Nursing, AS

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  

Nonscience Courses:

1. ENGL 1A  or ENGL 1AH  
2. MATH 150  or MATH 150H  
3. MEDT 1  

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 143  and NURS 144  and NURS 146  
4. PSYC 116  

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 (LVN to RN 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 (LVN to RN) - 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.