CCD discontinues ADN nursing program.

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I applied for CCD ADN program and yesterday received this as part of the letter

The Community College of Denver has examined how it can best address the nursing workforce needs in the greater Denver area. We have learned that the hiring of Associate Degree Registered Nurses in many of the area acute care hospitals has significantly reduced in favor of nurses with a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing. This change has also resulted in a drastic reduction in clinical sites for our nursing students. These changes have impacted CCD's ability to provide the level of student learning experiences required for a quality graduate.

In an effort to support the current workforce nursing needs in the greater Denver area, the Community College of Denver is pleased to announce its plans for supporting these needs. Starting in the fall 2011-2012 academic year, CCD will offer three educational options supporting community workforce nursing needs:

*The Nurse Aide Certificate

*The Practical Nurse Certificate

*The Pathway to a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing

The Nurse Aid Certificate and the Practical Nurse Certificate have been an educational option for many years and both programs maintain excellent reputations in the community. The Pathway to a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing is a new offering about which we are excited. This pathway is in partnership with a local university and will allow CCD students to complete the first two years of the BSN degree at CCD and will ensure them admittance into a Baccalaureate Degree Nursing Program. The BSN better addresses the hiring practices of acute care hospitals in the Greater Denver area and will better position our students in the profession of nursing. If you are interested in learning more about this option please let us know.

This change means the Community College of Denver will no longer offer the Associate Degree in Nursing as a degree option. No students will be admitted to the Associate Degree Nursing Program for the fall of 2011. The decision not to continue the Associate Degree in Nursing program was a difficult decision and involved input from Nursing Faculty & Staff and CCD Administration, as well as CCCS Administration & Board.

I called them to ask about the pathway to BSN program but they said they do not currently have a 4 year college working with them.

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I'm in the same boat.

I applied. Was told that they were postponing the decision deadline for three weeks, and then received that same letter on Friday.

I'm so upset.

The BSN programs in Denver don't fit my situation.

My plan was to apply to CCD for the 2 year ADN and then bridge to a BSN.

I am completely lost right now and don't know what my next step is.

CU Denver... All of my previous lower division classes (English, Sociology, etc.) are too old and they won't accept them.

Denver School of Nursing is insanely expensive and accreditation issues make it controversial.

Regis is terribly hard to get into.

I just don't know what to do now.

Do I apply to an ADN wait list then try to bridge to a BSN afterwards? (like I originally planned)

The fact that CCD told you that they're not working with a four year college is completely insane. What? Why would they mention that in their letter and then say something different when you call them?

This ENTIRE situation was so poorly handled. They didn't even say that they were canceling the two year program until about 300 words into the letter. It should have been stated in the first paragraph.

Anyway--- Does anyone have any ideas out there? I'm so lost/frustrated/discouraged. I've worked so hard over the past couple of years to satisfy my pre-requisites, keep my GPA up, working a full time job. I am heartbroken.

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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

That is SHOCKING news. That sucks and I feel for you all, but on the other hand, blocked on the front end sucks less than working through an ADN and then not having a job. :(

There's plenty of other accredited BSN-direct programs in CO besides CU and Regis... almost too many. Adams State, UNC, UCCS, CSU-Pueblo, Metro State, Mesa State...

That is why CCD shut its doors. That and they are right that BSN programs have all the clinical spots. But if you want an ADN: FRCC, CCA, and CMC still have programs. These programs are suffering from being able to find placements though from what I've heard from some students.

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My former Community College used to accept 60 students. For fall 2011, they are only accepting 23:eek: People may say that the BON would never make BSN or MSN the only point of entry, but if employers are not hiring any ADNs. What can you do:confused:

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I had NO idea this was happening!!! What about Arapahoe CC; they have an ADN program. But to be honest I'm not surprised with everything I've been reading about lack of hiring especially for students with an Associates.

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Does anyone know of any other BSN programs IN Denver, aside from Regis, CU and DSN? The one that Metro has is a bridge from ADN to BSN. I don't want to move!

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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.
Does anyone know of any other BSN programs IN Denver, aside from Regis, CU and DSN? The one that Metro has is a bridge from ADN to BSN. I don't want to move!

Metro is an ABSN as well (accelerated you have to have a bachelors in something). Regis has a really cool choice program that lets you work full time in healthcare and do class nights and wekeends. It is called CHOICE.

Other than that, there are no accredited nursing programs IN Denver. CU has three BSN classes a year (one accelerated, two traditional BSN) and Regis has four BSN classes a year (CHOICE, traditional, and two accelerated).

There's some unaccredited for-profit BSN programs, but do you want to take that risk or pay that money? They have the same problems that CCD was having with finding clinicial placements for students and jobs for grads.

UCCS and UNC are only an hour from Denver. I commute 1.5 hours to get to Denver from the boonies. You make friends who have spare rooms and couches.

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Platt has a BSN program and they just received their NLN accreditation. It's very expensive, though. Metro is working on a traditional BSN but I don't know when it's going to start.

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People may say that the BON would never make BSN or MSN the only point of entry, but if employers are not hiring any ADNs. What can you do:confused:

Right. It doesn't really matter what the BON does, it's what employers want. They want BSNs, not ADNs.

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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.
Platt has a BSN program and they just received their NLN accreditation. It's very expensive, though.

Platte doesn't have regional accreditation so their degree may not be recognized by most schools if you want a MSN program. I agree on the pricing. They make Regis and DSN look cheap. I also heard that they have the same clincial site problems and got their NCLEX pass rate high enough to get NLN by making students pass (or fail) exit exams in order to be allowed to graduate and take the NCLEX. I'm not sure if that's true, although I heard DSN does the same thing.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

Interesting that they are keeping the LPN and CNA programs - the grads from these programs must still be somewhat 'in demand.'

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Platte doesn't have regional accreditation so their degree may not be recognized by most schools if you want a MSN program. I agree on the pricing. They make Regis and DSN look cheap. I also heard that they have the same clincial site problems and got their NCLEX pass rate high enough to get NLN by making students pass (or fail) exit exams in order to be allowed to graduate and take the NCLEX. I'm not sure if that's true, although I heard DSN does the same thing.

My experience with grad schools is that they want the national accreditation, not the regional, so with NLN it should be fine. But of course you should always check for yourself to make sure.

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