Nursing
Nursing
School of Science and Health
AS, Certificate
Health Pathway
La Plata Campus
The mission of the Nursing Programs is to educate future nursing professionals through exemplary academic programs and collaborative community partnerships.
The Nursing Programs strive to:
- Foster lifelong learning, competence, and integrity in a diverse student population
- Promote students’ commitment to the nursing profession and community
- Provide opportunities for student learning through cutting edge technology and exceptional practical experiences
The college has been offering the Nursing Associate degree for 30+ years and the Practical Nursing Certificate Program for 40+ years. First year students can take classes at any of the college's campuses in La Plata, Leonardtown or Prince Frederick. Students in the second year of the nursing associate degree take nursing courses on the La Plata Campus. Students studying for their Practical Nursing Certificate must also complete their program of study at the La Plata Campus.
During their nursing program, students participate in class activities, clinical experiences, and in-lab experiences. Program graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) or for the Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN).
Important Changes in Program of Study Beginning Fall 2021
Programs of Study
The AS in Nursing degree program prepares graduates to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The associate degree nurse is prepared to use the nursing process to provide nursing care that promotes the achievement of optimal health outcomes. Students learn the principles and practices of nursing through independent and Web-enhanced study, lectures, demonstrations, skills practice and simulation. They participate in clinical practica off campus in a variety of healthcare settings under the supervision of nursing instructors. Employment opportunities exist in acute care, long term care and a variety of community-based healthcare agencies.
The Practical Nursing certificate program prepares graduates to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). The practical nurse (PN) is prepared to assist with the nursing process to provide nursing care that promotes the achievement of optimal health outcomes. Students learn the principles and practices of nursing through independent and web-enhanced study, lectures, demonstrations, skills practice, and simulation. They participate in clinical practica off campus in a variety of healthcare settings under the supervision of nursing instructors. Employment opportunities exist in long-term care and a variety of community-based health care agencies.
The LPN to ADN Transition Pathway prepares students to enter the 3rd clinical semester of the AS in Nursing degree program. Consistent with the Maryland Board of Nursing articulation model, Practical Nurses with an active unencumbered Maryland or compact LPN license are awarded a maximum of one year of nursing courses when articulating to the associate degree level, following successful completion of the program's transition courses.
The Military Medic/Corpsman to ADN Transition Pathway prepares students to enter the 3rd clinical semester of the AS in Nursing degree program. Students are required to successfully complete an online transition course through American Public University System (APUS) or a web hybrid transition course through CSM and a Military Medic/Corpsman clinical course at CSM prior to entry into the 3rd semester of the AS in Nursing program. Students are awarded a maximum of one year of nursing courses based on review of military transcripts.
Competitive Admissions
As competitive admissions programs, students must apply for entrance into both nursing programs. The Associate Degree in Nursing (A.D.N.) program admits student both in the fall and spring semesters. The Practical Nursing (PN) program admits students for the fall semester only.
To review the qualifying entrance criteria, students are encouraged to obtain a copy of the Nursing Programs Admission Booklet. Students can complete NUR-1050 before being accepted into the program of their choice. Prospective students are encouraged to attend a Health Pathway Information Session.
Download Handbooks
Petitions
Scholarship Opportunities
The nursing program has the following scholarship opportunities:
- Grace and Rich Fuller Family Scholarship
- Kavetsky Family Foundation Endowment Fund
- Bryce T. Sanders Memorial Scholarship
- Brock Nikolas Guerrieri Memorial Scholarship
- Carolyn and Susan Holt Memorial Nursing Scholarship
- Charles "Dick" Bailey Memorial Nursing Endowed Scholarship
- Charles County Nursing and Allied Health Programs Scholarship
- Col. Mary R. Boyd Memorial Nursing Scholarship
- Connie Kite Memorial CSM Nursing Scholarship
- Ethelmae M. Lilly Nursing Memorial Endowed Scholarship
- James C. Mitchell Nursing Scholarship
- Joanne Zwick Nursing Scholarship
- Lois Simpson Memorial Nursing Scholarship
- McWilliams Family Endowed Scholarship
- Peter Cangelosi Memorial Scholarship
- Susan N. Behmke Legacy Scholarship
- Virginia B. Darrow Memorial CSM Nursing Scholarship
- Michael and Sara Middleton CSM-UMSON Nursing Scholarship
- Thomas F. Goldsmith, III Scholarship
- Jaycee Lynn Vermillion Memorial Scholarship
- Tri-County 40/8 Nursing Scholarship
Special Programs
Military Medic/Corpsman to Associate Degree Nursing Transition Pathway
At CSM, we value your military experience as a Medic and/or Corpsman. The Military Medic/Corpsman to Associate Degree Nursing Transition Pathway at the College of Southern Maryland is designed to help you transition your experience and knowledge from the military into an associate's degree. After completion, you will be prepared to take the NCLEX exam to become a Registered Nurse.
