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Aims Community College nursing associate degree students working together on a lab exercise

Nursing

Congratulations to the May 2023 Aims Nursing graduates, who received a 97% pass rate on the NCLEX and 88% completion rate. 

Earn a Two-Year Nursing Associate Degree at Aims

Turn your people skills and interest in health sciences into a fulfilling nursing career. Earn a nursing associate degree at Aims and get a job working as a nurse at a hospital, medical office or home healthcare company.

Nurses are an integral part of healthcare teams, working with doctors and other staff to ensure that patients receive quality and compassionate care. Nurses help patients by performing physical assessments, administering medications and assisting with medical tests and wound care.

While earning an associate degree in nursing, you will study subjects including:

  • Pharmacology
  • Nursing fundamentals
  • Medical and surgical nursing concepts
  • Nursing specialties, including psychiatric and maternal-child

In this two-year nursing school program, learn the scientific and practical hands-on skills required to become a registered nurse. Study theory in a classroom setting and immediately apply that knowledge in a lab setting. Get practice in applying critical thinking skills, providing patient care, and multitasking during an internship. Study the ethical standards of nursing and practice the art of communicating with patients and family members in a caring and therapeutic manner. 

The Aims nursing degree program has specific requirements and prerequisites you’ll need to fulfill before applying. 

The Aims nursing program has full approval status with the Colorado State Board of Nursing and has Continuing Accreditation with conditions by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

If you’d like to help people by becoming a member of a respected healthcare profession, the nursing associate degree program at Aims can start you on the path to a rewarding career.

Nursing Information Sessions

Information to discuss and answer any questions related to the 2024 nursing applications.

  • 2/20: Allied Health and Sciences, room 254, 9:00 am
  • 3/28: Allied Health and Sciences, room 250, 12:00 pm
  • 4/1: Allied Health and Sciences, room 254, 5:00 pm

Public Notice Of Upcoming Accreditation Review Visit By The ACEN

Aims Community College wishes to announce that it will host a site visit for continuing accreditation of its ADN (RN) nursing program by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). You are invited to meet with the site visit team and share your comments about the program in person at a meeting scheduled at 2 pm on Wednesday, February 7th, in Conference Room 114 of the Student Commons located at 5121 West 20th Street, Greeley, Colorado 80631.


Written comments are also welcome and should be submitted directly to:
 

Dr. Kathy Chappell, Chief Executive Officer
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing 
3390 Peachtree Road Northeast, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
email: kchappell@acennursing.org


All written comments should be received by ACEN by January 23, 2024

Gain Vital Skills in the Art and Science of Nursing at Aims

Learn how to become a safe, competent nurse and prepare for an in-demand career in healthcare.
Aims Degree Video - Allied Health - Nursing Education

Katrina Einhellig, Director of Nursing Education programs at Aims, shares how you will get support you need for fundamental practical nursing skills like starting an IV and drawing blood and professional skills like how to remain calm under pressure. Gain hands-on experience in an environment where it's safe to learn from mistakes, and prepare for the certification exam after graduation.

Gain the Skills You Need To Prepare for a Nursing Career

The nursing associate degree program at Aims combines lectures, labs and an internship to give you the medical knowledge and hands-on training that will help you start your nursing career.

In this nursing school program, you’ll gain skills in:

  • Performing head-to-toe physical assessments 
  • Giving patients a variety of medications and vaccinations
  • Inserting Foley catheters
  • Operating various medical equipment and medical computer systems

After studying a procedure in the classroom, you’ll gain hands-on guided practice in the lab. The Aims nursing lab has many of the same instruments and equipment you’ll use in the field, and lab simulators allow you to gain hands-on practice.

The nursing degree program also teaches you essential soft skills that employers desire. Gain practice thinking quickly in high-pressure and fast-paced environments. Learn how to present a professional demeanor and remain calm in a variety of medical situations. 

In your second year, you’ll learn advanced concepts in medical and surgical nursing and pharmacology. The final semester includes a transitional capstone course in a clinical internship setting. Integrate and apply everything you’ve learned and practice managing multiple patients at once.

