Nursing Program
If you have a passion for helping others and a desire to make a difference, you might want to consider pursuing a career in Nursing by attending Lamar Community College.
Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States. With nurses making up the majority of the industry, the demand for skilled Registered Nurses (RNs) is greater than ever. RNs provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide guidance and support to patients and their family members.
As an RN, you will be making a difference in the lives of others, all while enjoying some of the highest starting salaries along with a wide range of employment locations and work schedules. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2015 the median pay for RNs was $67,490 per year [equivalent to approximately $32.45 per hour].
LCC’s program is nationally accredited through the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The program offers a five semester Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree (A.D.N.) which will prepare you for practice as an RN. With successful completion of program requirements, you will be eligible to apply to test for RN licensure through the NCLEX-RN exam. Students also have the option to test for a Practical Nursing license at the end of the first year of the Nursing Program to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
Please note: The PN Exit option is not ACEN accredited. However, it is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing and LCC graduates are eligible to take Practical Nursing Boards (NCLEX-PN).
Nursing Degrees & Certificates
Nursing Program Options
| Nursing | A.A.S. | Degree Plan |
| Certified Nurse Aide | Certificate | See: Allied Health » |
| Emergency Medical Technician | Certificates | See: Allied Health » |
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
LCC’s Nursing Program is nationally accredited and affords graduates the ability to sit for the State Board Exam for RN licensure.
Over the course of five semesters of full-time coursework, students move through a sequence of courses progressing from basic to complex. Theory classes are provided on campus as well as a significant number of lab hours in which students practice and perfect new skills for their new profession. Students are provided a large number of clinical experiences from local nursing homes and hospitals to acute care experiences at a distance in adult health, obstetrics, pediatrics and psychiatric nursing.
The program is offered in a full-time format on the LCC campus, beginning in August and ending in May. This Associate Degree program is comprised of two levels. After successful completion of Level I, students have the option to sit for the PN licensure exam (NCLEX-PN). Level II is the second year of the program.
Once students complete the program and become an RN, they are encouraged to continue their education to achieve a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) and even a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN).
By the end of the program students will be able to:
- Provide safe, quality evidence-based patient-centered nursing care in a variety of healthcare settings to diverse patient populations
- Engage in critical thinking and clinical reasoning to make patient-centered care decisions
- Implement quality measures to improve patient care
- Participate in collaborative relationships with members of the interdisciplinary team, the patient, and the patient’s support persons
- Use information management principles, techniques, and systems, and patient care technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making
- Provide leadership in a variety of healthcare settings for diverse patient populations
- Assimilate professional, legal, and ethical guidelines in practice as a professional nurse
- Promote a culture of caring to provide holistic, compassionate, culturally-competent care
Licensed Practical Nurse Certificate
As an option to the two-year ladder registered nursing (R.N.) program, students may choose to obtain a Practical Nurse Certificate after successfully completing Level I.
Practical Nursing Gainful Employment DisclosureCertified Nurse Aide & Emergency Medical Technician Certificates
Lamar Community College offers additional certificate options in the field of healthcare including Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Learn more about these certificates by reviewing our Allied Health options.
Program Details
Program Prerequisites
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Complete prerequisite coursework including: Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II (BIO 201 & BIO 202), English Composition I (ENG 121), Human Nutrition (HWE 100), Quantitative Literacy (MAT 050), and Human Growth and Development (PSY 235).
- Acceptance into the Nursing Program is contingent upon attaining a minimum GPA of 2.5 or above on all prerequisite course work.
Cost of Textbooks/Supplies
- For tuition, fees, and additional high program costs, visit the LCC Catalog.
- Additional Required Purchases
- Tuition based on total number of credits taken.
- The cost may vary from semester to semester.
Important Documents
Student Success Rates
The LCC Nursing program boasts a hearty NCLEX-RN pass rate. In December 2015, the LCC Nursing Department announced its National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) mean pass rates for the last three years. LCC’s Nursing program is above the three-year national mean with an 85.55% pass rate.