Associate to Bachelor's (ATB) and Dual Admissions Nursing Pathways
Set your sights beyond your associate’s degree and start mapping out your route to your bachelor’s. Take advantage of our Dual Enrollment partnerships with Frostburg State University (FSU), Stevenson University Online (SUO), American Public University System (APUS), or our Dual Admission agreement with University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON).
Accreditation
The Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing programs have the approval of the Maryland Board of Nursing and are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Accreditation information regarding the nursing programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing: 3343 Peachtree Road Suite 850, NE Atlanta, GA 30326, 404-975-5000, www.acenursing.orgProgram Details
Admission Criteria (Technical Standards/Essential Functions): Student must be free of contagion and possess sufficient stamina and mental stability, with or without reasonable accommodations as may be required by law, to fulfill the requirements of the program and the customary requirements of the profession:
- Work for 8 - 12 hours performing physical tasks requiring sufficient strength and motor coordination without jeopardy to patient and student safety as, for example, walking, sitting, bending, lifting, turning
- Perform fine motor movements and be able to manipulate instruments and wide variety of equipment according to established procedure and standards of speed and accuracy.
- Establish and work toward goals in a consistently responsible, realistic manner.
- Have auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. (For example: communicate verbally, in an effective manner, with patients and other personnel)
- Have visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary for patient care. (For example: use a microscope, read and process patient related information like patient charts and requisitions, visually assess patient response to interventions)
Graduates' Success on Licensure Exam
Graduates’ success on licensure exams is a significant benchmark for any nursing program. Graduates’ success is calculated by the Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) by the number of graduates who are successful on passing the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt.
Graduates' success on licensure exam (NCLEX-RN):
| Year | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| College of Southern Maryland (CSM) pass rate for NCLEX-RN* | 77.78% | 86.67% | 89.29% |
| State average for MBON pass rate for NCLEX-RN | 88.55% | 90.55% | 87.01% |
| Required minimum Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) pass rate for NCLEX-RN | 79.15% | 76.52% | 79.03% |
*Pass rates reported by Maryland Board of Nursing are calculated by the fiscal year (July 1- June 30) and combine partial results from two classes. Some takers from states outside of Maryland, may be absent from these results.
Graduate Satisfaction and Employment in Nursing
CSM nursing graduates have the opportunity to provide feedback to the nursing program 6-12 months after completion. Surveys are made available to graduates through email and graduates are encouraged to provide anonymous feedback regarding the nursing program. Results are calculated from those graduates who choose to participate.
Graduate satisfaction is calculated by the response to the following question: Please rate your overall satisfaction with your CSM program: Exceptional, Good, Adequate, Fair, Poor.
Employment in Nursing is calculated by the response to the following question: Are you currently employed as a Registered Nurse? Yes or No.
Some graduates do not seek employment immediately upon graduation due to changing life circumstances, relocation, and/or entering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Master in Science in Nursing (MSN) program upon completion of their Associate degree.
| Graduating Class | Graduate Satisfaction | Employed in Nursing |
| Spring 2019 | 89% | 81% |
| Fall 2018 | 89% | 94% |
| Spring 2018 | 93% | 93% |
| Spring 2017 | No data available | 93% |
| Fall 2016 | 100% | 100% |
| Spring 2016 | No data available | 100% |
Program Completion is calculated at 150% stated program length (4 clinical semesters) for all students enrolled in initial nursing courses. The CSM ADN program offers flexible scheduling and the majority of students choose to attend part time, thus extending their program completion time.
| Program entry Year | Program Completion |
| Spring 2015 | 61% |
| Fall 2015 | 85% |
| Spring 2016 | 69% |
| Fall 2016 | 71% |
| Spring 2016 | 66% |
| Fall 2017 | 73% |
| Spring 2018 | In progress |
| Fall 2018 | In progress |
Graduates' Success on Licensure Exam
Graduates’ success on licensure exams is a significant benchmark for any nursing program. Graduates’ success is calculated by the Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) by the number of graduates who are successful on passing the NCLEX-PN on their first attempt.
