Nursing

This program prepares students for first-level positions as Registered Nurses by providing curriculum composed of theoretical and clinical study. The theoretical component is comprised of general education and nursing courses. The clinical component, within the nursing courses, affords the student the opportunity to practice giving direct nursing care to clients in acute, long-term, and community health care agencies under the guidance of qualified nursing faculty. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive an Associate in Applied Science degree and have the educational requirements necessary to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for RN Licensure.

Atlantic Cape ’s Nursing program is accredited by the:

• The New Jersey Board of Nursing, 124 Halsey Street, 6th Floor, Newark, New Jersey 07102. Telephone: 1-973-504-6430 and in NJ, 1-800-242-5846.
• Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30326. Telephone (404) 975-5000.

Nursing Program Mission Statement

The mission of the Nursing degree program is to graduate competent, ethical and caring nurses; and to be responsive to current and evolving health care needs of the community. The Nursing program encourages the enrollment of a diverse student population to reflect the communities that are served. Students and graduates are encouraged to perform public service in their community and pursue lifelong learning.

Nursing Program Outcomes

Provide an accessible, affordable, and comprehensive nursing education to eligible residents of Atlantic and Cape May Counties where:

1. Approval by the New Jersey Board of Nursing and accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing are maintained.
2. 75% of students who enter the first nursing course will graduate within two years.
3. 80% of graduates successfully pass the NCLEX as first-time takers. (ACEN, 2023 Criteria).
4. 75% of graduates completing the Alumni Survey obtain entry-level positions within 12 months of graduation.
5. 75% of program graduates begin baccalaureate or higher-level nursing education within 12 months of graduation.

Nursing Student Learning Outcomes

Upon Completion of this program students will be able to:

• Deliver patient-centered care by recognizing the patient or designee as the source of control and full partner in providing compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for patient’s preferences, culture, values, and needs.
• Collaborate with other health team members by functioning effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care.
• Provide competent nursing care by integrating best current evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values for delivery of optimal health care.
• Maintain standards of professional performance, including the pursuit of life-long learning, by using data to monitor the outcomes of care processes and use improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care systems.
• Manage Safe and therapeutic nursing care in a variety of health care settings employing technical nursing skills so as to minimize risk for harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performances.
• Demonstrate information and technology literacy by using information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision making.

ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM

New Jersey Board of Nursing Requirements

An applicant for a license to practice professional nursing in the state of New Jersey must also submit evidence to the New Jersey Board of Nursing, that he or she:

1. Has attained his/her 18th birthday.
2. Is of good moral character, is not a habitual user of drugs and has never been convicted or has not pleaded nolo ontendere, non vult contendere or non vult  to an indictment, information or complaint alleging a violation of any federal or state law relating to narcotic drugs.
3. Holds a diploma from an accredited four-year high school or the equivalent thereof as determined by the New Jersey State Department of Education.
4. Has completed a course of professional nursing study in an accredited school of professional nursing as defined by the board and holds a diploma therefrom.

Admission and Progression

Admission to the Nursing Program is competitive and requires a second application for admission. See the Admission to Nursing and Health Science Programs page for details. Atlantic and Cape May County residents are given priority consideration. Residents of other counties will be considered only if all seats cannot be filled with qualified Atlantic and Cape May County students.  NOTE: Acceptance into the program is on a competitive basis. Successful completion of all prerequisites does not guarantee acceptance into the program.   Students must pass each program course with a "C" or better to remain in the program, and must complete the program in three years from the date of acceptance. Students, who are unable to progress to the next consecutive nursing course at the planned time, for any reason, must withdraw from the program. They may request re-admission one time through the Dean, in writing, with letters for re-entry into the fall semester due by May 1 and December 1 for the spring semester.

Students who fail one nursing course and repeat it, and then fail a second nursing course, or the same course a second time, will not be permitted to repeat again and will be required to withdraw from the Nursing Program until 5 years have elapsed. If 5 years or more have elapsed, students may reapply to the nursing program. 

Students must complete a standardized comprehensive exam (Exit Exam) to receive their letter of program completion (required by the State of New Jersey) to take their NCLEX. 

Beginning in Fall 2022, the evening option of the nursing program requires attendance on the Cape May campus, with limited attendance on the Mays Landing campus. The day option of the nursing program remains on the Mays Landing campus, with limited attendance on the Cape May campus.

The Nursing Program is challenging. Students are encouraged to consider limiting time commitments outside of school as much as possible during the two-year period of their nursing studies. Locations and hours of clinical assignments vary; significant additional travel time may be required. Travel to the clinical setting is the student's responsibility. Promptness and attendance are crucial to the successful completion of the Nursing Program.

