Nursing, A.A.S.

Degree:  Associate of Applied Science
Major: Nursing

For more information, contact the Nursing division at 615-230-4760.

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing prepares students for a career as a registered nurse. Nursing and pre-nursing education courses provide the student with the foundation for skills, attitudes, and knowledge for professional nursing. Graduates are prepared to provide holistic nursing care to persons from various cultures across the lifespan in a variety of healthcare delivery settings. Graduates will be eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for licensure as a Registered Nurse.

Admission to the program is limited and selection of students is competitive. Meeting the minimum program requirements for application does not assure acceptance into the nursing program. A point system is used to rank each applicant. There will be a cohort of students admitted to the Gallatin and Livingston campuses each summer. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all application materials are received in the Nursing Office by April 1st. Applicants who meet the deadline will be notified in writing of their admission status. All general education, sciences, and elective courses required for the Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing must be completed or in progress at the time of application with a minimum GPA of 2.9. Any courses in progress at the time of application must be completed before the nursing program courses begin. The Nursing program application will be available beginning December 1st and due April 1st. 

LPNs: When accepted into the AASN program, LPNs with a current, unencumbered Tennessee license, may waive out of Fundamentals of Nursing (NRSG 1710) upon successful completion of assigned prior learning assessments (PLAs).  Prior learning assessments include successful completion of the following:  Care plan, physical assessment lab checkoff, medication administration lab checkoff, Foley catheter insertion lab checkoff, intravenous catheter insertion lab checkoff, a dosage calculation exam, and completion of a fundamentals review packet.  All other AASN admission requirements apply.  Contact the nursing division for specific details.

All students graduating with a degree from VSCC are required to take the E-Proficiency Profile (EPP) to meet graduation requirements. More information can be found at https://www.volstate.edu/graduation/exit-exams.

For more information about Vol State’s Nursing program, visit www.volstate.edu/nursing or contact the division office at (615) 230-4760.

Program​ Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the graduate will have developed the skills, knowledge and abilities to accomplish the following:

  1. Professional Behavior: Perform within the ethical, legal and regulatory frameworks of nursing and standards of professional nursing practice.

  2. Communication: Communicate effectively using verbal, nonverbal, and written techniques including information technology.

  3. Assessment: Use subjective and objective data to identify actual or potential health alterations.

  4. Clinical Decision Making: Evaluate outcomes of clinical decisions implemented to provide safe and effective evidenced-based nursing care.

  5. Caring Interventions: Practice the effectiveness of caring interventions that incorporate principles of dignity, multiple populations, safety, and knowledge.

  6. Teaching and Learning: Evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented teaching plan to meet the learning needs of patients, families and/or groups.

  7. Collaboration: Collaborate when planning, implementing, and evaluating care.

  8. Managing Care: Manage care through effective use of prioritization, delegation, informatics, and resources.

CIP Code: (31) 51.3801.00

General Education - Credits (16)


  • ENGL 1010 - ^English Composition I Credits: (3)
  • Humanities and/or Fine Arts  Credits: (3)
  • MATH 1530 - ^Introductory Statistics Credits: (3)
  • BIOL 2010 - ^Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: (4)
  • PSYC 1030 - ^Introduction to Psychology Credits: (3)

Major Nursing Core Requirements - Credits (50)


  • BIOL 2020 - ^Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: (4)
  • BIOL 2230 - Microbiology Credits: (4)
  • Nursing Guided Elective: (Choose from the following list ) Credits: (3)
    COMM 2025 - ^Fundamentals of Communication  Credits: (3)
    ENGL 1020 - ^English Composition II  Credits: (3)
    HED 220 - Principles of Nutrition  Credits: (3)
    PSYC 2130 - ^Lifespan Development Psychology  (Credits: 3)
  • NRSG 1320 - *Women’s Health and Childbearing Family Credits: (3)
  • NRSG 1330 - *Pediatric Nursing Credits: (3)
  • NRSG 1340 - *Mental Health Nursing Credits: (3)
  • NRSG 1710 - *Fundamentals of Nursing Credits: (7)
  • NRSG 1720 - *Medical-Surgical Nursing I Credits: (7)
  • NRSG 2240 - *Professional Practice in Nursing Credits: (2)
  • NRSG 2730 - *Medical-Surgical Nursing II Credits: (7)
  • NRSG 2740 - *Medical-Surgical Nursing III Credits: (7)

Total Degree Requirements - Credits (66)


Gallatin & Livingston Campus Recommended Schedule


This is a recommended schedule. Learning Support, pre-requisites and other academic factors may impact this schedule.  See your advisor to create a degree plan.

