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Featured Photo: Blue Ridge Community College’s nursing class of 2025 poses for a portrait at the Health Sciences Center in Hendersonville in April 2025. Photo by Rich Keen.
Marketing & Communications Dept.
Hendersonville, N.C. — Blue Ridge Community College is pleased to announce that its nationally accredited Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program will begin accepting priority applications for admission between October 1, 2025 through February 1, 2026. Applicants who apply during this period will receive the highest consideration for the Fall 2026 cohort. Information about application requirements are available at www.blueridge.edu/nursing.
Blue Ridge’s nursing program prepares students with the knowledge, skills and hands-on experience to pass North Carolina’s NCLEX-RN licensure examination and serve professionally as registered nurses in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, long-term care, clinics and community health environments. Students benefit from instruction by experienced nurse educators, hands-on practice in state-of-the-art simulation labs, and clinical rotations in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities and clinics. Together, these experiences prepare them for employment in Henderson and Transylvania counties and across North Carolina. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
In addition to the ADN program, Blue Ridge offers a full spectrum of nursing study options: Nurse Aide certification courses, a Practical Nursing (LPN) program, and added this fall, an LPN-to-RN Bridge program to help LPNs advance to RN status.
“We’re inviting anyone who has ever considered a career in nursing to apply and take this important step toward making a difference,” said Dr. Amy Szoka, PhD, RN, director of nursing at Blue Ridge Community College. “This is not just a program — it’s a pathway to a meaningful, rewarding career where your work directly impacts lives every single day. With our hands-on training, accreditation, and dedicated instructors, you’ll be fully prepared to succeed on the NCLEX-RN and go on to serve in hospitals, clinics, long-term care settings, or wherever your passion leads you.”
Nurses Needed in North Carolina
Recent data highlight a growing and urgent need for nurses across North Carolina. According to the NC Nursecast model from the UNC Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, by 2033, the state is projected to face a shortage of nearly 12,500 Registered Nurses (RNs) and approximately 5,000 Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs).
In North Carolina, about 13 percent of registered nurse positions remain unfilled, higher than the national average of 10 percent.
Nursing Application Requirements
- Priority Application Window for Nursing/ADN and LPN to RN Bridge programs: October 1, 2025 – February 1, 2026
- Late Deadline: May 19, 2026 (for ADN applicants who miss the priority window)
- The program has a selective admissions process; meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee admission. Prospective students should submit all required documents by the priority deadline.
More information, including application forms, prerequisites, and admissions criteria, can be found at www.blueridge.edu/nursing. Information about all of Blue Ridge’s healthcare programs is available at www.blueridge.edu/healthcare.
Learn about Blue Ridge nursing graduate Julia Greer’s journey into healthcare in this special production created by Blue Ridge’s Marketing & Communications Dept.