The Registered Nursing Program is offered for qualified men and women to prepare for staff nurse positions in hospitals and similar health agencies. It is approved by the California State Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Graduation from SBCC with an Associate Degree and a major in Nursing qualifies graduates to take the State Board Examination for licensure as a registered nurse.

The program includes progression through a four semester course of study in preparation for RN licensure. Nursing courses offered on campus are integrated with clinical nursing experience in community hospitals and health agencies. Advanced placement is dependent on past experience, clinical competence and knowledge of nursing content. A nursing course may be challenged based on a student's prior education or experience in accordance with college policy. Completion of the program requires a "C" minimum in all required and support courses, and a 2.0 average in all coursework taken at SBCC.

A separate application to the ADN program is required. Applications are available on the SBCC School of Nursing web page. Official High School transcripts or GED results, official college transcripts showing completion of program prerequisites, and official college transcripts from all colleges attended must be submitted to the Health Technologies Office. Information meetings regarding application, curriculum, etc. are held one time each month during the school year. Please see the SBCC ADN website for dates and times. 

Associate Degree Graduation Requirements

Complete all of the following:

1. All Department Requirements listed below with a “C” or better or “P” in each course (at least 50% of the department requirements must be completed through SBCC).
2. One of the following three General Education options:
   1. OPTION 1: A minimum of 18 units of SBCC General Education Requirements (Areas A-D) and Institutional Requirements (Area E) and Information Competency Requirement (Area F) OR
   2. OPTION 2: IGETC Pattern OR
   3. OPTION 3: CSU GE Breadth Pattern
3. A total of 60 degree-applicable units (SBCC courses numbered 100 and higher).
4. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all units attempted at SBCC.
5. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all college units attempted.
6. A total of 12 units through SBCC.

Program Prerequisites: Required before admission

• Overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 
• English 110 or 110H with a “C” or better
• Biomedical Sciences 107 with a “C” or better within 7 years
• Biomedical Sciences 108 with a “C” or better within 7 years
• Biomedical Sciences 127 or 157 with a “C” or better within 7 years (Note: Chemistry 101 or 104 is a prerequisite for BMS 127 – Medical Microbiology and for BMS 157 – General Microbiology)
• A minimum composite score of 62% on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)
• Once accepted, satisfactory physical examination and current immunizations must be submitted

** For students entering the ADN program without LVN license. 

RN

These courses must be completed with a C or better to graduate and to qualify to take the California State Board Exam for RN (N-CLEX)

BSN

 For transfer to a BSN program, the following courses are recommended: COMM 131 or 131H and SOC 101 or 101H or check individual BSN program for options.

¹

COMM 141 was approved by Nursing as a substitute to meet the Communication requirement in lieu of COMM 121, 121H, 122, 131 or 131H.

²

 ANTH 103 was approved by Nursing as a substitute to meet the Sociology requirement in lieu of SOC 101 or 101H or 113.

Note: Students who earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution AND who are following the SBCC General Education Option (not IGETC or CSU GE) are exempt from taking the following general education areas: Area C (Humanities), Area E2 (American Institutions), Area E3 (Physical/Health Education), Area E5 (Multicultural/Gender Studies), Area F (Information Competency).

Associate Degree Graduation Requirements

Complete all of the following:

1. All Department Requirements listed below with a “C” or better or “P” in each course (at least 50% of the department requirements must be completed through SBCC).
2. One of the following three General Education options:
   1. OPTION 1: A minimum of 18 units of SBCC General Education Requirements (Areas A-D) and Institutional Requirements (Area E) and Information Competency Requirement (Area F) OR
   2. OPTION 2: IGETC Pattern OR
   3. OPTION 3: CSU GE Breadth Pattern
3. A total of 60 degree-applicable units (SBCC courses numbered 100 and higher).
4. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all units attempted at SBCC.
5. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all college units attempted.
6. A total of 12 units through SBCC.

Program Prerequisites: Required before admission

• Overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 
• English 110 or 110H with a “C” or better
• Biomedical Sciences 107 with a “C” or better within 7 years
• Biomedical Sciences 108 with a “C” or better within 7 years
• Biomedical Sciences 127 or 157 with a “C” or better within 7 years (Note: Chemistry 101 or 104 is a prerequisite for BMS 127 – Medical Microbiology and for BMS 157 – General Microbiology)
• A minimum composite score of 62% on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)
• Once accepted, satisfactory physical examination and current immunizations must be submitted

** For students entering the ADN program with LVN license.  LVN to ADN students start the program with the Semester 2 ADN cohort. During their first semester in the program, LVN to ADN students complete NURS 119 and NURS 165. During their second and third semesters in the program, LVN to ADN students complete the same courses as the students in Semesters 3 and 4 of the ADN cohort .

RN

These courses must be completed with a C or better to graduate and to qualify to take the California State Board Exam for RN (N-CLEX).

BSN

 For transfer to a BSN program, the following courses are recommended: COMM 131 or 131H and SOC 101 or 101H or check individual BSN program for options.

¹

COMM 141 was approved by Nursing as a substitute to meet the Communication requirement in lieu of COMM 121, 121H, 122, 131 or 131H.

²

 ANTH 103 was approved by Nursing as a substitute to meet the Sociology requirement in lieu of SOC 101 or 101H or 113.

Note: Students who earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution AND who are following the SBCC General Education Option (not IGETC or CSU GE) are exempt from taking the following general education areas: Area C (Humanities), Area E2 (American Institutions), Area E3 (Physical/Health Education), Area E5 (Multicultural/Gender Studies), Area F (Information Competency).

1. Evaluate nursing care provided to patients, families, groups, populations, and communities from diverse backgrounds in a variety of settings to ensure that it is compassionate, age and culturally appropriate and based on a patient's preferences, values and needs.
2. Collaborate with members of the inter-professional health care team to manage and coordinate the provision of safe, quality care for patients, families, and groups. 
3. Demonstrate use of best current evidence and clinical expertise when making clinical decisions in the provision of patient-centered care.
4. Utilize evidence-based quality improvement processes to effect change in the delivery of patient- centered care.
5. Demonstrate effective use of strategies to mitigate errors and reduce the risk of harm to patients, self, and others in healthcare, home, and community settings.
6. Utilize evidence-based information and patient care technology to communicate relevant patient information, manage care and mitigate error in the provision of safe, quality patient-centered care.
7. Assimilate integrity and accountability into practices that uphold established regulatory, legal, and ethical principles while providing patient-centered, standard-based nursing care.
8. Utilize leadership, management and priority-setting skills in the provision and management of safe, quality patient-centered care.
9. Utilize verbal and nonverbal communication strategies with patients, families, and groups from diverse backgrounds that promote an effective exchange of information and the development of therapeutic relationships.

Make an appointment with your SBCC academic counselor through Starfish to create a Student Education Plan that reflects a recommended course sequence for this program that is tailored to your individual needs.

How to schedule an Academic Counseling appointment.