Upcoming Nursing Info Sessions
The Nursing application for Spring 2024 is currently open from August 1 through October 15. Please see our application section for the application requirements.
The Fall 2024 application is currently open for new students only as it is located within the New Student Application form. The Current student application for Fall 2024 applicants will open in February, 2024.
Why Study Nursing?
RCC Nursing Program graduates receive excellent preparation for NCLEX-RN with close to 100% pass rate. The Nursing Program may be completed in two years or students can attend part time and complete the program at their convenience. Nursing applications are accepted twice annually. Graduates can transfer almost anywhere to obtain their BSN degree. Additional advantages of RCC’s Nursing program include: more affordable tuition as compared to four-year institutions, availability of scholarships, financial aid, full-time or part-time enrollment, day and/or evening courses and on-campus child care.
RCC’s Nursing Program has been ranked by NursingProcess.org as #1 “Best ADN Nursing Program in New York State.” In addition, RCC Nursing has been ranked #6 by RegisteredNursing.org as “2020 Best ADN programs in New York State.”
Program Mission
The Nursing Program at Rockland Community College aims to meet the needs of the community for individuals who are both informed citizens and registered professional nurses. The Nursing Program provides access into practice as a registered professional nurse and is the basis for higher education and lifelong learning.
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % passed | 91.6% | 96.3% | 99.0% | 98.4% | 96.3% |
RCC graduates’ NCLEX-RN pass rates as stated at https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/registered-professional-nursing/nursing-education/new-york-state-nursing-programs/new-york-state-rn-nclex-results-2018-2022.
Students must pass a national licensing exam in order to obtain employment.
Licensure
The Nursing Program is licensed by the New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234, www.nysed.gov.
RCC’s Nursing Program is registered by the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, as a registered nursing education program that qualifies students for licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse (RN). The registration of a program means that it has met the Department’s standards for accreditation as provided in the Rules of the Board of Regents and the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.
Accreditation
The Nursing Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326, www.acenursing.org.
Nursing Program Graduate Competencies
- Provide patient-centered care utilizing a collaborative approach which includes the patient, family, significant others, and members of the nursing and healthcare team.
- Practice with competence to provide safe, equitable and inclusive care in a cost-effective healthcare environment.
- Coordinate holistic care for groups of patients utilizing organizational skills and the concepts of delegation, accountability and advocacy.
- Practice within the ethical, legal and professional standards of nursing demonstrating a commitment to lifelong learning.
School of Nursing, Health and Wellness
Degree Tracks & Course Sequence
Real World Ready
Listening to workforce needs
Graduates of Rockland Community College are provided with a clear path to meaningful careers that meet the needs of businesses and industry in the communities we serve. Our students are trained in specific skills that are needed by employers, and guided through a career path that leads directly to workforce opportunities. With affordable tuition, students who begin their college careers at RCC are ready to meet the demands of the real world.
Free Career Exploration Assessment [ACCESS CODE: pathways]
Student Success
At Rockland Community College, you are provided with a Student Success Team that will help you with your academic journey, career exploration, transfer planning, support service referrals, and more! Your Team includes your Dean, Program Director, Faculty Advisor, Student Success Advisor, Connection Center Counselor, Financial Aid Advisor, Peer Mentors, and if you’re involved in any of these special programs, your Athletics, Honors, TRiO, and Veterans Advisors. During your first semester, you will take an ‘Introduction to the School’ course that will outline the various College offices and departments that can help you on your path.
Career Outlook
Job Roles
Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner
Industries
Healthcare, Education, Legal, Publishing
Careers
Registered Nurse
Nurse Practitioners
Employment and wage data by occupation are based on the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey, which collects information from approximately 51,000 businesses. labor.ny.gov
Faculty Spotlight
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New RCC Applicants: Apply to the College/Nursing Program
If you are interested in applying to the Nursing program, we encourage you to start at the College as Undecided Seeking Nursing or in our Healthcare Sciences degree. We are currently accepting applications to the Nursing program for both the Spring and Fall 2024 semesters. The Spring semester will close on October 15. The Fall semester will close on April 15. NOTE: applications for the spring will be reviewed after October 15. Applications for the fall will be reviewed after April 15.
- New Students: If you are applying to the College as a new student, please complete the College’s Online Application. When choosing your program of study, please choose either Undecided Seeking Nursing or Healthcare Sciences as your program of study. The Nursing application will automatically be included in your application form and no additional application will be required.
- You will be admitted to the College for the degree program you applied for on the application (i.e. Undecided Seeking Nursing or Healthcare Sciences). Applicants will be notified if they are admitted to the Nursing program for spring 2024 by December. For students who have not been accepted into Nursing, you are encouraged to start at RCC in the original program you were accepted to and seek advisement from your advisor on the Student Success Team.
