Nursing Associate Degree | Aims Community College (2024)

Congratulations to the May 2023 Aims Nursing graduates, who received a 97% pass rate on the NCLEX and 88% completion rate.

Earn a Two-Year Nursing Associate Degree at Aims

Turn your people skills and interest in health sciences into a fulfilling nursing career. Earn a nursing associate degree at Aims and get a job working as a nurse at a hospital, medical office or home healthcare company.

Nurses are an integral part of healthcare teams, working with doctors and other staff to ensure that patients receive quality and compassionate care. Nurses help patients by performing physical assessments, administering medications and assisting with medical tests and wound care.

While earning an associate degree in nursing, you will study subjects including:

  • Pharmacology
  • Nursing fundamentals
  • Medical and surgical nursing concepts
  • Nursing specialties, including psychiatric and maternal-child

In this two-year nursing school program, learn the scientific and practical hands-on skills required to become a registered nurse. Study theory in a classroom setting and immediately apply that knowledge in a lab setting. Get practice in applying critical thinking skills, providing patient care, and multitasking during an internship. Study the ethical standards of nursing and practice the art of communicating with patients and family members in a caring and therapeutic manner.

The Aims nursing degree program has specific requirements and prerequisites you’ll need to fulfill before applying.

The Aims nursing program has full approval status with the Colorado State Board of Nursing and has Continuing Accreditation with conditions by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

If you’d like to help people by becoming a member of a respected healthcare profession, the nursing associate degree program at Aims can start you on the path to a rewarding career.

See Nursing Associate Degree Requirements

Nursing Information Sessions

Information to discuss and answer any questions related to the 2024 nursing applications.

  • 2/20: Allied Health and Sciences, room 254, 9:00 am
  • 3/28: Allied Health and Sciences, room 250, 12:00 pm
  • 4/1: Allied Health and Sciences, room 254, 5:00 pm

Gain Vital Skills in the Art and Science of Nursing at Aims

Learn how to become a safe, competent nurse and prepare for an in-demand career in healthcare.

Aims Degree Video - Allied Health - Nursing Education

Katrina Einhellig, Director of Nursing Education programs at Aims, shares how you will get support you need for fundamental practical nursing skills like starting an IV and drawing blood and professional skills like how to remain calm under pressure. Gain hands-on experience in an environment where it's safe to learn from mistakes, and prepare for the certification exam after graduation.

Gain the Skills You Need To Prepare for a Nursing Career

The nursing associate degree program at Aims combines lectures, labs and an internship to give you the medical knowledge and hands-on training that will help you start your nursing career.

In this nursing school program, you’ll gain skills in:

  • Performing head-to-toe physical assessments
  • Giving patients a variety of medications and vaccinations
  • Inserting Foley catheters
  • Operating various medical equipment and medical computer systems

After studying a procedure in the classroom, you’ll gain hands-on guided practice in the lab. The Aims nursing lab has many of the same instruments and equipment you’ll use in the field, and lab simulators allow you to gain hands-on practice.

The nursing degree program also teaches you essential soft skills that employers desire. Gain practice thinking quickly in high-pressure and fast-paced environments. Learn how to present a professional demeanor and remain calm in a variety of medical situations.

In your second year, you’ll learn advanced concepts in medical and surgical nursing and pharmacology. The final semester includes a transitional capstone course in a clinical internship setting. Integrate and apply everything you’ve learned and practice managing multiple patients at once.

At the end of your second year, you’ll take a one-week seminar to prepare you for the National Council Licensure Examination - Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN), a national certification standard. Aims Community College has a 95% pass rate for the NCLEX-RN, which is 10% higher than the national average. After completing your nursing associate degree program, you’ll sit for the exam with confidence and become a certified registered nurse.

Learn more about nursing by attending an upcoming event

Enroll in the New LPN to RN Track

lpn

Are you a practicing Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) currently working in the field and looking to take your nursing career to the next level? Aims is excited to offer a new LPN to RN degree track for working LPNs who meet enrollment requirements.

You can apply for free in two easy steps:

  1. Apply to Aims
  2. Apply to the LPN to RN Program
    1. Make sure to submit your application betweenMarch 1, 2024, and March 29, 2024.

LPN to RN Program Timeline and Application Information

Once enrolled, you can earn your degree in less than one year, from June to the following May.

