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Class of ADN Students

Use our specialized application portal to apply for our ADN program!

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Do you want to make a difference in the health and wellness of others? Do you want to work as a vital member of a medical team? Do you want to gain the skills and education you need to help patients live healthier lives? Does becoming a nurse feel less like a job and more like a calling? If you answered yes to all of those questions, you’re ready for the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program from University of the Cumberlands.

 

What is an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)?

From diplomas to associate degrees to the full Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, there are a number of educational programs available to help aspiring nurses fulfill the educational, and credential, requirements to begin a nursing career. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), sometimes called licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), check vital signs, keep records, feed patients and more. They’re trained typically through a year-long diploma program from an accredited nursing school to prepare for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) and pursue a state license. 

A nurse with a BSN has completed a four-year program and is ready to pursue the registered nursing (RN) designation. RNs administer medicine, help medical teams create a patient’s plan of care, perform diagnostics and more. These nursing professionals sometimes oversee the work of LPNs and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). While a BSN can open up a number of career opportunities down the line, you can become an RN with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) education.

An ADN program is designed to help people enter the field of nursing quickly and professionally as an RN. ADN programs typically take two years to complete and provide students with a solid foundation in healthcare for entry-level nursing. After finishing an ADN program, students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and apply for licensure upon successful completion of the exam.

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What Careers Can You Do with an ADN?

After completion of an ADN program, you’ll have the skills and education you need to become an RN. And while nursing as a career is also a calling, you should still receive a salary in line with your expertise and efforts. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses averaged a $77,600 salary in 2021. Registered nurses are in demand with projections to add more than 275,000 new RN positions in healthcare over the next decade. And RNs have career flexibility with the ability to pursue opportunities in outpatient clinics, hospitals, doctor offices, home healthcare, nursing care and more.

Your ADN will also prepare you to pursue additional educational options, from a BSN to Master of Science in Nursing programs, such as the Family Nurse Practitioner program at University of the Cumberlands. These levels of education are often among the credentials and requirements for healthcare leadership roles, something to consider as your nursing career progresses. 

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Is an ADN Worth It?

At University of the Cumberlands, we developed our ADN program to help you start and succeed in your healthcare career in service to your communities and patients. As a student of the Associate Degree in Nursing program, you’ll cover a comprehensive curriculum of fundamental nursing knowledge, from human anatomy, physiology and mental health to dosage calculation and how to prepare for the NCLEX-RN. 

So, if making a difference in the lives of your patients as a nursing professional is what you want to do with your life then, yes, this Associate Degree of Nursing is definitely “worth it.” 

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Philosophy of the Associate Degree Nursing Program

The Department of Nursing at University of the Cumberlands believes that Nursing is a culmination of caring as both an art and a science. It is an exemplar profession for acts of service to the community. Our curriculum promotes the attainment of educational outcomes through the use of the nursing process and critical thinking to provide client-centered, evidence-based, culturally competent care. The Associate Degree in Nursing program at University of the Cumberlands is built upon the pre-licensure quality and safety competencies presented by the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) Institute. These competencies include patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, and informatics.

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Curriculum and Degree Requirements

Requirements for the Associates in Nursing Major (43 hours):

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Tuition

Costs for programs of study at University of the Cumberlands are competitive and affordable. Click here to view tuition rates and fees for all of our programs. The ADN program has these charges associated with the program: 

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Admission Requirements

Acceptance for admission may be granted during the Fall or Spring semester with a new cohort being admitted at the beginning of each fall and spring term. Any previous transcripts must be evaluated before admission is final.

Step 1: Get admitted to UC Undergraduate or be a currently enrolled UC Undergraduate student

Step 2: Apply to the ADN (RN) program

  • Once admitted to UC Undergraduate, we will send you your ADN application
  • Currently enrolled UC Undergraduate students can find their ADN application in UC One

Admission requirements for the ADN (RN) program:

  • A high school or college (cumulative and UC) GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Click here for the GED to GPA calculator.
  • Grades of “C” or better in any supporting courses that have been completed.
  • Any additional information as requested by the University to determine admission eligibility.
  • In addition to the academic criteria required for admission, applicants must meet the standards written into the Commonwealth of Kentucky Nurse Practice Act. Specifically, the Nurse Practice Act requires that each student is of good moral and ethical character, good mental and physical health, and be academically qualified to fulfill the role and responsibilities of a person licensed to practice as a professional nurse. Applicants for nursing programs should review licensure information posted on the Kentucky Board of Nursing’s website, including information for candidates with a history of prior criminal convictions. Criminal convictions may serve to disqualify a person from participating in required clinical learning experiences. Students must meet all clinical agency placement requirements.
  • Documentation of language fluency for non-native speakers of English, such as a score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum acceptable TOEFL or IELTS scores for admission are:
    • Paper-based TOEFL (PBT): 550
    • Internet-based TOEFL (IBT): 79
    • IELTS: 6
  • If admitted students must also be able to meet the following Clinical Requirements. No exemptions will be made to clinical requirement policies:

    • Basic Life Support HCP: Students must maintain a current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider card.

    • Tuberculin Skin Test: Required annually. If positive, proof of follow-up medical care is required. (If a diagnosis of active tuberculosis is made, clearance from the Public Health Department is required before admission or for continuation in the nursing program.) In cases where a positive tuberculin test result is present due to previous exposure or vaccination, a chest x-ray or guantiferon gold and sign/symptom checklist will be required. http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/default.htm

    • Hepatitis B Vaccine: The Hepatitis B vaccine or titers are required for all students.

    • Tetanus/Tdap: Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Td/Tdap) vaccination require a one-time dose of Tdap to adults younger than age 65 years who have not received Tdap previously or for whom vaccine status is unknown to replace one of the 10-year Td boosters.

    • Varicella: Evidence of immunity to varicella in adults includes any of the following: 1) Documentation of 2 doses of varicella vaccine at least 4 weeks apart. 2) Laboratory confirmation of immunity through lgG antibody detection. 3) A physician statement verifying that the student was previously treated for the varicella virus (chickenpox). 

    • Proof of MMR vaccination (measles, mumps, rubella immunity)

    • Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination (as required by clinical sites for healthcare workers)

    • Annual influenza vaccination

    • Professional liability insurance is provided by the University. The student may choose to purchase additional liability insurance.

    • Photo ID (e.g., UC ID, driver’s license, passport, etc.)

    • Proof of medical insurance coverage

    • Students are expected to comply with clinical facility rules and regulations regarding required documentation.

    • All students must complete background screening and drug test screening within the Castle Branch system.

    • All students must have a satisfactory Health Form on file in the program office.

All online undergraduate admissions materials should be submitted to:

University of the Cumberlands
Undergraduate Admissions
6178 College Station Drive
Williamsburg, KY 40769

Phone 606.539.4240
Toll Free 800.343.1609
Email admiss@ucumberlands.edu

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Accreditation

Click here to view University of the Cumberlands' accreditation information. 

The Associate Degree nursing program at the Forcht School of Nursing at the University of the Cumberlands located in Williamsburg, KY is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000

This page provides a general overview and information to consider for prospective students considering attending a program of nursing in Kentucky: Kentucky Board of Nursing. 

You can view program benchmarks HERE. 

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Faculty

Click here to view a list of the nursing faculty. 

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Admissions Office

Contact Us

Phone:  606.539.4240
Toll-Free:  877.713.8767
Fax:  606.539.4303
Email:  admissions@ucumberlands.edu

Visit Us In Person

6178 College Station Drive
Williamsburg, KY 40769