- For further instructions on how to apply, take your placement tests, apply for Financial Aid, and register for classes at RCC, visit sunyrockland.edu/enrollment/.
- Students must reapply to RCC if they already enrolled but have not taken classes for two consecutive semesters.
- We encourage you to attend a Nursing Information Session to understand the application process.
Current Students: Complete the Nursing Application
If you are currently enrolled or intend to enroll as a degree-seeking student at RCC for this upcoming Fall semester OR are not currently enrolled but were enrolled at RCC as a degree-seeking student in Spring 2023, you should complete our Nursing Application for Current Students.
College Level Placement in English and Mathematics
Students must place at ENG 101/098 and MAT 100/048 or MAT 101/048 levels, or higher, in order to apply to the Nursing Program. Establishment of placement levels may take place through any of the following methods:
- Transfer credits: Students who wish to have credits evaluated should have all official college transcripts, from all previous colleges and universities attended, sent to: Rockland Community College, Records, 145 College Road, Suffern, NY, 10901. RCC accepts eTranscripts directly from participating colleges and universities. All college eTranscripts should be emailed to [email protected]. Please do not send them to Nursing.
- Placement Exemptions: For information on placement exemption criteria, please go to sunyrockland.edu/admission/enrollment/placement-testing/
- Assessment Examinations (ACCUPLACER Tests): Students who do not receive placement exemption or transfer credit for English and/or Math must take an assessment test(s). A schedule of test dates and study information is available at sunyrockland.edu/admission/enrollment/placement-testing/accuplacer-schedule.
If the placement result for English is ESL, these courses must be successfully completed prior to applying to the Nursing Program.
Nursing Pre-Admission Exam (ATI TEAS®)
All applicants must take the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS®), which measures basic essential skills in the academic content areas of reading, mathematics, science, and English and language usage. In order to apply to Nursing, students must score a minimum of 58.7% (proficient) on the TEAS exam. Nursing admission is competitive and based on TEAS scores within the cohort for which you are applying.
TEAS exams for RCC students applying to the Nursing Program will be held on campus on September 11th, September 13th and September 15th. Please go to https://www.atitesting.com/teas/register for more information and to register for the ATI TEAS exam.
Students may choose to take the exam at any location where the TEAS is offered, as long as it includes the academic content areas listed above. Information on available study materials is available at www.atitesting.com/teas-prep. TEAS exam results must be dated within one year of submitting the application. TEAS scores must be submitted directly to RCC from ATI by following the directions in this link:
https://help.atitesting.com/how-do-ati-teas-transcripts-and-score-submissions-work.
Upcoming ATI TEAS Dates and Registration Information
The ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS®) exam measures general knowledge in various content areas.
TEAS exams for RCC students applying to the Nursing Program will be held on campus on September 11th, September 13th and September 15th.
Click on this page for more details: https://www.atitesting.com/teas/register.
ATI may be reached at 1-800-667-7531 if you need additional information.
For information on testing accommodations, contact Accessibility Services at [email protected]. “Accommodation Letters” must be forwarded to [email protected] at least 7 days prior to the scheduled exam in order to receive accommodations.
LPN Pathway to RN
Additional admission criteria specific to students with a current Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license may be found at sunyrockland.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/LPN-pathway-to-RN.pdf
Note: Please be advised that a prior felony conviction may impede the ability of a student to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and to meet licensure for certain professions. Once accepted to the Nursing Program, students will be required to undergo a criminal background check and drug screening.
*To be completed only after acceptance to the Program.
RCC Nursing students who participate in a clinical experience are required by clinical sites to undergo a criminal background check and drug screening.
Students who test positive on the drug screening will be dismissed from the RCC Nursing Program. Additionally, students who are not cleared for the criminal background check will be dismissed from the Program. Students who test positive on the drug screen and/or students who are not cleared for the criminal background check are eligible to reapply once they are able to successfully complete the drug screening and/or have cleared up the issues on their criminal record.
Students are solely responsible for the costs for the criminal background check and drug screening. Students must utilize the services of Castle Branch.
The drug screening follows the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) guidelines and screens for ten (10) substances as designated in the Substance Abuse Panel 10 (SAP 10). The substances are: Amphetamines, Opiates, Marijuana, Barbiturates, Metabolites, Methadone, Phencyclidine-Propoxyphene, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine metabolites, Methaqualone.
Please go to CastleBranch RCC Nursing Portal to register for the criminal background check and drug screen.
Note: Please be advised that a prior felony conviction may impede the ability of a student to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and to meet licensure for certain professions.
Applicants seeking information on how a felony or misdemeanor conviction may affect their ability to be licensed, should contact the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions at 518-474-3817.