  • First, you’ll take the Nursing 1089 class during the summer semester.
  • Nursing 1089 is designed to help you transition from an LPN to the nursing associate degree program.
  • The rest of theprogram is identical toyear two of the Aims Nursing A.A.S. degree program.
  • In the following fall and spring, you’ll complete the third and fourth semesters of the traditional nursing program.
  • After that, you’ll graduate with an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Nursing.

For more information and for application information, email Katrina Einhellig at Katrina.Einhellig@aims.edu or call (970) 339-6234.

Gain Fundamental Nursing Skills with a Nursing Certificate

Certificates are a great way to acquire new skills in less time than a degree program requires. Aims offers nursing certificate options for students who want to become a licensed practical nurse instead of a registered nurse or are interested in becoming a nurse aide.

  • Practical Nursing Certificate

Explore the nursing certificates

Launch Your Nursing Career With an Associate Degree in Nursing

outcomes

Upon completing your associate degree in nursing, you'll attend a training program preparing you for the NCLEX RN exam. Upon passing, you can apply for jobs as a Registered Nurse (RN).

Registered nurses can work in a variety of environments, including:

  • Hospitals
  • Medical practices
  • Home health companies
  • Dialysis centers
  • Agencies as case managers

203,200 New nursing jobs annually through 2031 Bureau of Labor Statistics

Upon graduation with an Associate in Applied Sciences degree with a Nursing major, the graduate will demonstrate the following competencies and be eligible to apply to take the NCLEX-RN.

  1. Provide safe, quality, evidence-based, person-centered nursing care in a variety of healthcare settings to diverse patient populations across the lifespan.
  2. Engage in critical thinking and demonstrate clinical judgment to make person-centered care decisions.
  3. Implement quality measures to improve patient care.
  4. Participate in collaborative relationships with members of the interprofessional team, the patient, and the patient’s support persons.
  5. Use patient care technology to communicate, educate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, support decision-making, and enhance information literacy.
  6. Provide leadership and advocacy in a variety of healthcare settings for diverse patient populations.
  7. Assimilateprofessional identity, legal, and ethical guidelines in practice as a professional nurse.
  8. Promote a culture that provides holistic, equitable, inclusive, and culturally-sensitive care to diverse populations.

$86,590 Mean annual wage in CO, May 2022 Bureau of Labor Statistics

Earning your associate degree in nursing and passing the NCLEX RN exam lets you start your nursing career and provides a foundation for furthering your education. If you decide to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing, you can work in leadership or teaching, or you can go on to pursue a master’s degree in nursing and become a nurse practitioner.

Nursing - Student Testimonial - Kristina Richardson

Watch Aims graduate Kristina Richardson talk about her time at Aims Community College and her journey through the nursing school program.

Nursing Faculty and Staff

The Aims nursing faculty are experienced in various medical settings and will bring that experience to life for you in the classroom and lab. Smaller class sizes offer you ample opportunities for one-on-one instruction and guided practice learning new nursing skills.

  • Nursing Associate Degree | Aims Community College (1)

    Katrina Einhellig

    Director, Nursing Education Program (DNEP)

    Read Katrina Einhellig's Bio

  • Nursing Associate Degree | Aims Community College (2)

    Jenna Bernklau

    Instructor, Nursing

  • Nursing Associate Degree | Aims Community College (3)

    Ani Matt

    Nursing Professor

  • Nursing Associate Degree | Aims Community College (4)

    April Fulton

    Nursing Faculty

  • Nursing Associate Degree | Aims Community College (5)

    Sheila Mayeda

    Staff Associate, Nursing

  • Nursing Associate Degree | Aims Community College (6)

    Laurie Casey

    Instructional Lab Coordinator I, Nurse Aide, Med Prep

  • Nursing Associate Degree | Aims Community College (7)

    Kendra Merriott

    Program Coordinator II, Nurse Aide, Med Prep

  • Nursing Associate Degree | Aims Community College (8)

    Sarah Zeller

    Instructor, Nursing

Nursing Associate Degree | Aims Community College (2024)

FAQs

Is an associates degree in nursing enough? ›

A registered nurse is able to practice within their field with only an associates degree, but a BSN is the preferred level of education for many nurse specialties throughout the medical career landscape.

