Registered Nursing

The registered nursing program prepares students to care for individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. The program includes the dual emphasis of nursing theory and clinical practice of direct patient care. The program meets the training requirements identified by the California Board of Registered Nursing and qualifies students to take the licensure examination (NCLEX-RN). Upon successful completion of this examination, students are able to enter practice as a registered nurse. Additionally, completion of the Associate in Science Degree in Registered Nursing prepares students for transfer to a four-year institution to study for a baccalaureate in nursing degree. Advanced placement in the program may be granted to students with prior vocational nursing experience or registered nursing education or their equivalent.

Faculty

NameOffice Room NumberPhoneEmail
Delgadillo, Martha PC 211626-914-8721mdelgadillo@citruscollege.edu
Guzman, Jennifer PC 227626-852-8076jguzman@citruscollege.edu
Kibbe, Sonia PC 208626-857-4138skibbe@citruscollege.edu
Kolber, Lisa CI 104626-857-4124lkolber@citruscollege.edu

Contact Information

Division
Natural, Physical and Health Sciences
Dean
Noemi Barajas (Interim Health Sciences Director)
Administrative Secretary
Stefanie Fuentes
Division Office
PC 204
Division Phone Number
626-914-8720

This discipline prepares students to do the following:

  • Demonstrate caring behavior toward the client, significant other/s, peers and other members of the health care team, providing an environment that respects individual human rights, values and cultural and spiritual beliefs.
  • Apply critical thinking to formulate nursing diagnoses through observation of the client’s physical condition and behavior, and through interpretation of information obtained from the client and others, including the health care team.
  • Formulate a care plan, from a holistic perspective, in collaboration with the client, which ensures that direct and indirect nursing care services provide for the client’s safety, comfort, hygiene, and protection, and for disease prevention and restorative measures, taking into account the health-illness continuum.
  • Demonstrate safe, ethical care delivery across the lifespan that meets professional standards while performing skills essential to the kind of nursing action to be taken, taking into account client individuality, explaining the health treatment to the client and family and teaching the client and family how to care for the client’s health needs.
  • Use sound clinical judgment to delegate tasks to subordinates based on both the legal scope of practice of the subordinates and on the preparation and capability needed in the tasks to be delegated, and then to effectively supervise nursing care being given by subordinates.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the care plan through observation of the client’s physical condition and behavior, signs and symptoms of illness, and reactions to treatment and through communication with the client and heath team members, and then to modify the plan as needed.
  • Act as the client’s advocate, as circumstances require by initiating action to promote, improve, maintain and restore health or to change decisions or activities which are against the interests or wishes of the client, and by giving the client the opportunity to make informed decisions about health care before it is provided.

Note: Please see counselor in Health Sciences regarding updates to these courses.

RNRS 190
Foundations of Nursing
4 Units (AA/AS)
36 lecture hours, 108 lab hours
Equivalent to: NRS 190

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Prerequisite(s): Admission to the ADN program.

The first course in the nursing sequence, students are introduced to the applications of the nursing process and critical thinking needed to provide basic care to clients in a variety of community, long term and acute care settings. Emphasis is on promoting optimum health across the health-illness continuum. Clinical experiences provide the opportunity to practice basic skills in the skills lab and the clinical setting.

RNRS 191
Introduction to Medical/Surgical Nursing I
5 Units (AA/AS)
45 lecture hours, 135 lab hours
Equivalent to: NRS 191

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Prerequisite(s): BIOL 200, BIOL 201 and BIOL 220 or equivalents and admission to the ADN program.

Co-Requisite(s): RNRS 190.

Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing I introduces the first year nursing student to concepts and practices as they relate to the non-critical patient in the Medical-Surgical environment. Through utilization of the nursing process, the student will recognize alterations in functioning or illness and formulate age-appropriate nursing interventions by utilizing the nursing process and critical thinking skills.

RNRS 193
Pediatric Nursing
3 Units (AA/AS)
27 lecture hours, 81 lab hours

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Prerequisite(s): RNRS 190; RNRS 191; RNRS 192.

Co-Requisite(s): RNRS 194; RNRS 195.

