Featured Photo: Nursing graduate Makenna Mann stands in a classroom at the Blue Ridge Community College Transylvania County Campus. Photo by Rich Keen.
Marketing & Communications Dept.
Blue Ridge Community College
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. – Blue Ridge Community College is accepting applications now for the fall 2023 nursing program. Students interested in pursuing an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) are encouraged to begin putting their applications together now in order to join the two-year nursing program starting in fall of 2023. Applications are currently being accepted until the cohort is full.
Blue Ridge recently expanded its ADN Program by 20 additional seats, serving a total of up to 74 students each year. Students enrolled in the ADN program learn from highly qualified faculty in state-of-the-art simulation labs at the College’s Health Science Center in Hendersonville or the Transylvania County Campus in Brevard. Qualified students who meet all criteria and deadlines for the Blue Ridge ADN Program can expect an affordable education through scholarships and tuition assistance. Similar private programs, however, can cost thousands of dollars. More details can be found at http://blueridge.edu/nursing.
“The statewide and national demand for healthcare professionals, including nurses, remains high,” said Blue Ridge Community College Dean of Health Sciences, Leigh Angel, MSN, RN. “Educating and training the next generation of nursing professionals is a crucial step toward meeting the needs of area residents.”
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that 2.6 million healthcare occupation jobs will be added between 2020 and 2030. Angel notes that nursing can be a rewarding profession allowing individuals to pursue their passion and make a difference in their community with a dependable career path.
ADN graduates are prepared and eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to become registered nurses and provide hands-on care in a variety of health care settings. In 2021, Blue Ridge students’ first-time pass rate for this exam was 96%. In addition to the ADN Program, students can apply to the Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses Program (RIBN) to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in nursing at Western Carolina University. Students must apply separately to this program and meet specific admission criteria. For both the ADN and RIBN options, students must have completed high-school-level chemistry and biology classes with grades of C or higher. This requirement can also be met through classes offered at Blue Ridge.
In addition to the nursing program, Blue Ridge encourages community members contemplating a career change to explore the many healthcare career training opportunities available at Blue Ridge. Students can also earn degrees or certificates in Surgical Technology, Healthcare Billing and Coding, Nurse Aide, Medication Aide, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy, EKG Technician, and more.
Blue Ridge Community College is currently accepting applications, and space is limited for the Fall 2023 term. Scholarships and financial aid are available for those who qualify. Program information and admission criteria are available at http://blueridge.edu/nursing.