Wear scrubs. Save lives. Repeat.

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. 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. In fact, if you choose to continue your nursing education beyond your associate degree, you have the option to earn your bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing, all at Cumberlands.

Anchor: Stats

By the Numbers

$77,600

Average Salary

6%

Industry Growth

100%

Accredited

16:1

Student-to-Faculty Ratio
Anchor: Programs & Requirements
Programs & Requirements

Programs & Requirements

* The credit hours listed on this page only reference the specific program requirements and is not reflective of the total hours necessary to receive your degree. Cumberlands requires all students obtain a minimum of 60 hours for an associate’s degree and a total of 120 hours for a bachelor’s degree. Transfer and prior learning credits may be counted toward those totals.

To learn more about our General Education Requirements, please visit the page referenced below or explore our Academic Catalog

General Education Requirements

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Our ADN program is designed to help you enter the field of nursing quickly and professionally as an RN (Registered Nurse). You can complete this program in as little as two years and graduate with a solid foundation of knowledge in healthcare, well prepared for entry-level nursing jobs. After finishing an ADN program, you are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and apply for licensure upon successful completion of the exam.

To understand what an ADN is, you need to know what an LPN and an RN are. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), sometimes called licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), check vital signs, keep records, feed patients, and more. Typically, they’re trained 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 (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) 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 (ADN) education. Essentially, earning your ADN is an effective way to open the door into the field of nursing. 

Course Requirements

BIOL 243 Introduction to Human Anatomy (4 credit hour) 

BIOL 244 Human Physiology (4 credit hour) 

BIOL 240 Introductory Microbiology (4 credit hour) 

NURS 110 Fundamental Nursing I (3 hours) 

NURS 112 Fundamental Nursing Application I (3 hours) 

NURS 120 Fundamental Nursing II (4 hours) 

NURS 122 Fundamental Nursing Application II (2 hours) 

NURS 130 Mother-Baby Nursing (2 hours) 

NURS 132 Mother-Baby Nursing Application (1 hour) 

NURS 240 Fundamental Nursing III (4 hours) 

NURS 242 Fundamental Nursing Application III (2 hours) 

NURS 250 Mental Health Nursing (2 hours) 

NURS 252 Mental Health Nursing Application (1 hour) 

NURS 280 Fundamental Nursing IV (4 hours) 

NURS 282 Fundamental Nursing Application IV (3 hours) 

NURS 115 Dosage Calculation (1 hour)

NURS 290 Preparing for the NCLEX-RN (2 hours)

NURS 125 Dosage Calculation II (1 hour)

NURS 135 Critical Thinking in Nursing (1 hour)

Anchor: Mission & Goals

Program Mission

The mission of the associate degree nursing program is to prepare program graduates to practice with the highest integrity while employing critical and creative thinking skills toward the care of persons from all backgrounds.

Deliver patient-centered care in multiple settings to diverse people.
Integrate teamwork and collaboration with the aim of improving patient outcomes.
Recognize the purpose and application of evidence-based nursing practice.
Demonstrate personal responsibility, ethics, and professional compliance.
Understand technologically current techniques within healthcare.
Anchor: Career Outcomes

Nursing Careers & Outcomes

All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Registered Nurse: $77,600

Registered Nurse: $77,600

Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions. Registered nurses are who most patients see first and spend the most time with.  

Licensed Practical Nurse: $48,070

Licensed Practical Nurse: $48,070

Licensed practical nurses provide basic medical care to patients in a variety of settings such as hospitals, doctor offices, and residential care facilities. 

Neonatal Nurse: $77,600

Neonatal Nurse: $77,600

Neonatal nurses care for newborn babies with health issues, such as premature infants.  

Critical Care Nurse: $77,600

Critical Care Nurse: $77,600

Critical care nurses provide healthcare to patients in critical care units that require close monitoring and intensive treatment. 

Genetics Nurse: $77,600

Genetics Nurse: $77,600

Genetics nurses provide healthcare through screenings, treatment, and counseling for patients with genetic conditions. 

Cardiovascular Nurse: $77,600

Cardiovascular Nurse: $77,600

Cardiovascular nurses provide healthcare for patients with heart disease, heart conditions, or other heart-related issues. 

Anchor: FAQs

Common Questions

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! For many, an ADN is the first step toward a life spent in a successful and fulfilling nursing career. 

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. 

Yes! University of the Cumberlands offers an RN-BSN program that allows students to complete their ADN and BSN in as little as 4 years. You can even complete your Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) at Cumberlands, should you choose to take your career even further. 

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. 

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. 

Anchor: Faculty

Faculty Experts in Nursing

Learn more about the nursing professors you will interact with.

Dr. Cailen Baker

Dr. Cailen Baker

Nursing Program Director / Associate Professor
Forcht School of Nursing

Dr. Cailen Baker

Contact Information

cailen.baker [at] ucumberlands.edu
Grace Campbell

Grace Campbell

Associate Professor
Forcht School of Nursing

Grace Campbell

Contact Information

grace.campbell [at] ucumberlands.edu
Correll Science Complex M227
Dr. Yalanda Scalf

Dr. Yalanda Scalf

Assistant Professor
Forcht School of Nursing

Dr. Yalanda Scalf

Contact Information

yolanda.scalf [at] ucumberlands.edu
Adams Center

Nursing Program Accreditation

In addition overall institutional accreditation statement, the online RN-BSN degree program at University of the Cumberlands is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. Accreditation was initially issued in Fall 2015.

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