DegreeWorks, along with the correct catalog, should be utilized by students for all of their educational planning.  Students can monitor their progress toward a degree or certificate and view missing requirements with the DegreeWorks audit, which is accessible through My Volstate.

First Year - Fall Semester - Credits (13)


  • BIOL 2010 - ^Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: (4)
  • ENGL 1010 - ^English Composition I Credits: (3)
  • MATH 1530 - ^Introductory Statistics Credits: (3)
  • PSYC 1030 - ^Introduction to Psychology Credits: (3)

First Year - Spring Semester - Credits (14)


  • BIOL 2020 - ^Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: (4)
  • BIOL 2230 - Microbiology Credits: (4)
  • Humanities and/or Fine Arts  (See General Education Requirement in Catalog) Credits: (3)
  • Nursing Guided Elective: (Choose from list above) Credits: (3)

First Year - Summer Semester - Credits (7)


  • NRSG 1710 - *Fundamentals of Nursing Credits: (7)

Second Year - Fall Semester - Credits (13)


  • NRSG 1320 - *Women’s Health and Childbearing Family Credits: (3)
  • NRSG 1340 - *Mental Health Nursing Credits: (3)
  • NRSG 1720 - *Medical-Surgical Nursing I Credits: (7)

Second Year - Spring Semester - Credits (12)


  • NRSG 1330 - *Pediatric Nursing Credits: (3)
  • NRSG 2240 - *Professional Practice in Nursing Credits: (2)
  • NRSG 2730 - *Medical-Surgical Nursing II Credits: (7)

Second Year - Summer Semester - Credits (7)


  • NRSG 2740 - *Medical-Surgical Nursing III Credits: (7)

Springfield Campus Recommended Schedule


This is a recommended schedule. Learning Support, pre-requisites, and other academic factors may impact this schedule.  See your advisor to create a degree plan.

DegreeWorks, along with the correct catalog, should be utilized by students for all of their educational planning.  Students can monitor their progress toward a degree or certificate and view missing requirements with the DegreeWorks audit, which is accessible through My Volstate.

First Year - Fall Semester - Credits (13)


  • ENGL 1010 - ^English Composition I Credits: (3)
  • MATH 1530 - ^Introductory Statistics Credits: (3)
  • PSYC 1030 - ^Introduction to Psychology Credits: (3)
  • BIOL 2010 - ^Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: (4)

First Year - Spring Semester - Credits (14)


  • Humanities and/or Fine Arts   (See General Education Requirement in Catalog) Credits: (3)
  • Nursing Guided Elective: (Choose from list above) Credits: (3)
  • BIOL 2020 - ^Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: (4)
  • BIOL 2230 - Microbiology Credits: (4)

Second Year - Fall Semester - Credits (7)


  • NRSG 1710 - *Fundamentals of Nursing Credits: (7)

Second Year - Spring Semester - Credits (13)


  • NRSG 1320 - *Women’s Health and Childbearing Family Credits: (3)
  • NRSG 1340 - *Mental Health Nursing Credits: (3)
  • NRSG 1720 - *Medical-Surgical Nursing I Credits: (7)

Third Year - Fall Semester - Credits (10)


  • NRSG 1330 - *Pediatric Nursing Credits: (3)
  • NRSG 2730 - *Medical-Surgical Nursing II Credits: (7)

Third Year - Spring Semester - Credits (9)


  • NRSG 2740 - *Medical-Surgical Nursing III Credits: (7)
  • NRSG 2240 - *Professional Practice in Nursing Credits: (2)