Associate Degree Nursing (AAS), Registered Nursing (A45110)
The Associate Degree Nursing curriculum provides knowledge, skills, and strategies to integrate safety and quality into nursing care, to practice in a dynamic environment, and to meet individual needs which impact health, quality of life, and achievement of potential.
Coursework includes and builds upon the domains of healthcare, nursing practice, and the holistic individual. Content emphasizes the nurse as a member of the interdisciplinary team providing safe, individualized care while employing evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and informatics.
Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Employment opportunities are vast within the global healthcare system and may include positions within acute, chronic, extended, industrial, and community healthcare facilities.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
The associate degree nursing program at Cleveland Community College located in Shelby, North Carolina is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate degree nursing program is initial accreditation.
Associate Degree Nursing Program Outcomes
Licensure Pass Rate
| Year |
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate |
| 2024 |
93% |
| 2025 |
87% |
Program Completion
| Admit Year |
Graduation Year |
Admitted Students |
Graduated with Cohort |
Completion Rate % |
| 2022 |
2024 |
77 |
60 |
78% |
| 2023 |
2025 |
66 |
51 |
78% |
Job Placement Rates
| Graduation Year |
Employment Rate Within Six Months of Graduation |
| 2024 |
100% |
Admission and Selection Criteria
CCC has established admissions and selection procedures to ensure students are admitted and selected in a consistent and equitable manner. Completion of these requirements will not guarantee admission to the program. All applicants are encouraged to attend a Health Sciences Symposium, which is held in June and November, to learn more information about the program.
All admissions criteria must be completed and submitted to the Admissions Office prior to the program deadline. The deadline is January 25.
Admission Requirements
- Application to the College and NC Residency
- Reading/English: Meet one of the following to demonstrate proficiency:
• Completion of prerequisites to be eligible to register for ENG 111 without corequisite (or currently enrolled)
• Completion of ENG 111 or equivalent with a minimum of "C"
• Have a 2.8 or higher unweighted high school GPA
• Provide satisfactory placement test scores
• Provide proof of completion of an associate or bachelor's degree (if applicable)
• TEAS Score of 65 or higher
Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) Testing Information
The TEAS is designed specifically to assess the preparedness of students applying to a health sciences program. TEAS scores are good for 5 years and must have a minimum of 30 days between each test. Students must register for the test through ATI at www.atitesting.com.
TEAS testing information:
- Paper and pencil will be provided
- No smartwatches or any other programmable devices are allowed
- Cell phones must be turned off
- No food or drink allowed, unless medically necessary
- Photo ID required
- ATI login information
Post-Provisional Acceptance Requirements
An email notification of provisional acceptance will be sent by February 20. The following must be completed to satisfy acceptance requirements:
- Attend nursing orientation
- Complete CCC Health Sciences Medical Form
- Criminal background check and 12-panel drug screen obtained through a secure compliance tracking database
- The following immunizations are required (more information will be provided during orientation):
- Complete 2-Step TB Test or IGRA
- Hepatitis B
- Influenza (required between 9/1 - 10/31) or of current Influenza Season
- Varicella
- Td or TDaP
- MMR
- CPR Certification will be offered the first week of class (first fall semester only) and must remain current throughout the program.
- Verification of current PN licensure or Nurse Aide I certification with no substantiated findings is required for entry in program. Once admitted, students are not required to remain on the Nurse Aide I registry through the duration of the program.
- Comply with the Technical Standards outlined for the program
- Highly recommended for all students to have health insurance
Clinical facilities may require criminal background checks, drug screenings, and/or proof of US citizenship prior to or during participation in the clinical portion of the program. A student who is unable to complete the clinical portion of the program will not be able to graduate. Criminal background checks, drug screenings, credit checks, and/or proof of US citizenship may also be required after graduation by examination boards, state licensing boards, and employing agencies.
