Associate Degree Nursing Program (ADN/RN)

OPTION ONE – GENERIC

The generic option is a six-semester program for the applicant who has not completed prerequisite course work. The student will earn an associate degree in nursing. Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination.

OPTION TWO – LVN TO RN

The LVN to RN option is a three-semester program for the applicant with a valid California Vocational Nurse license who has completed prerequisite course work (science and general education courses) The first semester requires an LVN to RN transition to professional nursing course. The student applying to the LVN to RN option may receive some challenge credit for certain nursing courses. The nursing courses that the LVN to RN student may receive challenge credit for Foundations of Nursing (NUR 101), Medical Surgical Nursing I (NUR 102), Women’s health, OB and newborn care (NUR 204), Pediatric Nursing (NUR 203), Medical Surgical Nursing II (NUR 201), Nursing Lab I (NUR 104), Nursing Lab II (NUR 205, Pharmacology (NUR 103) and Advanced Pharmacology (NUR 202).

OPTION THREE – 30-UNIT

The 30-unit option (Non-Graduate) program is a three-semester program for the applicant with a valid California Vocational Nurse license, who wishes to quickly meet the requirements to take the NCLEX-RN examination as a non-graduate.

The program is designed to prepare students for employment as a Registered Nurse, providing direct care to patients. The LVN choosing this option should be aware that they may not change their status as a 30-unit option RN with the Board of Registered Nursing at any time after RN licensure. Individuals who become licensed as Registered Nurses using this option may not be eligible for licensure in states other than California and may have difficulty applying to a college/university for an advanced degree. This status will not restrict the practice of a Registered Nurse within California. The program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. See the Dean of Health Science and Nursing for further details.

The curriculum for the LVN 30-unit option is below.

LVN 30 Unit Option

Semester One (11 units)

• PYS 101 Physiology (5 units)
• MIC 101 Microbiology with lab (4 units)
• NUR 200 Role Transitions: LVN to RN (2units)

Semester Two (8 units)

• NUR 301 Medical Surgical Nursing III (4 units)
• NUR 302 Mental Health Nursing (3 units)
• NUR 303 Gerontological Nursing (3 units)

  Semester Three (11 units)

• NUR 401 Medical Surgical Nursing IV (6 units)
• NUR 402 Leadership and Professional Nursing (3 units)

Students applying as an LVN to RN, LVN 30-unit option or who have Military experience are allowed to challenge specified courses in the program and receive full academic credit. A Challenge Credit Request must be made in writingto the Campus Registrar prior to the scheduled start date for the course. Once a student has started a course, Challenge Credit will not be allowed. Students requesting to challenge a course will be required to pay a non-refundable fee of $200.00 at the time of request to schedule a challenge test.

Challenge examinations must be passed with a minimum score of 85%. If the student successfully completes the challenge examination, full academic credit will be granted, the course will be recorded on the student’s transcript with a “CC” and the applicable course credit hour charges will be deducted from the student’s total tuition cost. Challenge Credit courses are not counted in the CGPA. Challenging a course will affect a student’s scheduled completion date.

For Registered Nursing Applicants, a Petition for Challenge Credit must be filed with the Director of Nursing prior to the anticipated start date for the course to which Challenge Credit is being requested. Tuition charges will be decreased based on a prorated basis for credits granted to students receiving Challenge Credit.

High Desert Medical College will consider awarding credit for previous education and training that a student received, as it relates to the course(s) of a program in which the student is enrolled. A student must notify the Admissions Department at time of registration if requesting such credit. The Director of Nursing will review course descriptions and any transcripts provided by the student to arrive at a final decision. General education courses taken at another institution must have been passed with a “C” (2.0) or better and the former institution must be accredited by an agency recognized by either the U.S. Department of Education, Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE), or Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Science courses taken at another institution must have been passed with a “B: (3.0) or better and the former institution must be accredited by an agency recognized by either the U.S. Department of Education, Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE), or Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). If credit is awarded, the program length will be adjusted for that student, and a pro-rated tuition reduction will be made. Credits awarded for previous education will be limited by program.

A maximum of 75% of the required credits can be transferred. Transfer of Credit is not guaranteed and will be granted at the sole discretion of the Director of Education, appropriate Program Director or Director of Nursing of the college and dependent upon the type, length and correlation of content to the course being evaluated.

Student’s requesting Transfer Credit must:

• Complete a Transfer of Credit Request Form.
• Provide an official transcript from the granting College or University.
• Provide a detailed Course Description, Syllabus or Catalog describing the course(s).

Transfer Credit must be requested at the time of enrollment. If Transfer Credit is granted, the applicable course credit hour charges will be deducted from the student’s total tuition cost and the corresponding course will be listed on the student’s transcript with a grade of “TC”. Transfer credit courses are not counted in the CGPA. Transfer Credit will affect a student’s scheduled completion date. Students may appeal the decision of acceptance of transfer credit by written request to the Campus Director for review by a committee. A review and determination will be completed within 15 days and the student will be informed in writing.

Purpose:

This policy outlines the procedures and criteria for evaluating and transferring credit for military experience and experiential learning at High Desert Medical College ADN program. The policy aims to recognize the valuable skills and knowledge gained through military service and practical experiences, allowing eligible students to accelerate their academic progress.

Eligibility:

1. Military Experience: Students who have served in the military, including active duty, reserves, or National Guard, and have completed training or assignments relevant to their academic program may be eligible for credit transfer.

Individuals who have held Military Health Care Occupations, specifically:

• Basic Medical Technician Corpsman (Navy HM or Air Force BMTCP),
• Army Health Care Specialist (68W Army Medic) or
• Air Force Independent Duty Medical Technician (IMDT 4N0X1C)

1. Experiential Learning: Students who have engaged in substantial experiential learning, such as internships, co-op programs, or professional certifications, may also be eligible for credit transfer.

Applicants may seek advanced placement into the nursing program with documentation of education and experience qualifying them for the specific Military Health Care Occupation and upon successful completion of the challenge exam, dosage calculation exam and skills competency evaluation.

Requirements:

The veteran needs to have an “honorable discharge.”

Applicants must meet all general entrance requirements of the associate degree Nursing Program, including:

• An active application to the nursing program on file at the nursing office.
• completion of designated prerequisites including:
• A passing score (85%) on the HESI entrance exam.

The following pathways have been established to assist with obtaining nursing credit for previous education and experience:

Pathway I- Including but not limited to Basic Medical Technician (Navy Hospital Corpsman) or USAF Basic Medical Service Technician or Army Medical Specialist.

• Challenge exam per college policy for the first semester of the ADN program.
• High Desert Medical College allows a maximum of Nine courses that can be challenged