This course focuses on integration and application of the nursing process as it relates to the nursing care of children and their families. Emphasis is on the concepts and skills related to age and developmental appropriate family centered care. Clinical experiences will provide opportunities for students to participate in therapeutic activities in a variety of pediatric settings.

RNRS 194
Obstetrics/Maternity Nursing
3 Units (AA/AS)
27 lecture hours, 81 lab hours

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Co-Requisite(s): RNRS 195.

This course will enable the student to attain knowledge and skills necessary to provide safe, effective, culturally sensitive physiological care using the nursing process and family centered approach for childbearing clients and their families. Clinical experiences will provide opportunities for students to participate in therapeutic activities during antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods; as well as the care and monitoring of the newborn.

RNRS 195
Beginning Medical/Surgical Nursing II
4.5 Units (AA/AS)
36 lecture hours, 135 lab hours

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Prerequisite(s): RNRS 190, RNRS 191 and RNRS 192.

Co-Requisite(s): RNRS 193 and RNRS 194.

Medical Surgical Nursing II develops the first years nursing student's knowledge and skills as they relate to the adult non-critical, moderately complex medical-surgical patient. Through utilization of the nursing process, the student will recognize alterations in functioning or illness and formulate age-appropriate nursing interventions. Psychomotor skills associated with moderately complex needs, medication administration and intravenous therapy will be studied and practiced. The impact of multiple nursing diagnoses on patient outcomes will be introduced.

RNRS 200
Role Transitions: LVN to RN
3 Units (AA/AS)
36 lecture hours, 54 lab hours
Equivalent to: NRS 200

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Prerequisite(s): Current licensure in California as a Licensed Vocational Nurse; BIOL 200, BIOL 201 and BIOL 220.

This course is designed to assist the LVN in transitioning from the LVN role to the expected role of the ADN student. Course content includes nursing process, critical thinking, therapeutic communication, delegation skills, physical assessment and legal/ethical concerns. The on-campus lab provides opportunity for students to validate nursing skill and practice new skills like physical assessment.

RNRS 201
Medical-Surgical Nursing III
6.5 Units (AA/AS)
63 lecture hours, 162 lab hours
Equivalent to: NRS 201

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Prerequisite(s): RNRS 193, RNRS 194 and RNRS 195 for generic track students, or, RNRS 200 for Advanced Placement track students.

This course examines the nursing care of selected individuals throughout the lifespan who are experiencing complex alterations in wellness involving multiple systems. Clinical experiences in local health care agencies and computerized simulation manikins and scenarios provide students opportunity to apply theoretical concepts to actual care of clients.

RNRS 203
Mental Health-Psychiatric Nursing
3 Units (AA/AS)
27 lecture hours, 81 lab hours
Equivalent to: NRS 203

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Prerequisite(s): RNRS 193, RNRS 194 and RNRS 195 or RNRS 200 and current standing as an LVN in California.

Strongly recommended: ENGL 101.

This course presents the principles of mental health and the social, economic, cultural and physiological factors that predispose a person to dysfunctional human behavior. Emphasis is placed on the therapeutic role of the nurse in promotion, preventing, maintaining and restoring individuals to optimal mental well-being. Concepts of therapeutic communication, age related concerns, treatment modalities, and delivery of mental health services are included. Clinical laboratory experiences are provided in community care facilities.

RNRS 251
Medical-Surgical Nursing IV
7 Units (AA/AS)
63 lecture hours, 190 lab hours
Equivalent to: NRS 251

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Prerequisite(s): RNRS 201 and RNRS 203.

This course is a continuation of the nursing care of selected individuals throughout the life span who are experiencing complex alterations in wellness involving multiple systems. Care of clients experiencing multi-system failure and severe trauma is also included. Clinical experiences in local health care agencies provide students opportunity to apply theoretical concepts to actual care of patients.

RNRS 290
Gerontological Nursing
2 Units (AA/AS)
18 lecture hours, 54 lab hours
Equivalent to: NRS 290

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Prerequisite(s): RNRS 201 and RNRS 203.

This course provides knowledge regarding the care of geriatric clients, including facts and theories of aging and cultural perspectives as well as specific information about each body system and alterations associated with aging. The course concludes with a discussion of gerontological issues.

Associate Degree

Note: Please see counselor in Health Sciences regarding updates to this program.