Degree Programs

Nursing AAS

The Nursing Program at Cayuga Community College prepares students for entry into the profession of nursing. Upon graduation, students receive the Associate in Applied Science in nursing and are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The overall NCLEX-RN passing rate for Cayuga students is consistently exceptional and exceeds state and national averages.

The curriculum offers a balance of general education and nursing courses. Students are provided with the theoretical knowledge and clinical practice needed to provide nursing care for individuals throughout their lives. Learning experiences are provided in the classroom, nursing laboratory, and various clinical settings.

Nursing education is available at both the Auburn and Fulton campuses. Both programs admit students every fall.

Program Accreditation

Cayuga’s Nursing program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and Registered by the Office of Professions, NYSDE

The Associate in Applied Science Degree nursing program at Cayuga Community College at the Auburn and Fulton campus(es) located in Auburn NY and Fulton NY, is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate in Applied Science Degree nursing program is continuing accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program on the ACEN website.

Office of the Professions
New York State Education Department
2nd Floor, West Wing, EB
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234
HEGIS Code: 5208.10

Nursing Admissions Process

Admission to the Nursing Program is a two-application process. Applicants must fill out the Admissions application and a Nursing Admission Application. Completion of these two applications is free of charge and does not guarantee admission to the program.

NOTE: If you have already attended Cayuga as a matriculated student, contact the Center for Student Engagement and Academic Advisement at 315-294-8523 or studenteng@cayuga-cc.edu before completing an additional Admissions Application.

Nursing Program Application and Requirements

The Nursing program has its own specific application form and process. The online application will be available on October 1 and has a deadline of January 15. In addition, the following program requirements must be completed and proof submitted by the postmarked application deadline to be considered.

Admission to the nursing program is a selective and competitive process.

Selection Process

Admission to the nursing program is selective. Decisions are made by members of the nursing faculty working together with the admissions office. They are based on high school or college grade averages, grades in required science, chemistry, and math courses, a personal essay, and references.

The following prerequisites must be completed before applying to the Nursing program:

• High school or general equivalency diploma (GED/TASC)
• Official College transcripts (if applicable)
• Algebra math proficiency:
  NOTE: Math placement more than 5 years old or out-of-state placement will be determined by the Math Coordinator
• Testing or placing into Cayuga’s MATH 102 (Intermediate Algebra) or higher or
• Completion of Cayuga’s MATH 099 (Elementary Algebra) or higher with a minimum grade of C (or 70%) or
• Completion of pre-calculus or higher in high school with a minimum grade of C (or 70%)
• Satisfactory completion (C or 70%) of high school or college biology
  NOTE: we do not accept CHEM 151 from Onondaga Community College (OCC) without the 1 credit lab component
• Satisfactory completion (C or 70%) of high school chemistry (Regents or General) or college Chemistry 101 (CHEM 103 or equivalent)
• Minimum cumulative GPA or overall high school average of 75% or 2.5
• Applicants must submit two professional references using the Department of Nursing’s Professional Reference Form
• English language proficiency as demonstrated by compliance with a minimum required TOEFL or NYSESLAT score, required if English is not the first language. Applicants whose native language is not English, click here for more information.
• May be required to consent to drug testing upon request by the College or affiliating clinical agency
• Background check required for clinical
• An interview may be required

Important Information

• Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend a Nursing Information Session.
• Technical standards are abilities and behaviors that a nursing student must be able to perform to function safely. It is essential that nursing students possess and maintain the following functional requirements, with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Admission to the Nursing Program is a two-application process.
• Applicants must fill out the Admissions Application and a Nursing Admission Application. Completion of these two applications is free of charge and does not guarantee admission to the program. NOTE: If you have already attended Cayuga as a matriculated student, contact the Center for Student Engagement and Academic Advisement at 315-294-8523 or studenteng@cayuga-cc.edu before completing an additional Admissions Application.
• Send all official transcripts to the Auburn Admissions Office.
• Applicants will be notified of the acceptance decision in March for fall admission.
• Applicants not accepted may be placed on a waitlist; high school students (only) may receive a deferral option.
• Applicants not accepted must reapply to be considered for admission the following year.

