Nursing, AAS

Award Granted: Associate in Applied Science in Nursing	Major code: 03/372 or 03/370
Credits/Contacts Required: Traditional 74/102 or Bridge: 38/56	CIP Code: 513801

Description

This program will prepare a student to demonstrate entry level competencies as a Registered Nurse (RN) by completing the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing and becoming an Associate Degree Nurse (ADN). Students are provided with a focus on active learning and application in developing requisite nursing knowledge, skills, and attitudes through participation in various learning modalities including: lecture, lab, simulation, and clinical experiences. Throughout the program students will learn to apply evidenced-based scientific, theoretical, and practical knowledge in a variety of health care settings and patient care scenarios. Students who successfully complete the program will be awarded an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing and are qualified to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN). Students may choose to complete the full time ADN, RN track at the Escanaba Campus or at the Iron Mountain Campus. For Licensed Practical Nurses who are in possession of a current, unencumbered license (LPN), an option to complete an LPN to ADN, RN Bridge program is also available at the Escanaba Campus.

 

The Bay College Associate Degree in Nursing program is approved by the Michigan State Board of Nursing (MSBON) and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for the Education of Nursing (ACEN), at 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326; 1-404-975-5000.

 

Two pathways are offered to assist students in obtaining their associate degree in nursing:

1. A five (5) semester full-time program is offered at both the Escanaba and Iron Mountain Campuses.
2. A three (3) semester LPN to RN Bridge program is offered only at the Escanaba Campus.

 

Both five (5) semester traditional ADN pathways admit students annually with a program start at the Escanaba Campus in the Fall semester, and at the Iron Mountain Campus in the Winter semester. The LPN to RN Bridge program is currently only offered at the Escanaba Campus and accepts students for a Winter semester start. Both traditional ADN and LPN to RN Bridge programs accept students based on a selective admission process. Students interested in this program should call the Allied Health Division (906-217-4090) to obtain additional information.

 

Once a student is accepted into one of the pathways, they must follow the required sequence of courses for that pathway and complete those courses at its designated campus location. To progress in the program, the student must maintain a grade of a “C” or better, in all program specific general education courses and required program courses. Graduates of both the pathways are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN (licensing exam) upon successful completion of the program.

*Entry level Registered Nurses may find employment in a variety of practice settings, including but not limited to:  acute care hospitals, long term and extended term care facilities, clinics, and physician’s offices. Jobs in most areas of nursing are plentiful, and employment rate is near 100%. The reported average yearly income in the State of Michigan based on data from 2020 ranges from $72,140 - $80,380 and nationally with a mean annual income of $80,010 for Registered Nurses from (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics). Graduates may transfer all or part of credit/contact hours earned at Bay to several colleges and universities to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

 

Requirements for Nursing Programs:
All students accepted into the ADN program are required to purchase uniforms and other items which will be detailed at the program orientation session held prior to the start of the program. The College maintains liability insurance on students, with the cost being billed through the student’s assessment fee. Once accepted into the program and prior to beginning clinical courses in the program, the Department of Allied Health requires students to successfully pass the following: criminal background check, a drug test, American Heart Association CPR certification for the Healthcare Provider, a Certification of Physical Fitness Form completed by an appropriate healthcare provider, and provide appropriate immunization, titer, or other records related to immunity to specific communicable diseases. Clinical facilities may have additional requirements, which a student will also need to meet throughout the program. The Department of Allied Health will order a background check and drug screening which will be tracked, along with other health information as required, to verify clinical fitness through an outside agency.  The cost of this tracking is incurred by the student as a Nursing Assessment Fee.

Throughout the ADN program, students are required to take a variety of standardized learning assessments, which Bay College School of Nursing obtains via Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI), a national testing company. The cost for the HESI testing is incurred by the student as a Nursing Assessment Fee. Students will be scheduled to take HESI tests throughout the program and at program completion. All ADN program students will attend a 3-Day Live NCLEX Review seminar during the last semester of the program. The NCLEX Review will provide information to assist students in preparation for successful challenge of the NCLEX - RN Licensure examination.

NOTE: In order to progress through semesters, the student must earn a grade of a “C” or better in all general education and program courses. Students who wish to transfer to a 4‐year institution are advised to consult that institution regarding transferability.