Nursing (ADN), Associate Degree

Program Location Miami
Program Credits 67 Credits
Program Length 4 Semesters, 80 Instructional Weeks
Time to Complete 20 Months

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code: 29-1141.00

Associate degree nursing education provides the basic education necessary to become a registered nurse.  Graduates are eligible to sit for NCLEX-RN licensing examination and, if licensed, may practice in structured care settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, and offices.  Associate degree nursing education incorporates nursing knowledge, knowledge of key biological and social sciences, and study of the humanities.  The length of the program is 20 months and 67 total credits.

Clinical requirements

  1. In the clinical setting, critical competencies include Therapeutic Nursing, Skills/Safety, the Nursing Process, Accountability and Responsibility, Communication and Collaboration, and Professional Growth and Development.  The curriculum includes 14 semester credits of clinical course work totaling 630 hours of clinical practice.
  2. Students must pass both theory and the concurrent clinical with at least a 76 percent to progress to the next term.
  3. Clinical competencies are written that define and describe the level of competency for the beginning, intermediate and advanced level of nursing student.
  4. The curriculum offers a progressive level of theoretical instruction and supervised clinical practice, which ranges from common to complex, and ensures coverage of critical concepts that directly reflect the mission, philosophy, and objectives of the nursing program.

LPN to ADN Admissions Pathway Curriculum

LPN applicants will receive 3 credits of General Eduation requirements and 7 credits of Nursing Core requirements for a total of 10 credits towards the ADN program.  

LPN applicants are not required to submit earned science baccalaureate degree or higher but must provide proof of an unencumbered license to practice as a Vocational Nurse in Florida as well as official transcripts from completed LPN Program.

 

General Education Requirements

All science courses must have been taken within the last five calendar years, unless the student possesses a degree or advanced degree in the specific field of study for which the student is seeking transfer credit.  Additional information regarding transfer credit is located in the university's catalog under Transfer Credit policy or below.

Category and Requirements WCU Course Requirements Transferable / Options
Foundational Course FHE 100 (3):  Foundations of Higher Education (Starting Spring II 2023) Non-transferable (not required for students taking part in LPN to ADN Pathway) starting Spring II 2024
A.  Written Communications
(3 Semester Credits Minimum)
*ENGL 140 (3):  Written Communication I Equivalent to ENGL 140

 

D. Quantitative Literacy
(3 Semester Credits)
MATH 108 (3):  College Mathematics I Equivalent to MATH 108
E. Social and Behavioral Sciences Awareness
(3 Semester Credits Minimum)
  Equivalent to PSYC 290
G. Scientific Reasoning
(12 Semester Credits Minimum)

ANAT 260 (4):  Human Anatomy

PHYS 261 (4):  Human Physiology


MICR 290 (4):  General Microbiology

Equivalent to ANAT 26

Equivalent to PHYS 261 Non-Transferable (prior to Spring II 2024; Equivalent to PHYS 261 (starting Spring II 2024)

Equivalent to MICR 290

A minimum of 24 credits is required for graduation.

*As of April 2019, this course will be delivered online, asynchronously, through the institution's Learning Management System except where otherwise authorized by the Program Dean/Director.

General Education within Area of Study

PATH 370 Pathophysiology

Total Credit Hours: 3

1The following courses are to be taken at WCU:  FHE 100, PATH 370, PHYS 261 (Prior to Spring II 2024) NURS 121L-A, NURS 121L-B (Starting Spring II 2024)

Core Nursing Courses

Effective Spring II 2024
NURS 100Fundamentals of Nursing

3

NURS 101LFundamentals of Nursing Skills Lab

2

NURS 121L-AIntroduction to Medical Surgical Nursing Practicum

2

NURS 121L-BIntroduction to Medical Surgical Nursing Practicum - On-Campus

1

NURS 180Pharmacology

3

NURS 190Physical Assessment

2

NURS 201Medical Surgical Nursing-Promoting Wellness

3

NURS 211LMedical Surgical Nursing

3

NURS 222Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing: Promoting Wellness in the Mentally Ill

3

NURS 223LMental Health/Psychiatric Nursing: Promoting Wellness Practicum

2

NURS 225Nutrition in Health and Disease

3

NURS 306Expanding Family and Community (OB)

2

NURS 307Developing Family and Community (PEDS)

2

NURS 316L-AExpanding and Developing Family and Community Practicum (OB)

1.5

NURS 317L-ADeveloping Family and Community Practicum (PEDS)

1.5

NURS 420Principles of Leadership and Management

3

NURS 493*Integration of Nursing Concepts

3

Total Credit Hours:40.0
 

Prior to Spring II 2024
NURS 103Fundamentals of Nursing

3

NURS 104LFundamentals of Nursing Skills Lab

2

NURS 122Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing

3

NURS 123LIntroduction to Medical Surgical Nursing Practicum

3

NURS 181Pharmacology

3

NURS 191Physical Assessment

2

NURS 208Medical Surgical Nursing Older Adult

3

NURS 223Mental Health/Older Adult Nursing

3

NURS 224LMedical Surgical & Mental Health Nursing Care of the Older Adult Practicum

3

NURS 308Expanding and Developing Family

4

NURS 318LExpanding and Developing Family Practicum

3

NURS 424Principles of Leadership and Management

2

NURS 482Advanced Medical Surgical Nursing

3

NURS 483LAdvanced Medical Surgical Nursing Practicum

3

NURS 484Capstone

0

Total Credit Hours:40.0
 

Program Credit Distribution

General Education Semester Credits 
24.0 
General Education Semester Credits w/in Area of Study  3.0 
Core Nursing Credits
40.0
Total Program Semester Credits 67.0

ADN Program Costs

For program costs, please see the Undergraduate Tuition and Fees section.