Associate Degree in Nursing Program

Often called the backbone of the healthcare industry, registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, playing an essential role in their treatment and recovery. Students in ACC’s Associate Degree in Nursing program will be trained to do the following:

• Evaluate patients’ health problems and needs
• Provide care to ill, injured, convalescing, or disabled patients
• Administer treatment and medications
• Educate patients and their families on health maintenance and disease prevention¹

¹California Employment Development Department Detailed Guide, Registered Nurses in California in California

If you have a passion for helping others in their time of need, nursing might be right for you. Here are some of the top skills and attributes that make for a great registered nurse:

Service orientation – A great nurse has a passion for helping patients and for providing the best care possible.

Communication – Nurses must be able to communicate accurately with patients, doctors and fellow nurses.

Critical thinking – Nurses use critical thinking skills to make decisions on the job and find solutions.

Time management – Time management helps nurses balance their different tasks and provide timely care when needed by their patients.

Customer and personal service – Nurses provide more than just physical care. They provide emotional support for their patients. Good customer and personal service skills can help them provide better patient-centered care.

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

• General medical and surgical hospitals
• Outpatient care centers
• Home health care services
• Nursing care facilities
• Physicians’ offices

¹California Employment Development Department Detailed Guide, Registered Nurses in California in California

Graduates of the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program may pursue a variety of nursing positions. Here are some additional examples:

Addiction nurses care for patients who need help to overcome addictions to alcohol, drugs, tobacco and other substances.

Cardiovascular nurses care for patients with heart disease and people who have had heart surgery.

Critical care nurses work in intensive care units in hospitals, providing care to patients with serious, complex and acute illnesses and injuries that need very close monitoring and treatment.

Genetics nurses provide screening, counseling and treatment of patients with genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis.

Neonatology nurses take care of newborn babies.

Nephrology nurses care for patients who have kidney-related health issues stemming from diabetes, high blood pressure, substance abuse or other causes.

Rehabilitation nurses care for patients with temporary or permanent disabilities.

This is a 20-month associate degree program. The ADN program is composed of eight 10-week quarters.

Upon completion of the program, you can apply to the state to take the NCLEX-RN exam. Once you have passed the NCLEX-RN exam, you will receive your RN from the state.

No pre-requisite classes are required. All general education and core nursing classes are included in the program.

No, the ADN program is currently only offered as a full-time program.

A high school diploma or completion of a High School Equivalency program is required to apply.

All applicants are required to take the HESI exam, which consists of three sections: Math, Reading Comprehension and Science. A score of 75% or higher is required for admission. If the applicant does not achieve a passing score on the second attempt on the HESI exam, they must wait three months from the date of the last attempt to take the HESI a third time and would be applying for admission to the next cohort.

Information regarding how to obtain this clearance will be given to the applicant during the admissions interview. Health screening examinations, pathology tests (if applicable), drug testing, and/or immunizations for the associate degree programs are conducted on campus prior to clinical assignments. A background check is done after enrollment. Though a prior background will not prevent you from starting the program, depending on the offense, it could prevent placement at a clinical site and present difficulty obtaining your license.

No, this is not a completion or bridge program.

ACC has a transfer policy to review transcripts to assess if credits will be transferred. We cover this in more detail in our info sessions. You may schedule an info session to learn more and speak with an admissions advisor.

View the ADN program start date calendar to learn more.

*Each class has a set number of seats available and it is possible that classes can be filled in advance of a start date. You may schedule an info session here to learn more and speak with an admissions advisor.

Not entirely. Some of the courses are offered in a blended format combining online classwork with in-person labs.

The nursing program is divided into eight 10-week quarters and is in a blended format with each course sharing a percentage of instruction online and a percentage of instruction face-to-face. Graduates of this college program may pursue entry-level positions as registered nurses in a variety of health care settings. In addition to general education courses, core courses in American Career College's Associate Degree in Nursing program include:

Human Anatomy* – Provides an in-depth introduction to the physiology of the human body. Provides students an opportunity to study the functions and physiological mechanisms of several important organ systems from the molecular level to the body’s gross entirety. Organ systems are studied with respect to their interactions under normal and abnormal conditions. Major topics include cell function, tissues, organization of the human body and physiology of all body systems.

