CCD discontinues ADN nursing program.

U.S.A. Colorado

Published

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.

I really think that CCD is making a great move to create a pathways program. My school CCA opened a pathways program to CU-Denver for the first time last year and it was basically first come first serve, if you applied you were in. I was (honestly still am) jealous because now even though the application process opens every year concurrently with CU-Denver , just like CU it is sooooo hard to get into! I was disqualified automatically this year because the dean of the program said I had completed too many of the pre-reqs and I wouldnt be actively apart of the cohert...bummer. Anywho the moral of this story is for any BSN hopefuls who still have a while before thy complete the pre-reqs, keep close tabs on CCD for when they open the pathway program because the first year they will probably be lient and accept anybody just to get it started.

Ms.Dre22,

How is the CCA "pathways" program structured? Do you have to take ALL of your pre-requisite classes at CCA and then you're guaranteed (more or less) entry to UCD (Granted you met all of the GPA requirements and took the needed classes for their BSN program)?

That seems pretty awesome if you ask me.

I took most of my pre-requisites at CCD (at least 7 classes).

The program is awesome because you do not have to take all your Pre-Reqs at CCA. In your situation if you wanted to apply to the program you will just have to transfer the credits from the classes that you took at CCD to CCA so they can see that you actually took the class. The dean told me a month ago that this year they really want the 30 something students they select to take their pre-reqs as a team. However, she said because the program is still fairly new they would understand if that was not possible, but she insisted that a person needs to take at least three of the pre-reqs with "the team" if you had taken all of the pre-reqs and could take less to none with the others then she advised that you just apply to CU the regular way (that was my issue) I was so desperate to get into CU that I told her that I would withdrawl and repeat some classes with "the team" just so I could get that golden ticket of a promised entrance into CU, but she said it would be poor advisng on her part to allow me to do that. Anyway very long story short if you can, definitely go for it! The app is still open until June 15th. You would still have to put in a app to CU as well as CCA ( CCA's pathways app only asks for you to list the grades you recieved in your pre-reqs-so easy!) It would be so worth it!

Take care!

That's certainly something to think about, thank you!

My hurdle with CU is that some of my required pre-requisites have expired because they're too old (Stats, ENG 122, PSY 100, SOC 100). So... CU is at the bottom of my list, simply because I would have to repeat those classes in order to be eligible for the program.

Also, do they require you to take a foreign language (as part of the creative arts)? I haven't taken any- so I'd need to add that to the list of pre-reqs as well (I hear it's strongly recommended). So... they're my last option right now because of the "retakes" they require.

So, what is causing all of this? Years ago, when I embarked on this journey, all I heard about was the "nursing shortage". I thought for sure that there would be many options for schools & programs, and job options upon graduation (or NCLEX completion). Is this due to a surge in new nurses hitting the scene, and now hospitals can pick from the litter, what kind/level of nurse they want to hire? Or does this have to do with, say, the "quality" of nurses entering the field. Lord knows, I have encountered some sub-par classmates who've made me wonder, "How did you even make it this far in school?"

I would love to know more about why this is happening. And yes, I will write my state rep.

Hugs to you.

It's because the economy tanked, so all the older nurses that were expected to retire have stuck around because they can't afford to retire now. Plus a lot of experienced nurses came out of retirement because their husbands lost their jobs. Plus there have been more programs started in the last five years or so, and existing programs expanded because of the expected shortage. So there are a ton of new grads hitting the market with very few jobs.

SummitAP

As a nurse educator in the Denver Metro area, I can assure you that all schools WERE mandated by the BON to be accredited, thus forcing faculty to either go back to school for graduate degrees or lose their employment. Many schools cannot compete with the pay that an MSN RN can make working in clinical settings what with shift differentials and such. Schools that can pay well usually pay only on an hourly or credit based scale, which is fine for the RN that only needs to work part-time. In this economy part-time doesn't work for the nurse with an unemployed spouse and no benefits.

I would suggest that anyone considering attending a nursing program in Colorado, or any other state attend public Board of Nursing meetings. You learn a great deal in the meetings about the state of nursing and nursing education decision making and policy revision.

As to your statement that you could not locate info on the requirement for accreditation please see below:

DEPARTMENT OF REGULATORY AGENCIES

Division of Registrations

3 CCR 716-1

CHAPTER II - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR APPROVAL OF NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS

3.5 All Nursing Education Programs that have received Full Approval by January 1, 2006, must be accredited by a national nursing accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education by January 1, 2010, or must have achieved candidacy status leading to such accreditation and demonstrated satisfactory progression toward obtaining such accreditation. Those Nursing Education Programs that receive Full Approval after January 1, 2006, must provide evidence of national nursing accreditation within four (4) years of receiving Full Approval by the Board.

3.7 E For professional Nursing Education Programs granting an associate degree in nursing all full-time Faculty, excluding ANIP and Preceptors, must have a graduate degree in nursing and greater than fifty percent (>50%) of part-time Faculty, excluding ANIP and Preceptors, must have a graduate degree in nursing.

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