105 Bridging to Professional Nursing Practice (3)
NS 106 Mental Health Nursing (4)
ENG 100 English Composition (3)

First Year Summer Semester (8 Weeks)

SOC 102 Sociology (3)
COM 100 Oral Communications (3)
AH 201 Human Diversity in Healthcare Delivery (1)

First Year Fall Semester (16 Weeks)

NS 107 Medical Surgical Nursing 1 (4)
NS 201 Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family (3)

Second Year Spring Semester (16 Weeks)

NS 202 Medical Surgical Nursing 2 (5)
NS 203 Nursing Care of the Child and Family (3)

Second Year Summer Semester

No courses required

Second Year Fall Semester (16 Weeks)

NS 204 Medical Surgical Nursing 3 (4)
NS 206 Transitions to Professional Practice (4)

Total Semester Hours Required: 72

General Education (34)
Nursing (30)
Advanced Placement Nursing Credits (8)

LPN and Paramedic to RN students will be allowed to challenge BI 151 Anatomy & Physiology I. Contact the Cape Career & Technology Center to schedule your challenge test. LPN to RN classes will be held evenings and weekends. Paramedic to RN classes will be held Mondays and Thursdays.

Admission Criteria

ACT Exam Information

ATI TEAS Testing Information

NACE Test Information

Basic Nursing

For those who are not applying as LPNs or paramedics

Direct admission (students with less than 25 hours of college credit):

  • Cumulative high school GPA of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale
  • Cumulative college GPA of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale (if applicable)
  • ACT composite score of 21 or SAT score of 1060 (if age 22 or younger)
  • ATI TEAS score of 70% or higher with a minimum science score of 45%.

Transfer admission (students with 25 or more completed hours of college credit):

  • Cumulative college GPA of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale
  • ATI TEAS score of 70% or higher with a minimum science score of 45%

LPN to RN

  • NLN Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam I (NACE I) with a score of 75% or higher
  • LPN license (A current license must be maintained throughout the program. Students currently enrolled in LPN programs have 90 days after graduation to provide a copy.)

Paramedic to RN

  • Minimum one year of paramedic work experience
  • Current paramedic license

Direct admission (students with less than 25 hours of college credit):

  • Cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
  • Cumulative college GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (if applicable)
  • Minimum ACT composite score of 21 or SAT score of 1060 (if 22 or younger)

Transfer admission (students with 25 or more hours of completed college credit):

  • Cumulative college GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale

Program Goals

  1. Graduate Nursing students who will achieve success on the licensure exam with a first-time pass rate at least 80%.
  2. Graduate nursing students who will report being employed in a registered nurse position if they choose upon graduation.
  3. Graduate nursing students who complete the program of study on time.
  4. Integrate best practices in nursing education to promote students success
  5. Cultivate within students the desire for advanced study and inquiry
  6. Educate students to become competent nurses who are able to communicate effectively, think critically and apply ethical principles in practice

Student Achievement Data

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 5-year average
Retention 72% 60% 85% 58% 68% 68%
Completion Rate 74% 65% 60% 62% 61% 64%
Lic/Cert Pass Rate 77% 98% 96% 96% 85% 90%

Student Learning Outcomes/Graduate Competencies

Level One Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of year one of the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program, the student will be able to:

  1. Utilize critical thinking and the nursing process to plan and deliver safe nursing care
  2. Integrate knowledge from a variety of disciplines, including the sciences, in the delivery of patient care
  3. Recognize how the concept of relationship-centered care is utilized to promote the optimal well-being of the patient
  4. Begin to integrate core nursing values in the delivery of patient care
  5. Describe how the nurse functions within nursing and interprofessional teams
  6. Recognize how quality improvement methods used to improve system effectiveness and safe individual performance minimize risk of harm to patients and providers
  7. Begin to develop personal and professional behaviors that enhance the profession of nursing
  8. Work within healthcare systems to provide safe quality nursing care at a basic level
  9. Foster communication, mutual respect, and shared decision making to achieve quality patient care
  10. Utilize informatics to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision making in nursing

Upon completion of the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program, graduates will be able to:

  1. Competently practice entry-level nursing in a variety of settings
  2. Make sound nursing judgments in practice substantiated with evidence, utilizing nursing process, critical thinking and nursing science, to provide safe quality care and promote the health of patients (Nursing Judgment)
  3. Advocate for patients and families in ways that promote their self-determination, integrity and optimal outcomes (Human Flourishing)
  4. Assume professional identity as an entry-level nurse, reflecting integrity, responsibility, ethical practices and an evolving identity as a nurse committed to evidence-based practice, caring, advocacy and safe quality care for diverse patients within a family and community context (Professional Identity)
  5. Examine the evidence that underlies clinical nursing practice to challenge the status quo, question underlying assumptions, and offer new insights to improve the quality of care to patients, families and communities (Spirit of Inquiry) (NLN Model, 2010)

Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid

Apply Now

Fact Sheets

Basic Nursing (Full-time)

Basic Nursing (Part-time) Basic Part-Time: RN classes begin August 2023

LPN to RN (Accelerated)

LPN to RN (Part-time) LPN/Paramedic Part-Time: RN classes begin January 2024

Paramedic to RN (Accelerated)

Paramedic to RN (Part-time) LPN/Paramedic Part-Time: RN classes begin January 2024