Associate of Science Degree, Nursing

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program at Barstow Community College prepares students for entry-level practice as registered nurses through a student-centered curriculum that integrates classroom instruction, skills laboratory experiences, simulation, and supervised clinical practice. The program emphasizes the development of clinical judgment, evidence-based practice, safe patient care, effective communication, and professional accountability across diverse healthcare settings. Graduates are prepared to provide patient-centered care across the lifespan, collaborate with interprofessional teams, and support quality improvement and patient safety initiatives. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to apply for licensure by examination through the California Board of Registered Nursing and to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Graduates are prepared for employment in a variety of healthcare settings and for continued academic advancement through baccalaureate and higher-degree nursing programs.

Based on current labor market data, regional workforce demand, and trends across comparable ADN programs in California community colleges, the BCC ADN Program anticipates:

Initial cohort enrollment of approximately 20 students per admission cycle.
Steady enrollment growth as clinical partnerships expand and program capacity increases.

Projected annual completions of approximately 16-20 graduates, based on expected retention and progression rates consistent with comparable ADN programs statewide.

Completion rates are expected to align with California ADN benchmarks, with projected program completion rates of approximately 80–100% and first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates meeting or exceeding state and national averages.

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program at Barstow Community College prepares graduates to provide safe, patient-centered, evidence-based nursing care across the lifespan in diverse healthcare settings. The program integrates theoretical knowledge, clinical judgment, psychomotor competence, professional behaviors, and ethical decision-making through classroom, laboratory, simulation, and supervised clinical learning experiences aligned with regulatory and professional standards.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• Apply clinical judgment using the nursing process and the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM) to deliver safe, evidence-based care to individuals across the lifespan.
• Provide holistic, culturally responsive, and developmentally appropriate care that respects patient preferences, values, and diverse backgrounds.
• Implement evidence-based practices and quality improvement principles to promote patient safety and reduce risk of harm.
• Demonstrate accountability, ethical decision-making, and professional behaviors consistent with the role of the registered nurse.
• Collaborate effectively with members of the healthcare team to optimize patient outcomes.
• Utilize informatics and healthcare technologies to enhance clinical decision-making and documentation accuracy.
• Demonstrate beginning leadership skills in coordinating care for individuals and groups within complex healthcare systems.

Graduates of the ADN program will be eligible to apply for licensure by examination through the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Following licensure, graduates are prepared for entry-level employment in acute care, long-term care, outpatient, and community-based healthcare settings. Graduates may also pursue academic advancement through RN-to-BSN and higher-degree pathways.

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program at Barstow Community College is designed as a four-semester, two-year program that prepares students for entry-level registered nursing practice through a structured and progressive curriculum. The program offers two entry pathways (Fall or Spring start) to increase student access while maintaining a consistent and intentional sequence of learning.

In both pathways, students begin with ADN 50: Fundamentals of Nursing which is a prerequisite to ADN 55: Mental Health Nursing. Both establish the foundational competencies required for nursing practice. These courses introduce the nursing process, clinical judgment using the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM), patient-centered care, safety, therapeutic communication, and professional standards. The early inclusion of mental health nursing ensures that students develop essential psychosocial care skills applicable across all clinical settings.

Following the foundational term, students progress through the curriculum in a sequence that advances from generalist to specialized and then to advanced nursing practice. Depending on the entry term, students will complete Medical-Surgical Nursing I & II (ADN 70) and Maternal–Newborn and Pediatric Nursing (ADN 60 and ADN 65) in alternating order across the second and third terms. This flexible sequencing allows students to develop competencies in adult health and specialized populations while ensuring that all required content is mastered prior to the final term.

The program culminates in ADN 80: Medical-Surgical Nursing III & Leadership, where students integrate and synthesize knowledge from all prior coursework. In this capstone course, students demonstrate advanced clinical judgment, manage care for high-acuity and multiple patients, and apply leadership, delegation, and systems-based practice in preparation for entry into the registered nursing profession.

Both pathways maintain the same total program length, course content, and learning outcomes. The structure ensures that students progress in a logical, scaffolded manner, building from foundational knowledge to increasingly complex clinical applications across the lifespan. This design supports the development of clinical judgment, reinforces patient safety, and ensures readiness for the NCLEX-RN and professional nursing practice.

The dual-entry model provides flexibility in program access while preserving the integrity of the curriculum, ensuring that all graduates meet Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs), regulatory standards, and expectations for safe, competent entry-level nursing practice.

General Education: 

• ENGL C1000 - Academic Reading and Writing
• STAT C1000 - Introduction to Statistics
• COMM C - 1000 Introduction to Public Speaking
• PSYC 2 - Developmental Psychology

Choose one:

• SOCI 1 - Introduction to Sociology OR
• ANTH 1 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

**One Arts/Humanities: 1 from Area 3A or 3B CalGETC reference, although only 1 for ADN BCC general education requirement. 

Choose One Ethnic studies:

• ETHN 1 - Introduction to Ethnic Studies
• ETHN 5 - Introduction to the Latinx Experience
• ETHN 6 - Introduction to African American Studies

Core Sciences: 

• BIOL 4 - Human Anatomy
• BIOL 5 - Human Physiology
• BIOL 8 - Microbiology