About the ADN Program

A group of nursing students posing for a candid photo

 

The Associate Degree in Nursing is a full-time four semester (fall and spring – no summers) program in which students attend classes and clinical (lab) approximately 32 hours per week. Students are scheduled for class on 4-5 days each week during the semester.

  • In addition students should plan to spend 25-30 hours per week studying.
  • Study groups are highly recommended.
  • Clinical rotations take place on day and evening shifts, on both week days and weekends throughout the program and will vary each semester. All students will rotate through weekend and evening assignments.
  • During any given rotation, a student may need to be in clinical as early as 6:00 AM or as late as 10:30 PM.
  • Theory days begin as early as 7:30 AM, and may last until 6 PM.
  • For increased program success, it is advised that students seek financial aid and limit working hours outside the program.

Obtaining a BSN or MSN

The faculty of the SRJC associate degree nursing program encourage all nursing students to pursue advanced education during or after completion of their associate’s degree. Advanced nursing degrees provide more employment opportunities for nurses including positions in management, education, clinical nurse specialist, clinical nurse leaders, nurse anesthetists, and nurse practitioners.

SRJC has an agreement with Sonoma State University School of Nursing to offer a collaborative program that enables ADN students to pursue advanced nursing education (BSN/MSN) through a variety of programs. Some of these courses are offered concurrent with SRJC ADN program enrollment. Students who are interested in these programs need to complete the California State University transfer pattern for General Education (Option B). For information about these CSU transfer general education requirements, review the GE patterns in the SRJC College Catalog or Web site and see a counselor.

Please go to https://www.sonoma.edu/nursing/bsn-post/cnecm.html for more information.

Vocational Nursing to Nursing

Two options exist for Licensed Vocational Nurses who wish to become RNs. Student may apply for the VN to ADN bridge program and earn an Associate Degree in Nursing or the 30 unit option, which does not include a certificate or degree. Please refer to the Vocational Nursing to ADN webpage for more information.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Santa Rosa Junior College Associate Degree Nursing Program is to educate nursing students for safe nursing practice, demonstrating attributes that are culturally sensitive, competent, and professional. Graduates are prepared to work in a variety of health care settings and to be effective leaders.
In order to fulfill this mission, the Santa Rosa Junior College ADN faculty strives to:

  1.  Recruit well-qualified students with diverse socio-cultural backgrounds.
  2.  Provide a variety of learning opportunities and clinical settings to apply theoretical knowledge, demonstrate patient centered care, safe practice, critical thinking, and problem solving skills.
  3. Use Evidence Based Practice research and principles to promote student learning, growth, and development in nursing practice.
  4. Role model professionalism, patient centered care, safe and competent nursing practice, ethical behavior, multiculturalism, and nursing leadership.

Approved October, 2011

PHILOSOPHY

The faculty of the ADN Program concurs with the mission of Santa Rosa Junior College. SRJC passionately cultivates learning through the creative, intellectual, physical, social, emotional, aesthetic and ethical development of our diverse community.

The curriculum in the ADN Program is derived from a conceptual framework that is based on the concept of Readiness for Practice. The goal is for graduating nurses to be well-prepared to practice professional nursing in a variety of areas.

Our philosophy of nursing is influenced by our beliefs about individuals, society, health and nursing.

Individuals:

Every individual is unique with innate dignity and worth. We view the individual as a developing physical, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual being. We believe each individual is accountable for his/her own behavior as it relates to self, society and the environment. Individuals are capable of acquiring knowledge regarding health needs and practices, and are free to choose those self-care behaviors which will promote optimum health.

Society:

A society is composed of individuals, families, groups, and communities. Societies are dynamic and influenced by social, economic, political, cultural, spiritual and environmental forces. Society has a role in assisting the client in attaining/regaining optimal health.

Health:

Health is functioning at one's optimum level of wellness. One's level of wellness is unique to each individual, is ever changing, and is influenced by one's knowledge of health requirements and one's ability and desire to meet their health needs.

Nursing:

Nursing is a profession committed to humanistic and holistic caring for individuals and their families throughout all developmental stages. Being a professional nurse requires knowledge and understanding of the physiological, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual needs of patients. This body of knowledge is derived from nursing sciences and other related disciplines from the natural and social sciences.

The practice of nursing requires:

  1.  The promotion of health and prevention of illness.
  2.  The restoration of health and alleviation of suffering when restoration is not achievable.
  3.  The use of the nursing process to identify client’s self-care needs by promoting those behaviors which lead towards the highest level of wellness.
  4.  The collaboration with clients and other members of the health care team.
  5.  The application of legal-ethical and principles of accountability to the individual, family, community, and health agencies for providing safe, competent care.


Nursing Education:

The SRJC curriculum addresses the multiple learning styles and educational needs of our students. We prepare our graduates as entry level professional nurses and for entry into baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs.
Approved by ADN faculty November, 2013.