Nursing (AAS.NUR)

Nursing Program (AAS.NUR) 

Program Outcomes Data 2022 – 2024

Program Outcome 1: The NCLEX-RN pass rate will be 80% or higher for all first-time test takers during the calendar year.

• 2024: 98.28%
• 2023: 96.15%
• 2022: 84.40%

Program Outcome 2: Fifty percent (50%) or more of the students who start on the first day of NUR 130/131/132 will complete the program in 4 semesters (on-time).

• Fall 2022 & Spring 2023 start (2024 graduates): 52.08%
• Fall 2021 & Spring 2022 start (2023 graduates): 53.96%
• Fall 2020 & Spring 2021 start (2022 graduates): 33.33%

Program Outcome 3: Fifty percent (50%) or more of program graduates will be employed in nursing within one year.

• Spring 2024 graduates (at 3 months post-graduation): 90% of survey respondents
• 2023 graduates: 97% of survey respondents
• 2022 graduates: 93.75% of survey respondents

Percentage of graduates enrolled in the Rowan 3+1 BSN program:

• 2024: 67.44%
• 2023: 77.6%
• 2022: 66.7%

What is the 3+1 BSN?
The 3+1 BSN program allows students to complete all associate degree nursing courses and 300-level BSN courses at RCBC for RCBC’s affordable tuition rate. You’ll graduate with your nursing degree, be eligible to sit for licensure and start working as an RN sooner than students in traditional four-year university programs. The final year of the BSN is completed online through Rowan University, allowing you to work while earning your degree. Many employers, including Virtua and Deborah Heart and Lung Center, offer tuition assistance for this final year!

What relationship does RCBC have with Virtua Health System?
RCBC partners with Virtua Health System to provide clinical placements for Health Science students. All nursing students complete clinical rotations at Virtua Hospital. Additionally, Virtua employees qualify for in-county tuition rates regardless of residency. Graduates who accept full-time employment with Virtua can have their remaining BSN courses at Rowan University paid for while working.

Can I be admitted to the nursing program right out of high school?
Yes! High school graduates can apply directly to the program. You’ll complete non-nursing courses during your first year, transitioning to nursing courses in year two. Advantages include lower tuition costs, eligibility for licensure sooner than four-year programs, and potential tuition reimbursement for your final year from employers.

Do I need to take an admission assessment test?
Yes, the TEAS test is required for admission. A cumulative score of at least 58% is recommended. We’ll consider your highest score if you’ve taken the test multiple times.

How will I be evaluated for admission? 
Applicants are assessed using a rubric that evaluates grades in required courses. Those with the highest points are admitted first. You can download the rubric below to estimate your score!

I do not live in Burlington County. Will I be considered?
Yes! We welcome students regardless of residency.

Do I have to complete non-nursing courses at RCBC?
We accept courses from other institutions, with official transcripts from all schools attended.

I attended another nursing school. Will I be considered?
Yes, each applicant is reviewed individually. However, we require a letter from the director of your previous nursing school confirming that you were not dismissed for unsafe clinical behavior.

How Does the New Jersey Pay It Forward Program Work?

RCBC nursing students may qualify for interest-free loans to cover tuition and fees through the New Jersey Pay It Forward Program. This initiative offers financial support –  including no-interest loans and up to a $500 monthly living stipend that doesn’t need to be repaid! – to help you achieve your educational and career goals without the burden of traditional loan interest.

For questions about the NJ Pay It Forward Loan, please contact:
Email: financialaid@rcbc.edu
Phone: (856) 222-9311, ext. 1575
Attention: Lacie Kampmeyer

Step 1: Apply to RCBC

IIf you are not currently enrolled at RCBC or have not applied or taken courses here in over three years, you must:

• Complete the RCBC admissions application at rcbc.edu/apply.
• Submit proof of high school completion via one of the following:
  • High school diploma
  • GED
  • Translated foreign credentials must be evaluated by a NACES-approved member. You can begin the transcript request by clicking here.
  • If you are a current high school senior, please refer to the High School Application section.

Step 2: Submit All Transcripts

If you are a transfer student or have attended another college or university, you must submit official transcripts to the Office of Outreach and Admissions.

• Degree holders: You will be evaluated alongside all applicants and must complete prerequisite coursework.
• Official transcripts: Send electronically (directly from your school) or via mail to:
  Office of Outreach and Admissions
  900 College Circle
  Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
• Previous nursing students: If you attended another nursing program and left in good standing, request the program director to email a letter to nursing@rcbc.edu stating you were not dismissed for unsafe clinical behavior.

