Nursing

Associate of Applied Science

Fall /Spring Term 2026-27 Program Admission

About the Program

RCC is a member of the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education (OCNE) and offers a competency-based curriculum jointly developed by nursing faculties from the nine community colleges and Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) consortium partners. The core competencies address the need for nurses to be skilled in clinical judgment and critical thinking; evidence-based practice; relationship-centered care; interdisciplinary collaboration; assisting individuals and families in self-care practices for the promotion of health and management of chronic and acute illness; end-of-life care; and teaching, delegation, leadership and supervision of caregivers.

Acceptance to the RCC Nursing program is a full-time commitment to two (2) years of nursing courses (after completing one (1) year of prerequisite/preparatory course work of 45 credits minimum and application to the limited-entry program.) Applicants admitted to the RCC Nursing program are co-admitted to the OHSU Nursing programs, and once students complete their Associate Degree in the Nursing program at RCC, the OCNE curriculum provides entry to OHSU’s Nursing program. Continued full-time study for four (4) more terms leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

Graduates of the Rogue Community College Nursing program are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure testing. Students who choose to complete their BS of Nursing through the OHSU School of Nursing program must complete an additional 15 credits of upper-division college credits to progress into nursing courses for the bachelor’s degree through OHSU. RCC’s Statistics course will apply, but all other upper-level courses must be taken at a college or university with 300+ level courses.

Options available for baccalaureate completion can be found at https://www.ohsu.edu/school-of-nursing

The Nursing program is approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing (17938 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd., Portland, OR, 971-673-0685, www.oregon.gov/OSBN).

Program Learning Outcomes

The curriculum in RCC courses is derived from a set of identified learning outcomes that are relevant to the discipline. Ten collaboratively created OCNE competencies drive the curriculum. Program learning outcomes for the Nursing Associate of Applied Science are:

Base personal and professional actions on a set of shared core nursing values, including social justice, caring, advocacy, protection of patient autonomy, prevention of harm, respect for self and others, collegiality, authority, accountability, responsibility for nursing practice and ethical behavior.

Use reflection, self-analysis, and self-care to develop insight.

Engage in intentional learning, developing self-awareness of the goals, processes, and potential actions of this learning and its effects on patient/client care.

Demonstrate leadership in nursing and health care to meet patient/client needs, improve the health care system, and facilitate community problem-solving.

Collaborate as part of a healthcare team, providing, receiving, and using feedback in a constructive manner.

Practice within, utilize, and contribute to all health care systems.

Practice a relationship-centered approach, based on developing mutual trust and respect for the autonomy of the patient/client.

Communicate effectively, accurately and therapeutically, with attention to social and cultural influences, and use appropriate communication modalities and technologies to ensure patient safety and provide for comprehensive continuity of care.

Make sound clinical judgments through an iterative process of noticing, interpreting, responding, and reflecting, using the best available evidence, frameworks and systems to organize data and knowledge; accurately perform cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills in the delivery of care while maintaining safety of the patient/client, family, community, environment, and self.

Locate, evaluate, and use the best available evidence.

Entry Requirements

Students are required to complete the Placement Process to determine skill level and readiness in math, reading, and writing. As part of their training, students must begin with the courses within their skill level as determined through the Placement Process. Students who have failed any two nursing courses (RN level, any program) are disqualified from applying for entry or re-entry to the RCC Nursing Program.

Program admission occurs once a year. Deadline for submitting program application material is February 15 for fall / spring term admission (see program website and/or application packet for more information). Transcripts showing satisfactory completion of MTH 95  and BI 231  / BI 231L  Anatomy and Physiology I prerequisites and at least 20 other credits of the prerequisite courses (minimum of 28 credits) must be in the Enrollment Services office by the application deadline to be considered eligible.

All prerequisite courses must have been taken with a letter grade and completed with a “C-” or better. Consortium partner schools will use shared standards in a point system and a set of core criteria for the evaluation and selection of candidates to the consortium curriculum, but selection processes, acceptance decisions, and admissions will occur at individual schools. Application to the Nursing program requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 for all completed prerequisite courses. See the Nursing website for information regarding the application and selection process.

If an applicant has taken an equivalent course elsewhere that has a course number, title, or credit hour different from the RCC course, the applicant must contact RCC’s Enrollment Services office for a transfer credit evaluation as far in advance of the application deadline as possible. To be admitted into nursing courses students must complete all required prerequisite courses (minimum 45 credits) and be accepted into the Nursing program.

Accepted students must pass a criminal history background check and urine drug screen before nursing clinical experiences or their acceptance will be rescinded. Information regarding the background check and drug screen requirements can be found on the program’s website with additional information and deadlines provided to students following acceptance and before fall nursing classes begin. Accepted students will also be required to complete, by a specified deadline, an American Heart Association CPR Health Care Provider course (adult/child/infant, one- and two-person), with AED. Course must have been successfully completed within two years before admission to nursing courses. CPR cards must be kept current throughout the program. Information regarding required immunizations will be provided in the acceptance letter.

Internet and email access are an integral part of all nursing courses and access to a computer and printer (at home and at the college) will be required daily. Nursing students attend classes at the Table Rock Campus in White City. For the clinical practicum in both Josephine and Jackson Counties, the student will need reliable transportation. See the program website and/or program information for progression policies.

Graduation Requirements

These requirements apply only to nursing students admitted to the program during the 2026-27 academic year. The program of study, graduation requirements, and courses are under constant review and are subject to revision. Students contemplating admission in a later year may have different requirements and must obtain the program map or catalog for that year. If required courses (i.e., clinicals) are graded only on a pass/no pass basis, a grade of “P” for these courses indicates a student earned the equivalent of a “C” or better grade.

Students must complete all Nursing courses on this program map with a grade of “C” or better to continue in and complete the program, receive their degrees, and meet the educational requirements to apply to take the national licensure exam (NCLEX-RN). Admission and completion of the Nursing AAS at RCC does not guarantee an OSBN licensure. The OSBN screens all applicants for licensure and may deny licensure applicants with a criminal offense or with a major physical or mental condition that could affect their ability to practice nursing safely. Contact the OSBN with any questions.

This guide lays out an optimal path to graduate. Where zero credits are listed in the prerequisites, students may place into a higher level(s) based on designated placement. Note: some prerequisites may be required for graduation.

Please consult an advisor with any program completion questions.