Registered Nursing

PROGRAM COSTS AND CONSIDERATIONS

IS A PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENT TO NURSING RIGHT FOR YOU?
By accepting placement in the Citrus College RN program, you're taking an exciting step toward a meaningful career in nursing. This journey will ask for your focus, dedication and heart. Before you officially accept your spot, take a moment to reflect on the questions below — you should feel confident answering "yes" to each one as you prepare to begin this rewarding path.

1. Am I a responsible individual?
2. Will I be at theory and clinical classes on time?
3. Am I able to report to any assigned clinical site?
4. Will I hand my assignments in on time?
5. Do I have access to reliable transportation?
6. Will I study and perform to the best of my ability?
7. Will I maintain the nursing program standards of professional dress and conduct?

The Citrus College RN program schedule — including classes, skills labs and clinical assignments — varies each semester. Because of the demanding schedule, extensive reading, research and homework, it is strongly recommended that students do not work full-time while enrolled in the program. You should also understand that any major life changes — such as travel, illness, marriage, childbirth or personal or family crises — may affect your ability to stay focused on your nursing education.

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PROGRAM COSTS

An estimate of the costs for entering and completing the nursing program is shown in the table below. It is CRUCIAL that students accepted into the Citrus College RN program have the financial resources needed to begin and complete their studies. Each student is responsible for researching available funding options such as scholarships, grants and loans before acceptance into the program.

A significant portion of expenses occur during the first semester. Additional costs not included in the estimate — such as travel to and from clinical sites or childcare — can add up quickly. Students are encouraged to plan realistically for these expenses to ensure uninterrupted progress through the program.

The following items listed within each PDF listed below will need to be completed or obtained at the student's expense. These are estimated program costs for California residents only (fees subject to change).

• Generic Option Cost Sheet
• Advanced Placement Option Cost Sheet
• 30 Unit Option Cost Sheet​

NOTE: Be advised the estimated costs provided here are as accurate as possible at time of publication and are subject to change. Please contact the RN office for current information.

ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY

The philosophy of the Citrus College Registered Nursing program reflects and supports the mission of the college. It recognizes that every student brings unique learning abilities, life experiences, goals, responsibilities and support systems to the educational journey. The program is built on core concepts of the individual, health and illness, the environment and nursing, which together form the foundation of effective nursing education. The purpose of the program is to prepare students for entry-level registered nursing positions in a wide range of multicultural health care settings within the community.

BELIEFS ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL
The nursing faculty view each person as a holistic, complex and ever-changing individual who responds continuously to internal and external environments. People develop throughout the life span and exist within the context of family, community and society. Every individual possesses dignity, self-worth and the right to pursue personal growth and well-being. Each person is entitled to clear information that supports informed choices about their health care and empowers them to take an active role in their own wellness. Faculty also recognize that diverse values, beliefs and environments shape every person's experience and influence their overall health.

BELIEFS ABOUT HEALTH AND ILLNESS
Health is seen as a dynamic state that exists along a continuum from wellness to illness. An individual's ability to adapt to physical, emotional and environmental stressors determines their place on that continuum. Lifestyle choices, behaviors and stress can all affect a person's health status. Illness occurs when adaptation is impaired, resulting in altered function. Faculty understand that people experience health and illness differently based on their own knowledge, beliefs and life experiences, which in turn influence their decisions about health care.

BELIEFS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT
The environment includes all internal and external influences that affect a person's physical, emotional and social well-being. These interactions shape a person's ability to adapt to change and maintain balance. Within the community, health services must be accessible, appropriate and designed to support quality care for individuals, families and groups — always with respect for age, lifestyle and cultural differences.

BELIEFS ABOUT NURSING AND NURSING EDUCATION
Nursing is both an art and an applied science that blends knowledge from biological, natural and social sciences with empathy and compassion. Nurses provide direct, patient-centered care, teaching and advocacy guided by professional standards and ethics. They use evidence-based practice, critical thinking and effective communication to promote health, prevent disease and restore wellness. Nursing education equips students with the cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills needed to make sound clinical judgments, deliver quality care and collaborate as members of a multidisciplinary team. The role of the associate degree nurse is to serve as a provider of care, manager of care and active member of the nursing profession.

Nursing education occurs at multiple levels and is an interactive process between student, faculty and learning environment. The associate degree level represents the entry point into professional nursing practice.

BELIEFS ABOUT THE LEARNER
Each learner is unique, shaped by personal experiences, cultural background, goals and preferred learning styles. Faculty are committed to recognizing and supporting these differences through individualized instruction and campus resources such as counseling, financial aid and academic support services. As adult learners, students often balance multiple commitments outside the classroom, and instruction is designed to accommodate those responsibilities. Students are expected to take an active, accountable role in their learning and evaluation.

BELIEFS ABOUT FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES
Faculty serve as mentors, facilitators and role models in the learning process. They create an engaging environment where students can connect theory with hands-on practice, think critically and integrate new knowledge into patient care. By nurturing curiosity and confidence, faculty help students take ownership of their learning and develop the habits of lifelong learning essential to the nursing profession.

The teaching and learning process is grounded in the principles of adult education. Learning experiences progress from simple to complex, building on prior knowledge and strengthening critical thinking in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains. This progression fosters sound decision-making and prepares graduates to deliver safe, competent and compassionate care as registered nurses.

March 2022

CAREER AND OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION

Review the Career and Academic Pathways (CAPs) for dental assisting on the college catalog website.

Check out the Citrus College Career Coach website for updated information about careers in the registered nursing field.

EMPLOYMENT IN REGISTERED NURSING
An associate degree in nursing (ADN) provides a direct pathway into the nursing profession, preparing graduates for practice as registered nurses (RNs) across a wide range of health care settings. ADN-prepared nurses deliver hands-on patient care, support treatment plans, administer medications and educate patients and families. The degree offers strong job prospects, competitive wages and a faster route into the workforce compared with a bachelors degree.

WHAT ADN-PREPARED RNs DO
Registered nurses play a critical role in patient outcomes by combining clinical skill with sound judgment. Responsibilities typically include:

• Providing bedside care such as medication administration, vital sign monitoring, wound care and assistance with medical procedures
• Assessing patient conditions and contributing to individualized care plans
• Educating patients and families on diagnoses, treatments and wellness strategies
• Coordinating care with physicians and interdisciplinary health care teams
• Applying critical thinking in fast-paced, high-stakes environments

WHERE RNs WORK 
ADN graduates are employed in many settings, including:

• Hospitals such as emergency departments, intensive care units, medical-surgical floors, oncology and behavioral health
• Physicians offices, urgent care centers and outpatient clinics
• Home health and community-based care
• Skilled nursing and long-term care facilities
• Schools, public health agencies and community programs
• Telehealth services and health insurance organizations

SALARY AND EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK

• Median annual pay for Registered Nurses is approximately $93,600 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024)
• Employment of RNs is projected to grow faster than average through 2034
• Ongoing demand is driven by workforce turnover, population growth and expanding health care needs

ADVANTAGES OF THE ADN-RN PATHWAY

• Faster entry into the profession compared with a four-year degree
• Cost-effective option that leads to immediate employment as an RN
• Broad career flexibility across specialties and settings
• Strong foundation for continued education such as a BSN or MSN

For more information about job outlooks and salaries in this field, visit the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook or the California Employment Development Department's Labor Market Information page.

RN APPLICATION INFORMATION