Advanced Placement
Advanced placement is defined as entering the nursing program at a level beyond the first semester.
The Nursing Department offers advanced placement opportunities that permit students to obtain credit for previous education or for other acquired knowledge in the field of nursing including military education and experience, Licensed Vocational Nurses, or other healthcare workers. A challenge exam may be required.
We are pleased that you are interested in the Advanced Placement Program at College of the Desert. To learn more about our programs, please attend an Information Session.
If you still have questions after reading through the materials below please feel free to contact either the Health Sciences/Nursing Office at (760) 773-2578 or the Nursing counselor. To make an appointment to see the Nursing Counselor please email NursingCounselor@collegeofthedesert.edu or call 760-773-2578. Be sure to include your full name, availability, phone number and student ID (if applicable).
For specific questions about financial aid, FAFSA, BOG waivers, etc., please check with the Financial Aid Office at (760) 773-2532.
Click on a topic below for further information
The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). (404) 975-5000
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
The program is approved by the California State Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). (916) 322-3350
Mailing Address: Board of Registered Nursing
PO Box 944210
Sacramento, CA 94244-2100
Physical Address: Board of Registered Nursing
1747 N. Market Blvd., Suite 150
Sacramento, CA 95834-1924
By the end of the program, students will:
- Demonstrate accountability for the delivery of nursing care while influencing the behavior of others to achieve shared goals.
- Demonstrate the professional identity of nursing.
- Assimilate clinical judgment, rooted in evidence-based practice, to provide nursing care at an entry level.
- Design client-centered care for individuals that recognizes the client as a full partner with individual preferences and beliefs.
- Integrate communication principles to foster a respectful environment that supports shared decision-making in the efforts of improving client’s optimal wellness.
- Competently manage all aspects of safety for clients through system effectiveness, individual performance, and quality improvement to minimize risk of harm to clients
We believe community college students bring a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds,
life experiences, learning styles, and developmental levels to the learning environment.
The college community provides the opportunity for students and faculty to participate
in cultural exchange; it encourages the examination and development of ideas through
a balanced social forum and provides an environment for growth. We support self-development,
including ongoing self-assessment and
evaluation.
Philosophy of the Individual
We believe each person, regardless of race, creed, religion, or culture, is a unique, complex, holistic being and deserving of respect. All persons share with others common human attributes and basic human needs, adapting to physical and psychosocial experiences and stresses. Individuals have an inherent right to strive to attain optimal health and achieve their full potential in life. They possess dignity, and self-worth and have the right to information that will assist them to make informed decisions regarding health care. We believe that access to health care is the right of each member of society.
Philosophy of Health
We believe health and illness are relative, ever-changing states of being. Individuals
exist on a continuum ranging from a state of optimal functioning to the absence of
discernible disease, to obvious disease that can result in death. Illness occurs when
there is an alteration in the function of one or more body systems. We believe the
health care delivery system is changing quickly in response to societal demands, rapidly
changing technology, and the increasing lifespan. These changes have
resulted in a collaborative level of interaction between health care workers and the
consumer.
Philosophy of Nursing
We believe that nursing is a dynamic profession in which nurses work collaboratively to provide safe, compassionate, clientcentered, holistic health care. As members of the health care team, nurses have an evolving practice, based on innovations, emerging technologies, and changing societal needs based on the Art of Caring. Nursing blends evidence-based practice with the altruistic art of caring to promote, maintain, and restore wellness. Nursing demonstrates professionalism and caring for vulnerable individuals throughout their lifespan using cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills. Nurses assist individuals to use their available resources to adapt to an optimum level of functioning.
Philosophy of Nursing Education
Nursing education occurs in a variety of settings and prepares graduates with different levels of expertise. The nursing faculty uses a systematic approach to instruction that builds on previously learned knowledge from related disciplines and life experiences.
We believe that sound nursing education is based upon concepts relating to the individual,
health/illness, environment, and nursing. Nursing education values and adheres to
professional standards and regulatory guidelines and incorporates knowledge from a
variety of disciplines including the humanities, social, physical, and natural sciences.
nursing education facilitates students gathering the knowledge, skills, and attitudes
that provide the framework for students to assume
responsibility and accountability as nurses.
