Program Overview
Contra Costa College's Nursing Program is a comprehensive two-year program that prepares students for the NCLEX-RN exam and a career as a Registered Nurse. The program combines classroom instruction, skills labs, and clinical experiences, featuring a four-week boot camp and individualized preceptship with an RN. Graduates have a high success rate in the NCLEX-RN exam and are well-prepared for a variety of nursing roles in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings.
Program Outline
Nursing Program at Contra Costa College
Degree Overview:
The nursing program at Contra Costa College is a comprehensive, clinically based program that is well-respected in the community. It is designed to prepare students for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN). The program is intensive and requires a significant commitment from students.
Objectives:
The program aims to:
- Provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide safe and effective nursing care.
- Prepare students for the NCLEX-RN exam, the licensing exam for registered nurses.
- Equip students with the skills and knowledge to succeed in a variety of nursing settings.
Description:
The program is a two-year program, with no classes during summer or winter break. It includes a combination of classroom instruction, skills labs, and clinical experiences. Students will learn about disease processes, patient care, and other essential nursing topics. They will also gain hands-on experience in a variety of clinical settings, working with real patients.
Teaching:
- Faculty: The program has around 25 instructors who oversee students at about a dozen area hospitals.
- Teaching Methods: The program uses a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, discussions, simulations, and clinical experiences.
- Unique Approaches: The program includes a four-week boot camp at the beginning, which provides students with a strong foundation in nursing theory and skills. Students are also paired with a Registered Nurse for their preceptorship during the last eight weeks of the program.
Careers:
- Potential Career Paths: Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and become Registered Nurses. They can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, and private practices.
- Opportunities: The nursing field is a high-growth and high-wage field, with many opportunities for nurses.
- Outcomes: The program has a strong track record of preparing students for successful careers in nursing.
Other:
- Cost: The program costs a fraction of what a private college or university would charge.
- Transfer Options: Students can complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing with less than one year of classes at Contra Costa College or in about a year and a half at California State University, East Bay. They can also apply to any other four-year school.
- Admission: Admission to the nursing program is very competitive.