Essential Functions and Technical Standards
Purpose Statement
The provided text outlines the essential standards and expectations for students in a clinical program. It emphasizes the need for students to demonstrate cognitive, critical thinking, interpersonal, behavioral, physical, and communication skills required for high-quality patient care. Reasonable accommodations for documented disabilities are considered, but students must independently meet performance standards set by clinical sites and the college. Failure to meet these standards may prevent program completion. The standards reflect job requirements for entry-level professionals and ensure patient safety. Examples are illustrative but not exhaustive.
| Capability |
Standard |
Examples of Technical Standard Found in the Program and Related to Industry |
| Cognitive Ability/Critical Thinking Skills |
|
Nursing students will be involved in acquiring knowledge, processing information, and making decisions. They include analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing data to solve problems, form judgments, and create solutions.
|
|
Gather information, analyze cause-effect relationships, monitor health changes, and set goals with interventions. |
| Tactile Skills |
Sense of touch sufficient to discern information.
|
Perform a physical assessment, palpation, monitor skin temperature |
| Visual Skills: Visual ability to monitor and assess patient care needs. |
Observe patient responses to treatment.
Detect changes in skin color.
Read sphygmomanometer. |
| Mobility/Motor Skills |
Demonstrate dexterity, coordination, and strength to perform nursing tasks safely, including handling up to 50 pounds. |
Ability to lift, transfer, or adjust patients safely—the ability to walk, bend, stretch, and stand for extended periods. |
| Auditory Skills |
Hearing ability to monitor and assess health needs. |
Hear equipment/emergency alarms and calls for assistance.
Listen to heart, lung, and blood pressure sounds. |
| Visual Skills |
Visual ability to monitor and assess patient care needs. |
Observe patient responses to treatment.
Detect changes in skin color.
Read sphygmomanometer. |
| Interpersonal and Behavioral Skills |
Interact effectively with diverse groups, maintain emotional stability under stress, adapt to change, and build professional relationships. |
Demonstrate sound judgment, timely care, accountability, adaptability to feedback, respect for patients, teamwork, and professionalism.
|
| Communication Skills |
Communicate effectively in English using verbal, nonverbal, and written formats with others. |
Answer questions, document patient data accurately, use proper terminology, interpret orders, record responses, and practice active listening.
|
| Occupational Exposure |
Manage multiple roles under stress while ensuring safety through proper precautions against hazards and infectious materials.
|
To encounter harmful substances -bloodborne pathogens, infectious diseases, hazardous chemicals. Potentially harmful needlestick injuries, exposure to bodily fluids, and exposure to airborne contaminants while caring for patients. Legal/ethical dilemmas. Liability issues. |
Traditional Pathway Fees - Estimated Total Cost for Program
| Fee Description |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
| Tuition (NUR Courses Only) |
$1748.00 |
$1520.00 |
| Program Fee (ATI Fee) |
$1540.00 |
$0 |
| Lab Fees |
$72.00 |
$36.00 |
| Background, Drug Screen, & Immunization Tracker |
$144.00 |
$82.00 |
| Clinical Tracker |
$40.00 |
$40.00 |
| Health Sciences Fee (Uniforms Included) |
$200.00 |
$0 |
| Malpractice Insurance |
$16.00 |
$16.00 |
| CPR Card |
$10.00 |
$0 |
| Textbooks (NUR Courses Only For Both Years) |
$400.00 - $800.00 |
$0 |
| Pinning Fee |
$0 |
$75.00 |
| Estimated Total |
$4170.00 - $4570.00 |
$1769.00 |
| Estimated Grand Total (2 Years) |
$5939.00-$6339.00 |
Understanding the Ranking Process
When all admissions requirements have been met, qualified applicants are ranked using a point system. Enrollment in related courses is not required for acceptance; however, extra points will be awarded for each related course, completed by the deadline, based on the grade earned in the course. If the course is repeated, the highest grade earned will be used in the ranking.