Nursing education provides the environment which fosters students to become managers
of care, learn to anticipate the needs of their patients, and how to advocate for
health promotion and risk reduction. nursing education provides students with the
tools necessary to become change agents for the individual as well as for the profession
of nursing. We believe that nursing education provides students with the foundation
for safe nursing practice. We believe nursing education is a transformative process
that builds upon past learning and serves as the beginning of a journey of lifelong
learning for the
professional nurse.
A variety of caregivers are educated at different levels to provide health care services
to the public. The Vocational nurse is educated to be a responsible member of a health
care team, performing basic therapeutic, rehabilitative, and preventive care. The
role of the Vocational nurse is an evolving one and encompasses providing specific
services to patients under the direction of a licensed physician and/or registered
professional nurse.
Registered nurses with an Associate Degree in nursing function as designers, providers,
managers, coordinators of care, and are members of the profession. They utilize critical
thinking and clinical reasoning processes in their practice, including the establishment
of priorities, performance of therapeutic interventions, and evaluation of client
outcomes.
Philosophy of Teaching & Learning
We believe that learning results in a change in behavior that can be measured, and
which persists. Optimum learning for a diverse student body occurs in a non-threatening,
supportive environment, in which frequent feedback is an essential element. Learning
is a life-long process. We believe that optimal learning occurs when multiple evidence-based
teaching methodologies are utilized in an environment with mutual respect and collaboration
between learners, faculty, and
healthcare team members.
We as nurse educators believe that accountability, ethical standards, moral values,
and high-level integrity lead to a successful nursing graduate. Learning is maximized
when the student feels a need to learn and accepts a share of the responsibility of
planning and implementing the learning experience. The engaged, motivated learner
enters the educational process with valuable life experiences, personal initiative,
commitment to the profession, and a belief in the worth and dignity of all persons.
Through passionate engagement, critical reflection, and multiple ways of knowing,
relating, and learning, students
will apply theory to ensure safe nursing practice.
We as nurse educators are an expression of the profession and facilitate a safe, collaborative,
interactive learning environment. In an environment of student-centered learning,
faculty foster and stimulate critical thinking, clinical reasoning and judgment, and
an appreciation of social, ethical, and cultural diversity. In collaboration with
the student, the nurse educator utilizes a multi-level curriculum moving from simple
to complex concepts to develop safe, competent, caring,
professional nurses.
We believe that a curriculum producing well-educated nursing professionals should
include the following program concepts holistic patient-centered care, evidence-based
practice, professionalism, safety, caring, and collaboration/communication.
Adopted: 02/20; Revised: 05/22
Reviewed: 05/22
Students must apply to the College of the Desert prior to applying to the nursing programs. Information on application can be found on the Admissions & Records webpage.
If you are a past COD student, who has not enrolled in a course over the last academic year, you will be required to reapply to COD.
*When the application asks you for a major, you will not have an option for "nursing". Please select "health sciences", once accepted into the nursing program, we will manually change your major to Nursing.
Applicants with a regionally accredited bachelor’s degree from the US will have certain courses waived.
General Education courses already completed will be waived.
Courses Required:Science Prerequisites
Statistics
Psychology 001 or 003
English Composition ENG 1a
One of the following: Communication 001, 013, or 017
One of the following: Sociology 001, 014, 015 or Anthropology 002, or 007.
Please note that costs are estimated. Depending on insurance coverage and financial assistance, costs may vary. Total cost of the program is estimated at $3480.00 Click here for a detailed list of associated costs. Please note that costs may vary depending on where each transition candidate is placed within the RN program.
LVN to RN Transition Program
The LVN to RN Program is designed for currently practicing LVNs. The program allows advance placement in the RN program. Placement is based on individual assessment of previous learning credit and qualifications.
The program is two to three (2-3) semesters in total, depending on assessment of student credit and qualifications.
Admission to the RN program requires application to the program. Admission is based on completion of eligibility requirements and points earned through multi-criteria points. Candidates with the most points will be offered a provisional seat in the program. Candidates are only eligible for multi-criteria points after eligibility criteria has been met.
