School of Nursing and Health Professions

Nursing (ADN)

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Vermont Technical College will join with Castleton University and Northern Vermont University to become Vermont State University on July 1, 2023.

Visit VermontState.edu to learn more about Nursing for fall 2023.

Learn More and Apply

Vermont Tech offers a career ladder progression approach for students to enter and advance in a nursing career. The career ladder approach is provided in a 1+1+2 model which allows for the completion of the Practical Nursing (PN) certificate, followed by the completion of the Associate of Science in Nursing (ADN) leading to eligibility for RN licensure, and culminating with the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Qualified students may be accepted into Vermont Tech’s Nursing program at any point (pre-PN, ADN, or BSN) and may progress through the bachelor’s degree or may choose to stop after receiving the PN or ADN credentials. If so, students may re-enter the program at a later time.

Launch 2021 Simulation Lab (Gifford Hospital/Randolph)

Vermont Tech also offers an LPN and an RN re-entry program. These programs are provided for LPNs and RNs whose licenses have lapsed and would like to have them reinstated. The LPN and RN re-entry programs update the nurse’s credentials, allowing them eligibility to return to a nursing position upon completion of the program. For further information about these programs, contact the Nursing department.

Nursing is a discipline and a profession, a science and an art grounded in caring that provides holistic care with respect and dignity while promoting the health of society. At Vermont Tech, collaboration among faculty and students encourages a spirit of inquiry, personal growth, and service. Nursing students have the opportunity to progress through a four-year, hands-on curriculum based on a career ladder model. Those students who choose to continue in the second-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program participate in practicums in a variety of settings under the supervision of nursing instructors.

Graduates’ NCLEX pass rates for licensure are higher than the national average. Students in our nursing programs also have high completion rates.

The PN and ADN programs are offered at four locations across the state with campuses in Bennington, Brattleboro, Randolph Center, and Williston and at distance education sites in Lyndonville, Middlebury, Newport, St. Albans, and White River Junction, which use telepresence technology. The BSN program is offered exclusively online. We’re a recognized leader in distance learning and health care simulation, which allows nursing students who practice in small rural communities across the state to experience lifelike medical situations. Our instructional curriculum is offered at distance education sites throughout the state, while the clinical experience takes place at local agencies. We also provide the latest in simulation technology at six high-fidelity simulation labs throughout the state.

The Vermont Technical College Practical Nursing-system-wide (distance education), Associate Degree in Nursing-system-wide (distance education), and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN, distance education) programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC  20032, 202-909-2526.

A student with an Associate of Science in Nursing will be able to:

  1. Evaluate the plan of care to assist clients with complex healthcare needs to maintain, achieve, or regain their optimal level of self-care
  2. Select appropriate scientific, behavioral, and cultural principles for the care of clients with complex needs in diverse settings
  3. Evaluate interpersonal skills in professional practice
  4. Incorporate behaviors consistent with legal and ethical standards of professional practice
  5. Assume the role of manager of care within the interdisciplinary team
  6. Competently deliver nursing care which maximizes the self-care potential of individuals with complex health needs in diverse settings
  7. Evaluate a comprehensive teaching plan to meet the physical and emotional needs of individuals and groups with common and complex healthcare needs
  8. Demonstrate accountability for growth as individuals, as members of society, and as professional nurses

The ADN program articulates with the PN program and requires two further terms of full-time study. The 12 clinical PN credits don’t transfer to the ADN program.

Vermont Tech guarantees direct progression from PN to ADN for qualified students. Because of the competitive demand for seats and the limitations of clinical placements in some areas of the state, students may have to continue at a site other than their first choice and must request their first, second, and third site preferences on their Request for Nursing Direct Progression form. Priority goes to students who wish to remain at their PN site, in order of GPA. Once ADN seats are filled at a site, we place students at their next preferences as seats are available. A student whose first preference is an ADN site other than their PN site is considered for that site only after qualified PN students at that site have been offered a seat.

Graduates may apply to take the NCLEX-RN. It’s the Vermont State Board of Nursing’s responsibility to determine eligibility to sit for the licensure examination and to issue a license.

ADN students must receive a grade of C+ (77) or better in all NUR courses and a C (75) or better in BIO and PSY courses in order to progress in the program. If a student in the last term of the program doesn’t achieve these grades, they aren’t allowed to graduate. Grades lower than the required 75 or 77 are reflected on the transcript with the corresponding letter grade, so credits may be awarded for any grade above an F (60), but the student won’t progress or graduate from the program.