- A = 4 points
- B = 3 points
- C = 2 points (no points are awarded for grades lower than C)
AP credit is based on the individual scores:
- 5 = 4 points
- 4 = 3 points
- 3 = 2 points (no points are awarded for scores lower than 3)
Related course points will be added to the total TEAS score for the ranking. Applicants with the highest ranked scores will be accepted. In the event of a tie, a Traditional Pathway applicant with the highest science score on the TEAS will be ranked higher, and the GPA will be used for LPN to ADN Pathway applicants. An alternate list will be maintained in ranking order. Alternates will only be accepted if a space becomes available. Applicants not admitted to the program must reapply. The below charts can be used to track related course points based on pathway.
Related courses for Traditional Pathway:
Reentry Process
For students seeking reentry to the Associate Degree Nursing program:
- All requests for reentry into the nursing program must be approved by the Admissions Office and the Nursing Director prior to implementation.
- Only one reentry will be considered for the nursing program.
Applied and Not Accepted to Program
Students not selected to the program may reapply for the next year by completing a new health sciences application. All applications for admission must be updated annually.
Grading Policy
All NUR Courses must receive a grade of B or higher, and all other courses in the program must receive a grade of C or higher.
Traditional Pathway Course and Hour Requirements
Major Courses
| BIO 169 | Anatomy and Physiology II |
3
|
3
| | 4 |
| BIO 275 | Microbiology |
3
|
3
| | 4 |
| NUR 111 | Intro to Health Concepts |
4
|
6
|
6
| 8 |
| NUR 112 | Health-Illness Concepts |
3
|
0
|
6
| 5 |
| NUR 113 | Family Health Concepts |
3
|
0
|
6
| 5 |
| NUR 114 | Holistic Health Concepts |
3
|
0
|
6
| 5 |
| NUR 211 | Healthcare Concepts |
3
|
0
|
6
| 5 |
| NUR 212 | Health System Concepts |
3
|
0
|
6
| 5 |
| NUR 213 | Complex Health Concepts |
4
|
3
|
15
| 10 |
Total Major Hours: 51
General Education Courses
Communications:
| ENG 111 | Writing and Inquiry |
3
|
0
| | 3 |
| ENG 112 | Writing/Research in the Disciplines |
3
|
0
| | 3 |
Humanities/Fine Arts: Select One
Social/Behavioral Sciences:
Natural Sciences/Mathematics:
| BIO 168 | Anatomy and Physiology I |
3
|
3
| | 4 |
Total General Education Hours: 19
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION: 70
Traditional Pathway Suggested Sequence of Courses
FIRST YEAR
Fall Semester
| BIO 168 | Anatomy and Physiology I |
3
|
3
| | 4 |
| NUR 111 | Intro to Health Concepts |
4
|
6
|
6
| 8 |
| PSY 150 | General Psychology |
3
|
0
| | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: |
10
|
9
|
6
| 15 |
Spring Semester
| BIO 169 | Anatomy and Physiology II |
3
|
3
| | 4 |
| NUR 112 | Health-Illness Concepts |
3
|
0
|
6
| 5 |
| NUR 211 | Healthcare Concepts |
3
|
0
|
6
| 5 |
| Total Credit Hours: |
9
|
3
|
12
| 14 |
Summer Term
| ENG 111 | Writing and Inquiry |
3
|
0
| | 3 |
| NUR 114 | Holistic Health Concepts |
3
|
0
|
6
| 5 |
| PSY 241 | Developmental Psych |
3
|
0
| | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: |
9
|
0
|
6
| 11 |
SECOND YEAR
Fall Semester
| BIO 275 | Microbiology |
3
|
3
| | 4 |
| ENG 112 | Writing/Research in the Disciplines |
3
|
0
| | 3 |
| NUR 113 | Family Health Concepts |
3
|
0
|
6
| 5 |
| NUR 212 | Health System Concepts |
3
|
0
|
6
| 5 |
| Total Credit Hours: |
12
|
3
|
12
| 17 |
Spring Semester
| NUR 213 | Complex Health Concepts |
4
|
3
|
15
| 10 |
| | Humanities/Fine Arts Course* |
3
|
0
| | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: |
7
|
3
|
15
| 13 |
*See “Course and Hour Requirements”
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION: 70
| Degree | College Transfer |
Yes
|
No
|