Overview
Program Overview
The nursing program offers several options to earn a degree. All include pre-clinical coursework followed by a clinical component. The following is a general overview of the program process and requirements:
General Admission to BRCC
Prospective students must apply for general admittance to Blue Ridge Community College and meet the general requirements of degree-seeking students as well as the specific curriculum admission requirements of the nursing program. BRCC counselors will then admit the student into the nursing curriculum for pre-clinical coursework only.
Pre-Clinical Coursework
Admitted students will select a program option that best fits their needs: Full-time, part-time, Part-Time LPN to RN. Students will then register for the pre-clinical courses required by their program option.
Application for Clinical Component
After completing pre-clinical coursework, students must take the Nursing Entrance Test (ATI TEAS) and complete a application for admission to the clinical portion of the nursing program and submit it before the published deadline. Enrollment in the clinical component is limited, and admission is selective and competitive. Selection criteria will include TEAS scores, academic performance in pre-clinial courses, and references. Admission preference is given to residents within BRCC’s service area.
Clinical Component
Before beginning clinical coursework, successful applicants will need to submit the following paperwork to the Nursing department by the published deadline: Physical Form, CPR, Malpractice Insurance, Health Insurance, Criminal Background Check Documentation, and a completed Drug Screen.
Graduation
After successfully completing the NCLEX-RN computerized exam, graduates are eligible for employment as Registered Nurses (RN). Graduates are encouraged to continue their education at a four-year school to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Many continue their education with a Master’s Degree. Some even choose to pursue careers as Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Midwives, or Nurse Anesthetists.