Eligibility criteria for the LVN to RN program includes:
- BIO-013: Anatomy & Physiology w/lab-4 units
- BIO-014: Anatomy & Physiology II w/lab – 4 units
- BIO-015: Microbiology w/lab – 4 units
- Science GPA 2.5 (no grade less than C)
- Science courses must be within 10 years
- No more than two repeats in the sciences in the last 7 years.
- ENG-001A: College level transferable English course that includes a research component – 4 semester units
- Unencumbered LVN License
- IV Certification required to challenge second semester.
Although not required for eligibility, the multi-criteria worksheet is used to establish points for each applicants. The higher the points, the more likely the applicant is to gain entrance to the program.
In addition to eligibility and prerequisite requirements, once a student is registered, further items are required to begin courses and clinical rotations. You will receive information on how to complete these items once admitted to the program.
All grades must be posted and included with the application in order to receive points.
Applications are only available during application periods.
Effective Spring 2020, the Nursing Program is accepting online/hybrid courses until further notice.
Courses receiving emergency withdrawals (EWs) will not be counted as repeats under our repeat policy (two in seven (7) years).
Pass/no Pass or Credit/No Credit courses will NOT be accepted for any pre-requisite or degree courses.
All applicants will utilize the updated multi-criteria found here.
Please make sure to read the instructions thoroughly before beginning the application. The application will take approximately 1 hour to complete and must be completed at one time (no save option).
Spring 2025 - Application open July 8 - July 31, 2024
Fall 2024 - Application open January 3 - January 31, 2024
All future applications for the RN program will be available in January for fall admissions and in July for spring admissions.
Applications will be digital with automated responses. Please make sure to read the instructions thoroughly before beginning the application. The application will take approximately 1 hour to complete and must be completed at one time (no save option).
Eisenhower Health LVN to RN Transition Program
Eisenhower and College of the Desert have come together in a collaboration to benefit the LVNs, employed at Eisenhower.
The Eisenhower/College of the Desert LVN to RN Program is designed for currently practicing LVNs, employed as a part-time or full-time LVN by Eisenhower Health . The program allows advanced placement in the RN program. Placement is based on individual assessment of previous learning credit and qualifications.
The program is two to three (2-3) semesters in total, depending on assessment of student credit and qualifications.
Admission to the RN program requires application to the program. Admission is based on completion of eligibility requirements and points earned through the multi-criteria points. Candidates with the most points will be offered a provisional seat in the program. Candidates are only eligible for multi-criteria points after eligibility criteria has been met.
Eligibility criteria for the Eisenhower LVN to RN program includes:
BIO-013: Anatomy & Physiology w/lab-4 units
BIO-014: Anatomy & Physiology II w/lab – 4 units
BIO-015 Microbiology w/lab – 4 units
Science GPA 2.5 (no grade less than C)
Science courses must be within 10 years
No more than two repeats in the sciences in the last 7 years.
ENG-001A: College level transferable English course that includes a research component – 4 semester units
Unencumbered LVN License
Employed as a part-time or full-time LVN by Eisenhower Health
IV Certification is required for challenging second semester.
In addition to eligibility and prerequisite requirements, once a student is registered, further items are required to begin courses and clinical rotations. You will receive information on how to complete these items once admitted to the program.
** Please note: This partnership does not have any impact on registration priority. Prerequisite registration is not guaranteed. Priority for registration cannot be modified. **
All grades must be posted and included with the application in order to receive points.
Applications are only available during application periods.
Effective Spring 2020, the Nursing Program is accepting online/hybrid courses until further notice.
Courses receiving emergency withdrawals (EWs) will not be counted as repeats under our repeat policy (two in seven (7) years).
Pass/no Pass or Credit/No Credit courses will NOT be accepted for any pre-requisite or degree courses.
All applicants will utilize the updated multi-criteria found here.
Please make sure to read the instructions thoroughly before beginning the application. The application will take approximately 1 hour to complete and must be completed at one time (no save option).
Spring 2025 - Application open July 8 - July 31, 2024
Fall 2024 - Application open January 3 - January 31, 2024
All future applications for the RN program will be available in January for fall admissions and in July for spring admissions.
Applications will be digital with automated responses. Please make sure to read the instructions thoroughly before beginning the application. The application will take approximately 1 hour to complete and must be completed at one time (no save option).
