Introduction and General Information
Associate Degree in Nursing is designed to prepare graduates to administer safe, patient-centered nursing care in hospitals, home settings, nursing homes, clinics and other healthcare facilities. Becoming a nurse opens the door to a challenging and rewarding healthcare career. The program provides correlation between classroom content and laboratory/clinical sessions. Nursing courses include theory classes, on campus laboratories, and clinical experiences.
North Hennepin Community College offers two different options to complete the Associate Degree in Nursing:
- Standard Two Year Option: designed for students with no previous nursing experience. Students admitted into the standard two-year option would complete 32 credits of nursing courses in addition to the 32 credits of liberal education courses.
- Mobility Option: designed for graduates of practical nursing programs approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing or the approving agency in other states. The mobility option builds on the foundation provided in the practical nursing curriculum. Students admitted into the mobility option will complete 20 credits of nursing courses in addition to the 32 credits of liberal education courses. The mobility option begins with a Nursing Transition course that is offered in the summer for five weeks.
Nursing Program Attendance Options
Nursing department courses can be completed in either the Day or Evening/Weekend attendance options. Class and/or clinical requirements may take place outside of the scheduled times listed below. Students may seek admission to only one attendance option at the time of application to the nursing program. The nursing department maintains the right to make all final decisions on student placement into day or evening-weekend attendance option.
Day Attendance Option:
Nursing courses can be offered Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. depending on the day. See the current online class schedule for an example of current class time requirements.
Evening/Weekend Attendance Option:
Nursing courses are offered online and 1-2 weeknight, every week from approximately 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. In addition, students will be required to attend class or clinical every other weekend (Saturday and Sunday) for approximately 9 hours each day.
St. Cloud Clinical Attendance Option:
The St. Cloud Clinical option is only available for the Evening/Weekend attendance option. Nursing courses are offered online and at NHCC- Brooklyn Park 1-2 weeknight, every week from approximately 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. In addition, the clinical component will take place every other weekend (Saturday and Sunday) for approximately 9 hours each day at St. Cloud Hospital.
Accreditation
Upon acceptance and completion of the nursing program at NHCC, students may take the the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. The nursing program is accredited by the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission and approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.
(The National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission can be reached at 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, Georgia 30326.)
North Hennepin Community College is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.