Step 3: Complete Prerequisite Coursework 

Complete the following courses, ideally by the nursing application deadline:

• Biology:
  • BIO 110 & 111 (Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab)
  • BIO 114 & 115 (Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab)
  • BIO 155 & 156 (Microbiology with Lab)
• English: ENG 101 & ENG 102 (College Composition I & II)
• Mathematics: MTH 107 (Introduction to Statistics)
• Psychology & Sociology: PSY 101 (General Psychology), PSY 256 (Developmental Psychology), SOC 101 (Principles of Sociology)
• Nursing & Philosophy: NUR 220 (Nutrition in Nursing), PHI 101 (Introduction to Philosophy)

Step 4: Complete the ATI TEAS exam

• Register for the ATI TEAS exam, taken online or in person, before the application deadline.
• We recommend a minimum score of 58%. Scores are valid for two years.

Step 5: Submit the Nursing Application

The application cycle is as follows:

• Fall Admissions: November 1 - January 31 (decisions sent late March)
• Spring Admissions: May 1 - August 20 (decisions sent late September)

Applications must be submitted through the website.

Step 6: Complete and Review Additional Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old at the program’s start.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Attend a nursing information session. 

Non-admissible situations:

• Two or more failed attempts in required courses.
• Failing grades (C-, D, F, ST) within the last eight years.

Meeting these criteria does not guarantee admission.

Admission Process: 

Applicants are ranked using a rubric evaluating academic performance in required courses. Points are awarded based on grades, prioritizing those without failed or repeated courses.

Download the RCBC Nursing Admissions Rubric

Acceptance Requirements:

Accepted students will receive conditional offers and must:

• Attend a mandatory orientation.
• Provide:
  • Proof of medical insurance
  • AHA BLS CPR certification (in-person only)
  • Completed physical exam, lab tests, current flu shot, and PPD
  • Medical history
  • Clear criminal background check and negative urine drug test

Notice: Per New Jersey State Law, all candidates must be informed that a criminal history background check is required for licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) before being admitted to a nursing education program.

Reliable transportation is required for clinical site access.

Important: Students not accepted or who decline admission must reapply in future cycles.

Overview:
High school seniors can apply to the High School Nursing Application to begin their journey toward a career in nursing. Accepted students will take program-required courses under the guidance of the Nursing Department in their first year and begin nursing courses in the second year, provided all requirements are met.

Application Timeline:

• Application Opens: End of January 2025
• Deadline to Apply: June 30 at 11:59 pm
• Late applications may be considered if submitted with all required documents before fall registration closes.

Program Pathway:
Accepted students complete non-nursing required courses in their first year following a specific sequence. Successful completion with a grade of “C” or better allows progression to nursing courses the following fall. Maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher is recommended.

Students not applying through this pathway can still complete non-nursing courses in their first year. However, they must apply with the traditional cohort and be evaluated using the standard admissions rubric.

3+1 Program Advantage:
Students complete their last year of the 3+1 program online through Rowan University while working as RNs. Many healthcare organizations in the area often cover the cost of the final year. This pathway offers a significant cost advantage, with total expenses for the associate-to-BSN route typically around $36,000—substantially less than four-year university BSN programs.

Application Process:

Step 1: Complete the RCBC Admissions Process

• Submit the RCBC Admissions Application.
• Provide proof of high school completion via:
  • High school diploma
  • GED
  • Foreign credential translation

Step 2: Complete the High School Nursing Application by June 30, 2025. The application can be found by clicking here.

• Submit during the application window.

Step 3: Submit Required Documents

• Request your high school transcript showing completed subjects and earned grades.
• Transcripts must be sent to:
  Rowan College at Burlington County
  Office of Outreach & Admissions
  900 College Circle
  Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

Admissions Criteria:

1. Eligibility:
   • Current high school seniors completing their diploma by June 30.
   • Satisfactory completion of high school courses:
     • English (4 years)
     • Biology
     • Chemistry
     • Algebra I & II
   • A minimum grade of “C” is highly recommended.
2. Testing Requirements (by June 30):
   • SAT: 500 Reading, 500 Math
   • ACT: 23 Reading, 23 Math
   • ATI TEAS: Composite score of 58%
3. TEAS Registration | TEAS Prep Products | TEAS Exam Guide (PDF)
   • TEAS Registration
   • TEAS Prep Products
   • Everything You Need To Know About The ATI TEAS® Exam (PDF)
4. Minimum GPA: 3.0 or higher
   • Submit an official transcript to the Office of Outreach & Admissions.
5. Admissions Decisions and Deadlines:
   • Applications submitted by April 1 will receive decisions by April 15.
   • Applications submitted after April 1 will receive decisions two weeks after submission.
   • Final materials, including transcripts and test scores, must be submitted by June 30.

