Professional nurses have the designation of Registered Nurse (RN), which is achieved through the completion of a rigorous educational program and successfully passing a licensing examination. They may have associate, baccalaureate, and master's degrees as well as doctorates. SRJC prepares professional nurses at the associate degree level.
Professional nursing is both a science and an art. The Registered Nurse integrates scientific knowledge with the art of caring with the skills of perceptive and therapeutic communication. RNs provide physical and emotional care and support to people and families who are unable to care for themselves. They also assist the patient and family in attaining the knowledge and skills needed to maximize their health and manage their disease. They are essential members of the health-care team.
The SRJC Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program is one of the top ADN programs in California. Since beginning in 1959, the program has enjoyed a wonderful working relationship with numerous clinical agencies in Sonoma County. Approximately 60 new students are admitted each fall and spring semester. Our nursing students come from varied educational and culturally diverse backgrounds and life experiences.
Associated Degree Nursing at SRJC
The Associate Degree in Nursing is a full-time four semester program resulting in eligibility to apply for a registered nursing license and sit for the NCLEX-RN examination.
Obtaining a BSN or MSN The faculty of the SRJC associate degree nursing program encourage all nursing students to pursue advanced education during or after completion of their associate’s degree. Advanced nursing degrees provide more employment opportunities for nurses including positions in management, education, clinical nurse specialist, clinical nurse leaders, nurse anesthetists, and nurse practitioners.
SRJC has an agreement with Sonoma State University School of Nursing to offer a collaborative program that enables ADN students to pursue advanced nursing education (BSN/MSN) through a variety of programs. Some of these courses are offered concurrent with SRJC ADN program enrollment. Students who are interested in these programs need to complete the California State University transfer pattern for General Education (Option B). For information about these CSU transfer general education requirements, review the GE patterns in the SRJC College Catalog or Web site and see a counselor.
Vocational Nursing to Nursing (ADN) options exist for Licensed Vocational Nurses who wish to become RNs. Eligible LVNs enroll in a bridge course in the spring semester. Those students who successfully complete the course join the NR 75 C and NR 75D courses to complete their program.
VN-ADN students take the same prerequisites and meet the same admission criteria as all students who apply to the ADN program. In addition, they must meet the following experience requirements: 1,520 hours in a health setting in the past 3 years, or, 950 hours in a health setting in the past year, or, graduation from a LVN program in the last year. At this time, employment after obtaining the R.N. license with this option is limited to California ONLY.
educate nursing students for safe nursing practice, demonstrating attributes that are culturally sensitive, competent, and professional. Graduates are prepared to work in a variety of health care settings and to be effective leaders. In order to fulfill this mission, the Santa Rosa Junior College ADN faculty strives to: 1. Recruit well-qualified students with diverse socio-cultural backgrounds. 2. Provide a variety of learning opportunities and clinical settings to apply theoretical knowledge, demonstrate patient centered care, safe practice, critical thinking, and problem solving skills. 3. Use Evidence Based Practice research and principles to promote student learning, growth, and development in nursing practice. 4. Role model professionalism, patient centered care, safe and competent nursing practice, ethical behavior, multiculturalism, and nursing leadership. Approved October, 2011
PHILOSOPHY
The faculty of the ADN Program concurs with the primary purpose of Santa Rosa Junior College: to provide educational opportunities for a diversity of students and to develop intellectual curiosity, integrity, and accomplishment in an atmosphere of academic freedom.
The curriculum in the ADN Program is derived from a conceptual framework which is based on Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory of Nursing. Selected concepts and the nursing process are integrated throughout the curriculum.
Our philosophy of nursing is influenced by our beliefs about individuals, society, health and nursing:
Individuals:
Every individual is unique with innate dignity and worth. We view the individual as a developing physical, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual being. We believe each individual is responsible for his/her own behavior as it relates to self, society and the environment. Each individual is capable of acquiring knowledge regarding health needs and practices, and is free to choose those self-care behaviors which will promote optimum health.
Society:
A society is composed of individuals, families, groups, and communities. Societies are dynamic and influenced by social, economic, political, cultural, spiritual and environmental forces. Society has a role in assisting the client in attaining/regaining optimal self-care.
Health:
Health is functioning at one's optimum level of wellness. One's level of wellness is unique to each individual, is ever changing, and is influenced by one's knowledge of health requirements and one's ability and desire to meet their self-care needs.
Nursing:
Nursing is a profession committed to humanistic and holistic caring of individuals and their families throughout all developmental stages. Being a professional nurse requires knowledge and understanding of the physiological, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual needs of the client/ clients. This body of knowledge is derived from nursing sciences and other related disciplines from the natural and social sciences.
The practice of nursing requires:
1. The promotion of health and prevention of illness.
2. The restoration of health and alleviation of suffering when restoration is not achievable.
3. The use of the nursing process to identify client’s self-care needs by promoting those behaviors which lead towards the highest level of wellness.
4. The collaboration with clients and other members of the health care team.
5. The application of legal-ethical and principles of accountability to the individual, family, community, and health agencies for providing safe, competent care.
Nursing Education:
We believe there are multiple levels of entry into nursing and a variety of practice settings dependent on educational preparation and/or clinical expertise. We believe that students have multiple learning styles and educational needs. The curriculum addresses the multiple learning styles to prepare the graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College as entry level nurses and for entry into a baccalaureate nursing programs. (Approved by ADN faculty 2-15-2007)
