Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Catalog [Archived] 
    
2019-2020 Catalog [Archived] [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Nursing, AS


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Health Sciences and Athletics Division
www.elcamino.edu/academics/healthsciences

The degree provides the student with the skills to utilize the nursing process and assess unique patient needs across the lifespan using a concept-based approach to learning. Degree competence will be assessed regularly by evaluation of expected learning outcomes in the clinical setting as well as course examinations. Emphasis is placed on the use of critical thinking and creative problem-solving in the clinical setting. The nursing major prepares graduates in a variety of health care settings as entry-level registered nurses. Upon successful completion of the nursing program, the graduate is eligible to take the NCLEX-RN® (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses). Program assessment is conducted by monitoring student success rates on the NCLEX-RN® exam.

Nursing Philosophy: The Associate Degree Nursing Program supports the mission of El Camino College. The program offers quality, comprehensive educational opportunities and services to its diverse community, specifically those individuals aspiring to obtain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of a Registered Nurse.

Program Length and Licensing Requirements:
The program is two academic years in length after completion of program prerequisites. Acceptance of qualified applicants to the program does not guarantee graduation from the program/college. Students must achieve a statistically determined passing score on the comprehensive predicator examination upon completion of the program prior to taking the NCLEX-RN®. Graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN® in order to become licensed and practice registered nursing in the state of California.

Credit for Military Service: The Nursing Program will comply with the requirements of California Senate Bill 466. Procedures for the military challenge for advanced placement into the Nursing Program is published on the Nursing Program website

Students may review Administrative Procedure 4236 Credit for Military Service on the El Camino College website www.elcamino.edu/administration/board/policies.asp.

Nursing Degree Options:

Generic - Students who are not licensed as vocational nurses/psychiatric technicians and are not transferring from another accredited nursing program are considered generic students.

Advanced Standing/Upward Mobility - Prospective students who have had prior education in nursing or other health-related areas may request consideration for entry into the nursing program with advanced placement. Applicants would include Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurses, Licensed Psychiatric Technicians, and transfer students from accredited nursing programs. Advanced standing applicants are admitted to the program on a space available basis. Upon request, transfer students’ transcripts will be individually evaluated for granting credit. Transfer students may be offered advanced standing. Licensed vocational nurses may enter the upward mobility option or 30-unit option (see below).

Program Prerequisites for the Associate Degree Nursing Program (All Students)

Science Courses:
Complete the following courses with a minimum 2.5 GPA. All science courses must have been completed within seven years prior to the date of nursing program application.

  1. ANAT 32  and PHYO 31 ; or APHY 34A  and APHY 34B  
  2. MICR 33  
  3. MEDT 1  
  4. PSYC 16  

Nonscience Courses:

  1. ENGL 1A  (not included in the required basic science 2.5 minimum GPA)
  2. MATH 73  or pass the Mathematics Competency Exam

Additional Prerequisites:

  1. Cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all college courses.
  2. Complete the Readiness Assessment Test - ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) with the state recommended passing score. If a prospective student receives a score below the state recommended score, the student will be required to complete remediation and then retake the ATI TEAS. Students will only have two opportunities to take and successfully pass the TEAS exam. Students who take the TEAS at ECC and complete the required remediation are required to retest at ECC.
  3. NURS 144  and NURS 143  and NURS 146  

All general education courses and nursing courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C. Please contact a nursing counselor to determine course equivalencies.

Additional Prerequisites for Upward Mobility Students (LVN Option):

  1. Possession of a current California Vocational Nurse/ Practical Nurse license and employment as a LVN/LPN in a sub-acute or acute care setting within the last 3 years.
  2. Complete the Readiness Assessment Test - ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) with the state recommended passing score. If a prospective student receives a score below the state recommended score, the student will be required to complete remediation and then retake the ATI TEAS. Students will only have two opportunities to take and successfully pass the TEAS exam. Students who take the TEAS at ECC and complete the required remediation are required to retest at ECC.
  3. Documentation demonstrating completion of a LVN program.
  4. NURS 144  and NURS 146  

Application Filing Period: The El Camino College Nursing Program accepts applications twice a year beginning the third week of the fall and spring semester. Each application period will last for three weeks.

