Nursing is a dynamic, demanding and extremely rewarding profession. The associate degree nurse provides direct nursing care to diverse clients and groups of clients with health care needs.  This includes addressing both physiological and psychosocial health needs, providing for a safe, effective care environment, and health promotion. The associate degree nurse practices in a variety of structured health care settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, psychiatric facilities, long term care centers and physicians' offices.

There are three tracks in the ADN program: Traditional. Accelerated Track for LPNs, and Accelerated Track for Respiratory Therapists and Paramedics. Following successful achievement of RN licensure, students may complete the course of study for RN-BSN (see RN-BSN program of study).

The associate degree nursing program prepares graduates with the knowledge, skills and values inherent in the three roles basic to associate degree nursing practice: provider of care, manager of care and member within the discipline of nursing. Graduates of the ADN program will be prepared for the challenge of passing the National Council Licensing Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) for licensure and for entering a practice field that requires the ability to synthesize extensive knowledge, skills and values.

The faculty of the department is committed to working with students to help them achieve educational and clinical practice goals. Although many of our ADN students opt to be full-time students, some students choose to take classes on a part0-time basis. Students must complete the program of study within four years of beginning nursing courses.

The mission of the Department of Nursing is to prepare within a scholarly environment ethical, knowledgeable, competent and caring nurses who value professional development. The Department provides opportunities for those seeking nursing careers, lifelong learning and career enhancement.

The Department assists in meeting the region's need for nurses by providing a variety of educational pathways.

The Department of Nursing supports the following College values:

• Excellence and innovation in education


• Integration of contemporary technologies


• Community-campus partnerships


• Diversity of person and thought


• Integrity in personal and professional life


• Personal, professional and scholarly development

Jefferson College of Health Science has degree-granting authority accorded by the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia. The Associate Degree in Nursing Programs are approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (61 Broadway - 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006, Phone: 800-669-1656 (ext. 153.) The RN to BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One DuPont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC  20036, Phone: 202-887-6791.)

The Department of Nursing is a member of the National League for Nursing (NLN) Council of Associate Degree Programs and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Most historians trace the modern nursing profession to Florence Nightingale. In the United States, the growth of nursing was stimulated by the Civil War. Prior to this time, women had the primary responsibility for caring for their families and their neighbors. Few formal education programs existed and there was no organized method of caring for the sick (Harrington & Terry, 2003). Since nursing education programs varied greatly, there were no specific standards for nursing practice.

The first nursing licensure in the United States was in offered in 1903, and Virginia was the fourth state to offer the opportunity for nurses to demonstrate their competence to practice nursing according to defined standards. Mandatory licensure for Registered Nurses first became effective in New York in 1947 (Harrington & Terry, 2003).

In Roanoke, two early nursing schools, the Lewis-Gale School of Nursing, founded in 1911 and the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing, founded in 1914, joined together to become the Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley School of Nursing in 1965. This school gradually evolved to become the Jefferson College of Health Sciences. The Nursing Department remains a vital component of the College.

The future of nursing is impacted by many factors including advances in technology and communication, societal influences, health care reform, and demographic changes. Nurses of the future will be expected to respond to these changes by developing a nursing practice based on research and experience, service to society, autonomy, and shared personal values. Nurses who graduate from JCHS are well-prepared to tackle these challenges.

In the clinical setting, student to faculty ratio does not exceed 10:1. Each student has a faculty advisor who will meet with him or her regularly on an individual basis to ensure that the student is successfully progressing towards graduation. Many faculty members are credentialed in their areas of expertise.

Our students learn the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for the delivery of competent and caring nursing care to clients in a variety of settings. We provide seamless opportunities for advancement within the nursing career through our ADN, RN- BSN, and MSN programs.

The Greater Roanoke Valley offers an array of clinical opportunities for our nursing students including several large hospitals, psychiatric centers, long-term care facilities, community services, family practice offices, home care, and hospice.

In the hospitals, students have opportunities to work in almost every department, including medical surgical units, intensive care units, progressive care units, pediatric units, obstetric units, nursery units, dialysis and surgical areas.