In an effort to encourage nurses to continue their education and provide for advancing job opportunities, the nursing program has an advanced placement process for Licensed Practical Nurses and articulation agreements with several institutions, which offer a baccalaureate degree in nursing for graduates of the program.  Licensed Practical Nurses may be admitted to the nursing program via an advanced placement process. LPN's should contact the Admissions Office for additional information at [email protected].

For more information on Allied Health programs, students are strongly encouraged to attend an Information Session.  Contact [email protected] for more information.

Program Requirements:

• All prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or better and an overall GPA of 2.5 or better and science course(s) must be completed with a grade of "C" or better, to be eligible to apply to the Nursing program. Transferred prerequisites from another accredited college must be evaluated by our Admissions Office by the application deadline.

• A standardized pre-nursing exam (ATI TEAS) is required for admission to the Nursing program. The test must have been completed within the last three years. Applicants must receive a minimum score of 58.7 for their application to be considered. Beginning June 3, 2025, a passing score of 63.0 or higher on the TEAS Exam will be required for admission to the Registered Nursing (RN) and LPN to RN Programs.

• All science courses must have been taken within the last ten years or must be repeated.

• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) currently licensed in the State of New Jersey, who qualify for admission, may be eligible for advanced placement. To be eligible, LPNs must meet the same admission criteria as an RN applicant, and complete, with a grade of "C" or better:

  • BIOL221 - Human Anatomy & Physiology II 
  • Submit written proof of a current NJ LPN license.

   

• Students must begin the program in the fall of the year they apply. Students who are unable to do so must reapply to the program for a future class.
• Students must complete the Nursing program in three years from the date of acceptance.
• Students must meet the health requirements of the State of New Jersey and the clinical agencies that are used for clinical experiences.

Nursing Entrance Exam

• Nursing program applicants must take the ATI TEAS exam.  The test is a general, comprehensive assessment tool which evaluates several areas including reading comprehension, mathematics, science and English/language usage.
• Applicants must receive a minimum total scaled score of 58.7 for their application to be considered. The admission process for the Nursing Program is very competitive. Applicants are ranked according to a composite score of the prerequisite GPA and their ATI TEAS scaled score. 
• The ATI TEAS is administered to Atlantic Cape students only. Students must have successfully completed two prerequisites required for the Nursing Program before registering for the ATI TEAS. Candidates may retest once per academic year at Atlantic Cape, after a 30-day time period has lapsed.  This test must be taken within three years of applying to the Nursing Program. Additional information for the ATI TEAS exam can be located on the Testing Center website.

Application Process

When all criteria have been met, applicants should submit their credentials to the Admissions Office with the completed Nursing Program Admissions Application form. Credentials must be presented by June 1 for fall admission. Only completed applications will be accepted, and may not be changed and/or updated after submission. For more information, contact [email protected].

AFTER ACCEPTANCE INTO THE PROGRAM

Nursing Student Requirements include:

• Physical Examination – Nursing Student Health Form available on the CastleBranch website after acceptance.
• Immunization requirements: MMR, Varicella, and Hepatitis B (proof of titers and injections), evidence of Tdap vaccine within the last 10 years*, influenza vaccine (flu shot) required annually, COVID-19 vaccination and booster.
  • Students who have received the Tdap vaccination within the last 10 years must provide documentation. Pregnant students are encouraged to discuss the vaccination with their health care provider.
  • Students are highly encouraged to discuss these requirements with their provider. Waivers are available to be completed, which must be approved by the program’s clinical partners. If a student is rejected by any clinical site and no replacement site is available, they will need to withdraw from the nursing program.

• Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) or equivalent (PPD) required annually.
• Completion of an Assumption of Risk and Release form, which indicates an understanding of hazards inherent in the health care field.
• Completion of a Criminal History Background Check (CHBC). Any student, who fails to pass the criminal background check, or is refused by a clinical facility due to results of his/her criminal background check, will be unable to continue in the Nursing program.
• Completion of Urine for Drug Screening (UDS). Any student who fails to produce a negative Urine for Drug Screening (UDS) will be unable to continue in the Nursing program. Students who produce a diluted urine sample will be allowed one additional attempt to produce a negative Urine for Drug Screening (UDS). If the second urine sample remains a diluted sample and/or produces a positive finding, the student will be unable to continue in the Nursing program.
• Health Insurance – Proof of health insurance is required each semester while in the Nursing program.  
• Completion of CPR certification. The only acceptable CPR certification program for admission to the Nursing program is Basic Life Support for the Health Care Provider offered by the American Heart Association.

Degree Requirements