Seeking Professional Licensure or Certification Outside New York State

Cayuga Community College’s academic programs that prepare individuals for licensure or certification are carefully designed to meet and exceed New York State requirements. States other than New York often have different requirements.

Cayuga Community College cannot determine whether a student’s successful completion of its Nursing A.A.S. program is sufficient to meet the licensure and certification requirements for practicing Nursing in states and U.S. territories other than New York.

Enrolled and prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact their state’s licensure entity (if not practicing in New York) to review all licensure and certification requirements imposed by their state(s) of choice. We encourage you to talk with your program director if you ever consider practicing or pursuing licensure or certification in a state other than New York. Cayuga’s full Policy on Professional Licensure Disclosures appears.

Health Requirements

After being accepted into the Nursing program, the student must show evidence of the following by a date designated by the Nursing department:

• Completed physical exam and updated annually. The health record must show no physical condition that would limit the safe performance of Essential Functions and Abilities. See “Nursing Students – Health Report Form” to download the required form.
• Completed Mantoux test and immunization records
• Compliance with New York State health requirements

CPR Requirement

The student must hold CPR certification for the Professional Healthcare Provider throughout the program. We only accept courses taken through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross, which include Basic Life Support (BLS) for adults, infants, and children. Certification is valid for two years. Online certification or re-certification is accepted only if a competency demonstration is performed in person.

NOTE: “Heart Saver” and “Community CPR” do NOT meet the CPR requirement. An eCard or paper copy of CPR certification must be submitted to the Nursing Education office by the date designated by the Nursing department.

Program Progression

• A minimum passing grade of 77 (C+) must be achieved in each Nursing course. A grade less than C+ is considered an unsuccessful attempt.
• A “Satisfactory” clinical grade must be achieved in each clinical Nursing course.
• A minimum passing grade of C+ is required in BIOL 203, 204, and 216 courses.
• A student is limited to one W or unsuccessful attempt in any clinical Nursing course (NURS 101, 102, 214, 215, 216, 217). A second W or unsuccessful attempt in any clinical Nursing course will result in dismissal from the program.
• All required Nursing courses (except NURS 101) must be taken at Cayuga Community College.
• The following grading system is used by the Nursing faculty:

  The grading system used by the Nursing faculty

  Letter Grade	Numerical Grade
  A	93–100
  A-	90-92
  B+	87–89
  B	83-86
  B-	80–82
  C+	77–79
  C	73-76
  C-	70-72
  D+	67-69
  D	63-66
  D-	60-62
  F	less than 60

• A student receiving a W or a grade less than C+ in NURS 101 must reapply for admission to the Nursing program in accordance with specified application deadlines.
• A student receiving a W or a grade less than C+ in NURS 102, 214, 215, 216, or 217 must apply for re-entry to the program through the director of Nursing (email Mary Driscoll, Director of Nursing at driscollm@cayuga-cc.edu). The student must schedule a meeting with the director of Nursing three months prior to the course start date. Academic counseling will be initiated to develop a success plan. Re-entry is granted on a space-available basis and upon compliance with the re-entry procedure.
• A student seeking re-entry to the Nursing program must meet program policies in effect at the date of re-entry.
• Nursing courses must be completed within three years of starting NURS 101

Learning Experiences

Clinical schedules include days, evenings, and occasional weekends. Students must provide their own transportation to clinical facilities. Clinical agencies include but are not limited to Finger Lakes Center for Living, St. Anthony on the Commons, Seneca Hill Manor, Auburn Community Hospital, Upstate University Hospital Downtown, Upstate University Hospital Community Campus, Veterans Medical Center, and Oswego Hospital.

Degree Requirements

The following curriculum represents the Nursing course sequence and minimum requirements for the AAS degree in Nursing (total of 64 credit hours).

Legal Limitations for RN Licensure

The licensure exam requires that the applicant be of “good moral character.” Applicants should be aware that the New York State Education Office of Professional Discipline will investigate applicants who have been convicted of a crime (felony or misdemeanor) or have charges pending in any state or country to determine their eligibility for licensure as a registered nurse in New York State. Refer to www.op.nysed.gov/ for specific criteria.

