Lecture – Online through asynchronous courses, along with live Zoom lectures for real-time interaction.

Lab – Hands-on learning in person on campus, where you will practice essential nursing skills.

Clinicals – Our programs partner with medical facilities nationwide, providing 768 hours of clinical experience through externships and rotations, which may occur at various times.

In nursing, strong communication skills are essential not only in patient care but also in your education. The first few courses you take will lay the foundation for your nursing journey. If you find yourself struggling, whether it’s understanding the material or balancing school with personal life, it’s important to communicate with your instructors, student services, and program director. They can help you develop a plan to succeed.

Like learning a new language, as a nursing student, you will learn medical terminology that will become second nature in your future career. These terms will be critical when communicating with other healthcare professionals and evaluating patients. This knowledge builds from your first day and continues throughout your education and career.

Nursing is a very hands-on profession. You’ll be required to touch and care for patients directly, which means becoming comfortable with physical contact.

You’ll also manage equipment, often while multitasking, making hand-eye coordination an important skill.

Vaccinations may be required by your externship site or future employer. Because you will be exposed to various illnesses in the healthcare setting, vaccinations are often required. This may include flu shots, Hepatitis, TB tests, COVID-19, and others, depending on the policies of your externship site or future employer.

Externships and clinical rotations, totaling 768 hours of hands-on experience, may occur at varying times, with students responsible for transportation, including travel over 75 miles. Clinical work with real patients is essential for graduation and state board licensing. You’ll need to maintain a high level of professionalism and follow the guidance of your mentors.

Yes, graduates who successfully complete their program are eligible to sit for certification exams, including NCLEX exams (PN or RN) for nursing and various medical imaging certifications such as ARRT(S), ARRT(MR), ARMRIT, and ARDMS. For imaging students, specific exams like the SPI and CCT can be taken after completing courses PHY202 and CAR220, respectively. Smith Chason strongly encourages obtaining certifications to enhance your knowledge and job prospects in both nursing and medical imaging fields.

Smith Chason College partners with hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, and other medical facilities nationwide to provide clinical rotations and externships. These hands-on experiences can occur during the day, evenings, or weekends, depending on the site’s schedule. Students are responsible for their transportation and may need to travel over 75 miles, possibly out of the area or state. All students must meet vaccination, health screening, and background check requirements, as clinicals involve working with real patients to fulfill graduation and state board licensing requirements.

All registered nurses who want to work in California must be licensed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing by successfully passing the NCLEX-RN exam. NCLEX preparation is a key part of our curriculum, and we take pride in preparing our students to pass their licensure exam.

Smith Chason College’s current NCLEX-RN pass rate for our Los Angeles Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program is 100%!*

*Current NCLEX-RN Quarter Rates for Q4 2023 to 2024 NCLEX reporting cycle for our Los Angeles ADN program. Please visit the California Board of Registered Nursing for more information about NCLEX-RN pass rates.

In addition to the NCLEX-RN, most new nursing graduates are expected to have Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, and some may also need Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).

There are also several specialized certifications nurses can pursue to open up more career opportunities, such as:

• IV Therapy
• Long-term care
• Wound care
• Oncology
• Hospice and palliative care

And many more, depending on your career goals and areas of interest.

To apply for the Vocational Nursing program, candidates must meet Smith Chason’s General Admissions Requirements and pass the Wonderlic Basic Skills Test with a minimum verbal score of 302 and a quantitative score of 293. Additionally, applicants must:

• Complete a criminal background check
• Write a 500-word essay titled "Why I Want to be a Nurse"
• Interview with the Nursing Program Director, Assistant Director, or Campus Director

For the ADN program, applicants must meet Smith Chason’s General Admissions Requirements and pass the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) by ATI with a score of 65 or higher. This must be completed before beginning the application.

Steps for ADN applicants include:

• Register for the TEAS exam: Register for TEAS
• Prepare using resources:
  • TEAS Prep Resources by ATI
  • ATI TEAS Study Guide

ADN applicants must also:

• Be 18 years or older
• Submit proof of high school graduation or an equivalent recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an approved agency)
• Provide a valid government-issued photo ID
• Write a 500-word "Letter of Intent"
• Interview with the Nursing Program Director or Designee
• Complete a physical examination, including:
  • Student health form
  • Tdap booster (if not within 10 years)
  • MMR, Varicella, and Hepatitis B titers (with immunizations if titers are negative)
  • 2-step Tuberculosis (TB) test with TB surveillance survey (or chest X-ray if positive)
  • Annual flu vaccine (or waivers if required)
  • COVID-19 vaccine (if required by clinical sites)
• Provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (American Heart Association)
• Complete a criminal background check, fingerprinting, and urine drug screening before clinicals (students cover costs)
• Obtain Nursing Liability Insurance as required