General Microbiology* – Representative examples of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and multicellular parasites are studied, with special concentration given to microorganisms that are significant to human health. Aspects of classification, metabolism, genetics, control mechanisms, chemotherapy and antibiotic/resistance are considered. Topics covered include principles of infectious disease transmission, immunology, biotechnology, bioterrorism and environmental remediation.

Fundamentals of Nursing* – The purpose of this course is to understand the practical science of nursing as it applies to caring for patients through the continuum from illness to wellness using Dorothea Orem’s Theory of Self-Care and the three important nursing systems: wholly compensatory, partial compensatory and supportive-educative. The Nursing Process, legal and ethical considerations, patient rights/privacy, growth and development as related to the patient’s therapeutic self-care demands are introduced. This course also provides basic patient care skills and focuses on the essential principles and practices of safe, effective care in the multifaceted and multicultural nursing field.

Introduction to Psychology* – Introduction to scientific study of behavior, lifespan development, learning & cognition, personality, social interaction, psychotherapy and other selected topics.

Introduction to Sociology* – This course questions basic sociological concepts, such as socialization and culture; social organizations; stability and change in societies; cooperation and conflict among human groups; and religious, political, economic, technical and scientific institutions. Sociological concepts and issues such as culture and subculture; development of the self; gender and age roles; social class and caste; groups, communities, collectives and organizations; deviance; racism; human institutions: family, religion, education, government, economics and population change in society are discussed.

Advanced Medical/Surgical Nursing* – The purpose of this course is to present the principles of nursing care utilizing the nursing process and concepts of Orem’s Theory of Self-Care. The focus will include assessment, identifying the client’s universal self-care requisites: air, water, food, elimination, activity, social interaction, safety and normalcy in the adult and geriatric patient. The three models of nursing systems recognized by Orem’s Nursing System Theory will be addressed: wholly compensatory, partial compensatory and supportive-educative. Students will gain theoretical knowledge using the nursing process for patient-centered, evidence-based nursing care of adult and geriatric patients with critical health deviations related to sensory (neurological disorders, spinal cord injuries, CVA, brain tumors and cranial surgeries) and cardiorespiratory disorders (acid-base balance, ARDS, COPD, VAP, pulmonary hypertension, tension, hemo, and pneumothorax, pulmonary edema, chest trauma, thoracic surgical, dysrhythmias, AMI, ACS, CHF, valve disease and aneurysms), maintenance of central venous catheters and blood transfusions. Content threaded throughout the course includes cultural diversity, nutrition, pharmacology, patient advocacy, and physical/behavioral/social aspects of human development.

Other core courses in the school's program include:

College Mathematics I*

Professional Communication & Role Transition Seminar

Human Physiology*

Fundamentals of Nursing, Clinical

For a complete description of coursework in these modules, please refer to the ACC Catalog.

Our admissions advisors and financial aid advisors are here to support you. They can help you figure out the ADN school cost and help you explore financial aid options.

To learn more about ACC’s Associate Degree in Nursing program cost, access our tuition info.

Yes, financial aid and scholarships are available to those who qualify. We have financial aid advisors that can provide you with information regarding financial aid options ranging from government-backed loans, private loans, scholarships, support for members of active-duty military, and employer reimbursement. All financial aid options are subject to student eligibility. You would need to apply to determine what you qualify for.

You can call (877) 832-0790 or click here to schedule a virtual info session to learn more about the Associate Degree in Nursing program.

Yes! ACC's ADN program includes over 800 hours of clinicals, giving students the opportunity to demonstrate and reinforce the knowledge and skills they acquired learning hands-on throughout the training program.