The state of California requires all Registered Nurses (RNs) to have a valid Social Security or Tax Identification Number. Students seeking admission into the nursing program must provide proof of a valid social security or tax identification number to the nursing counselor prior to receiving a verification of eligibility documentation for admission consideration into the nursing program.

Application Review

Generic Students - All complete applications will be reviewed and ranked according to Criteria 1-3 of the Multicriteria Enrollment Criteria. Students at the top of the ranking who have not taken the Assessment Technology Inc. (ATI) TEAS will be invited to take the test. Following completion of the ATI TEAS, student points will be recalculated including all five criteria. Selected students will then be notified via ECC email that they have been conditionally accepted into the nursing program. Upon receipt of an offer, applicants should accept or decline the offer and complete any further conditions of enrollment as stated in the email. Acceptance or refusal of the offer must be received in writing in the nursing office by the date specified in the email. Failure to reply by the specified date will result in the removal of the applicant’s name from the applicant pool. Upon receipt of the applicant’s signed acceptance letter and attendance at a mandatory orientation, the offeree confers from conditional place to a confirmed place. Any applicant who accepts a place and attends an orientation but does not attend the first day of class will be dropped from the program and will not be eligible to reapply. Students who are not admitted to the program may reapply during the next application period. For more information, visit our website at www.elcamino.edu/nursing.

Upward Mobility - All complete applications will be reviewed and ranked according to the cumulative GPA. Students at the top of the ranking who have not taken the ATI TEAS will be invited to take the test. Following completion of the ATI TEAS, student will be re-ranked according to the score achieved. Student selected will be notified via their ECC email address that they have been conditionally accepted into the nursing program. Upon receipt of a conditional offer, applicants should print out the attached documents and choose one of the following options: 1) accept the offer or decline the offer. Acceptance or refusal of the conditional offer must be received in writing in the nursing office by the date specified in the email. Failure to reply by specified date will result in the removal of the applicant’s name from the application pool. Upon receipt of the applicant’s signed acceptance letter and attendance at a mandatory orientation, the offer converts from a conditional place to a confirmed place. Any applicant who accepts placement and attends the orientation but does not attend the first day of class will be dropped from the program and will not be eligible to reapply.

Transfer Students - Credit for nursing courses completed at another college will be evaluated on an individual basis by the Director of Nursing or the Director’s designee. Credit can be achieved through the petition process as well. Students interested in applying for admission consideration to the El Camino College associate degree nursing program as a transfer student will not be accepted beyond the second semester.

Waitlist: There will be no waitlist. Students who are not admitted to the program may reapply during the next application period. Students who are not offered admission are encouraged to meet with a nursing counselor.

Program Costs

Nursing Program: In addition to registration fees, the costs for books, shoes, physical exam, CPR certification, name badges, patches, uniforms, stethoscope, and additional skills lab supplies are approximately $1,000 for the first year.

Major Requirements Generic Program


All general education courses and nursing courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C before the student may enroll in the next course. Please contact a nursing counselor to determine course equivalencies.

Nursing: Upward Mobility (LVN to RN Option)


All general education courses and nursing courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C. Please contact a nursing counselor to determine course equivalencies.

30 Unit Non-Degree Track


The Licensed Vocational Nurse may establish eligibility to take the state licensing examination to become a Registered Nurse in California only by completing a sequence of courses. The Associate Degree is not awarded upon completion of this program and the nurse will always be considered a non-graduate. Applicants are admitted as space is available. For more information, please contact the nursing department.