Conditional Nursing Program Acceptance:

Acceptance as a high school student is contingent upon:

1. Successful completion of high school coursework.
2. Submission of final transcripts after graduation.
3. Completion of the following RCBC courses by the spring of the first year:
   • PSY 101, ENG 101, BIO 110/111, SOC 101, PHI 101, NUR 220, ENG 102, BIO 114/115, PSY 256, MTH 107, and BIO 155/156*.
4. Completion of compliance and health requirements by July 30, including:
   • Criminal background check with clear results.*
   • Negative drug screening, including no detection of marijuana.
   • Proof of medical/health insurance.
   • American Heart Association BLS CPR certification (in-person course).
   • Required physical exam and vaccinations.

Note: Clinical agencies reserve the right to deny access to students who fail to meet their requirements, regardless of college admission status.

*BIO 155/156 can be completed in the summer or concurrently with the first nursing courses - NUR 130/131/132. Microbiology and Lab, four credits. All other courses must be completed by the end of the spring term, the first year. 

Important Considerations:

Clinical requirements are dictated by the clinical agencies necessary for completing the clinical component of the curriculum. These facilities may only allow entrance to students who have completed the stated requirement. The requirements are not college requirements but requirements to enter a clinical facility based on contracts the program has with the facility. Students are guests in the facility, and the agency has the right to refuse entrance to any student/guest who still needs to complete the requirements.

• *Criminal History: Students with charges on their record may be ineligible for clinical placement and licensure. If necessary, seek legal assistance for expungement.

Drug Screening: A positive result will result in rescinded admission.

Admitted students must complete all program requirements outlined in the student handbook the student handbook.

*Eligibility for placement in clinical facilities is a requirement of admission and enrollment in Health Sciences Division programs, specifically in relation to the Nursing program. The following statement is from the NJ State Board of Nursing: 

NJAC 13:37-1.8 (h) “Before an individual is admitted to a nursing education program, the program shall inform the individual that a criminal history background check is a prerequisite for licensure as a registered professional nurse.”

Program Requirements

The pre-requisite for NUR 130, Fundamentals of Nursing Practice, is admission to the RCBC Nursing program.

All information on this webpage is subject to change. Every effort will be made to apprise applicants of any changes affecting admission.

Associate in Applied Science Program
900 College Circle
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

Dean
Karen Montalto, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN
Dean of Health Sciences (and Director of Nursing until 1/3/2023)
Email:kmontalto@rcbc.edu
Phone: (856) 222-9311 ext 1579

Nursing Administrator:
Dr Shannon Williams
Nursing Program Director (start date 1/3/2023)
Email: slwilliams@rcbc.edu
Phone:(856) 242 5925

Accreditation Status
GOV ID: 258
Initial Accreditation: April 1986
The Associate Degree nursing program at Rowan College at Burlington County, at the Mount Laurel Campus, located in Mount Laurel, NJ 08054, is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326 (404) 975-5000.
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate Degree nursing program is Full Accreditation
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at https://www.acenursing.org/acen-programs-05202024/rowan-college-at-burlington-county-a.
Date of Last Visit: September 18-20, 2018
Next Site Visit: Fall, 2026

The nursing program is fully accredited by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing 
The State Board can be reached for any concerns or complaints about a nursing program at the following address and phone number: 
New Jersey Board of Nursing, 124 Halsey Street, 6th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102, (973) 504-6430
http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur

1. Apply critical thinking skills to guide decisions regarding nursing practice for individuals and groups within a complex health care delivery system.
2. Adapt therapeutic interventions to assist individuals and groups in the promotion maintenance and restoration of health.
3. Apply professional standards and cultural concepts in planning the care of patients with complex healthcare alterations.
4. Evaluate therapeutic communication strategies when caring for individuals and groups of patients with complex healthcare alterations.
5. Synthesize evidence based research as it applies to the care of patients with complex healthcare alterations.
6. Demonstrate incorporation of professional nursing standards of practice and commitment to professional development into personal nursing practice.

Administration

Faculty

Adjunct Faculty

Staff and Clinical Education Administration

Clinical Adjunct Faculty