What degree is a nursing associate? ›

To become a registered nursing associate, individuals must pass a foundation degree awarded by an NMC-approved provider, typically taken over two years.

How long is RN school in Colorado? ›

How long does it take to become an RN in Colorado? Every licensed RN in Colorado must complete an accredited RN program in Colorado before taking the NCLEX-RN. An ADN takes around 2-3 years to complete, while a BSN typically lasts four years. The NCLEX-RN tests nurses' patient care skills and knowledge.

Does Metropolitan Community College have a nursing program? ›

The Associate Degree Nursing program at MCC prepares students to become a registered nurse in the healthcare world. Students will learn best practices for helping patients and providing care through instruction, labs and clinical experience.

Is a 2 year nursing degree worth it? ›

Is Getting an RN Associate Degree Worth It? An ADN can be worth pursuing if you want to become a registered nurse and begin working in the field as soon as possible. It's the quickest path to working as a registered nurse and provides you with the real-world skills you'll need to provide excellent patient care.

Is an ADN the same as an RN? ›

An ADN is an entry-level nursing degree. This two-year program, typically offered at community colleges, provides the core training and knowledge to become an RN. Although most ADNs take two years to complete, some schools offer accelerated programs you can finish in 18 months.

Can nursing associates give injections? ›

Once they have completed the competencies required by the Trust, qualified nursing associates are able to administer medications via a variety of routes, including: oral. topical. subcutaneously and intramuscularly.

What is the difference between a RN with an associates and a bachelor's? ›

The primary difference between RNs who earn an associate's degree and RNs who have earned a BSN degree is the educational requirements. Compared to a two-year associate degree program, a BSN program is typically going to cost more and take longer to complete.

Can you do nursing associate part time? ›

Please note: Foundation years can only be studied full-time. However, you can transfer to part-time delivery once you have completed your foundation year.

What is the shortest time to become an RN? ›

Many entering the nursing profession start as generalist RNs before moving to other roles. You can become an RN in two years, but many employers now prefer nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which takes four years to complete.

How much does it cost to become an RN in Colorado? ›

Total Tuition & Fees
Total Tuition$37,754
Clinical Fee$750
Simulation Lab Fee$775
Graduation Fee$250
TOTAL COST$44,220
7 more rows

How long is the RN exam? ›

The NCLEX-RN is a variable-length exam, with a minimum of 70 questions and a maximum of 135. The exam continues until the testing algorithm determines with a 95% confidence level that your ability is either above or below the passing standard. Test-takers have five hours to complete the exam (including breaks).

Can I study nursing in a Community College in USA? ›

The Associates Degree in Nursing, or the ADN, continues to be one of the most popular avenues to a solid career as a nurse. Community colleges across the country remain the stronghold for delivery of these programs. But besides the ADN degree track most community colleges also provide a practical nurse program.

Is Metropolitan Community College a 2 year college? ›

Overview. Metropolitan Community College is a 2-year, public teachers college/college of education. This coed college is located in an urban setting and is primarily a commuter campus. It offers certificate and associate degrees.

What is Metropolitan Community College known for? ›

Metropolitan Community College, founded in 1915 as the Kansas City Polytechnic Institute, is the oldest public institution of higher learning in Kansas City, MO. We are proud of our history as the first community college established in Missouri and one of the first colleges in the country to award an associate degree.

Is getting an ASN worth it? ›

Is Nursing School Worth it? The short answer is, yes. An ASN can be worth it if your goal is to become a Registered Nurse (RN). If nursing is the career direction for you, then an Associate of Science in Nursing degree is one of the fastest ways to get there.

Can you take the NCLEX RN with an associate's degree? ›

Can you take the NCLEX with an associate's degree? Yes, ADN graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN to become licensed nurses.

What are the benefits of an associate's degree in nursing? ›

An associate degree in nursing provides a shorter path to becoming a registered nurse (RN). Typically, a two-year degree, an associate degree in nursing provides fundamental nursing skills and clinical training to prepare students for entry-level positions.

Is an ADN good enough? ›

Room for Advancement

Though both ADN and BSN degrees are sufficient to obtain an RN license, an ADN works well when you're content with your career as it is. On the other hand, you'll need your BSN if you want to move up the career ladder by obtaining an advanced practice degree or pursuing a leadership position.

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