​Fall 2019 Implementation Curriculum Courses and Sequencing (listed format)

First Year

First Semester

• NRN 170 Pharmacological Concepts of Nursing   (2.0 units)
• NRN 171 Principles of Nursing Practice and Simple Concepts  (4.5 units)
• NRN 171L Principles of Nursing Practice and Simple Concepts Lab (4.5 units)

Second Semester

• NRN 172 Family Health and Illness Concepts (4.0 units)
• NRN 172L Family Health and Illness Concepts Lab (4.5 units)

Second Year

Third Semester

• NRN 271 Mental Health and Acute Concepts (4.0 units)
• NRN 271L Mental Health and Acute Concepts Lab (4.5 units)

Fourth Semester

• NRN 272 Complex Concepts (3.5 units)
• NRN 272L Complex Concepts and Preceptorship Lab (4.5 units)​
  

The California Community College Chancellor's Office, California Board of Registered Nursing, and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, have approved a Concept-Based Curriculum that was implemented in Spring 2017 for first semester and phased into subsequent semesters.

Two Year Pathwa​​y - Concept B​ased Curriculum 

Concept-Based Curriculum

A major curriculum change was implemented in the first semester in Spring 2017. The faculty reviewed the original curriculum and decided that a CONCEPT-BASED CURRICULUM (CBC) would benefit our students along with decreasing the number of units to 70 in keeping with the State of California's desire to decrease total units. August 26, 2019, the Nursing Degree curriculum units changed from 70 to 67 units. The 36 units of the Nursing Program were delivered over four semesters after completion of the prerequisites and in conjunction with the graduation requirements. A curriculum of 36 nursing units allows students to transition into a baccalaureate program with few barriers.​ The CBC focuses on the major concepts involved in nursing practice. The students are asked to think more globally and apply those concepts to different but similar situations. There is more focus on "what the nurse will do" (implementations).

Using a conceptual approach to nursing education promotes a decrease in excessive curriculum content and utilizes concepts to more efficiently distribute pertinent information, enhances student participation, and develops critical thinking skills. The curriculum allows students to learn nursing concepts in depth with greater emphasis on nursing implementations through exemplars to showcase specific diseases. It helps students link concepts that are related, discover patterns, apply new knowledge and integrate it with existing knowledge that is transferable in other contexts to prepare them for the rapid changes that occur in healthcare.

To assist in learning the new content, the teaching strategies changed to a learner- focused environment. Students come to class prepared to discuss what they have learned and put into action the implementations they will do as a nurse.

To support this kind of learning, the program adopted an e-textbook system by Lippincott, including on-line searchable books, streaming videos, and virtual simulations. The same textbook system will be used throughout the program. Thus, the cost of the system (approximately $1300) will be the only required textbook cost in the program. 

The CBC curriculum is set up in a series of courses over four 16-week semesters (see below). The course descriptions are published and the curriculum was implemented following approval of the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, the California Board of Registered Nursing, and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

Concept-Based Curriculum Courses and Sequencing (listed format)

    The nursing core courses are offered in fall semesters and spring semesters.

Updated 03/07/2022