The associate of applied science degree in Nursing prepares individuals to become Registered Nurses.

After completing the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing, individuals are qualified to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) following approval by the State Board of Nursing. Upon successful completion of the NCLEX-RN, one holds the title of a Registered Nurse (RN) and may enter the healthcare industry as an RN.

The associate degree RN is a generalist whose practice encompasses the interrelated roles of care provider, manager of care, and a member of the comprehensive healthcare team. Assessment, caring interventions, clinical decision making, collaboration, communication, managing care, professional behaviors, and teaching and learning characterize this role.

Northeast State Nursing Program
Regional Center for Health Professions
300 West Main Street, Kingsport, TN 37660
423.354.5108
NursingMail@NortheastState.edu

Advisement

The first line of advisement for any student interested in the Northeast State Nursing program is a Nursing Information Session. These sessions are conducted by a member of the nursing faculty. During an Information Session, material presented is geared towards any student who might have an interest in the nursing program. The session begins with program goals and outcomes and progresses into making application to Northeast State, followed by detailed information regarding courses which are required to be completed prior to making application to nursing. Information is also presented about ranking each nursing applicant once application has been made. Courses specific to nursing, once a student has been accepted into the program, is also shared along with the amount of time a student needs to set aside for studying once admitted to the program in order to be successful.

The Nursing Program uses online schedule for Information Sessions and student advisement appointments. To register for an Information Session or student advisement appointment, click the link below to access our online appointment registration system.

Note: When registering for an Information Session, Traditional AAS Nursing students need to select “Information Session”. LPN to RN option students need to select “LPN to RN Information Session”.

Note: All Information Sessions are held face to face in the Kingsport Regional Center for Health Profession located at: 300 West Main Street, Kingsport, TN 37660

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Traditional Option – Fall or Spring Cohort

After being accepted by the College, a student must meet AAS Nursing admission identified under the Enrollment Requirements tab below. Nursing Program Traditional Option applications are accepted in summer semester with accepted students enrolling into nursing specific coursework in the fall semester. Nursing courses are completed in four semesters. After successful completion of coursework, students are awarded with an associates of applied science in Nursing Degree. Applicants are selected twice a year with applications due during summer and fall semester; applicants accepted begin classes in fall or spring semester.

Please note the timeline on application posting and deadline information for each cohort.

•  Check back soon for the next cohort application.

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LPN to RN Option

After being accepted by the College, specific pre-nursing general education courses must be completed prior to making application to the Nursing program. Nursing Program LPN to RN Option applications are accepted in spring semester with accepted students enrolling into nursing specific coursework in the summer semester. Nursing courses are completed in three semesters (summer, fall, spring). After successful completion of coursework, students are awarded with an associates of applied science in Nursing Degree. Applicants are selected once a year with applications due during spring semester.

For those applying to the LPN to RN option, documentation of a current, active LPN license must be provided with the nursing application.

Spring 2025 LPN to RN Application

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Enrollment Requirements

Prior to applying for acceptance into the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing program an applicant must:

1. Meet the general admission requirements as noted in the Admissions Requirements (General) , and submit an application to Northeast State Community College.
2. Be accepted by Northeast State Community College.
3. Indicate the associate of applied science degree in Nursing as the desired major on the Northeast State application form.*
4. Seek advisement from the student’s assigned nursing advisor to establish a program plan of study.
5. Complete all required learning support courses prior to applying to the associate of applied science degree nursing program.
   • LPN to RN applicants must complete BIOL 2010: Anatomy and Physiology I; ENGL 1010: Composition I; PSYC 1030: General Psychology; and MATH 1530: Probability and Statistics prior to applying to the associate of applied science degree nursing program.
6. Achieve a grade of “C” or better in all courses required for the associate of applied science degree nursing program.
7. Ensure all BIOL courses contain lecture and laboratory components and are obtained within ten years of first semester of NRSG coursework.
8. Complete the required entrance test** with a minimum score in each of the following areas: English Language Comprehensive Score, Science Comprehensive Score, and Math. The minimum score is set by the Nursing Division. Completion date of the entrance exam must be within one year of applying to the program.***
9. Possess a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 after completing a minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework required for the associate of applied science degree nursing program OR possess a minimum ACT score of 23 in each of the following areas: Math, Reading, Science, and English.
10. Complete the Nursing Program Application process as described in “Applying to the A.A.S. Nursing Degree Program”. Submission of all requirements must be received by the established deadline date and time as a complete packet.
11. Provide documentation to the Director of Nursing that the applicant is, with reasonable accommodation, physically and mentally capable of performing the essential job functions of a registered nurse as outlined in the Core Performance Standards of Admission and Progression adopted by the Tennessee Board of Regents institutions offering nursing programs.

For those applying to the LPN to RN option, documentation of a current, active LPN license must be provided with the nursing application.

* As this program is a selective-admissions program, students will be initially enrolled in the Associate of Science in Pre-Allied Health degree program. Once a student makes application and is accepted into a selective-admissions program, they will be enrolled into that specific program.
** Attend an Information Session in the Nursing Division for information regarding the entrance test required.

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Admission Assessment (A2) Entrance Test

All students applying to Northeast State’s Nursing Programs must take the nursing entrance test, the Admission Assessment (A2). For information about the A2 Study and Review Materials, the A2 test, and the A2 Registration form, click the link below:

• Nursing Entrance Exam

Effective for AAS in Nursing, LPN to RN Concentration, Summer 2023 Start – Class of May 2024: A Systemwide Articulation Agreement between the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology and TBR A.A.S. in Nursing, LPN to RN programs has been created and approved by TBR. The College System of Tennessee nursing program directors worked to establish common admission requirements to reduce confusion and to streamline the pathway to becoming an RN after completing the LPN program at a TCAT.

TCAT graduates will not be required to take the community college AAS RN Admission Assessment Exam (A2) IF the applicant has graduated within the past 3 years and has successfully passed the TCAT specific exit exam (successful completion of the TCAT specific exit exam is required for a student to graduate from the LPN program). If it has been greater than three years or the student is not a TCAT graduate current policy for Admissions Assessment will apply. (See Required Submission of Admission Assessment (A2) Scores below) If an LPN to RN applicant can provide proof they took their LPN Exit Exam, ATI Comprehensive Predictor (TCAT-Elizabethton) with an 90% or better within the last 3 years, they can submit these scores with their LPN to RN application as their Entrance Exam required for the LPN to RN Program. The applicant’s LPN Exit Exam, ATI Comprehensive Predictor scores must be included in the nursing application packet.

Registration and scheduling information is available at www.NortheastState.edu/Testing.

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ACEN Accreditation and Tennessee Board of Nursing Approval

The Associate degree nursing program at Northeast State Community College located in Blountville, TN is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: 404.975.5000
Web address: www.acenursing.org

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate degree nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

Northeast State Community College Nursing Program is fully approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

Tennessee Board of Nursing
665 Mainstream Drive
Nashville, TN 37243
Telephone: 1.615.532.5166
Web address: https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/nursing-board/nursing-board/about.html

Northeast State NCLEX-RN First Time Pass Rates:

• December 2022 Cohort – 88.9%
• May 2023 Cohort – 100%
• Total for 2023 – 95.6%

Northeast State Nursing Student Completion
2022 Aggregate On Time Completion = 51.7%

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Faculty and Staff

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