To progress directly from the ADN to the BSN level, a student must:

  • Declare their intent to progress on a Change of Program form no later than March 31 of the year in which they wish to progress
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA throughout the ADN program
  • Obtain licensure as a Registered Nurse after completing the ADN degree

The associate degree program includes 420 hours of theory and 315 hours of clinical/lab. Only non-clinical hours/courses count toward GPA.

Curriculum Details

year
2

Job Projections

NATIONAL AVG.
9%
Registered Nurse
12%
That Translates Into

721,700

JOB OPENINGS BETWEEN 2019 - 2029

Projected Employment Growth for Registered Nurses, 2019-2029 (source: BLS). National data: Job openings for all occupations (source: BLS)

Placement Rate

100%

VTC

vs

N/A

NATIONAL

Vermont Tech data: 6 Month Outcome Survey, Class of 2019. National Data: National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) First Destinations for the College Class of 2018 (October 2018)

Employers

  • Affiliates in Ob/Gyn
  • Albany Medical Center
  • Alder Brook Family Health
  • The Arbors at Shelburne
  • Aris Solutions
  • Ave Maria Master Association
  • Care Home, LLC
  • Bayada Home Health Care
  • Baystate Medical Center
  • Bel-Aire Rehabilitation Center
  • VNA & Hospice of SVHC
  • Berlin Health & Rehab Center
  • Bunker Hill Community College
  • Kindred Care-Birchwood Terrace
  • Brattleboro Memorial Hospital
  • Brattleboro Retreat
  • Brookdale at Fillmore Pond
  • Brookside Nursing Home LLC
  • Buckley HealthCare Center
  • Burlington Health & Rehab
  • Cathedral Square Corp
  • Cedarcrest
  • Cedar Hill Continuing Care
  • Celdara Medical, LLC
  • The Centers for Living & Rehab
  • Central Vermont Medical Center
  • Centurion of Vermont
  • Champlain OB/GYN
  • CHCRR Pediatrics
  • Maplewood Nursing Home
  • Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility
  • Coos County Nursing Home
  • Copley Hospital
  • Correct Care Solutions
  • Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
  • David Toll, MD
  • SVMC Deerfield Valley Campus
  • Eagle Eye Farm Rehab
  • Brookdale Fillmore Pond
  • Equinox Terrace
  • Essex Pediatrics
  • Evergreen Family Health
  • Family Center of Washington County
  • Family Practice of Newport
  • Franklin County Home Health
  • Franklin County Rehab Center
  • Genesis HealthCare
  • Keene Center
  • Mountain View Center
  • Gifford Medical Center
  • Grace Cottage Hospital
  • Grafton County Nursing Home
  • Granite City Primary Care
  • Greensboro Nursing Home
  • Griswold Home Care
  • HCRS
  • Helen Porter Healthcare and Reabilitation Center
  • Hillcrest Commons Nursing
  • Howard Center
  • Irasburg Village School
  • Kofile Preservation
  • Little Rivers Health Care
  • Mansfield Place
  • Maple Lane Community Nursing
  • Maplewood Nursing Home
  • Mascoma Corporation
  • Mayo Healthcare
  • Michaud Manor
  • Catholic Diocese of Burlington
  • Moretown Elementary School
  • Mountain View Center
  • Mt. Ascutney Hospital
  • Newport Health Center
  • Newport Healthcare & Rehab
  • North Country Hospital
  • North Country Primary Care
  • Northeast Kingdom Human Services
  • Northeast Regional Correctional Complex
  • SVMC Northshire Campus
  • Northwestern Medical Center
  • NY State Department of Health
  • Our Lady of Providence
  • Pillsbury Manor
  • A Pillsbury Senior Community
  • Pine Heights Nursing Home
  • Pine Knoll Nursing Center
  • Planned Parenthood
  • Porter Medical Center
  • Renaissance Manor on Cabot
  • Rescue, Inc.
  • Revera, Inc.
  • Richmond Family Medicine
  • Rutland Regional Medical Center
  • Rowan Court Health & Rehabilitation Center
  • Saint Albans Health and Rehab
  • Second Springs
  • Shelburne Bay
  • Southeastern Vermont Medical Center
  • Southwestern Medical Center
  • Southwestern Vermont Health Care
  • Springfield Health and Rehab
  • Springfield Hospital
  • St. Albans Healthcare
  • St. Johnsbury Health & Rehab
  • St. Johnsbury Pediatrics
  • Stark-Summit Ambulance
  • Starr Farm Nursing Center
  • Vermont Veterans Home
  • Sterling House
  • Stowe Family Practice
  • Sullivan County Health Care
  • Sunrise Senior Living
  • SW VT Medical Center
  • Sweet Brook Rehab & Nursing
  • The Homestead
  • The Residence at Shelburne Bay
  • The Manor, Inc.
  • TLC Nursing Associates, Inc.
  • Union House Nursing Home Inc
  • University of Vermont Medical Center
  • Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital
  • White River Junction VA Medical Center
  • Valley Terrace
  • Valley Vista
  • Vermont Veterans Home
  • Vernon Elementary School
  • Vernon Green Nursing Home
  • Visiting Nurse Association
  • UVM Children's Hospital
  • VT Interventional Spine Institute
  • Westview Meadows at Montpelier
  • Williamstown Commons Nursing & Rehab Center
  • SE State Correctional Facility

