Nursing

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Prepare for a fulfilling career as a registered nurse (RN)

Nursing is a profession that beautifully blends advanced technology with compassionate care, enabling individuals to achieve and maintain optimal health. Start your journey to this rewarding, in-demand career at Stark State College.

Stark State’s associate degree in nursing (ADN) program provides a strong foundation in patient care and clinical decision-making, offering you the experiences needed to sit for the RN licensure exam. By embracing the opportunities the program delivers, you will become well-equipped to work in diverse health care settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics and more.

Why choose our ADN program?

Stark State College’s ADN gets you to your RN licensure exam sooner, so you can get to your good-paying career faster. We developed our program to support students in becoming proficient and compassionate nurses who excel in three primary roles:

  1. Provider of patient care: Deliver high-quality, patient-centered care across various health care environments.
  2. Manager of patient care: Coordinate and oversee patient care to ensure effective and efficient health care delivery.
  3. Member of the nursing discipline: Collaborate with health care professionals, adhere to ethical standards, and contribute to the advancement of the nursing field.

Program highlights

  • Comprehensive curriculum: Our program integrates academic coursework with hands-on learning experiences. You’ll engage in classroom instruction, learning laboratory exercises and clinical practice to develop a robust skill set.
  • Nursing process methodology: Learn to formulate clinical judgments, collaborate with clients and health care professionals, and practice within legal, ethical and social frameworks.
  • Licensure preparation: Our ADN program thoroughly prepares you to qualify for the licensing examination for registered nurses, ensuring you are well-prepared to begin your nursing career.
  • Flexibility: Day and evening class options are available.

Apply today

Join Stark State College’s ADN program and take the first step towards a rewarding career in nursing. Gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make a difference in the lives of others as a registered nurse.

Your pathway to a degree

Associate degree

Students interested in the ADN program need to review ALL information in the ADN application packet before submitting their applications.

Program information packet

Nursing application deadlines

  • ADN day and evening/weekend programs – March 31 for fall admission.

Accreditation

The associate degree nursing programs Stark State College at the main campus located in North Canton, Ohio is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 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 nursing program is continued accreditation.

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

Stark State College’s next ACEN evaluation site visit is scheduled for the fall of 2031

Transfer Agreements

The Stark State College ADN program has the following written articulation agreements in place for RN to BSN completion programs with the following universities:

  • Ashland University
  • Aultman College of Nursing
  • Capella University
  • Chamberlain University

Program learning outcomes

  • Provide safe, quality, evidence-based, patient-centered nursing care in a variety of healthcare settings to diverse patients across the lifespan.
  • Engage in clinical judgment to make increasingly complex patient-centered care decisions in a safe care environment.
  • Participate in quality improvement processes to improve patient care outcomes.
  • Participate in teamwork and collaboration with members of the interprofessional team, the patient, and the patient’s support persons.
  • Use information management principles, techniques, and systems and patient care technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making.
  • Use leadership, management, legal, and ethical principles to guide practice as a professional nurse.

Background checks

Criminal background checks will be required for all nursing student before beginning nursing courses and on an annual basis. Depending on the individual’s criminal background, it may not be possible to provide required clinical placements.

According to Section 4723.28 of the Ohio Revised Code, nursing students are responsible for informing the department chair/director of nursing, early and during the program, of any misdemeanor related to alcohol or drugs, or felony convictions so that students may be informed of the steps the Ohio Board of Nursing will take before considering their application to sit for the licensing examination.

According to Ohio HB327: anyone previously convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or had a judicial finding of guilt for an egregious felony will be precluded from initial licensure. Egregious felonies are: aggravated murder, murder, voluntary manslaughter, felonious assault, kidnapping, rape, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition, aggravated arson, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary.

Candidates who wish to sit for the NCLEX-RN (Registered Nurse Licensing Examination) will be required to submit their fingerprints to the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCII) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

For more details, contact the Ohio Board of Nursing Web site at http://www.nursing.ohio.gov


 

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