Graduation Requirement

The candidate for the Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing must meet the following requirements:

• Completion of 64 credits
• A cumulative average of no less than 2.0 and a minimum grade of “C+” in each Nursing and Biology course.

Technical Standards

These are abilities and behaviors that a nursing student must be able to perform to function safely. It is essential that students of nursing meet the functional requirements with or without reasonable accommodations. Download Essential Functions and Abilities for Nursing Students.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates of this program can:

• Practice within the professional, ethical, and legal standards, incorporating personal responsibility and accountability for continued self-development to promote professional identity.
• Provide safe, competent, patient-centered care in various healthcare settings while efficiently managing time and prioritizing care for a group of patients.
• Utilize the nursing process, clinical reasoning, and evidence-based practice to provide safe and effective care.
• Demonstrate caring behaviors that honor diversity and inclusion through global awareness, respect for each individual in the delivery of care, and advocacy for patients and families.
• Facilitate communication with patients, families, and healthcare team members in a professional and collaborative manner to support patient outcomes.
• Promote the health and wellness of patients across the lifespan and within the community through leadership skills and principles of teaching and learning, aiming to achieve inclusive and equitable outcomes.
• Utilize information technologies to advance knowledge, support evidence-based practice, and promote safe, quality patient outcomes.

Student Achievement Outcome Data

Student achievement outcome results data for Cayuga Community College for the class graduating 2023 and 2024.

Transfer Information

Students requesting transfer from another nursing program must:

• Satisfy the admission criteria stated under the Admission Requirements section.
• Submit a Nursing Transfer Request form to the Director of Nursing at driscollm@cayuga-cc.edu before October 31.
• The only nursing course that may be accepted for transfer is NURS 101, pending a review of the course syllabus. A minimum grade of C+ (77) is required for NURS 101 credit transfer. The nursing course must be completed within one year of the transfer request.
• Apply for admission through the Admissions Office by October 31.
• Complete the Nursing Department Skill Competency Evaluation with a grade of satisfactory.
• Complete the nursing clinical review course with a passing grade.

Transferring Into a Bachelor’s Degree Program

Cayuga Community College has articulation agreements with a number of baccalaureate nursing programs. For information on these, contact the Director of Nursing at driscollm@cayuga-cc.edu.

Current articulation agreements include: 

• SUNY Binghamton 
• SUNY Empire State College 
• SUNY Plattsburgh 
• SUNY Polytechnic College  
• SUNY Upstate  

Private Institutions:

• Aspen University  
• Excelsior College 
• Grand Canyon University Keuka College 
• New York Institute of Technology  
• St. John Fisher College 
• University of The Cumberlands  

A prior felony conviction may hinder a student’s ability to enroll in a course, complete the requirements of certain academic programs, and/or meet the licensure criteria required by certain professions.

Accessibility Resources

Nursing students must be able to meet all established academic and clinical requirements to complete the program. By law and College policy, no qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of that disability, be excluded from the program. Cayuga Community College will provide reasonable accommodations to a qualified individual with a disability. The Office of Accessibility Resources is responsible for determining if reasonable accommodations can be identified and for ensuring that such accommodations are provided for students.

It is the applicant’s or student’s responsibility to request the accommodations needed to meet the program’s Essential Functions and Abilities. To be eligible for reasonable accommodations, applicants must provide clear documentation of disability. Arranging for accommodations is a confidential process.

Seeking Professional Licensure or Certification Outside New York State

Cayuga Community College’s academic programs that prepare individuals for licensure or certification are carefully designed to meet and exceed New York State requirements. States other than New York often have different requirements.

Cayuga Community College cannot determine whether a student’s successful completion of its Nursing A.A.S. program is sufficient to meet the licensure and certification requirements for practicing Nursing in states and U.S. territories other than New York.

Enrolled and prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact their state’s licensure entity (if not practicing in New York) to review all licensure and certification requirements imposed by their state(s) of choice. We encourage you to talk with your program director if you ever consider practicing or pursuing licensure or certification in a state other than New York. Cayuga’s full Policy on Professional Licensure Disclosures appears.

Criminal Background Check

Criminal background checks are required at the student’s expense prior to the first semester.