Graduates' success on licensure exam (NCLEX-PN):
| Year | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| College of Southern Maryland (CSM) pass rate for NCLEX-PN* | 100% | 100% | No cohort |
| State average for MBON pass rate for NCLEX-PN | 96.34% | 98.44% | No cohort |
| Required minimum Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) pass rate for NCLEX-PN | 78.66% | 76.94% | No cohort |
*Pass rates reported by Maryland Board of Nursing are calculated by the fiscal year (July 1- June 30). Some takers from states outside of Maryland, may be absent from these results
Graduate Satisfaction and Employment in Nursing
CSM nursing graduates have the opportunity to provide feedback to the nursing program 6-12 months after completion. Surveys are made available to graduates through email and graduates are encouraged to provide anonymous feedback regarding the nursing program. Results are calculated from those graduates who choose to participate.
Graduate satisfaction is calculated by the response to the following question: Please rate your overall satisfaction with your CSM program: Exceptional, Good, Adequate, Fair, Poor.
Employment in Nursing is calculated by the response to the following question: Are you currently employed as a Licensed Practical Nurse? Yes or No.
Some graduates do not seek employment immediately upon graduation due to changing life circumstances, relocation, and/or entering an Associate Degree in Nursing program.
| Graduating Class | Graduate Satisfaction | Employed in Nursing |
| Summer 2019 | 75% | 75% |
| Summer 2018 | 75% | 75% |
| Summer 2017 | No cohort | No cohort |
Program Completion is calculated at 150% stated program length (3 clinical semesters) for all students enrolled in initial nursing courses. The CSM PN program offers flexible scheduling and the majority of students choose to attend part time, thus extending their program completion time.
| Program entry Year | Program Completion |
| Fall 2017 | No cohort |
| Fall 2018 | 88% |
| Fall 2019 | 100% |
| Fall 2020 | In progress |
Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program and Practical Nursing (PN) Certificate Program
Item |
PN Certificate Program |
ADN Program |
| TEAS | $100 | $100 |
| Tuition | $5,166 | $8,610 |
| Course Fees | $1,159 | $1,932 |
| Textbooks | $2,159 | $2,881 |
| Criminal Background Check/drug screen | $100 | $150 |
| Initial Health Screening and Immunization Requirements (Cost is dependent on number of immunizations needed and student’s medical insurance coverage) |
$100-500
|
$100-500
|
| CPR for Health Care Professionals | $40-100 | $40-100 |
Clinical Supplies: |
||
| Lab Packs | $195 | $195 |
| Uniforms | $75-100 | $75-100 |
| Uniform Shoes | $50 | $50 |
| CSM Uniform Patch | $4 | $4 |
| Watch (with second hand) | $20-100 | $20-100 |
| CSM Name Tag | $8 | $8 |
| Bandage Scissors | $5 | $5 |
| Penlight | $5 | $5 |
| Hemostat | $4 | $4 |
| Stethoscope | $50-100 | $50-100 |
Gasoline costs: |
||
| Based on traveling: 25 miles/day x 4 days a week 20 miles/gallon $3.00/gallon |
$600 | $900 |
Graduation Costs: |
||
| Graduation Package (includes cap/gown/tassel/announcements) | $30-143 | $30-143 |
| Nursing Pin (Optional) | $50-200 | $50-200 |
Licensure Costs: |
||
| NCLEX Exam Fee | $200 | $200 |
| Initial State Licensing Fee (Varies State to State) | $100-200 | $100-200 |
| Passport Photo | $10 | $10 |
| Fingerprinting | $58-75 | $58-75 |
| Review Course (Optional) | $300-500 | $300-500 |
Total Program Costs*: |
$10,526 – $11,732 |
$15,815 – $17,021 |
*Program costs are provided as an estimate for planning purposes only and may not reflect an individual student’s actual cost for program completion.