General Program Information


Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) Requirements: The BRN has approved a set curriculum at ECC which includes, in addition to nursing courses, sociology, psychology and a course in communication and analytical thinking. Please see document entitled: Sample Curriculum for Associate Degree Nursing Program. These additional courses are not required for entry into the nursing program but must be completed prior to graduation. Students are strongly encouraged to complete these classes prior to entry into the nursing program.

El Camino College Associate in Science Degree:


In addition to the nursing department and Board of Registered Nursing course requirements, students must meet the El Camino College A.S. degree general education requirements outlined in the college catalog. Please consult with a nursing counselor if you have questions. The Associate Degree Nursing Program is a demanding, rigorous program that requires advanced academic preparation, personal commitment, and a considerable amount of time in study and preparation outside of class. Mandatory general information sessions are available each semester to assist prospective applicants so they may learn more about careers in nursing, the El Camino College nursing program and its requirements, and how to formulate an educational plan to become a qualified applicant. Nursing courses must be taken in sequence. Clinical facilities require background checks which require a valid social security number.

Required Program GPA: Nursing students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 to continue in the nursing program, graduate and receive an Associate in Science degree.

After a student is admitted into the nursing program, a full-time load is considered 10 units per semester. Students are expected to complete their nursing courses at El Camino College. Credit may be granted for course work completed at an accredited nursing program.

Program Readmission and Course Repetition:


Students who leave the nursing program are eligible to be readmitted to the program subject to space availability. Students will only be eligible to repeat one single nursing course, in which a D or F grade was achieved. Policies related to progression and re-entry to the nursing program are available for review in the Nursing Office and are published in the Nursing Student Handbook. Student academic standing at the time of leaving the program will determine whether academic support courses will be prescribed for completion before re-entry to the nursing program. Students not eligible to re-enter the program may individually appeal their re-entry status through the Acceptance, Transfer and Progression Committee.

Re-Entry Policy:


Students must apply for re-admission into the nursing program within one (1) year of the exit date. The student who is absent from the program in excess of one year will be considered “inactive” and placed on “inactive status” in the nursing program.  To return to an “active status” the student must successfully complete competency review of content/skills from the last successfully completed course.  The competency review will be given in the skills lab.  If the student fails the skills competency review he or she may elect to repeat the last course passed (if applicable).  A clinical evaluation for students returning or transferring into a medical surgical course may also be required and will be administered by a faculty member assigned to the supervised practice lab.

Students who have exited from the nursing program for more than 2 years will be required to repeat a previous course in which a “C” or better grade was earned. The Director of Nursing or the Director’s designee will be responsible for determining whether the student will be required to repeat a nursing course.  A clinical evaluation for students returning or transferring into a medical surgical course may also be required and will be administered by a faculty member assigned to the supervised practice lab.  Re-entry to the nursing program is on a space-available basis.

California State Licensure:


Special Note Regarding Licensure: All graduates of the Nursing Program are eligible to take the National Licensing Examination (NCLEX-RNR) and must pass the exam to practice in California. The NCLEX-RNR is developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and is administered by computer nationally throughout the year. The California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) requires that all students applying for the NCLEX be fingerprinted and submit a fingerprint card with the licensing examination application. The BRN protects the public by screening applicants for licensure in order to identify potentially unsafe practitioners. The BRN may deny applications for permanent licensure, interim permits and temporary licenses if the applicant has been found guilty of dishonesty; fraud or deceit; felony; child abuse; sex offender crimes; acts involving narcotics, dangerous drugs or devices; assault and/or battery; and other crimes. Applicants who have questions regarding limitations related to licensure should contact the California Board of Registered Nursing (916) 322-3350 or access its website at www.rn.ca.gov. It is the responsibility of the applicant to present sufficient evidence of rehabilitation. Applicants are advised to explore other career opportunities prior to investing substantial time in a nursing program if it appears that a prior serious act or conviction may jeopardize licensure.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Students intending to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing should consult a nursing counselor.

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