Are you interested in a career in the booming field of health professions? Do you enjoy working with people? Do you want a career with variety? Are you ready for a job with high responsibility? Would you like a financially secure career that’s rewarding both to you and the people you’ll help? You may be ready for a career in the nursing profession!
Some things about the nursing profession remain constant: Committing to help people heal in a caring, competent and professional manner. Being able to make quick, information-based decisions. Combining scientific knowledge with a desire to help people stay healthy and get well.
But other things change: Technological advances, for one. Ethical and legal questions drive changing laws that govern health care. The demand for nurses has even changed — it’s higher than ever before!
Training and work for nurses is mentally challenging and often physically demanding. But the registered and vocational nurses who have trained in our programs will also tell you that they have incredibly rewarding and satisfying jobs.
If you’d like to learn the high-level technical skills, along with the critical thinking and decision-making skills necessary to provide competent care in today’s rapidly changing world of nursing, DCCCD nursing programs are for you!
Degree and Certificate Programs
Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)
The Associate Degree Nursing program is a full-time program comprising lecture, skills lab and clinical experience, with rotations involving both day and evening hours. Students begin their hospital rotations the first semester after admission to the program and rotate through metroplex hospitals, participating in a wide variety of procedures.
Nursing education includes classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience in hospitals and other health facilities. Students take courses involving anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences. Coursework also includes liberal arts classes.
Supervised clinical experience is provided in hospital departments such as pediatrics, psychiatry, maternity and surgery. It may also include clinical experience in nursing homes, public health departments, home health agencies and ambulatory clinics.
Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, commonly referred to as the NCLEX-RN. The program is accredited by the Texas Board of Nursing and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
Two DCCCD colleges offer Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) programs. Each program has its own application and admissions process and timeline.
LVN-RN Advanced Placement “Bridge” Program
A licensed vocational nurse (LVN) may complete the Associate Degree Nursing program via the LVN to RN Advanced Placement (“Bridge”) program at El Centro College.
Admission to this program is open to applicants who have not previously been enrolled in an Associate Degree Nursing program, although an applicant may petition the dean for admission consideration.
The information packet details the procedure for program application. Get more information on El Centro College’s LVN to RN “Bridge” program.
Perioperative Nursing Enhanced Skills Certificate
El Centro College’s Perioperative Nurse Internship program offers registered nurses and graduate nurses the opportunity to acquire additional theory and skills required for patient care in the surgical setting. Upon successful completion of this two-semester, 13-credit-hour program, nurses receive the Perioperative Nursing Enhanced Skills certificate.
Vocational Nursing
El Centro College offers a Vocational Nursing certificate. The Vocational Nursing program is a 12-month, 54-credit-hour curriculum leading to a certificate of completion. Vocational Nursing courses are completed in two 16-week academic semesters and two 5-week summer semesters.
Get more information on El Centro College’s Vocational Nursing program.
Accreditation
El Centro and Brookhaven colleges are accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and are members of the American Association of Community Colleges, the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities (formerly the college section of the Texas State Teachers Association) and the League for Innovation in the Community College.
Other Degree and Certificate Options
The Dallas County Community College District offers nearly 350 career and technical degrees and certificates, plus 36 academic degrees. For more information, see a chart of our degree plans by location.