Associate of Science in Nursing

The Taft College Registered Nursing Program provides students with a comprehensive education that integrates theoretical instruction with extensive clinical experience. Over the course of the program, students complete more than 1,000 hours of clinical practice, including 506 hours in direct patient care. Coursework encompasses the full spectrum of nursing practice, including medical-surgical, geriatric, obstetric, pediatric, and psychiatric nursing. Students apply theoretical knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes in diverse acute and ambulatory care settings. Emphasis is placed on patient-centered and family-supported, evidence-based practice in the care of individuals across the lifespan and with a variety of health conditions affecting all body systems. Learning experiences include lectures, interactive group and individual activities, and supervised skills practice in the Nursing Skills Laboratory. Students also engage in high-fidelity simulation scenarios that provide opportunities to safely apply skills they have learned, collaborate with interprofessional teams, and refine decision-making using the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model to promote patient safety and achieve optimal outcomes. Clinical practicum experiences occur in a variety of healthcare environments under the direct supervision of qualified and experienced Registered Nurse faculty. The Taft College Nursing Program prepares graduates to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and to enter professional practice as competent, compassionate, and ethical entry-level registered nurses.

• The headcount student annual enrollment = 24 for first cohort
• The number of estimated program completers per year by the end of the third year of program operations = 24

Statement of Program Goals and Objectives

The proposed Associate Degree in Nursing degree at Taft College is a two-year, 16-week semester degree with a combination of theory and clinical courses that align concurrently according to the California Business and Professions Code, Division 2. Healing Arts, Chapter 6. Nursing, Article 2. Scope of Regulation-2725-2742 and Article 4. Nursing Schools-2785-2789 and the California Code of Regulations Title 16. Professional and Vocational Regulations, Division 14. Board of Registered Nursing, Article 3. Prelicensure Nursing Programs and Article 7. Standardized Procedure Guidelines. The program includes 103 units for the degree, transfer, and compliance with the California Board of Registered Nursing 

Program Mission

In considering the Mission of Taft College, a Mission statement for the ADN program is as follows: 

The mission of the Associate Degree in Nursing program at Taft College is to enrich the lives of a diverse student population by providing high-quality, equitable nursing education that integrates applied knowledge, compassionate care, and clinical excellence. Rooted in the values of lifelong learning and professional integrity, the ADN program prepares students for entry-level nursing practice, licensure, and continuing education. In alignment with the mission of Taft College, the program fosters a supportive and inclusive learning community that empowers students to achieve their educational and career goals in nursing and contribute meaningfully to the health of individuals and communities.

Program Objectives

            The objectives for the Taft College ADN Program are as follows:

• Define and describe the principles of safe, patient-centered, and evidence-based nursing care across the lifespan, recognizing the diverse needs and preferences of patients.
• Discuss the importance of therapeutic interviewing with patients and implement collaboration with the interprofessional team to ensure open communication with patients and their families.
• Discuss and integrate peer-reviewed, evidence-based best practices to enhance the quality and safety of patient care.
• Differentiate and evaluate hospital core measures and quality metrics used to assess and improve patient care outcomes.
• Develop and implement individualized, patient-centered plans of care utilizing the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model to analyze and inform nursing decision-making.
• Summarize and synthesize data from electronic health records to evaluate and predict patient outcomes, demonstrating the effective use of informatics in clinical decision support.

Program Requirements

The requirements for the ADN program are primarily determined by the regulations set forth by the California Board of Registered Nursing, as previously discussed in this paper. The prerequisite courses provide essential foundational knowledge that is further developed through the core nursing curriculum. In nursing practice, holistic care is both patient-centered and inclusive of family involvement, recognizing and accommodating each patient's needs and preferences based on their unique biopsychosocial, religious, and cultural backgrounds.

The curriculum has a total of 100 units composed of 47 units of core nursing courses (27 units of theory and 20 units of clinical learning experiences), 6 units of oral, written and group communication, 37 units in the behavioral, natural, and life sciences, and 10 units of other required content for graduation.