| Graduating Class | LCC NCLEX-RN Pass Rates | National NCLEX-RN Pass Rates for Associate Degree (Jan 1-Dec 31) |
| 2017 | 56.5% | Currently 85.37% |
| 2016 | 94.12% | 81.68% |
| 2015 | 83.33% | 82% |
| 3 Year Aggregate | 77.98% | Currently 83.01% |
| Graduating Class | Employment Rate (Students Who Pass NCLEX-RN), 12 Months After Graduation (June 1-May 31) |
| 2017 | 86.9% |
| 2016 | 100% |
| 2015 | 100% |
| Graduating Class | Completion in 3 Years | Attrition Rate |
| 2017 N=23/29 | 79.3% | 20.7% |
| 2016 N=17/20 | 85% | 15% |
| 2015 N=18/26 | 69.2% | 30.8% |
| 2014 N=28/34 | 80% | 20% |
| 4 Year Aggregate | 78.89% | 21.11% |
Partnerships with Universities
- University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS)
- Currently the LCC Nursing Department has an articulation agreement with UCCS. The two colleges also have a Dual Enrollment agreement that allows nursing students who complete the first year of the program to begin BSN coursework prior to entering the second year of the nursing program. This allows the student a seamless transition from finishing their Associate Degree of Nursing to completing their Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.
- University of Phoenix
- The LCC Nursing Department has an articulation agreement with the University of Phoenix.
- As a nursing student if you are interested in discussing either of these above articulation agreements please feel free to contact any of the Nursing Department faculty.
Faculty & Staff
Kathy Henderson, RN, MSN, ANP
Director of Nursing and Allied Health
phone: 719.336.1597
email: kathy.henderson@lamarcc.edu
I love nursing and all the opportunities it offers me to provide quality caring and patient education to individuals and groups. I especially love teaching and mentoring nursing students as they journey from novice to expert. It is very rewarding to me to see many of “my” students working in local health care facilities, making a difference in the lives of others.
I have 25+ years of professional nursing practice experience and have been a full time nursing faculty member at LCC since 1995 and became the Program Director in 2013. I graduated in December 2008 with a Master’s of Science in Nursing as an Adult Nurse Practitioner. I really like working with adults of all ages and especially with our geriatric population. I am excited about utilizing the knowledge I gained in my graduate education to help positively change the lives of individuals in southeast Colorado.
Mary Ann Turner, RN, MSN, NE
Nursing Instructor
phone: 719.336.1625
email: maryann.turner@lamarcc.edu
Learning is one of the most empowering and important human experiences.The ability and desire to learn are the key attributes that allow us to gainknowledge, wisdom and personal growth. The opportunity to impart knowledge through teaching is one of the most important responsibilities we have as faculty members. I believe that excellence in teaching originates from an insatiable desire to learn, and a constant pursuit to maximize one’s ability to communicate information to others.
In my educational pursuits I have utilized the ladder model in acquiring my nursing education. I received both a PN and ADN from Otero Junior College in 1992. I then completed a BSN from the University of New Mexico and most recently completed a Master’s in Nursing with an emphasis on Education from Walden University.
I joined the LCC nursing faculty team in 2004. This has enabled me to promote the nursing profession through the training and development of future nurses. I believe that aspiring to be a great teacher is one of the most noble of goals; in it is the power to impart knowledge, to influence thinking and to ultimately create positive change in the world.
I look forward to meeting and working with each and every one of you.
Nancy Winsor, RN, MSN, NE
Nursing Instructor
phone: 719.336.1596
email: nancy.winsor@lamarcc.edu
Welcome to the LCC Department of Nursing. I have had the pleasure of teaching student nurses at LCC since 2005. Nursing is a fascinating, changing and rewarding career. There are many opportunities waiting for you in nursing. I have lived in several cities and have enjoyed what each city added to my life. I have a wonderful husband and 2 wonderful children. I have completed my MSN at Angelo State University and a post master’s certificate in Nursing Education.
Education:
BHS-RT University of Missouri-Columbia
ADN – Angelo State University
RN-MSN Angelo State University (2009)
Nursing Experience:
Medical Surgical Nursing, Intensive Care, Emergency Room, Cardiac Nursing
Primary Teaching Specialties:
Adult Medical Surgical Nursing, Pharmacology, Fundamentals
Recent/Current Projects and Research Interest:
Remediation in the Classroom, NCLEX Pass Rates for Program, ACEN Accreditation Coordinator
Susan Bowles, AAS
Administrative Assistant
phone: 719.336.1594
email: susan.bowles@lamarcc.edu
I have been in higher education for over 20 years. I have always loved working with faculty and students. In 2004 I ventured away from higher education to become a court reporter which is how I ended up here in Lamar, Colorado. When I left the court reporting field my life brought me back to higher education working for LCC. I never imagined that life would bring me back to the field I started out in. I have been working for the Nursing Department since June of 2014. I have two Associate of Applied Science degrees. I am a single parent trying to raise a teenage boy which can be challenging. I have overcome some tough challenges but I have had some very supportive people around me.
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