At the end of your second year, you’ll take a one-week seminar to prepare you for the National Council Licensure Examination - Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN), a national certification standard. Aims Community College has a 95% pass rate for the NCLEX-RN, which is 10% higher than the national average. After completing your nursing associate degree program, you’ll sit for the exam with confidence and become a certified registered nurse. 


Two Aims nursing students

Get your costs covered

You may be able to earn your Nursing degree for free through Career Advance Colorado, a program offering no-cost training.

See if you qualify for free career training

Learn more about nursing by attending an upcoming event

Enroll in the New LPN to RN Track

lpn

Are you a practicing Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) currently working in the field and looking to take your nursing career to the next level? Aims is excited to offer a new LPN to RN degree track for working LPNs who meet enrollment requirements.

You can apply for free in two easy steps:

  1. Apply to Aims 
  2. Apply to the LPN to RN Program 
    1. Make sure to submit your application between March 1, 2024, and March 29, 2024.

LPN to RN Program Timeline and Application Information

Once enrolled, you can earn your degree in less than one year, from June to the following May.

  • First, you’ll take the Nursing 1089 class during the summer semester.
  • Nursing 1089 is designed to help you transition from an LPN to the nursing associate degree program.
  • The rest of the program is identical to year two of the Aims Nursing A.A.S. degree program.
  • In the following fall and spring, you’ll complete the third and fourth semesters of the traditional nursing program.
  • After that, you’ll graduate with an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Nursing.

For more information and for application information, email Katrina Einhellig at Katrina.Einhellig@aims.edu or call (970) 339-6234.

Gain Fundamental Nursing Skills with a Nursing Certificate

Certificates are a great way to acquire new skills in less time than a degree program requires. Aims offers nursing certificate options for students who want to become a licensed practical nurse instead of a registered nurse or are interested in becoming a nurse aide.

  • Practical Nursing Certificate

Launch Your Nursing Career With an Associate Degree in Nursing

outcomes

Upon completing your associate degree in nursing, you'll attend a training program preparing you for the NCLEX RN exam. Upon passing, you can apply for jobs as a Registered Nurse (RN). 

Registered nurses can work in a variety of environments, including:

  • Hospitals
  • Medical practices
  • Home health companies
  • Dialysis centers
  • Agencies as case managers
203,200 New nursing jobs annually through 2031 Bureau of Labor Statistics
Hire-employee-employ-engage-job

$86,590 Mean annual wage in CO, May 2022 Bureau of Labor Statistics

Earning your associate degree in nursing and passing the NCLEX RN exam lets you start your nursing career and provides a foundation for furthering your education. If you decide to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing, you can work in leadership or teaching, or you can go on to pursue a master’s degree in nursing and become a nurse practitioner.

Nursing - Student Testimonial - Kristina Richardson

Watch Aims graduate Kristina Richardson talk about her time at Aims Community College and her journey through the nursing school program.

Nursing Faculty and Staff

The Aims nursing faculty are experienced in various medical settings and will bring that experience to life for you in the classroom and lab. Smaller class sizes offer you ample opportunities for one-on-one instruction and guided practice learning new nursing skills.

  • Head shot of Katrina Einhellig

    Katrina Einhellig

    Director, Nursing Education Program (DNEP)
  • Smiling person with brown hair and purple shirt in front of a brick wall.

    Jenna Bernklau

    Instructor, Nursing
  • Ani Matt

    Ani Matt

    Nursing Professor
  • Headshot of April Fulton

    April Fulton

    Nursing Faculty
  • Headshot of Sheila Mayeda

    Sheila Mayeda

    Staff Associate, Nursing
  • Headshot of Laurie Casey

    Laurie Casey

    Instructional Lab Coordinator I, Nurse Aide, Med Prep
  • Headshot of Kendra Merriott

    Kendra Merriott

    Program Coordinator II, Nurse Aide, Med Prep
  • Headshot of Sarah Zeller

    Sarah Zeller

    Instructor, Nursing