Job Titles

  • Adult High-Tech Nurse
  • Assistant Camp Nurse
  • Care Coordinator
  • Nursing Office Assistant
  • Certified Surgical Tech II
  • Charge Nurse
  • Clinical Admission Director
  • Community Skills Worker
  • Critical Care Tech
  • Emergency Department Tech
  • Emergency Department RN
  • EMT
  • ER Nurse
  • Graduate Nurse
  • Highteen Nurse
  • Imaging Staff Assistant
  • Lab Technician
  • Labor and Delivery Assistant
  • Licensed Nurse Assistant
  • Licensed Practical Nurse
  • Living Provider
  • Medical Secretary
  • Medical Assistant II
  • Medical Preloader
  • Mental Health Worker
  • Mental Health Tech
  • Nurse Informatics Analyst
  • Nurse Manager
  • Office Nurse
  • Operating Room Technician
  • OR Intern
  • Paraeducator
  • Pediatric High Tech LPN
  • Periop Support Tech
  • Personal Care
  • Pharmacy Technician
  • Phelbotomist
  • Private Care Provider
  • Registered Nurse
  • Research Assistant
  • Residential Care Nurse
  • Residential Counselor
  • School Nurse
  • Senior Crisis Counselor
  • Shared-Living Provider
  • SOS Tech
  • Staff Nurse
  • Telemetry Tech
  • Triage Nurse
  • Unit Coordinator
  • Unit Manager
  • Unit Secretary
  • Urology RN
  • Wellness Nurse
  • Xray Technician

news

  • 11
    May

    Vermont Tech nursing students work in the life-like simulation laboratory on both the Randolph Center and Williston campuses. Learn more in the links below. WCAX: Vt. health care students put to the test with lifelike simulators WCAX: How an unusual patient helps health care workers train for emergencies WPTZ: Health care students work together in Vermont Tech’s simulation lab

    Read more  
  • 15
    Mar

    Vermont Tech’s online Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (BSN) program was ranked #5 out of 500 in the nation for Best Online RN to BSN Programs by RegisteredNursing.org, an organization of registered nurses based in Carlsbad, CA. RegisteredNursing.org recognized that Vermont Tech’s program features online courses with local capstone experiences, a 100% job placement rate, and the opportunity for…

    Read more  
  • 02
    Mar

    Vermont Technical College’s graduating class of 2021 achieved a 99% placement rate, reflecting that they are either employed or enrolled in continuing education programs after completing their certificate or degree. Since 2014, Vermont Technical College has had an average placement rate of more than 97%. As in years past, 98% of Vermont Technical College’s graduates in the class of 2021…

    Read more  

Tonah Clairmont

  • I can be a parent and a nursing student
  • I like to sing to my patients
  • I am a nontraditional student
Read full profile

Patricia Dudley

  • I learned that teams are stronger than individuals.
  • I attended Community College of Vermont before coming to Vermont Tech.
  • Nursing has helped me be a better mother, a better wife, and a better person.
Read full profile

Kara Polito

  • I was offered a job before graduation
  • I have known this is what I wanted since I was 3
  • I am a TRIO student
Read full profile

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